Zogitt

How to turn a biting satire into a farcical pipe dream

Edit: Upon reflection I realise I got more and more snarky as I wrote this. You have been warned. ;)

Paraphrasing Mel Brooks, "satire must walk a fine line and take risk". This drama took that to heart in the first half.

It was packed with absurd moments that genuinely made me LoL. I binged a dozen eps in 2 days. Then the rest happened.

The initial setup was simple and delicious. An angel investor will provide the ML with funds to go into business. The twist is that he will only earn a stipend if he makes a profit, but he can take home a portion of the loss as bonus.

So he came up with a bunch of silly loss making ideas and go hard. What he didn't take into account is his anti-trend products started new trends. People love his generous, loss making deals rather than the usual money grabbing ones.

His collection of seemingly hapless, "unemployable" staff are talented and they repay his kindness and trust with an undying loyalty.

So far so good. The first half is deliciously anti-establishment and sets a cracking pace. The whole 996, nay, crunch work culture is laid bare. His cohort of goofballs are more creative and productive in a 40 hours week than those salaried slaves. Huzzah!

The wheels start to fall off when the original and whacky projects start to run dry. The show shifts focus onto the ML and his personal challenges in the second half.

It is obvious from the start that he is not a business wunderkind. He is earnest and hardworking. He has a heart of gold and he put fairness above all else. This means he is a lamb to the slaughter in the cutthroat business world. By focusing on him for several eps, it really pops the bubble that he has the Midas touch.

This also brought the high flying plot back down to Earth. We crash lands with a thud in midst of mundane stuff like making ends meet and paying off a big mortgage. The satire has lost its edge and became a blunt instrument.

Is this some kind of hidden chapter in the playbook? We are talking about an industry that gave us xianxia and wuxia dramas! What is this obsession with RL and the daily grind?

There are many plotholes by this stage, but the whole subplot about the ML working in a rival company is plain stupid. How can this work? Non-disclosure? Trade secrets? It might have worked if they frame it as a clever subterfuge, but alas, the ML is really trying to work there and earn a honest wage. It would be like Elon showing up as an intern at Toyota. Inconceivable!

For me, this series truly jumped the shark when it parachuted the 4 Sima brothers into the plot. Ye gods! That is so cringey and largely pointless. The show is now an aimless farce. Not a particularly funny one either. Just give me a psycho stalker, tyvm.

To seal the deal, the show totally stuffed up the OTP's romance.

The two female screenwriters made it clear who is the OTP from the start. They have been set up many times. Their coworkers are shipping them. Web novel has been written about their "office romance". Yet it all comes to nought.

Seriously, I would have forgiven half of this show's sins if there is even a spark. Why bother if we don't even get one confession. One hug? NOTHING.

As if to rub salt into the wound, people were teasing the FL in a staff meeting towards the end. She said "if I'm the female lead then who is the male lead?" The ML walks in on cue . . of course. I wish you can hear my teeth gnashing.

Do you know what really got my goat? There is more chemistry between two female co-workers than the OTP! I'll let you guess the pairing.

The HEA ending happened right on time. It is totally expected, yet nonsensical. How did the ML come up with enough funding to restart a whole business empire by selling just ONE unrenovated flat with a substantial mortgage. Does the writers not understand the concept of discharging a loan?

Then the business went ballistic while he is on an extended holiday? I missed the memo telling us the how and the why (or maybe I don't care anymore).

Normally, this is where I would use my "ask no questions, chingu" catchphrase, but I'm sick of not asking questions while watching this series. I want answers, dammit!

The final scenes are like a glossy real estate sales brochure and has about as much substance. It really is like a pipe dream. I don't know whether I'm angry, sad, confused or just numb.

Balanced against that are decent performances from the large ensemble. They are mostly second tier actors. Sadly, most of the roles are one dimensional. They played hard, but in a small sandbox.

The ML has the world on his shoulders and it shows. He was a live wire early on, but he just got more and more despondent as the show progressed.

We know his growth must be a pillar of this drama, yet it feels inconsistent. He shuffles back and fore. He stays true to his better qualities, but did he becomes better where it counts?

Production value is A tier. OST is inoffensive.

In the end, I'm torn about this show. This series is watchable. The show can be very funny at times and it has merits. It can be sharp as a pin and give you paper cuts. Then it settles into a hyperbolic business drama and ends on an artificial sweetener high.

