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Completed
The Uncanny Counter
6 people found this review helpful
Apr 7, 2022
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.5
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 10

I came for Kim Se Jeong, and stayed for the amazing unlikely hero cast.

Honestly, I ignored this drama for a while. I didn't even bother to check reviews about it even after it repeatedly showed up as a Netflix suggestion. It was only when I started to obsessively watch "A Business Proposal", that I decided to watch this to fill the time in between those episodes. I figured I liked Kim Se Jeong so much in that cute rom-com that maybe I'd like her in this too. I was right about that, but I had no idea I would instantly love this odd group of unlikely heroes just as much. This drama started off grabbing my attention from the very first moments and the pace never slowed down for me. I was intrigued by the mysterious story, impressed with the cheesy but exciting and well-choreographed superhero action scenes, and loved super cute Cho Byeong Kyu as So Moon.

"The Uncanny Counter" in many ways is So Moon's coming-of-age/superhero origin story, so Cho Byeong Kyu being so likable is a huge reason why it works so well. I won't say too much about his journey and how it starts but I will say the permed hair element was a really nice touch. The character is so super sweet and easy to root for, and he's the perfect, believable, choice for this role. The rest of the team is just as perfectly cast. Kim Se Jeong plays the tough and guarded Do Ha Na. Yoo Joon Sang plays tough guy Ga Mo Tak. Yeom Hye Ran plays nurturing mother figure Chu Mae Ok. Their team seems completely mismatched and I think that's what makes this show so good as we learn about "counters" and what they are called to do. I also loved that each counter has their own story and reason for joining the team, their own unique strengths, and none of them really outshine the other. Teamwork is the major theme in this plot, in spite of the focus on So Moon specifically, so it's great that all of the leads shine.

The supporting cast is filled with great characters and performances too. Kim Eun Soo & Lee Ji Won were so great as So Moon's protective BFFs, which is amazing considering the real-life age gap between them. They are definitely #friendshipgoals. Ahn Suk Hwan is funny as the fifth-wheel member of the team and flamboyantly rich Choi Jang Mool. I loved the wholesome grandparents, the equally mismatched "Yung" beings, especially the motherly yet disturbingly creepy Wi Gen. The villains are pretty campy and over the top, but work well with the style of the drama. The real evil MVP, however, is Lee Hong Nae who is so good at being bad, and dare I say he made evil a little too sexy. He is the perfect match for the main team of heroes with a great evil grin and those eyes... I love a good villain and although this show is full of evil types he definitely out-evils them well.

I don't want to say too much about the plot itself because part of the fun of this drama is discovering everything as the main character does. There's a lot of violence, and many bullying scenes, but nothing that I would call gory or scary. The story is pretty dark and often sad, but I would still say it is more of a lighter feel-good drama. The story also has a great pace, with thriller elements and many moments that I didn't quite expect. There are many tropes that you would expect in a show like this, beginning with the infamous white truck of doom, but I applaud the writer for keeping the story exciting from beginning to end. I LOLed, I cried, I cheered, and embraced the blatant messages about the power of having support and alliances and letting go of trauma and guilt.

Would I watch this again? Absolutely. Even though there is a suspenseful element to this story there's so much more than that that makes this drama so enjoyable. It's also inspiring to watch So Moon's determination despite all obstacles, that's a whole mood all by itself. I also think some of the early scenes will hit different knowing how the story unfolds and who the characters are. I'm sure there were a lot of small details I missed.

Overall, I'm so glad I decided to watch this drama. I definitely consider it a new favorite and I am excited about the thought of a Season 2. I would definitely recommend it to fans of superhero stories, movies like the Matrix, or people who love to root for the underdog. This drama is great as a complete story, but I can easily see all the possibilities of continuing the story of this whole "counter" universe and I'd love to see more of this specific team.

This drama is equal parts familiar and original. It makes the unbelievable relatable. It also, like So Moon, surprised me by exceeding my expectations. I can't compare it to the webtoon, since I obviously never read it, but I am almost tempted to, although I would never want to ruin whatever ends up inspiring season 2. Next Season Count me in!lol

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Completed
Sell Your Haunted House
6 people found this review helpful
Jun 20, 2021
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 9.5
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 8.5

A haunted house real estate expert is pretty genius.

