I can see the appeal, but it wasn't for me

Strong Woman Do Bong Soon is a classic, but it didn't quite do it for me. I loved the show at first — Park Hyungsik and Park Bo Young have "it," you know? And the dialogue was laugh-out-loud funny! But around the halfway mark, the show started to drag for me... to the point that I was falling asleep in EVERY SINGLE EPISODE. There was just so much fluff and filler! I could've done without the entire gangster, temple, young thug, and neighbourhood ahjumma storylines.

Wait a second, that's almost all the show, isn't it? But wait, I disliked the whole serial killer premise too! It was so scary and unnecessarily at odds with the rest of this cheery show. I understood why we had it — without that plotline, we'd just have an entire show of episode 16 (the princess saves Min Min and they live happily ever after). And yes, I fell asleep for part of the fluffy last episode too. The scenes at Ahn Min Hyuk's place were my favourite. I finally got to see the ICONIC giggly bed texting scene in all its glory!

I disliked how Do Bong Soon was largely helpless for a lot of the show, despite her strength. I recognize the police were intentionally painted as incompetent, but CEO Ahn Min Hyuk felt too helpless too. C'mon dude, use your goodies, resources, and tricks! He did (eventually), but for the longest time, I couldn't believe that he wasn't able to catch the villain. Also, what happened to Ahn Min Hyuk's whole family storyline? That felt weirdly open to me, unless I just missed something (not only did I fall asleep in half the episodes, but I also took a looooong break before finally finishing this show today).

Watch this show for the actors. They click, they're fun, and they're charming. Park Bo Young couldn't cry well. But if you can look past that, the characters are absolutely endearing.

Read More

A western take on Korean history

I loved Min Jin Lee's original book. It would've been almost impossible for this adaptation to compare. So let's not put it on such a pedestal.

Is it unfair to judge a western show off its first season, recognizing that western-style shows are serial rather than self-contained? Regardless, this eight-episode stint is all that's out now, and it felt incomplete. We didn't close the loop on the relevance of pachinko as a metaphor. We only got introduced to Noa as a character in the LAST episode. We had a whole episode on Hansu's backstory — admittedly, richer than what we knew about him from the book — but it felt jarring and out of place (dare I say, it felt like... filler, if the point was to focus on Sunja's story here).

My friend is friends with a producer of the Apple TV+ series, and was told that their intention is for the story of Pachinko to be told over four seasons. I think I understand the rationale since the book spans across four generations. I liked the way this one followed Sunja and Solomon's stories in parallel. I understand that the source material is meaty. But ugh, the western show format of keeping things open-ended in hopes of renewal for the next season really irks me. It makes me wish that I had waited until the whole thing is out! But if people don't watch as it comes out, it won't get renewed — and the story will remain unfinished. It's all a ploy to keep people subscribed. Perhaps I'm feeling particularly cynical after watching such a cynical show. Is life just a game after all, rigged to keep us putting in our energy for the smallest wins? Watch Pachinko and see if that message resonates.

Read More

(Too) short and sweet!

I lament that this show was only four episodes. It's effectively movie-length when you add all the parts together, so don't expect some wildly complex (or even heartwrenching) plot. It was simple and straightforward all the way through.

Naturally, one of the primary selling points of this show was watching Park Hyungsik and Han So Hee pleasantly grace our screens. Unfortunately, the chemistry didn't quite sizzle between them — the show was more muted and understated as a whole. Perhaps it was a consequence of the short format? Regardless, somehow I didn't feel too invested in their story.

If you're in the mood for something warm and cozy to brighten up a chilly day, this show might be the one for you. At a mere four episodes, you really don't have anything to lose by giving it a shot.

Read More

Perfect vanilla fluff!

After a lot of shows lately that have erred on the side of serious, tense, and deep... A Business Proposal was a breath of fresh air!! With a lot going on in the world these days, this show brings us joy and levity. This show proved that sometimes, all we need is a simple, straightforward romcom. It felt reminiscent of classic stories from the past, and as long as your expectations are set accordingly, you will have a fantastic time. Don't watch this show when you're in the mood for tears or reflections on life. Watch this show when you need a light pick-me-up, archaepteryx sound effects, fun mannerisms, and unexpected laughs.

Despite its simple premise and fairly straightforward plot, A Business Proposal is surprisingly engaging. It SOMETIMES subverts tropes, but more often than not, it leans into the camp. The writer was smart to keep the story tight at just 12 episodes — it prevented any situations from dragging out, and therefore felt excellently paced. I LOVED the drama-within-a-drama, explicit product placement, snappy lines, and unabashed cheesiness. Our four leads are all immensely root-able, and I love how all the women are driven, ambitious, and stand up for themselves.

