Lee Joon Gi's Performance is Incredible

I LOVED the second season of Arthdal. Lee Joon Gi has killed it with his portrayal of Eunseom and Saya. I am so very proud of him.

Though there has been a lot of skepticism around this second season changes including a change in the director, the recasting of two lead characters as well as many of the supporting cast, and a change in streaming platforms, I am so relieved with the direction and quality of the series.

Arthdal is proving to be quite the epic fantasy tale. I am in love with the world-building and how the story explores lore and prophecy. Its portrayal of motive and power has been truly fascinating.

My biggest gripe of this season is Shin Sae Kyung’s performance of Tanya. Her portrayal was quite underwhelming and lackluster. Is this how she always acts in more historical dramas? Her performance pales in comparison to the performances of Jang Dong Gun, Kim Ok Bin and Lee Joon Gi. Kim Ok Bin and Lee Joon Gi have some of the best scenes together. The onscreen chemistry is off the charts.

The ending felt rushed, but that was expected considering the scale of Arthdal. Overall, season two still kept the quality up, even when it resolved its plot lines in the most predictable ways possible. This was a fun world to jump into!

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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.

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Interesting premise but struggles mightily with setting a consistent tone and story.

Taxi Driver had an interesting setup and premise. I really liked how it highlighted a vigilante taxi driver and his squad out for vengeance to defend the helpless. I loved that the cases were based on real stories which did well to ground this drama.

Yet this drama had a hard time creating a special tone for itself. I’m thinking that it’s because I expected more grit from this drama, and it had settled on giving more #SquadGoal vibes.

Around the second half, the overarching story went a bit off the rails, and I don’t feel like it was ever able to right itself. I personally think this drama would have done much better if it stuck to its more episodic arcs focused on real-life cases. Those cases were all heart. In contrast, it tried to develop an overarching baddie, that took the drama into eyebrow-raising unbelievable territory. I also think with the exit of the original writer, the second half lacks a lot of focus and purpose. Unfortunately, Taxi Driver left a lot of opportunity on the table and veered away from a lot of what made it fun and magical early on. Quite the shame!

If you are looking for a crime drama, this may fit the bill. Alternatively, if you are looking for a drama that is offering something new and never been done before, I may suggest looking elsewhere.

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A yellow box full of a person's treasured belongings ...

What if you were able to distill a person's essence down to the treasured items, one could fit into a single yellow box? What messages would they share?

These are the questions that Move to Heaven poses. Over the drama's ten episodes, it is able to weave a beautiful story that looks to honor the lives of the dead. Throughout its run, I admired how the drama didn't shy away from broaching weighty and sometimes controversial topics whether it was neurodivergence, domestic violence, double suicide, unnaturalized citizenship, and adoption. This drama is strikingly executed and beautifully acted. Move to Heaven was deeply moving and pulled at my heartstrings. Probably not a great drama for the faint of heart. This was one of the best dramas so far this year!

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At first blush this drama seems to be dark, depressing and sometimes slow, but taking a deeper dive, this drama completely blew me away. The way My Ajusshi was able to tap into some incredibly deep life truths is so very touching. This drama centers around characters where life has left them behind. Downtrodden and facing failure, these characters will learn to overcome those insecurities in pursuit of their own definition of happiness. There are times that this drama just shook me to the core in how it handled these truths and how it encourages its viewers that there is always hope.

This drama’s strength is its characters. My Ajusshi portrays deep and nuanced characters not only in Park Dong Hoon and Lee Ji An but also in their supporting characters as well. This drama delves deep into the concepts of love, marriage, family and community.

I did want to address the love between Park Dong Hoon and Lee Ji An. The love between these two is not a romantic type of love, it transcends that. Dong Hoon refers to Ji An as someone who knows him completely just from observing him, someone who almost shares a soul with him, a kindred spirit of sorts is my interpretation. I personally refuse to see their love in a romantic light. Their love is too pure for that!

This drama is incredibly beautiful and able to encompass an aspect of life unlike any other drama I’ve seen before. Though it may have a darker framework, it’s uplifting and encouraging message is so very rewarding! This is by far one of the most encouraging dramas I’ve seen! My Ajusshi is a beautiful story about salvation, redemption and rebirth! What are you waiting for? Go watch this now!!!!!

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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!!!

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Misty depicts the struggles that Go Hye Ran faces to stay relevant in the news world as a prolific and respected anchor. As the story sets up an incredibly twisty plot, this drama delivers on some very compelling characters. Nam Joo is the star in her role as Go Hye Ran. She is breathtakingly gorgeous in this role with her collection of pant suits, winter coats and slips. She is always dressed to kill! What a powerhouse!

Though the who-dun-it story is mighty twisty, I was most intrigued by Go Hye Ran’s plight to stay relevant in an industry that keeps trying to push her out as she gets older. I appreciate that this drama created such interesting and nuanced female characters.

Misty has an overarching theme of questioning people’s dreams and motivations. What leads to their happiness and how far will people go to attempt to attain that happiness?

As a whole this drama offers an intriguing plot with compelling characters. Though I did grow a little tired of the court room, the stunning performances kept me engaged as a whole. This drama kept me guessing throughout! Overall, this is a well put together story.

