When there is something wrong, there really is something bound to happen

You know when there is something wrong, something is really bound to happen. That is basically what the movie is trying to convey, as with all disaster films.

What I liked the most here was that it developed the characters quite well. The first part which introduces the characters is a must and is the most common choice to start with disaster movies. In a sense, it might be a cliche, but for this case, it was not. As a result, it was not boring since their own stories were introduced one by one, and the overlapping of said people made sense in determining their respective connections with each other. I also liked that there were several perspectives shown here: the hotel workers/management, the guests, and their eventual life saviors/rescuers. At this point, the mood was still happy as it was Christmas Eve.

The pacing was rather expected but still entertaining. It was Christmas Eve, the busiest night at the Sky Tower. Of course, the priority was to serve the guests the best way possible, which lead to the negligence of the structural flaws that was fueled by an accident. The mood shift towards thrill and suspense was naturally executed. They were now facing a pandemonium with several dilemmas thrown here and there, again which is common in this type of movie.

My criticism here would be the overtly focus on the emotional aspect and its drama, which is already a norm in Korean disaster films. On most cases, the drama part would be good in tugging my heartstrings, but in here, I just found it to be too much and overshadows the story itself. The addition of what was an attempt to black comedy in the middle of a serious scene was just not properly timed. It rather made me confused as to what direction this movie wanted to go at that point. Furthermore, the ending was just adequate in terms of closing the story of the characters here, but it would have made more sense had it shown if were there any consequences on this disaster by the government to the hotel's owners since they were basically shrugged off (or maybe the film just wanted to show the loose punishment for the rich in Korean society, in this case, it was poorly done.)

On the other hand, the cinematography here was actually great for 2012. As I have already watched some of the newer Korean disaster movies with more sophisticated CGI, I had to adjust my lens to a 2012 perspective. The scenery and setting (the hotel itself), as much as it was fake, was still believable and was integrated with the plot quite successfully. You won't be able to easily spot the CGI at first glance, and the cinematic effects/music timing were also well done.

In the end, it was a decent movie with complete check points on what a disaster movie should be. It didn't show a new perspective in terms of the disaster aside from it happening on a Christmas Eve. But as most movies in this genre, when there is something wrong, there really is something bound to happen.

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Offered no original story, but definitely offered great comedy

Crash Landing On You meets Joint Security Area added with a comedic twist. I was reminded on these shows while watching 6/45. Basically, this movie replaces Yoon Se-ri from CLOY with a lottery ticket that lands in North Korea, while diffuses the aggresive tension between the North and South Korean soldiers when they met in contrast to JSA.

6/45 was nice in that it builds up the plot gradually. It introduced its main characters, the South Korean soldier Park Chun-woo (Go Kyung-pyo) and his North Korean counterpart Ri Yong-ho (Lee Yi-kyung), in a proper yet funny manner. Although the progression of the storyline itself was somewhat slow in the first half, the comedic tension between the two provided relief. Their encounters were already funny in itself, and when more people now knew about the lottery ticket on both sides, it became more hilarious, my stomach actually was hurt. Personally, the funniest side character was the most unexpected one. I was just gasping for air during his moments, and at times overshadowing some of his superiors in terms of execution of his comedic lines.

Was waiting for a shocking ending, but I was glad it ended the way it did, for the most part. Honestly, I can't say that I was fully satisfied with the ending maybe because of some loose parts. First, the movie could've created more build-up and screentime to the "villain" since honestly his characterization was just more of a story filler rather than part of the story itself. Second, the "romance" sub-plot ended rather vague, although it is possible due to the present circumstances of the two Koreas.

It is more satisfying to watch this movie without any expectations, since the comedy itself presented here is not new nor innovative. The story may be simple and at times hysterical, but what I appreciated the most here was the great comedic timing with the most hilarious delivery possible. Furthemore, I think that the humor in this movie would be appreciated more for those with background on inter-Korean politics and military and would try to imagine a funny film scenario about it, since 6/45 fits the criteria quite well. Otherwise, it is highly suggested to skip this.

After the post credits scene was shown, I had an ear to ear smile while also being curious as to what happened to all of them next. Generally, I had a fun time even though I was just expecting that I would pass time watching this movie. 6/45 offered no original story, but definitely offered great comedy.

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Peaceful revenge can also be a great revenge

Peaceful revenge. This is a concept that is foreign in a Kdrama, especially when usually exposed to the typical vengeful revenges themes. It makes one wonder how does it work, whether it can be done, and if so, is it satisfying? 부암동 복수자들 (Buam-dong Revenge Club/Avenger Social Club) is the best example to watch in order to familiarize oneself about this unusual concept.

It was obvious that there would be a difficulty to form such club at the beginning, especially when its members are from different walks of life, yet live just almost near to each other (Note: Buam-dong is a neighborhood in Seoul). They had a rough patch to start with and I really felt the awkwardness on their first interactions with each other (episodes 1-2). However, not only that it was very funny, but at the same time made me think on those times when I was also on their shoes.