The actors all played their parts well. Even Young Seo's cousin endeared herself to me by the end. No one was really a villain, and we all had a good time.

My only critique is that the ending felt a bit rushed. C'mon, y'all know what we're here for! Why didn't you give us a wedding and babies?! If you're going to do a time skip, at least make the future a bit more fulfilling. I'll kid myself and say it's so they can keep things going with a drama special or second season someday.

Read More

A youth drama at its finest (until the youth fades, just as it does in life)

People may be divided on the ending, but I don’t care – this was the perfect youth drama. I don’t watch dramas to escape reality; I watch them to feel all the emotions from the journey of life. I watch to step in someone else’s shoes, even for a moment. I watch to find a glimpse of relatability; to feel comforted in knowing that some experiences are universal and to get insight into the parts that are unique. Those differences are the ones that make me feel blessed for the life I have and both jealous and motivated to drive towards the things that are missing. On that basis, Twenty-Five Twenty-One delivered in spades.

What kind of drama is Twenty-Five Twenty-One? We got the best aspects of school, sports, family, activism, romance (oh, is the romance truly heart-fluttering), slivers of comedy, life, death, hardship, sacrifice, and everything in between. This drama doesn’t veer into the melodramatic territory. We get a slice-of-life as it is and as it can be. I laughed out loud and cried my heart out. The shining moments of youth and first love will stay fondly in my memory, while I remain in the process of writing my own story. I’m 25 right now, and walking in lockstep with these characters made me ultra-reflective of my own choices. In hindsight, I might've had my “Cutie Pie” moments, but not a true first love like this yet – because the highs were never so high and the end was never so low. I’m a practical realist and a planner. I’m ambitious in my career, but choosing that has come with its own sacrifices. I’ve had wonderful moments with friends, and for that I am forever grateful. At the same time, I can’t help but feel like COVID-19 has stolen the prime years of my youth. We’re desperately trying now to make up for lost time, and this drama motivates me to seize the fleeting opportunities remaining to live with reckless abandon.

Now let’s talk about that ending. I admit that I can be a glutton for punishment; that I enjoy the release that comes with a good cry. So naturally, I downloaded the last episode on Netflix right before taking off on a flight, mere minutes after hearing about the ending from the live broadcast in Korea. I started crying about two minutes in, and the waterworks kept pouring. There were moments of joy mixed with regret and sadness. I LOVE a good cry – and this one classifies as good because everything made sense to lead us here. Watching this drama on-air was an Experience (with a capital E) because fans twisted this way and that to dream up a fantasy happily ever after. I am thankful this story went with Occam’s Razor here. No one should feel blindsided by Twenty-Five Twenty-One. Perhaps the original synopsis could use a re-think, but from episode one, we have a sense of what to expect. The show does NOT end on a frustrating open ending. The loose ends get tied up exactly the way they should.

Some people lamented that there was no point to the present-day scenes, COVID-19 and all. I disagree with that wholeheartedly. For one, it dropped constant hints towards the ending – and I don’t think anyone can truly say we were misled here (other than the picture in the photo album, maybe?). There were way more hints pointing towards the conclusion that we got than any other. Moreover, the present provided an immense device not only for the narrative, but for life as well: hindsight. We become fonder of the joyful memories and thankful for the trials that shaped us into the people we are today. I love and appreciate nostalgia, but it has a time and place. We need to keep going and looking forward; in real life, there aren’t often second chances 20 years down the line. The "times" can be a villain, but we can still find pockets of happiness. The “times” is a character of its own in this story, in a way: important world events bookend the story perfectly, from the IMF crisis to other ones that gut-punched us (and Yi-Jin, Hee-Do, and Min-chae!) when we least expected them. It was poetic in a sense to see the people most affected by these world events get depicted on screen. As humans, we are incredibly resilient beings who learn to adapt and survive. From our perspective, it hurts to think that a beach trip can be forgotten, but forgetting only proves that there were even more meaningful moments ahead.

