Everything is the End of the World (until it isn't)

I had absolutely no expectations for My Mister. I went in pretty blind, just wanting another 'healing' show after finishing Hospital Playlist 2. The binge-watcher in me usually tends to struggle with slow burns, especially ones which deal with heavy topics. But, oh my god, did My Mister turn out to be the sweetest surprise of my life.

This show is perfect. There are no two ways about it. I'm not a very confrontational person, but I'm going to say it: if you disagree, you weren't paying attention. The writing is perfect. The acting is perfect. The OST, the cinematography, the pacing, the ending, the relationship between the main two. Everything adds something to the plot, to the characters; no second of screen time is wasted.

Watching this drama reminded me of the closing lines of one of my favourite poems, Night Walk by Franz Wright. It goes: "Walking home for a moment / you almost believe you could start again. / And an intense love rushes to your heart, / and hope. It's unendurable, unendurable."

You know that feeling when you're so happy, or in love, or whatever positive emotion you can imagine, that your heart literally hurts? Like it's momentarily caving under the sheer weight of the beauty of the moment? That's what this show feels like to me. I can imagine Ji Ahn and Dong Hoon walking home in the dark, with their coats and scarves and Ji Ahn's poor frost-bitten ankles, side by side, each thinking of these lines. It's unendurable. Unendurable.

Life is so goddamn unendurable sometimes, isn't it? It's painful and unfair; sometimes it's like the odds are completely stacked against you. Oh well, that's life, deal with it, right? But that's not true. Because sometimes life can show us these beautiful moments, these moments of love and hope that warm your heart so much it may feel like its on fire, that make you think, okay. Maybe there's a light at the end of this tunnel, somewhere. Maybe I can stop lamenting my unendurable life and start counting my unendurably beautiful moments and maybe, just maybe, life will turn out beautiful. And it does. It does for Dong Hoon. It does for Ji Ahn. And it will for you, too.

Thank you, My Mister, for showing us how painful and beautiful life can be, and how to endure it either way.

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An Unexpectedly, Beautifully Raw Portrayal of Attraction

Let's get one thig out of the way - this drama has haunted me since the day I finished it. And I mean that in the best way.

For days after finishing Coffee Prince I could scarcely close my eyes without picturing Gong Yoo's pained face as he lies next to Yoon Eun Hye on the beach. This drama took me by surprise with the sheer amount of pained yearning present in the main romance - and the unexpected 'love is love' message. Almost unheard of in any show, in any language, from 2007, but from South Korea? God, I still can't get it out of my mind.

Gong Yoo is the star of this drama. There's no denying it. His struggle with his emotions for Go Eun Chan is real and raw and sometimes painful to watch. It's perhaps one of my favourite performances in a drama, ever. This storyline can get heavy at times, but it stays rooted in that tenderness of true, terrifyingly deep love. The angst of the show comes from these themes of falling in love despite yourself, of forgiving the ones you love, of hiding the truth and forgiving yourself for it.

While the chemistry between GY and YEH is electric, the entire cast seems to mesh well together. Every scene with the coffee shop crew feels fun and comfortable, like you're watching a real group of friends hanging out. The secondary performances are memorable, and the style of the show at large is simply heart-warming and comforting.

But, god, Gong Yoo. Watch it just for him and his painful painful yearning, I beg you. You won't regret it.

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Self-Sabotagers Anonymous: How To Stop Holding Yourself Back

Right - I think you need to have some semblance of patience to endure this show, as it definitely has its frustrating moments with Do Kyung's constant back-and-forth with his emotions. However, that back-and-forth is exactly what makes Another Miss Oh so beautifully real.

For my fellow self-sabotagers out there, the drama plays with the very real idea that becoming a better, healthier, happier person is a daily conscious decision. Throughout the show, Do Kyung struggles with his welded-shut heart, a product of a fairly traumatic parental loss as well as the betrayal of Oh Hae Young #2. Fearing any further pain or loss he could open himself up to if he opened up his heart, he stays behind his own self-constructed walls, comfortable, but lonely, and ultimately injuring himself even more.

Even when we have our main couple happily in love, we still see DK hesitating to say what he feels, to act on his emotions. Right until the end, he still makes the wrong decisions - the comfortable decision, the decision to turn your back and keep yourself away from others so you don't open yourself up to hurt. And yet, gradually, he begins to turn around, faster each time. He learns to open himself up to love, to life, even when that means opening himself up to hurt.

Have you ever seen the French film Amelie? Very unexpectedly, Miss Oh reminded me of it. Both feature a protagonist who has been traumatised by the world, by human relationships, and who would rather hide themselves away behind a wall, even though deep down they know they're doing themselves more harm than good. Both try to open themselves up to people multiple times, but run away scared, back into their own comfort zones. But, in the end, you've got to make the decision: do you let your heart grow cold or do you reach out and grab life, with its equal parts love and hurt, by the hands?

You grab it by the hands, MDL. Never would I have thought a Kdrama could teach me such an important, and much-needed, life lesson, but here we are. Watch the show, internalise the well-written, well-acted message, and then do it. Pull a Park Do Kyung, and reach out and grab life.

