Ayase Haruka does it again in her role of Isayama Nami. After reading the synopsis, I never would have guessed what I was getting myself into starting the pilot. Okusama wa, Tori Atsukai Chui follows the life of Isayama Nami a newly wed housewife with mediocre skills in the kitchen but a real passion and knack for protecting the weak. Along with her new found friends, she will take on one by one all the injustices that exist within her neighborhood.

This is such a smart drama. I just loved Isayama’s tongue in cheek way of fighting. Though the tone of this drama is humor, this drama takes on some serious issues from domestic abuse to cheating. This drama aims to address a number of the threats to marriage in all its shapes and sizes. While some may find this manner of approaching such dark topics a little cavalier, I found this drama so smart and refreshing! Ayase Haruka is magical in this portrayal. Her energy and comedic timing is so admirable. She brings her all to this drama. I know this drama may not seem so exciting since it focuses on housewives, but please put aside your apprehension and give this drama a chance! This drama is so fun and clever!!!

Read More

Don't be fooled!

Why did I watch this again? I got sucked into another disappointing fantasy drama by the stylish appeal and the allegory of running a suicide hotline like a risk management team stuck in a corporate hell.

Don't be fooled! Tomorrow pretty much just ran its course as a predictable formulaic save the victim of the week. The drama tries to tackle difficult topics like bullying and sexual harassment but they all seem to fall pretty flat unable to tap into any real emotional pull. I found that the fantasy setting really detracted from the drama and eventually became a barrier for me taking this drama seriously. The characters often came off as predictable and even cartoony. Emotions seem forced, and the melo is relentless. It's disappointing to see a drama attempting to address these difficult topics completely lack any substantial depth or gravity. It just ends up feeling weirdly empty, embarrassingly cliche, and shamefully laughable ...

Dramas like these remind me why I'm supposed to ALWAYS stay away from fantasy. Look elsewhere, if you are looking for a drama with real heart. This isn't it.

Read More

This drama offered a Squad Chemistry that most dramas simply can’t manage.  Yoo Ji Tae in his role of Choi Kang Woo leads the pack, while Woo Do Hwan competes for the limelight in his role of Kim Min Joon, the adorable orphaned puppy. The rest of the squad made up of Jang Ha Ri (Ryu Hwa Young), Park Soon Jung (Jo Jae Yun) and On Noo Ri (Kim Hye Sung) provide a variety of laughs and dramatic themes.  The Mad Dog pack is just really cool.  Who would have thought tracking down insurance fraud would be sooooo intriguing and exciting, full of disguises, spying and some underhanded intel.  

This drama’s plot sometimes feels like it just prods along. The time it spends on the corporate battle between the two antagonists is painstakingly boring at times due to most of the episodes focusing on white collar crimes. 

Though this drama tends to get lost in corporate politics, it is worth watching just to see the Mad Dog team interact with each other.  Their bantering and heartfelt moments make for a good argument to watch this drama.

Read More

Orange Days is a truly touching story. With Tsumabuki Satoshi and Shibasaki Kou as the leads, their performances will not disappoint. Shibasaki's character is so raw throughout the series. The drama does an absolutely amazing job at making the multiple conversations in sign language compelling and relatable. This drama also ties in the value of friends and how Shibasaki's friendships with the other four main characters help her to heal and go after her dreams. Mr. Children's "Sign" is Orange Days Ending Theme. It suits the drama very well. I highly recommend this drama, if you are looking for a sweet, slice of life drama about college life, friendship, finding you career path and chasing your dreams.

Read More

There is something very special and moving about Just Between Lovers.  The way this drama covers trauma and grief in its lead characters is pretty ground breaking.  Lee Jun Ho is such a dreamboat here in his role of Lee Kang Doo.  He is a complex character who feels like he doesn’t amount to much.  Won Jin Ah in her role of Ha Moon Soo is on equal footing as the compassionate heroine.  She is well-spoken and honorable.  This drama is breathtakingly gorgeous as it explores how to best honor the lives lost in tragedy.  

There are no true antagonists in this drama. I appreciated how this drama painted everyone with their own weaknesses and fears. It’s quite humanizing.

For a person who doesn’t usually gravitate toward melodramas, this is on a different level.  If you are looking for something beautiful and
moving, give this one a try.

Read More

Despite everything, Bride of the Water God was a cute drama with an adorable couple. I am disappointed that it wasn't able to live up to expectations, but the drama has a bit of its own charm.

The story itself is a bit scattered. It may be that it was trying to accomplish too much at once and wasn't able to execute on anything very well. I had a very hard time keeping engaged with the story and the lore of the Immortal Realm in particular. The original work would certainly fall into the mellow drama category. This drama is more of a romantic comedy. The constant pull between mellow drama and comedy is very distracting to the overall telling of the story.

Unfortunately, casting Nam Joo Hyuk as the lead character Habaek turned out to be a poor decision. Nam Joo Hyuk proved to be much too green to pull off the 3000 year old Habaek. Though he is cute and charming in parts ... other moments seem down right cringeworthy. Even though Habaek is supposed to be a bit of a man child, the childish demeanor washes away most of the sex appeal of the original Water God. Out of all the things I've seen Nam Joo Hyuk in, this is probably easily his weakest performance. I feel like he never really gets used to acting the part of Habaek.

