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A Teen Body-Swap J-Drama
SWITCHED is a Japanese drama. Although rated M for mature, it did seem more aimed at teenaged audiences. That's not necessarily a bad thing, and I didn't mind the silliness amid the darker subject matter. However, I tend to agree with many reviewers about the offputting techno dance music feeling jarring and out of place in this drama. The sound director really botched this one up. I understand anime's usually fly with this kind of music and this series was inspired by webtoon/manga, not sure if there's an anime yet, so that kind of explains the vibe they we're going for. Even still, it was kind of obnoxious, even for a teen series. It just didn't fit.Overall, this was a good series, not the greatest due to some predictable, and slightly problematic writing and the aforementioned music choices. Was worth a watch and had some good messages about living in another shoes and what not. It was entertaining, but had a lot of wasted potential, I felt. It only scratched the surface of what it might have achieved, and I'm not sure why it didn't go deeper. Still, it was worth a view. Definitely a well made series.
[NOTE: Kaga rocked!]
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A Slow Burn Mystery
INFLUENCE was a very interesting Japanese mystery drama. Japanese drama's often have a very tasteful, classy and tender sense about them and this one is no exception. An author is contacted by a mysterious woman, in order to share her past story, in hopes of becoming a subject of the author's next novel. The mystery woman tells the story of three girls, one being herself, in their younger years, who were involved with each other at some point in time and ended up committing a string of exchange murders.This drama was very well done and although slower paced for a mystery thriller title, it was very compelling and really brought you into the characters experiences in a realistic way. It was a very beautiful and moving story that keeps you on edge and ever guessing. Kudos for also being a femme-centric series, as well. Definitely memorable and worth the watch.
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An Entertaining Ride
RISKY was a short Japanese drama that slowly became more of an more intriguing series as it progressed. While not a super fast paced series, it certainly had it's moments of dark suspense and offered a good few twists along the way. The drama was well acted and framed and the story line itself was rather compelling, keeping the viewer on the edge until the ending. The cinematography itself was good as well, adding to the darker atmosphere.I felt a bit let down with the ending myself, however it wasn't the worst. I just felt it could have been much better. While the acting was all very good and believable, the main female lead grew to be a bit dislikeable, and it was a bit hard to root for her in the end. Otherwise, this was an intriguing series. Great to try if looking for a short Japanese suspense drama. It's only 7 episodes long. Worth a try.
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The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House
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A Charming, Cooking Slice-of-Life J-Drama
THE MAKANAI: COOKING FOR THE MAIKO HOUSE was a gorgeous, heartfelt JDrama series I recently stumbled across and it really left an impact. It was tender and sweet, with overall charming aesthetics, and very delicious meals prepared throughout as well. This felt like it went way above and beyond other similar Slice-of-Life cooking dramas I've seen, the quality itself makes it almost a new genre. It was very tastefully done and beautiful to watch.The sweet simplicity of this drama suprisingly draws you in, despite it being slower paced. The story was sweet, kinda slow-burn and yet still very captivating. The acting was really wonderful as well, so very organic and natural. The atmosphere in this series was very unique and hard to describe without making it sound dull, which it really wasn't! There is a very natural, genuine, calming, peaceful, gentle and sentimental ambience of this show. Loved the atmosphere. It really stands out as a chill Slice-of-Life series. Super refreshing.
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A Historical Spy-Thriller Drama
THE WIND BLOWS FROM LONGXI was some real next level greatness, in my opinion, though I am a fan of Spy Thrillers, Historical C-Dramas, as well as many members of the cast. The writing, including the story, subplots, characters, and dialogue were all top notch amazing! I'm not sure why this hasn't gotten more 10 star ratings. Cinematically this series was simply stunning to the eye. The writing made it an intellectual mental feast. The acting was incredibly brilliant and realistic.Taking place in the Three Kingdoms Era (224 AD) (during the Cao Wei, Shu Han, and Eastern Wu contention), this spy thriller was a very unique series. Chen Gong (Chen Kun) as the Shu spy also known as "The White Emperor" and Feng Ying (Yuan Nie) as the director of Shu's Intelligence Beareau, as well as Xun Xu (Yu Bai) the Shu spy called in to fix things, after the spy channel in Wei was infiltrated by Wei counter-intelligence. The mysterious Wei spy is called Candle Dragon and everyone seeks to find their identity. And what an intriguing, thrilling ride it was.
