Why Am I Here

Guilty Pleasure with No Depth of Plot

Ooh this is so long, I'm putting the summary above first.

+ Extremely fluffy guilty pleasure, no malignant problems.
+ No childhood connection, serial killer, white truck, etc.
+ Good comedy.
- Nothing but guilty pleasure, lackluster and lack of depth of the story (so that 16 ep is too long).
- Over-ecsatic romance added to almost every scene.
- A bit unnatural romantic relationship build-up.
- Overly unrealistic makjangs.
- Missed out a lot of small details.
- No closure on several problems from the supporting characters.

This show is nothing but a guilty pleasure. We all expect cheesy mainstream tropes when we watch a Korean rom-coms, but this show takes it to another level. They made almost EVERY scene to be as cheesy as possible, to the point that is cringe. Everything is just cheesy scenes that even it looks like there isn't any main plot, it lacks the depth. The problems are just there to be problems and all can be solved easily. Such a guilty pleasure, but the way they serve it can't make us feel invested to the show. With this issue 12 episodes is already quite painful, and yet they made it 16. The idea of this show is very mainstream, a boss falls for his employee, but the execution isn't even a good job. Why do they name it King The Land when most of the events don't even occur in the hotel?

Character development in this show is a bit questionable. While Gu Won is becoming better person, it's questionable what Cheon Sa Rang is doing. All the time Won has been pulling cringey and pervert-ish moves when he tries to attract Sa Rang, even when they haven't been close enough such as him offering an umbrella under the rain and taking her home, as well as taking her into multiple dinners. I don't understand how could Sa Rang falls over those acts, when there is nothing really impactful happening for a change of feeling. On the other hand, Sa Rang is head over heels to Won and King The Land as well. So I can't understand why she is just alright after being exiled to a small hotel in outskirt town. She lost her lover and her dream job, there isn't any reason why she should stay! This show also features multiple problems caused by uneccessary misunderstandings, and the problems on episode 14 afterwards are just ridiculous. Fortunately the misunderstandings doesn't produce stupid decisions.

The writers focused too much on the cheesy things that they really ignore all the small details. Things are missing out here and there. I still don't understand Sa Rang's dream of working in King Hotel that she got after she visited it during childhood. She describes herself has to live from paycheck to paycheck, so how come she got to visit "the most luxurious hotel in Korea"? Won is very sensitive while talking about his mother. However No Sang Sik who has been living with him for seven years doesn't know this. The mountain rescue is the peak makjang. Won says that Sa Rang is missing and he's unable to track her phone, yet he's calling her all the time until the dusk. Judging by the height of the cliff, it's impossible for someone to survive it without any broken bones. Yet Sa Rang only gets minimal bruises and Won is able to jump over it casually, so two people survive that damn cliff. And if you look more thoroughly, Sa Rang's make up is still on point after being left for a day under the cliff, not even any dust up there. When Won is abroad for three weeks, it looks like they are totally lost contact. However apparently Sa rang sends him a picture of "a hype cafe in the town". The director of the King Guest House is ordered to sell the hotel by Ms. Gu no matter what. How can this happen because Hwa Ran has been kicked from the King Group board of director? The writer also fails to give a proper closure to Oh Pyeong Hwa's career. How come she stays there? Kang Da Eul's reconciliation with her husband is also undeserved. No proper closure on Gu's family too, especially Hwa Ran's.

There are only two good things in this show. First is YoonA, thanks to her performance for bringing smiles and other expression into this show. Second is the consistency of (slapstick-ish) comedy throughout the show, which mostly comes from the character of No Sang Sik. Without these two elements, this show would be straight going to the drop list of most audience. Jun Ho has a really stiff face expressions, but since it fits his character I couldn't complain more. The final episode would be a good sweet episode for any other show. But all the episodes precedenting it make that episode nothing special.

This show is recommended for someone who needs a guilty pleasure, so the rewatch value is high. There aren't any mainstream tropes such as childhood connection, serial killer, or The Mighty White Truck. It's really lightweight, since the storyline really lacks the depth, no malignant plot inside. But I personally wouldn't recommend it.

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How Many Whale Videos Do You Want? Yes!