The succeeding episodes, not only that they were very entertaining and just made me laugh nonstop, but I loved how it was paced cleverly and it was able to successfully portray their individual life stories, and most especially, the bond that they have formed through this club. It was made easier with the great chemistry of the cast themselves.

But all were not in smiles when this show now started to gradually revealed the reasons why these people wanted to pursue their respective revenges. Add to that, their background stories which were sad to say the least, added more substance to the story overall and I was very interested on how they would overcome their specific burdens. I was emotionally-invested in how these seemingly weak ajummas (and haksaeng) defy odds and have their character developments along the journey.

It was also great that it was only for 12 episodes which made the plot itself more cohesive because and didn't gave any opportunity away to drag the story further, which I commend. My questions throughout the show were answered satisfactorily and not just in a rushed way. It was also able to close several arcs without any loose ends.

My "minor" complaint is the deus ex machina particularly toward the finale but still done in a brilliantly comedic way. The reason why I said minor is that at first glance, I overlooked these conveniences in how they were able to overcome their challenges since it was almost covered up by the comedy, but looking back, I just couldn't glance over it. Another letdown is that the build-up towards the finale was excellent yet the finale itself was almost anticlimactic and their ultimate revenge to the villains was rushed. Personally, I would've loved more had their smoking gun created a bigger impact towards the results. For me, it may be safe and somewhat boring since it dealt more on the after effects rather than the final revenge itself yet was still satisfied with the outcome.

Moving forward, maybe this brand of revenge may also be applied to future Kdramas as opposed to the currently prevalent dark and gruesome revenge stories out there. But I also want this particular Kdrama to have this unique approach to justice, which I haven't seen anywhere else. This show proved that a peaceful revenge can also be a great revenge.

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Clueless girls being oppressed, thus silenced

Started slow with steady mystery build-up that ended on an abrupt screenplay shift. This is primarily this movie's substance.

Joo-ran/Shizuko (Park Bo-young) was sent to an all-girl's boarding school outside of Seoul but was actually a sanatorium, and the sudden change of her environment made her into a quiet and shy student. Her adjustment was slow but expected, which also made the story slow. The plot really picked up its pace when mysterious events are now happening and she was always the witness and her body now somewhat feels stronger, which was unusual since she has tuberculosis when she first arrived.

The horror and thriller parts could've been made more suspenseful and even with the "terrifying" background music plus "chilling" camerawork on scenes where jumpscares were almost certain, it failed to scare me even a bit which was odd for someone that is easily spooked. Furthermore, the pacing of the story could've been made more tense by adding more scenes that would've made me anxious even at the beginning of the story, since as what I mentioned earlier, it was not really mysterious and I didn't know that this was a mystery horror movie. But still, there was a steady build-up of mystery on the unusual events that occured on said school/sanatorium.

This movie's highlight would probably be the "sismance" between Joo-ran/Shizuko and Yeon-deok/Kazue (Park So-dam). Their relationship was portrayed to be just close friends but their chemistry was too strong to think that maybe they were more than friends. It was Yeon-deok/Kazue that really helped Joo-ran/Shizuko adjust to the school life as well as rediscover her old bubbly self. I was more emotionally-invested in them than the plot itself.

The mystery itself was not a mystery anymore, as I knew already what it is based on the context clues scattered in several scenes. However, I was shocked more on the basis of said mystery which was correlated to the time setting of the movie, and I was now able to get the relevance why it was set during the Japanese occupation of Korea. This was not only really a tragedy-in-the-making for the clueless and innocent students of the school, particularly to Joo-ran who had now experienced something strange in her body but also eerie since the school's headmistress Kato Sanae (Uhm Ji-won) has no remorse on what she has done, and will do everything just to be recognized as a loyal citizen of the Japanese empire, even at the expense of her Joseon compatriots.

After watching this movie, I was confused as to why is it called "The Silenced" when it wasn't really explained throughout its run? My interpretation would be based on its premise of having clueless girls being oppressed, thus silenced.

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Watch it not for the story, but for its perfectly-amplified tension

Kang In-gu (Ha Jeong-woo) is a simple father who just want to provide the best for his family by doing business abroad. Jeon Yo-han (Hwang Ju-min) is a pastor, who at a first glance, seems to be passionate in delivering the word of God, is actually masquerading not only as a drug lord, but is THE drug lord of Suriname. Choi Chang-ho (Park Hae-soo) is a law enforcement agent who wants to catch the pastor and end specific drug cartel before it enters the Korean market. The three main characters reflect the different facets that were emphasized in this series: money, drugs, and justice, respectively.

After becoming familiar with the backstory of the main characters particularly with In-gu, I was intrigued with how this will pan out in terms of who he would side with at the end. Also, with Chang-ho's stoic character, I was anxious whether he was an ally or another Pastor Jeon. The intensity of having to wait the definite morality of these characters is what made me hooked on the first 2 episodes. Narco-Saints tries to convey that money is really hard to resist as well as the drug (cocaine) business itself, which Pastor Jeon even described as "natural blessing from God."