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Ishihara Satomi has another big win with Unnatural. This drama about forensic pathologists is more than just an episodic story about unusual deaths.
Unnatural features a skilled cast depicting intriguing characters with complex backstories and motives portrayed by Ishihara Satomi, Iura Arata and Kubota Masataka. This drama marks a reunion of Ishihara Satomi and Iura Arata. They were last in a drama together in 2012’s Rich Man, Poor Woman. It is remarkable the transformation Iura has made from the two roles. I only realized it was him after reading through the cast. Iura is such a skilled actor with amazing range. I will have to seek out more of his works.

I binged this drama in a couple days before the last episode aired and this drama is quite a ride. This drama is extremely well balanced and keeps its audience engaged from episode to episode. This drama does a very good job in introducing its characters backstories and delving into what makes them tick. While each episode typically offers a new case, it’s the overarching focus on its characters that kept me so engaged throughout. I’m typically pretty cautious when it comes to procedural dramas, but this drama is the perfect mix. If you are like me and hesitate about starting this drama, Don’t Be! Take the plunge! Trust me, you won’t regret it! Here’s to hoping there is a second season!!!

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This drama has so much potential at its start. Starring Go Hyun Jung in the role of Choi Ja Hye, this drama made some big promises. In the beginning this drama promised a twisty who-dun-it plot with a really despicable cast of characters. It was quite an interesting setup, but halfway through, Go Hyun Jung decided to leave the show. Park Jin Hee would take her place as the deep and complex defense attorney Choi Ja Hye. After the casting change it became painfully obvious that Choi Ja Hye was written to be portrayed by Go Hyun Jung. The depth and complexity that she was able to convey in the role was largely lost with the change of lead actresses.

Yet even with will all the casting changes, the drama still delivers a fairly engaging plot with an ending that redeems a lot of messy middle. I really do think it's worth finishing. I personally haven't seen anything like it!

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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.

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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!

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Hwayugi proves that I should never pick up anticipated or over-hyped dramas. While touting a star studded cast, a legendary production team and adored source material, this drama left a lot of potential on the table.

After a few very turbulent weeks for the production crew including blatant CGI issues, debacles in this drama’s airing schedule and a terrible on set accident that threatened to stop production all together, Hwayugi finally seemed to get somewhat back on course. Even so, this drama was never able to establish a consistent tone or pacing. Most weeks it was a garbled mess with a Monster of the Week format. Each new arc and challenge that our protagonists have to face are all resolved before they can have any greater significance to the lead couple. This setup prevented me from becoming at all vested in the story, its characters and its romance. This drama is chalk full of filler just not a lot of substance here.

This drama’s saving grace is certainly the magical and impish Lee Seung Gi in his role of Son Oh Gong! Here Seung Gi is so charismatic and playful. The only reason I continued to watch this drama, was to see this monkey in his natural environment. Lee Seung Gi truly shines here championing all of his hallmarks. His performance as Son Oh Gong kept me watching even with the subpar plot.

I can’t really recommend this drama due to how it is lacking in its story, pacing and tone, but if you are an avid fan of Lee Seung Gi, you may need to weigh your options again.

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Money Flower is in a class all its own as it follows Attorney Kang Pil Joo on his war torn path to avenge his family. Coming from a humble upbringing Pil Joo finds himself the Jang’s Dog, a valuable asset and mentor to Jang Boo Cheon. Boo Cheon, the grandson of Cheong Ah’s Honorary Chairman Jang, has fallen out of favor in recent years due to his cavalierness and lack of business savvy. As the underdog, Kang Pil Joo will do anything to see to it that Boo Cheon will be next to gain political power among the Jangs.

Money Flower paints a very interesting story about the Jang’s familial power struggle. Everyone has their own motives and agenda. Though this drama falls into the typical makjang, revenge category, the execution is beyond anything I’ve ever watched before.

The ability this drama has to deliver an intense, plot heavy story week over week is admirable. Characters are calculating, logical and heartless. Jang Hyuk stars as Kang Pil Joo. His delivery and ability to build suspense without even saying a word is pure power. His melodic delivery when he does speak as the calculated attorney leave the audience anticipating every word and syllable.  He is absolutely mesmerizing. The drama also delivers on other strong portrayals by Park Se Young, Jang Seung Jo and Lee Mi Sook.

If you are looking for something that is intense and utilizes amazing story telling and acting, I would strongly recommend giving this drama a try. I can’t praise this drama enough. It has kept me guessing all the way through. The way this drama can suck you in and keep you on the edge of your seat, champing at the bit for the next episode is truly note worthy. What are you waiting for?! Let yourself get swept away!!!

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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.

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This drama has a light and fun premise, but I don’t think there is anything here that hasn’t already been done elsewhere.  I’m not a Robot is just super cute and fluffy.  Yoo Seung Ho in his role of Kim Min Kyu is a delight.  He is an annoying but lovable jerk that portrays a certain naïveté equal to a small child’s.  Chae Soo Bin in her role of Jo Ji Ah plays a nice opposite to him as the plunky heroine. This is a typical alpha hero and candy setup.  There is just a lot of heart that this drama is not able to fully tap in to and a lot of potential was left on the table. The business politics really ate up so much unnecessary time ...  Overall, the cute that this drama is able to display is probably its saving grace.  

If you are looking for a cute, easy watch, you may want to give this drama a try.  I quite enjoyed it!

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