What a story! The storyline is so ordinary and give us a big awareness on people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), as well as inequality treatment towards people with disability. I personally think the overall storyline is a bit harsh for a "slice of life", but then it's maybe always this harsh for people with special condition like her. This show features different cases on almost every episode, and I like that the outcome is so ordinary and not always favorable for Young U. The strong friendship is a feature in this show, and the loveline is not overecsatic. Does it require the character an ASD to have a calmer love story?

It must be difficult for Park Eun Bin to play such "special" character, but at the end she delivers it fantastically. The other casts add a great combination to the show, especially Kang Ki Young with some silly things he often pulls. Additionally, most of the characters get a good character development.

While this show has a great highlight on the person with ASD story, it somehow takes toll on the story details. They didn't imply what is the actual beef between Han Seon Yeong and Tae Su Mi, that the former has to use Yeong U as her weapon to "attack" the latter. It is also unknown what happens to Min U that causes his change of heart. On the Children Liberation Army's case, there is a big chance to bring up more message, but they decided to skip the verdict. On the Lottery Ticket Case, Yeong U is told that Ms. Sung gets all the lottery prize amount of 1.1 billion as inheritance. This should be incorrect because her husband has spent all the lottery prize on the car which has been written off in the crash so there is nothing to inherit.

I personally think the final episode doesn't give proper closure. Young U gets a proper closure, and although vague but it's a assumable closure for Myeong Seok, Su Yeon and Min U. However it's questionable what is aftermath for Su Mi, what causes her sudden change of heart, and her relationship with Yeong U, Gwang Ho and Seon Yeong.

On the conclusion, this is a good show because it's heartwarming and has a fresh, unique concept idea.

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Another Good Romcoms Goes Wrong

Very underrated show! It's quite rare to have a romcom with well balanced romance and comedy. And even more, the balanced vibe remains consistenly thoughout most of the episodes. It takes so long for the romance to bloom, so it may frustrates some audience. Though we get appropirate amount of swoonworthy moments on the way to that point. The chemistry between Kim Jae Wook and Krystal is excellent and yet unexpected. Kim Jae Wook is really the master while talking about chemistry in romance show. This show doesn't have a childhood connection which is a massive plus point, and doesn't have stupid breakups so that's another plus point. It all goes well until at least episode 12.

The final 4 episodes look like a different show, don't know what hurt the writer's head. It's full of makjangs and unrealistic situations. The malicious events are too much, and I think the story about Na Su Yeon is not neccessary. Also No Go Jin never reveals that he doesn't have an amnesia to his employee, but his behavior at the office gradually returns to his previous state. Yet no one realizes or concerns about it. The "dress from my first love" at the beginning of the show has no impact to Go Jin. I also find out the reason Go Jin fires Sin A because "she'll leave me either" is lame.

To annoy me more, this show is full of red flag characters. Jo Jong O is of course a red flag. Baek Su Yeong takes so long to realize what she has done, even though it's very easy to see people will hurt when she left like that. Noh Go Jin is a red flag because he's heartless, doesn't care about other people, and sugarcoats it with the fact that "this all because I was heartbroken". Lee Sin A, on the other hand, is also a red flag because she always supports Go Jin's action no matter he's right or not. Even though these people "have a reason" to do it, they are more deserved to be dumped rather than pitied.

Still it's a good show for a balanced laugh and swoon!

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Bad People don't Always Do Evil Things, Good People doesn't Always Do Kind Things

It's always never easy to make a long review on a quite realistic life show, like this one. This show is very calming and heartwarming. But please note, the genre is prison so sometimes it turns really dark and malicious. This show is about bad people being put together in the same place after doing some bad things. Character development is very strong in this show: some of them are repenting, some are going worse; some deserve it, some has to unfairly experience it.

The screenplay is excellent, everything is as pure as life. There are a mix of tears, laugh, love and friendship as your normal day in life, nothing overdramatic or too ecsatic. It is very soothing that the heartwarming moments mostly involve the most evil person such as Cha Min Chul or Lifer. The whole cast, on the other hand, does an oustanding job here. Looks like they do this all effortlessly. The technique of flashbacks is really awesome.