Without the choices she made, Hee-Do wouldn’t have Kim Min-Chae – and I’m sure over the years, she wouldn’t change that for the world. Moreover, I am proud of Hee-Do for putting herself first and recognizing what she needed from the people in her life. Baek Yi-Jin and Na Hee-Do’s lives intersected for a beautiful moment, but paths diverge. As with all relationships, we either grow together or apart. Some people rage at the thought that others could have a happy ending, but it’s all based on priorities. Moon Ji-Woong and Ko Yu-rim serve the perfect foil for the Yi-Jin/Hee-Do story: their relationship works because Ji-Woong’s world revolves around Yu-Rim; he puts her first and always meets her way more than halfway. I’m not saying everyone in this world should be a Ji-Woong. On the contrary, we need to do what’s right for us. Baek Yi-Jin couldn’t live with himself as someone who reported on the inconsequential and the mundane. He had bigger things in store for his life, regardless of how closely they resembled his childhood dreams. Likewise, Hee-Do’s unwavering (hah!) ambition served as the frame for this whole show. When neither is willing to bend, you can only hope that the direction is the same.

My only gripe here was Hee-Do’s allusion to her husband living overseas in the present. Oh sweet Hee-Do, if you know what you need from a partner and you're giving up something beautiful to make it happen, then where is he?! I know the point is that her husband doesn’t matter (and a HIMYM-style ending with a new character in the 11th-hour would’ve rung hollow), but the fact that he wasn’t around for her retirement (bless Yu-Rim and the TRUE love story of this show), the ep 16 funeral and the fact that he seems to travel a lot in the present rather than getting to know his daughter Min-Chae makes me sad for you. You can rationalize it by saying that we are all too susceptible to fall for what we know --- this is why generational patterns persist, after all. We accept the love we think we deserve. But Hee-Do demonstrated in the tunnel that she KNOWS she should deserve more, and I wish we at least got to see a little bit of her happiness (and Yi-Jin’s!), even with faces obscured while cycling through a montage of the big moments of their lives. I needed the news montage from 2002-2009 to include a montage of their happiness, because they clearly continued living and learned to move forward during that time! And then another montage from 2009 to present would’ve compounded that the choices and sacrifices they made were worthwhile.

I appreciate this drama because it made me live and love alongside these wonderful characters. It pushes me to reflect on my own life, cherish the memories of the past that has shaped me, and strive to capture the remaining moments of my own youth to the best of my ability. If you want to feel this broad spectrum of emotions, don’t be discouraged by the distraught fairytale-hopefuls flooding the internet discourse on this show. Twenty-Five Twenty-One is worth watching, and anyone who has yet to see it has the pleasure of knowing what they’re in for: life in all its bright, shining, mundane, and challenging glory. Twenty-Five Twenty-One doesn’t shy away from depicting a story that should feel so relatable and true to so many. Finally, I can’t help but end this review in (an adapted version of) Baek Yi-Jin’s words, because it rings true after everything: “The result was bittersweet, but the journey was beautiful.”

Read More

The juice wasn't worth the squeeze

This show infuriated me by the end. Snowdrop came in with a bunch of promise halted by waves of controversy — if you avoided this show because of that, congrats, nothing about it should tempt you to watch it after all.

To be honest, this show started with a bunch of potential. I loved the nostalgic vibes and shiny wide-eyed jaunt towards first love. Snowdrop started to lose momentum once they got into the hostage situation. It dragged on way too long. I understood the point it was trying to make about politics and corruption, but we got the point after just a couple episodes. Someone joked that they blew their whole production budget on the dorm, and honestly, that sounds like the most plausible answer (considering they had to pay an all-star cast too... but we'll get to that in a second). Moreover, the last couple episodes were tropey and infuriating beyond belief. I didn't care enough about the romance to feel anything for Youngro or Sooho; the show didn't do enough early on to make us cheer for them. And then before we knew it, we were being bombarded by noble idiocy and regular idiocy galore. So many situations toward the end could've EASILY been preventable. Trust these competent agents; don't insert yourself into situations unnecessarily (this is directed at BOTH of our leads).

Jisoo especially frustrated me. All of the actors were incredible EXCEPT for her. And I swear, I enjoy Blackpink music! But she was so clearly out-acted throughout the whole show. She was tolerable for a couple of episodes, but once the hostage situation kicked in, she was clearly out of her depth. She gasped so much throughout the rest of the drama that I'm surprised she didn't pass out from the hyperventilation. She was the most useless person in the whole drama — you could arguably consider her a "candy" (not in the classic kdrama definition of the trope, but by effectively serving as bait for the ANSP and Sooho). Worse than a candy girl though, I'd argue that she was a straight-up liability. She was unwilling to compromise or sacrifice anything for the greater good of others. This was exemplified in a situation at the end that involved saving a random side character and harming four other main characters in the process (even leading to the demise of the one she cared about the most!). She blindly ran into situations without a plan and without being equipped to do anything, thus putting other people at even greater risk as they sought to protect her and achieve whatever random agenda she cooked up. I hate that she faced no consequences for this behaviour either; it wasn't even acknowledged as problematic. Jisoo's acting was awful too — I always knew I was watching JISOO, not some character named Youngro. This character could've had so much nuance and depth: idealistic, innocent, and in love, sure, but she could've also been defiant, emboldened, and thoughtful. If her actions were clearly borne of some strategic thought, I would've sympathized with Youngro. Instead, she was stubborn without seemingly any rationale, which made all her actions seem rash and ultimately stupid.

