Frankly, a mess

All I can say is yikes. This movie was really all over the place. I get the feeling there were a lot of different ideas going into it that just didn't end up fitting in the end. I'm certain a lot of the things I'm about to critique are things done for artistic distinction or some other reasonable sounding excuse, but I'm here to tell you whether I liked the movie, so that's what I'm going to do.

I didn't. I didn't like the movie. I was very excited for the movie; I thought the premise was great! (The premise was adapted from a manga, so we can't even give them credit for that, though.) What I got was some of the worst of Jdrama and some extra bonus garbage just for fun.

Firstly, a lot of the usual: egregious overacting, intentionally shoddy effects, awkward layout and timing, and lackluster comedy. It feels like they're trying to make an anime, everything cartoony and exaggerated. The problem is, that style just doesn't translate into the live action.

But, okay. That's Jdrama. We're used to that. Why the low score? Well, dear reader, let me impart some wisdom. In order to distinguish themselves as a creative talent, artists will take risks in their work in the hopes of producing something new and exciting. In many cases, this is the birth of something amazing, a new genre or an acclaimed masterpiece. In other cases, you're left with something that makes you wince a little bit, something you're sure probably shouldn't exist. Here we are.

Violent Action made a couple of baffling directorial and editorial choices which are immediately noticeable and immediately off-putting. They won't. Stop. Cutting. It feels like there's ten new shots every second. Not only are the cuts fast, they're disorienting. They camera bounces around room, cutting rapidly between closeup and wide shots, moving so quick I felt out of breath just watching it. It was the worst during action scenes. I'm certain I didn't comprehend a majority of what was probably (maybe) a decently choreographed fight sequence because I was too busy trying to figure out what was going on. And this isn't even a Liam-Neeson-shaky-cam-ten-shots-to-get-over-a-fence situation. It's just crazy fast, which as I've just learned is way worse.

There is a tonal dissonance with the pacing of the editing, the intense action scenes, and the general silliness the movie is shooting for (heh, shooting). We go from nauseatingly quick "assassinations" to jokes about bulletproof wigs and bad cooking. It feels out of place. Pick a side: cool or funny. You can't have both.

You may have noticed I put quotations around "assassinations." How observant of you. Allow me to explain. None of the supposed hits felt like assassinations at all. Perhaps they technically are (the definition is just surprise murder, basically), but it doesn't fit the connotation ascribed to that word. We don't get any poisoning, sniping from the next building over, sneaking around in the dead of night. Instead it's more like premeditated murder. Frankly, I think assassinations are less violent than murder, which ironically would have helped them hit the silly vibe they were going for, instead of the weird hybrid they ended up with.

So, what about the story? Uh... right, the story. What about the story? Um... I sure it had one. Well, it's all a bit hazy but... I guess there was a villain, some henchman, yadda yadda, so on and so forth. It was forgettable, okay. Point made.

So, to wrap things up. Acting: bad. Directing: bad. Sound track: meh. Action: I literally couldn't tell. Overall: yikes. I don't recommend this movie.

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Extraordinary, in every sense of the word

As time moves forward, the quality of Korean dramas seems to only increase, and this series is culmination of all that progress. From writing to acting, cinematography to the original score, it's hard to find a single flaw in this show. Add all these achievements to an engaging premise with an unusually inclusive message and you have something truly special. Extraordinary Attorney Woo has accomplished something even greatest minds in Hollywood tend to struggle with: respectful and engaging coverage of a character with autism, acknowledging their differences while highlighting their humanity. Even better, this detail (while important) does not occupy the entire breadth of conflict in the show, encouraging a type of inclusivity based not solely on the story potential of characters, but on their regular existence in our world. In general, being inclusive of those with disabilities can be a risky endeavor, inviting harsh criticism with every mistake, which makes it all the more commendable what has been done here.

Of course, a show must be judged in quality not by its efforts to be inclusive, but by the actual entertainment value the show provides. In this area, too, Extraordinary Attorney Woo excels. Like most good television, the show at its core is people and their journey- learning and changing- wrapping into an engaging plot to move us forward. The brilliant legal cases are used as a backdrop to support the moving arcs and emotions that the characters experience, bring the audience right along for the ride. Honestly, the sheer number of character arcs that exists in the show is incredible, not to mention the quality of their execution. And all this impeccable writing is beautifully portrayed by a simply stunning performance by every actor, all captured within gorgeous cinematography and played over a delightful score. The show expertly weaves between tones of lighthearted fun, nail-biting tension, and emotional confrontation, until the end, where every plot line is masterfully resolved in an exciting and fulfilling final episode. Everything is simply outstanding.

