wow

You can be watching a drama written by two women in the year of 2022 and *still* be hit in the face with internalized misogyny.

Where were the prominent female characters without a romantic story arc?
Where were the female characters with their own epic battle scenes?
Where were the complicated friendships, bonds, and relationships between female characters?
Where were the women in the background? Female mages? More than one female doctor? Women in power that were not obsessed with their beauty?

And most importantly: where was the Naksu I was promised?

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A feel-good fluffy drama with little to no actual plot

This is the perfect drama to watch if you don't have anything else on your plate and don't feel like picking up yet another complex show that requires your attention.

The best part about "Shanai Marriage Honey" was undoubtedly the acting. The actors were required to do some pretty over-the-top stuff, but they managed to make it watchable. Both the ML and the FL were your standard romantic protagonists, so he was teasing her a lot, and she was *always* smiling unless she was upset. Nevertheless, they each brought very good chemistry to the table, and it was a joy to watch them interact and be sappy and in love with each other.

The romance, which was central to the show, itself was pretty good - we had the falling in love stage, getting to know each other, and of course a happily ever after. I liked that they both communicated their feelings (especially the FL) and the casual intimacy (both physical and emotional). My only gripes are: the *insanely* quick way they both fall in love. I'm not joking, in the morning they're taking very awkward wedding photos and the same evening the FL is already thinking of making him like her for real.
The other thing I'm displeased with is kissing - their hugs and love scenes had more passion than kisses. It seemed like actors were forced to press their lips.

The last thing I want to talk about is the plot. It was virtually non-existent, which I expected going in, but the drama really needed at least a few conversations between characters that didn't revolve around marriage/romance. I want to mention that I actually enjoyed the appearance of the ex - it didn't cause any issues between the couple, and the ex wasn't villainized. In fact, she had my absolute favorite conversation in the show with the FL. Meeting-the-parents trope was also easily subverted - both the FL and the ML were excited to meet each other's families, and the parents, too, were very kind and supportive.

All in all, it was a very fast binge that provided what I needed at the moment - some romantic fluff with good chemistry, and a marriage-of-convenience trope as a treat.

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Splendid as a rom-com but lacking a well-executed plot

When I started watching "Mr. Queen", I had no idea how popular it was or why it was so beloved. That turned out to be a good thing - the only expectation I had going in was good comedy. And wow, did it deliver on that front!

Besides the humour which was completely to my tastes - physical over verbal, great comedic timing and perfectly balanced with drama - the acting was what shined in my eyes. Shin Hye Sun was the star of the show. She had impeccable chemistry with her co-stars and wasn't afraid to emote with her face. In fact, I would go as far as to say that she was the sole lead of the drama, and every other character just bounced off her. Kim Jung Hyun was also a perfect fit for the role of the king who pretends to be foolish, but for the life of me, I could never come to enjoy his performance 100%. Maybe it's just the character archetype I don't like, but I only liked his scenes with Shin Hye Sun's character(s).

The rest of the cast was amazing and delivered engaging relationship sub-plots - be it Director Hong and Kim Hwan's hilarious friendship, Court Lady Choi and Head Chief's budding romance, or Hwa Jin and Yeongpyeong's angsty courtship. These six characters, paired and alone, helped me get through the latter episodes without falling asleep. I was about to give up on Hwa Jin as a likeable character, but writers seemed to get it together in episode 15 (about time) and gave her much needed complexity.

As I near the end of my review, I also must talk about the ending of the drama, which is where most of my issues with plot and narrative choices stem from. Let's talk about the obvious first: So Yong returned to her own body in the most unsatisfying way. Bong Hwan was the one who survived in her place for months, the one who built the relationships with his servants and the King. And the writers try to cram in her character last second to claim the benefits? Yes, this was So Yong's body originally, but she was unfairly neglected - the lake incident was a suicide, her scream for help, and she was gracelessly shoved back into the world that abandoned her without getting time to heal. Also, writers, are you really trying to convince me no one would have noticed/cared that the Queen was acting completely differently? For goodness sake, her entire voice changed.

