Short and light romance

So short at only 40 mins, but light and cute.
Interesting story. I thought the premise turned the usual trope upside down. We usually see guy/girl getting surgery and being liked for their new faces, but here, they actually liked each other as they were. Now it makes me wonder why they had surgery in the first place.

They fell in love in the dating app using their pre-surgery faces but were afraid to take their virtual relationship to the next level (eg. meeting in real life) because they feel like the other one will not like their post surgery faces (which happens to be the same faces with 10,000 other people). They tried going out with other people but they couldn't find the same connection as they did with each other, because the other people they dated just loved them for their looks, not their personalities.

I liked that both of them had their own friend to talk to about their problems/issues. I liked that they finally confronted each other and tried to make it work. I loved the production of showing the virtual dating world. and I loved their final words to each other.
"On the day you first talked to me, I thought you'd leave me like everyone else did. Because they always left me in the end. Even I hated my blunt nose, mole, and chin. You liked me as I am and thanks to you, I like myself better now."

"Where you meet isn't important. What matters is how much you care for each other, right?"

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The last 30 minutes ruined the entire show

Likes
1. The first half was so interesting and intriguing. I loved the twists at every last scene. But story got so confusing esp episode 14 that i had to stop watching coz it was a big WTH just happened??
2. The final reveal of who the Teacher was unexpected and i loved the main conflict of killing the son or the mother. It's like chicken and egg dilemma.
3. Minhyuk 🥰🥰🥰 He shined in every scene.
4. I dont know if Park Sun Young is selfish or selfless. I really liked her more than Yoon Tae Yi who is supposed to be a professor but doesn't have a lot of common sense.

Dislikes
1. The unnecessary romantic vibes between Jin Gyeom and Taeyi grossed me out but i kept on watching hoping there is a valid resolution to this. And up until episode 14 i thought the show finally put a stop at it. Had i known this was where the show was really going i would have stopped watching earlier on.
2. The time travel rules kept changing to suit the story when it didn't make sense. I already gave the show a pass on a lot of things. To insist the people are different but later say the memories are merging and theyre the same person is unfair.
3. Again the ending didn't make sense.

Rating: 7.5/10 (i would have given this an 8 despite the flaws until i saw the ending which made zero sense 😵)

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Sweet story of choosing between love or compatibility

Likes
1. I like how the story tackled different views on marriage. There's no right or wrong answer. You decide what makes you happy. Be it married or single.
2. Another critical question that the drama raised, do you continue to be in a relationship knowing you may not end up in marriage? Is it better to stop now before you waste more time? Is it right to hope that the other one changes his mind or will you regret or blame him if he never did?
2. People shouldn't judge other people just because you have different views. I loved their friends and family for being supportive and listening to their problems and offering different words of wisdom. Feels like there are so many people who love and care for them.

Dislikes
Too much noble idiocy from Nanami Ryu although i understand his hesitation to get married and his reasons for breaking up with Asuka. I appreciated that he really thought about his decision but i hated that he decided on his own thinking he knows what's good for Asuka.

Rating: 8/10

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Fun and sweet romance

Oldie but goodie! This show just revived my long buried love for Jang Hyuk! 🥰 I watched the TW version years ago but it wasn't as fun as this remake!

Likes
1. The Snail Couple 🐌 was so fun! Loved Lee Geon and Miyeong as a couple and Jang Hyuk and Jang Nara as the leads! Even though they were only together for 3 months, they just have this beautiful connection that even Sera, who has been with Geon for 6 years couldnt shake. And even after Snail Couple broke up and Miyeong left with Daniel for 3 years, Daniel wasnt able to capture her heart.
2. I also loved Lee Geon and Miyeong as separate characters. Some were put off by Geon's maniacal laughter and eccentric ways but i thought he must be a very fun husband to be with! He is good with kids, attentive, and charming. On the other hand, Miyeong may look meek and unassuming but once you get to know her, she is an amazing person. She just needed to be more confident with herself. But once she did, she just shined even brighter.
3. The side characters were also funny like Mr Tak and Yong (Dragon). I also loved Miyeong's mom even though Geon is so rude to her (but utterly charming). And Grandma Wang is one of the nicest chaebol grandma i've seen!! 🤣

Dislikes
1. This would have been better if the length was just 16 episodes (max 18 if you just want more Snail couple cuteness). The second half was so sad compared to the lighter tone of the first half. I didnt like wimpy broody Lee Geon. Someone should have told Miyeong earlier so she could slap him out of his funk.
2. Didnt like Sera, even at the end. She was sorry not sorry to Miyeong all the time.
3. Yong's mom didnt fully apologize for trying take down Geon when she never had the right in the first place. Again you just know Geon is a great person when he was able to forgive her despite the lies and almost ruining his life.

