Opposites Attract similar to ISWAK or A Love So Beautiful

Likes: The sinuous Tendo and his suppressed emotions and desires. The adorable Sakura who wears her heart on her sleeve. The dynamic between the two.

Dislikes: Like with most dramas, the fainting/near death incidents are worthy of multiple eye rolls, although I get why they are in so many dramas...I just wish they can do it a bit more realistically. I mean, how many people really faint from a cold?

I'm a sucker for these opposites attract type of dramas where the ML is an intelligent nonchalant type who warms up when a bubbly bright FL enters into his life. What I really liked about this drama was that Sato Takeru and Kamishiraishi Mone really sold me on their characters, especially KM. KM really seemed like this adorable clueless girl who keeps getting herself into trouble. I mean, we've seen this kind of female character so many times, but some actresses tend to be a little over the top...a bit too dumb to be real, but I didn't feel that way so much with KM.

And Sato....he has this sultry vibe that's a bit exciting. He has this way of delivering lines that would usually be too cheesy into words that make your heart skip a beat. And his barely there restraint when it came to Sakura would just suck me in like a vortex.

If you liked ISWAK or ALSB, I would recommend checking this drama out.

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Likes: Kim Hye Yoon’s spunky personality. Rowoon’s eyes that could melt buttah..but gently. The blossoming romance. The originality of the story.

Dislikes: The chaste kisses (Come on, you call that a kiss?!) Oh and I didn’t care one bit about the “main couple” (Nam joo/Joo da couple), but that’s the point, right?

I thought perhaps this kdrama would be a bit too juvenile for me, but I was so wrong. The story was so fresh and unique that I was hooked right away. Kim Hye Yoon is adorable as the spunky Eun Dan Oh who will never give up trying to change her fate and Rowoon is just dreamy as the taciturn classmate who will try to help her. They have a sweet chemistry that will have you reminiscing about your first crush. The butterflies, the awkwardness, the slow build to a blossoming relationship. Just so cute!

Be sure to check out the Behind the Scenes as well on youtube. The teasing that goes on between the cast is fun to watch!

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Likes: A strong heroine. IU’s fab wardrobe & timeless beauty. Yeo Jin Goo’s gazes. The beautiful set design. The banter. The slow burn.

Dislikes: Kang Mina’s superfluous storyline with P.O. Some of the subplots.

Written by the Hong Sisters, I was excited to watch this fantasy series as I generally like their dramas because they know how to pull the heartstrings and they do the enemies to lovers theme well. And it didn’t disappoint!

Let me just say that IU looks stunning in this drama. Her wardrobe was beautiful and theatrical. They did a great job with the hotel design as well, creating this hauntingly beautiful environment. IU did a fantastic job portraying the dark and world weary owner of the mysterious Hotel Del Luna, a hotel for the dead. I just loved the fact that the female in this story is the strong one, the protector. So many dramas portray the guy saving the girl a bunch of times, but here, it’s the opposite. Jang Man Wol is one cool character.

Yeo Jin Goo plays the upright assertive hotelier who’s at odds with IU’s money hungry ways. Yeo Jin Goo pretty much can do no wrong in my eyes in terms of acting. The dude is just a phenomenal actor. Every expression looks natural and real. He had me laughing at so many parts.

And when you pair him up with IU’s opposite personality, the scenes just light up. The banter made me laugh, the yearning made me sad. The slow burn is what I live for. I definitely think they could have trimmed some of the sub plots and I wasn’t a fan of the P.O/Mina love line or even Mina’s character, but overall I really enjoyed this drama

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Never have I ever wanted to try Japanese sweets so badly

Likes: Very pretty leads makin some very pretty desserts.

Dislikes: The soap opera style. Tried too hard to be poetic.

If you can adjust your lens to view this as a soap opera than I think you'll be ok. I, however, struggled with that as soap operas are not my style...I just find them too exaggerated and over the top, but I stuck it out since it was only 8 episodes.

The leads are very pretty . Nao looks straight out of a manga and there were quite a few moments where I could actually visualize the drawn manga version of her expressions. Tsubaki is also very pretty, but has a manly vibe too.
There were a few smoldering moments that had me wanting more, but this felt more melo than romance.