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A Romance/Thriller Masterpiece

As a romance fan who loves a good mystery to theorise my way through, it is unfortunately slim pickings when it comes to finding a show that perfectly blend the two genres together. Enter: Flower of Evil.

Great writing on the crime thriller side of things is paired with a gripping and emotive story about romantic and familial love. Amazing performances by MCW and LJG, both as a married couple and in their individual storylines, make the plot come alive. I often find it difficult to rewatch crime dramas as I feel the magic is gone once you've unlocked the mystery; this is not the case for FOE. Every rewatch (and there's been a few) leaves me wanting more; the writing and performances are that good. While the plot is interesting in itself, I believe the magic of the show is in its humanness, largely due to the main two actors. The characters feel real, both their pain and their love. It's a wonder to watch time and time again.

My only critique I've been able to find over the course of my rewatches is Moon Chae Won's character - specifically, why would she insist on chasing after a boy who showed absolutely no interest in her, even at times contempt? Did she never really question his intentions in over a decade together when he seemingly changed personalities over night? If not, what in her own history could have made her so oblivious to some pretty obvious initial red flags? In a perfect world I would've loved a deeper exploration of her character and her past before Do Hyun Soo. But, usual time constraints of a Kdrama considered, I still think they did an amazing job overall.

If any drama can make me feel as I did the first time I watch FOE, I'll take it now, please.

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A Perfectly Imperfect Drama...

Oh, Cheese In The Trap, you tricky little drama, you.

In all honesty, I have probably rewatched this drama more than any others, which is a testament to its charm when you take into account the many, many mistakes the drama makes along the way. First off, the highlights: Kim Go Eun is a perfect protagonist for this show. She's charming, bubbly, relatable. Her voiceovers feel like a conversation with a friend. Her outfits are enviable. The OST is great, and I believe somewhat unique for a modern Kdrama. Nam Joo Hyuk and Park Min Jin were adorable comic relief. Every side character within the university was believable, though perhaps slightly over-exaggerated; I went to school with my fair share of Min-Soos and Young-Gons. You can't take your eyes off either SKJ or LSK in any scene. Despite his own protestations, I actually think Park Hae Jin did a great job showing the different sides to Yoo Jung.

In fact, the premise itself was very interesting to me (although I'm aware it is an adaptation): establishing an extremely mundane university existence (struggles with group projects, classmates, friends, family, money, first love) and placing a 'sociopath' plot right in the middle of it. The early explorations of Yoo Jung's character were gripping, with show placing seeds of doubt about his intentions as well as his general mental state. I thought the use of colour and location to show the difference between Jung and Seol's lives was an interesting choice: the unnervingly quiet monotone of Yoo Jung's home vs the unruly homeliness of Hong Seol's little student apartment. I liked getting little glimpses into his thought process, why he fell for HS in the first place, his childhood traumas and his longing to be understood.

So where did it all go wrong? When the creators decided to put Yoo Jung on the back burner and bring Seo Kang Joon to the forefront? The lack of chemistry between KGE and PHJ (although I like to argue with myself that this is a choice, that it isn't supposed to be a desirable, 'love at first sight' relationship; it's supposed to be confusing and awkward). The annoying longevity of the Min-soo impersonation plotline? The pointless drama of Hong Seol's accident? The horrifically lazy ending?

Whatever the case, I'd say the drama is still watchable, and obviously for me, rewatchable. Even if it's just to live vicariously through Hong Seol's wardrobe. Just take a spoonful of sugar with the drama past the episode 7 mark, I'd say.

Also - best theme song of a Kdrama ever. No apologies.

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The Perfect Winter's Day Healing Drama

If there's one thing you should know about me going into this drama review, it's that:
a) one of my most listened to songs of 2021 was from Chung Joon Han's score for this drama (Good Night Irene)
b) I have a 'Bookstore Journal' google doc where I typed up all of Eun Seob's blog posts from the show, to look at when ever I need a pick-me-up.

Now that my clear adoration for this little show is established, I have to say: unfortunately, this is not a perfect drama. Eun Seob's trauma plot line seemingly comes out of nowhere and is neatly resolved in a handful of episodes (seriously, what happened to that uncle?). Don't get me started on the ep 16 separation (which I will go into in more depth in a sec). Mok Hae Won's tragedy obviously takes up a larger portion of the plot, and I think the writers did a good job of letting the story unfold naturally without dragging it out for too long or condensing it too much. The main performances are great; Seo Kang Joon is adorable as the quietly-lovestruck Eun Seob, but his more emotional scenes really pack a punch. I thought the complex relationship between the three Mok/Shim women was very interesting to watch, carried by great performances.

I adore the little sequences of life in the town, the book club meetings, the shots of the landscape. The romance is lovely to watch, and as I mentioned before I really do love Eun Seob's little blog posts included at the end of each episode - so much so that I actually wish they'd included it more within the runtime itself, allow us to see a bit more of ES's innermost thoughts.

