Elendilka
Slovakia
My absolute favourite was the first sport, I think that it gave an excellent start to the series. There are also some appearances in later episodes by familiar faces, which is very rewarding. I loved this show, you will too.
Please, watch this series on YouTube to give them views (plus, there are free subtitles).
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Unexpectedly great
I had my eye on this ever since a news article came out about introducing the cast and a basic reference to the concept, that it would take place on an island. The trailer looked intriguing, so I clicked right on the show, when it came out (and to my surprise, only two episodes per week, damn!). I had great fun with this, it was very refreshing an entertaining.To sum New World up, it's a variety show with very immersive elements and a concept that adjusts by days. The members are basically on an island vacation for six days in exclusive accommodation that had been designed to fit their preferences. They meet every day and a holographic box informs them on the main event of the day and they react accordingly. Depending on what is happening they get more or less competitive with other, they forge and break alliances and basically, just wreak havoc around the island. Their goal is to earn prize money that makes their life on the island easier, they can afford stuff (they even pay for food with it) and in the end, they are allowed to transfer their balance into real currency.
The quests or events the show is based on are excellently put together. There is a nice balance of competitiveness because the members organically forge different alliances which makes sense for the day. Because the cast has various experiences in variety shows it is also very interesting to watch them approach this. Sometimes they even play against the game instead of against each other which is very refreshing. The show is also edited in a way, that viewers are invited to pay more attention because not everything is shown as it happens and there are a lot of surprises.
The members, as mentioned, are very well chosen. This was my first time watching something with Kim Hee Chul as a full member (I usually see him as a guest in something or in clips) and damn, he was hilarious here, I totally enjoyed his chaotic presence. Lee Seung Gi and Eun Ji Won as veterans were also great, but I feel like their thunder was stolen quite a bit by the rookies. Jo Bo Ah was fantastic! I really enjoyed her approach of taking a step back and evaluating the situation for herself, she is also very loyal the her (true) allies and when in doubt, uses her amazing acting skills which made her a really strong contender. Kai was also really great, I loved how he "levelled up" by quickly observing his senior members and slowly building his position by sharing when necessary and cooperating with people who benefited him. Park Na Rae is no rookie, but I was surprised by how innocently she approached this show. She worked really hard and went all in, it was nice to see. She also a sort of centre of the members, she often hosts them and takes care of them. All of them has also great chemistry overall and often treated each other well, like when it came to food and snacks.
New World is overall well balanced, even when a daily challenge might be less interesting, they edit in an episode with something else or do the above mentioned trick with not exposing everything and fill it with a twist. My favourite episode is hands down the third one and from then on the show gains momentum, stakes get high and it grabs your attention. I was looking forward to new episodes every week and was very interested in it. I also really appreciated overarching elements through the whole show like the items, or hinting on something mysterious. There is a great potential here and I hope that the show will be successful enough to have multiple seasons. It was also edited really well and you had a genuine feeling of them being on the island by themselves - a lot of it is shot by automated cameras.
Now for things I didn't really like and this is highly subjective and my opinion only. As a show/concept it's really great, but when you think about watching six quite wealthy people in real life competing for fictional money and mentioning jokes about being poor. I don't know, it just rubbed me the wrong way in the first episode and then I got over it. It's just a show, not a social commentary after all. The other thing I did not necessarily like was one scripted part with and extra (I'm trying really hard not to spoil it here). I get that it might have something to do with an overarching story/element they wanted to introduce, but it was quite random and ruined a high paced part of one quest.
I really enjoyed New World and I would love to have more episodes to watch. If you have some spare time, I think that you would enjoy this a lot too.
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A very sweet rendition of Three Meals a Day
I really love the concept of Three Meals a Day and this one is not only a great successor to the concept, but is an especially sweet one, if you followed Hospital Playlist (which I did and really loved). If you watched the series, please give this programme a chance as well. Not only because of an awesome IRL friendship of the group, but they actually watch two episodes of the drama during it's premiere (in episode 4 of this show they watch episode 11 of the drama and in episode 8 they watch the finale - if you don't have much time, please watch at least these two).But let's make this review in an orderly fashion, shall we?