I am disappointed that it couldn't sustain its initial trajectory to the end. Maybe 26 eps is a bridge too far. Mayhaps 16 eps will keep it tight and focused. Alas, that answer awaits in an alternate universe. Peace.

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It could have been great . . seriously

If I'm being honest, the first few eps are good. It holds your interest as you wonder how will this pan out. The exaggerated plot suggested a wild ride. It all feels a little surreal.

We finally take a breather when the FL escapes to the titular kindergarten. The early scenes gave me "Kindergarten Cop" vibe. That would be delicious if they pull it off.

Oh woe is me! I'm actually lost for words to describe the next few episodes. It is a mess. So many plot holes. It is bordering on nonsensical.

For instance, the FL flees to the countryside for anonymity. Yet she was identified by multiple people and hunted down by thugs and assassins in short order. Korea is not a big country but it is not that small either. She might as well stay in Seoul! Instead of going into hiding again, she stays put after a little heart-to-heart from the ML. Really?

Rather than silencing the people who recognised her, she takes them into her home so that they can spy on her in comfort. This includes her horrible mother. Why? It makes no sense. The FL is supposed to be resourceful and clever yet almost everything she did is counterintuitive. Oh! Did I mention she has a loaded gun and a million won just sitting in her suitcase. Really?

On top of that, she would give chase when given the slightest provocation. She'd confront her assailants single handedly time and again. I wish she is amazing at Taekwondo, but she always comes out second best. The ML has to rescue her repeatedly. How convenient.

The ML is a nice guy, handsome but a drip. They have little chemistry. There, I said it! They are the OTP by default.

We must now address the worst aspect of this show. The characters are poorly written. Most have the depth of a puddle. Some are quirky, but just when you think it might get interesting . . it doesn't. This is a recurring theme.

The classic example is the 2CP. The 2ML is supposed to be possessed by the ghost of a general. Sounds like fun, right? It went nowhere. The 2FL is cutesy and a little needy. Maybe she has some hidden agenda? Nope, she is just cutesy and a little needy. Did I mention their love story is inconsequential. Ouch!

There are many subplots and we can see glimmers of possibilities, but they meander for a bit and go no where. Maybe her inexperience is showing.

The antagonist do have their moments. When the female antagonist is in her full psycho mode, she is one scary b*tch! Her brother has two speeds. Angry and REALLY angry. They are not subtle. We are meant to detest them. They feel like caricatures at times.

The housekeeper and chauffeur are a matching set. They are there for comedic relief. Mostly harmless. On the other hand, the in-house lawyer is a gem. He might be a support character, but he stole many scenes.

The chairman is a highlight. He is the ultimate puppet master. There is a big twist concerning him towards the end. It was meant to be the gotcha moment, but all the clues are there if you bother to look. Some of the nonsense finally make sense. I have so many questions, but few answers. I can see they made a stylistic choice, but have to swept a lot of the details under the rug. You really have to switch off your frontal lobe at this point.

Moment to moment, this drama showed us glimpses of what is possible. Yet, viewed as a whole, it is all smoke and mirrors. I was pining for an edgy, noir thriller or maybe a high octane romp, it is neither. So much potential . . . One time watch. Peace.

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It is all about the feels

Ok, Bossam has been out for 4 years, so I don't see much point in doing a in-depth review. I'll just put a few thoughts down and then my final recommendation.

Right off the bat, this show is all about the characters, their interactions and growth, especially our leads. They go through the usual enemy to lover trope. They were sorely tested before their love blossoms. They are good people placed in bad situations. They have to adapt to survive. In the process, they saw through each other's disguises and fall in love.

Considering the setting, it should come as no surprise that palace intrigue is the theme du jour. On the whole, it is tropey and doesn't put forward many fresh ideas. Good actors help to elevated this above clichés.

However, there is a lot of it and by the 3/4 mark, everyone and everything is set on their path. Who's who and their schemes are largely set in stone. There is one big twist near the end which I won't spoil. I do find it heavy going towards the end though.

Speaking of which, this show is 20 eps long. While I was fully engaged most of the time, it was draggy around the 2/3 mark when everyone is dancing the political 2 steps. The show picked up the pace soon after and we hang on for the grim ride.

In the end, this is a solid drama crewed by good actors. It doesn't break any new grounds but it delivers a refined product.

Now the elephant in the room. Does the FL has a No-Kiss clause in her contract? There are several hugs but nay a single kiss. Not even on their wedding night. Their romance is still sweet and swoon-y. Just not particularly spicy.

If a good sageuk drama is your thing and you appreciate a slow burning romance then this drama is for you. Peace.