The two are top confectioners making beautiful Japanese sweets that had me dying to try. Not because they looked delicious. But because they looked like beautifully sculpted play doh that had me so damn curious to what they tasted like. It reminds me of my first impression of Taiwanese pineapple cakes. When I saw a pic, I was like why would you eat this bland looking dry fig newton? And then I tried it on my trip to Taiwan. Pure buttery chewy heaven. Let's just say the multiple boxes I then bought after never made it home with me on the plane. It was a massacre. I ate like 15 in one sitting. Which makes me wonder about these Japanese sweets....but I digress.

This story has murder, revenge, broken relationships, and love all mixed in with some overly dramatic music and acting, especially from the villainess mom. It also had some twists that took me by surprise, so if you're ok with soap opera-ish style, then you may enjoy this. For me, it's already fading from my memory...except for those sweets. Gotta try those...

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Gruesome, confusing, and funny

I hadn't heard much about this short gory series, but I'm glad I checked this out. It was entertaining to say the least. Gruesome, but funny too.

Likes:
1) The Acting. Jin Seon Kyu was soo believable and good as the seedy cop. He was able to be despicable, but yet you don't hate him for it. He also was able to deliver the comedy so subtly that I kept having a delayed reaction in laughing, but once it hit me, I thought it was so funny. Jeon Jong Seo was also fantastic as usual. She just has this edgy provocative side that you don't see much of in Korea. I always believe she's her character.
2) The story was a refreshing change from predictability. I didn't know where the story would go so I enjoyed the journey even if it was confusing, though I blame that more on the bad subs.
3) The Bidder #5 storyline with Jin Seon Kyu's character. This is what made me laugh
4) It's short. At only 6 episodes, it's an easy binge watch which I appreciate

Dislikes:
1) Confusing - again some of this is contributed to bad subs, but there's no real explanation for a lot of things so you're left wondering what happened
2) The character development - I was kind of confused why everyone turned crazy. I would have liked some more backstory into some of the characters
3) Sometimes it felt a tad repetitive

Overall, I would recommend this series to people who don't mind dark comedy, violence or gore.

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Suspenseful thriller with excellent acting from Park Shin Hye & Jeon Jong Seo

I watched this for Park Shin Hye, but came out a huge fan of Jeon Jong Seo. Wow. They both acted so well.
Like people have said, it's a similar concept to the drama Signal in where there is a parallel/time travel aspect happening through a phone call. From the 2nd half on, I felt like I was holding my breath the entire time. It was so creepy and suspenseful.
Jeon Jong Seo. I get why there is buzz about this rookie actor. This is only her 2nd film and her acting is so mesmerizing. She embodies her character and has such depth in her acting. If she's already this good at the beginning of her career, I'm excited to see what she can do in the future.
Park Shin Hye is great as always. There has never been a role that I've seen her in where I don't believe that she's her character. For someone so famous, that is hard to do, but she does it so effortlessly.
I'm glad I checked this film out!

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Heartbreaking story of the rape of an elderly lady

There are many things I can't stand, but one that sends me immediately into fits of outrage are crimes against children or elderly. This is the first time I've seen anything that even broached the topic of an elderly lady's rape. The director handled this matter in a very sensitive way. You don't see the actual rape, but hear the conversation leading up to it and see the emotional aftermath that just breaks your heart. Not only does the FL have to deal with the trauma itself, but she has to deal with ageism in seeking justice. It's a sad story that depicts the problems with society and how we treat the aging population....something that I, to be honest, don't really think about, but after seeing this film, definitely opened up my eyes. This is a great film that I hope more people will watch.

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A relatable story about a smart & introspective FL and her longtime crush...

Likes: I loved the realistic characters, especially the FL. She's intelligent, introverted and very guarded, but not in a stereotypical way. All the main characters feel like people you may have known sometime in your life.

