Sweet Sweet Revenge!

One woman's revenge against her high school bullies. Every time she took one of them down, it was entertaining.

I loved it! A good show connects you to the cause of the victim and that's exactly what The Glory did. The show also evokes a lot of emotions. Anger, tears, joy, delight, shock, fear, and more. It has everything you can ask for in a revenge thriller! Just one warning - part 2 contains frontal female nudity. It's brief but was unexpected.

I have to say, that when I first saw the trailer for part 2, I was worried that this will be a torturous journey for the female lead but for the most part, things panned out pretty well. I loved the variety in the revenge for each of them as well. And for some it was unexpected but a well-deserved fate.

Moon Dong Eun emoted so well especially the moments when you see her in her raw/weak moments. I felt the same way in the first season. Again her younger counterpart portrayed her helplessness beautifully. I just wanted to hug her in some of those moments. I felt her anguish. And I was happy she formed alliances who were there to support her now.

Lee De Hyun as Joo Yeo Jung was a delight. I smiled every time he was on screen. Who wouldn't want someone like him as their supporter/executioner. I enjoyed his chemistry with Doon Eun and do wish there was a bit more. But then this isn't a romance drama so I'll take what I can get.

Kang Hyun Nam is another delightful character. Her situation is like that of many women in domestic abuse cases who have no option and stay for the safety of their children. I especially loved it when she finally cussed him out at the end as well as her last interaction with Yeon Jin when she gave her a taste of her own medicine. I laughed out loud.

Park Yeon Jin was definitely the crazy character that made this show worth it. Yet again I have to give it to Shin Ye Eun's scarier performance as the bully. Im Ji Yeon did well too but at times she felt weak. Considering everything, she seemed to get the lightest punishment as she still had zero regrets.

The show was a fantastic binge watch. Perhaps the only thing that could have been better was if Dong Eun physically beat them up. She didn't have to. I just like female characters who can fight well and I love action scenes.

The ending may seem like an open-ending but it's just left some things to the imagination. Though I wouldn't mind another season focused on that.

I would definitely recommend both parts to be seen in sequence as that's how it was originally meant to be. The second part definitely has the meat of the revenge plot.

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Mostly fun with an absurd ending

When You Be Me is quite a light drama with some funny moments, plenty of sweet instances but does take a dramatic turn towards the middle and completely flips the script at the end.

The plot revolves around a quiet (practically invisible) girl who is poor yet studious (cliche) who saves the life of a popular, rebellious Taekwondo black belt boy from a rich family. The very same night, both of them swap souls. At first, both are awkward and then frustrated and start causing trouble for each other but eventually learn to hold back and try to live each other's lives to the best of their abilities. This duration of the plot is mostly entertaining and it's nice to see them experiencing each other's lives and trying to make it better in their own style. The show introduces their families and both have a unique family dynamic.

The male lead is spectacular as he portrays the female lead through his mannerisms and subtle expressions. The female lead does a good job as well however, the male lead truly shines in this series. Most of the drama revolves around their school and families.

What was mostly a fun series, suddenly turns very dark and melodramatic towards the 15th, 16th episode and I sped through it because it was getting a bit too much. Luckily by the 18th episode, this side track of a plot is dropped and everything returns "back to normal" which was a bit bizarre.

I also enjoyed the roles of the parents. The male lead's brother stood out. They explore the relationship the brothers shares and the current strain on their relationship. However, for whatever reason the series decides to briefly show a very dark side to the loving older brother and there was no redemption from that character for me after that. They killed my love for their relationship.

This is probably where the show becomes a bit of a drag. But the final disappointment was the ending. It would be best to completely skip the final episode. Yes, it was somewhat of a happy ending but it still manages to annoy you.

If you were hoping for romance then you won't really find anything. It's left up to the imagination of what will happen in the future.

It's a fine show to binge if you don't have big expectations. Mostly the series was entertaining. I've just highlighted some of the bigger moments that I disliked.

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So convoluted

When I began W, I found it extremely exciting and fast paced and I loved that. After completing it, I feel like the writer/director decided to keep adding twists and turns and the sheer number of complicated storylines is what brought my rating of this show from a 9 down to a 7. W is certainly impressive but I also have to agree with those that say that episode 12 could have easily been the finale. I do see the effort behind the writing but I just got a little tired of it by the end to the point that I didn't care if the ending was a happy or sad one. I just felt exhausted for the poor protagonist. Any normal human being would need lifelong therapy after just half of that.

For those that enjoy romance, you will get plenty pretty early on. The action scenes were at times just average. However, I loved the animations and the blending of reality and the webtoon visually beautiful. The cast did a good job portraying their respected characters. However, the actors playing the male lead, Kang Chul's friends got a raw end of the deal. Their characters are not particularly deep or impressive. At times I wondered if Kang Chul really did consider them friends or not.