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Stop the angst train!

At the end of Flourish Peony, things are looking up. Business is booming, their fake marriage could become real with one kiss. While it didn't exactly end on a high, it was full of promise. I was genuinely looking forward to the continuation of their story.

The start of S2 dashed my hopes. It was disaster after disaster. I can even accept the pain if the love line moves forward. The leads are obviously in love, but they kept dancing around each other. It went nowhere for 11 eps. The final straw is when the ML played the all-mighty Noble Idiot Card™! I was ready to rage quit.

Ye gods, I haven't felt like this for a long time. The show is still great. I can't fault the acting nor the production, they are S tier (as you would expect). It just feels like the show is mocking me. The drama kept teasing me and giving me false hopes. Yet it delivers naught. Consider we waited patiently for 6 months for this, it felt like a gut punch.

I have no doubt this drama was caught in the middle of the rule change regarding drama length. The production company chopped the show in two with scant consideration of how the halves will work after a 6-month hiatus.

As it stands, 2/3 of this new "chapter" feels jarring. We are dropped into a world of hurt. The OTP made scant progress with their relationship but faced setbacks after setbacks. It is literally all pain and no gain.

We finally hit paydirt in EP.17. This is the equivalent of 49 eps and 6+ months in real time before our leads are finally official! So much teasing, meaningful gazes and pining at the moon. Thankfully, the skinship quota went from 0 to 100 in 3 seconds. So much penned up passion on display! We give thanks for any fan service we are about to receive. Amen.

Will you be surprised if I told you the writer then hit us with the weaponised kitchen sink PLUS dishwasher combo? Ep.19/20 are the crème de la crème of angsty twists. Thankfully, the plot armour or maybe the Force is strong with our leads.

This is where I think the show is too focused on the palace intrigue. It sucks all the oxygen from the OTP's storyline. Granted, the antagonist's endless scheming is a ready source of angst, but it is so transparent. There are no subtleties with their machinations.

I rated Flourish Peony 9/10. This part is an 8 only because the last few eps bring home the bacon, otherwise, it would be a 7.5. If it was one 60 eps run, it would have worked better. The forced break in the middle did the show no favour.

It is done and dusted. Peace.

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Ode to camping and that's about it

This is an uniquely Japanese series. Consider it is based on a manga series, it explains a lot. What is not clear is why it was made into a live action adaptation. 

As it stands, it is largely an ode to solo camping and contains some useful tips and tricks. In that sense, it is a mix of infotainment and travel vlog. To be honest, I am confused about the relationship between our leads. The show doesn't need one but once it is there, it went nowhere. To wit, he is an expert solo camper so he knew every trick in the book. He "rescued" a young newbie female camper and decided to take her under his wings. She loves to cook and there are some serious food porn around the camp fire. So far so promising, I have seen worse meet-cute.

However, there is no real plot and both leads are prone to over acting, especially the FL. This is possibly due to its manga root. I have to say that she is kinda cute if you filter out the silly posing. While there is a hint of attraction, it is ambiguous. It works for a manga because it relies on your imagination but a drama is much more black and white.

At the end of the last EP, they declared that there is much more to come in their camping adventure. Is that a hint of a sequel or just wishful thinking? My unvoiced thought at that point was, "is that it?". While it is watchable and chill, I have to refer back to my original question at the start of this review.

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A do-over that managed to be different yet samey

Do-over seems to be the A-plot du jour nowadays. Contemporary, costume, Korean, Chinese, everybody is doing it.

This one starts a bit differently. Both leads are in a dark and troubling place in their lives. You'd think given their backstories it would be unlikely for them to be friends, let alone lovers. Well, stay tuned because the writer pulled a rabbit out of the hat with this one.

I'm not going to spoil it for you so let's just say both went back in time but only the FL retained the memory of her past life. She sets out to protect herself by not repeating her mistakes and tries her best to be independent. At first, she kept running into obstacles which pushes her back onto the same path but over time, she realised that she can influence events and bit by bit, her destiny and those around her began to change.

This is where the show shone the brightest. The first half of this show is clever and engaging. Our leads are given room to flex their acting muscles. They have good chemistry and we can ship them easily. Their growth and changing fortunes is very gratifying to watch. It was fun to watch their mating dance and navigate the various challenges but most importantly, falling hard for each other over time. Swoon!