I highly applaud the acting, as everyone was excellent, but especially parts played by the masterful Chen Kun (Chen Gong / White Emperor), Yuan Nie (Feng Ying / Shu Intel Director), Yu Bai (Xun Xu), Yi Sun (Di Yue), Angelababy (Miss Liu / Liu Ying), Zhusheng Yin (General Lin Yan), Guangjie Li (Prime Minister Zhuge Liang), and Xiaochen Zhang (Libationer Huang Yu). There are so many others as well. The cast was superb!
This series really became immersive after the first few slower episodes, meant to set the stage for the highly complex strategical story. Through the course of the series, the mystery gradually unravels and the tension builds, leading to an intense outcome. This series was excellently casted and acted. The characters are really well written and motivated. The story was super intriguing, although it may prove a little more slow burn for those uninterested in a historical spy story. After watching this one, I found myself longing for more. The mere 24 episodes this series consists of is quite short for a Chinese Drama, especially one with such epic premise. Normally a Chinese historical epic might be 80+ episodes. I hope we'll get a season 2, quickly!
Overall, this was a fantastic watch. Excellent writing, direction, and acting, and stellar cinematography as well! It made it that much more appealing. This complex series was seriously worth the watch and hopefully there will be more coming. A must watch if you are a fan of C-Drama's, Historical Spy Thrillers, and the Three Kingdoms Era. Even more so if you are fan of Chen Kun, as am I, as he is masterfully brilliant here. It was a highly enjoyable series. Hope to see more. Brilliant!
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Outbreak at Hyosan High
ALL OF US ARE DEAD was a great and intense S. Korean zombie series. While it definitely held true to the gory nature of the zombie genre, it was also laced with a lot of unique characters and backgrounds. I was initially worried that the larger cast might make it less relatable or moving (ie when someone dies and you never got to know the character or their motives, therefore there feels less connection and empathy with the audience) but thankfully, you do really start to get an idea of everyone before things go down and during as well. It's actually the opposite case when you actually care a lot for many of them and then they start to die and it really yanks at the heartstrings.The director / writers really did a great job at portraying the vast array of different characters and personalities and you really start rooting for some right off the bat. Many of them have their own struggles in their personal lives and the series gives you glimpses into their lives and the drama going on all the while amping up the tension and stakes as the zombie plot escalates around them.
There are some difficult and dark subject matter in this as well, aside from the violence, gore and zombie cannibalism, (such as bullying, humiliation, sexual harassment, cruelty, teen pregnancy, suicide, assault, adult language etc.) This series is pretty mature and graphic in nature and not for younger viewers. And yes, being a zombie show there's lots of violence, blood, gore, biting, eating people, self defense etc.
Overall, this was a great adrenaline fueled watch and sadly not an hopeful one at that, as many characters do die, but what do you expect from a zombie apocalypse? Not sure if there can be another season, but hopefully. Really enjoyed this one.
NOTE: It says Season 2 coming!
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Korean History + Medicine = Quirky Fun Drama
POONG, THE JOSEON PSYCHIATRIST was definitely an interesting series and I was happy to watch it. Loving Historical dramas featuring heavy medicinal themes, I found this one to be pretty top notch.The plot itself was very intriguing and compelling. Yoo Se-Poong is a royal physician who gets wrongly expelled / banished from the royal court in a messy political conspiracy after which causes him to set out on a journey of redemption, self discovery and acceptance, all the while healing the souls of others in his new life as a physician / psychiatrist in the small, fascinating Gyesu Village. He meets new friends along the way, as he shapes his new life and finds new hope to carry on his existence.
