Memorable Show

COFFEE PRINCE was one of the first K-dramas I ever watched, quite a few years ago now. It is a very entertaining rom-com, but as light as it may seem, it also has a lot of heavy-heavy feels going on. The premise is fun and entertaining and yet very moving. The characters are all interesting and well-casted. I absolutely loved the main character, a tomboy heroine named Go Eun-chan. She was so lovable, relatable and interesting. Although a bit slow at times, this show was an unforgettable watch. Super cute. No regrets.

Overall, it was worth the watch.

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A Compelling, Mysterious Sequel Series

VICTIM’S GAME 2 picks up close to where the first season ended, with our Forensic Detective (ASD / Aspergers Syndrome lead), Fang Yi-Jen, pulled into another investigation of an equally mysterious string of murders, with Journalist Hsu Hai-Yin helping along the way.

The show is very compelling. I really enjoy the intensity of this series, as a dark, edgy crime show full of believable yet unique story and characters. I really enjoyed the cast, especially Hsiao-chuan Chang (as Forensic Detective Fang Yi-Jen) and Wei-Ning Hsu (as Journalist Hsu Hai-Yin), as well as Moon Lee (as daughter Chiang Hsiao-Meng), but the entire cast was really great.

“After discovering his estranged daughter's link to mysterious murders, a forensic detective with Asperger's syndrome risks everything to solve the case.”

Overall, this 2nd season of Victim’s Game series was really good and stayed in tune with the previous series. Watch this if you liked the previous season of Victim’s Game.

[NOTE: Trigger Warning. Suicide. Abuse. Violence. Gore. Bullying. Cancer. Language. Dark Adult themes. etc.]

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Timeless Love Story...

ETERNAL LOVE (San Sheng San Shi Shi Li Tao Hua / Three Lives, Three Worlds, Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms) was an unexpectedly wonderful show, super entertaining plot and lovable characters. I was skeptical going into this one, fearing it to be another "too cheesy to believe" romance. However, it completely pulled me in. Everything was really well done. <3

The character of Bai Quan played by the wonderful Yang Mi was perhaps one of the best female leads I have seen in a C-Drama yet. She is very loveable, feisty, witty and completely unique. I loved her character so much. Mark Chao was great in this series as well, but especially as the stoic, yet warm-hearted Ye Hua. I loved Bai Qian and Ye Hua and adored watching their love grow and their lives intertwine. They had such palpable chemistry. So adorable.

The whole cast was great, honestly. Bai Fengjiu and Dong Hua were also very enjoyable. Li Jing, although broody and tormented, was also a very interesting character. I honestly wish there were more episodes, even a second season. The costumes were dazzling, the setting breathtaking and the mythology was captivating. I fell in love with the world of Eternal Love, along with the majority of the cast.

And the music! Fantastic. My only complaint, and it’s a pretty small one, was at some points the drama became almost melodrama, as if the emotions overshadowed the plot, slightly detracting from the suspense of impending doom. (Usually the melodrama had to do with Su Jin or Li Jing.)

This show made me teary, and I don’t cry easily. But the ending was very satisfying, complete with HEA. Anyway, this was a very enjoyable, creative and dazzling show. If you’re into fantasy romance, and xianxia, give it a chance. Unforgettable.

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A Romantic Tragedy

ONE AND ONLY was a great Cdrama, especially if you like historical period and costume dramas. I admit, I had a difficult time getting into this one at first. I had a few false starts and dropped it several times before going back to it, due to the seemingly predictable and generic romance. It really did develop and pull me in.

Once I finally got going however, I discovered it was a really good show, and quite short in terms of average Cdrama length (24 eps instead of 60-80+ eps). I noticed it used flashback scenes, not overly frequent, but perhaps more so than other dramas in order to condense the storyline. While I do enjoy the longer series (as they create a depth and deeper emotional bonds), but this was a nice change of pace.

" A young man determined to become a general takes a mute, ill-fated princess as his disciple, forming a forbidden bond amid palace power struggles."

The actors were all very good in their roles, and the characters were all very likeable as well. The story was a bit slow starting, focusing on the friendship and blooming romance aspect rather than on the rest of the story, but gradually became more interesting and compelling, especially as villains and other main characters stepped into play. I really enjoyed the music as well, it was very fitting.

Overall, ONE AND ONLY was a great watch. I recommend if you like historical romantic Cdramas. Must warn, it is tragic and emotional.

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A Feminist Thought Drama

PALE MOON is a K-Drama that features blended elements of both the romance and thriller genres. While quite a bit slower in terms of pacing, (especially for a thriller!) it is a shorter series than typical k-drama series (10 episodes as opposed to 16 + episodes).

This series is a female centric series and can be considered a bit of an examination of feminist school of thought, with main themes such as the trodden housewife / middle aged woman seeking new life purpose, learning new skills and advancing herself, finding worth in herself; a woman developing herself to be independent and professional, seeking her own desires and identity; a woman under the control of her husband that struggles to break free despite the societal constraints.