Then let's talk about the romance: it was cute at first, but based on where the story went, it really should've been relegated to a side-plot that took up less air time. Leave it as "Not meant to be" and move on. We lost so much closure and momentum towards the end of the drama by unnecessarily focusing on the romance. Think of all the moments Sooho and Youngro spend gripping each other, asking the other to go, and staring into each others' eyes without any interruption. You know what they could've done in that time? THEY COULD'VE ESCAPED INTO SAFETY TOGETHER. Of course, the more realistic situation would've been if there were constant pressure and action instead, with no time to shoehorn their longing for one another. Because of those moments, especially towards the end, it made their entire tragic situation seem completely avoidable. I found myself shouting at the TV during each of these moments, yelling at them to just GO already instead of standing there (in the basement).

Aside from Jisoo and the romance, the other actors did a wonderful job. I never cared for the moms' machinations (although I suppose they added some levity) or the political squabbles (how silly they turned out to be, although perhaps that was the point?), and I felt too many people were overly motivated by love (Jang Hanna, Kang Cheong Ya, and Lim Sooho especially), but some of the acting was truly superb. To me, there were four standouts: Jung Hae-In excellently blew past his archetype as only playing the boy-next-door in noona dramas. Kim Hye Yoon (Bun Ok), you somehow make me sympathetic towards you while truly giving us the least to cheer for. My only qualm was your choice to help Youngro save Ms. Oh towards the end — how was that choice in any way aligned with Bun Ok's motivations to SAVE HER OWN HIDE above all else? Yoon Se Ah (Ms Pi), I CANNOT believe you are the same person that portrayed Noh Seung Hye in SKY Castle — un-freaking-BELIEVABLE how incredibly she embodied that role as the headmistress. I would seriously watch a movie based on Ms. Pi's life alone. Yoo In Na (Kang Cheong Ya), who knew you had this role in you? I honestly wished Sooho spared her a single glance (or even wound up escaping with her as a way to avoid putting Youngro in harm's way). The rest of the cast did their job too; shout-out to students like Jung Shin Hye (who I liked to think of as "Madonna" for her stylish 80s fashion) and Kim Mi Soo, may she rest in peace.

This drama got my blood pressure up from the suspense; very much shades of SKY Castle. Unfortunately, it didn't critique current issues or hit the zeitgeist the way SKY Castle did, and it also didn't have the cathartic payoff due to its lacklustre, romance-oriented finale. Save yourself the pain of finishing this one!

Read More

A PERFECT drama!

Our Beloved Summer actually pulled it off — a PERFECT drama! You have no idea how thrilled I am about this fact, and how much I love this show. It has layers and depth. It has impeccable acting across the board. It has the most beautiful, calming OST. And I can watch scenes over and over again. Heck, I can see myself coming back and watching the whole thing over to pick up on things I hadn't noticed the first time. This is THAT comfort drama. I feel so lucky to have watched along with this show as it aired.

It's not often that a show comes around and makes you feel something, yet Our Beloved Summer makes you run the gamut of emotions. I laughed out loud, I cried in front of others, but mostly, I found myself smiling from ear to ear. You go in expecting a light, fluffy romcom, but you end up getting so much more. Every episode has a clear theme that brilliantly ties to the episode title (all of which are named after famous movies). The production choices are immaculate (let's talk about that ep 8 turning-point montage or the ep 10 thematic switcheroo!). And the biggest feat of all was how tight the story was. I can't help but compare Our Beloved Summer to the Reply series/Prison Playbook/Hospital Playlist — that writer/director duo pulls off uno-reverse-cards on the viewers in a high impact way, but geez, those episodes are always HEFTY. In contrast, I commend the Our Beloved Summer team for doing more with less and keeping every episode to a neat 60-minutes. It is not easy to convey all the depth, heart, and meaning that this show does with such limited time. Somehow, every episode offers a contained and thoughtful lesson, but all the episodes together also demonstrate progression... with overarching themes, behaviours, and character arcs that simply make sense. So many shows start strong but lose the magic in the second half, while Our Beloved Summer goes from strength to strength. In fact, the second half was even better than the first! My favourite moments in the whole drama came from episodes 10-12 and 15. The weakest episodes were 13 and 14 though; I'd say they contributed little to the story (but at least they didn't actively sabotage the story, unlike many other dramas that self-sabotage after certain plot points get resolved).

