Who Will Save The Children?

There is a universal disease that runs rampant throughout the world. It really doesn’t matter the country or culture. It’s there. And it’s something that has become indelibly worse over the years. The disease is indifference. And we see first-hand in this series how much indifference has seeped into the children of society. Children are no better than adults when it comes to preying upon those they deem weak and worthless. Physical and cyberbullying are only the symptoms of a much bigger problem. They are symptoms of indifference.

The series could almost be called, “The Tragedy of Judge Shim.” She is a cold but effective judge who confesses that she despises young offenders. The reason for this hatred stems from a past experience that we don’t learn about until the series' last two episodes. It is not accurate to state that she doesn’t care. She does. And she is just as eager to investigate a case and uncover the truth as she pronounces sentences that she feels are the most effective and the most just when dealing with juvenile offenders. Unfortunately, Judge Shim lives in a prison of her own making. She lives in a barren apartment that has no warmth or meaning to it. Her sole purpose is to preside over juvenile offenders. In many ways, she’s allowed those who killed her son to kill her as well. For what kind of a life is that? In the end, the perpetrators may have finally been brought to justice, but she’s allowed them to destroy her too.

Judge Shim is an effective judge even though she can be quite foolish. Chasing a young offender through the streets to try and apprehend her alone wasn’t a smart thing to do. Also, breaking into the hideout of a known, violent offender was beyond foolish. It nearly got her killed in the process. But I suppose that someone who’s essentially already dead inside, probably doesn’t care too much about what happens to them. Indifference isn’t only about how we treat others. It's also about how we treat ourselves.

If the numbers that are put on display at the very beginning of the series are accurate—3,300 judges in Korea with only 20 juvenile judges—we can see why the youth of Korea are in such dire straits and why the juvenile courts certainly need more help and resources.

Each case spans about two episodes, and neither the writer nor the director holds back when it comes to depicting youth crimes. They are raw, violent, and meant to demonstrate the sheer cruelty that is perpetrated upon those who are preyed upon. It shouldn’t matter that these are children and not adults. We quickly find that it doesn’t matter the age or the circumstances. Children are just as capable of any type of violent crime as their adult counterparts.

One of the reasons I love K-dramas so much is that most of them carry a much-needed message. A show like this isn’t just for entertainment purposes but is trying to shed some light on a much-needed issue that must be addressed. Many victims and victims’ parents ask the same question: “How can someone so young do something like this?” We live in a world we think is safe. We live in a world that should be safe, especially for the children. But, sadly, it is not so.

If you don’t address the core problem, then nothing will change. Things will not only stay the same, but they are likely to get even worse. There is a common denominator among many young perpetrators. They come from broken homes. They tend to come from poor families. They tend to be bullied children and outcasts themselves. Some have mental disorders. And ironically, these are also the commonalities found among adult criminals as well.
Punishment is pointless without rehabilitation. Judge Kang is correct in his assessment that harsher punishments don’t work. Rehabilitation is required. And as Judge Shim points out to Judge Cha, it does, indeed, take a village to raise a child. People are like points on a spider web. Remove one point, and the entire web begins to come apart. And it takes teachers, friends, family, shopkeepers…everyone! Raising a child is NOT about telling them what to do and what not to do. It’s about empowering and educating them so that they can make wise decisions. But none of that matters unless indifference is removed from the equation. Compassion is a key component, for if people truly care for each other, they will always look out for one another.

One of the saddest things I saw in this series is the ostracizing of the victims. My God! This is proof of the indifference that I’ve talked about. How can you simply cut off a person for something that happened to them? And blame them? That is truly sickening, and those who do these things are no better than the criminals themselves. Indeed, they are the same.

Performances across the board were astounding and powerful. Kim Hye Soo gives us Judge Shim who is strong on the outside but broken on the inside. I saw Lee Sung Min in Misaeng—a series in which he was nothing short of brilliant—and I was thrilled to see him in this series as a judge who’s lost his way.

This isn’t necessarily an easy series to watch, but it’s a necessary one. If people don’t start to wake up and realize that changes are needed in how we deal with each other, let alone our children, then it really will be impossible to save the children, let alone anyone else.

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Incredibly Powerful and Compelling Work of Art!

This is the type of film that could easily be talked about and discussed in universities. If it isn't, then it's a tragedy. This complex, amazing character study rivals some of the best films and shows that I've ever seen in over 40 years of viewing.

This film is truly a work of art. Each character brings something refreshing, new and compelling to the table (almost literally!).

This powerful character study is about a novelist with a tragic past who is unable to become a successful author. For some strange reason, five women are invited to live with him for a million yen per month. When he's not writing, he cooks and looks after them. Each woman is different in age, occupation, personality, and background. Part of the mystery is in trying to figure out why the invitations were sent, what the purpose of the women being there is, and who sent them.

The author learns to accept his new living situation, and finds that there are rules for his interactions with them.

The story weaves like a fine tapestry of tragic, complex pasts in the lives of all of the characters, and basically what drives people to do things and be who they are. It's riveting story-telling that keeps you hooked, and makes you wince when the number of episodes left to watch dwindles. You want more. You crave more, and you find yourself grateful for finding such a unique and exquisite gem such as this series.

This is a series that can easily be watched over and over again. It's touching and heart-breaking that compels the viewer to dig deep within themselves; about the walls we put up to keep from being hurt; about the fear of loss, and the fear to love.

I can't recommend this series strongly enough. It's a story with characters that stays with you long after you've finished, and that's the mark of something so powerfully artistic in how it captivates its viewer.

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Predictable, Silly, But Cute Series!

If you're looking for something fun and light, you really can't go wrong with "A Love So Beautiful." Frankly, there have been better shows involving a girl who falls in love with a boy where the girl (for some reason) isn't very bright compared to the object of her affection. "Good Morning Call" and "Mischievous Kiss: Love in Tokyo" are better series.

This is a story that has been done a number of times, although the twist toward the end finally gives it some brand of uniqueness despite knowing how it's going to end. Not all shows that are predictable are necessarily bad.

Shin Sol-Yi is a young, passionate girl, who's quite naive and also very immature for her age. Unfortunately, this doesn't really change as she gets older. She starts out as a 17-year-old girl, acting like she's 10. She ends as a twenty-something woman acting like a 12-year-old. She whines and pouts, and too often this becomes a little annoying.

I've lived and worked in China, Korea, and Taiwan. And I've told people: take the girl's age and subtract ten years to get her true maturity. It rarely fails.

Cha-Heon is the object of Sol-Yi's affection. He's the top student, but he's a bit cold and aloof when it comes to Sol-Yil and her more than obvious interest in him.

The performances are pretty good. Yo-Han Kim (Cha-Heon) is a bit wooden in his role. So Ju-Yeon (Shin Sol-Yi) has the cutest dimples in the world and a million-dollar smile to boot. I only wished that she'd been able to bring more depth and dimension to her character as well as giving her character a bit more maturityj to make her more appealing and less annoying.