While the characters choices are morally and ethically gray and debatable, the psychological aspects made this an interesting process and excellent food for thought, as well as a conversation starter.

This is the kind of drama that could have done without the romance plot, in my opinion. I understand they wanted that dimension, a love interest, but I felt it wasn't truly believable, interesting or even all that necessary.

Aside from the fact I’m not a fan of infidelity, on screen or otherwise, I do feel it slightly detracted from the impact of the other aspects of this series or perhaps the chemistry was lacking, rather than having the FL find love, strength and happiness on her own and in herself, becoming independent first (and then romance later on, if necessary at all). Also, it does tend to make it difficult to root for any MC (male or female) that practices infidelity.

However, I was happy to see a middle-aged, slightly older female lead and romantic interest. In many other dramas, the middle-aged female in this age range usually turns out to be some kind of villain archetype.

Overall, this was a refreshing change of pace from some of the more overplayed romance drama themes out there, but I do feel like it could have been a bit more of exciting (for a thriller series) as well as adding much more depth, on the psychological and emotional levels as well. This series was still a very well made show and worth the watch. Glad to see drama's switching things up.

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A Time Travel Mystery

ERASED (2017) is a sci-fi, mystery J-Drama series. It is about a man with abilities to time travel, episodes that he calls "Revivals", and he ends up going back in time to when he was a child in fifth grade, and when three of his classmates were kidnapped and murdered, in order to prevent the tragedies. The series is really well-made and acted, especially by the younger cast. It had a gripping premise and keeps you guessing and wondering.

"After finding his mom killed, Satoru's time-traveling ability takes him back 18 years for a chance to prevent her death and those of three classmates."

This was a great series, based on the manga series by the same name, that builds up with suspense and keeps you on the edge. Recommended for fans of anime, J-Dramas and short (16 eps) Netflix mystery series.

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Taipei in the 80's

LIGHT THE NIGHT is a Taiwanese Drama, and was a really well done series, albeit much different than the usual crime dramas out there. It was very slower moving, and at first a bit hard to really get into it, but this does improve with time and patience. I must say that the era of the 1980's in Taipei made for a very interesting setting. Actress Ruby Lin, shines bright, as always.

"In the red light district of 1980s Taipei, women at a popular Japanese night club navigate jealousy, heartbreak, friendship and love."

The quality of the series is evident and the acting is top tier as well. The story, while a bit slower paced initially, gets pretty good. Overall, this was a very well made series, very intriguing.

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Physics is Dead.

THREE-BODY (The Three Body Problem) is a psychological Chinese science fiction series about humanity's first contact and the subsequent invasion of a mysterious and an highly advanced alien civilization. It is a highly slow paced series, heavy with dialogue and concepts. The series starts slow, then slowly builds momentum, and then gradually picks up speed, offering some incredibly compelling subject matter, story and concepts in the process. This is a highly intriguing and intelligent series, based on the likewise brilliant book series by Cixin Liu, "Three-Body Problem".

This Cdrama was very interesting, but perhaps more suitable for people interested in hard science and scientific theory rather the usual light hollywood-esque space/alien sci-fi generally pumped out in other modern cinema. This story isn't really about the aliens, at least not in the sense of traditional "alien" science fiction. It is a very slow burn story. THREE-BODY has more depth and certainly expects the viewer to think and follow along, not just watch. The story is diluted only a little due to the book-to-film process, otherwise it contains much original dialogue, theories, story developments etc. The complex story is well portrayed, and quite mind-bending at times.

While at times the show can seem a bit dry, especially in the beginning (being somewhat heavy with dialogue and scientific conecpt), it definitely picks up speed as the series progresses, though it could never really be called fast-paced. Personally, I respect that about this series. It intends to retell the story the way it is most suitably told, as closely to the method that the author used. While certainly high quality, it doesn't seek to flash and awe, and never stoops to alter its content in order to sell or appeal to general audiences.

THREE-BODY never feels overly rushed or underdone as some series these days often tend to be. I enjoyed almost everything about it. The visuals and aesthetics are high quality and for the most part stunning, the music vastly suitable, and the casting was well-fitted to the characters in the book. The story really captivates and draws you in, keeping you entangled in its complexity and subtleties. Gotta love this gorgeous yet intellectual drama.

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Friendship & Revenge

ITAEWON CLASS (2020) was a fun, fast paced revenge drama filled with quirky characters, with humor, action, drama, friendship, business and teeny bit of romance. This series was really well made and well written, although a bit predictable in some ways (love triangle etc). I watch a lot of series / dramas and find some similar storylines among many of them, especially in revenge dramas. However, I really like the diversity of characters, as well as the bonds of friendship featured throughout.

"An ex-con opens a street bar in Itaewon, while also seeking revenge on the family who was responsible for his father's death."

Overall, this was a fun Kdrama, and definitely worth the chance. It had heart-warming aspects, as well as humor and drama. Somehow both heart-wrenching and light-hearted. A fun watch & great to see more of South Korea's city of Itaewon in a show.