As for the acting... OSCAR-WINNING CHOI WOO SHIK DID NOT DISAPPOINT. I've seen Parasite, but this is my first time watching him in a "fluffy" role. He killed it as Choi Ung; a deceptively challenging protagonist who could easily become an unsympathetic, annoying or bland caricature in a lesser actor's hands. I am so proud that he's a fellow Canadian countryman and a veritable TALENTED STAR. Beyond Choi Woo Shik, all the other leads brought top-tier performances of their own. I can't imagine another actress as Kook Yeonsu. There were moments I loved Ji-ung and NJ more than our 1st leads, and they serve as a perfect foil. And the rest of the supporting cast rounded out the drama beautifully. Every single character serves multiple purposes, even the minor ones. How did the writers craft such a compelling story without any hatable villains? Everyone is so delightfully human.

I didn't expect to gush about this drama on every single criteria, but I must also point out that the OST is top-tier. V's soothing voice made a wonderful primary OST, with so many other shining gems. I don't think I've ever saved this many songs off a single OST before (seven songs, in case you were wondering). Also, can we talk about the gorgeous cinematography? The changing seasons make you feel like time is passing by. Speaking of time, I've spent way too much of it writing out this review. The tl;dr? Make sure to watch Our Beloved Summer — it's one of the best in the business.

Read More

The present is a gift

Oh my god, swooooooon! I have come to realize that a show just needs to have the poem "The Visitor" by Jeong Hyeonjong (정현종) for me to love it. Kidding — but I did almost fall out of my chair when I heard that opening line, "Having someone walk into your life is an incredible thing..." towards the end of this show. It was one of my favourite parts of my favourite drama of all time (Because This Is My First Life), so what were the odds that it'd be used in this drama too? In fact, Tomorrow With You technically used it first, although both shows aired in 2017. I guess writers were really in their feels about living for the present at the time, with acknowledgement of the relationship between past, present, and future. The usage in this drama was perfectly sweet and comical though.

ASIDE FROM THE POEM, let's talk about the absolute best aspect of this show: the chemistry. I'm not the biggest fan of Shin Minah, but she and Lee Je Hoon portray newlyweds PERFECTLY. The hula hoop scene is a highlight, but more than that, the love shines through in the little moments of affection, worry, and happiness. The moments they smile and laugh together over mundane things, captured on Marin's home videos, are the best of them all.

You come to love all the side characters too. Ki Doong and Seyoung; Sori and even Gun Sook; Marin's parents; coworkers like Secretary Hwang and Min Joon... these are all the people that make up a fulfilling life, aren't they? I somehow left wanting all of them to be happy. AND we have to talk about Kim Yong Jin. That guy knows how to play a villain. There are some villains out there who are irritating to watch; who make a viewing experience worse. That is not the case here. You love to hate Kim Yong Jin; you pity him; you become fascinated watching his descent into madness. The acting is what makes this show shine.

The story itself is suspenseful and interesting, but it's nothing PARTICULARLY special. I binged this show fast despite being super busy these days, so that's a testament to how good it is (or perhaps how good it is at ENDING EPISODES IN CLIFFHANGERS). I was proud to guess a "big reveal" before it happened, but it was deeply foreshadowed so I probably can't take too much credit. Speaking of foreshadowing, it is done masterfully and used as a central plot device. As the saying goes, it's all about the journey, not the destination. We learn about shocking things before they happen, and when they come to pass in "the present," we get to learn the underlying motivations. The show uses great colour-grading to distinguish between the warm, nostalgic past, the "normal" present, and the cold, eerie future. The theme of this show is to live for the present, with some hints of a deterministic worldview — sometimes, it's just someone's time. And sometimes, we can "barter with the universe" with unexpected births or deaths. However, this message got a little muddled by too many random actions that changed people's fates (both big and small).