"Sell Your Haunted House" is a supernatural thriller with a strong female lead, which for me is the perfect setup for a new drama favorite, but even though I did enjoy watching every episode of this drama I was also slightly disappointed. I loved the whole exorcism world and Jang Na Ra's character being like an angsty superhero. What I didn't love was the anti-climactic relationship between the leads. This drama definitely tells a great and emotional story while still leaving room for humor, but when it comes to the leads this drama seemed to play with my emotions. It does make some sense according to the lore of the show to not have an actual romance fully develop, but I would have enjoyed it more if it did, since it was constantly implied. This is one of the main reasons why, for me, "Sell Your Haunted House" felt like a season one drama. Like an origin story.

Jang Na Ra as bad@ss Hong Ji Ah and Jung Yong Hwa as psychic fraud Oh In Beom definitely work well together in a dynamic duo way. Ji Ah is a psychic Batman, and In Beom is her Robin, and although there is some flirting chemistry, mainly they are there to balance each other out. I did really like the non-traditional gender dynamic with Ji Ah taking the kind of role usually reserved for male leads. She's strong, she's intimidating, she's guarded, but also vulnerable, and as usual Jang Na Ra gives an amazing performance. She rarely disappoints, and I think this is my favorite role I've seen her play. On the other hand, Jung Yong Hwa is an actor I've been pretty indifferent to in spite of liking many dramas he's in. Matching him with such an established older lead could have easily faded him into the background but he holds his own in the story. He also has some fun scenes where he gets to play with variety. I won't overlook him again after this.

For me, the true star of this drama is the story. Yes, It's part melodrama, so there is a haunted by the past element (literally lol) that could have been very cliché but I thought it was extremely suspenseful and interesting. If you've ever lost someone in an unexpected death it'll be hard not to empathize with the storylines, especially the main one, and the themes of guilt and wanting to hold on. The realty angle is also a nice twist on the whole lady ghostbuster theme. The writers really do a good job of marrying suspense with some over-the-top campy moments and characters. The main villian was a little too extreme sometimes but it was also fun to have a character you could absolutely despise 100 percent. It helps that the entire cast is great, although some of the sillier characters made me lower my cast rating. I do have to mention Kang Hong Suk and Kang Mal Geum who help complete the main team, and I really liked them both.

The director was also exceptional and really made this ghost world feel fun like a comic book but still realistic and extremely cool. I'm curious to see what drama he does next.

Would I watch this again? Sure. It would be a little less exciting the second time around, knowing the full story, but it was fun, visually exciting, and touching enough to still be entertaining. I'm more curious about whether or not there will be a season two, which seems very possible by the ending, but I was very satisfied with the ending as is too... aside from the platonic leads.

Overall this is a great supernatural drama that isn't too scary or too silly. It stars such a clever and unique main character and that's enough for me to recommend this drama! Romance fans will probably feel a little disappointed but there are a few cute moments so it's not totally romance-free. It also got me a few times in the feels without being too heavy, although some parts of the story really broke my heart. I can see this show's format having so many possibilities for continuing the story, so if there is a "Sell Your Haunted House: Season 2" I'm Sold!

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Completed
Witch's Court
6 people found this review helpful
Nov 30, 2017
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.5
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 6.0
Once I started watching, I was sure this drama would be the latest addition to my favorites list. It had such promising elements... A strong female lead, a revenge thriller plot, a potentially cute pairing, and a sex crimes focus (which in America is a super timely subject)... but unfortunately I became less excited as the episodes became more formulaic. I still enjoyed "Witch's Court", but I don't think it lived up to it's potential.