While the screenwriting is quite impressive, it doesn't mean flawless. When the cellmates try to manipulate Je Hyeok's dream, it is later known that both Captain Yoo and him didn't take the sleeping pills. However this has zero impact to the plot, and it's still unknown what happens that night. The ending is quite unfavorable though. Je Hyeok seems to think about other cellmates while he was imprisoned, so I was expecting him to track all of his past prisonmates, but he doesn't. It's also never seen on screen, the moment with Je Hee after Je Hyeok released. The writer also suddenly forgot about Joon Ho and Je Hee relationship in the last episode.

The soundtracks are excellent. Finally, this show is highly recommended for rewatch, especially to someone who are looking for something calming after a hectic day.

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Another good show falls into a sinkhole towards the end. The show has a good start and a very promising story, but it plummets suddenly. The story is about two sworn enemy secretly fall in love with each other. I feel the story is going to be dragging and full of tense, but apparently the story is very funny and lightweight. Chemistry between Ju Ji Hoon and Jung Yu Mi is very good, but somehow I feel the chemistry between young Ji Wons (Oh Ye Ju and Hong Min Ki) is more incredible! I thought the feud between the Ji Wons was going to be evil but it's actually very funny instead.

Unfortunately the vibe switches extremely after episode 10. The comedy fades and it becomes more dark. I don't understand why the writer decided to add more than one(!) malicious premises. It should be enough with the corruption premise and Cha Ji Hye act is quite unnecessary. I don't understand what makes her qualify as SFL, Maeng Su Ah deserves this title better. Kim Hye Won also fails to build a strong character on her. The return of the sexual offender also makes the story more ridiculous.

At the end of the day, it's still a good show to enjoy, especially when you are looking for a lightweight and funny romcom.

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Great Story... but Mixed Feelings

This show gives me a mixed feelings since is a bit rollercoaster for me. The whole story is good, but at some point it's quite draggy and frustrating. The amount of comedy is less on the first half, but it's getting better as the show progressing. However I feel like the comedy is slapstick-ish, and maybe not suitable enough for 2025.

The story itself is bound to be good from the beginning: a priest who are willing to take down a whole corrupt cartel. I like the writing that every party is trying to be cautious and tactical. Even a small poke from Father Kim Hae Il can cause a distrust between the alliance. It is nice that we can see that everyone tries to make their own strategy to save their live, begin to switch alliance and even scapegoating their allies. All is a good storywriting until the writer brought character Lee Jung Gwon. Every actions that follows is just spontaneous and impulsive anger, all without any concrete plan. It loses the beauty of the writing by then. Also they should perhaps end it at 16 because the story about Lee Jung Gwon escapes from the custody and seeks for revenge is extremely draggy. How come NO ONE notices his escape? All the episodes after this event are like another show.

I have no problems with the main characters, they all great and played by a great casts. Park Gyeong Seon has a quite consistent personality. Usually, writers like to drastically switch a character personality from goofy to evil in an action comedy show. However, Gyeong Seon is quite consistently an annoying prosecutor throughout the show. Even Hwang Cheol Beom has a great personality depiction: he's smart, bad ass, determined, just extremely lack of luck. However, the writer doesn't really consistent with some other characters. The writer has forgotten that Seo Seung Ah was once a 'hip-hop girl', and Gu Dae Yeong's past trauma disappeared like dust too easily. Jung In Ki, on the other hand, is very bad as Chief Nam. He looks like only has one face expression the whole show.

The fact that Park Gyeong Seon keeps meeting the alliance members in private after being threatened several times really distrubs me. She always works in the background, but once she is needed to show in front, she always comes without any plan.

If you want some actions and comedies, this show is quite recommended. But beware because the analytical hero is slowly being replaced by a ruthless warrior.

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Cringey in A Good Way

This is your typical cheesy-cringey romantic comedy show. There are a lot of hyperbolic emotions flowing everywhere. If you don't like something like that, you may be disgusted. I watched this show in 2025, and still I found out this show is, although nothing extraordinary, written excellently. The story is about a human-allergic man who is attracted to the affection from a robot, whom turns out to be replaced by a human. Yes the story itself is already seem predictable. It's also correct that every scene in the show is pictured with excessive emotions and unrealistic events. But you follow through the story, you will find that — even the story is super unrealistic — it's neatly written.