This is one of those shows that changes your perspective on media as a whole, a show so good you have to take a bit of time to mourn its ending afterwards. And likely, the kind of show which will induce heavy feelings of nostalgia with just a few notes of the open theme. This is what TV should strive to be. This is extraordinary. I emphatically recommend this show.

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Mystery from a Fresh Perspective

Here we have a premise which is wholly recycled and yet completely unique. We have seen the inexplicable genius time and again, numerous reincarnations of the unstoppable crime solver: a loner, and yet loved by all. This is that, certainly, but it is also something entirely more interesting: a crime solver who does not wish to solve crimes. That changes everything.

Let me preface the rest of this review by saying that mystery is my least favorite genre of drama. This both detracts from my ability to asses this in regards to other mysteries, but also elevates the show's effectiveness for overcoming my preconceptions.

The most important, and most outstanding part of this drama is certainly the main character: Kunou Totono. Set apart in appearance by his curly hair and in personality by blunt and honest speech, Kunou draws you in from the very beginning. It only gets better as he is falsely convicted of a crime and brought into the police station, where our story can begin. This first episode, the details of which I will leave for you to discover, is in my opinion the best of the total twelve. It is a perfect showcase of all the strengths the show has going for it.

While many protagonist crime solvers can seem like superheroes in their deduction abilities, Kunou's are those of reason and speed. It is reasonable to assume, given enough time and information, that the audience could reach the same conclusion that he did. What sets him apart is his attention to detail and ability to recognize connections. This lends the show a much more realistic feel, and also further endears the protagonist to us by making him seem more realistic. Still, the main draw for Kunou is his complete disinterest in all things mystery. While he may be able to solve puzzles (and may subconsciously enjoy doing so), he makes every effort to avoid being involved in any, assisting any, or even knowing about any mysteries which may be occurring. From this sprouts both comedy and a vicarious sense of detachment, where we can objectively view the situation alongside the main character. Objectively viewing scenes which may otherwise be played for drama or emotion can result in a certain amount of intrigue.

That said, it's not a perfect strategy. The main issue is how to force the main character into several mystery situations in a believable way. And, while the show accomplishes this is most regards, it can be felt that they're running out of ideas towards the end. The other big issue is that our engagement in each mystery is almost entirely dependent on Kunou's involvement in it, which comes at a great cost towards the end of the show and with several scenes which involve the side characters.

Production wise, the show is good enough that you don't notice it. You can be wrapped up in the story, which is all that we really need. Beautiful cinematography is great, but not all that necessary in this sort of show. The score, while fitting, was a bit disappointing to me in actuality. In contrast with the uniqueness of the premise, the show employs a frankly tired collection of classical pieces (including Vivaldi, Debussy, Beethoven, and strangely enough a paino rendition of the Tetris theme), with only a few original songs. Whether that was due to creative or budget reasons can't be said, and of course the songs (Winter, Claire de Lune, Moonlight Sonata... Tetris) are good, but it felt like a cop out.

All in all, the show is very good. I was reeled in from the start and binged the whole thing in a few sittings. The main character is great, the mysteries are interesting, and there are even a few compelling character arcs thrown in for good measure. Despite a few minor flaws, the show certainly surpassed any expectations I had. (Special thanks to AnQuat for the recommendation.) In turn, I will also recommend this show.

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Before my review, here's a synopsis since there doesn't seem to be one:

Apple is a 29 year old girl in a relationship, but just when a when a fortune teller reveals she has to get married by 30 or face certain peril, she discovers that her partner's been having an affair! With only a month until her 30th birthday, can Apple find "the one" before the time runs out? Each episode focuses on a new potential partner. The episodes are only a few minutes long and shot in a vertical format.

So what do I think? Well, the premise is somewhat interesting in theory (if not a little cliché), but the short runtime doesn't allow any room for cohesive narrative or character exploration. The episodes are structured almost like a short sketch, except they weren't especially funny. While the cinematography and (sometimes) acting is better than expected, the strange format and short runtime don't quite make it worth the watch.