Actually the character story that I was most intrigued with was Shin Hoo Ye played by Im Joo Hwan. I feel like Im always is cast as deep, complex characters. I loved CEO Shin story arc. His backstory and character development was so compelling, it ultimately distracted from the lead couple. Still rooting for a Happy Ending for Hoo Ye!

Though this drama was far from perfect, there were some charmingly touching parts. I did enjoy watching it. I just probably won't be revisiting it anytime soon.

Read More

Radio Romance is a reasonably sweet drama with just enough fluff to keep me engaged. It had a very strong start with two pretty relatable protagonists. Song Geu Rim portrayed by Kim So Hyun is a gutsy writer. I really loved her character and her doggedness. Yoon Doo Joon as Ji Soo Ho melted my heart though. The way he just looks at Geu Rim just about leaves me in a puddle. Unable to express himself, he has learned to hide his true self. It was so nice to see the budding romance between these two.

In the beginning this show has so many sweet touches. The Reply Series really primed me for this love of radio, and Radio Romance brought it home. I would have never expected how touching and moving the radio segments would be and how well they related to the overarching story.

Yet about halfway through this drama took an angsty turn for the worse that completely off-set my sweet romance. Truthfully, I don’t think this tonal change was executed very well since it seems a bit abrupt and has moved away from all the heart that was in this drama. I really miss the radio segments from
earlier episodes. Overall, this is a cute drama, but there isn’t anything new or groundbreaking here. I honestly wish there was more fluff. I personally feel it had a strong beginning and end, but the middle was kinda lackluster.

Read More

This drama is sublime! I don't know why I was putting Chicago Typewriter off for so long. I just saw the poster art and read the synopsis and decided that it wouldn't be my thing. I was SO wrong!

Chicago Typewriter is a love story, but it is also a beautiful story about friendship. Often, its themes on friendship are much more provocative and moving than its love story. Its discussion on loyalty, betrayal, forgiveness and redemption is so beautiful and poetic. The drama collects a strange ensemble as its cast: the snob of a writer, his number one fan turned anti-fan and a mysterious ghostwriter. These three leads have such interesting character arcs.

Intertwined with the main present day timeline is a parallel story about an Independence Fighter Group during the Japanese Occupation in the 1930s. This story is just as intriguing if not more than the main arc. The 1930's story adds depth and a poetic tone throughout Chicago Typewriter. Through the drama, the characters in the 1930s showed amazing strength and restraint which was often palpable. In contrast, sometimes the modern day story was not always able to deliver on the character depth to the same extent. Again and again, the 1930s storyline kept me hungry for more.

Chicago Typewriter is certainly one of the best dramas this year. In all honesty, what are you waiting for?! You should start this drama now!! No time to lose!

Read More

Nearly a perfect reverse harem and gender bender drama. This drama will really awaken your hidden desire to mascarade as a male pop idol. This drama isn't afraid to embrace what it truly is as a cute, light hearted romantic comedy. Where you can just about melt every time Jang Geun Suk says "Go Mi Nam." It isn't only Jang's character you will fall in love with, the other boys have their own adorable traits. But to be honest, Park Shin Hye with all her little fantasies probably steals the show. Her light naivety just shines in this role. With songs like "without words" and "what should i do", this drama has a great soundtrack. This is such a sweet drama that I can watch over and over again.

Read More

Koreeda Hirokazu has another classic family drama. I have appreciated Koreeda’s works since I was in college. Our Little Sister has a similar feel as my favorite of his, Still Walking. Again Koreeda delves into the family theme.  I found this film very touching and sweet. It is amazing how again Koreeda is able to capture family life so organically. Seeing the four sisters joke and quarrel helped to illustrate how much they care for one another. As well as over time their bonds with the newest sister start to develop and bloom. Ayase Haruka leads another star performance as the oldest sister, Sachi, and the matriarch of their Kamakura residence. This is a beautiful film that explores the definition of sisterhood. I strongly recommend it.

Read More

Mother is such a beautiful drama. This drama manages to depict fully developed female portrayals that are as nuanced as they are flawed. These women are extremely multilayered and deep. This drama goes deeper than just the relationship between Kang Soo Jin and Kim Hye Na. It delves head first into defining what it means to be a mother and the far reaches of a mother’s love.

I do want to caution the wary, that this drama is not for the faint of heart. This drama does not shy away from difficult topics such as abuse, abandonment and loss.

Heo Yool, the child actress who portrays Kim Hye Na is absolutely incredible. At such a young age she is able to display such depth and seem so wise for her age. To think this young lady is only seven, just about blows me away. Mother also features a lot of great talent in Lee Bo Young, Lee Hye Young, Go Sung Hee and Nam Ki Ae. These women are absolutely breathtaking in the roles.

Though it took me a little time to warm to this drama, Mother proved to be extremely moving. It’s hard to find dramas that depict such realistic portrayals or women like this drama. This is such a compelling drama about female to female relationships. I strongly recommend this one!

Read More

This drama was very unique and intriguing. I don't believe this is really anything like it in the way of storylines. The visual effects contrasting the two worlds (reality and the world of the webtoon W) is quite beautiful. Mixed with the sketched art work framing key scenes, this drama is visually breathtaking. Lee Jong Suk's character was such a heart throb, playing the rich, successful protagonist. Han Hyo Joo actng was quite moving through the drama. With so much focus on the story, I do think it sometimes left something to be desired in regards to the feelings between the two protagonists. I think their love was kinda under-developed and certianly took a back seat to the fast pace storyline. This drama in cetainly worth watching with all its twist and turns along the way.

Read More