The location of this season is on point. The mountains and small village suit the group very well and the house where they reside is located on a pretty much perfect spot. There is a lot of room, they were never cramped inside and had plenty of good equipment outside as well. The addition of a woodworking open shed was also very welcome and interesting.
As for adaptation of the concept itself, the crew continues to be very strict with the cast and this show is a very classic representation of Three Meals a Day. They go around working to earn money for extra ingredients (only the basic ones are provided) and the tasks are quite difficult. I really loved that the guests helped as well.
The food looked absolutely delicious and it was great that they introduced the element of a surgeon for each meal that was the responsible one. I was afraid that because of such a large number of cast members, there would be chaos, but this made everything go so smooth. I really enjoyed the addition of the U bench that Yeon Seok created to go around the fire. It looked like in a restaurant and it seemed to me like it made it easier for the crew to shoot as well.
The cast it great, but we all know that. What made it so special was that we were able to take a look into their friendship and see their regular selves. Kim Dae Myung was absolutely hilarious and he made laugh so hard in almost every episode. Jung Kyung Ho is also very funny and with a special brand of chaos that follows him everywhere. Jo Jung Suk is... I don't even know how to describe this. Made by an artificial intelligence? Everything he touches turns to gold, he knows always what to do, how to lighten the mood, how to assist his friends. He's just great.
Jeon Mi Do has a calming presence among them, always ready to provide and opinion, advice and diligent work. I loved how they showed that after they all went to sleep, she just pulled out her new script and continued to work. She has some real role model qualities and I wish to be more like her. I really appreciated how Yoo Yeon Seok made time for this project and tried to contribute his absolute best. He was very sad that he could be with them only for a short while, but he made an impact and was his usual sweet self.
The guest were so well chosen and I was blown away by the variety of them. Seven guests for eight episodes and with each of them they shared valuable moments. They were also motivated to entertain them which resulted in some pretty hilarious moments (if you know what I mean and I mean outdoor yard musicals). I was looking forward to Jung Moon Sung the most because he was my favourite in the drama and he did not disappoint. I enjoyed everyone, but Kim Hae Sook was a nice surprise for me and when they all started to call her omma, damn, my heart melted.
I usually rewatch Three Meals a Day at random when I have trouble falling asleep. It's a healing show, and this one is just so sweet, I can see myself rewatching it often. This is absolutely worth your time.
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Let’s start with something that kept bothering me this season and I couldn’t put my finger on it exactly. First of all, let me say that I love the show, and I still think that it’s very unique and unbelievably high quality. However, this time around I at first thought that maybe the editing is a bit different because some parts were difficult to follow or to focus on. As the series progressed, I realised that it’s just that the immersive element for the cast sometimes translates as too much information for the viewer. That being said, it’s probably the only downside I would point out this season.
I like the fact that there is a lot to build on and the universe keeps expanding. I also applaud the cast for “studying” before every season to refresh their memories. In my opinion, this creates quite a unique bond with the fanbase since they’re looking up old clips and episodes before shoots and often cite quotes of comments from the viewers.
I feel like everyone shined this season and their abilities got a lot of spotlight. There are two main brains though, so let’s start with them. Shin Dong often says that this is his favourite gig in his whole career and he is always so into the narrative. And also, damn, he’s so smart! This season he also has one shocking moment that steered the course of an entire episode, which showed exactly why he is such an asset to the team. Yoo Byung Jae is another cast member that often finds solutions to seemingly impossible situations. He usually reads all of the instructions and I loved how he said that he often speeds through the text just to be the first one to solve it.