The most disappointing thing, though? It would've been so easy to get this right. The premise of the drama is soul-switching/time travel. What held them back from placing So Yong into Bong Hwan's body, too? We could've seen both of them growing together, learning from each other, and the plot would've been more engaging and more comedic. A queen from Joseon era travels into a man's body and has to solve a crime he is accused of? Yes, please!

Sorry for the long review! After all my complaining I want to reiterate that "Mr. Queen" is an astounding drama with wonderful comedy and romance, and it did give a pleasing conclusion to all its side characters and sub-plots.

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A Unique Watching Experience

I started watching "Vincenzo" when only 6 episodes were out, and I believe the weekly wait for new content helped raise my opinion of this drama. The build-up towards a new episode grew my excitement, and I was fully engaged in the story.

"Vincenzo" started out strong - the vineyard scene and the accompanying classical music (which is still my favourite one from the whole OST) gave a good taste of what the series is going to be like - dramatic, pompous, shocking, humorous and dark. The production was truly high-quality - the camera work, the lighting, the cinematography, the sets - everything combined made "Vincenzo" seem refined and revolutionary.

Of course, the 180 change happened rather quickly, but unlike many other viewers, I loved it. The Geumga Plaza tenants were a charming cast of characters, and our main hero got duality - Vincenzo was very good at winning and intimidating others, but he was also awkward and a fish out of water in Korea. However, the heart of the drama for me was the FL Cha Young. Her manners, the way she talked and walked, how loud she was - we rarely see such women on screen. She was truly powerful and dynamic, and it's a damn shame that the show-runners decided to abandon her development when they started focusing on Han Seo's story. There was a place for both of them.

The story was well-developed, too. I never saw the twists coming, but they were amazing and thought-out, and I loved seeing our "heroes" triumph over the villains time and time again - it made sense because they were both competent and also it was plain entertaining. Like, yes, finally, I get to enjoy some sort of satisfaction every episode. Sadly, after the one-week hiatus, it seemed like a dreadful rewrite happened.

Let's get the worst one out of the way: Cha Young was basically benched for the last 4 episodes, and especially during the finale. This was her time to shine! She spent 16 episodes letting Vincenzo plan and execute everything! Her contribution to the final fight was absolutely zero, Han Seo did more in his condition :).

Episode 20 felt really out of touch with the rest of the story. Compared to the wonderful sequence of events in episodes 9-12 (all of them I rated 10/10) this was a big ~meeeh. Vincenzo left, as expected, for Malta. But the fact that he has no intentions of returning, even though he wanted to get the gold and retire (neither of these plot points was followed through), and instead he chooses to become the new Italian boss of the Cassano family??? I am convinced this was added last minute because angst is a requirement for a "sensible" ending. You had A PIGEON save the hero from the mafia, I think you can have him secretly fly back to Korea on a Bye-Bye Balloon.

Anyway, 9.5 is for the good memories, emotions and everything else I got in 19 episodes of this show. Oh, and for all the deaths of villains in the finale :))) I enjoyed watching them immensely.

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A realistic deep dive into the process of criminal profiling

"Through the Darkness" is a slow unravelling of the mind - the twisted criminal one and the righteous one. There are few chase scenes to give you thrills and no hidden culprits, instead the narrative delves deep into the criminal profiling scene in South Korea and the hard work that goes into it.

The drama portrays all the nitty-gritty details that happen backstage - the long hours of gruelling and repetitive data analysis, hundreds of interviews with convicts, research etc. This kind of job puts a psychological strain on the characters and Kim Nam Gil perfectly portrays the consequences of empathizing too much with killers.

The setting is realistic and feels lived in - the atmosphere of the early 2000s is omnipresent and every shot is devoid of so-called artificial "cleanliness". Every scene is immersive as well as beautifully acted.