The kissing scenes in this show are some of the worst I've ever seen. Wooden, tight-lipped with absolutely no feeling or authenticity at all. It was quite obvious that the actors and actresses did NOT like doing them.

Still, this is a fun series to watch. It's nothing too special, but it's a solid feel-good story that will likely put a smile on your face.

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The Science of Love and Marriage

How many plays, books, songs, TV shows, and films have been made about love over the centuries? Too many to count, I'd wager. Some have given us exceptional and even beautiful depictions. Others have been incredibly superficial. Love is like the wind. You know it's there, but you can't really grasp it. There is a reason for this. Love is never about holding on. It's always about letting go. And true love is completely unconditional.

I personally believe Shakespeare described love the best when Juliet states, "My bounty is as boundless as the sea. The more I give to thee, the more I have, for both are infinite."

It is highly likely that, as a viewer, you will be able to relate with one or more of the characters of this drama. Most everyone has been in similar positions: getting together out of convenience, loving someone whose ambitions are greater and perhaps even different than your own, or loving someone who doesn't share the same feelings that you do. We also have characters who are too afraid to love for fear of being hurt.

This K-Drama works well because it doesn't get bogged down in needless melodrama, and it presents six characters that--on some level--nearly everyone can relate to. It is also fairly light without any big emotional twists that, too often, are typical of these kinds of shows. Instead, the writing is crisp because it stays true to the natural course of events rather than forcing them.

Along the way, the narrator, often Ji-ho and sometimes Se-hee ponder what love and marriage are, what their purpose is, and how to best make it work. Is it enough to marry only for love? Is it foolish to marry without any compatibility or shared interests? Sometimes, they resort to quotes from famous authors, and other times, they speculate on their own.

Too many people, due to the pressures of parents, society, and religion (sometimes all three!) believe that marriage is the only way to be happy. Marriage is not for everyone, and too often, couples treat it as the Finish Line rather than the Starting Gate. Yes, marriage is the beginning, not the end. And, yes, it IS work!

People also marry for the wrong reasons: to prevent having to be alone, to feel a sense of completion and well-being by being with someone. Happiness in marriage can never be found in your partner. It can only be found if you already have that happiness, and you are ready to share that with someone else. You cannot give what you do not have, and too often, we unfairly and unrealistically make our partner responsible for our happiness. Any relationship that takes on this idea is already doomed to fail.

These are topics, themes, and even questions that are addressed throughout the run of this series. Perhaps that is why it is a series that can be enjoyed by young and old alike, as well as people in/out of relationships as they address questions regarding love and marriage...topics that have been talked about since the beginning of time.

There are many cute, funny, and even ponderous moments. And in my book, that makes this a true treasure of a series to watch and enjoy...perhaps even with your partner!

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Accepting People For Who They Are!

I’ve now seen three series with autistic characters being the subject. “It’s Okay to Not Be Okay” was the first with Oh Jung Se giving an absolutely riveting performance! The second was “Extraordinary Attorney Woo” with the incomparable Eu Bin Park. And ironically, despite this series coming out before all of them, I finally watched this one with Joo Won also giving a tremendous performance. However, that being said, “Good Doctor” is easily my least favorite of the three.

Dr. Park Shi-On is an autistic young man who aspires to become a pediatric surgeon. Growing up with a sadistically brutal father who beat him relentlessly due to his disability, he’s eventually raised by the loving Dr. Choi who is the director of Sungwon Hospital. Dr. Choi hopes to help Dr. Park fulfill his dream; a dream he made after watching his older brother die in an accident in a mine.

Dr. Park has many obstacles to overcome, not the least of which are prejudice and discrimination, not only among his own colleagues but among parents too. Because of his persistence, he doesn’t give up and finds solace it the little souls of the pediatric ward who really don’t see him as anything other than a person. A slightly strange person, perhaps, but as a person nonetheless. Such is having the eyes of a child and seeing the world that way. Guilt, shame, and prejudice are all learned behaviors.

The first seven or eight episodes are tough to wade through as we see Dr. Park taking constant verbal abuse, especially from his mentor and superior, Dr. Kim Do Han and his chief assistant, Dr. Cha Yoon Su. Dr. Kim goes so far as to punch Dr. Park after a surgery. What is ironic is that Dr. Kim had a younger brother with autism, and yet he openly abuses Dr. Park without apology. If you truly think that abusive teaching methods are the best way to teach anyone, then you have no idea just how primitive and ignorant your beliefs are. Dr. Cha—in some ways—is even worse. She rebukes him with, “Stop acting like a kid!” She also physically hits him a number of times, but her even bigger “crime” is treating Dr. Park like he’s broken.

Dr. Kim justifies his treatment of Dr. Park with a strange question to Dr. Cha: “Would you rather have a great doctor how makes poor decisions or an average doctor who makes great decisions?” His point is that he wants Dr. Park to be the latter. However, his ignorance clouds his judgment as he clearly overlooks the third option to that question: Why not a great doctor who makes great decisions? That is what he should inspire Dr. Park to be. There is absolutely no justification for abuse. None. As an ESL teacher who has spent most of his career in Asian countries, I know that this isn’t something that has been completely expunged. Many teachers and even parents still firmly believe that abuse is necessary. They may not call it “abuse” but abuse it is.

Dr. Kim slowly begins to take to Dr. Park. However, during one particularly disturbing scene, Dr. Park is being beaten up by two bullies. Dr. Kim sees what is happening. He gets out of his car and walks to help Dr. Park. Walks. Not run. That was more disturbing than watching Dr. Park getting assaulted which showed just how little Dr. Kim thinks of Dr. Park.

Toward the last five episodes or so, it becomes clear that Dr. Cha is starting to develop feelings for Dr. Park, despite Dr. Park being rejected early on when he shares how he feels with her. However, Dr. Cha makes one big mistake when she goes out a blind date and finds that Dr. Park isn’t upset about it. Anyone who truly thinks that jealousy equals love doesn’t know love at all. Jealousy has absolutely nothing to do with love. Jealousy is about ego, power, fear, and control—things that love can never be. In many ways, Dr. Park proves himself to be far wiser and more mature than Dr. Cha, who frankly, has a lot of growing up to do.

The medical episodes regarding the pediatric patients were the most intriguing part of the series to me. I loved how Dr. Park could empathize and relate to them, using his own child-like purity. The surgeries were fairly well done, despite some serious flaws (such as doctors contaminating each other by touching each other in the OR which happened several times!)

However, the relationships weren’t quite as compelling to me. Dr. Park’s father is just a drunken, abusive tyrant, and it was disturbing to see how Dr. Park’s mother wilts around him, proving herself to be a very weak woman. The actor playing Dr. Park’s father was a bit too over-the-top for my taste. Barking and spewing nonsense in virtually every scene quickly became tiresome.