The only thing stopping this show from being a perfect 10 was literally the last few minutes of the show — I spoiled myself on the last plot point and thought it would be exciting to watch unfold, but the execution didn't live up to the idea. Our time traveler boy also never seemed to learn his lesson; his connection to the future should've ended at the climax. Also, BABIES?! I'll stop there to prevent any spoilers. If you want to know more, you'll just have to watch the show. :)

Read More

LA LA LA LA LA ~ RO~MAN~TIC SUNDAY~~

This show brings fluffy sweet scenes and tropes galore! You'll enjoy it as long as you don't take it too seriously. You'll find corny wrist grabs and stumbles, sudden fevers, childhood connections, and even a white truck of doom. That being said, even hearing the opening notes of "La la la la la Romantic Sundaaaay" instantly brightened up my weekends over the past couple of months. Kim Seon Ho brings all his Good Boy charms here, down to his soft spot for a local halmeoni.

At its best, this show delivered emotional scenes depicting all sorts of interpersonal relationships. Bora's Umma stole the show during the typhoon, and I-Jun stole my heart during his moment in the park. I never expected this show to elicit tears from me, but here we are. Gongjin is a charming small town with a whole slew of excitable busybodies. Whether you find yourself squealing over DOS (dare I say... "In the Soop"?!) or clapping along with the town's festivals or parties, anyone can easily find a home in this little seaside town.

My main gripe with the show comes from the minimal conflict. After roughly the halfway point, the plot dragged for a while. The Ji PD storyline was such a non-issue; I don't know a single person who felt SLS for him. We knew where things were going, and we only had the PROMISE of three mysteries to keep us going: Why did Hwa Jeong and Young Guk divorce? What happened to Dushik during the five years he lived away from Gongjin? Who won the lottery? ...And each of these were resolved right near the end, with just a little bit of time devoted to each. I wish we got more on Dushik especially — his story ultimately made sense, but I wish we got to see him wrestle with these demons more. It almost felt like he fled and compartmentalized everything instead of learning to cope with his demons head-on. I didn't appreciate the resentment from the other parties; their non-apologies fell flat to me. Imagine if he had a scene with Do Ha's father directly!

Instead of dangling these plot points in front of us for episodes without a conclusion, I wish we got there sooner and then spent time exploring the fact that Hye Jin and Dushik came from pretty different worlds. We saw shades of their compromises: Dushik putting in effort with Hye Jin's "friends" on the golf course, and Hye Jin setting other opportunities aside. While that may be realistic, the feminist in me was hoping that SHE hoped for more. Her compromises felt way bigger than his, and I wish we saw a bit more give-and-take, or at least a bit more of the moments that changed their perceptions and goals.

|| SPOILER: I wish that the ending of ep 15 actually set Dushik free, so that he would be energized to try again in Seoul. Practically, it would've made sense to me if their careers flourished there, especially considering the fact that their (future) children would've had more opportunities in the big city — yes, I was hoping for a time-skip that involved kids. Of course, this alternate ending in my mind would've still involved frequent trips to Gongjin. I think I merely wanted Hye Jin and Dushik's lives to open up a bit more as a result of their connection, but I suppose I'll have to recognize that not everyone has such lofty dreams. Some people are content to live in a small town surrounded by a doting found-family, and I suppose I can respect the coziness in that slower walk of life. ||

Still, this show offered some thoughtful messages beneath its bright, shiny exterior. I especially liked the sentiment that small actions can make a world of difference to others, like a simple text message or call during a time of turmoil; the fact that asking for help can actually support the giver more than the recipient (@ both Nam Sook and Dushik); and the powerful role that bystanders can play in someone's life (like helping someone smile in a photo that will eventually mean the world or calling to help a stranger and making sure they are safe before driving away). Sometimes kindness comes from ignoring someone's feelings rather than acknowledging them (@ Cho Hui). But beneath it all, empathy and care for one another is truly what brings a community together.

Read More

A fun marathon

This show is sweet, addictive, and emotional. It was fun to binge (admittedly because it's coming off Netflix in my area, but I found it hard to stop watching regardless) despite putting me through an emotional roller coaster.

If the pitiful premise laid out in the first episode turns you off, keep going just a little while longer. The dramatic irony and payoff of this show is top-notch. I weirdly found myself rooting for ALL of the characters, even ones like Hye Mi, Kim Woo Cheul, Kim Yi Jin, and Shin Sang Ye... but ESPECIALLY No Ra, Minsoo, and Cha Hyeon Seok. Where can one find a man as devoted as Cha Hyeon Seok in this world?! And shout-out to the 친구s, Na Soon Nam and Park Seung Hyun — they're some real ones out there.