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Great Story, Imperfect Show

The writers of this show have, with a few exceptions, written an overall great story. And, while certain elements of its production were better than others, that is enough to make it an enjoyable watch and generally carry your attention throughout its runtime. There are a number of flaws with the show, and those will be vividly apparent to most people, but I think overall the show accomplishes what it sets out to do. One of the best aspects of it is that it carries a core theme which the characters can strive towards. So, let's go over some specifics.

As I mentioned earlier, the best thing about this show is probably the writing. The premise (a boy raised as a delinquent wants to live a regular high school life) carries inherent potential which the writers exploit quite effectively. They understood how to capture the essence of that idea, channel it into the tone and feel of the show, and still keep it interesting by introducing enough variation to the plot of each episode. With many shows of this kind which deal with delinquents or the Yakuza and which aren't entirely focused on action, the episodes can be very formulaic and uninteresting as a result. While this show does contain a few elements which are repeated through each episode, they are disguised and worked into a narrative which is different enough throughout the runtime to remain interesting. In some ways, the repetition even works in their favor, as the even distribution of action helps to balance the show and keep the audience engaged.

Another great aspect of the writing is the characters. A crucial aspect of any show, and especially those with action like this one, is to have driven characters who can evolve over time. Nanba MG5 gives us an extremely driven character with a well known and well explored goal, while still allowing him to change over time in the ways he views and interacts with others and himself. The evolution of the relationships between characters is a great indicator of how they change over time, and also can introduce some conflict to the plot where needed. In particular, the dynamic within the main character's family is both an important and well written example of this. That being said, the writing isn't perfect.

The most glaring flaw, in my eyes, concentrated itself within a few episodes, manifested in the unfortunate sexism written into the show. To be clear, it's fine to have sexist characters within a show, as long as it's clear that they are flawed and do not represent the opinions of the show. In this case, the show very clearly presents the sexist views of the characters and true and right, permanently damaging much of my respect for the show. Besides multiple instances of a 'damsel in distress,' which can be more common particularly in eastern dramas, the greatest offender is a certain episode which strongly peddles the idea that 'women can't fight.' Not only that they can't fight, but that they shouldn't fight. There is even a narrative around preventing them from fighting, something which is never an issue with the men. To me, this seems quite antithetical to the show's core message of being who you are, no matter what others tell you. There are also a few other instances of sexism within the characters, but those aren't as openly conveyed as true and good, and so are less problematic in my eyes.

The other flaw which occasionally makes its way into the writing is the dialogue, a problem which is often exacerbated by poor acting by some of the cast. There were very hit or miss performances by the cast, with the mc, and few of his friends, and some of his family delivering quite compelling acting, while others, like the romantic interest, the other friends, and some of the more minor family member characters didn't quite measure up. Sprinkle in some Jdrama style awkward pauses and unfortunate blocking, and some scenes can start to feel a little amateur. Luckily, these factors only coincide ever so often, so in general the show is not critically affected by it.

There are a few other performance issues, such as a quite mediocre spread of action scenes, and an entirely unconvincing romance arc, although luckily these aren't presented as the core of the show, and so their failure doesn't harm the show's integral message. Part of the lack in acting in these areas is alleviated by the complexity of the characters themselves, a virtue of the writing which rescues the subpar actors. Most viewers will also likely grow used to the behavior of the characters throughout the show, just as they will eventually, although with great difficulty, grow used to the incredible age gap between the main character and his peers. The main character is played by an actor nearly thirty years old, and it is strikingly apparent. The show has no canonical excuses for this (like him being held back, or something similar), and so we're just left to feel uncomfortable as an adult lives amongst teenagers. This was clearly a decision made to leverage the talent and fame of the lead actor, although in my opinion some (and I do mean some) of the younger actors would likely be just as capable in that role, without seeming so out of place. Also there's a talking dog, for basically no reason. It's... well it's there.

They say you only notice the soundtrack of a show if it's very good or very bad. Luckily, this time around, it was the former. Not only is the soundtrack a good collection of music, it fits the style of the show very well. There was a bit too much repetition for my taste, but overall I thoroughly enjoyed it.

So, in the end, we have a well written show with some very clear flaws. Fortunately, writing is (in my opinion) the best area to be strong in, as it maintains engagement, pacing, and character arcs. Despite the hit or miss acting, the unsubtle sexism, and the failing romance, the show carries a balanced tone and an interesting plot with characters with clear goals and ambitions. Supported by a very well done soundtrack and generally solid visual production, we get a mostly pretty good show. If a mostly pretty good show with some action and some drama is what you're looking for, then I recommend this show.