Quite frankly, the relationship between Dr. Cha and Dr. Park that develops toward the end of the series just didn’t feel organic or real enough. Moon Chae Won is a very good actress, but she almost seemed lost in how to make Dr. Cha actually develop romantic and loving feelings toward Dr. Park. She never says, “I like you” or even “I love you.” She only ever talks about how uncomfortable she is with Dr. Park possibly dating someone else (again, a sign of jealousy and possession; not love at all). “Extraordinary Attorney Woo” the romantic angle worked because the ML accepted and loved her for who she was; he never wanted her to change. We don’t get that same feeling from Dr. Cha who is constantly trying to get Dr. Park to change who he is. And anyone should know that whenever you enter a relationship with the hope of changing the other person, the relationship is ultimately doomed to fail. Relationships are always about the possibility of changing yourself, not the other person.

Initially, Dr. Cha obviously has a crush on Dr. Kim. It’s both sad and disturbing that she would find Dr. Kim even remotely appealing after his blatant abusive behavior toward Dr. Park. It certainly doesn’t speak well about her taste in men at all, Dr. Park notwithstanding.

We have a political power struggle doing on at the hospital which works somewhat well. In many ways, however, it just didn’t add much to the story, which should have kept its focus on Dr. Park.

In Jae was one of my favorite characters of the series; a young teenager who’s desperately in need of an intestinal transplant and her sister who is doing everything she can to raise enough money to pay for it. I loved In Jae’s interactions with Dr. Park. She clearly has a crush on him, and it’s sweet how she tries to help him navigate the minefield of “first love” when she finds out that the object of his affections is Dr. Cha.

Performances are largely very well done, with the notable exception of Jung Ho Geun (Dr. Park’s father). Standouts to me are Joo Won (Dr. Park), Kim Hyun Soo (In Jae), and Kwak Do Won (Mr. Kang), who plays the deputy director of the hospital with a calm, calculating demeanor which I found refreshing.

This medical drama also has the worst defibrillation scenes I've ever seen! The victims don't react or jump because the doctor removes the paddles during defibrillation! Sad that they couldn't even do those scenes right.

All in all, the series is good, but overall, it fell short for me, especially in some of its depictions of autistic people (which I found far more appealing in the other two series mentioned). I understand that they wanted to show how hard it would be for Dr. Park, but I found some of the scenes to be overkill and even more troubling how people continued to treat him as a broken man who needs to be fixed. If the moral of the series had been to treat people as they are and to accept their differences no matter what, then perhaps this series may have been far more inspiring than it truly was.

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Exceptional Horror Flick That Runs Deep!

I’ll be honest. I’m not a fan of zombie movies. George Romero’s “Night of the Living Dead” is still a classic, but even that movie didn’t exactly thrill me. To me, zombies tend to be boring. The slow, gaited walk—despite the overwhelming numbers—just made them less imposing than they should be.

“Train to Busan” not only gives us an absolute thrill ride, but it also does what Korean filmmaking has been so good at over the years; it gives us food for thought and for people to decide what’s really important. Who else could put such a message, and do it effectively, than the Koreans? In short, this is the first zombie movie that I’ve seen that has heart and depth.

I will say that this is the best zombie movie I’ve ever seen. The zombies don’t do the stupid walk in this film. They run. They chase in a relentless frenzy that begs the viewer to ask, “how in the world did they film that?!”

Seok Woo (wonderfully played by Gong Yoo) is a workaholic father who has little time for his daughter, who begs him to take her to Busan to see her mother. Seok Woo is a man so disconnected from his daughter, Soo Ahn, that he doesn’t realize that he’s bought her a birthday gift that she already has. He finally agrees to take her.

In the meantime, a massive outbreak of “infected” people begin to take over, and of course, it only takes one as an infected woman jumps aboard the train just as it’s leaving the station. What transpires after this is an absolutely incredible survivor movie and what becomes of human nature when lives are on the line. There are those who believe in doing right by people, and there are others who believe that survival by any means necessary is justified. Interestingly enough, Seok Woo starts off as a man who believes that saving himself and his daughter is all that matters, leaving one man to rebuke him harshly for his selfish behavior.

Once the pursuit is underway, you have a good idea of who is most likely to survive, but there are still questions regarding the other characters and whether or not they will make it. And on a deeper level, what will these people do in their last moments, which brings us some very compelling moments.

On the one hand, this is a survivor movie worthy of “Titanic” or “The Poseidon Adventure” or “The Towering Inferno.” And on the other hand, it also begs the viewer to ask questions that could easily be used in a university philosophy class.

Performances are stellar across the board, but Kim Soo An really impressed me as Seok Woo’s daughter. The last few minutes of the film are heartbreaking and heart wrenching.

There isn't much music in the film, which adds to the effect, but when it kicks in, you know that you-know-what is about to hit the fan!

There really isn’t an element of this film that I can say came up short. From story to characters, to cinematography, this movie excels in every category. I see why this film is already considered a classic, and it’s the only zombie movie that I plan to add to my collection!

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A Cute and Fun Series!

Coming on the heals of “Hidden Love,” I decided to do another Chinese drama (my second one). “When I Fly Towards You” is actually a very light and delightful series, although it lacks the depth and heart of the previously mentioned series. It’s a series that doesn’t really take any chances or risks. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but I felt that there were missed opportunities, and thus, this series, while very good, is very “vanilla.”

While the series is about a quiet, shy boy and a perky, vivacious young 16-year-old girl, the series could have almost been called, “School Friends” or something to that effect. I’d say that a good 40-45% of the series is focused on the five friends in their high school days, and the rest is on the two protagonists who should have been the focus and had more screen time.

Su Zai Zai is a very upbeat young girl, who always has a smile on her face, and certainly isn’t shy at all. If you’re looking for the doe-eyed girl who bats her eyes and waits for the boy to make his move, Zai Zai is not that girl. She is tenacious in the pursuit of her dreams and goals, and she makes no apologies for her direct and abrupt manner. Her target is the very quiet, shy boy, Zhang Lu Rang.

Zhang Lu Rang is a boy who barely cracks a smile. He quietly goes about his days, even when girls are lining up to have a chance with the handsome and brilliant Lu Rang. However, he gives none of them even a glance…that is, until he runs into Zai Zai at a small corner store. Her first reaction is to call him “an idiot” for walking to the store without an umbrella. She quickly regrets her reaction, and as soon as she sees him again at their military training, she’s quickly in hot pursuit. She teases him, playfully needles him, and showers him with cute remarks. Anything to bring this quiet boy out of his shell. At first, he tries to shrug her off, but Zai Zai’s charm and quick wit soon begin to melt the “ice king.”

We soon discover the reason behind Lu Rang’s shyness, which we realize is a result of very low self-esteem. His parents are both tiger parents, some of the most monstrous forms of child abusers there are. Only westerners with their indifference toward their children would give tiger parents a run. I know first-hand because I am an ESL teacher and have seen some of the most horrifying things from tiger parents and how they abuse their own children. Lu Rang is constantly berated by his parents, especially his mother who believes that he is a failure, despite his exemplary grades. His younger brother is the golden child of the family, who outshines even Lu Rang academically. There are no warm words of encouragement or comfort from Lu Rang’s cold mother during their exchanges, and it’s quite clear that Lu Rang’s brother is the favorite.
Zai Zai uses her charm and love for Lu Rang to let him know that he’s none of the things that his parents believe him to be. She becomes a ray of hope for him, as he very slowly begins to grow in confidence. Zai Zai simply won’t give up on him, nor will she allow him to sulk alone. Bubbly and perky, Zai Zai always finds a way to get the smallest crack of a smile out of Lu Rang.