There also seems to be a missing element to this plot. Neither the creators nor the characters were truly in control. Then what made this webtoon special that brought life to these characters and what made Kang Chul resist the edits. Why was a window between the two worlds created in the first place? I would have loved to understand that and how the window was closed by Kang Chul.

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Communication and assurance is key

I liked the concept of the show but at times I felt it was a bit cruel to have couples who are on the verge of breaking up watch their partners date new people and build connections and enjoy themselves. Some of the participants were also torn about whether they should be friendly or restrain themselves on dates. The biggest issue among most couples was how they communicate and it was clear to see that lack of trust and fear was adding to their inability to communicate effectively. It was quite eye-opening as I analysed my own communication skills. It's a good show to reflect on and learn from watching the challenges faced by others. It has some funny moments early on as the couples adjust to their partners going on dates but as the show goes on, you begin to feel their pain.

My only issue with the show midway was that there is no challenge for the participants to work on their relationships when they are already unsure on how to resolve their problems. If anything, new people in the mix is like adding to the fire of mistrust and uncertainty. I'm glad there is no interference by the producers but there ought to be some tasks that can help the couples communicate with their partners as well.

After completing the series, it was clear that the looming deadline suddenly woke a lot of the couples up and they realised, this might be their last chance to talk it through with the partners. Being able to listen, as well as see each others' perspective and in some cases reassure their partner that they are committed was what many of them were looking for. It was certainly a fascinating series.

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Directionless towards the end

Leaving the spoilers for later, this series has a bit of something for everyone in a progressive sense but leaves you to fill the gaps at the end. I would love for a show to pick up from where this one left off as the show didn't resolve the issues it presented.

Spoilers:
This series reminded me a lot of the Korean drama 'Because This Is My First Life' in the first episode. However, Nigeru wa Haji da ga Yaku ni Tatsu created its challenges and failed to address them by the end leaving it open-ended and that left me disappointed. It was a unique opportunity to show how couples can balance work and home if they are supportive of each other. Though the show presented the value of a housewife's role, the couple in the end seemed to reach an impasse and left the solution up to the audience to decide.

Another progressive aspect of the show was the second couple of the older woman (49) and younger man (32). However, it seemed like the director only liked to play with the idea but preferred to leave the actual romance and relationship to the audience's imagination as well. When I had lost all interest in the main couple, I was hoping something would come of the second couple but alas. A missed opportunity to tackle society's perceptions of such pairings despite both being adults.

The positives:
The main couple is cute. It is nice to see a male lead that is polite, gentle and well mannered. Just when I started feeling like wives being solely responsible for housework and cooking and should enjoy it was being shoved down my throat, the female lead proclaims that she was only dedicated to those tasks when she was being paid to do them. There was a good explanation of how women are exploited because of their love for their families and expected to give their all without any pay or appreciation of all that they do. The actors played their parts well and the chemistry was palpable and many characters were relatable.

If you're expectations are not too high and don't mind leaving things to the imagination, you might enjoy the show more than I did.

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A mix of a strong plot, characters and acting.

When I watched the trailer, all I could think of was this is another Boys Over Flowers and Meteor Garden with the Male lead being a member of a group (Alpha 3 instead of F4) and he ends up bullying the poor but brave female lead eventually falling for her. But it's not quite the same. And that's probably why I liked it.

Although both shows do have their similarities, this male lead, Deib, does have his humane side which they reveal early on. That's why it was easier to believe he was not a bad guy. His first intro was more normal. There are definitely clashes between the pair leading up to the bullying that are again insights into the type of person the male lead is. He is not an angry spoilt brat even though he can be. But you find yourself understanding where he's coming from pretty quickly.

The female lead, Maxpein, doesn't just stand up for herself but also others. Her family situation is dire but they are not over the top characters desperate to push her onto a rich guy like in F4:Thailand or BOF. Her family inspires her to show vulnerability but keep going despite hardships. "The brave cry but don't give up" is her motto during her weakest moments. At no point is she forced to overwork herself. Though I do wonder when she and the other students studied.

It's easy to see why the leads can connect and relate to each other. Even though the bullying is pretty nasty, it felt less intense except at one point when it gets serious and this is where the story takes a turn. Luckily it does not involve sexual harassment of any sort.

For 10 episodes and 45 min episodes, the story is conveyed well and there are many different aspects to the story that you don't see coming. Season 1 ends on a cliff hanger but even as a standalone season, it does well to take you on an emotional and fairly relatable journey. This is the first Filipino drama that I have watched and I am quite impressed by it. As far as the support cast is concerned, I quite liked Maxpien's father, Elle, and the headmaster did a wonderful job portraying their characters.