It pains me to say this but as soon as they are official, the writer took a vacation. The pace dropped off; plots milled around the watercooler as well. Lots of things are happening but it falls under two categories. 1) We swoon while watching our OTP play house. 2) We groan while we are spoon-fed tropey palace intrigue shenanigans.

Not only are the antagonist not doing much hiding in shadows, they talk endlessly about their nefarious plots. I would have no problem if they were clever and devilish, but it all comes down to who should be king, who is backstabbing whom and when is the best time to act. The antagonist waited, the protagonist waited and we waited.

The pace did pick up in the last few eps. At one stage, I though they were going to hit us with the Angst Train but after 1 or 2 eps, everyone just went home. Yes, they literally went back to their estate and got some R&R. It was surreal especially after the torture scene!

The pace changed again towards the end, it is a bit unsettling to be honest. It is dramatic at times and impactful in the Final Confrontation way but I can’t help but feel the scenes are on rails.

That is awkward as the show have many positives up to the halfway mark but then the pacing, storytelling and character developments lost momentum. The game of thrones stuff is predictable and tropey. It is still very watchable but I missed that spark of originality at the beginning of the series.

The last ep is mostly fan service. All the loose threads are tied up with pink bows. The show cruises to a HEA ending as expected. It is sweet and wholesome. I can’t complain. The positives do outweigh the negatives. Peace.

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Unexpectedly bland

My expectation of this series is fairly low after reading the synopsis, but I didn’t expect it to be so samey and boring.

The premise of the show is the proposed marriage alliance between the princess of a smaller kingdom to the prince of an aggressive neighbouring state. Of course, there is the usual mistrust and misunderstanding. The enemy-to-lover tropey is front and centre.

There is nothing new with this set up. It has been done many times before. The problem is compounded by the cast lacking depth/skill and the script being too tropey to give the show a boost.

You soon realise the script brought little new to the table. All the usual tropes are lined up like little ducklings. It is serviceable but hardly engaging. As expected, the romance of the leads is the primary focus. Other than the usual push-pull and misunderstandings, there is not a lot to write home about. There is also an inherent problem with their characterisation. The show can do with stronger individual traits but they mostly play with a straight bat.

The typical palace intrigue and petty second leads provide the bulk of the angst. It is mostly run-of-the-mill power plays from rival princelings and their scheming wives. Similarly, the second leads are only there because the playbook said so. Our leads have nothing to fear from those quarters.

There is a 2CP but their progress is initially fraught. I know this sounds odd but there is more skinship than I expected but they are fairly wooden. There is a bit of fan service towards the end. However, the ending is oddly untidy and feels rushed.

In terms of acting, the FL did ok. Her role of a sassy princess offers few challenges. The ML mastered the nonchalant stance and the cheeky smile but he is not very convincing as a king-in-waiting.

On the other side of the ledger, the production quality is acceptable. This is hardly surprising as production companies can churn out costume dramas with ease these days. It is practically an industry. The flip side is a tedious sameness unless the production is S class. Sadly, this one sits firmly in the middle of the pack. Not only are the costumes and sets generic in look and feel, the distinction between the two kingdoms is minimal. They’d call each other barbarians but, in most aspects, they are almost identical aesthetically.

In the end, there is little to recommend this show. It is inoffensive and mildly entertaining. It is hardly a must-see unless you are a fan of the leads. It is a classic filler and I'm thankful that it is 24 and not 40 eps.

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More of the same with odd stumbles

I, like many fans, were looking forward to S2 with great expectations. It pains me to make the next statement. I like aspects of S2 but I don’t love it in totality. It improved on some bits, kept a lot of "what is not broken" but also created some new problems.

On the positive side, the ML has matured into his role even though technically no time has passed between Seasons. He does look very thin in some scenes which is concerning. He is no longer a young buck who needs rescuing all the time. The ML has become a real player in the power game. It is great to see him go toe-to-toe with his foes and even some of his mentors. The downside to this is that he is given even more screen time to the detriment of other actors. This diluting of some character interactions really hurt elements of the original story.

I’m glad to see some storylines are still engaging. However, it is not all good news. There are stumbles in the narrative that left me scratching my head. Such as the whole episode devoted to selling Treasury Bonds. It fits into the overall narrative, but it feels like the cart pushing the horse. It is odd.

This also includes the exaggerated use of comedic elements. Some actors overact for cheap laughs which feels incongruous. The worse offender is the use of the yodelling song. Why? It is so jarring.

If S1 has a big cast, S2's is downright bloated. Most of the returning characters resumed their old roles but with developing plots, there are changes. It was quite a neat revelation at the end of S1 when the 2nd prince was revealed to be the hidden antagonist. He was intriguing in S1 but now he feels a bit lame once he openly challenges the ML.