The series ran into a crossroads. Focus on Zai Zai and Lu Rang or focus on the group of friends. Rather than picking one road, it tried to do both. The focus of the series should have been on Zai Zai and Lu Rang. I wanted more scenes with them. I wanted to find out how Lu Rang is able to resolve his problems with his parents—if at all. Instead, his parents all but disappear from the series from about the 12th episode. This is an area that could have, and should have been, explored in more depth as well as come up with more ways of showing the transformation of friendship between Zai Zai and Lu Rang into romance. Unfortunately, when you try to give the same attention to two stories, you end up coming up short in both. The old Native American saying of, “If you chase two rabbits, you’ll lose them both.”

“Hidden Love” dared to delve deeply into the characters of its two protagonists, and the payoff was well worth it. We felt close to these characters, caring about how they were going to overcome their obstacles. In this series, there really isn’t ever any real conflict or problems that Zai Zai and Lu Rang must deal with. For Zai Zai, it’s dealing with her boss acting like a pimp with her. For Lu Rang, it’s talking things out and resolving things with his brother.

It's the charm and performance of the cast that really makes the series work, despite not having the courage to delve more deeply below the surface. There are many funny and cute moments that still make this series more than watchable, but I just couldn’t help feeling that it was also a missed opportunity.

We still get those really awkward and silly intimate moments where college-aged kids act like 13-year-olds whenever a kiss, a hug, or even holding hands might occur. They make too big of a deal out it, which also flies in the face of logic and reality, even in China. They react as though they are about to commit a crime.

Zhang Miao Yi (Zai Zai) is a cute performer. With those eyes and dazzling smile, we can see why so many are captivated by the amount of charm that she brings to the table. She’s a bit inconsistent with her romantic scenes, however, especially her kissing scenes. Many of them felt wooden and forced. If you’re an actress who doesn’t like doing these kinds of roles, then you simply shouldn’t do them. There were times when she was very believable with Zhou Yi Ran (Lu Rang) and others when she almost looked out-of-place.

Zhou Yi Ran was good too, but he needed to find a way to make Lu Rang likable and charming, despite his shyness and low self-esteem. Too often, he came across as stiff. It’s a tough task to balance these traits, and yet, that is another reason why the series should have allowed him to do more had they put him front and center rather than being a peripheral character too often.

Because of the imbalance between the two plots, the series also suffers from pacing issues. We’d get an episode to update us on Zai Zai and Lu Rang, and then we’d get one that scarcely showed them at all, which leads us to a warp-speed ending in the last two episodes where we constantly jump years ahead within the space of a few minutes. It felt as if the director said, “Okay, we’ve got to hurry and wrap this up!” It didn’t have the natural feeling of an organic ending like “Hidden Love” had.

If you’re looking for something very light and fun without much else, then you’re likely to enjoy this series!

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Records Or Memories?

I know I sound like a broken record, but the Koreans are the masters of entertainment! And only the Koreans are masters of combining comedy with drama with a thoughtful message, which in my opinion, represents the next step of evolution in the entertainment industry. We all want to be entertained, but to use the medium of movies and TV shows to convey a message is to really use this medium to inspire and provide awareness.

This movie is a true delight, and you are likely to find yourselves with some absolute laugh-out-loud moments as well as moments that just might tug at your heartstrings.

Yoon Hong Dae is a professional soccer player who ends up in trouble and is placed on probation. His agent—in order to try and restore Dae’s questionable reputation—puts him in charge of organizing and coaching a team—a team of homeless men to compete in the World Cup for Homeless players in Budapest.

Of course, we get a collection of homeless men of varying ages and backgrounds with different sets of skills. Seeing these guys attempting to play soccer is absolutely hilarious! One cheers when he kicks the ball and his shoe flies over the goal! And yet, each player has something to play for. They aren’t proud of being homeless, but this game just might restore the confidence to make some life changes as well as help people become aware that homelessness is a problem that has to be addressed. There are enough resources on this planet to ensure that every single human being has food, water, clothes, and shelter. So, why is it so hard?

Lee So Min is in charge of the documentary she is making to help showcase the team. Of course, she and Hong Dae don’t exactly see eye-to-eye, and their spats and bickering will make you giggle.

At first, Hong Dae is less than thrilled to be coaching a team of homeless men, most of whom have little-to-no skills. He figures he’s wasting his time, but the more he gets to know them, the more he finds a connection between each of them. Perhaps that is a part of the process: not to see a homeless person as a homeless person but as a person. It’s difficult to ignore someone when you’ve developed a connection. It’s even more inspiring when the entire team comes together to try and get Hong Dae out of trouble when he’s wrongfully charged with assault against four teen boys who harassed a woman with a mental disability.

The movie isn’t about winning. It’s about awareness as well as simply doing your best no matter how badly the odds are stacked against you. This is an especially powerful point when dealing with homeless people who may easily feel, “What’s the point? Nothing changes.” But Hong Dae asks them a poignant question, “Are you here for records or for memories?”

One thing I will say is that this movie is certainly memorable, important, and a sheer delight to watch. It reminded me of a combination of the “The Mighty Ducks” and “The Bad News Bears.” “Dream” certainly more than belongs in that kind of company!

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One of the Most Innovative Thrillers I've Ever Seen!

“Signal” is one of the most innovative and original thrillers I’ve ever had the privilege to watch. It captivates you right from the beginning and never lets up. The writing is crisp and taut, leaving the viewer to sit in wonder as to where the next leg of the story is going to go, while at the same time, wondering what the fate of our three protagonists is.

Park Hae Young is a brilliant criminal profiler with a tragic past, one in which he seems to be the center. While he’s a lieutenant with the police department, he does not like the police, nor does he have any faith in their ability to do their job—and with good reason as we find out as the story unfolds.

Detective Cha Soo Hyun is one of the few female violent crimes detectives who seems cold and a bit aloof, but she’s dedicated to her job, and she also comes with a tragic past: the only person to treat her with respect as well as the love of her life in Detective Lee Jae Han who mysteriously disappeared 15 years ago from when this story is set.

Finally, we have Detective Lee Jae Han who leads a one-man crusade to fight against police and political corruption within the police department. He has absolutely no compunction about acting alone, as he’s determined to always do the right thing and bring justice for those who are incapable of getting it otherwise. In many ways, Lee Jae Han is the glue of the trio, and demonstrates that you can never give up no matter what happens. He is the one person Park Hae Young respects within the police department, and soon Cha Soo Hyun as well.

The main focus of this series is a radio that sends its transmissions into the future, and always at the same time, although not every day. Park Hae Young is soon amazed that he’s speaking to Detective Lee Jae Han in the past, using a radio without batteries! How can this be? The series does not ask nor require an explanation, but simply for the viewer to go with it. Perhaps it is the spirit of Lee Jae Han and his fierce determination that causes this phenomenon to occur. In the end, it doesn’t really matter.