The plot itself was not really deep and at times, predictable even with the twists. Emphasis on the drug, guns, action, and betrayals though was spontaneous and executed well for the most part. Since this was encapsulated into just 6 episodes (which I think is Netflix standard) suspense and thrill on every character's actions and their next steps towards closing the "deal" were most commonly felt. The action scenes were intense and gripping. Most importantly and I think is this show's highlight, the tension was high all throughout which was amplified more during the last three episodes. It was perfect in that sense and is the main reason I just can't stop watching on the screen.

The production quality was great in that I only found later on that this was actually filmed in Dominican Republic instead of Suriname itself. Imagine the attention to detail given in making the location believable, especially when both countries speak different languages. I was amazed by that fact. Even with the obvious CGI (helicopters, fighting jets), it wasn't really distracting. The color grading though, is very typical in genres like this. One gripe would be the transition between the fight scenes which was passable at best, shaky at worst.

I thought that it would also have an open ending (which unfortunately is now becoming a Netflix Korea trend), but I appreciated that the main story was aptly closed. However, the side plot on the cult part with the other members "trapped" inside it was just forgotten after a build up on episode 3? What happened to the little girl who went to In-gu for help? How about the other members of the church/cult who remained? What happened next to the lady deacon?

Also perhaps an unpopular opinion but I wasn't really able to follow the English conversations with Ha Jung-woo and Hwang Jung-min. At first, I had to increase volume to maximum to hear them, but still wasn't able to fully understand. Had to rely to context clues on specific conversations where they spoke in English. To be fair, English is quite difficult for a native Korean speaker to even learn, and them speaking it despite the "difficulty" speaks their passion and love for their craft. Personally, I ought not judge because English is also not my first language. My suggestion would be for Netflix (or any other streaming platform) to still put English subtitles for English dialogues in the future.

Overall, a seemingly passable action series that was really carried by the characters and their individual goals. I really liked that the main story ended without cliffhangers, yet questions about some aspects of the plot weren't answered (for me, not a reason for a season 2.) Watch it not for the story, but for its perfectly-amplified tension.

P.S. I did a background check on the story which inspired this series, and it was actually more dangerous and even dramatic with what was shown, at least for the real person where In-gu was based on. I suggest you do the same, and do some comparisons between the drama and the real-life event.

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Nothing more, nothing less

This is a great background movie, but just simple if watched thoroughly.

As the title mentioned, I thought that there would be a real emphasis on the use of social media (in this case, Facebook), as to how the plot would progress, especially on its introduction. I was confused on the interconnection of the characters at first, and even though I was able to know more of them as minutes went by, I felt "down" since I initially felt that there would be more interaction amongst their individual plots by the usage of the social media platform. Social media in itself here in this context felt afterthought. This is my breakdown as to how it was utilized for this movie between the 3 subplots:

a. Jin-woo and Kyeong-a - I will "dissect" them first since the bulk of the movie focused on their relationship; Facebook was somewhat helpful in that Jin-woo used it to stalk Kyeong-a's timeline. I think this is passable in terms of its relevance to the plot since we have to admit that we use social media to visit or even stalk a person's timeline/page, as what Jin-woo did here. Also, since this is where most of the scenes were focused, I have to say that I found this subplot to the better of the 3, and the acting and chemistry added more substance.

b. Su-ho and Na-yeon - in contrast to the first subplot, I felt that this was the most underutilized in terms of screen time, yet it had the most sense in terms of the usage of social media as the platform for their relationship to bloom; it was gutsy for Na-yeon to have the "first move" to Su-ho, knowing that he is a "relationship virgin" and as much as it felt rushed in terms of their progression as a couple, their ending was adequate and what I wanted it to be.

c. Seong-chan and Joo-ran - this is where it got tricky for me since I actually thought that they were exes, thanks to how Seong-chan acted childish when he saw Joo-ran as the stewardess on his flight, but then it was revealed that she was just actually his landlord and I felt weird about that. They had cohabitation after some circumstances, introduced Joo-ran to a Facebook friend for a date, and then realized that she had feelings for him after all, standard romantic movie plot blah blah. Nothing new, nothing old.

The climax of this movie which is the airport scene, felt too rushed again since the outcomes of their own stories are already evitable, but it was wise for Jin-woo to use Facebook to be able to confess his love to Kyeong-a since that is the main point of using social media as this movie's plot. Other than that, the other 2 plots were able to end their respective stories in a simple, predictable, and adequate ways. Shocking.

I think the saving grace for this movie was the acting and chemistry between the actors on their respective plots, otherwise I just played it in the background while doing something else, yet I was still able to understand the plot (as simple as it is) and just waited for it to end. I would have liked it more had more interaction between the 3 subplots especially in the ending, or somewhere in the movie happened, but this is just a personal preference.

This movie would be recommended as a background movie, or if you're in a mood to watch something just to pass time, as the plot is simple (though I'm disappointed for the not-much emphasis of social media as per its title), doesn't need any complicated scenes to make impact, and the ending, as cute and cheesy as it is, was predictable and okay.

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Ridiculous whirlwind of emotions every episode...for 129 episodes

NOTE: The term "ridiculous" may appear quite often in this review, but with a good reason.

Do not be fooled by its number of episodes, and most notably do not be fooled by the plot's superficiality.