Speaking of expanded cast, Several characters from S1 took on more prominent roles. Rou Rou is definitely one of them. Her role changed substantially. However, I’m not sure about her training to use the Ultimate Weapon. Is that a breech too far?

Another one is Ye Ling Er. Gina Jin took over this role. I'm not 100% sold on her visual and the "changed" characterisation. There is even a hint of a tragic love line brewing. I'm not sure I'm onboard with this but we shall see.

As expected, the story becomes more convoluted as schemes and counter schemes are minted. This does slow down the overall pacing noticeably. The revelation of the link between Xian and the Emperor certainly stirred up a lot of high emotions and opened old wounds. Nothing was resolved by the end of S2 so it is up to the writer to tie in the game of throne plots with the underlying sci-fi theme.

Speaking of ending, I’m happy that we don't have another cliffhanger. It was surprisingly positive and even a little cheeky. Maybe this is because S3 is already in the works so we don't need to force the issue. However, the last few eps did feel a little out of sorts for me. The "invention" of a banking system and the three workshops plot feels a bit awkward. The Ming family storyline is disturbing. It feels ham-fisted though. We become numbed when the body count of faceless victims balloons.

Production quality is decent but a bit inconsistent. There are silly mistakes which should be caught in post production. I know, they must maintain continuity, but you'd think improvement would be universal after 5 years plus a bigger budget.

I certainly enjoyed the drama, but it is not a slam dunk for me. There are some striking visuals and more depth to some plots but at the same time, not every subplot fires. Ditto some roles feels watered down or sidelined. May be there are too many cooks in the kitchen. That is a typical malaise of palace/political dramas. In the end, I'm happy to have watched S2 but I'm not blown away.

Finally, the elephant in the room. There are rumbling from netizens that the adaptation is drifting further and further away from the source novel as the series progresses. I don’t have a strong opinion on this, but it could explain some of the plots, characters and pacing issues.

Bring on Season 3!

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Who said found footage doesn’t work?

I tend to watch coming-of-age dramas in bursts then I'd swear I'll never watch another one! I must be in my manic phase when I watched 3 such dramas recently . . . in a row.

Let’s focus on this show for now. Our leads are 16 years old high school students when we meet them. Typically, such shows would cover the period leading up to the all prevailing college entrance exams and some would go beyond that. This show walks the same well-trodden path. What sets this apart is a well written script that contains all the usual tropes, but it uses them rather than being subsumed by them.

On top of that, the leads played their roles well and they infused a certain warmth and je ne sais quoi to their story. The FL is in her elements. Her spunky personality and infectious smile make her so lovable. She takes no prisoners when it comes to dealing with love rivals, but she'd let her suitors down gently.

The pacing of the show is nice and steady. This is helped by a shortish 24 episodes run. There is little need for mindless filler subplots. However, I would venture to say that they probably spend too much time in their early years. Two third of the show is taken up with the first 2 years of their senior high school. The critical Gao Kao year is greatly compressed. Ditto their college years. The first year did get some attention but then it largely skips ahead to their college graduation. To be honest, I was a bit disappointed with this because their school related plots are quite constrained as some topics are simply too taboo for the censors. They can finally explore their relationship to the full after they left school.

Acting overall is solid from the ensemble cast. The 2CP is well matched but they are a bit awkward around each other until they finally confessed their feelings and change status from friends to lovers. Overall, the show is very cute and sweet. The FL's parents are gems. The ML's more problematic but they do change for the better later on.

As I mentioned before, most of the plots are well written with one exception. When the FL worked as an intern, she was taken to a banquet for a big client. The setup is the classic honey trap with the pretty young thing sitting next to the middle-aged client. Of course, he starts to get handsy. This is nothing new to c-dramas and many nasty subplots start from there. Luckily, she managed to excuse herself but her manager later sent her a text saying that she is in the wrong and should self-reflect on her mistake.

Ok, I’m not a prude but in a show full of positive messages about youths and new horizons, this stood out like a sore thumb. How can a young intern be at fault when she is a victim of harassment? Should she have seduced the client instead?! This just served to propagate the horrid cliché. I understand that it allows the ML to play hero and comes to her rescue but the payoff is not worth it, IMHO.

Nevertheless, I still consider this to be a superior show. The positives far outweigh the negatives. I can recommend this show wholeheartedly. OST is nice and catchy. Rewatch will not be a chore.