Soon placed on a Cold Case Squad under Cha Soo Hyun, Park Hae Young and Detective Lee Jae Han begin to tackle cold cases of the past, and together, hope to solve them and catch criminals who are uncaught—that is until the mysterious radio transmission begins to occur. Park Hae Young has access to evidence that Detective Lee Jae Han doesn’t in the past, including the future location of crimes at future points in time.

However, we soon learn that not everything is resolved because of this advantage, and Park Hae Young quickly discovers that certain things that have been corrected are not always for the best, as others are forced to pay a price for the interference.

There are plenty of plot twists as the story continues with the three of them trying to uncover the central plot to the story that has caused the death of Detective Lee in the past as well as the death of Park Hae Young’s brother. This, of course, raises certain questions, whether they be moral or ethical: can Detective Lee be saved from his fate? Should he be? And can anything be done to save Park Hae Young’s brother?

The series raises a glaring philosophical question: if you could go back and change something from the past, would you? Most people, without really thinking things through, might quickly say, “Yes!” But then, how would things change? This is something that our three characters must ask and answer within the scope of the story. Kobe Bryant was once asked if he had a time machine, would he not want to go back and change things? He very quickly said, “No. I’d never use it. Because that undermines everything that I ever learn from my mistakes.”

Most people have events of the past that they wish they could have done differently. These may even include tragic moments where accidents or events have led to the death of a loved one. Therefore, it may be far more challenging to refrain from using a time machine ability to change the past with the hope of changing the future.

Time stories are very, very difficult to do well. They tend to fall under one of two results: those done very well, and those that are done very badly. There really isn’t an in-between. This is not only one of the few that does it well, but it’s among the very best that I’ve seen. Perhaps only time stories in the Star Trek universe have been done better.

While all three actors are absolutely fantastic in this series, it’s Jo Jin Woong who is the standout for me. He carries himself beautifully as a dedicated detective who is very uncomfortable with personal advances, such as those we see from Cha Soo Hyun toward him, leading to some absolutely hilarious exchanges between the two of them. He plays a hard-nosed detective who refuses to take guff from anyone, no matter their rank. He’s definitely a very idealistic police officer who still believes in the system and that his job is to bring justice. In many ways, Detective Lee is a true hero.

This is a series that will hold your interest all the way to the end. I had only a slight reservation at the very end, and I thought it was because they might have been leaving the door open for another season, but that wasn’t the case. How did Detective Lee survive/escape his last attack? And are Park Hae Young and Cha Soo Hyun successful in, not only getting to him in time but also able to bring down the corrupt congressman? The answers to the last two questions, we can assume that they do, but the first question is left much more obscure that, frankly, needed an answer. But, neither of these prevented me from being grateful for being able to watch such a fantastic series!

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Truth and Consequences of Korea's Education System

“Crash Course in Romance” is a series that is rock solid through fifteen episodes, and then limps to the finish line with a very mediocre final episode. It was clear that the writers had enough material for fifteen episodes, and then ended up having to come up with some gimmicks to stretch it to sixteen, which is almost always a mistake for a writer to make.

This is a series that is part romance, part thriller, which is something that the Koreans are masters. They are fantastic at utilizing multiple genres within a single series and making it work.

This is a series that seeks to shed light on the obsession with education in Korea. Korea is one of the top countries in education, which obviously accounts for much of the country’s success. But, at what cost? Korea also has one of the highest suicide rates in the world, especially among teens. You’re dealing with tiger moms, worn-out kids, and one of the most competitive cultures in the world.

I am an ESL teacher, and I have lived and worked in Korea, China, and Taiwan in the Asian countries. While education is huge in all three, Korea surpasses the others when it comes to an almost obsessive, compulsive need to be the best. And this series does a tremendous job of exposing the education culture of Korea with the realization that change is needed.

First of all, students in Korea are expected to study from sunrise, and in many cases, until midnight or later. This is true for children as young as 2nd or 3rd grade. I remember asking many of my students on the eve of a long holiday what they planned to do (thinking that they might do something fun). All of them said, “Studying. My parents told me to bring my books on our vacation.” In the series, we see the culture of students in Nam Hae Yi, Bang Soo Ah, and Lee Seon Jae.

Bang Soo Ah has an unhealthy and frenetic outlook on her education. If she doesn’t finish as #1, she sees herself as a failure. But worse than that, she gets angry at those who beat her, feeling that they must have done something wrong or dishonest.

Lee Seon Jae is put under such pressure from his mother, that he ends up doing something terribly wrong.

Second, we have Tiger moms. This a term used to describe mothers who are so obsessed with their children’s education and future, that nothing else matters to them. They will even dictate to teachers what should or shouldn’t be done. We have a number of tiger moms depicted in this series. Of course, they will all state that it’s for their children. This is a lie. These are women who live vicariously through their own kids and use them to achieve social status. Their children are nothing but pawns, and yes, this is a form of child abuse. It’s no less abusive for moms in the west who give little-to-no attention to their kids, not caring what they do or don’t do. That is abuse too. These are two cultures of extremes, where balance is needed. Make no mistake: most children in Asian countries and cultures are never given much of a chance to be a kid. Many of their lives are mapped and planned out for them. They are told who to marry, what job they will do, and what to do every single day. I have spoken with so many native teachers of these countries who say that they hate their education system.

Believe it or not, I actually had a Korean student who was upset with his test scores at school. His own mother told him, “If you can’t do any better than this, then you should throw yourself off the balcony!” Yes, that’s a true story.

In this series, we have tiger moms who will do anything to bring other students down. Other mothers down. In short, there isn’t much they won’t do to ensure that their child is among the elite. Now, you may look at some of the scenes in this series and say, “Goodness! Do those things really happen? Do mothers really do these kinds of things?” Yes, they do. And that is the truth of the harsh reality that virtually nothing depicted in this series is exaggerated.

Choi Chi Yeol is arguably Korea’s top academy math teacher. He’s so popular, that moms and students line up on the street for a chance to get into one of his classes. There’s no doubt that he’s a great teacher, bringing great enthusiasm and passion to his classrooms. However, it’s also apparent that teaching is all there is for him. He can barely eat, and he even sleeps less. And his small, bubble world is finally blown up when he meets Nam Haeng Seon. What’s funny is that Choi Chi Yeol is horrible at remembering people’s names, including those he works with. However, someone is killing anyone who attempts to harm Choi Chi Yeol, and we’re given a pretty good thriller aspect as we try to figure out who it could be.

Nam Haeng Seon is a woman who runs a small side-dish café while raising her niece who was left on Nam Haeng Seon’s doorstep when the girl was only a few years old. It’s clear that Nam Haeng Seon wants the best for her niece, but she wisely allows Nam Hae Yi to choose and create her own path. In short, she’s a supportive mother who isn’t a tiger mom. She’s a perfect balance of supporting Nam Hae Yi without going overboard.