Kim Dong Hyun has incredible moments this season. It blows my mind how one can be a massive scaredy cat and at the same time a genius in the most important moments. When I think about Kim Jong Min in this season, there are plenty of hilarious moments (one certainly comes to mind right away) that happened which made him a complete scene stealer. On the other hand, he usually is just that. The thing is, he is basically a variety show trained machine, goes head first into everything, finds the most important clues, is strangely calm in high-tense situations yet if you ask him contextual questions about the episode’s story, he has only a vague idea. But somehow, he just fits perfectly here.
I don’t know about you, but I always root for Kang Ho Dong to find something epic in the episode, because his enthusiasm then becomes infectious and everything somehow goes smoother. He also holds the team together the most, he is the glue they need to be as awesome as they are. I think that P.O. is a member, who is simultaneously the biggest fan of the show. He often remembers minor details from the past stories because he rewatches the episodes over and over again in preparation. He also had a lot of good moments this season, I think that his growth as an escaper is the most visible.
A cast with this kind of chemistry and good vibes needs just challenging concepts to get through. And oh boy, they had plenty of those this season. There were several concepts where they thought one thing and it turned out to be something completely different, with epic moments scattered throughout or unbelievable finales. I think that at least two episodes (concepts) of this season should be marked as ones of the top five of the whole series.
I really hope that the fifth season will be out soon. And I also noticed that they developed a label for their cinematic universe, so I keep my fingers crossed for something additional. Because I would gladly watch more any day.
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What an interesting drama that left me with a lot of conflicted emotions about how to review it. It certainly is one of the better in contemporary Chinese dramas, but... well, it featured some questionable plot developments which made me deduct some stars.The plot is very interesting, and to be frank, quite refreshing. I really liked that the female lead was straight forward and from the beginning to end she was very clear about being into the main lead only. I also liked *SPOLIER* how because there was almost no chasing period from the male lead, they covered how insecure she felt and they had to have several conversations to solidify their relationship. *SPOILER ENDS* Her pursuit of the main lead makes this drama really entertaining, and after the couple of introductory episodes, the first about 10-12 were super interesting and I continued to watch with a big interest.
However, the tempo of the drama is greatly disturbed by the other characters who, don't get me wrong, are interesting and all, take up so much screen time, that the balance is off and some episodes are tedious to get through, especially in the second half.
Still, there is so much here that outweighs the minor setbacks and I especially appreciate that the characters have so much agency and so much to explore, that there is something going on until the end of the drama.
For me, it was worth a watch, I enjoyed it and played with my phone during the boring parts. Also, a little heads-up, if you watch in YouTube, there is a lot of muted parts (they are not extensive though).
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This was exactly what I was looking for - cute, fluffy, had an interesting story and it progressed nicely. Overall, I was not at all bored and enjoyed myself.What My Little Hapiness does best, is that it creates very interesting characters, who learn from each other and their meaningful relationships have an impact on their lives. The main couple is very supportive of each other and they are so fully fleshed out, that nothing was potrayed out of character for them.
Where I really found a jem here was the second couple, though. From the moment they were introduced to us, they were just a perfect fit and I especially loved how they genuienly were an influence in each other's lives.
The OST and the cinematography were pleasant as well. The drama has a nice tempo, I don't even remember it having a slower episode that would make me bored.
The only negative I would maybe mention, but if you watch Chinese contemporary dramas a bit, you well know about this, the hospital parts were a bit unrealistic/cliche. Other than that, a solid 10 from me.
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New word for meaningful and awesome should be Navillera
Once in a while you come across a drama that is not only well written, superbly acted out and has a powerful message, but at the same time it’s also a drama that comes into your life when you didn’t know you needed it and packs such a punch, that it makes you to re-evaluate your life. This was Navillera to me.The story is incredible – it creates an amazing contrast between a coming-of-age story, and “let’s give it all I have when I still have some time left” story. Navillera shows the perspective of two very specific heroes, with such a different view on life and experiences in it, that it’s just incredible that it manages to work so well. It’s also a prime example of inter-generational learning and shows how beneficial it can be for one’s life.