This was a very quaint, entertaining series that I was glad to try. The whole cast was pretty great and the show features a tangled web of political intrigue, medical cases and a whole array of intriguing characters. Overall, this was a really great watch, albeit a bit slow at times. Would recommend to those with an interest in light-hearted shows about history and ancient medicine.
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A Thing of Beauty
RED SLEEVE is moving historical romantic K-Drama, a thing of beauty, that was very well acted and visually/cinematically stunning. While not perfect, the drama definitely leaves a mark. Red Sleeve is based on a novel of the similar name, The Red Sleeve Cuff, written by Kang Mi-kan, that conveys the story of a court romance between the royal King of Joseon, who believes his duty is to his country first, above love, and a court lady who wants to protect the life she has chosen for herself, and how they come together against all odds. A beautiful tale, excellently told.Red Sleeve is absolutely gorgeous to watch, with some of the highest quality visuals you might see in a K-Drama. It's also a fairly sweet story, well acted, well casted, and with great music to boot. The drama is a great short series that I happened to stumble upon one night while looking for an entertaining watch. And entertaining it was, though it was perhaps a bit on the slower side in terms of pacing.
My main complaint, given that it is a more serious drama, is that I wish that it relied less on cheesy cliches and fairytale-ish tropes. Notably, as well, there were some uncomfortable themes of unconsentual interactions that were not really to my liking, no matter how true the story may be. Be all that as it may, the show is definitely worth a watch. The heroine was pretty awesome and realistic. I really enjoyed her actress, as she portayed her character with a good balance of intelligence, tenderness, and strength. Will definitely watch more that she acts in the future and can's wait to see where she goes. Certainly a star to watch out for. Overall, the series is quite lovely and memorable. It was a great watch.
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Laughter & Tears
PERFECT COUPLE is a historical romantic comedy (emphasis on "COMEDY") Chinese Drama set in the era of the Ming Dynasty with elements of romance, comedy, adventure, lots of misunderstandings and some tragedy. The story begins when Empress Dowager bestows a marriage upon the noble Jin family and Jiang families, in order to strengthen the clans alliance with the Crown Prince. Meanwhile a scheming Second Prince lurks in the shadows, hoping to disrupt the harmonious union of the "Perfect Couple". The series starts out super goofy, but give it a shot. It's gets so good...During the Ming Dynasty, Yu Qi Ling (Yan Tang / Tiffany Tang) heads to the capital with only her adoptive mother's belongings to find her mother's biological son. She encounters Jin Yuan Bao (Wallace Huo), a rich young master who works at the Detective Bureau and was on a case of capturing a man - the thief that Yu Qi Ling was chasing. It turns out that the thief was part of a kidnapping ring, and it led the protagonists to the Thousand Beauties Chamber where Chu Chu, the supposed leader was.
I honestly did not expect to like this show, much less love it. I was bored and wanted something light and casual to watch. At the start it seemed so cheesey and goofy, but that soon became endearing and hilarious. This drama was so funny and yet by the end so gutwrenchingly tragic. Never had a show start off so silly (made me laugh so much) but by the end make me angsty and wanting to cry. What? The show, although super melodramatic was very fun, entertaining and sweet. Yan Tang (Tiffany Tang) and Wallace Huo were so great in this piece. Both leave lasting impressions and gave very memorable performances. Great show and highly rewatchable too.
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A Historical Medical Romance
IMPERIAL DOCTRESS was a very enjoyable Chinese drama set in the era of the Ming Dynasty. This series had great plot and characters and really left a lasting impression.Yun Xian is a determined young woman with a lifelong dream to become a female medical practitioner or "doctress" in a era exclusively dominated by male physicians. I really appreciated the theme, both of medical history as well as the female absence in practices that was much needed. Due to injustice towards her family, Yun Xian is striving to right the wrongs of the past by saving lives.