The show definitely feels a bit dated, with some "classic" tropes like wrist grabs, awful manhandling hero complexes, and one measly open-eyed kiss. I was frustrated from noble idiocy (YALL ARE TOO OLD FOR THIS, AREN'T YOU?), and I certainly would've been less tolerant had I watched it while airing. The last few episodes definitely dragged (probably from... 13-15?), which was a shame considering how strong and well-paced the rest of the show was. It's not even that there was a left-field mini-plot to fill up those last few episodes; perhaps it was the lack of one that made the show drag a bit? But the plot points that did happen all felt plausible. Thankfully, episode 16 redeemed the series with worthwhile endings for all. My only gripe with the ending was WHATEVER THEY DID TO SWEET MINSOO'S HAIR!! Unforgivable.

Second 20s was also a bit on-the-nose with the "life lessons." Living in the present and seizing the day are great messages imparted through the creative premise of the show, but it was delivered through maybe... 3-4 too many vehicles. I liked the nuance of considering how our past actions and anticipation of the future impact the present though. And the show brought up interesting social issues too, from sexual harassment in higher education, to nepotism and bribery, to the immense pressure and competition for classes/university admissions/recruiting, to socioeconomic disparity and the mounting unaffordability of financial independence in one's 20s. People of all ages will probably get something out of this show, whether you're a 20-something like me in need of the reminder to enjoy life in the carefree way we can only truly achieve at our age (without all the real-adult responsibilities) or a 38-year-old facing marital problems, or someone older seeking to empathize with the youth of today.

While this show wasn't perfect, it certainly made me think and feel things (strongly!). It's not as iconic as other shows from this era (I lump it in the era of The Heirs and such because it succumbs to pre-DOTS camera technology), and somehow it feels more dated than some of its contemporaries (Reply 1988; Misaeng). Despite these faults, its messages remain classic. And that makes Second 20s worth a watch — even today, in 2021!

Read More

How unsettling

This show has become a phenomenon. But I need to be real with myself — this kind of show (with all its gore, stress, and bad decisions) was not for me. It's like acclaimed movies like the Joker or Us: the kind with an impactful social message conveyed in an unsettling way. I could've lived without watching this show, and I would've been happier for it. They say ignorance is bliss, and I'm honestly starting to believe it.

Squid Game was inspired by the highly acclaimed Liar Game. I LOVED the original Japanese version of Liar Game. But what I've come to realize is that I enjoy the STRATEGY more than the desperation. Liar Game focuses on the games. Squid Game has good moments of that, like the dalgona and tug-of-war. But for the most part, Squid Game is a brutal display of human desperation. It is more "Lord of the Flies" than Liar Game; it offers social commentary on the forgotten people who struggle and the dire circumstances by which they live. But I don't feel particularly sympathetic to the plight of most of the characters regardless (except our North Korean gal and Ali; but the rest are unlikeable to a fault).

There were also some completely bizarre choices: the VIPs for one (it's rushed to squeeze them in as if this is The Hunger Games on top of everything else... you're trying to do too much), and our MC's hair colour for another (haha, kidding). A lot of the circumstances of the game were left annoyingly open-ended, which is such a bad habit from Netflix. I love kdramas for being self-contained, single-series stories. I DON'T want to anticipate another season in a year or two after I've forgotten everything and stopped caring about everyone. I don't want to have to deal with stupid casting changes and stretched storylines just to fulfill the production contracts offered to successful blockbusters, guaranteed to keep people watching. It's so greedy. Perhaps that's fitting for a show surrounding greed, desperation, and wealth?

But beyond my gripes with Netflix-and-the-western-serial format as a whole, if I were to judge the show as a standalone, then it was unfulfilling BECAUSE of the loose threads left open about the meta of the game. I said what I said.

Read More

A passionate tale

Chicago Typewriter has so much going for it. By far, the best quality is that none of the characters (that matter) are annoying and our three leads can seriously ACT. Plus, the story is intriguing — dual timeline shows can feel choppy, but somehow the past and present were weaved together smoothly.

This is a story of passion: passion for one's country, passionate love for the ages, and passionate youth burning brightly. It strikes deep chords of nostalgia and showcases unbridled joy in the midst of chaos. It's hopeful and full of life. Above all, the friendship was worth witnessing. It's true that this show may be a bit frustrating in the first six episodes, but it really does pick up steam. I'm glad I stuck with it.

There were a few minor lowlights. There were a few too many flashbacks and repeat scenes — or perhaps it felt that way since I binged the show instead of watching it week-to-week. I felt that the stalker's subplot was left hanging. I wish we got some hope for Seol's friend, who just wanted to be loved. Then again, all the other characters were less compelling and less fleshed out (thinking of people like: the Shaman, Han Se Ju's dad, his agent, etc.). The story was so complex that I'm glad the show focused on its leads above all else.

