KingC

"Strawberries, Cigarettes and Infinities."

The title is exactly how I'll 'literally' describe this one. Just like that Troye Sivan song with a twist. By the way, I strongly urge you to watch this drama first because stories like these are meant to be felt rather.

Kim Ji Hyun, a freshman fresh out of the countryside takes up a part time job at a busy restaurant near his University as soon as he lands in Seoul. There, he has an encounter with a popular university student, Seo Jae Won, while breaking up a fight in the bar. Jae Won, who has just returned from his military service, is an overly friendly Sunbae who thanks him and attempts to befriend him from the get go.
Still getting used to the scary bustling life of the Seoul City, Ji Hyun, perturbed and intrigued, decides to accept Jae Won's friendship, going to the extent of joining a Surf Club by seeing his familiar presence.
Jae Won, who has struggles of his own, finds comfort and happiness in Ji Hyun.
Their relationship begins to teeter on a balance scale as both of them attempts to come to terms with the changes taking place in their life.


Warning:
This is a full length headache inducing rollercoaster of angst, fish tanks, water, alcohol and art pencils. Maybe 'The Eighth Sense' might be enjoyable for only a certain niche audience as the characters are not the typical conventional type. It was purposefully made with the intent of resonating with the viewers and not for the sole aspect of enjoyment. Yes, there is enjoyment. But, it makes you reminisce and ponder. The directors, cast and crew put their all into this creation and their hard work is clearly reflected in the final product. So, a round of applause to everyone both behind and in front of the scenes.

The series floats on the strength of its very characters, may it be the introverted Ji Hyun or the extroverted Jae Won or even the supporting characters. At one point, we find ourselves being relatable to anyone in the drama. It's hard to talk about what the drama deals with without spoiling the plot… which is non-existent because the plot itself is the life of the characters and how they deal with what's being thrown at them. It's about the fears of opening up about yourself and fitting into the contours of the peoples' expectations about you (Jae Won) and giving away your heart and feelings that you treasure to total strangers and learning to adjust somewhere away from your comfort zone (Ji Hyun).

Their chemistry was on fire. I usually don't feel this way, but something about Ji Hyun and Jae Won just clicked into place for me.
It was not a sweep-off-your-feet romance. It was the hit-you-over-the-head-and-leave-you-muddled type of romance. Which happens to be exactly what I keep looking for. Just two people falling for each other in a natural manner without any flamboyance. It's just them and their feelings.

Friendship is another strong theme - Ji Hyun doesn't have many, but the ones he chooses are spot on - Ae Ri, Joon Pyo and his lovely boss. Then we have Jae Won, who has many, both the neutral and the good ones.
And… the scenes where the seniors forced their authority, threw their weight around, provided important advices gave me war flashbacks as I has been through a handful of situations like that, unfortunately.

Acting wise…
Jae Won was, perhaps, one of the most difficult characters to portray on screen. I'm beyond impressed by how Lim Ji Sub pulled it off so convincingly that there are parts of the drama I would not rewatch to save myself from emotional damage.
I related to Ji Hyun on a really scary level. So, his actions and responses were nothing strange to me. Also, for a rookie actor, Oh Jun Taek killed his debut. Every single character's portrayal was to a tee. Even Yoon Won, Ae Ri, Joon Pyo, Eun Ji and Tae Hyung.

The drama is also excellently filmed. Every shot, including the filters and the lighting were so beautiful. The last two dramas that managed to look aesthetically pleasing to me were 'Blueming' and 'The Forbidden Flower'. It managed to perfectly capture the essence and emotions of the characters.
The Soundtrack deserves an award as it managed to enhance the intensity of certain scenes.

The opening BGM by Unalaska will forever be engraved in my brain.

As for the representation of Mental Health. I have no idea about how accurate it was, but the last two episodes made me feel that the therapist was going to need a therapist.
Though initially planned as a drama with 10 episodes, it was mashed into a movie and I wonder if they straight up lifted scenes straight off the movie version and spliced it into this one, because there are some obvious jump cuts that can't be attributed to anything else other than poor editing. Particularly EP3 and EP4, where characters' conversations and even the BGM gets split in between.
The second last episode seemed so sudden and I felt like time sped up somewhere and I totally missed some stuff, but I still can conjecture where and what had happened. But, the timing is still confusing to me, but I shall forgive this drama for once.
I'm a jumbled mess of thoughts, but this one is definitely a solid 9/10 for me.
Imperfectly perfect and unique in it's own little ways.