The relationship between Choi Chi Yeol and Nam Haeng Seon is endearing and cute, despite the fact that occasionally, there appears to be little romantic chemistry between the two leads. Don’t get me wrong. Jeon Do Yeon and Jung Kyung Ho are masterful in their roles. But I made me wonder if the fact that Jeon Do Yeon is 10+ years older than her co-star had something to do with it. I’ve seen Jung Kyung Ho in series like “Hospital Playlist” and he’s nothing short of brilliant in this series as well. He’s very believable as the tightly wound and somewhat aloof math teacher. I was also very impressed with Roh Yoon Seo (Nam Hae Yi). This young lady has a bright future ahead of her.

This series was a “10” for me until the last episode. The writers suddenly forced a contrived storyline upon us where Nam Hae Yi’s mother comes back, and she suddenly announces that she’s going to move with her selfish, gold-digging mother to Japan, which comes right out of the blue. Also, it simply doesn’t fit with the character of Nam Hae Yi. Now, one might believe that she did it to protect her aunt and Choi Chi Yeol, but no resolution or discussion is ever made to account for her behavior. It was ridiculous and it didn’t fit with the rest of the story. We also got no real resolution between Lee Seon Jae’s mother and his brother, whom she suspected of being a murderer. A resolution scene there would have gone far, but that came up short as well.

All in all, this was a very nice series to be a part of. I’m glad that someone decided to shed some light on Korea’s issues with the educational system. It’s high time the children stop paying the price for their parents’ obsession with status. This series would have been perfect had it ended after 15 episodes, but even with the lackluster 16th, it’s still a good series!

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Sixteen Episodes With These Delightful Women Just Doesn't Seem Like Enough!

You know you’ve come across a hit ensemble cast of characters when you’re equally vested in all three of them. In other words, you never find yourself sighing and wishing that the story would go back to the one character you like the most. This is far rarer than people realize. As far as ensemble casts go, the only other K-drama I can find myself saying this about would be “Hospital Playlist.”

Three women from different backgrounds live together. They all work in the entertainment industry. Eun Jung Lee runs a production company, and she finds herself working on a documentary about actress, So Min Lee. Jin Joo Im is a screenwriter who is initially working for a more famous and seasoned screenwriter, until she realizes that their ideas are very different, and she has the courage to branch out on her own. And finally, we have Han Joo Hwang, who works for a small production company, at first as a marketing director, but soon as a producer herself. All three women are thirty.

Eun Jung Lee is the glue of the trio. She’s sharp, independent, and finds herself struggling to deal with a personal tragedy. The love of her life recently died of a terminal illness. She sees him everywhere and even engages in conversations with him. If you have ever had to deal with the loss of a loved one, you can easily sympathize with Eun Jung. And while she’s a strong woman, especially when dealing with anyone who tries to bring her or anyone else down, the cracks in her armor are growing by the day until she finally decides to seek some professional help. Eun Jung is the mother hen, and we can determine that she’s always been this way. Her brother, who lives with the them, is a gay man, and it becomes painfully obvious that their parents never accepted him. In short, Eun Jung has always felt compelled to be the pillar of strength for those closest to her. But here is the age-old truth: you can’t take care of anyone else until you first learn to take care of yourself. You have to be the priority.

Jin Joo is a woman who has the courage to face the unknown; to strike out and become and independent screenwriter. Of course, it helps to have the encouragement of friends, but when she meets film director Beom Soo Son, he helps her become more confident in herself. She is the most cautious member of the group, who isn’t as prone to simply “jump in” to a new romance or situation. Having got out of a long-term relationship, we can see why she’d be hesitant to start another one. But then again, life is about risk. Love is about risk, and you can never get anywhere in life by sitting on the sidelines where it’s safe and secure.

Finally, we have Han Joo Hwang, who arguably has more life experience than the previous two. She found herself in love at a young age, had a son, and suddenly found herself all alone when her husband divorced and left her high and dry. Now, as a seasoned marketing director, she takes on a young intern in Jae Hoon, and does her best to pass along what life wisdom she has to help him navigate his own romantic problems. While it becomes obvious that Jae Hoon is infatuated with Han Joo—and we can also see that Han Joo is a bit smitten with him as well—she already knows that getting involved with Jae Hoon is a bad idea. First of all, she’s his boss at work. And second of all, Jae Hoon has a lot to learn about himself and how to be in a relationship. There is a very touching scene in the last episode in which Han Joo maps out perfectly Jae Hoon’s most recent relationship that ended badly and why it failed. Han Joo already knows, that even if they were to enter into a relationship, Jae Hoon would end up treating her the same as he had his previous girlfriend, and Jae Hoon realizes this.

This series is about three women who navigate life’s ups and downs. In some ways, life is like a big K-drama, starring you and those around you, and those with whom you have friendships and relationships. It’s about dealing with one crisis and preparing yourself as best you can for the next one. In a show, you as the writer and director control and dictate what happens to your characters as well as the situations they are in. In life, you can only control yourself. However, in both, you still have to deal with moments of happiness and moments of disappointment and learn how to move on. It’s human behavior. It’s life! And this show does a fantastic job of mirroring life within the confines and world of this sweet and often touching, drama.

And, yes, that also means enjoying yourself and not following some arbitrary rules. As soon as you try to grasp love and life by putting rules and boundaries upon them, you’ve already failed to realize that life and love are like the wind. They are there to be enjoyed, not to be harnessed and held onto. Jin Joo and Beom Soo make this mistake when they try to separate work and love by some silly rules.

Performances in this series are rock solid across the board. As with so many K-dramas, we have hilarious moments, cute moments, and heartfelt moments. We find ourselves cheering for most of the characters, and by the end of the series, we can say that they have come out the other side of things pretty well. But life isn’t about stopping or sitting on our laurels, thinking we’ve finally crossed a finish line. There is no finish line. There is always the next thing. Bruce Lee once stated that a plateau in life makes a nice, brief rest stop, but don’t ever stay there. You have to keep going. And by the end of the series, you are confident that our three protagonists have already come to that realization.

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Cherish Those Wonderful Moments!

I will be honest. This coming-of-age romantic comedy/drama surprised me. I thought it was going to be another one of those typical young romance stories, but the writer threw a few curveballs that I didn’t see coming.

Na Bo Ra is a young high school girl whose best friend, Kim Yeon Do, is headed to the US for heart surgery. Given how advanced Korean medicine is, I was a little surprised that she had to go so far, but I quickly let it go. Kim Yeon Do also briefly meets Baek Hyun Jin who helps her, and she, of course, immediately falls head over heels for him. Since she is going to be away for a while, Yeon Do asks Bo Ra to find out everything she can about her new, prospective love.

We’ve seen this situation dozens of times in stories like this one as Bo Ra follows Baek Hyun Jin around the school—sometimes with hilarious moments—in order to gather information for her friend. It is 1999 and emailing is slowly becoming the way of communication, and Bo Ra sends her friend emails with updates and information about Baek Hyun Jin. Bo Ra also finds herself speaking with Hyun Jin’s best friend, Poong Woon Ho, who is a confident, but somewhat withdrawn boy who enjoys photography.