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A Very Mixed Bag

TL;DR:
It starts out mediocre and gets pretty good in the end. The music, graphic design, and cinematography are all fantastic, and the acting can be great as well. There are many interesting ideas brought up, although some of them are only barely touched on and others are presented strangely and without a clear message. In the beginning, it's just not all that interesting to watch.


Full Review:
This show has so many ideas that it's difficult to dissect them all. There are ideas about AI, about the future of technology. There are ideas about corruption, an aging world, and a lagging government. Of course, all this is discussed through the medium of story, through the tale of an experimental government run by the young with the help of a powerful AI. Now, I have many thoughts about the moral, governmental, and technological ideas which are brought up by the show, but first and foremost a show must be entertaining, so that is what I will discuss first, and what I will be most critical of.

This series is a good example of why it's important to watch a whole series through before reviewing it. That's because my opinion of it changed quite a lot throughout the episodes. My initial impression was one of intense excitement; the incredible music and graphic design sent my hopes soaring sky high. Unfortunately, this excitement was quickly depleted as I was faced with a number of tropes which seem pervasive across many Jdrama (I'll go more in detail later). Highly expecting a forgettable show, I stuck it out only because of the five episode run time. But, to my surprise, the last two episodes marked a tangible shift in the show's quality. I became more engaged, the plot became more dramatic, and several seemingly unrelated story lines started to come together. It almost makes it difficult to review the show as a whole, when those episodes feel so drastically different from the rest. Nevertheless, some good episodes do not excuse other poor ones, so I will try to critique and complement as fairly as possible.

On the note of complements, let me preface my in-depth review by saying that the score to this show is absolutely astonishing. Not only does it perfectly fit the genre and style of the show, it's just nice to listen to. This is accompanied by great cinematography in important scenes, and fantastic graphic design in all areas it's applied. If you watch the show, you'll instantly see what I mean. Now, during the meat of show, the cinematography can drop in quality a bit, but honestly it's made up for by the intro sequence alone. Okay, so let's move on to the rest of the show, where sometimes things get a little messy.

Firstly, the show falls into the common but unavoidable pitfall of having a fantastic premise. There's nowhere to go but down. And, when you're experimenting with something as controversial and poorly understood as government and society, there's bound to be things you didn't think of or that you represent improperly. The last two episodes solve this problem by presenting the issues very vaguely, not going into the specifics of them but rather using the existence and execution of them to move the plot (in general, the final two episodes focus more on human interest and drama, which may be part of why they feel more interesting and dynamic). Unfortunately, the first three episodes do little to diminish this challenge, instead attempting to present real plans and solutions to various real world problems. In fairness, to do otherwise might feel like a cop out in a show specifically about governance and radical change, but in the end, some of the ideas are a bit unrealistic, even with futuristic technology. I won't delve into these issues for the sake of spoilers and brevity, but suffice it to say that some solutions seem like the first instinct of a random person in office, rather than a well thought out policy decision. Maybe I'm being too harsh.

The reason which leads me to be so hard on the specific policy moves made by the characters in the show is that I'm forced to latch onto those details by an unfortunate lack of character development and interpersonal intrigue. Besides the two main characters and a few others, barely any of the remaining ensemble cast receives much attention character wise. Certainly it may be difficult to fit it into a 4-5 hour runtime, but honestly the show tended to be quite slow paced, so that might have helped into multiple regards.

Further development of other characters might also have helped to alleviate what was, in my opinion, one of the biggest flaws in the show: the main character. A main character is called that for a reason: they are the center of the action, and generally the most important person in the story. Some other shows may have characters (called narrators) which speak directly to the audience or who are used as medium by which to present the story to the audience, but they are generally not the main character. In this show, the main character acts like a narrator, presenting the story through their eyes (albeit not speaking to the audience as a narrator typically would). Unlike a narrator, they are active within the story to some degree. They are a character, but they are not the most important character. This, in my eyes, is a drastic flaw. It's exacerbated by the fact that, during the course of the show, the main character is mostly passive, reacting to things that happen rather than making proactive decisions with proactive goals. Instead, there is another character who is clearly more important, and who basically brings the protagonist around with them as if they were a pet. We don't know this other character as well, and do not empathize with them as much, which makes it uncomfortable to watch our main character sit around while the other character does things and makes decisions. This sort of thing may affect different people by different amounts, but I was consistently annoyed by it.