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Wholesome.

If you are seeking to watch something quick and short, yet with a clear plot and a convincing cast, this one is for you.

After getting her face swapped and identity stolen from her by Shen Qin, the cunning daughter of the Prime Minister, Shi Qi, a painter must wade through dangerous waters in order to get her identity back. This includes deceiving her new husband whom she had married in Shen Qin's stead, as well as looping around the shady Prince Ning, Shen Qin's lover.

The plot is straightforward and doesn't mince words, neither does it become too illogical.
I am glad that this was not a full length drama as the shorter duration made it an easy viewing experience for me as well as the story was conveyed in a succinct manner.

The handful of characters were excellently portrayed by the cast. I was impressed by everyone's performance. Even the Military General.

There were some unexpectedly comedic moments amongst the overall ominous tone of the drama, and the romance seemed almost like a breathe of fresh air for Shi Qi, who for most of the drama, goes through emotional and mental stress.

Overall, it's a wholesome, yet serious and entertaining drama worthy of a quick watch.

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A Surprisingly Haunting and Emotional Drama.

My rating is a bit subjective —- I'm a sucker for old school ghost stories and have always had a certain liking for books and movies related to the paranormal and humans.
9 is definitely an overblown rating for a production such as this, but I might be one of the few people who had no trouble following the plot. (I watched the Uncut version.) And mostly, Something In My Room gave me a strong sense of nostalgia as it reminded me of the Mediator series, Anna Dressed in Blood, Hotel del Luna and Shadowkiss.

Most of such stories have repeated tropes, myths and endings. This might also be the reason why I liked this series a lot. One note for viewers who come for the "Romance": the drama isn't romantic per se. It is rather the side dish that comes along with the ghost mystery. If you are a fan of old school romantic ghost novels that we've heard a million times, this drama is perfect for you to binge through.

Phat and his Mom Chris move into a new home following his dad's permanent retreat into monkhood. Phat, who still struggles to come into terms with the separation instantly has a strong ill feeling at House No.88, but his mom refuses to listen to his very real concerns about it being haunted. Taunted into renting it by a weird neighbour/housekeeper Aunt Nuan, they attempt to settle in. Until Phat breaks down for real and seeks help from his friend Dream in order to find out more about the haunting. The ghost happens to be Phob, who is unfortunately an amnesiac. He needs Phat's help to find out who he was and move on from the living realm in peace within 49 days.

The first time I heard of the 49 day deadline was in Shadowkiss by Richelle Mead. Meg Cabot's Mediator series dealt with the concept of the dead staying around for a while, or wandering aimlessly until they find out the reason for their haunting. It even has the same premise: a ghost haunts her new bedroom and she falls for him. Trouble was that she did not know why he was still around. And would she keep him with her for her own reasons? Or should she help him and let him move on?

If Susannah Simon was a certified Mediator whose job was to purposefully help ghosts move on, Phat is the forced mediator who slowly warms upto Phob, who undoubtedly is a prankster and the only genuinely funny character in the entire drama. (Probably because he was an amnesiac.)
Something In My Room is not just about finding out Phob's true identity —- it dealt with heavy themes such as separation, death, goals, parental love, and the importance of life in general.

Phat and his Mom's relationship was a strong one. I adored how they really cared for each other and how Phat was ready to share all his secrets with her, whoever outlandish it might be. I absolutely loved this aspect of the show. Yes, somethings can't be revealed without stirring ill emotions, but their genuine understanding and support for each other is a highlight. Both the actors nailed their roles. I particularly liked Phat's 'introvert, but secret extrovert' attitude. He was funny in the beginning, but he is definitely one of the most loneliest characters I've seen. This is a largely negligible point, but I've seen "heteronormativity agenda being pushed into everyone" arguments. Personally, from my observation, Phat starts appreciating and falling for a person based on how close he was and how much he knew them. Not because of their sexual orientation or looks.

Phat's friend Dream was interesting in her own way. I've heard that she was badly written, but I think they randomly added the plot in to show how difficult it was for her to accept herself and her father's deeds. Also, as I said, I'm a sucker for ghost tropes, which might be the reason this part did not annoy me. Luck was the only character who was really "off". He piqued my curiosity, but his real trouble was with himself.
Ghost stories, especially long ones, come in with filler content.