The director and writer's approach to the minds of serial killers is outstanding and praise-worthy. At first, the viewers are shown flashbacks of their childhood as well as given the opportunity to understand their motives. Little by little the explanations dry out, the flashbacks disappear, and we learn close to nothing about their family if it isn't relevant to their arrest. "Through the Darkness" takes a relevant stand: in the end, there were victims and the motives of the killers do not matter, their horrible childhoods do not matter, their stories do not matter. They are all the same anyway.

What matters are the people left behind and the drama sticks that landing with Song Ha Young's last interrogation.

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*cue dramatic violin and drums intro*

Ahh, soap operas... who doesn’t love them once in a while? This is my very first Thai Lakorn which, I confess, I only watched for queer romance in a historical setting (with a bonus NOT tragic ending). As soap operas go, this is one of the most bearable ones - no temporary amnesia, love triangles or 100 episodes worth of meandering plot. That is not to say it’s without the signature genre traits: there’s an overabundance of scheming family members and misunderstandings and crying and repetitive conversations but it’s worth it for the gorgeous love story and the unfading bond between two brothers.

When Thailand is offering a gay romance and a soap opera all in one, it would seem a moot point to hope for fleshed-out female characters, right? WRONG. I was pleasantly surprised that women not only dominate the cast (the only men of importance are the three leads) but they are overall, besides glitter and romance, the best part of the drama. The actresses are by far the better performers, each given at least a couple scenes to really shine; the women are different and complex, and every single one is given more depth by the end. Rightfully, it seems that all the budget went into their costumes, while the city this takes place in was relegated to the same three (3) streets. I cannot tell how accurate the dresses were to the time period but they were certainly beautiful and eye-catching.

I only have a few other things to say to convince you to watch this: glitter poison fights, a straight romance that is as adorable as it is watchable, Tian's secret, scissors, women murdering men.

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A Haunting Horror Tale

This year was the year I dipped my fingers into the Horror genre. I tried a little bit of everything: indie, arthouse, 80's classics... While I liked most of what I saw, nothing the West could offer surpassed the kind of excellence "The Guest" was.

"The Guest" opens up with the most chilling, intense and horrifying 30 minutes and continues to build suspense and terror during the entire drama. The premise of this series is relatively simple: three people who share the trauma of the same harrowing night as children come together after 20 years to catch the spirit responsible for the tragedy. Still, this description falls short; nothing prepared for the grip "The Guest" would have on me. The series is masterfully crafted, it seamlessly blends mystery, thriller and horror into a dreadful game of cat-and-mouse.

The central characters are deeply flawed - they fight, they're stubborn and impulsive, but also compassionate and very human. The kind of bond that forms between these tragic heroes is one of mutual understanding and loyalty.

"The Guest" isn't just scary (it might not frighten you at all)- but it's petrifying. Not because of jumpscares and ghosts, but because you cannot help but feel for the possessed people and their awful lives. It's like watching a ticking time bomb finally explode and leave a trail of carnage and blood behind. The exorcism scenes were cathartic and mesmerizing to watch - each was tense and grisly, and the performances were truly immersive.

While the strength of "The Guest" definitively lies in the twists, turns and reveals of the storyline, none of it could be achieved without lighting and music. The red, orange, blue and purple hues contrasted nicely with the dark scenes. They were atmospheric and eye-pleasing, perfectly complimenting the cinematography. The lights worked in tandem with the music, too: the title track "Somewhere" was beautifully sorrowful, and the rest of the OST was as much haunting, nostalgic and melancholic.

One day I'll return to watch it again, to spot all the clues and gain a new perspective, but for now, I'll leave "The Guest" how it is - a masterful piece about humans and family tragedies.

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An Alluring Dark Fairy Tale

The drama is a hidden wonder - in a short time it manages to completely captivate with its premise and characters and tells the story concisely but satisfyingly. "A Familiar Stranger" could compete with a lot of full-length dramas, that are given the time and the budget to execute a concept but often fall short.