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Great start, nice middle, disappointing tail

This Show’s premise is hardly original. The FL is a sweet, kind country girl who was thrust into the limelight and more or less onto the lap of a hard as nails CEO. Of course, the enemy to lover progression is guaranteed. What set this Show apart is the chemistry of the leads. Their early interactions are a bit slapstick in nature and their comedic timing is good. They are so cute together which makes it easy to ship them. The melting of the ice king is a delight to watch if somewhat predictable. The innocent yet strong FL easily endeared herself to us.

The story is angst light for the most part. The support cast is not bad. The grandpa is all-seeing and sage like. The gaggle of company secretaries is largely used for light comedic relieve but they are surprisingly effective in that role. They are also the primary cheerleaders for our OTP. The 2CP has a rougher romantic journey and their meet-cute is good but it also included a big plot hole that is never explained. The antagonists are one dimensional and more irritating than dangerous. It provides just enough distraction to reduce the sugar content below WHO standard.

To be honest, I was pleasantly surprised by this show as it tells a simple story well and everything just clicks in the early to mid stages. The romance is the primary focus, and the leads are interesting enough for us to care for them. It will not win any awards but it is definitely better than the typical turn-key productions.

Much to my chagrin, the Show seems to have lost its way towards the end. It is kind of functional but in my eyes, it is shambolic and dubious in its delivery. Trouble started soon after we find out that the younger brother isn’t actually in love with the FL. I'm glad that they didn't throw in the ubiquitous breakup, but we are not out of the woods.

The problem starts to pile up once he decided to really go rogue and try to take over the company by backstabbing all and sundry. We'd have a decent chance to resolve the brothers' problem calmly and logically but the Show just went all in.

Once the escalation starts, the narrative logic starts to unravel. This is not helped by the one-note behaviour of the antagonists. The SFL is single-minded and immature. The business rival is a joke. The uncle is an annoying bit player and so one dimensional. There is no growth in any of the second tier characters.

Awkawrdly, the grandpa just sat back and look on disapprovingly. He should have some reserve power both as the chairman of the corporation as well as the head of the clan. He did the talk but not the walk. It is a very unusual turn of event for a head of a family/business in a c-drama.

Then so much time is wasted on looking for a cure of his condition. Most of those scenes are just paddings. I had to rewatch bits when he said that the FL has cured him. How? I didn't see her doing anything substantial. I watched that scene twice. All he said was that he needed to know that he won't be abandoned again. QED, the FL is the cure. Hmmm, the grandpa didn't abandon him and his brother is his shadow. I am baffled. Not to mention that it is not even psychobabble grade stuff. It is more like a minor lightbulb moment. Is that it? Is it true love or the sex? My PhD is riding on this thesis.

To add salt to the injury, the final boardroom showdown is so contrived and jokingly undramatic. The younger brother then just ran home and sulk. That’s one heck of an evil mastermind.

The whole segment about the visting master is largely filler. It is a bit of fan service and it would have worked better if they ejected the back-stabbing brother subplot and kept the narrative light and breezy. Then it would be some harmless, irrelevant fun. Now it is a bit cringey and awkward to be honest. The brother going with the master as his new student isn't a big surprise because that does round out his surprise visit and starts the brother’s redemption arc. The problem I have is the inconsistency in the narrative. The first scene, after a 3 years’ time skip, is the brother being a dick and won't help a girl in the village. Why? Then the next scene he is now the nicest “barefoot” doctor saving the same girl’s life. My head is spinning. Is he good or bad?
It is as if the writer couldn't put up a decent ending for the show and it got worked on by a committee, resulting in many drafts and more revisions. The last few episodes just feel kooky and shambolic. I was really enjoying the show for the most part but I ended up being disappointed in the end. Why does that sounds like a c-drama curse?

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Ordinary show about ordinary people suffering extraordinarily

Sea change and tree change are popular themes of recent dramas. Lying flat is now popular amongst the young as a way of escaping the rat race. I assume the writer-nim wanted to explore these themes and Summer Strike was born.

The combination of those two themes can lead to some interesting scenarios but the writer/director tried too hard to break from the clichés by making the Show gritty and true to life. It meant that we are presented with a parade of difficult, belligerent characters who lives in a dull and rundown seaside village. Add physical/domestic violence, bullying, murders and all manners of societal ills and we have a place that tourists will choose to avoid. Yes, as the show progresses, some of the locals will show their true colours and they are not a bad bunch but most of them are still taciturn.