Phob is definitely the real hero. Mostly, because when we begin the drama, he is a fun loving jester who has zero idea about himself. This slowly starts to change as the story progresses and we begin discovering bits of his memories. Kudos to the actor who played him as there were emotional scenes that were just plain hard to watch. (Apparently his past role in a BL romance left many viewers hopeless, but I guarantee that this one can change your mind.)

Luck was one character that they could've done away with. His sceptical view of events and his own trauma appeared conflicting to me.

Production wise, it's evident that they were short on budget. The editing is not perfect. On episode 5 and 6, there is a play performed by a character and I still do not know what was real and what was fake. Or I might just be too stupid to appreciate his art.

There are scenes that appear to be still missing, particularly in EP1. Product Placement was minimum, but when it did appear, they did not even attempt to hide the promotion. Nothing is prim and polished. It irked me so much that House No. 88 was always dark at night. Yes, Phat's mom was out of the province, but that doesn't mean that the electricity went with her, right?

The BGM was beyond fantastic. Particularly the synthwave that played during the first time that Phob meets Phat in his dream and the finale.

Extra round of applause to the screenwriter for the very satisfying conclusion. The FB scene is one of the most bittersweet moments I've seen on TV. The finale can be interpretted as either sad, bitter or happy. But, it's definitely an ending that nobody would easily forget. This is definitely an easily bingeworthy watch which I would highly recommend to lovers of ghost stories.

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Same Crime, Different Times.

Signal is a drama that is never missed in a list of thriller recs. Although the MDL synopsis seemed a bit boring to me, I decided to give it a try.

Park Hae Young, a detective, has an open disdain for the police force in spite of working for them. He had witnessed cases being handled for the sake of it's completion and his very own brother framed for a crime he never committed.
Chae Soo Young, his senior and team leader is unforgiving to this attitude, but she realizes that he had more spunk in him. Her sunbae, Lee Jae Han had disappeared 15 years ago.
Fate intertwines the three of their lives after his walkie-talkie that was about to be disposed off is found by Hae Young… leading to a chain of events that create waves in the past and it's ripples in the future. As Hae Young and Jae Han solve the past and the present, Hae Young seeks the answer to Jae Han's disappearance.

Hold onto your seats, because Signal is a mixture of thrill, mystery, suspense, despire, melancholy and various other heart wrenching emotions. The first few episodes deal with regular gory and disgusting cases, both in the past and future timelines (connected by the radio transmissions between Hae Young and Jae Han). It is during the later episodes that the ultimate dark side of the plot is revealed: Jae Han's disappearance.

I did not care for any of the characters initially. We don't see the inner workings of several of them, including Detective Cha. All the events seen through Hae Young's eyes, and his hatred for the police, made him one of my favorite characters. I have never seen the leading actor's performance before, but I'll definitely be checking them out in the future. Jae Han was a typical tsundere puppy whom I grew to slowly adore over the course of time. I loved his bravery and tenacity when it came to solving crimes.
I enjoyed seeing the two sides of Soo Young —- the inexperienced rookie cop and battle hardened detective.

Particular praise for the actor who played Kim Bum Joo, an utterly despicable and corrupted Chief of their Precinct. I wanted him dead until the very end.
The rest of the cast delivered stellar performances, even the minor culprits who popped up.

I loved how every case was solved and handled. As usual, the cops got on my nerves more than the killers. The stress was 100% real and my blood boiled whenever the cases were overturned. I feared for the life of the characters. I hated the villains. I adored the glimpses of family, loyalty and affection that were strong backbones of this drama. The music, especially the BGMs were spot on - I can recall several scenes because of it.

Definitely a must-watch (or must try) for fans of crime and thrillers.

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The Chae Family Chronicles.

I expected something subpar by seeing the MDL ratings. This drama is perfect for viewers as a palate cleanser… if you are not much bothered by office banter and business. I have zero idea about how a cosmetics company works, but seeing a fictionalized portrayal of it through this drama was engaging.

The story as a whole does not belong to the main characters alone. Chae Hyung Seung, a marketting trainee under the guidance of Yoo Song-ah (his sunbae), knows his emotions well: he has a terrible crush on his Sunbae. Her lack of awareness about his feelings doesn't deter him from giving hints nevertheless, but his hopes are dashed after he finds out that the object of his affections already was in a secret relationship with the Branch Manager, Lee Jae Shin. Hope springs eternal when he discovers that the BM had a skeleton in his closet too: he was engaged to Hyo Joon, the granddaughter of the company's chairman. With the help of his sister, Chae Ji Seung, who makes wedding dresses, he forces Song-ah to witness her partner's back stabbing at Ji Seung's store.
A broken Song-ah is desperate to break off her sincere emotions, and Hyung Seung decides to veer fate in his favour, despite the endeavours he would have to go through, both personally and officially.