Now to the big booboo in my view: the eleventh-hour separation. We all know Kdramas love a good episode 16 separation when they've run out of plot; unfortunately, WTWIF is no difference. It is beyond frustrating to see this relationship you've been earnestly following for 15 episodes nearly implode because 1) MHW couldn't have like... given him a call or two from Seoul? And 2) Eun Seob, whose entire character arc relied on him being a traumatised guy slowly learning to open up to people and take ownership over his own voice, didn't even try to fight for the relationship when MHW left, or when she came back. The scenes of her being back in town without contacting him, and him virtually ignoring her were painful beyond belief, and made me feel like the entire development of the relationship over the series was for nought. Argh.

Ok. Breathe. Rant over. Despite its flaws, this show is a gorgeous breath of fresh, winter air. Watch it with a blanket and a cup of tea, let the pure ~vibes~ wash over you. And maybe skip most of the final episode.

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A Hopeless Romantic's Dream

When recommending Kdramas to non-drama-watching friends, CLOY is always on the top of my list. The best way I can think to describe it is this: it knows exactly what it is, and it embraces it fully.

If you're looking for an everyday romance to project your own reality onto, this is not exactly the drama for you. The plot is spectacular and unbelievable, occasionally laughably so. Despite the high high stakes of the situation, everything always works out for our protagonists. The 'red string of fate'-ness of the plot could make you want to scream at your screen, 'this is not what real life is like!'

We know this, and we love CLOY anyway. Because CLOY also knows this, and leans right into the ridiculousness of the situations without ever making it cringey or annoying. The romance is grand, helmed by amazing performances by both HB and SYJ, whose chemistry is obviously off-the-charts. Every plot point is hit perfectly, never spending too much time on one problem or agonising the viewers with the will-they-wont-they. We know that they will, because we're all hopeless romantics here, and CLOY is a hopeless romantic's dream.

If you're in any way inclined to a good romance plot, CLOY is, in my opinion, the be-all-and-end-all. This is my Romeo and Juliet, guys. Park Ji Eun 작가님 is better than Shakespeare. Deadly serious. Watch it, laugh, cry, then watch it all over again.

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Lee Seung Gi is a God. That is all.

Okay, so this wasn't the perfect show that I was expecting. I unfortunately had very high hopes after reading other reviews and seeing the show's enduring popularity since its release. I could see the big twist from a mile away, albeit not entirely -- though it seemed obvious from the outset that something was up, I could never have predicted the actual plot. The first plot twist was interesting. The second was good, despite being predictable. The ensuing revelations were just a bit too... insane for my liking. Unrealistic? Let's go with unrealistic. Maybe I'm just the type of person to like realism in my crime thriller investigation shows, idk.

But, oh my god, Lee Seung Gi did not disappoint. Lee Seung Gi went above and beyond any expectations I had of him. Lee Seung Gi's performance carried this show on his back like Atlas at the edge of the Earth. Lee Seung Gi is a god. Like, we should literally get on our knees and bow. That's how good he is in this show.

With my personal reservations about this show and its... realism in its latter half, a weaker actor, or even just an actor taking a different route to Lee Seung Gi, might've turned this drama into a total let down for me. Yet, despite its issues, goddamn did I cry like a baby at the end of this show. And goddamn did I wake up in the middle of the night for days after finishing this show, cold sweat, thinking about it. Thinking about Lee Seung Gi and how much of a goddamn god he is. Again, bow.

So, yes. Watch this drama. Even for Lee Seung Gi alone (but especially for Lee Seung Gi, regardless), watch this drama. And bow.

P.s. that goddamn bird. that goddamn bird.

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Healing the World with Music (and also, like, actual doctor stuff)

First things first: learn from my mistake, and DO NOT binge watch Hospital Playlist. I know you, binge-watchers. I am you. As soon as you've got a grip on the plot and you've figured out your favourite storylines, you've got one finger hovering over the 10-second-skip button. Because who has the time to spend a full day watching doctors going about their daily lives, occasionally stopping to sing in their wee garage band? Not me. You watch the friends-to-lovers, the highly competent doctors goofing around with each other, the occasional patient success story, skippity skip through the 'boring' bits. You finish the final episode and it's okay, great, maybe, but isn't there something missing? Why?

Because Hospital Playlist is not the show for that. Hospital Playlist is a show that washes over you, slowly, until you feel completely assimilated into the environment, until the characters are your old med school buddies (yes, even though you studied English Lit). It is a show whose magic lies in the littlest interactions, the characters built up through seemingly irrelevant dialogues with patients and colleagues. It is a show that reminds you there is good in the world, despite everything. That people are still kind, despite everything. Not because of any thrilling plot or grand love story, but through the genuine love and kindness expressed by just about every character in the show.

Hospital Playlist is a rare show which leaves you wanting to be a better person. To hold your loved ones a little tighter, not out of fear but out of gratitude; gratitude that you get to be alive as you are, just laughing and eating and breathing by their side. Hospital Playlist reminds us that life's not about the big things. It's about love. About giving and receiving and giving some more. No matter how bad things can sometimes seem, Hospital Playlist tells us that as long as you have your people, your kindness for others, your love for the world, well, that's a pretty good life indeed.

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