Socialpulse

Addicted's thai remake was shit. I hope thai creators will keep making adaption of their own novels/webtoons instead of adapting chinese or korean novels/webtoons.

This show is so fking unrealistic, its honestly beyond frustrating. That villain guy was an absolute nobody before becoming a drug lord. Then, out of nowhere, he kills the old drug lord and suddenly takes over?? How does that even make sense?? And no one opposes him?? He doesnt have an intimidating physique that would make people afraid to fight him nor does he come from a powerful or wealthy background. He was literally just a nobody. And now, somehow, he controls everyone, from assemblymen and police chiefs to underlings who look way more threatening than he does. Its honestly laughable. This is the peak of unrealistic storytelling.

And dont even get me started on the ML. The way they have tortured and injured him is absurd. In every single episode, he gets hurt to a degree that would kill any normal person but he keeps surviving as if he is blessed with some divine miracle. He gets beaten to the brink of death every five minutes and still manages to keep going like nothing happened.

The writer must think they are creating a high stakes action masterpiece with all this but honestly it just comes off as ridiculous and stupid now.

This show is so much fun to watch, im really enjoying how naturally its progressing. It strikes a perfect balance between being realistic, witty, relaxing and heartwarming. Unlike typical law dramas, it doesnt follow the usual formula of dramatic case buildups, shocking twists and climactic resolutions. Instead every case is unfolding in a very realistic way.

Im not from a law background but while watching, i often find myself thinking, Oh, this is probably how they actually deal with cases or argue in court. In that sense, it feels very different and unique compared to other law related dramas.

Another interesting element is the merging of all those law firms and offices under one entity. I wonder what kind of chaos that will bring but its definitely going to be exciting to watch.

Both main leads also have completely different thought processes and that contrast came through clearly during their dinner clash in the episode 2. Their dynamic is already interesting and their chemistry is undeniable even from that brief Hongkong flashback you can sense the spark between them.

Also the asset seizure scene had me laughing out loud, it was such a fun moment.

And i have to say, i really enjoy their lunch and dinner gatherings. Those scenes are such a cozy, charming highlight of the show.

First episode was nice, i liked it. What stands out the most is the strong sense of friendship between the five main leads and their shared love for food. Although its a legal drama, most of the episode focused on their personal dynamics and bonding over lunch and dinner which gave it a warm and relaxing vibe, something refreshing in the usually intense world of law and justice.

The FL hasnt officially joined the group yet but its easy to see that she will soon become close friends with them. The friendship between the leads actually reminded me a lot of the Hospital Playlist squad.

The first case didnt get much screen time, but it was quite unique, it involved a same sex relationship. I liked how sensitively it was handled. When the client requested that his relationship with his boyfriend not be revealed in court, the ML respected that and didnt use it to win the case. That moment showed a lot of integrity and emotional intelligence.

I also liked the contrast in how both main leads approach their clients. The ML is more reserved, after nine years in the field, he believes in standing by his clients without getting personally involved. Meanwhile, the FL is very open and warm quickly forming personal connections. I can already see difference in their ideologies.

Overall it was a nice and promising pilot. Now lets see how it unfolds in future episodes.

Even im also asian & i find it hard to relate to many things shown in western shows. Their reactions, behavior and especially their casual attitude toward almost everything feel very unrelatable. The way they respond to daily situations or even major, shocking events, just doesnt connect with me as an Asian viewer.

In contrast, asian dramas resonate more deeply with me because i can relate to the characters emotions, behavior and how they deal with situations. So its not just about the presence of nudity or sex in western shows or Elite, its the entire approach and mindset that often feels distant and unfamiliar to many of us asians.

Oh, so it ran for 8 seasons?? I watched up to S4, when Patrick and his family entered the show. After that, i only came across bits of news about newer seasons here and there so i assumed it ended after 5 seasons at most.

For queer representation, i had watched Skam France S3. While it also follows a western teen drama style, overall the series, with its different stories and concepts across seasons, felt far more grounded and relatable compared to something like Elite, which often feels overly dramatic and exaggerated.

Ok i got your point and i completely agree with it. The first season was more centered around the two main FLs, while the other 3-4 characters were just in the background, playing supporting roles with minimal importance. In contrast S2 is expanding the story by introducing new characters and giving more attention to some of the older ones as well. So yes, S1 was more of a main girls centered drama, whereas S2, although still told from the POV of the main FLs, gives much more importance to the side characters too.

And yeah, its very similar to Elite, how Elite also began with a few central characters but in the later seasons, they started exploring the stories of the side characters from S1 and kept introducing new ones. If you notice, the poster of S1 of this drama features only the two main FLs, while the poster of S2 includes the entire cast. So you can clearly see the shift in approach just by looking at the posters.

As for the nudity and sexual scenes, they may or may not appeal to viewers depending on their taste, especially for people who watch asian dramas. But for the western audience, its often one of the main selling points, which is why Elite managed to run for five seasons. Also i agree, BXR feels much more exaggerated, artificial and less relatable than Elite.

Elite basically follows the western template for teen dramas. While it's definitely over the top, to some degree its still relatable to western audiences, even if not entirely. The drama thrives on exaggeration, constant twists & of course sex and nudity, which are among its main attractions.

Although Elite is also OTT, its still somewhat grounded in issues that resonate with its target audience. But this korean version feels even more exaggerated and far less relatable. Korean teenagers have their own school related issues like bullying and academic pressure, but the kind of drama portrayed here doesnt reflect those realities. So overall the entire show feels absurd and disconnected, not just for korean viewers but even for long time kdrama fans.

Yeah, it definitely feels like cheap ripoff of Elite, just without the nudity and sex. I have felt that way since S1. The only difference is that, here the girls are at the center of the story.