This is primarily a fated romance story, and the drama delivers on the chemistry between characters and supplies an adequate mixture of warm feelings, tension and angst. Performances by both actresses are astoundingly good - they wonderfully emulated the two different characters and looked perfectly on screen, especially together.

Since there are some magical elements in the drama, it doesn't shy away from the darker turns of the story - it is tragic, melancholy and a little erotic, giving it a hazy fairy tale like atmosphere. I would definitely give this a go if you're looking for something bite-sized but still high-quality in between the longer dramas.

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Lovely, funny and fulfills all your superhero needs

I tried to write this review without any spoilers in case new watchers stumble upon it, but I have so many things to say that it just wasn't possible. So if anyone's by chance reading this - be aware.

"Strong Woman Do Bong Soon" came out in 2017 - right about the time K-Dramas had a new surge of popularity within the younger Western audience. You would be hard-pressed to find a person who didn't love this drama (or hasn't seen it), and after watching it, I can confidently say it deserves all the hype and love it has!

SWDBS at its heart is a superhero origin story. It has all the right elements - humour, romance, a dash of complicated family dynamics, a training montage, acceptance of one's powers, a huge cast of characters, small and medium level villains, and of course, the Big Bad. Unlike many others, I wasn't taken aback by the funny/serious tone switch. In fact, I loved it! The cast was very versatile - Park Bo Young and Park Bo Mi (the actress who played Bong Soon's best friend) were amazing during emotional scenes (they are both *spectacular* criers).

Bong Soon's character was another favourite of mine - she was small and adorable, but also loyal, smart, and a bit petty (aren't we all?). While it hurt to watch her deal with daily misogyny and harsh comments from her own mother, in the end, she always stood up for herself - Bong Soon's speech about her upbringing compared to her brother's got me teary-eyed. She fit perfectly together with Min Hyuk (a true imaginary boyfriend <3) and wasn't afraid to kick a**.

The soundtrack was amazing!!! It worked perfectly for the kind of drama SWDBS is - kind of crazy, very romantic and undoubtedly hilarious. Though if I had to mention anything negative, I would say that between the two "official" songs for romantic moments, I liked Suran's "Heartbeat" a LOT more than the other. It was quiet and soft, and the second seemed too loud for me.

I am generally not a negative person, so I'll mention the rest of my complaints briefly: 1) what was the deal with Bong Soon's brother and Guk Doo's ex? Just felt icky and too close to cheating; 2) I did not like Guk Doo - he was a bland character and a terrible police officer; 3) Bong Soon should have beaten the a**hole kidnapper to the pulp in the final fight; 4) the last 10 minutes of ep16 should've been a part of the special episode.

Otherwise, SWDBS is truly a superior drama for actually showing how long patients stay in hospitals, and how much time it takes for wounds to heal :D

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Heart-warming and heart-rending story

I binged "Mystic Pop-Up Bar" in several days - the quirky and sweet story drew me in from the first episode and, coupled with its loveable characters, light humour, and magical elements, kept me glued to the screen until the wonderful finish.

The chemistry between the three leading characters was fantastic - each one had a unique personality with their own views of the world and problem-solving ways, and they all worked perfectly as a trio and in pairs. No one seemed like a side character - they all equally contributed to the story and had their own tasks to achieve. I couldn't ask for a better found family!

The episodic format of the drama worked very well - each problem that needed to be solved rightfully paralleled the troubles of the main characters and helped the narrative to evolve. I'm a big fan of the 'case-of-the-week' type of storylines because I believe they are the best way to introduce us to the daily lives and dynamics of characters before moving on to the overall plotline. And "Mystic Pop-Up Bar" did the shift halfway through so well that I didn't get taken out of the story!

Lastly, I want to compliment the overall tone of the drama - the lighting, the music, and the vibrant colour palette were kept even during the bittersweet moments to show us that this is a happy if sometimes melancholy story. Also, while the soundtrack wasn't a standout (except for the opening music and animation!), the sound effects worked brilliantly and were incorporated so well. Half of the fun in comedic scenes came from them!

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