I found the charm of Navillera mostly in the small things. The dialogue is written very realistically, and the characters interact with one another the way real people would. There is one scene where haraboji receives a gift and he automatically replies: “But orange is my favourite colour.” That made me laugh so much and miss my family in a way – it’s something so familiar to have “assigned” your favourite colour to make picking out gifts easier. The drama also leaves small messages for attentive viewers to pick up on, as well as it does a good job in tying everything together at the end.
Most of that is thanks to a reasonable tempo and twelve episodes. Everything feels just right, there are no filler episodes, and every scene has a meaning. The acting is nothing short of spectacular, even the side characters have their moments. It’s very rewarding to see fully fleshed plot lines and developments in this setting of high-level acting. Not to mention the sheer amount of preparation that both Song Kang and Park In Hwan had to do. I was in awe at some of their scenes. This drama also featured several strong female characters and that made my heart melt.
It will be a long time until I come across a drama like this. It was deeply meaningful and made me look at my life with a different eye. It’s amazing, honestly, how they created this drama in a way that it feels natural for you to do so. It’s almost as if you are a part of the conversation.
Navillera also shows some aspects of family life in such raw state, that I got emotional several times in moments without the main characters present. I would also like to comment on how tasteful and respectful the creators were towards some scenes involving the main heroes dressed in ballerino outfits. Honestly, it was just beautiful.
I liked the OST as well – the contrast of modern music and classical ballet music was excellent.
I know, this drama might trigger a lot of people who have or have had a similar health situation with a family member, myself included. However, it made me think a lot about that certain dear person, I returned to some memories that I have not thought about in years. It made me find a bit of peace and it was healing. On the other hand, be ready to maybe stop watching Navillera for a couple of days when things get though (I did for two weeks) – but please, stick to the end. It’s the most rewarding drama you’ll ever see.
Oh, and P.S. you’ll cry a lot. So switch from handkerchiefs to toilet paper roll. It saves a lot of hustle. You’re welcome.
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Begin Again features an interesting romance, plays around with the typical tropes and in the end, it ends up just slightly above average. So let's break it down.As most series in this genre, the first few episodes could be easily passed as sci-fi. Things happen quickly, it does not make a lot of sense, yet somehow everyone is cool with it. What I found interesting about Begin Again, though, was that the middle episodes of the drama are very rewarding and that rarely happens (most dramas save the best for the beginning and for the end). The characters really worked on their relationship, and the side characters presented interesting developments as well. And then it... just somehow sabotages itself and to be honest, the last few episodes are quite a challenge to finish. So, the main issue for me was the tempo and the sheer length of the series.
The plot is quite interesting, mostly because it evolves around a strong female character and she's quite ruthless when following her dreams. The story makes her character develop as well, and the male lead provides a lot of inputs that she takes to heart. It was truly a joy to watch Zhou Yu Tong here. Her chemistry with Simon Gong was very pleasant too, yet he lacked a bit when compared to her acting.
The second lead couple is very interesting and I enjoyed them both a lot. It was very amusing to see the play on flipped roles in the relationship in this setting and I had a lot of fun with that. They also provided a good balance to the main couple, there was always something going on.
The other characters are hit and miss. You will find your favourites and the ones, that are just meh.
I liked the overall atmosphere of the drama. The sets and wardrobe really give off the feeling that you are following heroes from a high class setting. The humour was a pleasant surprise as well, I laughed a lot. Other than that, I found it just slightly more enjoyable than an average drama.
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Sometimes you (and by you it might just mean me) are in mood for a drama that is calm and main plot is a straight forward romance. This is it, you cannot find a better drama than this. And as a bonus, there are real gems hidden here.In the pretend relationship/contractual marriage genre, there are often almost sci-fi beginnings and silly reasons for the couple to form a quick attachment and proceed on with the plot and sheningans. Perfect and Casual is not an exception in this, however, it features a longer start and by the time we get to the wedding, there are some feelings developed and you are fully invested into the story.
