I’ve taken a big break from dramas and started watching this recently on a whim. I had already watched a couple episodes in the past but dropped it because i felt the cold case plot in the first couple episodes was very simplistic and one dimensional. That Is the criticism I give of this drama. The smaller cold case sub plots are not great. The villains are very one dimensional and just frustratingly unbelievable. The police corruption moral plot line is very heavy handed. But if you get past this, the overarching time travel plot and relationships among the main characters is very strong. It keeps you guessing and emotionally invested. So it’s not perfect but an entertaining watch after things get moving.

Read More

Bad Guys is a pretty good. If you like this genre, you will probably really enjoy it because it's a notch above most other shows of this type. It's bloody and violent. It might be a little hyped up but at the same time I can understand why people like it.

The GOOD: The best thing about this drama is the 4 main actors. Each actor portrays a different kind of bad guy with an exceptional talent that makes him a valuable asset to a special undercover crime fighting team led by a down and out cop played by Kim Sang Joong. He is great as always. These actors really make you buy into the coolness of their characters. They all have a pretty major dark side, but you just want to see them kick ass. And Bad Guys delivers a lot of slick well choreographed fight scenes where you get to watch them do that over and over and over again. The story moves at a fast pace . Each character's backstory is compelling enough to give the story some heart. I sympathize with these guys and hope they find some redemption.

The BAD: The plot is alright, but there are lots of frustrating scenes where a character behaves in a way that makes me want to just shake him. Several times a character will know a piece of information that would help everyone out but for no explicable reason except to prolong the conflict, they say nothing. There are several things that really don't make much sense, but you just have to go with it because it creates conflict and provides an excuse for another cool fight scene. It's not unbearably bad, but if there were less of those kind of moments in this drama I would rate it higher.

Read More

This is like a ridiculous self-indulgent daydream that you'd be embarrassed to tell anyone about EVER. I had to force myself to make it through the first few episodes even though they feature a couple of my favorite actors. It's pretty cringeworthy. Should I even be admitting that I watched it?

But I have to say after I settled into the right frame of mind to enjoy the tongue in cheek parody of all the different stereotypical kdrama storylines, I actually found myself laughing out loud at the ridiculousness and found episodes 5-8 pretty funny - especially episode 6 which pokes fun at the chaebol storylines.

It's an ad for the duty free shop that features some very handsome actors and pokes fun at kdramas. So don't expect too much. It's a silly way to pass some time.

Read More

Breathtaking and beautiful, a classic. I saw this movie in the theaters when it first came out. Having grown up watching tons of wuxia movies, I was a huge fan of the genre. It didn't matter the quality, I loved it all. So I was blown away choreography, cinematography and epic story of Crouching Tiger when it came out. I feel like this movie elevates the whole genre. I never knew a martial arts film could be so artistic and beautiful.

After all this time has gone by I recently re-watched it because I wondered if I'd still love it as much. I was relieved that it really did hold up after all this time. It might sound a little extreme, but there are certain scenes and choreography that are so beautiful to me that I actually get teared up. The fight scene between Michelle Yeoh and Zhang Ziyi is one of the best things I've ever seen. Just so impressive - both the choreography and the performance.

The plot is kind of typical of wuxia and a bit uneven. It is the weak point of this movie for me. But it's elevated by the stunning scenery, cinematography and choreography. Two stirring love stories - one young and passionate and the other deep and mature - give the story emotional resonance.

Read More

One of the most pleasurable drama viewing experiences I've ever had. The characters were so lovable that they drew me into their world enough to make me binge watch this in just a couple days. It is a fun and light drama about everyday, quirky, cute singles and their friendships and crushes with a back drop of delicious food scenes. Some of the themes brought back memories of the days when I was single and lived alone. If you are the type of person who enjoys watching cooking shows for fun you will most likely love this. Every episode features 3-4 long scenes that showcase the food and the people enjoying it. I can see why some people might think there are too many food scenes but I enjoyed them to the last episode and found myself smiling gleefully along with the characters during these scenes. I thought this was a genius idea for a drama because there is never an awkward way to work the food theme into the plot since we all eat several times a day.