This was an excellent historical medical drama. The cast was superb and very memorable. I'm a huge fan of both leads, Lui Shi Shi (Cecelia Liu) and Wallace Huo, and they both have a chance to exceptionally shine here. The premise, story, costumes and settings were are very fascinating. The music was great as well. This was a very memorable and rewatchable show. I love historical dramas, especially ones with medicine as a theme. Ancient medicine is so fascinating to me. It may seem a bit slow in the beginning but if you give the show a full chance it will grow on you deeply by the end. Loved it.
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Alt-History Joseon-Zombie Masterpiece
KINGDOM was brilliant and in my humble opinion, vastly superior to many of the other zombie series out there today. It's certainly one of a kind, a new breed. It was only enhanced by the Joseon historical setting and alternative history presented by the directors. It was excellently written, casted, directed and acted. Great production and cinematography. Beautiful settings, lifelike costumes and realistic storylines. Epic battle scenes and zombie costume/cosmetics. Dark, gritty and cutting edge series.I really loved the cast, especially Ju Ji Hoon as Crown Prince, and Bae Doona as the nurse Seo Bi. I also really enjoyed the character of Kim Sang Ho, as the bodyguard Moo Young. His character was extremely likable and I loved the dynamic between he and the Crown Prince. Kim Sungkyu, as Young Shin (the Tiger Hunter) was a very compelling character as well, playing a mysterious warrior with a shadowy past.
Ju Ji-hoon is excellent in this series. His portrayal of the tragic Crown Prince character is really note-worthy and he plays the noble hero turned warrior very memorably. It's great to see his character grow and conquer new obstacles, and become a person worthy to inherit the throne.
One of my main critiques is this. As a big fan of actress Bae Doona (Stranger), I did feel like her true potential wasn't being utilized in this series, but that seems mostly seems due to the direction and writing of this series, rather than any issue on her part. I truly hope to see her character allowed grow and shine in future installments as she is a wonderful, diverse actress with a lot of acting range.
This series brought so much to the zombie table, so to speak. I found the "truth" behind the plague to be fascinating and unique. It was a truly intriguing twist. Also, this series does not shy away from highlighting both the good and evils of humanity, offering a glimpse at human nature and morality. It was a truly stunning show. I've now watched the complete Kingdom series and am hoping for further seasons in the future. This was a great new addition to the kdrama thriller and horror genres.
[This review is for seasons 1 & 2]
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Alt-History Joseon-Zombie Masterpiece
KINGDOM was brilliant and in my humble opinion, vastly superior to many of the other zombie series out there today. It's certainly one of a kind, a new breed. It was only enhanced by the Joseon historical setting and alternative history presented by the directors. It was excellently written, casted, directed and acted. Great production and cinematography. Beautiful settings, lifelike costumes and realistic storylines. Epic battle scenes and zombie costume/cosmetics. Dark, gritty and cutting edge series.I really loved the cast, especially Ju Ji-hoon as Crown Prince, and Bae Doona as the nurse Seo Bi. I also really enjoyed the character of Kim Sang Ho, as the bodyguard Moo Young. His character was extremely likable and I loved the dynamic between he and the Crown Prince. Kim Sungkyu, as Young Shin (the Tiger Hunter) was a very compelling character as well, playing a mysterious warrior with a shadowy past.
Ju Ji-hoon is excellent in this series. His portrayal of the tragic Crown Prince character is really note-worthy and he plays the noble hero turned warrior very memorably. It's great to see his character grow and conquer new obstacles, and become a person worthy to inherit the throne.
One of my main critiques is this. As a big fan of actress Bae Doona (Stranger), I did feel like her true potential wasn't being utilized in this series, but that seems mostly due to the direction and writing of this series, rather than any issue on her part. I truly hope to see her character allowed grow and shine in future installments as she is a wonderful, diverse actress with a lot of acting range.