For this kdrama, I divided it into 3 parts:
a. Pre-revenge (eps 1-44) - it was adequate at best, too drawn-out at worst; I would have liked it more had it been lessened at least 5 eps to make it more less filler-y, but it was done great too as it was able to present the dilemma of Eun-jae and convinced me to follow Eun-jae's revenge plot. Girl really experienced A LOT, and it is not even exaggeration. Honestly, I would have done my revenge just like her if I were in her shoes, and on the same circumstances.

b. Revenge (eps 45-90) - THE MOST EXCITING PART of this series, and really its core. Really the epitome of "makjang". I was just hooked (that's coming from an experienced makjang viewer). If you don't like to watch the pre-revenge part, just skip to ep 45 or even to ep 49 towards the tango scene (if you know what i mean). The "revelation" was just chef's kiss.

c. Post-revenge (eps 91-129) - it would be better to subdivide it into 3 subparts; it's just too many spoiler alerts but you will get what I mean if you would reach this part. This is where the fruits of Eun-jae's revenge will be reaped, but obviously she won't be able to enjoy it right away due to complications. There are more plot twists, and some more gaslighting. I was somewhat disappointed on the last 4 episodes with how they tried to create a redemption arc for the Kdrama's greatest gaslighter (Ae-ri) and weakest playboy (Gyo-bin) and the problematic So-hee but the last episode was a great way to end this epic kdrama. No wonder why this is often called the "Bible of Makjangs".


Maybe for the plot, not really the most realistic. However, I was actually surprised to not found any plot holes, and the plot itself, as much as it was superficial, but was also adequately coherent for a makjang, which usually focuses more on the emotions rather than the plot itself. At the same time, let me just tell right away that the revenge plot and all subplots surrounding it are just utterly ridiculous, but its proper execution is reason why I was drawn right away to this kdrama.

For more experienced makjang viewers like me, it was already expected that this would have overacting...and as much as I would find it outright silly, but for its plot, it was actually well done by the actors. The angst that I felt for Ae-ri and Gyo-bin (and later, the real So-hee) as well as the awe I felt for Eun-jae made me forget that it was overly acted as maybe because I was emotionally-drawn to this kdrama, was really able to understand the context why they acted like that (both the characters and the actors).

There were some lacking points mainly Geon-woo, but still passable. I just felt that his character was too shallow, and had he been more fleshed out, I would've rooted more for him.

The only time that I felt stable watching this is on the scenes will Kang-jae and Ha-neul. I really wanted more of them just to deflect from all the schemes running around, but unfortunately, it did not happen. Other than that, just pure rollercoaster of emotions is what I felt watching these episodes.

For 2022, it's not the best makjang anymore per se, but really, REALLY paved the way on how makjangs should be properly done.

P.S. This is actually the 1st kdrama I watched in months due to a hiatus, and I was also really in a mood for a "hearty" makjang, so that also affected my "journey" watching this. It's not recommended to watch if in a hurry since 129 episodes does really need some time investment to fully grasp its plot. Also, for non-makjang kdrama viewers, I would advise to skip this...except if you are also scheming for revenge, hehe.

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Sets a high bar for Chinese historical dramas

After watching Nirvana in Fire (which was really great, I still hold upon my review for this show), this drama was what was the most recommened follow up to watch within the same genre. And when I read its synopsis of having a revenge story in a historical setting, I was already hooked. Initially, I watched this for its revenge plot, not knowing what lied ahead.

Chinese FLs tend to be meek, submissive, overtly cute-sy, just a typical Cinderella complex type of character. This is what was on my mind prior to watching this drama. After all, this was based on what I read while scrolling in this review site. It was also one of the reasons why I avoided Chinese dramas for so long. However, Wei Yingluo was the totally opposite of what was mentioned. She came to the Forbidden City with an identity, and remained there still with her identity intact. She didn't allowed the behemoth number of obstacles to fail her mission. She was smart, cunning, cold on the outside but warm on the inside. Genius is a gross understatement for her character.

What I also loved about this drama is its pacing and plot development. The numerous conflicts in the royal harem all throughout its 70-episode run, on paper, could've been boring since it was formulaic at times, but the execution were done really well. There wasn't any deux ex machina involved and the plot twists, were realistic in that a smart person could figure it out, and Yingluo is one such smart person, so... Intriguing is a gross understatement for the story's pacing.

Furthermore, the characters were really fleshed out. One special mention would be Royal Consort Gao, who was as villanous as one can be. But in depth, there was a reason why she was who she was. Her characterization was really thought out well, and she is someone who I will not forget anytime soon. Interesting is a gross understatement for the characters.

Production-wise, this was really one of the better Chinese productions and is comparable to Korean high-budgeted dramas. Its technical aspects (cinematography, lighting, camerawork, music) were aesthetically-pleasing, and enough for a drama. The CGI was actually very decent. But one aspect that I really commend was the wardrobe. It was just divine to watch, and was really able to capture the essence of Qing dynasty fashion. Qing dynasty was not the best among the Chinese dynasties fashion-wise, but this show represented its best attributes very well. It was just ethereal and magnetic in the eyes, except the men hairstyles.