Dislikes: Too many side characters that no one really cares about

Right off the bat, this simple story sucked me in with the FL's introspection. She has a secret...it's called unrequited love. It's her journey from high school to college...from being invisible to her crush to something more than a possibility. I absolutely LOVED this female character. I find her relatable and realistic. She's smart, independent, knows who she is, and doesn't change herself to fit a man's ideal. Her only issue if that she's very guarded and reticent and has a tendency to push people away, but once you peel back the layers, you see she's this amazing interesting girl.

I loved that this drama stayed natural. No ridiculous or dramatic obstacles. The hurdles and reactions felt like real situations that could occur, real misunderstandings. Seeing the ML's interest grow and him trying hard to figure out how to break down her wall felt genuine. The ML's best friend who jokes around to keep the mood light and deflect any kind of seriousness or his own feelings of hurt feels like someone I've come across in my life. In fact, most of these character do. I just really loved watching their story unfold.

It's sweet, relatable, and natural. I wished more dramas would take note.

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Awkward

Likes: Eiji Akaso is very cute. Baba Fumika is pretty.

Dislikes: If I hear "Eh?....Eh?" one more time.....

This had the potential to be super hot, but instead it was just awkward as hell. There were no sparks. The ML was very cute, but his acting was a bit stiff. The FL was at first cute, but then got SO annoying with her "Eh?....Eh?....Eh?" Everything just felt a bit random and almost uncomfortable.

I think in the hands of better actors and direction, there could have been an undercurrent that would make you understand why these two belong together. Instead you're left wondering what the hell did I just watch?

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Easy watch

Likes: Cute and easy to watch

Dislikes: There were a few times where Haru would grin and I wanted to reach for my toothbrush

This is a cute story of two lonely outcasts who eventually fall for each other. Suda Masaki does an excellent job portraying the strange Haru Yoshida who is like this wild dog tamed only by Mizutani Shizuku, the antisocial brainy act played by the wonderful Tsuchiya Tao. I loved how the ML had no filter and showed how intensely he liked the FL by following her everywhere.

The two had great chemistry and I loved that they both were a bit weird. It 's a cute story and a breeze to watch.

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LOVED THIS! Forget Real Men, Steel Troops is the real deal!

This military survival show is incredibly inspiring. I can't tell you how many times I was amazed and touched to see these former Korean soldiers work so hard at mind boggling training and never once give up.

The men are divided by the department that they formerly served: special forces, UDT, SDT, Marines, 707, and SSU. They compete in strength, endurance, and teamwork in harsh conditions to see which military group is the best of the best. Because these are former soldiers, to watch them in action is so cool! It's like watching a real life action movie.

It's really interesting to see how the groups and members differ. Some use their brains more (like Pak Goon), some use their brute strength (SSU and UDT come to mind) , some use their speed (go SDT!). You can see who are natural leaders and who are the weak members, but all teams just never give up no matter how freaking tired they are. I mean, I really don't know how they endured some of these missions. It's a good glimpse at the kind of training korean men might have to go through in the military.

I also really loved the MC panelists specifically Heechul, Jong Min, and Kim Sung Joo. They cracked me up because they were just as much of a fan as I was, I'm surprised Lee Seung gi wasn't an MC. He would've been a great addition.

For some reason after watching this, every other variety show pales in comparison and is now so boring to me. I've already rewatched this three times. I really really hope they have a season 2!

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Struck a chord with me....again...and again...and again

LOVE. PLAYFULNESS. MISUNDERSTANDINGS. ABANDONMENT. LONLINESS. HEALING.

Two broken souls (well, maybe 3). Emotional baggage. Opposites. Crazy about each other

I gulped down this drama like a starved puppy. It has been too long since I've seen such a skillfully woven story free of any cliched feeling. To the director, screenwriter, editor, and cast: THANK YOU.

Beautifully written with a beautiful soundtrack. This story had everything. There were some lines in the script that just...it just really struck a chord with me. Some indescribable feeling or thoughts I 've had...captured in a poignant line or moment in this drama. I just found bits and pieces of the characters and emotions so relatable.