This only contributed to- in the first three episodes- my general boredom with the show. I watched it as it came out, but if I was to trying to binge it I'm not sure I would've been able to finish. Besides a passive mc, the show also occasionally suffered from Jdrama style acting, whereby dialogue is overdramatized and delivered over bizarre stage direction which just feels unnatural. Strangely enough, the acting became significantly better in the final episodes, which leads me to believe it was the fault of the director, rather than the actors, whenever scenes were lacking. I don't think this style of acting is uniform across all of Jdramas, and I don't think it has as much of an affect on the show as the writing, but it does still have an impact, unfortunately.

It's tough to make a conclusion about this show, since there are so many different things at work here, and because my opinion of it changed so drastically over time. There were several interesting ideas brought up, and if all the episodes were the same as the last two, I'd recommend it in a heartbeat. Unfortunately, those first three episodes exist, so I'll have to make a compromise. First of all, if you like OSTs, at least check out the show's intro, or the main theme (it's available as Teen Regime on multiple music streaming apps). But mainly, if you have patience and an interest in this topic, go ahead and watch this and be sure to stick around until the end. Otherwise, you can feel safe to skip it.

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Fun and Disfunctional

This movie is hilarious, but unfortunately it is lacking when it comes to story and pacing. Comedy is great, but a movie is still a movie. And, although I enjoyed many parts of it, I often found myself confused, whiplashed, or struggling to keep up with what was going on.

From the beginning, you're thrown into a scene which is completely bewildering, covering a showdown of inscrutable stakes and between unknown characters. In fact, despite the relatively high pace of the movie, it is quite some time before the second main character and main setting are introduced. In a movie with non-stop action, conflict, or comedy gags, it can be hard to follow along, and many things which the audience should have been told about are not revealed until much later on.

To me, this is like the embodiment of internet humor in film. Random humor, visual gags, and subverting expectation are used ad nauseum, which does provide a frankly hilarious show, but unfortunately comes at the detriment of the story.

Now, this review sounds quite negative, but I must say that I did enjoy the show. To enjoy it, you just have to accept it for its flaws and be aware going in that they tried to cram a whole season of a show into a single movie. As a result, it moves a lightspeed, but it's still pretty darn funny. So, provided you're here for comedy and not story, I recommend this show. And, if it's not funny enough or you do want story, just watch Gintama or something, I don't know.

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Good for a Miniseries, Poor for a Drama

As a miniseries, this show stacks up pretty well against its contemporaries (excluding some notable exceptions, i.e. Splash Splash Love), but in comparison to "real shows" it's mediocre at best. I'm not trying to hate on miniseries, but they typically have lower budgets, and therefor lower production values and untested talent. They also have to develop an engaging story which fits into a comparatively tiny runtime. Luckily, this show has good chemistry between the leads, a solid premise, and steady romantic progression to hold itself together.

Unfortunately, that's where the good news ends, because first and foremost what I thought coming out of this drama was... that's it? Barely anything happened. And not for lack of time; the show was even slow paced! Don't get me wrong, it's better than the series which move so quickly you feel like you put your head in a blender, but I wish there was just a single plotline outside of romance to build conflict and push the story forward. Instead, it felt like they were just dinking around with no apparent stakes or goals. There's a reason many romcoms have pressure from the parents or any number of other external forces to generate momentum in the plot, and that sort of clear progression was what was missing from this drama. Also, the fantasy element had no apparent influence on the plot or the worldbuilding, it was mostly just a detail that the characters noted from time to time. But, other than that, I had no problems with it. It was just meh. Unless you're really bored, I don't recommend this drama.

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A Perfect Execution of Classic Tropes

As is the trend in kdramas throughout history, this show could be described by some as a collection of tropes, strung together to create a coherent narrative. Usually, that's the sort of thing I really despise, but the way they pulled it off in this show lends me some sympathy. Excellent acting, efficient humor, and an engaging plot line makes this a most effective guilty pleasure. It also helps that they took the liberty to innovate here and there and was ever so slightly more progressive than some of its older counterparts. For those familiar with the kdrama scene, there isn't much more to say.

The Korean drama industry has come a long way over the decades, and that is apparent in the level of shows they make today. Flawless production and incredible acting are becoming a given, and I'm here for it. And, while a bit of repetition in the soundtrack is unavoidable due to its length, and the plot was somewhat forgettable overall, it still managed to hold my attention to the end. I think ending the show after 12 episodes was actually a really good idea; it felt like a natural place to end things without spinning up some miscellaneous plot contrivances.