I figured was going to begin as another typical storyline, gave me my first curveball. The writer brilliantly decided to use the “mistaken identity” ploy, and it works really well here! Bo Ra finds herself infatuated with Woon Ho, which she figures is all well and good. After all, her friend is in love with Hyun Jin, who doesn’t interest Bo Ra at all. But Hyun Jin becomes interested in her. But that isn’t where the twist begins. When Yeon Do returns, we find out that she’s in love with Woon Ho because he was wearing Hyun Jin’s jacket at the time they met, which had Hyun Jin’s name tag on it. Hence, we now have two girls in love with the same guy. Of course, this crushes Bo Ra, who is now trying her best to prove to her friend that she is NOT in love with Woon Ho, and thus, she steps aside.

The moments between Bo Ra and Woon Ho are sweet and endearing, as it’s clear that these two have real chemistry. Bo Ra isn’t necessarily a wallflower and even takes the initiative to ask Woon Ho out on a date. This occurs right before Yeon Do reveals the truth about the object of her affections. We have tender moments of Bo Ra and Woon Ho eating ice cream, Woon Ho helping a drunk Bo Ra on a field trip, and an especially precious moment under a plum tree.

I was a bit put off by Yeon Do’s reaction when she finds out the truth of Bo Ra’s feelings for Woon Ho. After all, it wasn’t entirely Bo Ra’s fault regarding the mistaken identity. But Yeon Do quickly redeems herself when she realizes that Woon Ho is also in love with Bo Ra, and she encourages her friend to not let anyone stand in her way.

Woon Ho’s mother and brother live in New Zealand, and his father sends him back to the country. We aren’t given an explanation as to why, but it’s here that we get a tearful goodbye between Woon Ho and Bo Ra at the train platform as he sets off. I love how Koreans emote. It always feels so genuine and heartfelt, and we feel the pain of separation as Woon Ho sobs as the train pulls away, and Bo Ra is also left sobbing on the platform.

In the final act of the film, we get another major twist. Woon Ho and Bo Ra are able to maintain contact (only via email) until some time after the new year. Bo Ra is entering college, and we can only assume that Woon Ho is doing the same. Woon Ho vows to return to Korea to be with Bo Ra, but suddenly, all communication stops. Bo Ra’s emails go unanswered, and even when she attempts to call his pager, there is no response. Believing that Woon Ho has lost interest, she angrily and tearfully leaves a message and vents her frustrations, vowing to never want to see or speak with him again.

Now, I’ve seen enough movies and shows over 45+ years to recognize when something is up, and I had a strong suspicion that something happened to Woon Ho. Given his love and devotion for Bo Ra, there was no way he would lose interest. Of course, as a somewhat insecure young woman just out of high school, Bo Ra’s reaction wasn’t a surprise either. The last thing she would suspect is that something tragic has taken place.

Sure enough, as we jump some fifteen or twenty years later, Woon Ho’s brother contacts Bo Ra and invites her to a photography exhibit. Bo Ra is shocked to see that nearly every photograph on display has something to do with her. And it is here that Woon Ho’s brother tells her that Woon Ho died back in 2001.

I found two things frustrating about the ending, despite not really having a major issue with it. First, I don’t care who you are, when you find out that someone has died—especially someone close to you—you want to know how it happened. And Bo Ra never asks the obvious question, and Woon Ho’s brother never tells her. I’ve had close friends pass away in the last few years, and my first thought is, “What happened? How did they die?” And when someone dies young, it’s frankly, a very obvious question.

And second, I wish they’d extended the ending a bit more. More talk and conversation between Bo Ra and Woon Ho’s brother would have been nice. I’m sure Bo Ra would have had a million questions about him. But the exchange is much too brief given the situation. I’d be curious what ended up on the cutting floor during this sequence.

I saw Kim Yoo Jung in “Backstreet Rookie” which was a disappointment. My only minor criticism is when she cries. Her wailing and sobbing almost felt forced at times. Older Bo Ra—played by Han Hyo Joo—felt much more tender and real. Perhaps because Hyo Joo is older and a much more seasoned actress. As she sits and watches the videos that Woon Ho made from years ago, it was much easier to empathize with her.

The movie reminded me a little bit of the classic film “The Man In the Moon,” a story of two sisters who fall in love with the same boy, which ends tragically. Part of me wished this film had more depth like that movie, especially in the end. However, the fantastic acting of Han Hyo Joo and Byun Woo Suk (Woon Ho) really made the ending powerful and heartfelt.

This was a film that was much better than I thought it would be. There is something that has always captivated me regarding good coming-of-age stories and romances. Perhaps because many of these stories involve first-time experiences that come from a place of innocence and childlike wonder. And they are always heartbreaking when tragedy occurs. But then, that’s life, isn’t it? Not every romance will have a “happily ever after” ending.

Perhaps the message here is to cherish the time you have with loved ones. Don’t take them for granted because you never know when time is suddenly up. Relationships are about moments, however brief or long they may be.

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Motherhood and Assassin Clash in This Great Romp!

I find it interesting that so many viewers are complaining about the ending, and why it feels incomplete. I guess you have to have been around for 45+ years, watching movies and shows to understand that an ending that feels incomplete is because there’s another part on the way. Another episode or another movie. It really isn’t that hard to figure out.

Kill Bok Soon is a very good film about a Gil Bok Soon, one of the best assassins of the MK guild. They call them companies, but I think a guild is more accurate. She’s deadly and she brings light humor to her personality. She smirks and lightly banters with her victims in a way that tells them, “This is business. It’s not personal.” What makes this story compelling is that she also has a teenage daughter. And it becomes obvious, very quickly, that her daughter has no idea what she does for a living, and she aims to keep it that way. And there is, of course, some compelling reasons why Bok Soon shields her daughter from her life.

Bok Soon is nearing the end of her contract, and the guild wants her to renew with them. She’s seriously considering retiring. However, can a rogue assassin who is as good as Bok Soon be allowed to simply retire?

Cha Min Kyu is the top assassin of the MK guild. And make no mistake, his skills outrival even Bok Soon’s as we see him take down 30+ Russians in a massacre. His sister, Cha Min Hee is the director of the MK guild, and she views Bok Soon as more of a liability than an asset since her announcement. It’s also obvious that she doesn’t care much for Bok Soon, which makes you also wonder if she knows the secret between Bok Soon and Cha Min Kyu.

Bodies pile up rapidly as it becomes apparent that it’s a fatal mistake to underestimate or even to target Bok Soon. She’s also not stupid. She knows what’s going to happen before it does, even running through probable scenarios in her mind—which play out on the screen in expert fashion. She will also use any item as a weapon. There’s no such thing as fighting fair in a fight, and Bok Soon is a master of this realization. It’s kill or be killed. There’s no room for apologies.

Jason Bourne is still one of my all-time favorite assassins because he’s just as smart as he is deadly. He’s like a grandmaster chess player who is always several moves ahead of his opponents, as well as being able to adapt to his situation with mere seconds of contemplation. Bok Soon is similar in this regard.