I was slightly creeped out by how absolutely persistent Hyung Seung was in chasing his Sunbae. (I'll just use that term.) I did find his feelings to protect her quite sincere, despite how trenchant he sounded while warning her against pursuing Jae Shin. He slowly grew out of it once he knew his feelings were out in the open. While he was a more lighter character, both his sisters stories are explored just as thoroughly as his. His second Noona and her 7 year old daughter were some of the scene stealers.

It was suprising to see Hyung Seung's entire family in the spotlight, which was why I decided to title my review as mentioned.

Song-ah aka Sunbae had a lot going on in her plate. Her repressed emotions got the best of her at times and her crying scenes were heart breaking -- Kudos to Wo Jin Ah for that!
But, I did wish that I got to see some of her mother's point of view. Her slowly growing to learn about Hyung Seung was interesting to watch and I loved how open she was about her thoughts. I found her romance with Hyung Seung quite calm, warm and healing.

Now... Jae Shin was an idiot. As the story progresses, I could see why Sunbae fell for him -- he had the potential to be a male lead, but threw his chance into the trash can right in the very first episode.
Although, I admire his perseverance in the business field, romance wasn't good for him.

The office gang was a surprising highlight of the drama. The rapport and support among it's members were delightful and heartwarming. I adored Lee Jae Woon's comedic moments.

The OST was absolutely beautiful, particularly the BGM at the end of EP1 and the end of EP16.

"She Would Never Know" is the most suitable title if we view it from Hyung Seung's point of view since he is the one who gets the ball rolling -- his Sunbae would suffer utter despair and humiliation if she doesn't know about what was going on behind her back. But, I find the original title more endearing and incites
A sense of curiosity: "Sunbae, Don't Put on That Lipstick".

Well, I discovered why he said that. It was a warm drama and I'm sure that I would probably rewatch it once again when I'm in need of a refreshing change.

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Dare to Dream.

It took me two months to complete this one, thanks to it's slice-of-life genre. But, I don't regret the time I spent. (Note: it ain't about romance at all.)
Set in an sharehouse with four people within an age range of late twenties to early 50s, we are introduced to each and everyone in detail. Their struggles, dilemmas, confusion and troubles are all laid out with equal importance.
Mameshiba Mashiba, an instagram influencer, learns the hard way of life from them.
It's my first time seeing this 'influencer' thingy as an actual occupation and I still don't know what to feel about it. Like her housemates, I too, was as stunned by her very vigorous routine and thought that she would collapse much earlier.
Fujino Shun, her minimalist housemate chef was one special character. I loved how he relentlessly pursued what his heart felt was right. Koko-san was just like him when it came to realizations and serving truth.
Another character whom I grew to care about was Hase-san and Harucho. Both of them were polar opposites when it came to emotional expression, but this reinforced the fact that not everyone can react or reflect in the same manner.
Throughout the 10 episodes, we see Mashiba-chan slowly realize what she really wants and stumble across road blocks.
I loved the synchrony among the five housemates. At the end, I even grew to like the Orca President, whom I initially thought would end up being annoying. But, his presence was crucial.
The drama's strongest aspect were the life lessons --I won't be forgetting anyone of those soon. It was a highly inspirational watch and I'll recommend this to anyone who is attempting to overcome a tough time in their lives.

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A Perfect Closure.

This little scene was hastily put together by the creators as a thank you for their international audience and I couldn't be happier. It continues a few years after the ending of Someday or One Day and gives a short glimpse of what awaits our characters in the future. It's fulfilling and heartwarming. I do know that some might find it bitter, but I'm glad that the writers stuck to the logic of the original world and served justice to all the characters. We get to see our favourite characters once again. Though, I still don't know how certain events will work out, it still gave me some sort of hope that everyone I cared for were off to a brand new start.

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Wrap Up.

The final stage of the Liar Game only had a single game. But, it is this lone game that people refuse to take risks with.
I enjoyed the Garden of Eden a lot. The tricks were more intricate and I failed to see through many of them, just like the second season. But, Nao-chan had an incredible character growth compared to the first season. She is much more braver and less 'stupid' than before. Akiyama never really changes. (Which is a good thing.)
Though I liked the game, I understood why it was made as a separate one without combining with the episodes. But, I missed seeing more intense games like the first two seasons. Overall, it's an almost perfect wrap up to the Liar Game. I will surely miss every player's antics.