The romance builds slowly and organically. In fact halfway into the drama I was perfectly satisfied that this was just about friendship and food and being single. So as the romance started developing I was taken by surprise and delighted that they could so deftly work in a cute little romance and love rectangle into the show. Though the plot takes its time, I never felt bored because it is more about the people and the food than about finding out what happens next. And many scenes stand on their own as entertaining eye candy which makes it a good rewatch drama for me.

I loved all the characters but especially the 2 male leads. Yoon Doo Joon as Dae Yeong is so quirky, funny and likable - boundlessly nice but unpredictable and somewhat mysterious. I love his didactic food sermons and want to be his friend. Shim Hyung Tak as Attorney Kim is hilarious as the vain but endearingly heartsick boss. He is such a funny character - so handsome, yet ridiculous and lovable in his own way. He cracked me up.

There weren't any moments where I felt frustrated or annoyed with the plot or characters as I do when watching most dramas. There is a small mystery thriller sub plot worked in to provide a little extra drama. And I enjoyed this. It is handled lightly and not taken too seriously, but keeps you guessing.

Now I'm going to watch the sequel.

Read More

This is sweet romantic comedy with likable characters and friendships. Aside from the totally unrealistic premise of a girl fooling everyone into thinking she is a guy for so long, I appreciated how it depicted the couple relationships and problems in a modern realistic way. The 2 leads get lots of warm, sweet and sexy moments together. I love the theme of loving someone so much purely for who they are rather than what they are.

Some small complaints are that the secondary storylines were not as entertaining as the main storyline. The pacing is a little slow. It feels like a leisurely stroll not boring but it could have been a little snappier. I didn't enjoy the gross out bodily humor. I don't think it added to the comedy. It just made me feel grossed out. But these are small things compared to how much I enjoyed the main romantic storyline. Romantic comedy lovers will really like this drama.

Read More

If you are a fan of romantic comedies you have to watch "Oh My Venus" just for the main love story alone. They are so cute together, it will make you squeal and swoon. This was on my plan to watch list forever and put off watching it just because the plot sounds cliche and silly and it is. They didn't do a great job with depicting side plot and conflicts. Many of the side characters' relationships and motives were confusing and not fully fleshed out. There was lots of filler scenes especially towards the end, but all that almost doesn't matter. What the writers and actors got right was the romantic relationship which is really the heart of it. The negatives don't detract that much from the pleasure of this drama for me because the plot contrivances don't last too long or cause too much unnecessary angst. There is a favorable balance of the good versus the bad in terms of screen time.

The 2 main leads carried this drama. I liked So Ji Sub in "Master's Son" but I LOVED!! his character in this drama. I don't think a personality like him exists in real life, but I guess that's why I am thankful for dramas. His character Kim Yeong Ho is the capable and tough protector that those close to him all depend on. But he also shows a vulnerable and sexy side and an unwavering devotion to the woman he falls for. I really liked Shin Min Ah as Joo Eun too. Her character is bright and cute and is a good match for Yeong Ho. Their relationship is reciprocal and caring and you can feel why they love each other. Together they elevate an uneven and cliche-ridden plot making this one of the more pleasurable and easy to watch shows I've seen. This caused me lots of missed sleep this week. I easily watched the whole thing in 4 days.

Read More

Secret Garden slowly worked its charm on me. It took me awhile for me to get into it. But I am really happy I kept watching because it turns out to be one of my favorites. By the end, I felt like the characters had become my friends and I was sad to not see them anymore. It seems a silly reason, but the wardrobe and hair didn't do it for me. I'm pretty sure some of the wardrobe was intentionally silly to be funny, but it bugged me enough to make me slow to warm to the characters.