Rating: 8.5/10

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Sweet romance about an older woman and a younger guy

Likes
1. Super love the OTP couple Fanxing and Yuan Song. In real life i wouldn't agree with this couple because 22yo is too young but in this drama i loved them because they understood each other and became better persons together.
2. The premise is nothing new - do you choose love vs compatibility? 22yo younger immature guy or 37yo older but arrogant guy? But the way they handled the situations and the conversations were so real and relatable.
3. 41 eps were so long but the drama took time to tell everyone's stories and resolve them in the end that 41 felt just right. Though i wished we had 1 or 2 more episodes of OTP moments because there were too little Yuan Song and too much Luming in the second half.
4. Each character had flaws and they all made questionable decisions and mistakes but that's life. Just like Fanxing said about life being like a school test. There are no right or wrong answers.
5. Loved the friendship between Fanxing, Song Xue and Xiaoyu. Through thick or thin they've been there for each other in every joy or pain.
6. I didnt like Cong Xiao at the start but grew to like her and Chang Huan together!

Dislikes
1. I didn't like Ye Luming, he was too arrogant and manipulative of Fanxing from the very start. I wish he genuinely approached her for friendship like the usual second leads. He was right when he said he asked for it. The only time i liked him was when he was there to comfort Fanxing like a real friend when she broke up with Yuan Song. But this show has a way of redeeming the characters so when he finally broke up with Fanxing i actually felt bad for him and wished that he can really find the one.
2. I didn't really like Canyang and Minmin as a couple. Thought they were a mismatch and was going to break up in the end but they didn't. But not bad coz i like Canyang and Minmin slowly became mature.

Rating: 9/10

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Light and sweet romcom about two gamers who fell in love online and offline

Likes:
1. Loved the couple esp Xiao Nai, although getting married a year or two after college seemed too idealistic! Wanted to see Wei Wei be her own person and away from Xiao Nai.
2. I loved the friendship between the guys and the girls.
3. Erxi was so cute and sweet and i felt bad that she gets overshadowed by her prettier friend. I was hoping they show that Erxi is also competent in her own way.
4. I didnt like Cao Guang and didnt want to see him pair up with Erxi!! I wanted Erxi to end up with Xiao Nai's bff who seems funnier and nicer.
5. I liked the growth in Zhen Shaoxiang's character from being a freeloading rich kid to an ambitious career guy. Glad he finally dropped Yaoyao. Yaoyao is not bad but she needs a new set of friends and not the mean girls she keeps hanging out with.
6. Meng Yiran as a character was unnecessary and she was dumb to always listen to Nana and not have her own opinion. I also liked her growth in the show although wanted her to have her showdown with Nana (but i guess she isnt worth it).
7. I also loved the stories and relationships within the game itself, i thought it was unique.

Dislikes:
1. At 30 eps, this drama was a bit long, i think there were several unnecessary characters and scenes that could have cut down the episodes to just 25.
2. The kissing scenes were cringey. Wei wei always looked like she was enduring the kisses. The actress was also awkward in some scenes. Yang Yang also stood straight and stiff like he is posing for a magazine or walking the runway.

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Stressful and intense

Squid Game (2021)

Likes
1. Loved the six games and how each game levelled up the intensity and danger. Esp the tug of war and the glass bridge. I didnt like the honeycomb. I probably would have died in the first game! 😅
2. The killings were brutal and i was stressed every single game, but knowing that the leads wont die til the very end made the game less fun.
3. At one point i thought the lesson of the show was to learn to share and not be too greedy. Or find a way to work together and get out alive not kill each other and they will all get the money. But i was wrong both times.

Dislikes
1. The main lead mostly passed the levels because of luck or someone else. Same with Saebyeok, she also didnt fo anything but sulk. Sangwoo was strategic but in the end he lost against the morally nice guy. Is that the message the writer eants to tell us?
2. But then the reveal of the main guy and his explanation didnt make sense. Why go through all of that and kill hundreds of people every time just for the fun of it?
3. After all the blood sweat and tears, Gihun sat on the money for a year and didnt use them! At least pay off Sangwoo's debts and get Saebyeok's brother out. But dumping the money and the brother with Sangwoo's mom was also terrible. I was hoping Gihun will be more responsible after this but he's still dumb.
4. Felt like Junho had a separate story that didnt feel connected with the rest. And why Inho became the host was not explained.

Rating: 8/10

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Is love worth the risk?