That is mainly because of two factors - the actors playing the main couple have an incredible chemistry, they act around in each other naturally and the characters are very endearing. The other is that the writing, especially in the character of the grandfather, is done very well. He teaches his grandson to see Yun Shu's best qualities and her value, which Sinian realises and never compromises on. And it's just great to see how he holds her in equal regard as she holds him.
The plot overall is quite calm. The charm of this drama is in quiet conversations and every day life. The funny bits are not obnoxious, the other characters are entertaining and if you aren't interested in them that much, at least you get to scroll your phone guilt free. I also liked the way this drama was shot, especially the passages from the point of view of some characters/their imagination. It also has a nice tempo and the main couple is nicely balanced and switched on screen depending on which one of them is currently in higher need of attention. However, I had an issue with two characters that are introduced later on, as somewhat of a catalysts for the progress of the relationship of the main couple. I found their involvement in this scale somewhat unnecessary and repeated.
The music is nice but if you watch it on YouTube, one song is not used which results in muted parts of the drama. I also liked the wardrobe, especially Yun Shu's - which is repeated at first, since she has no money, and later on develops with her character. It was nice to see.
To be honest, Perfect and Casual blew me away, I enjoyed it so much that I stayed up for it until one in the morning during a workday (which I NEVER do - being a commuter that gets up at 5:20 - I learned my self-control the hard way and for this drama, I threw it away like a used napkin). I already rewatched my favourite parts and will probably come back to them often. This drama is worth your time.
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It's been a while since liked a drama this much, yet hesitated with the ten star rating. Mr. Queen is a drama that does not feature any filler episodes, it's written so well that every episode is eventful and it develops even the minor characters. That being said, for you to enjoy this drama fully, prepare to do some mental cartwheels to see the main leads in an "innocent straight relationship" the creators want you think they are in.The cast of Mr. Queen is nothing short of spectacular. Shin Hye Sun does an incredible job, I especially liked her performance as the character got more and more incorporated with both people inhabiting the brain. She also has incredible gestures and mannerisms that reminded me of Choi Jin Hyuk and me never forget, that she basically played two characters at once. Her chemistry with Kim Jung Hyun is amazing and his performance is also amazing. I was surprised by the acting range of both of them. The amazing performances don't end there. Everyone was just so good, I have no complaints.
The story is very interesting and it almost makes the viewer feel as a companion to Bong Hwan. He is quick on his feet and often surprises with his wits. At first, I was in awe of just how into it (the slapstick and hilarious comedy) were the creators willing to go. The comedy was very strong at first and even though it makes room for more dramatic elements later on, it was a constant in the drama. There was one plot point, quite early on, when the personalities of Bong Hwan and So Yong clashed a bit more and they started to be a lot more intertwined with each other, which made doubt that it could be still entertaining, but it turned into a good move. I also liked how they kept the inner voice of the Queen, even though it changed in tone, throughout the entire drama.
Mr. Queen features a lot of classic elements of a true historical drama and I liked the incorporation of modern elements as well. Especially interesting was the use of Bong Hwan's skills in the kitchen and the addition of the royal kitchens was a nice view of the court from this perspective.
What this drama did also well was pairing the characters up into smaller squads (#squadgoals all around) and it featured a lot of banter and funny moments, even for the less interesting characters. And, as we are in a historical drama, the villains are properly evil and the heroes are properly heroic. Soundtrack is also very catchy and I liked it very much.
I would like to address the main issue that a lot of people, including me, have with this drama, but I feel like having stepped on thin ice. I see the cultural context and the point of Bong Hwan coming into So Young's body, which was primarily to help her in a dire situation. On the other hand, well... It's a situation in which everyone who watches it takes what he/she/they want to take from the main relationship. But if helps in accepting other types of relationships other than the typical heterosexual ones, I think, that it would be a big help.