Although the premise is basically a bundle of tropes (office romance, contract relationship, rich guy-poor girl, and more!?) there was some innovation here and there. As with most shows of this type, the uniqueness really shines through the side characters and the second lead. I was also very appreciative that the female lead was actually good at her job (huh!?) and the male lead wasn't an arrogant jerk (a trope which, in my opinion is a little too tired). The family relationships for the chaebols was also well executed and somewhat unique. In the end, shows like these are carried by the actors, the production, and the character dialogue, and Business Proposal pulled through on all fronts. Don't except anything too profound, but I do recommend this show.

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I'm tired

It's a classic idea: no matter how I look, my inner self with shine. What a beautiful message. We can also applaud this show's valiant attempts to subvert (however unsuccessfully) the "pretty people good, ugly people bad," trope which is pretty much standard across television. If only the show was... good. This may be more of a controversial take than I was expecting based on other reviews of this drama, but I absolutely couldn't stand watching this. It's a miracle I got to the end. A mix of questionable acting with terrible directing and a messy plot ends up creating this hot garbage of a show, with my only motivation for watching to see how bad it could get.

Unfortunately, this is not the kind of bad you can laugh at; it falls just short, in the unhappy middle ground of boredom and frustration. To get straight to the point, the acting and dialogue delivery in this show are pretty much copy paste of every other Jdrama (which unfortunately isn't a good thing). This is compounded by simply awful directing to the point where everything feels terribly unrealistic and overdramatized. I won't dive too much into the plot because it was so confused I could only really tell you the start and the end. It was bad. Let's leave it at that. Possibly the worst of it, though, was the romance. As always, we have our first male lead, our second male lead, and our love rival. Now I don't want to spoil anything, but let's just surmise to say I was not satisfied by the romantic progression between the two in the final couple. It wasn't helped any by the terribly contrived twists which just served to be confusing and muddle up the romance. The ending did not at all line up with what you'd expect from the rest of the show. There was quite an abrupt shift which was entirely unnatural. That's all I'll say about that. I do not recommend this drama.

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Fun Premise, Forgettable Show

I, like many who'll watch this, came only for the main actress Yonekura Ryoko, who will always be our beloved Dr. Daimon Michiko. And, while I was satisfied by a similar competence and eccentric personality which endeared me to her character in Doctor X, the story itself falls into many traps which Jdramas often succumb to (and where we must admit Doctor X is also often found culpable). These traps being the repetition, the predictability, and the ever-present catchphrase structure.

A flaw in writing which I've seen a shocking number of times in Jdramas is the repetition of plot structure between episodes. It's one thing to write episodically, where each episode could be viewed on its own without the rest of the story. That's nothing new, great shows have been doing that forever. The trouble comes when every episodic is basically a copy-paste of the last one. This is something that happened outrageously often in Doctor X, and got worse and worse as time continued. This show had an opposite trend, getting slightly better as the show moved forward, but even by the end every episode was unbearably predictable. And it was made even worse by the catchphrases.

Now, don't get me wrong. I love a good catchphrase. It's something fun for the main character to say which fills the viewer with emotion and excitement, and often a feeling of hope. Used correctly (and infrequently), it can elevate exciting moments even higher. But when you use the same three catchphrases in the same place in every episode, and the same things always follow every catchphrase, it doesn't take long for us to find the pattern. Now, when the catchphrase is spoken, instead of being excited, we feel like we already know what's going to happen for the next five minutes and start to loose interest. Losing interest is bad, that's the opposite of a show's goal. The unshakeable structure of the show and lack of evolution as the series progresses is to its detriment, as everything new and interesting is discovered in the first few episodes, and then it quickly becomes old and stagnant.

Even though we have a cast of characters with interesting premises, there is a lack of execution when it comes to unique character traits. Every character is distinguished by their past, not by their personality, leaving many conversations feeling somewhat lifeless, with people just filling the roles of things that need to be said to move the plot forward. If the characters had more defined personalities, especially ones connected with their well-defined pasts, there may be more vibrance in the dialogue and delivery, as well as more potential for character arcs. That's another thing: there are no character arcs. Unfortunately, that wasn't much of a surprise.