So rather than the show hooking us with fun in the sun, we ended up with a morbid fascination on how low can the FL go. Of course, it will not hit rock bottom, this is not Eve after all, but the first few episodes are not recommended viewing for anyone suffering from depressions. Even after the FL’s life start to turn around and she made new friends in the village, the focus simply moved to the complicated lives of the villagers. There are not a lot of unicorns frolicking around that village, that's for sure. There are certainly progress amongst the melodramas, but it is a mixed bag of pros and cons.

Typical of this type of shows, there is a turning point where the writer-nim realised that they have gone far enough with the pain and suffering and needs a way out. While she did a decent job turning the ship around, the resolution seems contrived and expeditious. The FL is once again the key to unravelling a years old mystery.

The last episode is pure fan service with the writer-nim regaling us with the theme of the show. The unicorns are finally let out and they milled around uncertainly for quite awhile. This is because the way the Show handles relationship is very ambiguous. The OTP is obviously attracted to each other, but we get the BFF vibe most of the time. It was literally in the dying minute of the Show when we get the confirmation that they have finally move up a pay grade. Even then, there is next to no skinship. The relationship between the librarian and the shopkeeper with the cute son is even more muddled. The SFL pointedly asked him several times whether she should move to Seoul, and he kept deflecting it or resorted to the “Go! Go! See if I care” cliché replies. Why? It was painful to watch the poor man suffer. Surprisingly, it is the senior high schooler couple who is much more forthright with their relationship. It isn’t smooth sailing for them neither (nothing in this show is ever easy) but at least we know where they stand.

There are some high impact and emotional scenes which the actors did well enough. It is the more mundane scenes that I find lack energy. Both the leads are trying to keep a low profile in the community which didn’t help the energy level whatsoever. The ML is very handsome, and he can certainly act cute but I find him a bit stiff when it comes to really emotional scenes.

The OST is unobtrusive to the point that I can’t recall any of the tunes. It is a one-time watch for me.

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Inoffensive Chinese Mills and Boon

With 16, 25mins episodes there is not a lot of air-time to play with. The issue here is not the length of the show but the number of tropes and clichés the writer tries to stuff into the script. It is a cookie cutter show with the lot.

Being a rom-com to its core, we are served a smorgasbord of romances. The OTP is preordained from the first minutes. The main plot then focuses on the inability of the ML to confess to the FL. It is frustrating to watch as EVERYONE knows he loves her and tries to help. Nobody is working against them, other than the ML’s inner demons. After drunken kisses, aborted confessions and many other tropey tell-tales, we only get the true confession at the end of ep.12. I rate this 1 "sigh of relief" out of 10.

The 2OTP is the typical noona romance with the obligatory drunken tryst and birthing a super clingy 2ML. The 3OTP is only there to park the SFL somewhere out of the OTP’s way. They all have their CP moments. Sometimes they are cute and occasionally swoon-y. Their progress is on rails and their chemistry is questionable. I’m too jaded to ship them unreservedly.
The token antagonist is one-note and transparent. He appears when the Show needed a bit of angst, advanced the plot and promptly exits stage right. The trials of the ML's shop are unrealistic. If they are the #1 dessert shop in the city, I’ll return my mail-order MBA. ;)

On the positive side, I do like how the ML creates desserts that mirrors his feelings. The young kid is cute and not in your face which I’m eternally grateful. He has some of the better scenes.

Another “positive” is how inoffensive the Show is, but this is a double-edged sword. For instance, there is a SML who might have spiced things up, but he is rejected offhand by the FL. He took it on his chin and is SO understanding. No fuss, no try-harder. This means the whole subplot is a non-event and the SML is instantly forgettable. Ditto the FL’s parents. OMG, they are so sweet and understanding! Yes, they get excited once in a while and can be a little shouty but when the crunch comes, they are saints. Not a whiff of drama from that quarter. I’m getting a tooth decay just typing this paragraph. ;)

As you can imagine, the budget for the Show is limited and it shows. The production value is ok but feels a bit bland. There are only a handful of sets, and they get a workout. OST is ok but they pump up the volume on the love songs as soon as a hint of romance is on screen.

Acting ranges from amateurish to workmanlike. Nothing offensive but no breakouts either.

I was once in a walking tour of Paris. We walked for hours and visited many landmarks. However, we were not allowed to go inside any of them. We got the iconic photos of the Notre Dame and more. It was all about the facades and ticking boxes. Would I do it again? Non, merci. This is how I feel after watching this show. Peace out.