My slight criticism for this drama is that it wasn't able to maintain the intense tension for its last episode. It was still cleverly written since it circled back to the reason why Yingluo entered the Forbidden City in the first place. But, it could've been more impactful, which was what I was expecting. Nevertheless, the ending was still very great, wonderful even.

This show solidified my awe and admiration for Chinese historical dramas. They are as straightforward as they can be. No unneccessary back stories, and focuses on the present dilemmas. There are a plenty of royal shenanigans and betrayals, which is a staple for this genre. Story of Yanxi Palace, for one, sets a high bar for Chinese historical dramas.

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"If my husband is a spy, then I'm the wife of a spy"

Initially, one would ask as to how was this movie greenlit given the Japanese' generally denialist stance on the events of World War II? Then again, it is also refreshing to see their perspective regarding this bitter and painful event of human history. It's even more refreshing that this movie slowly tries to recognize their gruesome role on the war and maybe it can lead to future movies telling the truth of its horror but something that should be remembered for generations to come.

"Wife of a Spy" circles around a married couple - a busy businessman Yusaku (Takahashi Issei) and Satoko (Aoi Yu), amidst the changing and turbulent 1940 Japan. What's more is that the wife's childhood friend, Taiji (Higashide Masahiro), now a squad leader in the military police, is suspecting the husband of being a spy for being "too Westernized".

The first half was a tad bit too long. There could've been scenes removed since it just made me lost on some parts. Yet at the same time, it was intriguing to know what the real story is. But still, its early somber mood was important for what's coming next. This part really showed that ignorance is bliss.

Then, the big reveal happened. Although the incident that was being referred was too vague (in terms of the real historical event), yet it is still important to know that until now, Japan still refuses to fully admit its war crimes.

The clip on an internment camp that was shown, despite brief, but really gave me chills as to how inhumane their military did to the innocent people at that time. It's very ironic to see the smiling barbaric Japanese scientists at one frame yet transitions to the angry but hopeless war prisoners at the next. There was only few violence shown onscreen, but one doesn't have to imagine what dreadfulness that the Japanese empire did to its enemies, even if it was its own people.

But at the same time, I really liked how the music at the second part upped the tension and thrill on the succeeding scenes. This is despite the no to little background music at the start. This could've balanced out the storyline and created equal tension already.

The last 30 minutes of this movie was just too exhilarating for me as the viewer, but nerve-wracking for the leads. Each scene was just brilliant, and the plot twist shook me to say the least. It was truly gripping and enthralling.

It's ending might be quite melodramatic, which was a sudden shift from the high tension it had earlier, but was still done well. The note at the end was tricky for sure, as I thought I was watching a biopic but is not.

My biggest gripe for an otherwise great movie is its production value. Originally, this is a TV movie so budget isn't really the main priority, but still, there were very visible production errors noticed:

First, is the sound mixing which was uneven and at times, there was static heard. Second is the setting itself particularly the storage area, where it was obvious that there were modern speakers near the screen. Third, the exterior set was inadequate for a wartime period film. Though for the third point, it may be understandable as Japan is still new in producing movies set in the 40's.

My next gripe was the terrible borderline funny acting of the English-speaking characters, though I do understand that it's because of the availability of actors, but still.

Nevertheless, it's amazing to see that Japan is now ready to face its not-so-good role during the war, even with some nationalism still interjected.

The story maybe focused more on the characters rather than the plot itself, but there's one line from this movie that really stood out for me and perfectly encapsulated this movie's essence: "If my husband is a spy, then I'm the wife of a spy."

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Dark but has sense

I have not been actively venturing out of Kdramaland prior to watching this. The reason I watched this in the first place was due to the disappointment I had with its Korean remake and wanted to know the original version and its story. And I am very glad that I did it.

This is my first Japanese drama ever so I don't have any expectations before watching this except for the story material on which the Kdrama remake was based on. The 11-episode format was actually adequate in order to really flesh out the story. In this case, the 1st half was rather messy in pacing but really did picked up as the storyline progressed and answers were now gradually revealed. The first 6 episodes could've set the tone on what to expect and built up the tension more intensely while Ryo (Kimura Takuya) started to know more about his past. This is where I think the Korean remake had an edge compared to the original, since its 16-episode format allowed ample time to develop the appropriate amount of intensity needed for the story.

However, this is now where the quotes "The original is always better" and "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" comes in. The storytelling was just miles better here than the remake. Despite its pacing issues, it was really able to convey what it wanted it show successfully, even though it was dark. I am planning to make a detailed comparison between this and the Korean remake after making this review, but for now, my comments would be about this show. The Korean one had fundamentally deviated its story from here that it seemed to be diluted at the end. Also, I had questions on the Korean one that were answered here even though the storyline here was simpler.

This was not the darkest show that I've watched, but the darkness here was just utterly sad. Furthermore, what I liked here was that despite it being on the dark zone, the storyline was cohesive enough for me to be able to feel with the characters. Although the show started basically as a puzzle, but it was able to slowly put it piece by piece together and created a depressing yet gratifying story.