This series brought so much to the zombie table, so to speak. I found the "truth" behind the plague to be fascinating and unique. It was a truly intriguing twist. Also, this series does not shy away from highlighting both the good and evils of humanity, offering a glimpse at human nature and morality. It was a truly stunning show. I've now watched the complete Kingdom series and am hoping for further seasons in the future. This was a great new addition to the kdrama thriller and horror genres.
[This review is for seasons 1 & 2]
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Intense & Mysterious
SIGNAL (Sigeuneol) was such an interesting premise. I really enjoyed this crime series. I'm not sure how to best describe it though. It was such a unique experience. While it was a investigative crime drama series there were also definite amounts of science fiction or possibly even paranormal elements which makes it a very unusual watch for me. I really enjoyed that aspect however, especially blended with criminal investigation aspects. Although a strange mix of genres, it really worked here.I loved Lee Jehoon (as Park Hae-Young). At first I really didn't think I would like him but he ended up being phenomenal in this. He is far from being a stereotypical lead character. I love the emotional connection he gets with cases. Given his background it really endears viewers to him. I love Kim Hye-su (as Detective Cha Soon-hyeon) and Cho Jin-woong (as Detective Lee Jae-han). They are both great actors and their characters are really cool and likable.
I also really enjoyed the two timelines. I think they did a great job portraying two different eras and overlapping story and cases. The concept is fascinating. Visually and aesthetically it was appealing and very original series. The acting was great, the story was great, the music was great, I loved the three main characters. Everything was really well done.
The main reason I hesitate giving this 10 stars is for a few small reasons. Mainly because of the way it ended. Without giving away any spoilers I will only say the ending felt very open-ended, and hopefully it is open-ended intentionally for the purpose of sequel seasons. Until then, I hesitate in rating it too highly because it felt incomplete and needed so much more. Secondly, while I loved the three main characters so much, many of the other side characters felt a bit flat to me. (I did enjoy the characters of the Cold Case Division) I felt there could have been more depth and character building otherwise. This show was so unique and worthwhile.
While Signal is very intriguing and full of heart, it also has a very dark and dreary feeling, with a lot of very sad themes (i.e. murder, corruption, suicide, rape, etc.) and not a lot of happy moments to balance it. The overall mood of the show is very heavy. A lot of the story revolves around some very depressing, tragic themes and is quite hard to handle at times. It can be heart-wrenching. Even still, this is one of my all time favorites.
[EDIT: There are rumors there will be a season 2!]
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Prosecution Vs. Police
STRANGER. (Forest of Secrets/Secret Forest/Bimileui Sup) This k-drama is definitely one of the best crime shows I've watched. It seamlessly blends the genres of Procedural Crime, Mystery, Thriller, and Drama perfectly. It was a highly addictive watch, an unforgettable experience.Let me first start by saying, the cast is simply fantastic, especially our two main leads, the apathetic and stoic Prosecutor, Hwang Si-mok (played by Cho Seung-woo) and the feisty, quirky Lieutenant Han Yeo-Jin (played by Bae Doona)-who both have one thing is common-the desire for justice and to purge their departments of corruption, no matter the cost. Since there begins to look like there is corruption everywhere, the two end up forming an unspoken alliance. Their on-screen chemistry is undeniable and interesting.
While the entire cast and characters are great, even side characters and antagonists are interesting and relatable. My only complaint, and it is a pretty minor one, is that I often wished for more character backstory and depth, especially in side characters. However, I grew to love and care for many of the characters regardless, even without extensive character details and history. Not many series are able to pull that off.
Cho Seung-woo (Prosecutor, Hwang Si-mok) brilliantly plays an apathetic character type, and somehow manages to give him so much depth, heart and expression, again almost all in subtext and subtlety. He really stands out among all the "cold genius" archetypes and by Season 2, has become one of my all time favorites. He is such an odd mixture of apathy, cunning, and bluntness all the while being polite, passive and quiet. While he is certainly brilliant it never seems that his work is ever easy for him. It is always difficult and challenging-he is just stubborn and driven enough to find the truth and seek justice.