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"Sorry for lying."

I first heard about the Liar Game while Imawa no Kuni No Alice trended back in December 2020. I decided to watch this while the Squid Game hype was ongoing as I've seen several people prefer Liar Game as the top choice when it comes to games involving mind tricks.

☆ The first episode almost had a comedic effect on me. Kanzaki Nao-san, a girl who is so used to believing everyone and speaking the truth that she is nicknamed as "stupidly honest". When she receives a letter and a box with 100 million yen, she accidentally agrees to participate in the "Liar Game". The first task involved stealing your opponent's 100 million yen or losing the game and returning the 100 million you owned as a form of debt payment. She is relieved to find out that her 'opponent' was her old middle school teacher. Discussing the issue with him, it's not long before she is tricked out of her own 100 million yen by him. Now at the verge of being a victim with a 100 million yen debt, she takes a desperate action: begging for help from a con artist who was fresh out of jail.

☆ I did not see what was coming. As I was not well informed about the plot, I was blind to several things that happened. But, the hero himself deserves his own paragraph. Akiyama Shimichi, who was jailed for three years for defrauding a pyramid scheme organization, is astounded by Nao-chan's stupid honesty. The exact moment that he gets down to help her is the point where the drama changes tracks. He is no ordinary or extra talented hero; he is plain experienced con artist who was also possibly a valedictorian of his University. His method is not exactly simple, but it's evident that most of his skills are acquired from experience. Intelligent and meticulous in his game, he wove plans involving tricks and deception so much that by the end of the drama, I did not trust a single one of his actions. He was pretty much ruthless till the very end. Nothing magical changed him. He had his own judgements and plans when it came to everyone.

☆ The games: the only thing I can proudly boast about is that I successfully managed to pass the Trail game in Round 2. If that counts. The trouble with this drama is that it keeps you at the edge of your toes, playing the game right along with the actual players. And there was no loophole out of any of them. Everyone of them required pre-planning as to what the players were betting on: losing or winning? Both of the choices had their own drawbacks. And in a room full of people desperately trying to avoid a debt stricken condition, how could one guarantee that no one would lie to win? If Akiyama-kun wasn't there, 60% of the cast, including our heroine Nao-chan might've 100% ended up in debt. But, that doesn't mean that the other players are imbeciles. Though not on the level of a well experienced con artist, they knew their tricks well. But, same as before, I did not trust a single player by the end of the drama.
The timing of each game was really reasonable. But, it also showed how much our mind convolutes itself during critical moments. Though the games were pretty simple, what mattered was the result or the choice that each made, making the final decision absolutely nerve wracking to watch.

☆ What I found particularly striking about it was the unpolished and raw storyline. The plot and games were on point. No draggy episodes, no moments of intense emotions. The story was also insane when required. It pretty much puts the female lead through a duck press multiple times until the very end. All characters go through moments of doubt and despair. I found the punishment of living with a monumental debt even more intense than instant death. It was something that could lead to psychological distress and possibly a life of depression. The purpose of the Liar Game was intensely explored during the final few episodes.

● The Drawbacks:

☆ Nao-chan is incredibly naïve. She is called stupid multiple times and very reasonably so. The good thing about her was how she handled matters and was mature enough, unlike many female leads, who are just noisy.

☆ The *bad guys* of the drama or the villains of the moment were really comical or anger inducing. Almost a combined eight minutes were spent on the overdramatized laughter and tears.

☆ Liar Game was released in 2007, 14 years before this review. Unlike the more well polished production that all recent dramas have, this one appears distinctly outdated. The colour grading seems off in several places. It had freeze frames, close up shots, and effects that me me mad.

While there is a high chance this drama will get buried as the years go by, I'm glad that I finally decided to watch it. It was a well planned and excellently executed drama that would be remembered by the ones who saw it.

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Quick Fluff.

This is adapted from a shouju manga and it shows. But, I still watched it anyway.

--- It's a really silly story, but I found this one much more bearable than Coffee and Vanilla. The leads actually had reasons to fall for each other, however ridiculous it was.

--- The FL Momo-chan, though appearing over excited, was definitely not dumb. There are moments I saw that she did have a serious side that she used her 'help everyone' attitude to hide.

--- There were a few amusing supporting characters whom I found interesting. Plus, all the cast had acting skills.

--- It only had 10 episodes that are around 22 minutes long. No need of brains to watch this.