I laughed out loud and I cried. What more could you want from a show, really?

Read More

A veritable masterpiece

What an epic, sweeping masterpiece. This story is full of heart, han, and jeong. It is deeply patriotic to Korea. I am almost envious of that level of national pride. Where I'm from, we are all hyphenated identities; an amalgamation of immigrants living our lives in the same physical location. I don't know all my East-Asian history, but it's almost overwhelming to think about how a tiny nation could be so powerful (or so vulnerable) and how quick we are to forgive and/or forget things in the not-so-distant past.

I appreciate the moments of levity, love, and friendship too. This show depicts ALL the emotions and facets of life. Kim Eun-sook is known as the master of quippy one-liners — and for good reason! Somehow, all the characters endear themselves to us. My heart is full and aches at the same time.

Guns, glory, and sad endings indeed.

Read More

I shouldn't love this, NEVERTHELESS...

Whew, I am most likely going to be in the minority on this one, but I LOVED THIS SHOW FROM START TO FINISH. It was well-paced, cozy, and suspenseful. This is peak romance.

I think a lot of the webtoon readers are upset because they came in expecting one thing and got something different. They were expecting certain subversions of tropes and two dimensional characters instead of ones that are morally grey. To be honest, Song Kang's Jae-On is NOT a complete fboi—he's a poor communicator above all. He was haunted by a bad reputation and neglectful upbringing; Nabi became suspicious of him before he really gave her reason to. He feebly attempted to go back to his old ways when she ran away and continuously pushed him away, and it didn't successfully distract him. I don't want to excuse all his behaviour though; he pushes boundaries and the whole Seola dynamic was sketchy. He never truly said no to Seola, even though it was clear EVEN TO HER that Jae-On's attention was no longer hers to hold captive. This is a story of setting people free to let them make their own decisions, and Seola's decision to set Jae-On free allowed him to finally set his own butterflies free. If there's one thing I didn't like, it was how the Seola storyline got tied up without ever clearing up the ambiguity of their relationship. Somehow, I can't even hate her though — she clearly stood up for herself when she realized it wasn't working for her. As for Nabi, she is frustrating with her mixed signals, and yet her behaviour is so clearly expected of a young person who's suffered with abusive relationships and astonishingly low self-esteem. She's too afraid to define the relationship early in fear of losing it, but lashes out when she doesn't receive the validation she so desperately needs. Throw in the confusion of another hardcore suitor in Potato Boy, and I understand how she was so confused.

I think that's the best part of this series: I loved allllll the characters. Normally, some side characters (or worse, the main characters) get on my nerves or I simply don't care about them. In this case, I was gripped by the suspense of the will-they-won't-they between Nabi and Jae-On, I was invested in Potato Boy's success, and I LIVED for Bitna/Gyu Hyun, the sunbaes, and ESPECIALLY Sol/Jiwan. Can we talk about how refreshing and progressive this drama felt?!

This show is best if you don't spoil the ending for yourself. Knowing that there's the "expected kdrama path" vs. the "subversive webtoon path" brings so much suspense to the last few episodes as long as you don't know which direction the story will go. So if you're reading this review to decide whether to watch the show, please do not read the next paragraph. :)

Ultimately, I was satisfied with the ending. I am sure this opinion is controversial. The only other ending I would've been happy with is if Nabi went off to Paris alone and thriving, and WHO IS TO SAY THAT WON'T HAPPEN STILL? But I would not have been happy with the webtoon ending because the chemistry and timing was all wrong between Nabi and Potato Boy. He pushed her because he liked her so much, and she accepted his affection for a while because she was so vulnerable. You can argue that chemistry isn't everything; that having a good, dependable relationship is better than a passionate one. But they are so young, and it's so not fair to him. Potato Boy doesn't deserve to be with someone who pines over someone else. And between Nabi and Jae-On, the best part to me is that they finally COMMUNICATED. They made their choices without any disillusions. Nabi doesn't expect things to last forever between them, but she owes it to herself to see things through — perhaps to get him out of her system, or perhaps to give him a chance to surprise her. I truly believe the drama version of Jae-On has done enough to deserve that chance. As the side characters underscored in their closing scene, what's the point of a relationship if you don't love the other more? The truly romantic point of view is that both sides should feel lucky. They are too young to settle — arguably, we should all come to the same conclusion in our lives.

Read More