The best part of the show, by far,  is Jung Ryeo Won as Ma Yi Deum. She is perfectly cast as the shows anti-hero prosecutor, and who the title refers too. Never has the implied "B" when the term "Witch" is used felt more appropriate. She is ruthless, and clever, and messy, and self serving, and stubborn, and amazing! I fell in love with her arrogant smirk and red lipstick. Even when she was at her worst, I was compelled to cheer her on. If there is any reason to recommend this drama, it is her. She is the best female lead character I've seen in a long time. I just wish the rest of the drama was as solid as she was.

She is matched with Yoo Hyun Min, as prosecutor Jin Wook. Honestly, I found him adorkable. He is the antithesis of her... an extremely empathetic and considerate character, and certainly much more passive and bland. I liked their chemistry too, even if their relationship seemed forced at times. He's definitely more like a sidekick than an equally strong lead. The romance isn't a major focus in this drama anyway, and I think that was a missed opportunity, especially considering the way the plot unfolds for both of them. I think it should have been played up much more, or not added at all, but instead it feels more like it's forgotten until it becomes convenient. Still, I was happy for the lighter comedic moments since the other parts of the plot are more melodramatic

Much of the story focuses on one evil duplicitous character, Gab Soo, which is another wasted opportunity. He is meant to be an utterly ruthless character, but his storyline started to bore me after a while, and unfortunately later episodes revolve mostly around him. I think Jun Kwan Ryul played his character pretty well, making him a more subdued kind of evil, but he just wasn't memorable enough. His story line also went from intriguing to predictable really quickly. I kept waiting for an interesting plot twist, or an unexpected moment, but it never came. He just wasn't a worthy enough rival for such a strong lead.

The rest of the plot revolves around the CAGU prosecutors office and their focus on these seemingly impossible to win sex crime cases. I was impressed to see such taboo subjects explored in these cases, and I did love watching to see what Ma Yi Deum would do to solve them, but even those stories started to follow too much of a predictable formula. Unlike other dramas with similar themes, some airing at the same time, this one often took the safest and most convenient routes in resolving each case.  This could be a good thing for viewers who don't want to watch something that's too dark, but for me it made many of these stories, even the worst of them, pretty forgettable. The ensemble CAGU cast of characters are pretty forgettable too.

By the last few episodes I was barely holding on to what little interest I had left, so the ending felt oddly like it came too quickly and not soon enough.  I'd say the ending was adequate,  but they spent  time showing me what happened with characters I long forgot about, and glossed over some pretty unbelievable plot points.  

So, would I watch this again? Probably not. The story isn't good enough for a second viewing, but because Jung Ryeo Won is so good, it may be worth it just to watch her in action. As for the OST, it's mostly what I would consider her "theme song" being played to cue when she's in full "witch mode". I'd be much more intrigued by a better written second season, than watching this again.

Overall, this felt like a mediocre introduction to an awesome character, almost like an origin story. If they decided on a season 2, I would definitely watch, because that's how much I liked the lead. They would need a whole new writers team, and cast (except for her Jin Wook sidekick). On it's own, this is an entertaining, but pretty mediocre law show. Even so, I'm kinda sad to see it end. 

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Completed
Let's Eat Season 2
6 people found this review helpful
Oct 12, 2017
18 of 18 episodes seen
Completed 1
Overall 7.5
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 5.0
As soon as I finished the first Let's Eat I immediately started watching Let's Eat 2. I was craving more of what I loved from the 1st season. In some ways my expectations were not met, and in other ways they were exceeded. Although the story continues from where the last one left off, it is like it's own stand alone drama. There are new characters, a new setting, and a much darker mood, but the food theme is still there, and the eating scenes are just as obnoxiously foodporntastic.

Yoon Doo Joon is the only returning cast member, which I had mixed emotions about at first, but since Dae Yeong's food appreciation is still what drives the show, I didn't miss the old cast for long. He's just as weird and quirky as he was in the original, with his signature food rants, and charming knowing smile. This time he is matched with Seo Hyun Jin, who immediately made me forget about the previous leading lady (sorry Soo Kyung but it was time to move on lol). My bias may come from how much I loved her in Another Miss Oh, but with her own stand out quirkiness, her portrayal of Soo Ji is the ideal match for Dae Yeong. So with these two leads, I felt like the romance in this version was much stronger. Of course they also share a true love of food... duh, but their chemistry, even away from a plate of food, was super strong. I was a fan of their food banter, and their friendship.