On the other hand, actress Bae Doona (Lieutenant Han Yeo-Jin) manages to portray an equally interesting character. She is quirky and eccentric, lively and outgoing, that you can't help but love her. Her strong and yet compassionate persona make her the perfect counterbalance to Hwang Si-mok. The two leads really propel the series along. They are almost complete opposites but for their shared sense of justice and duty, and together make a brilliant team.
I think what I really loved about this series is the realistic character portrayals. No one felt or looked like a fashion icon or typical drama idol. They were all flawed and unique and make the series highly believable.
This series storyline is incredibly complex and well thought out, with a very tight, intelligent plot. There's a lot of suspense. Often, I find a common issue with procedural crime shows, in that they tend to be slower paced and drag along. Not so with this series. The pacing is quick and sharp. Also, I love how it never tries to dumb things down. You really have to follow along with it, because it wastes no time trying spelling things out for viewers and there can be quite a bit of subtext going on. This all proves the great writing and direction. I highly recommend this series if you are looking for a fast paced crime thriller. A MUST SEE.
[NOTE: This Review is for Season 1 & 2]
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Justice for Corruption
STRANGER. (Forest of Secrets/Secret Forest/Bimileui Sup) This k-drama is definitely one of the best crime shows I've watched. It seamlessly blends the genres of Procedural Crime, Mystery, Thriller, and Drama perfectly. It was a highly addictive watch, an unforgettable experience.Let me first start by saying, the cast is simply fantastic, especially our two main leads, the apathetic and stoic Prosecutor, Hwang Si-mok (played by Cho Seung-woo) and the feisty, quirky Lieutenant Han Yeo-Jin (played by Bae Doona)-who both have one thing is common-the desire for justice and to purge their departments of corruption, no matter the cost. Since there begins to look like there is corruption everywhere, the two end up forming an unspoken alliance. Their on-screen chemistry is undeniable and interesting.
While the entire cast and characters are great, even side characters and antagonists are interesting and relatable. My only complaint, and it is a pretty minor one, is that I often wished for more character backstory and depth, especially in side characters. However, I grew to love and care for many of the characters regardless, even without extensive character details and history. Not many series are able to pull that off.
Cho Seung-woo (Prosecutor, Hwang Si-mok) brilliantly plays an apathetic character type, and somehow manages to give him so much depth, heart and expression, again almost all in subtext and subtlety. He really stands out among all the "cold genius" archetypes and by Season 2, has become one of my all time favorites. He is such an odd mixture of apathy, cunning, and bluntness all the while being polite, passive and quiet. While he is certainly brilliant it never seems that his work is ever easy for him. It is always difficult and challenging-he is just stubborn and driven enough to find the truth and seek justice.
On the other hand, actress Bae Doona (Lieutenant Han Yeo-Jin) manages to portray an equally interesting character. She is quirky and eccentric, lively and outgoing, that you can't help but love her. Her strong and yet compassionate persona make her the perfect counterbalance to Hwang Si-mok. The two leads really propel the series along. They are almost complete opposites but for their shared sense of justice and duty, and together make a brilliant team.
I think what I really loved about this series is the realistic character portrayals. No one felt or looked like a fashion icon or typical drama idol. They were all flawed and unique and make the series highly believable.
This series storyline is incredibly complex and well thought out, with a very tight, intelligent plot. There's a lot of suspense. Often, I find a common issue with procedural crime shows, in that they tend to be slower paced and drag along. Not so with this series. The pacing is quick and sharp. Also, I love how it never tries to dumb things down. You really have to follow along with it, because it wastes no time trying spelling things out for viewers and there can be quite a bit of subtext going on. This all proves the great writing and direction. I highly recommend this series if you are looking for a fast paced crime thriller. A MUST SEE.
[NOTE: This Review is for Season 1 & 2]
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