I began this to get out of a drama slump. It served it's purpose well. So, it's a 6.5 from me.

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"Humans are the most fearful creatures."

This drama clearly has no strong plot. But, with only ten episodes, each spanning the length of an hour, it did not pull any punches.
Disturbing and dark, it begins with Jong Woo moving into a dingey apartment with the least rent out of all that he had seen. With a hopeless job and seemingly disconnected friends, he is thrust directly into the company of the many strange men in his neighbouring rooms. Yet, he has no way out. No one listens to his words or has time for him.

The drama brilliantly portrayed the sweet country boy Jong Woo's many incidents that ultimately lead him spiralling into a state of mental distress so much that we at one point are unable to watch it out of sheer stress. Im Shi Wan was excellent in his role and he conveyed the intense expressions and Jong Woo's state of mind with so much reality.

Help comes in the form of a charismatic dentist, Mung Joo, with whom he shares his similar love for crime fiction. But, wh he originally thought to be the most normal out of everyone, becomes his biggest nightmare. I saw Lee Dong Wook in Goblin, but it is this drama that truly showed his talent. The very mad gleam in his eyes, the flicker of compassion (only for Jong Woo, by the way) and his own strange perceival of nature and human mind was almost paradoxical. It was weird that Jong Woo and more chemistry with him than his own girlfriend Ji Eun, who was saddled with work load and never really semed to have her 'country boy' image of his removed from her mind.
People keep pushing their frustrations out on everyone , and Jong Woo, a good guy, realizes that he was being pushed around and maybe it was time to snap back.

The turn of events, the gory scenes and most importantly, the sheer incompetence of the police was mind numbing. There was a moment I assumed that one of the policemen/detective was working in favor of Eden studio.
*Mild spoiler*: this would also make the ending more possible.
I was suprised that I liked it so much. Every single supporting character delivered their roles well. All in all, this is definitely a highly thrilling, re-watch worthy drama, especially for starters of this genre.

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From the Wineyard.

This is the first time I watched a drama just for the characters alone. They were all unique!

I have to say, both the leads were amazing. The drama is seemingly normal, but their acting was really good and convincing, especially certain emotional scenes. And their chemistry? Awesome!
Heck, even the dark guy and Mi Ya stood out. I fast forwarded a lot of scenes, but stuck for them.

I didn't care much for the plot, since I have zero knowledge about wine. But, the term "sommelier" was something new that I learnt. Also, I wonder how much research everyone went through before writing the script cause they have a lot of descriptions about the types of wine and their histories.

Overall, another watch and forget drama. But, certainly worth it just for the characters!

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Gripping, Raw Terror.

Do not mind the ratings ever for a Japanese Drama on MDL. JDramas have less viewers as compared to other countries and often users don't rate them on face value. So, give this one a shot... if you can stomach this.

I wonder what sort of insanity got into me that I decided to binge this series in a single go for 5 hours straight. The number of watchers and the positive comments made me quite curious

Agawa Daigo, a diligent policeman with an uncontrollable temper, moves with his wife and daughter into a new village "Kuge", after his predecessor resigns before mysteriously vanishing. Within the very first day, he is called in after the Goto family finds the body of their Grandmother in the woods in a rather bizarre condition. However, Daigo's suspicions pique after realising that the Gotos are desperately trying to hide something from him... or someone.

Warning: Cannibalism is a really strong backbone of this story. So, please be prepared for the worst. Some scenes can be traumatizing.

Right from the very opening scene, we know what was discovered by Mr. Kano, the previous officer stationed at Kuge. The series follows Daigo-san as he decides to get into the bottom of Mr. Kano's disappearance and the reason that finally lead him to that point.
I have to say, every single cast member played their roles excellently well. I don't think I would appreciate Daigo as much as I did had the role been performed by a weak actor. Daigo was certainly the character that I wanted to simultaneously cheer for, as well punch due to his extremely impulsive nature.
The villagers were plain creepy in the very first glimpse that we get of them.
The little kid Mashiro was someone who kept me on the edge of my seat till the final episode, but her character seems to have been underutilized. [There is a certain scene where I wondered why no one questioned her. Yes, she couldn't talk, but she seems to signal and respond well to emotions.]
The one character who intrigued me the most was Keisuke. He was indeed different.
If I could point out any 'letdowns', then it might be the predictability of the plot - this could also be because I distrusted every single person on screen and concocted various scenarios, so nothing came as a surprise.
The ending was expected, yet unexpected. Though, I do believe that a second season is necessary to tie up all the loose threads, the post-credits scene and the words of a character pretty much makes the future imaginable.
It was a knowledgeable, yet a gripping watch for fans of horror and mystery. 8/10 from me. (Deducted points due to some predictable bits.]