To sum it up, Mr. Queen is a damn good drama, unfortunately with some baggage. Regardless of that, I enjoyed it very much, I looked forward to it every week and I will miss it a lot.
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This was an unexpected surprise for me. My first weekend drama and a first longer drama. The message of it hit the spot for me, I was having (and still in way am) a harder time at work than usual -I think that most of us do right now - and for a time this was the only escape for me. I am still hoping it will all pass and this drama gave me a bit of hope. Once Again was the highlight of my day, the only couple of minutes that I was able to smile and loved it to pieces.What this drama does so well is the early development of the individual stories of each character. Some have a later arrival than others and the perspective often changes, giving more screen time to those who are in more eventful moments and it steers away from those, whose story needs a little more time. I had no idea how I did it, but I watched the first 30 episodes in eight days. This is something I almost never do. TV is always a reward for me but this made my self-control just fly out of the window.
My hunger for the series slowed down when the events in some storylines kept hitting the peek. I often found myself quite emotional and having quite a dramatic situation on my hands irl, I just needed to calm down a bit. This wasn't due to the tempo of the drama, I think that it was very stable throughout the series and it kept it's pace until the end. Slowing down in watching it made me appreciate it much more, and I was also finally able to see the details that make this drama so great.
The drama finishes with a couple of episodes that are pure fan-service and it does not leave any storyline hanging. This makes Once Again incredibly rewarding and the 50+ hours of it totally worth it.
The cast of the drama is pretty much phenomenal. Even the children, who are often sore spots in dramas, are tolerable here. To be honest, there isn't one performance that I wouldn't enjoy. I especially liked the two mother figures - Kim Bo Yun and Cha Hwa Yun were incredible - there are plenty of moments where they let you love to hate them. The four siblings and Yoon brothers carry most of the drama though, and they are doing it admirably. Also, Lee Sang Yi smiles so brightly, that I am pretty sure I saved some money on my electricity bill due to not needing to have my light on while watching his laughter in the drama.
The story comments on many elements of daily life in South Korea and especially on the common theme of appearances in front of others. I think that everyone could relate to it and while there was not anything groundbreaking in terms of storytelling here, the dialogue is written so well that the drama is addicting and it will keep you coming back for more. The Song siblings are also very human and I think that every viewer will see elements of himself/herself in at least one of them. They are also #squadgoals.
The OST was nice and Lee Moon Sae's song, often featured in ending sequence, will be stuck in your head for weeks. Trust me.
I am so happy I gave this one a go. The number of episodes might seem intimidating but... It's just so worth it. I cannot wait to come back to this a rewatch not only my favourite moments, but probably the whole series again.
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I rarely experience such high as the first couple of episodes of this drama gave me. I was beyond hyped and the excellent soundtrack kept me entertained and in the mood (for dancing) the whole week. However, True Beauty ended up for me like a bottle of soda that you buy, excitedly open, drink a couple of glasses of, and you when you leave it overnight in the refrigerator all the bubbles disappear and it's simply not as yummy anymore. You finish it the next day regardless, because you know, you bought it and you are not going to just pour it down the drain. So I finished it.The story is very intriguing and I liked all the levels it presented. I think that was also the deal breaker for me - there was so much to be explored here, filled with refreshing ideas and in the end it just turned into a cliche story with a love triangle and a mediocre villain. To be honest, I did what I almost never do and forwarded some bits of the last four episodes. What heresy!
On the other hand, the secondary characters here are superb. Even the parents of the FL are super entertaining. This drama also created a story based around family, friendships and community and I think that it should be praised for that. I personally enjoyed the subplot around the FL's older sister.