E2 was lil bit better than the first and more engaging but i couldnt stop laughing throughout. This drama honestly feels like a makjang of kids yet everyone acts like they are in their late 30s to mid 40s, which makes it unintentionally hilarious.

In E2, they introduced Cha Jinuk's character, he is rich guy whose marriage has been arranged with the Baek Jena. He is portrayed like some 35 year old scheming heir, plotting to steal his brothers property through this marriage, which is funny to me.

The whole setup is just absurdly funny to me. They are treating it like a serious adult makjang but its all happening in a school setting. Its so OTT, its hard to take seriously and thats what makes it hilarious

For those who dont know who the writer of this drama is, its Kim Soon ok, known for makjang shows like Penthouse, The Escape of the Seven etc. Since her last show The Escape of the Seven flopped badly, she hid her name this time to avoid preconceived notions from the public. But even then, it still failed miserably due to the poor script. This was actually exposed by korean media.
https://twitter.com/KoreanUpdates/status/1940600546484015609?t=flIl4rwo3pcPWo02hfZmKQ&s=19

The final episode was so beautiful. I felt so warm and content after finishing it, really loved the way it ended ♥️♥️.

I loved how both moms were supportive of their children dating the partners they wanted to date, especially Hosu’s mom, lol. She was even ready for Hosu to date Sejin.

Watch Born to Run, The Hope (2023-2024), Angels fall sometimes, Wind Direction.

9-9.5

The baby winning the game and everyone else dying was most fitting and justified ending for the show because except for the baby, everyone was there out of greed and had blood on their hands whether willingly or unwillingly. So the newborn winning the game was the most appropriate conclusion they could have given to the entire Squid Game series

My ratings for squid game

S1: 8.5/10

S2: 8.0/10

S3: 9.0/10

I liked S3 of Squid Game more than S1 & 2. I think it concluded well, not necessarily with the good guys winning, bad guy getting punished but in a way that fits the concept of Squid Game & its more realistic. I liked this season primarily because of its emotional depth which i didnt find much of in S1 and 2. The twist about Jun Hee's baby was really good and added an unexpected emotional layer. At the end, they also hinted at Squid Game: America, so the show will continue in a different country with new players and a new frontman.



9/10

If we go by that definition, then half of the dramas out there would be considered cases of sexual harassment because in most of them, the leads initiate a kiss without asking for permission, assuming the other person is also interested. No one explicitly asks, Can i kiss you?? The kiss usually happens when one person feels that the other person likes them back.

In this drama, the guy was definitely a douchebag for cheating on his wife. But he thought mirae was interested in him, she was giving him coffee, they were helping each other, and sharing moments. So, from his perspective, he believed she liked him too and acted on that assumption.

Now, the real question is, what did he do when mirae was startled and rejected the kiss?? He immediately backed off, clearly apologized multiple times and even told her to hit him if she wanted. In the end, both of them agreed to forget the incident and move on.

So i dont think it was SA and if we follow your definition strictly, then almost every drama would contain sexual assault, because no one asks for permission before kissing especially before they start dating. They kiss first and then the relationship begins.

Even im not sure if that counts as sexual harassment or not. All along, it genuinely seemed like mirae was interested in him, from his point of view. They were exchanging gifts, she was giving him coffee, etc. so its understandable that he might have thought she liked him too.

So he initiated a kiss, she rejected it, and then he apologized. Both of them agreed to forget the incident. Thats why im not sure if this situation can really be called sexual harassment especially when the person who made the move backed off immediately after realizing they misunderstood the other person’s intentions.

However, what happened after that was clearly his fault. He tried to shift the blame onto Mirae for giving him coffee and then started saying things like, Oh im married, so please keep your distance. That was seriously low of him, considering he was the one who initiated the kiss in the first place.

You also cant ignore the fact that he was married and possibly already emotionally or even physically cheating on his wife.

Still, calling it sexual harassment feels a bit too much especially when he clearly stopped once Mirae rejected his advances.

If you just change the bgms in those scenes and watch them out of context (his and mirae's scenes only) without the full story, it would actually look like mirae was interested in him too and that they were in the early stages of developing feelings. Then the guy leans in to kiss her and she rejects him.

I still have mixed feelings about this drama. At times, it gives me goosebumps with certain scenes, but then there are moments that feel incredibly stupid and ott.

I really dislike how much they have made the ML simp for the FL and how ridiculously he behaves in every scene just for the sake of comedy, which doesnt work at all. I also hate how he challenges the villain in every single episode whenever he gets a chance. He goes in all energized, trying to act cool like some angry young man and then his loved ones end up paying the price, just like when the villain killed the ahjumma to provoke him. He acts like catching the villain is child’s play, gets unnecessarily overconfident but never actually behaves smartly. He doesnt realize how powerful the villain truly is and keeps provoking him instead of acting cleverly.

That said, i do like his bond with the ahjumma and her son. Their scenes together are genuinely heartwarming.

Their team also has some cool moments but whenever they attempt comedy, it instantly becomes cringe worthy. That Squid Game ahjussi guy who plays the ML’s mentor is especially annoying.

So far at least the FL and even the SML havent annoyed me but the love triangle definitely feels unnecessary.

As for the villain, i have genuinely liked Oh Jungse in most of his previous roles, from When the Camellia Blooms to IOTNBO, Jirisan and the recent Mr. Plankton. But here, i didnt like him in the villain role at all. He just doesnt come across as a convincing or strong antagonist. While many might have enjoyed his performance, I personally felt he wasnt suitable. Even the way they are portraying the villain feels way too ott. The fact that he easily beats every powerful character, including the city mayor, comes off as childish and unrealistic. Honestly he didnt even seem like that intimidating a villain.