Sora Kara on the great scale of dramas that I've watched so far is not among the best and honestly, I doubt that it will leave a long-lasting effect on me. But one thing I realized after watching these is that I am now ready to venture out to discover more Jdramas in the future. The rawness of the emotions portrayed here partially convinced me, especially for someone like me that focuses more on the story rather than the aesthetics.

In conclusion compared to the Korean version, this Jdrama (original) was miles better in that it was dark but has sense.

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If Wild West was set in a Korean prison

NOTE: turn off all of your medical knowledge before watching this Kdrama coming from someone in the healthcare field.

For a person not familiar with the medical, psychiatric, and most especially rehabilitative protocols portrayed here, you will best remember this Kdrama as full of revenge scheming lawlessness coiled with plot twists all over sprinkled with intensified suspense for the duration of its 32-episode run. Personally, I nearly dropped it after the first episode due to its massive protocol breaches and medical logic was just basically thrown off. I wanted to brush it off, but it was too immense not to ignore. Also, I wanted to list all instances were protocols were broken, but it will just take all the space of this review. Again, be thoroughly warned.

Despite said drawbacks, the fast pacing of the story is really to be acclaimed. The plot twists maybe convoluted at times and almost all characters may be morally gray, but it was just not boring. I was hooked by Na Yi-je's (Namgoong Min) revenge plot and the delivery of both the revenge and his acting were just top notch. I liked that the plan was too intricate despite several obstacles. There were many players in this game, and I not know who will definitely win due to the enormous amount of power play in between episodes. But despite of its complexity, the story did not lost its touch even up to the finale. I was already satisfied with the end, no need for the second season unless the story would be as significant as here.

Next, the acting game here was just too outstanding, particularly Lee Jae-joon (Choi Won-young). It's the first time that I saw him play a role different from others, but he was just too memorable a villain. He just shined out all throughout most notably the last episode. On the other hand, because of the great acting here, I found Han So-geum (Kwon Na-ra) to be the "weak link", but that doesn't mean that she was bad here. It may be due to the script and her character or may be it was just the other actors showed greater range of their acting skills in this Kdrama.

The production here was also where I had problems. The prison was too dimly-lighted and I had to move my eyes closer the screen to see the characters. The lighting, since it focused more on the darker color shades, was now more like disco club which did not set well to the story mood. It was too prominent and distracted their dialogues. Also, the music was not in sync with the mood at times. There were instances that the BGM played was light yet they were threatening to bring someone down, which was not appropriate in this context. Basically, not a fan of the production value showed here.

Overall, a very intense fast-paced story that was not dull, however it could've been improved at some, if not many aspects. Yet still, this Kdrama should not be skipped just because of some of my complaints. After all, Doctor Prisoner is a great example of what a Kdrama is if Wild West was set in a Korean prison.

P.S. for the story, I excluded the medical aspect from the score for the overall plot of this show itself.

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Tune in for love, remember it for something else

A seemingly innocent puppy love combined with strong nostalgic 90's music. After the first day of October, 1994, Mi-soo's (Kim Go-eun) and Hyeon-woo's (Jung Hae-in) lives were never the same again. It was almost certain that they are destined for one another, but timing could have never been more wrong. With that, it was also interesting to see how thestory unfolded throughout different parts of their lives.

One thing that stood out here was that I liked about the circumstances that they meet and later reconnected were different, which was realistic and integrated with the technology that was common at that time. First they meet in 1994 while tuning in the radio (basically the meaning of the title), in 1997 with the use of email, and 2000 with the use of mobile phones. But despite the use of technology for their love story to develop, it just wasn't their time yet. Also, them meeting more than once despite now living separately was too coincidental. Yet, what I noticed really well here was their emotions every time they met which helped the atmosphere and story's credibility - it was most often longing with each other, and the ache when they have to separate again. It also emphasized the slowness of this slow-burn romance movie and built this tension as to when and how they would end up together.

It was intriguing while waiting when the right timing is. But when it finally happened, I felt that the thrill disappeared and the pacing became stagnant as they now focused on Hyeon-woo's past, which should've been explained more in detail. I really was curious as to why Hyeon-woo became like that, but there were only tidbits revealed about him and I (the viewer) had to fill in the gaps, which was disappointing. I get that the direction was to be more subtle and nuanced, but it wasn't executed properly well here, since there were still loose ends.

Also, a trope which I did not expect to find here is the martyr complex which often leads to miscommunication. Well, since it was already added to the story, it would've made more sense had it been introduced earlier and not just ramdomly added near the end. Not only that it lost the thrill of the "waiting game" between the two, but it shifted the story angle. Although it was somewhat saved by the cheesy ending, not that I'm complaining since it went back to the roots of their connection. In my prospective thinking, with this type of communication or lack thereof, I doubt that their relationship would succeed in the long run.

I think the highlight for this movie would be the music since it was very fitting with the mood in every scene it was played, and it created more substance to the story. Personally, I felt several emotions every time a song would play. At the start, it was more nostalgic yet sweet and innocent; in the middle it was bittersweet yet still hopeful; and in the end it was romantic and cheesy, just like the story itself.