Some of the interaction between the couple- particularly in the first part - seemed repetitive. The plot felt kind of slow for me at first. But once it got going there are some really charming, funny and romantic moments in Secret Garden that makes it all worth it. The body switching provides some light fun. Joo Won and Oska are really endearing and funny characters. The relationship between the 2 cousins is heartwarming. Joo Won is somehow arrogant, funny and lovable all at once. It is worth watching just to enjoy these characters. Overall it is really charming, funny and romantic and worth the time.

Read More

Inspirational story. This biographical drama is a heartwarming and sometimes heart wrenching story about a hapless, irresponsible guy who finds his calling as a chef and goes on to become the master chef for the Emperor of Japan. One of the best dramas I've watched yet, this underdog story set in the early 20th century hooked me from the first episode to the last and had me binge watching it all week.

Based on a true story, the characters are fleshed out people who support and believe in each other. Sato Takeru portrays Tokuzu so well, I can't believe he is the same guy who plays the assassin swordsman in Rurouni Kenshin. I have a lot of respect this actor who can perform such demanding action scenes and then do such a different role so well. Starting off portraying the younger troublesome Tokuzo, he convincingly shows the character's development as he becomes a mature man with great responsibilities during turbulent times.

There is a touching love story, but it is not the focus of the the drama. Foodies will enjoy the attention given to food preparation and the drama and trials of becoming a chef and working in a kitchen. Though it is a historical drama about a chef, anyone can relate to it because really it is about finding your dream, striving for it and the family and loved ones that support you along the way. It reminds you to think about how you are living and working and whether you are putting your heart into everything you do.

Read More

Fun, crazy, over-the-top, cutesy romance, crime, superhero action, girl power story. The show is a mashing together of many different types of stories.The main reason to watch it is that it is the cutest, swoony-est romance that I have seen in a long time -maybe even ever. The couple is so adorable. The 3 main leads are all really good. Ahn Min Hyeok especially is so cute when he is acting all goo goo over Bong Soon and their PDA scenes are really amusing. It's hilarious to watch. The romance is really cutesy but it grows and deepens into something really touching as the story progresses.

Then there is the dark serial killer storyline that is not that different in tone than an episode of SVU. It adds some drama and danger to the main romantic storyline. There is the fun superhero action story aspect where you get to see a girl getting the best of everyone and being the main hero instead of the guys. There is the slapstick gangster storyline which was funny sometimes, but sometimes not so much.

It can be a jarring mashup, but overall it is a fun show if you don't take it too seriously. If you have a low tolerance for a slightly overactive plot, slapstick humor or dark crime you might not like it. But I loved it and looked forward to each episode. It's the funnest most romantic show I've seen in awhile.

Read More

An addictive family melodrama teeming with villains, family secrets, greed, jealousy, evil stepmother and siblings, kidnapping, parents and children torn away from each other, coincidences galore, unrequited love, and a brother against brother battle over birthrights. It pits good against evil. The bad characters are so, so bad that you really can't take it too seriously. And they get away with so much for so long. I don't think I have ever hated any drama villains as much as I do the villains in King Baker Kim Tak Goo. The good characters represent the hope that goodness and sincerity and the underdog can prevail in the face of overwhelming adversity. But with all this drama, my favorite part of the story is Tak Goo striving to learn the art of baking and the master's baking competition.

I had a hard time watching the first part of the drama which sets up the characters and the villains because I can't stand watching bad things happen to little kids. And the villains do so many despicable things that I had an upset feeling in my stomach watching it. I almost dropped it. But after getting through the beginning, I enjoyed the middle and end of the drama. Though Kim Tak Gu is so good that he's very unrealistic, I have a soft spot for him because I like to believe that the qualities of hopefulness and goodness can actually be such a strength in life.

Though much of this is a stereotypical melodrama / soap opera with the archetypal good and bad characters and over-the-top plot, the baking story element gives it something different and refreshing. And without giving away the story, there are certain elements that didn't turn out in the stereotypical way as well -which I appreciated. Enjoyed this overall.

Read More