The story strongly focused on the main leads and their own romantic developments. People and problems around them are just additional ingredients and the portion for them is quite small compared to the main leads, and I really like it. I also like how their relationship problem is based on their own struggle and never the effect of stupid external threats. The relationship problem is dragging as expected, you can even expect it from the first episode. Turns out everything is not as bad as I've expected though. This show is an example how cliche plot such as childhood relationship or serial killers are not always the solution to drive a rom-com plot. Even I find the dragging part about the company director's rivalry (yes it's a rom-com, it's gotta be dragging!) not really dragging and still bearable (I often find out old K-Drama romcoms have extremely dragging external tropes). Bold message to everyone that any technolgy may never be able to replace the presence of a person.

The characters potrayal are excellent. Chae Soo Bin plays both characters excellently. Yes, she plays two characters: Jo Ji Ah and a robot named Aji3! I can't believe she looks like a doll there. Yoo Seung Ho does a great job for playing a mentally struggled and confused man. These two actors are able to pull something great to play such an unrealistic story. And thanks to the Santa Maria Team (and the thief family), we get an excellent amount of great comedy here. Unfortunately I don't find the other characters apart from them do a good job, this includes Ji Ah's brother, Min Gyu's mansion guard as well as the foreigners.

Apart from the good story, the problem in this show might be the vibe. The first phase of the show has a very bright and joyful vibes, but after the Aji3 testing phase ended, it becomes very emotional. It isn't bad at all, but I find that the comedy quality never bounces back to the earlier state. Additionally, the pace of the show post-testing also becomes slow. Also the blue umbrella at the backseat of the car seems confusing, because who put it there at first?

I also like the soundtrack. Overall if you are looking for a joyful rom-com, this is a good choice. The story is very fluffy and lightweight and maybe a good option to end your exhausting day because Aji3 will keep telling you: You are doing good!

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Another Show Dropped into The Same Mistakes

Ok, I'm so disappointed to write this. This show is about Cheon Ji Hun, an ex-prosecutor attorney trying to win difficult cases using unusual methods. The beginning of the show is really promising, anyone could be easily attracted to it. Each case is a complete set with a great backstory and resolution. Ji Hun ocassionally pulls unique methods to solve them and it will makes you impressed. Namkoong Min shows a great talent here, playing as an eccentric attorney. The element of comedy is also great here, thanks to him and Choi Dae Hoon as the SML.

While the earlier episodes are excellent, the writer looks confuse while writing the second part of the show, especially after Ji Hun's backstory. The vibe of the show drastically changes. It becomes more emotional and overly unrealistic. The plot about Ji Hun disappearing for one year annoys me a lot. It is stupid, uneccesary and doesn't make any sense. How come does Ji Hun disappear after confronting with Cha Min Chul? As a serial killer it's more possible for him to kill Ji Hun, given a free timespan of 1 year! The disappearance also impacts to almost nothing but "fresher mind". After this incident, the vibe also changes into more makjang-superheroish. Thanks to this storyline, we have been left out some story hanging: Sa Mu Jang's backstory as the first client (he says Ji Hun helps him a lot, in what?), Ma Ri and Min Hyuk loveline, and even the presence of Min Hyuk's father looks unimpactful. Ji Hun is later elected as the Special Attorney, but they doesn't even bother to show the trial at all. The epilogue at the island is, again, unecessary as it doesn't help to bring closure (or even make the audience conclude a closure).

Again, the bad scriptwriting takes toll on Kim Ji Eun's character. I thought she will do something big when Ji Hun disappears, but somehow the writer only makes her wait helplessly. What a waste of a talent.

The soundtrack is quite great in this show, but somehow I feel it's overplayed. This show is still recommended to watch and even to rewatch, especially for the comedy and the great cases, although the ending is not favourable at all.

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Too Much Ingredients, Most of Them are Overcooked

This show is a right example of what would happen if you keep adding ingredients into the pot while cooking and forget that the stove is on: it's going to overcook. The first half of the show is just incredible! The plot, the characters, the set, even the shots of the foods and ingredients, as well as the cooking scenes. But then I don't know what hurt the writer's head mid-show, he begins to build a story on a pile of misunderstandings which is crap.