Overall, a mellow slow-burn romance with great chemistry but the sudden loss of "thrill" on the succeeding parts of their relationship and its almost toxic miscommunication trope (basically the shift of storytelling) diminished the spark that was felt in the beginning. Still, its ending was satisfactorily done so no major complaints aside from the loose ends. Tune in for love, remember it for something else.

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Comfortably uncomfortable

"Am I the only one feeling uncomfortable?" - Crown Prince Lee Yul

At first glance, it is quite uncomfortable that several Kdrama cliches are present here (amnesia, long-lost first love, fake marriage, and palace politics). I'm a viewer that doesn't necessary hate cliches, but hates when these are not executed well, and after the first episode, I realized that maybe there is something intriguing about this Kdrama.

Right off the bat, 100 Days My Prince is not a traditional sageuk. I may still be learning Korean and not be able to grasp contexts in coversations without subtitles, but I have a somewhat passable knowledge about the language used in the royal court as seen on other sageuks. So I was surprised that there were "modern" words/phrases scattered throughout the show, and assuming that we follow the year on which this was set (1450), this shouldn't have been the case.

Now going to the plot. Despite with the cliches, I liked how the story had a steady build-up especially when the crown prince Lee Yul (Do Kyung-soo) now had amnesia, had to change his name to Won-deuk and was "forcefully" married to Hong-shim (Nam Ji-hyun) because of a decree that the crown prince himself introduced which was funny and ironic. Since the crown prince was unfamiliar with the village life as opposed to what he was used to, it was entertaining to see him adjust and assimilate which was basically the bulk of the story. Other than that was the typical palace politics with the scheming of the queen for a new crown prince, and the antagonist (the vice premier) trying to cover up the supposedly murder of the crown prince while there was a weak king in the background, not knowing what to do with the chaos brewing. That was the gist for the majority of this kdrama. There were times that I was bored especially in the midway, but I just couldn't fast-forward it since I was curious as to what will happen next and how it will happen.

I think my interest started declined when the crown prince now came back to the royal palace. It would've made more sense if the reveal was more makjang-y as there were now many cliches, why not add more. The reveal could've been more impactful but in this case, it was more like "okay, moving on" vibes. The relationship now kinda plateaued on episode 12-13 and shifted to a build-up on the evil plans by the vice premier. I said to myself "okay, maybe the finale would be more on the palace stuff since the direction was now going towards it", and was assured that it was the case, but then again no. Also, the subsequent episodes were now longer than usual and now had filler scenes.

The finale was divided into 2 parts: first is the rushed resolution with the vice premier's plot. He shouldn't have met his demise easily and put in trial instead that would result to a hefty punishment. The trap that the vice premier prepared for the crown prince in the form of an "invasion" was weak story-wise, and was basically forgotten after he was dead aside from one battlefield scene. I was curious as to what happened to the instigators of said "invasion" and how did it ended. The second part was even more ridiculous with Hong-shim playing hard to get (when it was too obvious that they both love each other) because of guilt of her brother trying to harm the crown prince, when in fact, it should've been him that feel guilty in behalf of his father, the king which played a part on Hong-shim's real father's death. The fluffy fan service was not unneccesary, but instead of the too long "hard-to-get Hong-shim" scenes, it could've ended with a grand royal wedding with Hong-shim's friends and adoptive father given a chance to wear "noblemen's" clothes, all of them having a good fluffy ending. Side note: it was too foolish for the very pregnant Kkeut-nyeo to be also on the roof while throwing cherry petals to the leads on the last scene, but then again, it was purely for the fan service and not for the logic.

Pacing-wise, I was not sure how the story wanted to go especially on the penultimate episode. The build-up of the 2 main plots were pleasantly paced all thoughout the show, but their respective conclusions at the finale were rather botched. There were also some inconsistencies with the year and age (or maybe the subtitles were wrong?). The saving grace here was the acting of both leads as well as the other characters. It may be an unpopular opinion but I actually felt more chemistry on the second leads (the crown princess and Moo-yeon) and their story, despite being tragedic, was more emotionally-investing than the main leads maybe due to it being a cliche.

"Am I the only one feeling uncomfortable?" was basically the catch phrase of the crown prince all the time. It can also be said when reading the synopsis of this kdrama before watching it as it has full of cliches, just placed in a traditional historical setting (will not call this a sageuk). That uncomfortable feeling could've been replaced by its opposite, yet after the finale, it did not. For this, I feel comfortably uncomfortable.

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Don't mistake it to be a simple sports movie

What seems to be a plain game of 바둑 (baduk) can turn out to be deadly, and with a sprinkle of revenge story, this is basically the movie's synopsis.

I don't have any prior knowledge with baduk. I don't know what I was getting into watching this film except that I just want to watch Jung Woo-sung in my screen. In this movie, he may be playing a "nerdy" character but his body build is too obvious that he is strong physically, even on the first few minutes when his character seemed to be weak. Still, I just can't help but woo.

The introduction was just very gory to witness. The neck slashing, physical and emotional torture, and violence can make one turn off watching the rest of this movie. It really needs guts to be able to proceed watching the next scenes, since the amount of violence greatly increases later on.

