Soft Power
The Prisoner of Beauty is a nicely shot drama with strong performances and some good ideas. I just think it wasn’t the best drama for me.I knew there was romance, but it became a little too dominant for me. I could have done with more intrigue and a stronger story instead.
My biggest disappointment was that I felt the female lead had much more potential than the script allowed. If the writer had been a bit bolder, she could have become one of the most memorable characters in dramaland, instead she falls a bit flat. The actress was amazing, this was just a story problem.
I really liked the use of water as a metaphor for soft power, it was an Important element of the story but I think it could have been used with greater effect by a different writer.
I binged it, so there was something there but I wouldn’t rewatch it.
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The Perfect Medicine…
I’m temporarily unemployed and what do you do in that situation? You binge. Healthier if it’s dramas and not Doritos. That’s how I ended up watching all of To the Wonder in one day.Honestly, it almost cured my job angst :). Instead of a stressful plot, this show takes you into the beautiful, quiet grasslands of Altay (I think that’s how you spell it?). The filming is amazing—every scene looks like a painting. Watching the FL, leave the stressful big city to live with a nomadic community will resonate if you need a mental break yourself. (I may do this!) The show moves slowly, almost luxuriously so, which is exactly what my fried brain needed.
Everything feels real. It doesn’t feel ‘written’. It lets the scenery and the local culture do the talking. It is a peaceful, beautiful watch. I recommend!
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A solid series for my first review!
Reset is one of the most binge-worthy C-dramas if you love a good thriller.What’s good? It completely avoids relying on cheesy special effects. Instead, it focuses on the passengers, and honestly, the side characters' backstories hit hardest. The altercations between the main duo and the cops are brilliant.
The ML and FL’a relationship is way more "partners in crime trying not to die" than actual lovers, which honestly makes the partnership feel way more realistic.
What’s bad? It’s not flawless—some of the middle loops drag a bit, and the ending is a little too perfectly wrapped up in a bow but at only 15 episodes, it’s a good, solid watch.
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Waters of Life
I don’t think I have the writing skills to do this drama justice. Northward is one of those stories that you experience by ‘living with the characters’. The family relationships are true and real, and the way the characters get through everything together is beautiful and heartbreaking. I will say that I thoroughly enjoyed it but there were several moments that hit me much harder than expected.The only reason I can’t give it 10/10 is that some parts dragged a little. It didn’t ruin the story, but it made a few episodes feel longer than they needed to. Even so, it was a magical watch.
Oh, to live by the canals when they thrived :)
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