Nevertheless (2021)

Likes:
1. I'm probably one of the minority who liked this drama and the ending. Give these kids a break. They are in college so they are still immature. And not everyone wants to be in a relationship, the same way that not everyone wants to keep dating. To each his own. What's important is the couple has to communicate and be honest with each other with what they want. Had Jae Eon and Nabi done that in the first place, we wouldn't have a story. Maybe they break up within the year. Or maybe they'll last a few years.
2. Love is a gamble. Who ever you choose , you just need to face the consequences or get out. I was fine whoever Nabi chose to be with, whether it's Do Hyeok or Jae Eon. Just like what the professor said. And as long as you're not hurting anyone.
3. A person can be super sweet in public but abusive in private. A bad person can also change with the right person. Let's not make judgements based on rumors or what other people say. Interesting to me that Jae Eon is made to be a bad guy bit why do Bitna, Sol, jiwan encourage Nabi to go out with him? Either they know the real Jae Eon is nice or they are lousy friends.
3. We as viewers plus all of Nabi's friends are commenting too much on their relationship, just like how we do with our own friends. I realized we should all mind our own business coz we don't know what's happening between them.
4. Best character for me is Kyu Hyun.
5. I also liked the OST.

Dislikes
1. Too much references on butterfly.
2. The second half dragged and were repetitive. 10 episodes could have been shorten to 8.
3. Wished we had more scenes with Jae Eon's pov so we actually get to know what and how he really feels.
4. Wished there were more scenes about their artworks.
5. I didn't like Jiwan and Bitna. Felt bad that Sol and Kyuhyun got stuck with them. I thought they deserved someone better but like i said, it's none of our damn business 😁

Rating: 8/10

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The main leads were cute together

Likes
1. I loved the relationship between Doha and Solhee. I think without the 2 actors' chemistry i probably would have dropped this drama early on.
2. I liked the part when Solhee lost her ability and had to live without it for a while. And when it came back, she still made a decision to stop using her abilitu and instead learn to love and trust the people around her.
3. Minhyun lived a sad life, people around him either didnt trust him or were obsessed with him. Good thing he met Solhee and it changed his life. I wish he continued playing piano at the jazz club.
4. Too bad for Kangmin, he is a nice guy but he didnt trust Solhee enough to tell her that he is sick. Hope he finds someone else too.

Dislikes
1. Disappointed that the ending still focused on Eomji instead of the friendship between Deukchan and Doha, which i thought deserved more appreciation.
2. The neighbors weren't interesting, except for the baker. Wish they paired Kassandra's with the baker instead.
3. Solhee's mom and her dad's story was cringey.

Rating: 8.25/10

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What parents can do for their children

Likes
1. My favorite character is Jang Juwon! His wailing when Jihee died had me in tears too.
2. Kim Bong Seok and Jang Hee Soo were cute. Esp Bongseok who was so fluffy and sweet with a big heart. When he floated for the first time.
3. Lee Mihyun and Kim Dushik live story in ep 8-9 was 🥰🥰🥰. All those glances, the flying donkatsu delivery. First kiss and Dusik floated. "I feel like I'm dying"
4. Lee Jae Man and his son's love for each other.
5. Bungaeman saving everyone in the end with super powerbank energy. The buses he crashed 🤣.
6. Even the Nokor stories were so sad. They were also victims.
7. Ilhwan who became a real teacher to the students.
8. How the parents fought so hard to protect their kids from the evil organization.

Dislikes
I dont even know what to write. Maybe more Kim Dusik scenes. Maybe more episodes (20 eps didnt seem that long). Wishing for Season 2.

Rating: 9.5/10

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I want to travel with Park Ha Young

One Day Off (2023)
"When longing to disappear, I take one day trips. I walk, I eat, and let my mind wander."

Likes
1. I absolutely loved the concept of taking one day trips and I love hearing LNY recite this line in every episode! It felt like she wasn't alone in her trips, that I was also with her enjoying every minute of her escape from reality. I wish I can do the same but I'm lazy and my country isn't that easy to go around if you just commute.
2. I think LNY was perfectly casted to play Park Ha Kyung.. her outfits, her hair, her soothing voice, her laidback attitude. I would love to have a cool friend like her.
3. I like every episode, they were different and each character she met and the circumstances were interesting. If i had to choose my top 3 episodes, i would say ep 3 when she had a meet cute with #KooKyoHwan during the BIFF, ep 7 when she followed a girl to look for bread in Jeju,and ep 5 when she met her favorite cartoonist #KilHaeYeon. The encounters may be random but she (and the viewers) get a little food for thought after them.
4. I also love the guest stars in every episode such as #ParkInHwan in ep 6 as the grandpa who was ranting about kids these days, #HanYeRi in ep 2 as the struggling artist who didn't let go of her dream, and #SeoHyunWoo in ep 1 as the novelist she met in a buddhist temple.
5. The last episode was a little melancholic and underwhelming, as we get to see her dead friend played by #ShimEunKyung and the reason why she took those one day trips. But i also think it was the perfect ending to a thoughtful show.