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Fluffy and Invigorating.

I used to watch this underneath my blanket as I did not want anyone to think that I'd gone insane by seeing my demonic grin.

Highly recommended for anyone looking for some quick and fluffy drama with angelic and innocent characters.

With a meagre 22 minutes, Kieta Hatsukoi delivers a fulfilling tale of friendship, romance and comedy that was perfect to ease my tensions and bring a smile to my face. I can't remember a single episode where I didn't stop grinning. It was a form of relief after a week's worth of classes and provided me comfort while I was away from home.

***A small caveat: this drama is really good if you are interested in Character Analysis. The story goes around in circles without major developments, which is, frankly, frustrating. The final two episodes were the weakest, in my opinion.

☆ In the traditional way of Japanese Manga, the story begins with a very diminutive incident of an eraser being borrowed by Aoki Sota, who had a crush on his deskmate Hashimoto-san. Unfortunately, this silly eraser had the name of another student, "Ida". When the eraser takes a tumble to the floor, Ida sees his name on it and Aoki lies about it to protect Hashimoto-san's feelings. And thus begins a tale of misunderstandings and lies. Worse, Aoki is terrified after he finds himself falling for Ida.

☆ Pretty sure that such kids and circumstances might exist only in fictional high schools. When I was in highschool, half of my classmates were raccoons. This drama has the purest, angel-like characters whom I couldn't help but love.
Aoki was a really chaotic character, but I related to his reactions a lot. Hashimoto-san, who has her own parallel storyline, is never once a nuisance, but was truly kind and empathetic about everything.
A very silly premise to begin with, but the very essence of the story goes far more deeper than we see.

There was nothing over the top or expensive about the drama's production, which is plain and simple. But, the convincing performances of the actors, directing and the very humble story pulled me in. There might be a million stories out there that follow the exact same plot, but what makes them stand out is their execution, which was neat and precise.

☆ Now… the very backbone of Kieta Hatsukoi lies in the slow, yet steady character and relationship development. It's personally my first time seeing a character such as Ida Kosuke. He was truly kind and thoughtful, but was unflinchingly veracious. I related to his feeling of being unable to understand the concept of dating or "liking" somebody. There were often times I wondered how things would work out, and Ida literally spelled out what I couldn't express in words. His concern for his friends and classmates, his willingness to give the unknown a try and his care for Aoki were truly heartwarming to watch.

Aoki was much more self aware than Ida, focussing on minute troubles and attempting to be empathetic towards everyone. He was dramatic, going as far as getting inside a plastic trash bag and hiding himself under his hood. Scenes adapted right from the manga came to life, thanks to the immaculate portrayal of the chaotic character by Michida Shunsuke.
I reflected a lot when it came to Aoki, too. He was deeply connected to his emotions and learnt from his friends. His over the top antics and reactions added more humour and liveliness.
While Aoki was more honest and careful , he wasn't reticent when it came to confronting his own doubts about his relationship.

Hashimoto-san and Akkun, despite being secondary characters, are quite pivotal for the flow of the story. Their relationship with the leads and their own storylines, combined with their individual personalities inserted more flavour to it. And a shoutout for Ida's childhood friends and volleyball team, who, albeit not having much screen time, managed to show the depth of their friendship.

☆ The BGM, staying true to the comical genre of the drama, was often funny. There were only two songs featured and I have had them on repeat since the first time I heard them. Both Aoki and Ida belong to Idol Groups, Naniwa Danshi and Snowmen. Coincidentally, despite not being released exclusively for the drama, the lyrics were apt for the plot.

Overall, a really soft drama to enjoy and obsess over.

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"First Love Again."

First and foremost, Lovely Runner is a rom-com. Meaning that if you came to watch some science fiction fantasy drama which is a stickler for rules of time travel, this drama isn't for you. [The title of my review is from a 2021 CDrama, which has a very similar plot, but with the laws of nature governing the whole thing.]

But, if you are looking out for a real wholesome one, Lovely Runner is just perfect for you. It's a well written, well-paced, romantic, comedic and heartwarmingly satisfying.