The show is not heavy on the romance which is nice but may not be everyone's cup of tea. I recommend giving this a go for the story and the acting/cast.

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Not scary.

The movie is supposed to be of horror genre so I've rated it on that basis.

For a movie shot entirely on a phone, it was very well done. The set designs were amazing. Good VFX (final scene). The story plot was interesting. The events however were comical. They seemed to have paid homage to 'The Shining'. I wont spoil the reasons for that. I am not sure if I understood the final scenario or I might have rated it higher even if it was not scary. It could have been the translation gap but they didn't explain the ending properly and it might leave audiences guessing what was really going on.

Nevertheless, I was amused and it's only 25 mins long so it's good for a one time watch.

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Slow moving

I'll keep it as brief and to the point as possible. The story definitely had potential but it didn't hold my interest for very long. It starts off well but around episode 9 and 10, I started to feel bored. By the end, the pace picks up again but I wasn't as vested in the plot.

I really enjoyed the dynamics between Lee Ahn and his brother Seong Mo. And they were the highlights of the show more than anything. It also added some humour.

It wasn't really explained how Lee Ahn's powers develop in the presence of Jae In. Or how those books he read helped. They could have exploded that a bit more instead of some of the romance scenes which weren't all that romantic. Although the ending was satisfactory, I didn't feel quite satisfied. It felt almost underwhelming. It could have used a bit of drama. Instead, everyone's emotions were flat.

I've also minused 0.5 for the poor budgie. They paid attention to the dog but not a single scene with them interacting with that bird. It looked beyond lonely. When Ahn gives Jae In his dog because he's too busy, I don't understand why he doesn't do the same for the bird as his brother seems to be home even less. I'm sure the animals were looked after by the crew but as part of the story, it made me feel bad for it.

I wouldn't really recommend this particular series. It isn't bad but there are better ones out there. I'd say Park Jin Young was far better in The Devil Judge and that is a far more intriguing series. Hence why I don't rate He Is Psychometric highly as a rewatch either.

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Funnier than I expected

Kyou wa Kaisha Yasumimasu, also known as I'm Taking The Day Off is well named and a good show.

Aoishi Hanae is a woman about to turn 30 and has never been in a romantic relationship before. She is out drinking with some of her work colleagues when a 21 year old intern, Tanokura Yuto, at her company finds out that it is her 30th birthday shortly after the others have left. He decides to make it special for her and asks her to hang out with him that night. Despite her awkwardness, she decides to spend time with him.

Hanae has always lived in fear which kept her from experiencing romantic relationships but her awkwardness. worries and inexperience keep weighing on her along with the doubts of being in a relationship with a man 9 years younger than her. I found it to be portrayed extremely well and the situations are quite realistic. The whole story is from her perspective so that we get to experience her firsts along with her. Since Tanokura has been in relationships, he is better equipped at handling Hanae's insecurities and quelling her fears. In this way, he comes across as the more mature person in the relationship. He is also very sorted and an upright individual and slowly but surely the trust develops with plenty of ups and downs.

The second male lead, Asao Yuu, also adds an interesting dynamic to their relationship. Asao is fascinated by Hanae's imperfections and a unique friendship develops between the pair. On many occasions, I did find myself thinking he might be better suited for her. It is very easy for a man to be portrayed as pushy and overbearing but luckily this drama understands consent and though they play on cliches, they never overstep boundaries which was important. We also see this when Kagami is trying to express his interest in Ookawa Hitomi

This series has plenty of funny and light-hearted moments. A lot of it coming from Hanae's colleagues, her dad, and also her niece. I also appreciated the positive work environment Hanae is lucky to be a part of, especially for having a very considerate boss who lets her "take the day off" (hence the name of the show) several times at the last minute. This title is also appropriate because Hanae is known to never use her paid vacation days.

My only negative points about this show is that it does not explore beyond the early relationship. I would have liked to know how the couple dealt with obstacles that arose in the future due to the age gap as this was also something that used to worry Hanae. Also, she never overcame the discomfort of communicating what bothered her which would have been nice to see.

Overall I really enjoyed the show for it's simplicity and it was done well. There was room for improvement.

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Do not recommend

I can understand the intention and the message behind the series. While the message is a good one, the delivery and impact of the show is unimpressive.

My main issue is how slow moving the story is. And at the end, you feel a bit cheated because you are investing your time in hopes of a good pay off. There are certainly better ways of revealing information pertinent to the message.