That cast is all top-notch, especially Jeon Do Yeon, who is very believable as the assassin Bok Soon. She’s also masterful at giving us a mom who is trying very hard to understand her teenage daughter, and why being a parent is even harder than being an assassin.

As I stated from the beginning, they certainly left the door open for another film, and I would be very surprised if another one isn’t made. Especially given how Bok Soon’s daughter reacts after finding out the truth about her mother. We were left to wonder how she would react to her mother upon finding out who she really is and what she really does. And what is intriguing is that we some elements of a young Bok Soon in her own daughter.

This was a fun film to watch. It’s well-written and well-performed. The fight scenes were all exceedingly well choreographed. Thank God these actors and actresses do their own stunt work, as it makes the scenes all the more believable and intriguing. Looking forward to the next one!

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A Light and Wonderful Coming of Age Series!

This is a very delightful and light coming-of-age series about a young girl, Kuronuma Sawako, who is given the nickname “Sadako” because her appearance resembles the creepy ghost girl from “The Ring.” Her hair is long and straight, and rather unflattering to go with a pale and unassuming complexion. She’s a very shy girl who speaks in a soft voice and doesn’t speak ill of anyone, even those who are put off by her.

While Sawako lacks confidence in herself, she’s actually not afraid to pursue and do things, which is one of the things that I found very appealing as well as refreshing about her character. Too often, the shy girl is also a doormat who has to be poked and prodded into doing literally everything. Sawako isn’t that way. She volunteers for jobs, and she actually has no problem interacting with people who interact with her.

It is clear from the start that Sawako only has eyes for Kazehaya Shota, the most popular boy in the school. Kazehaya isn’t put off by Sawako’s shy demeanor, and it’s clear that he endeavors to treat everyone—whether they are popular or not—the same. He’s not conceited or uptight. He has a charming smile and disposition that makes it easy to understand why he’s so popular, especially with the girls.

Sawako quickly makes friends with Yano Ayane and Yoshida Chizuru. What I like about these two girls is that they are quick to stand up for Sawako, even at risk of being ridiculed. I’ve seen many stories with bullying, and it was refreshing to see the proper way for friends to interact and be there for each other. Kazehaya is also someone who is intolerant of bullying.

While the story centers on Sawako and Kazehaya, it’s actually the ensemble group of characters that makes this series appealing. I found myself just as invested and interested in Yano and Yoshida, which was pleasantly surprising to me. Yano is a girl who’s a bit shy herself, and also lacks the resolve to push herself to be the best she can be. She’s had a number of relationships, but they always turn out bad, which leaves her to wonder if she will ever find true love. Chizuru is the fiery, and somewhat temperamental member of the group. But, she is also fiercely loyal and will always have her friends’ backs no matter what. Chizuru finds herself having to grow up in terms of how she sees love. At first, she’s strongly infatuated with Ryu’s—her longtime friend and classmate—much older brother. It takes her some time to realize that the love of her life has always been right there beside her.

The series is a well-done coming-of-age series about the pains and struggles of high school as we see these characters trying to cope and deal with uncertain futures, new and lost loves, and trying to figure out how—and even if—they can maintain a future together while each of them sets off to pursue college and the next phase of their lives.

I also really enjoyed the character of Arai Kazuichi, the homeroom teacher for this group. He’s humorous, light, and encouraging. A true teacher is always looking to instill confidence in his/her students. To encourage them to push the boundaries and not be afraid to pursue their dreams. As an ESL teacher, this is a mindset I’ve always had with my students. And I really loved his interactions with Yano. Sometimes, it only takes one person to believe in you to provide you with the confidence to move forward; to never settle, and to do whatever it takes to fulfill your dream. There aren’t many things in this world quite so tragic as dreams left unrealized because of the lack of courage to take the chance.

The series is light and full of hope that each of these characters at least has a strong chance to fulfill their dreams and live the lives they desire. And while the series may be a bit short on realism, so what! We can all use an uplifting boost to remind us that none of us should ever settle for anything. Always reach for the stars!

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Best Story about Possession Since "The Exorcist!"

Not since “The Exorcist,” one of the best horror films ever made, has a series captured the sheer horror and terror of possession like “The Guest.” Park Il-Do, a particularly sadistic serial killer, finds his evil spirit lingering and waiting to possess and wreak havoc upon the innocent. However, Park Il Do doesn’t work alone. He has minions who possess and work under him as he attempts to break down and destroy Hwa Pyung Yoon with the hopes of possessing “the perfect vessel.”

With unlikely allies in Detective Gil Young Kang, and Father Choi Yoon (Matthew), Hwa Pyung Yoon struggles to protect the innocent and free the possessed while hoping to track down and destroy Park Il Do once and for all.

We find out early on that virtually Hwa Pyung Yoon’s entire family was killed by Park Il Do as well as the families of Detective Kang and Father Matthew. It is these tragedies that bring and bind them together with a common cause: to destroy Park Il Do. Detective Kang’s mother, a policewoman, was killed while saving a young Choi Yoon. And Choi Yoon’s brother was possessed and went on a killing rampage. When they find out about Hwa Pyung’s past and his connection with Park Il Do, they blame him for the deaths of their family members.

Detective Kang is a hard-nosed, hot-tempered detective who carries the death of her mother within her heart and soul, as she was there that fateful night, and filled with guilt about how she treated her mother.

Father Matthew is similar to Detective Kang, as he attempts to find some solace in becoming a Catholic priest. Despite his livelihood, it’s clear that he is also a loner and harboring great pain stemming from that terrible night.

Hwa Pyung comes across as a simple man with a kind, but courageous heart as he fights to free people from possession. A gifted medium, he can often see what is transpiring or is about to transpire, making him a valuable asset. However, it’s his ability to connect with people, which both Kang and Matthew sorely lack.



The series if filled with horrific scenes of possessed people slaughtering the innocent, and often with great delight, as well as scenes of self-dismemberment as the possessed also routinely stab themselves in the right eye, which is a signature of Park Il Do’s influence and presence. I found the episodes involving the little girl particularly disturbing, as it is always challenging to see a child’s innocence and purity being used in such a twisted and vile way.

The series does not require that you believe in Christianity or spirits or possessions. The writers clearly bank on the fact that the audience will find the story compelling, and perhaps frightening enough so that the religious aspects aren’t a problem.

This is a gripping thriller that has the viewer guessing all the way up to the last episode, which person is being possessed by Park Il Do, and of course, how our three heroes will endeavor to stop him. And yet, at the same time, we also find that love always triumphs over evil as Hwa Pyung, not only fights to save the life of his grandfather, but also his two dearest friends in Detective Kang and Father Matthew, while renewing their own faith that love and friendship are not weaknesses but strengths.

I was also happy that the series stuck to the heart of the story without any needless romantic incursions or distractions that would hinder the plot.

The series was done five years ago, and the way things ended, one can’t help but wonder if a second season was possible. Even if it doesn’t happen, this is a fantastic, edge-of-your-seat thriller that will not disappoint!

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