The performances of the actors are A+, the casting on this drama was done phenomenally. The most notable performance is delivered by Hwan In Yeop and he pretty quickly became a fan favourite. Cha Eun Woo grew a lot as actor, in my opinion, and I liked him here a lot. Moon Ga Young was very good as well, she created a lot of mannerisms for the character, including the best derpy smile, which I liked. It made the character of Im Joo Gyung seem very real to me. This drama also featured a lot of enjoyable cameos that makes it almost seem as a part of a bigger universe. The soundtrack is superb and I'm pretty sure that my neighbours now think I'm crazy for listening to it over and over again.
True Beauty presents a unique atmosphere revolving around a very particular age in every person's life. The quarrels between the schoolmates made me go on a trip down the memory lane and I found myself laugh out loud more often than I thought I would. On the other hand, somehow, it is also the drama's downfall. There is a good chunk of middle episodes that feel just stagnant and the tempo is greatly distorted since there is not much left to explore, since the story stayed within the basics. The drama also makes a hasty couple of ending episodes featuring an element that did not do anything for the plot at all, it just made a leap for the characters to tie everything up at a quicker pace.
That all being said, I don't regret the time I invested into True Beauty. It's a light drama that made my gloomy days a bit brighter.
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I was really looking forward to this movie and it did not disappoint me, but there are still some thing that felt just mediocre. As someone, who has been raised around sci-fi (I had no idea that Star Trek is not real and being and Starfleet officer not a possible career option for me until I was like seven) I love this genre with a passion and this movie has some of the best elements of it, so it deserves a high praise. The visual effects were so good that it me really sorry that I was not able to see it in a cinema right now.
The first half of the movie is very rapid and the characters are introduced in a very interesting way, which makes you root for them since the beginning. I liked how Space Sweepers takes place in a wide universe made of people from different backgrounds and I especially liked how they were able to incorporate a translation system in which everyone was able to speak their own language and understand each other. I also liked the main antagonist - Richard Armitage's performance is superb, he is so evil that I did not even recognise him at first.
The movie keeps a high tempo packed with action, however I did find the latter part weirdly inconsistent and I felt the length of it. It also featured some cliche elements of the sci-fi genre which I found a bit cringey. On the other hand, the movie succeeded in creating a sense of community in the universe which I found very endearing and it was wrapped up nicely.
The performances of the main cast are pretty much flawless. I was pleasantly surprised by Park Ye Rin's performance, since child actors in sci-fi can be often annoying, but she was actually the highlight of the movie. Visually, it really was a feast and even the sets were high quality and appeared properly run down. The OST was very fitting, it gave you the appropriate feels.
Space Sweepers is without a doubt a good representation of its genre and even though it features some mediocre parts, it was still very refreshing and very welcome distraction in these dark times. Give it a go.
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The cherry on top
The third season of Busted, sadly the final season of the series, was just like the cherry on top of a delicious cake. The scale was elevated, it was quite dark and tied up the loose ends. If you were following the series since its beginning, you won’t be disappointed. If you are interested in only watching the newest season, there are still some episodes that could be considered as standalones, but otherwise you would miss quite a lot of world building established in the previous seasons.This time around, Busted is heavier on the drama element of this hybrid genre. The classic variety games, although still featured, are not as significant in this season. The world gets so immersive, that by the reactions of the cast, you can see that they are really into it. Some episodes especially feature some high scale events a locations, that even you forget that this is not a drama.
I would also like to comment on the fact that despite this season being filmed in the middle of the pandemic, it does not feel constricted at all. It still features wide locations and there are still many secondary characters who keep it fresh and new. It also seems that they might have so much footage this time around, that at times the editing is very rapid, and you simply must pay attention.
The members are by this time a well-oiled machine and you can see that they are very close with each other. The previous seasons made them so efficient in solving the riddles and problems, that some of the members are catching now to Park Min Young level and they move through the stories of the episodes very quickly. Especially the SeSe siblings are on fire this season. The comedic element is very strong this season as well, the repeated addition of Lee Kwang Soo is very welcome.
The secondary characters are something else. They elevated the scale of the season – basically, if you watched any popular dramas in the recent years, there is a high chance that Busted 3 features a character from those in its run.