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Quirky & Sweet

EXTRAORDINARY ATTORNEY WOO (2022) was a wonderful Kdrama, filled with memorable characters, as well as having a beautiful, moving and inspiring story (and sub stories). The Autistic heroine Attorney (Woo Young Woo) is really such a memorable character, and one of the few representations of autism in females that I've seen.

This series was such a heartfelt drama depicting a brilliant young woman with autism whose passion for justice and upholding the law, is not held back in the least by her limitations. Quite the opposite, in fact. It's wonderful to watch her overcome any and all obstacles, grow as a person and ultimately thrive.

This Kdrama was really sweet and so full of heart. It's so endearing and entertaining, unforgettable. A wonderful, heart-warming watch!

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Thoughtful Culinary Experience

MIDNIGHT DINER (2009-2014) was an excellent Japanese series about a small diner open from midnight to seven a.m. in the morning (12am-7am). The diner is visited by all sorts of interesting, bizarre and sometimes even shady characters, all with their own backstories, reasons for visiting the diner, along with special memories associated with their choice of dish. Some are Yakuza, some gay night club workers, some are struggling enka singers, but all have stories to share.

Along with the many character's stories that are gradually revealed as the show progresses, this series also features cooking and many different Japanese recipes, making this a unique experience for food enthusiasts, as well as culture aficionados alike.

This is a very mellow and simplistic series, but one that has a very quiet, heartfelt and thoughtful atmosphere to it. I really enjoyed this and can thoroughly recommend. I must say however, that this show is for adults only as there is some light nudity present and the content can sometimes be risque and emotionally heavy. Overall, this series is a gem and I will be looking forward to watching the sequel series as well.

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Low-Key Revenge J-Drama

BURN DOWN THE HOUSE (Mitaraike, Enjou Suru) was an interesting Thriller / Mystery Revenge J-Drama series, but ultimately felt lacking to me. It started out with thrilling promises and a darkly intriguing premise, a mysterious house fire that tore a family a part and a girl seeking revenge and redemption for the life that was stolen from her, by a conniving future stepmother. This series seemed so fascinating but ultimately didn't really live up to the promises it made. It moved slowly and the "thrills" just weren't really there for me.

"Follows Anzu Murata, who— thirteen years after the home of the wealthy Mitarai family was burned in an mysterious and devastating fire— infiltrates the house of the Mitarais as a housekeeper in order to reclaim the house and family that was taken from her."

Overall, it was a cool series, but not quite as interesting as it had initially seemed it would be. I frequently felt distracted and uninterested as the series went on and its slower pacing came unexpected for being advertised as a thriller. The acting, settings and visuals were really good and the main character Anzu Murata was likeable and relatable as well. It was still worth a watch, but just expect something a bit more mild for the thriller genre.

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A Sweet & Funny J-Drama

ONLY JUST MARRIED (Tonin kodoke ni han wo oshita dake desu ga) is a sweet J-Drama Romcom that was worth the watch. Firstly I must say the male lead definitely under preformed here, in my opinion, and was just a huge let down. I don't really know the actor but he almost sunk this love ship. He was very hard to stand, with a few little instances of being "meh-okay" sprinkled throughout. Maybe it's just me? The female lead, however, (Akiha Ohkado, played by Nana Seino) was awesome, totally lovable and really grows on you though, so she definitely stole the show. She made it worth the watch and made it highly memorable. She's definitely an upcoming name to keep an eye out for in future years. Just loved hero much! So fun, quirky and genuinely down to earth.

Even though the male lead frequently grated on my nerves, the show was quite pleasant besides, with an assortment of interesting side characters as well, a few great settings and some cliché, but still enjoyable sub-plots. Overall, a good watch and pretty enjoyable show, mostly for the female lead's sake. The romance was alright in the end. =)

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A Political-Societal Drama about Elites

LOVELY VILLAIN was an interesting slow-burn Taiwanese thriller Drama. It felt like a slower-paced, socio-political drama mashup of "Stepford Wives", "Mean Girls", with commentarial undertones of the Korean movie Parasite. Don't be fooled into thinking it's merely a slice-of-life drama, about family life in a wealthy gated community. This series focuses heavily on inter-social-political relations and elistist power struggles. While the pacing of this did move a bit slowly, it certainly was intriguing and got better with time.

"While posing to be her rich upper class sister, Han Zhenzhen, moves her unhappy poor lower class family into an prestigious high-class community where she can't help but get involved in the power struggle for the position of community Chairman among with her female neighbors."

This series is all about politics, motivations and power. Rich vs. Poor. Upper Class vs. Lower Class. Psychological and political intrigue. The struggle for power and dominance drives this thriller. Alliances, factions, who to trust. The position of power is the "Chairman" or head of the community. The Chairman is given power in government and there is a brutal warring for this position and privilege. Not only power but title, reputation and prestige as well. A heirarchy ladder within the elitist group of wealthy people. Overall, this was a interesting watch and I'm glad I gave it a chance, as the intrigue developed over time and it gave a lot to ponder on.

[NOTE: There are some triggering images and themes, i.e. Suicide. Bullying. Rape/Sexual Assault. etc.

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