Now I have to talk about the amazing cast, especially the two leads. Woo Shik is just phenomenal. He is a criminally underrated actor who deserves more lead roles to showcase his versatility and amazing acting skills. He just become his character. This character could easily have become boring or too much of a wuss, but he made him relatable, layered and endearing. In the emotional scenes, sometimes it's so subtle, but the way he says the lines is just so heart wrenching, but on the other hand, he also can infuse a scene with subtle mischievousness that lends itself to the comedy.

Kim Da Mi, who's been on my watchlist since the Witch, is fast becoming one of my fav actresses. I loved how her character was written with many layers. A snide exterior to hide a girl who's been hurt too much. A girl whose pride constantly gets in the way. Someone who shows her warm side to only the people she trusts. This character and how Da Mi portrayed her was so fresh to me.

I loved the fun bickering between these two, and loved the sweet honest moments even more. They did such a great job of maintaining that history of love and hate with the underlying layer of just being crazy for each other. From being enemies in the Witch to soulmates here, it's clear how gifted these two actors are.

The side characters were great as well, specifically Park Jin Joo as the Unnie BFF and Ahn Dong Goo as Woong's manager. Both were so funny and created a lot of the comic relief. For once, the side characters didn't feel like filler and were used to support the leads instead of going on their own tangent. The only exception is Ji Woong's character. I found his relationship with his boss or mom a bit boring which is why I couldn't give this a complete 10 rating.

I look forward to other projects this director or screenwriter may have as I think they did such a fantastic job creating a humanistic story without the corniness of cliches.

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The only thing I'll remember is Han So Hee's fierce fighting skills

Props to Han So Hee for doing her own fight choreography and making it look so believable. It is so nice to see an actress willing to do her own stunts and willing to show a not so pretty image. Not only was Han So Hee great at the action, but she was great in the acting as well. I think other actresses should take note. A huge pet peeve of mine is when they cast a FL who's supposed to be tough, but then it's so obvious they are weak or not doing their own stunts or they just want to look pretty. Not here. Han So Hee prepared and delivered...Girl, you got my respect!

The rest of the cast was also great, esp Park Hee Soon who was charismatic as the gang leader. Unfortunately, the story was not as good as the actors' performances. It was too predictable and too much of the plot was based on the ignorance and obliviousness of the police . I think better direction was needed here with the editing. More than once, because of the way a scene was shot, I often asked my self "Why don't they just run the license plate?" The holes in police procedure were too obvious and you just can't do that in this day and age where thousands of cop shows have taught us the basics. Audiences aren't stupid so once you stop treating us as such, you'll most likely have a better drama.

But despite the flaws, I still would recommend to anyone looking for some good action scenes, esp from a female lead. At only 8 episodes, it's a quick watch and worth it just to watch So Hee.

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A mindless entertaining popcorn action movie

Set in a post-apocalyptic world, this dystopian tale is as predictable and bland as it comes, but the action is entertaining and serves it's purpose of being a popcorn movie to pass the time. Ma Dong Seok is again typecasted into the heavy fisted fighter role and savior that he always plays. Lee Hee Joon plays the mad scientist. Ahn Ji Hye plays the rogue special forces soldier who teams up with Ma Dong Seok. I think you can pretty much predict how the story will unfold from there.

None of the characters have depth and you don't really get much explanation for the plot. This is a simple movie to just show action scenes which for the most part was entertaining. Ma Dong Seok's role was a bit cliche (his one punch wonder schtick is a bit corny & old, but if you're new to his roles then it'll probably be fine). I do admit I laughed a lot at his comedic one liners. The whole crazy dragon lady scenes were funny as well.

Ahn Ji Hye is the one that stood out to me. I specifically remembered her from the movie Slate where she impressed me with all her action scenes and the fact she did it all herself with no stunt double. She continues to impress here although I'm not sure if she did all the stunt work again, but it sure looked believable. I like when women can kick some ass so I may be a little bias here. I think if she and Lee Si Young did an action movie together, I'd probably die from excitement.

If you like popcorn action movies and don't mind a shallow plot, then I would suggest giving this movie a try. You probably won't remember it in a week, but I thought it was a good enough escape for an hr or so.

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