The drama wraps with a main story, one which finally is of some emotional importance to the main character. This makes it stand apart, which is good, but it also could have been set up much better. The premise of the story means the protagonist was aware of it the entire time, and yet it wasn't mentioned or even hinted at in any of the earlier episodes. This means, even if the main character cares about this topic, I, as the viewer, really don't. Regardless, the main issue is still the repetition, a point I'm hoping to repeat enough to show you how annoying it can get. It's like watching a kdrama romcom and hoping to the heavens for a male lead who isn't a perfect cyborg love robot, and inevitably being disappointed. With that rather depressing image in mind, I do not recommend this show.

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Nearly Perfect, a Masterclass in Writing

It's rare to stumble across a gem of a movie as good as this one. There's a lot you can say for the acting, or the music, or the cinematography, but all of that pales before the absolutely incredible script which it inhabits.

This movie may embody one of the best examples I've ever seen of setup and payoff, with the screenplay quietly setting up dominos only for them to fall all at once in a climax both stunning and emotional. The film manages to strike an incredible balance between somber and uplifting, as we find joy in our protagonist's eccentricities and the colorful interaction between the diverse and dynamic characters, but also feel the weight of the suffering visible in the world.

Here we find a departure from the tropes which infect so many modern tv shows, a work of fiction which is so unique and yet so grounded in reality you can't help but allow the story to pull you in. The storytelling is efficient, and intentional, and moving. You can't say the movie is perfect, as barely anything really is, but this is as close as we need it to be. I definitely recommend this movie.

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Modest yet Entertaining Wholesomeness (+ a Really Long Review)

I don't think this show will probably blow anyone's socks off, but I also think that not every show has to. And either way, what we have here is something happy, funny, and sometimes even moving. And, while some of the acting perhaps could be better, solid writing and interesting characters manage to make up for it. Our earnest protagonist is loveable (if a bit dull), and her ridiculous antics manage to be funny without causing any harm.

The production was all very solid. Nothing too fancy, and you couldn't really call the cinematography artistic, but this is mainly a comedy show and we don't need to expect too much in that area. And in the area of comedy, it delivers. I found myself laughing out loud at every episode. So, even if some could consider this show mediocre in some regards, I still thought it was fun, and it made my day a little brighter. I recommend this drama.

WARNING: From here on out I'm rambling. For a while.
In recognition of the fact that all my positive reviews are very short, I will now take some liberties to list the things I liked about this show. Feel free to tune out if you were just looking to see whether or not you wanted to watch this.

From the get go, I appreciated the framing of the main character. When you have a character which is very charismatic, admired by other characters, or (in this case) somewhat unrelatable for the average viewer, it can be difficult to empathize with the character enough to become invested in them. There are a few ways around this which are commonly employed in modern media. The most common is to use a "save the cat" moment, which is where the protagonist does something good, which endears them to the viewer. However, this technique (especially when used early on, when it's most effective) sets a very clear first impression for the viewer, which is that the main character is someone who is prone to saving or helping others. If your character is generally empathetic but not necessarily defined by that trait, you may not want to leave that impression from the get go. That's where the second technique comes in, the one which was used by this show. Succinctly: "The straight man." Known for being the rational wall to bounce humor off of, straight men can get a bad wrap as shortcuts to cheap comedy, but when used right they can elevate humor or even be used in other situations, like forming a connection with your bizarre characters through the medium of a normal person who inhabits the world of the show. This technique is used very well in this show, with our straight man narrating several scenes, both for comedy and to introduce the antics of our protagonist. Also, having the straight man try his best in the conventional ways helps to highlight the benefits of the protagonist's unorthodox methods, benefits which may otherwise be unclear and lead to the viewer disliking them for simply being stupid.

A common trope in Jdramas and Japanese media in general is the weird but wise old man, who offers wisdom to our characters while engaging in strange, often humorous behaviors. The News Station Director in this show perfectly fits this archetype, but in this case there is some unique revelations which emerge from that. The problem with having a wise character is that it implies that you must have writers who are also wise, which may sometimes be an issue. Luckily, in this case, the writers were able to give the wisdom character several interesting and even surprising pieces of advice and information which changes the way certain parts of the show could be seen. A few words about the necessity of stupid people transforms our view of the protagonist from bumbling idiot to earnest learner who affords new opportunities. This idea then became a theme throughout the series, and in my opinion was pretty well demonstrated by the show. Perhaps you could even extract some societal implication from this message about how everyone has their own worth, but this comedy tv show doesn't choose to dive too deep into that so neither shall I.