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Pantomime, Korean style

From time to time, I’ve made remake like “your mileage will differ” in my reviews and it applies doubly to this Show.
The reason being the Show amps up certain aspects of various genres like a pantomime. It has over the top characters, barely there plots, questionable logic and even a dose of magic/superpowers. Yes, it is a mashup that can do your head in, or it can be a lot of fun. It really depends on what you are looking for and your tolerance of this style of production.

Without spoilers, it is a fish out of water type tale with both leads finding out what life is like outside of their respective "bubbles”, and what bubbles they are! One is a superstar with a troubled upbringing and a basic distrust and distain for people while the other is a country bumkin (their words) who lives on a tiny island lost in time (the 80/90’s).

Of course, romance is a foregone conclusion once the initial push-pull is over. It is this romantic thread that tied the show together. Without it, it is just a bunch of weird subplots, standing jokes and crass humour. Because of this. the storylines and cast of characters probably will resonate much more with the local audience rather than an international one. Speaking of the cast, some of the roles are so exaggerated that they are caricatures. I’m sure the older cast members had a blast playing those roles. I almost half expecting them to break the fourth wall and give us a wink. Both leads put in solid performances.

My only real gripe (other than the overuse of toilet humour) is the application of the misunderstanding/noble idiot trope around the 2/3 mark. It was the only real angst in an otherwise swoon-y love line. It was resolved satisfactorily within a couple of episodes, but it felt heavy-handed while it runs its course.

Production and OST are both fine. Rewatch is possible but a liberal application of the skip button is probably a good idea when it comes to some of the banalities and silly side plots. The last episode is worthy of a rewatch.

In the end, it is a harmless and mostly enjoyable romp for me. Some may love and laud it while others will disagree strongly. Individual taste will be the ultimate test in this case and (wait for it....) your mileage will differ. :D

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Light rom-com to bring a smile to your face

This show is the distilled essence of a rom-com packaged in neat bite size instalments. It doesn't have a convoluted plot but a reasonably fleshed out story. It covered most rom-com tropes but the fast pace doesn't allow the tropes to linger and turn sour. Twelve 15-16 minutes episodes doesn't give you a lot of time to present a story and it is light weight fluff but it never pretended to be serious drama in the first place. The story moved along at pace and the editing is tight. Not much time is wasted. The OTP has awesome chemistry, both are lovely on screen. Their confession will bring you joy, their romantic scenes are swoon worthy. Support actors are good, they did their job to move the plot along. You don't need to wear rose coloured glasses but it is pointless to compare it to a masterpiece. Judge it for what it is. All in all, totally rewatchable and it will only take you a lazy afternoon to binge the whole show. Highly recommended!

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Surprisingly paint by numbers

I started to write this review but then have to add a large addendum due to a lightbulb moment. Please bear with me.

First thing first, the review. I like this show very much. The cold female boss and the warm, competent male assistant flips the old trope. It follows the trend set by Queen of Tears.

I like the OTP and I like the growth of their relationship. They are a good looking pair and have nice chemistry. There are some skinship and several swoon worthy moments that I'd like to bottle and sell.

It is refreshing that they don't need marriage/cohabitation to seal the deal. Most of the side characters are not annoying. The 2CP did drag their feet for too long but they are harmless. Both production value and OST are solid.

On the negative side, the antagonist is spiteful but her true motivation is never made clear. She is an annoying, one dimensional character. A loaded gun to be wield by the writer-nim at will. Ditto the Chairman. He is the classic manipulative father personified and of course, he has a redemption arc.

Ok, review done. You can stop reading now. Ha! Not so fast, chingu. This is where I start to question my own rumination in the cold light of day. After mulling over this, I made the following observations.

On the surface, this show ticks a lot of boxes. However, if we dig a little deeper I found the plot and writing rather clinical. To wit, lots of tropes are harmed while making this show. The script is well structured so that it is not immediately obvious. Each Ying does has its Yang. More than once I predicted what is going to happen next which is a little disconcerting. The show also plays it safe. Nothing is pushed to their limits. Most emotional strings are pulled at 7/8th strength. We know the character is hurting but it never becomes excruciating and resolution is a couple of scenes away.

I know other show does the same but I was surprised by my own "gotcha!" moment. I still enjoyed the show very much hence the high score but it just felt surprisingly paint by numbers once you peel back the gloss. It could have been more original.

Butchering the standard disclaimer; these are my personal views yada yada. Peace.

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