I also have issues with a character towards the end. The elderly nurse. That was problematic.

I liked some of the characters but overall this is below average for me. There are much better short series in contrast to this one.

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Surprisingly good

I know there is controversy surrounding the male lead however the plot was enticing and I don't regret watching it.

Both the female and male leads did a wonderful job with their potrayals. Lee Seo Won did well with the contrasting characters of Ji Sul Woo and his doppelganger, Yoon Dong Joon. Though it would be more realistic if his issues were more to do with dealing with the negative side of fame which was also brought up rather than merely hating the way he looks. I am glad I watched this series because Han Seung Yeon tugged at my heart strings with her character, Baek Se. The moment where she talks to her friend made me well up. Beautifully portrayed moments.

Since Dong Jong was made to play the part of the romance star, Ji Sul Woo, lots of light hearted moments came from reenacting famous romance scenes. Though there are no laugh out loud moments, it's still entertaining. Two 1 hour episodes makes it an easy watch and the story ending was well done.

It's unfortunate that Lee Seo Won misbehaved and threatened a female. He seems to be a good actor. It just goes to show that just because someone is talented, they may not be a good person and as the audience we only see their onscreen persona and the side they want us to see. Nonetheless, my rating is based on the story and the combined effort of all the actors and the work put in. Their efforts and talent should be recognised and should not have to suffer in the process for someone else's actions.

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Disappointing

Though I enjoyed the plot theme, I really had high expectations from the characters and the story. The counters and the other world partners are shown to be pretty weak considering the incredible powers they actually possess.

To begin with, Wi Gen, the other world partner nearly died as she began aimlessly searching for a body to enter. When she finally does collid with So Moon's body, the ensuing scene is comical and almost silly.

Also, the writers probably wanted to create a powerful adversary but it just ended up making all the counters look incredibly weak and helpless. The other world partners also seem to be dishing out unjust punishments to the counters which was upsetting. Some of the aspects in the lead up to as well as the final battle itself were frustrating to watch (eg. The car scene).

The story started off pretty strong but towards the end, I started to lose interest. I completed it nonetheless. Probably not a show I would watch again nor recommend as there are a lot of better options.

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Action, comedy, mystery, romance rolled in one

Watched this back in 2020 lock down. Exit is the kind of movie that can be enjoyed by the masses as it has a bit of everything. It also has the thrills without getting too dark despite being a disaster survival movie.

The story builds up slowly by introducing the male lead and his family being frustrated and disappointed with him. Story moves to a site of a family function where the disaster happens and a mysterious gas leak occurs. The female lead and ML's love interest happens to be a staff working there. The situation shows the ways in which people react and try to survive in order to escape the deadly situation. Mostly panic as one can expect. And then there are some that go to extrordinary lengths to survive using knowledge and skill. This is what builds excitement.

Since the leads are rock climbers and are trying to escape, a lot of the action involves climbing, running, and jumping. This might be different from what people who enjoy action movies usually love (eg. Fight scenes, car chases, etc). There are some funny dialogues, happy moments as well as plenty of nail-biting scenes. If you prefer proper romance plots then you might be disappointed but you will get to see the chemistry between the leads given the situation.

I would definitely recommend people give it a watch!

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A strong finish!

I love the cast and am absolutely biased towards Lee Je Hoon aka Kim Do Ki. The characters he plays is alone worth watching for. However, I can't rate this 10/10. Taxi Driver 2 is a little less intense compared to season 1 so not all the episodes have the same shock value and psychos of season 1. But towards the later episodes, you do get that stress and thrill of season 1.

On Ha Jun's character is a bit more subtle than I would have liked it to be. But there is a bit more focus on him at the end.

The team is great but I missed the constant engineering that went on to improve the car and equip it with new features. However, in this season, everyone is more involved in the actual cases which is nice. We see some great chemistry between Ahn Go Eun and Do Ki. But no real romance for anyone that was hoping for some. Personally, I don't think every show needs a couple. But you get some sweet moments.

The last few episodes were the best. The team, like last season, deals with a situation that they did not anticipate and it was what the series was building up to. What I loved in season 1 was the hand to hand combat by Kim Do Ki. We get some action sequences throughout season 2 as well with major fights in the last two episodes.

I wish there was more of Madam Lim Bok Ja though

Prior to the finale, I had rated the show at 8.5, but the finale did blow me away and gave me everything I was hoping for. Luckily it concludes nicely and there is no cliffhanger. Although they may have teased a 3rd season in future. Let's see if they decide to follow through.

I LOVE the Rainbow Taxi team and I'm glad they gave us so much more variety than the first season. The way everything came together was also fantastic. First season is still superior but season 2 finishes strong!

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