The nature of an ensemble cast means balancing several characters, their motivations, their personalities, and (in a good show) their arcs of learning and evolution. While the cast is quite large for under four hours of screen time, the show manages to keep them all straight by dividing them into distinct groups with distinct roles and personalities. Within the television stations, there are the new members and the old, who are also divided by their respective specialties. Then you have the new members, who can also be considered the main cast of the show. While the main character and the straight man are certainly the focus, each of the five new members (and also the weather guy) are given some focus across the series, giving greater catharsis when they all come together at the end. The characters outside of the news stations are so few and specialized that is isn't difficult to keep track of them all. Importantly, while all the characters are in the show all the time, we are given more in-depth instructions of them gradually, and there are no heavy exposition dumps to make us loose interest or start forgetting things. This is also helped by each character having relatively simple yet still dynamic personalities.

To clarify a bit about my note with the acting: Acting is something which can be difficult to judge, and how good it is can be subjective across viewers. It is even more difficult if you're watching something from another culture, where certain actions and behaviors may be more or less common. However, certain things can be seen which cross boundaries as a marker of less-than-stellar acting. Namely: lack of expression. Unless a monolithic appearance is a marker of their personality or a subject of comedy, a character's face will generally need to display a variety of emotions depending on the situation. In this show, some of the actors (especially the lead actress) could be seen to be heavily favoring certain expressions, which is certainly something you'd notice. However, there is a difference between noticing something and having it detract from the viewing experience. In a serious drama, where every scene is carried with a level of weight and importance, having bad acting can pull you out of the scene and ruin immersion. In a comedy show, however, where you are perhaps more removed from the fictional situations, it's far less distracting. In the best of cases, it can even become so bad that it's funny again, in which case the show benefits from it. This is, as for as I'm aware, the main draw of extreme exaggeration of facial expression in many Jdramas. The level of reaction is so absurd that it becomes funny, at the cost of the realism of the character (which may or may not matter, depending on the tone).

In the world of television, shows can generally be described as being entirely narrative, entirely episodic, and then the ones which are a mix of both. Generally, things like sitcoms and weekly cartoons fall into the later category, and this show too, happens to land there. That's where things start getting interesting. A show can change a lot depending on the balance of these two elements. Too much episodic, and the show feels like it's never progressing. Too much narrative, and the viewer might miss something or be bogged down by too many plot lines. This show manages to strike a compelling balance. This is accomplished because the main character is generally static across the show, and other minor characters fit their arcs into a single episode. The only exception in this case is the straight man, who's evolution is natural and predictable enough to probably not be too surprising or confusing for any viewers dropping in or returning after a while. Like other great shows of this type, the show manages to be appealing for binge watching by leveraging the sort of slow burn evolution which gives you just enough plot to draw you in and keep you watching. In the worst of cases this can lead to bitter disappointment as you realize the show will never reach the point that you're hoping for, but in the best of cases it can reward you for your wait while letting you build a connection with the characters along the way.

There's a few spoilers in this part:
I liked the logo of the TV Station. Also, I liked how all the editors wore nearly the same type of classes. Also also, I liked how after the weather man's confidence arc he started wearing different funny costumes for every report. Also also also, I appreciated how they always had so many extras in the studio to give the appearance of a busy workplace, it made the show a lot more convincing. Also also also also, I really liked the camera guys in the violin episode; I think they were pretty cool. Also also also also also, I think a romance between the main character and the straight man would have been way too cliché, and I'm glad that didn't happen. Also also also also also also, I really liked the climax, it was very tense and satisfying to see all the hints and foreshadowing that had been laid out throughout the show come to fruition. Also also also also also also also I liked the scene at the very end with the sheep, it was pretty cute.

Okay, I guess I'm done rambling. That was certainly my longest review ever, although probably not by as much as you'd think. I'm pretty impressed that you managed to read this far, unless you just skipped to the conclusion to see what I'd say. News flash: (haha, get it?) The conclusion already happened, before my rambling. I don't need to do another one. What is this, English class? I don't care. And I can write in fragments too. While I'm at it, a dangling participle was written. And. I. Didn't. Use. Punctuation. Properly. What are you gonna do about it? Huh? I'm probably delusional, based on this review anyway. Regardless, the review is done. Probably.

P.S.
It wasn't, but now it is.

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