Starting with the Japan trip, this plot is extremely questionable. I can't get why Chef Mo feels responsible to make her past head chef eats well. And the way Beom-U follows her all the way to Japan, it ticks the Makjang box! How the hell does Beom-U able to find Chef Mo in such big city of Sapporo? Also remember: THEY ARE BROKE. But somehow they are able to afford two round-trip tickets, another round-trip ticket to pick a jug of doenjang, and fresh-premium ingredients for the head chef's diet. Also I don't get the problem between Chef Mo and her ex. She stepped up for her ex and resigned from her position, let's assume she did it because she was blinded by love. I don't think that's enough reason for her to resent him. What's actually going on never shown on screen. Maybe the only purpose of the Japan trip is a kiss in the middle of Sapporo street.

All of those irrelevant premises then mixed by a series of countless stupid misunderstandings which is frustrating. They also keep adding unecessary plots such as the arsonist and the temple trip. I mean with such short number of episodes, they should have to be more focus with Jungjae and Hansang! The final cooking showdown is no less ridiculous! How come the PD obeys Chairman Han all the way? He is just fine when the Chairman twisting the showdown result! The show then wrapped with some questionable endings, as expected. What happen to Motto then, when you especially say that "you need to think about my people who work at that restaurant"? At the end of the day, they forgot the soul of this show. The very last cooking in the final episode has neither cooking scenes nor eyepleasing shots of the foods.

The only positive side of this show is the comedy is totally unexpected. I never thought such exhilirating comedy will come out from a show like this. I can't unsee it now, I really want to laugh everytime I see Kang Ha Neul's face. Go Min Si does a great job playing a self-driven chef (only if the character personality stays the whole show, because it doesn't). ML and FL don't have childhood relationship, which deserves a round of applause for a K-Drama in 2025.

It will be difficult to cook too much ingredients in one pot. Some will be good, others may be undercook, the others may be overcook. This show has a premium raw ingredients, but only some of them are well cooked. Watch this show if you just want to enjoy a great comedy and can bear a meaningless story.

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When you have watched the previous season, you will always compare this to it. Overall, the story and the vibes are still the same. Nothing turns into a massive downfall or some kind like that. The story is (more) intense, and we get a (very) slow burning romance too. The new main doctors Cha Eun Jae (Lee Sung Kyung) and Seo Woo Jin (Ahn Hyo Seop) have a great character. They both deliver the character excellently, while Kim Sa Bu and the whole Doldam staffs are of couse nailed it again.

However, the story this season seems a bit overcooked. Compared to the previous one, this season has more focus to the hospital politics rather than the patients or the doctors themselves. In the effect of this, we barely get stories about Eun Jae and Woo Jin's personal back story. The villains don't seem to learn from their past mistakes, neither to repent nor to find a better idea to beat Dr. Kim. Instead, when he already has an upper hand, he chooses to play a impactless card. Like he is the president now and he can do whatever he wants, but he chooses the rough way only to lose it! The connection between the first and the second season is though not definitely disconnects, but is rather blur. Yun Seo Jung is mentioned several times, Kang Dong Ju once or twice, but Woo Yeon Hwa? She disappears and suddenly Doldam becomes "short-staffed" again. There isn't any privacy in this hospital because apparently it is very easy for you to eavesrops everyone.

When Nam Do Il contract's terminated by the management, I don't get it why he decides to keep it himself. Burdening Dr. Kim and this situation does not connect together in my opinion.

On top of those, this is still a Dr. Romantic. This is still a fight between consicence and greed. People who have watched (and enjoyed) the previous season should definitely watch this sequel!

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In short: this is not a drama special, it's the 21st episode of Dr. Romantic. You can't watch this episode without watching the original show.

Since the final episode of the pilot show has already have a good closure (with that highlighted quote), this episode will bring mixed receptions. This episode is surely a better closure for Teacher Kim, but not really for other casts. But this may connect between the 1st and 2nd season since the main casts are a bit different, I don't know since I haven't watch it.

But if you have watched the first season, you have to watch this episode because it is the part of the season.

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Short Refreshing Rom Com

What an astonishingly short and refreshing show! This show is an example that a rom-com does not always require cliche plots such as childhood relationship or triangle love. The story is lightweight and the plot is effortlessly "flow into the chaotic situation" by itself. The idea is fresh, about two person struggling with their own mental health issues, how they overcome and heal each other. The comedy is also super hilarious. Also there are a lot of messages behind this show, especially about mental health awareness, abuse and hate comments. I can't believe they put a lot in this super short show!