Im Sol, a wheelchair bound 34 year old woman, is an avid fan of Ryu Sun Jae, the lead singer of a boy band Eclipse.
It's not a simple relationship either – His words had inspired her to keep living on, and to add to that, he also had happened to go to the high school close to hers. In spite of her disadvantages that hinder her from applying for her dream job, she still maintains a cheerful demeanor.
However, her life takes a drastic turn when she finds out that the person who had encouraged her to live on had committed suicide. When she is stricken by grief, fate gives her another chance – Ryu Seon Jae’s watch, which she had bought for a hefty sum at an auction becomes a time machine and she hurtles to the year 2008.
Now, stuck in her high school self, Im Sol snatches the chance to befriend the teenage Ryu Seon Jae (whom she had ignored in her youth) and change his fate. This also meant that she has the chance to avoid the accident that crippled her and distort the future.
But, as she begins to change the past, she realizes that there are some things just can not be altered.


☆ The Plot + Romance:

Lovely Runner is nothing new in terms of plot. What I loved were the characters and the relationships between them. I think this is what most people loved about it and hence the drama's sky high ratings. I have mixed feelings about the “plot”, but as it's a rom-com, I'll try to overlook it.

Romance is a strong building block; yet at the beginning it's evident that Im Sol treated Sun Jae as her “idol” rather than a real person.

But, the transition to love and the absolute possibility of their relationship was genuine.
An Idol meeting a fan and falling in love?
In the case of LR, Im Sol and Sunjae were already neighbors and had met before, it was just that he was a person who passed by her life without ever influencing it ‘directly’.

It was both sad and comedic to see Im Sol attempt to rescue Sun Jae from his fate, particularly when she couldn't tell him anything about the future.
[This plot point got lost somewhere after EP10… or did it?]

Both Sun Jae and Im Sol were innocent people to begin with. Heck, even their friends and relatives are funny and nice people in general - hence, there is absolutely ‘NO’ additional drama.
Also, it was an added bonus to see a ML who was for once, not an all knowing God. Dude was legit dumb.

In Hyuk and Sun Jae’s bromance, Sun Jae and his father’s antics, Im Geum’s dreams, Sol and the relationship with her grandmother, mother, Tae Seong (the 2nd ML and my favorite character) and her best friend together were just heartwarming to watch.

I did feel that there was a distinct difference between the original timeline and the altered version where Sun Jae dies.
In the original timeline, it looked like the scriptwriter went with the way of the webtoon and had Sun Jae actually commit suicide. (It might be because of the way it was shot.) The other timeliness however, showed a stark difference from EP1 and followed the ‘thriller’ aspect.

I still feel a bit irked about a quote that never became a reality. But, hey, the drama was fulfilling.

☆ Also, this is one emotionally draining drama. Hats off to Kim Hye Yoon for managing to bring about both comedy and tears in a seamless manner. She had that Song Yi Ren kind of energy and was very flexible as a 34 year old grown woman stuck in the body of a teenager, which might've
become awkward had it been any other actress.

I had never heard about Bye Woon Seok, except in passing after the ‘Strong Girl’ drama but, oh dear. Both his comedic scenes as well as the emotional ones were spot on.
[One of my friends was contemplating whether to watch this or not after it aired, and another one advised her that it's ‘either death or villain’ when it comes to him.]

I'll definitely be checking out their future works. Even In Hyuk and Tae Seong had their moments.

☆ Soundtrack: KDramas rarely disappoint in this department. Every song went well with the scenes, but if I could listen to a song all by itself, then it would be ‘Monologue' by Jae Eon and ‘You & I’ by Eclipse.

It's been a long time since I watched a KDrama while on air. It reminded me of those times when they actually managed to grab my attention and continue watching them. I've been serial dropping KDramas a lot since the one hour runtime and emotional investment is much more than CDramas. This one is a surprise from 2024.
It reminded me strongly of ‘Legally Romance’ and ‘First Love Again’ both of which were memorable dramas I liked and had similarities to.

A solid 7.5 from me. I cut off points as I felt that something went ‘missing’ with the story after a couple of episodes. The characters were the only thing that kept me going. [Updated the score from 8.5 to 7.5 because I don't think I'll be revisiting this drama anytime soon. Perhaps I might change the rating if I rewatch it.]

Anyways, one thing I learnt from time travel dramas is that I'll be single for a very, very, very long time unless someone from some other parallel universe risks everything to travel through space and time to meet me.

All in all, it was a wonderful journey. I hope that both Im Sol and Sun Jae manage to meet each other in every universe, however slim the chance is. (And that Kim Tae Seong never changes.)

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