When Tae-seok (Jung Woo-Sung) was released from jail after 7 years for being framed up on his brother's death, he was prepared to seek revenge. The preparation for said revenge was amply shown, and it followed several tactics and mind games used in the baduk game itself. I found it to be clever, but still understandable for those without baduk knowledge like me. The enactment of the first few revenge scenes which were parallel with how they did it to him and his brother was not only brutal, but very deserving of them. Yet despite the initial success and meticulous planning, it still doesn't go well with the plan.

Immense amount of machismo is present which is borderline excessive. The only notable female character Navel (Lee Si-young) had a flat storyline and the reason why she ended up indebted to Sal-soo (Lee Bum-soo) was not totally answered. Furthermore, the romance "plot" with Tae-seok, whether a part of the revenge or real romantic feelings were involved, was unneccesary to the story.

The movie's most exciting part which is the last game between Tae-seok and Sal-soo with the action scenes after, is the highlight by far. The pacing and tension of their every calculated move and the emotional manipulation on both sides were very suspenseful. I was surprised that it ended with a draw, as I thought that the "divine move" will be revealed here. Also, the camerawork (motions and angles) seen in the fighting scenes after that game reminded me of the iconic Oldboy fight scene and it was just very pleasant to watch, although it was very bloody and had overemphasis of stabbing and slashing.

Lastly, the open ending was quite okay though I thought that the second movie focused on this ending. A minor gripe was that Tae-seok could've gotten his nephew given his living situation and not just left him money (who knows how it will be used.) I was slightly disappointed that the "Ghost" that played with Tae-seok while he was at jail wasn't revealed (I thought it was Joo-nim/Drinking Christ) and the "divine move" wasn't really a move. Aside from what I mentioned, the story still ended amicably.

For those who want to watch a nice revenge story with carefully-revealed tactics and mind games (I actually wanted more) added with bloody yet brilliant fighting scenes, this movie is really for you. Please be noted that the script could've been elevated more and do not mistake it to be a simple sports movie, since it is more than that.

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Amusing and entertaining movie to watch

Halmeoni was annoying at first but after a slight lens adjustment, perspective towards her changed. That is what the director wanted me to know when I was watching this film, and it was successfully done.

The introduction of Mal-soon halmeoni was rather unpleasant. She is shown as someone who is rude, crass, and even arrogant. Later on, her daughter-in-law is not able to tolerate her attitude and was admitted to the hospital. Halmeoni realized that maybe she is a burden to her family and wanted to escape it. This is the reality that is currently faced by our elderly. I actually liked the transition of the first scene which defined ageism by the halmeoni's professor son then towards the scene with halmeoni and her family situation, then went to a point that she may be sent to a home for the aged. Because of that, she wants to be given another chance at life which was granted...with a twist that she returned to a 20 year old lady physically but mentally still her.

Now that she has returned to a youthful appearance (she changed her name to Doo-ri), she is now able to pursue her lifelong dream, which is to become a singer. Comedic scenes were abundant here and all did not fail to make me laugh out loud. Her feisty grandmother stature was ever present despite being in a 20-year old body, which made the comedy pleasing to watch, but what I liked here is that she is now able to minimize her previous crass character and somewhat evolve into a new character that is more understanding of her actions in the others' perspective without losing her unique character. Also, her being in a band with her grandson was not only hilarious, but the songs were just great and the lyrics and message were also fitting with the story. I actually thought the actress that played Doo-ri wasn't the real singer of the songs here, and was surprised and pleased when I found it out later on. She has a nice voice.

She is (almost) able to rekindle her romantic side as she developed feelings to the charming Seung-woo PD. I actually liked how she was able to reexperience romantic love, especially with after what she went through with life. Despite with a sad ending at that part, I still felt content with them both.

What I also found great in this movie, and personally, its highlight, is that it was able to explore more on the backstory as to why Mal-soon halmeoni became who she was. It was mainly to support her newborn son as she was now a single mother after the death of her husband that she had to create a stern, firm, and most importantly, a feisty person, in order for her and her baby to survive. I still find it wrong though how she did it, as seen on one scene. Yet to the unfamiliar person, she may be shown as someone who is rude, crass, and even arrogant, as I mentioned earlier. With that in mind, this is the reason why her neighbor and friend (and former servant), Mr. Park has struck with her all these years. I loved how the pacing of the movie slowly emphasize this side of her to me, the viewer, and at the end, I was able to understand our halmeoni, in an understanding as same as Mr. Park. I also admire that their "romance" was left open, and the final scene was just funny.

Plot wise, this movie is light in terms of emotion and predictable. But it did not fail to entertain me and bring comedy, it was just funny, especially on the "younger" Mal-soon/Doo-ri scenes. The music was delightful to hear, and the pacing as mentioned, was properly executed. There were some parts that I felt was conveniently ended (e.g., her relationship with her daughter-in-law, although to be fair, it has a time skip to a year later). I also wanted it to explore more on the "ageism" issue, as what was shown on the first scene, since it was fitting for our halmeoni, but somehow, they forgot to address said issue. Still, an amusing and entertaining movie to watch.

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