The chemistry between ML and FL is just incredible! Both Jung Woo and Oh Yeon Seo play their respective character perfecty, whom have their own struggles, and full of rage.

Still, I feel the story is going south after their first kiss. Min Gyeong frustratingly begins to make illogical decisions. I personally think the drug dealer story isn't really necessary. It doesn't really relate to the main story and just only plays a bit part on Hwi-O reinstation. Additionally, I think the last episode is kinda "forgivable" makjang. And what about Seon-Ho, does he get what he deserve or does he able to get away again? Oh come on, it could be a strong message there!

This show is still a gem. For someone who is seeking a lightweight romcom, this may be the answer, with such short and full of laughter drama.

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What an Underrated Show

When you ask someone about best show of 2024, why people rarely mention this one in the first? Truthfully before watching this show, I was expecting this to focus more on the fantasy and supernatural side. I don't know but maybe that makes me easier to enjoy this show. And by doing that, I feel all of things about the romance and scam aren't dragging. This is also the show where past relationship isn't the annoying part, and instead becomes the key of the story. Overall, the story is a well-written one. It tells about almost everyone struggles and how to overcome them. The romance isn't excessive and the somewhat thriller isn't dreadfully dragging. Character developments are really strong in this show. They learn about their flaws, and they learn how to accept it.

Jang Ki-Yong and Chun Woo-Hee play well as the ML and FL. But if you're asking the star of this show, it is Park So-Yi. She doesn't get the most screentime, and she's even a quiet type. Even though she rarely talks, but her actions and expressions speak a lot.

Although the story itself is already impressive, some things are worth to note. We all see that Bok Dong-Hui losts her weight from time to time. But prior the wedding, she suddenly losts her weight in extreme amount which is weird. Episode 11 is clearly a filler and it is there only just because they can't have an odd number of episodes . Also it is questionable that Man-Heum gets over with her husband's affair easily. I kinda like the soundtrack when they put it correctly, because for me they sometimes use it in the scenes that don't belong with the soundtrack's vibe.

To me, this is a must watch. I understand why people rarely talk about this, it is because the makjangs are too much for romance lover and the romance is too much for fantasy enjoyer. However to me, this show is well balanced.

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Short Hilarious Stories Packed Together

A show with quite short story each episode. Each of them are adapted from a sit-com quite alike webtoon. I haven't read the original webtoon. The idea of the story is overall good. It has a sitcom-ish comedy punchline for each episode. Each episode doesn't necessarily related one another. The setup is comical and far from realistic. This show is also supported by excellent actors who potray the Jo's family perfectly.

Unfortunately, I still feel the quality of the comedy still varies a lot throughout the episodes. Since this is an one-off story for each episodes, I feel they have picked 20 numbers of stories from the webtoon collections. Yet some of the picks are insanely funny and some others are less funny. I'm also a bit disappointed that they didn't explore the character of Ae-Bong more.

Overall, this is still a recommended guilty pleasure show. If you're looking for a little laugh, then you should see this show, because you can finish this quick. I'm also looking forward for the second season, since I know that the webtoon is still ongoing.

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Your Friend Doctors are Telling You Their Love Life

This sequel is not so different with the previous one, so my review won't be long as I have written all of them in the earlier season. This show is still like "your friend doctors telling you their day at the hospital", but now including their love life. You'll still get the same feeling about this show, calming and heartwarming. You'll still get the same feeling of standing in the middle of the ER, watching the patients being brought in, the doctors rushing around the corridors, the families crying while waiting for their relative's surgery.

However, I feel like this season has slower pace compared to the previous one. Not only slow on pace, but some episodes are also annoyingly long. While you may be looking for soothing vibe like the first season, you may find this season is a bit more dragging. At the end of the previous season, I thought only Song-Hwa and Ik-Jun relationship will be dragging, but then I found out that ChuChu love story is also dragging. On top of that, it annoys me a lot that Jun-Wan relationship broken because of such childish reason. Also, some of the romance related tropes are predictable. And somehow they kinda forget to put Gyeo-Ul in Episode 2.

For the cast, they're still doing an excellent job. With such number of doctors and nurses (and patients), they all are doing quite impressively. I enjoy the soundtrack more this season. And overall, this is still an excellent calming show to watch!

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