Story wise, not trying to spoil anything, Busted does a good job in involving untrustworthy characters since the beginning and you pay so much attention on dropped hints and clues right away. Still, there are major surprises down the line, as per usual.
I will miss this show a whole lot (although, to be honest, after marathoning it after its release, being a fan of Busted consisted mostly of waiting for another season) and I will probably rewatch it a lot, like I did the previous seasons. It had a good run and I don’t regret my time invested in it, it’s worth it and I highly recommend for you to watch it too.
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This review may contain spoilers
The best one yet
Hats off to the Great Escape team. Another great season all around. The scale of the show is amazing, but it works because they got the best cast together. The episodes were so well balanced and varied that everyone got their moment. I especially liked that they developed the world of the show a lot, but it still remains a show that you can get straight into without seeing the prior seasons (they explain the context or provide enough of new plot, that you don't miss the past story).The production and creativity for this season is a whole new level. Every time I get around to watching a new season of the Great Escape, I am in awe of how the production team is capable of coming up with new incredible sets and stories that the cast, and the viewers alike, get totally sucked into the episodes. This season especially, I would like to praise how the production team steps it up to developing abilities of the cast. They got to know them quite well in the past two seasons and are starting to use the advantage of their weaknesses (like English, for example) to make challenging concepts and riddles.
The cast also leveled up. When I think back on how they got stuck for hours in that small room in the first episode of the first season, I laugh out loud. Now they are like small bulldogs in turning the sets upside down when looking for clues, they developed a system of assigning certain people to certain types of riddles/tasks and work collectively so well. They are in fact, one giant brain at this point.
Once again, I would like to point out that my favourite thing about this cast is that they don't play heroes, or are mean to each other in scary situations. They really do work well together, congratulate each other on everything solved and when faced with a difficult situation, they find a solution (or who to send in first) after lengthy discussions and overall satisfaction of everyone included.
This season though, I would like to point out Yoo Byung Jae's involvement - damn, he's so smart and quick on his feet. I would not be surprised if in the next season they would keep him separately from the rest of the cast in one of the episodes, and everyone would just enjoy the mess that this would cause. But seriously, he is the soul of the team, the most trusted member and rightly so. He also makes perfect pair with Shin Dong - those two together can crack almost anything.
Strangely, this season, the brains are often joined by Kim Jong Min who had an excellent run. He randomly cracked difficult puzzles or discovered something incredible. He was simply at the right place at the right time this season. He was praised by others often and he was the centre of this season's funniest running jokes, including the ridiculous nicknames that he got. If you root him, like I do, you will not be disappointed this season.
As always, the heart of the team is Kang Ho Dong and rightfully so. He has this excellent quality of supporting his younger brothers, he roots for them and is always ready to take one for the team or to do the difficult stuff. Kim Dong Hyun is supposed to be the muscle of the team but he often panics in intense moments. My favourite moment of this season was when in the ghost episode he spotted the stray cat that randomly entered the set and he lost his marbles. PO is the sweet member, he always helps his hyungs and has good ideas.
This season also features spectacular plots and ideas. The introduction of the new plot line is very refreshing and the revisiting of the old ones is still highly entertaining. Even in the last two episodes, when they featured a repeated element and the cast was like "this again", they managed to make one of the highlights of the show - they were spectacular and highly emotional, the cast was in awe. This element (I am really trying no to spoil it here) also opens wide possibilities for the upcoming seasons.
The editing in season 3 is very swift, you don't feel the length of the episodes. This season has a nice tempo and is really playful. They often lead you to believe that the members will crack a puzzle and progress and it's a fail. This makes the show very entertaining and makes you feel for the cast, as well as builds a direct relationship with you, as you try to figure out the solution along with them.
A great season all around, I am so excited for the next. This series is exceptional, give it a go.
PS - I would very much like to thank the people who did the subtitles for this season, although I know that they won't read this. Such tricky translations, you guys rock!
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