Dislikes
I cant think of a dislike, except that the episodes were not enough and I want a season 2! And maybe somehow she meets the cute guy from ep 3 again.

Overall this is a peaceful and relaxing watch. If I ever want to disappear, I think I will just rewatch this show again and feel better.

Rating: 9/10

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Light and Shadow

Alchemy of Souls Part 2 (2023)

Likes
1. I liked the chemistry between Jaewook and Youn Jung more than with Jung Somin. Mudeok and Jang Uk to me felt like Master-Student while Buyeon-Jang Uk felt like the real thing.
2. I missed the original Naksu shadow assassin (GYJ looked soooo different as Jin Bu Yeon - the hair, light eyebrows etc) so sometimes I had to stop and think if this was really the same actress or not. Cho Yeong's evolution from the young girl, the teenager that Seo Yul met, to Mudeok, Jin Buyeon and back to Yeong. Still a little bit confusing but I love that she will spend the rest of her life as Cho Yeong.
3. I also love how much Jang Uk has grown since part 1 episode 1, esp now that he is the most powerful mage in Daeho. You dont need to be the king to be the most powerful, as long as you do your job and your passion well.
4. Park Jin and Kim Dojoo are too funny!! I miss Danggu's blonde hair and he didnt get a lot of cute scenes with Choyeon. Of course Master Lee is always all knowing.
5. It's always hard to write a great ending for fantasy dramas so was very happy that this show ended with quite well!!

Dislikes
1. Lots of flashbacks that could have been skipped. I also didnt like that Go Won had many scenes that were unnecessary and the turtle squad, trying make the scene funny. Good thing the turtle actually had a purpose in the story.
2. Seo Yul and Soi's "relationship", and annoying Yun Ok (why is she in this drama?)

Overall part 1 and part 2 could have actually fit in 20 episodes if they removed some of the draggy parts at the start, but also ok that they separated part 2 to give time for people to get used to the new actress/character and the 3 yrs later part of the story.

Rating: 8.5/10

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Juvenile punishment or reform?

Likes
1. Heavy drama about juvenile offenders. Bullying, murder, gang rape. Should they be punished or help them reform? Can they really change? This drama will make you think and this is not just applicable to SK. It's an issue around the world.
2. Realized it's very important for kids to grow up in a loving and stable family/environment since their childhood trauma remains even when they grow up as adults.
3. Liked each of the cases although not always how these were resolved. It also made me think how far should we do our jobs. As judges they weren't supposed to investigate but they crossed the line. Coz if they dont do it who will? Or maybe they need everyone or the system (prosecutors, police, workers) to effectively work together.

Dislikes
Couldn't connect with or care for the two main leads despite their background stories.

Rating: 8/10

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Serving beef is the best

I was smacking my lips and salivating while watching 2 episodes of pure beef goodness *drools*

Episode 1 focused more on the usual beef cuts (usual is 30, but Korea has 120 cuts), bulgogi, barbecue, ribs. I've always wondered why Koreans prefer Hanwoo over the usual like US, Australian, Japanese. I thought it was being nationalistic but after watching, it seems like Hanwoo is superior to the others. I hope I get a chance to try Hanwoo next time.

Episode 2 focused more on internal organs, soups like gomtang, seollongtang, and the process of cattle breeding. Wow! I'm curious to try the different parts of the cow head (there are 10), the beef spine looks weird, the artery looks so good but scared to try it. They also tried rare cow parts like boiling the cow tail, grilling liver steak (marinated in milk) and barbecuing beef tongue.

Now i'm searching for beef for dinner 🤗

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Catching the Mouse

Likes
1. One hell of a ride! It took the basic question of 'nature vs nurture' and put a lot of interesting things along the way. Just when you think you know who the killer is and why, the writer comes up with a sudden twist that makes you rethink what you know. I appreciated that the writer was able to explain a lot of the small clues and questions we have (although most of the ideas were unbelievable).
2. Loved Bareum and Moochi. I wish they were more scenes of them working together. I really like Moochi but sometimes it feels like he is always too late. He is always drunk or away whenever something major happens or cant be reached.
3. I liked Bongyi at the start even though she was a brat. But in the latter episodes her character was just there when convenient. And the romance between her and Bareum was weird.
4. Never liked Hongju. She was a mystery. How can she not call her parents after all this time? Because of guilt? And i find it hard to believe that the father never recognized who she was when she is a famous tv personality.
5. The whole govt conspiracy was interesting but the big reveal wasnt too impactful.
6. I feel bad for Sung Yohan. And Shin Sang. And Bareum. The ending was sad but it was the most appropriate ending.

Dislikes
1. Too long, the middle where Bareum became a vigilante was boring.
2. The final twist in the last 2 episodes was overkill but it answered a lot of my questions.

Rating: 8.5/10

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