Like the first one, there is also a new strong ensemble cast, including a new dog. The major difference is that the theme of loneliness and depression in this town is much darker, so the characters aren't as fun. There are still a lot of funny moments, and this is still mainly a comedy, it just has less of a feeling of optimism and discovery than the first one did. These ensemble characters are also much messier. They are petty, they curse, they're self destructive, they're manipulative, they drink too much, they lash out... this also makes them a little more realistic. Watching them bond and create friendship is also similar to the original, but don't expect the same light heartedness.

The only character that I didn't like very much was Kwon Yool as Lee Sang Woo. It's not that he's bad in the role, just... well... kinda boring. I know kdrama romance usually thrives on a love triangle, and in theory this one brings up some interesting dilemmas and dynamics, but he's such a bland choice that it was too easy to not care about or root for him. Even his friendship with Dae Yeong seemed a bit forced, but his social awkwardness also added to the character so I'm torn.  I did like that the love triangle seemed less about who would get the girl, and more about each character's self discovery. There's a lot of self reflection in this drama that I appreciated.

Another formula that the show sticks to is an unnecessary thriller element.  The mystery in this version worked better than in the first version, but that's not saying much. It still felt very contrived, and like just an excuse to add drama to the characters' lives.  Don't even get me started on the older woman neighbor... who had me yelling "mind your own damn business" at the screen multiple times. I don't want to mention any of the details at all, to avoid any spoilers, but it's definitely a weak point for the drama, with a lazy resolution.

Let's eat 2 still absolutely lives up to the title, with gluttonous food scenes, expanding beyond Korean food more often, and inspiring food appreciation.
I think I started to get used to the extreme eating close ups, because they started to feel normal, and it felt like there were less food scenes, but those waiting for these moments won't be disappointed.

Overall,  the formula may not be perfect, but it kept me interested enough to binge watch 2 seasons back to back. That says a lot! Would I watch this again? Maybe. In some ways I enjoyed this one more, but I don't feel compelled to watch it again. I would probably only watch this again as part of a set with Season 1, to get my Dae Yeong fix.

While I still can't claim to be a fan of food-centered shows, I would recommend this one, and will definitely be one of the first people at the table to check out Let's Eat season 3.

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Completed
Circle
6 people found this review helpful
Aug 1, 2017
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 9.0
This review may contain spoilers
I think "Circle: Two Connected Worlds" is the perfect sci-fi binge drama I was hoping it would be. With only 12 episodes, and such a compelling story, I easily finished this in two days. The most interesting thing about this drama is how it's literally split into two different stories, so it almost feel like you are watching the original and the sequel at the same time, and you're basically waiting for the stories to eventually connect. The first part is set in 2017 (which is actually the past and called “Beta Project"), and it has more of a sci-fi thriller feel. This story centers around a disturbing trend of suicides at a school that are more than they seem to be. The second half is set in 2037 and has more of a sci-fi fantasy feel with a detective edge (called "Brave New World") which took a little more time to grow on me. I do think the fantasy world was imaginative, yet realistic, for just 20 years into the future (I want those phones), but I still was more into the the story set in 2017 involving the 2 brothers, the suicides, and this mysterious "being". The Brave New World part of the story has more of a dystopian society feel, that is equal parts "ideal" and creepy. I guess which you prefer may depend on what genre you prefer.

Those looking for a romantic drama should know that this falls more in the category of bromance. The story centers around the relationship between twin brothers played by Yeo Jin Goo and Ahn Woo Yeon in the Beta Project episodes, and Gong Seung Yeon rounds out the trio as the mysterious Han Jung Yeon. There are so many twists in the story that I am hesitant to talk about any of the characters too much, but it's fun to figure out who's crazy, who can be trusted, and who the heroes will be. Yeo Jin Goo as Kim Woo Jin definitely has star quality that I remember from "The Moon that Embraces the Sun", and "Missing You", where I think he was better than his "older" counterparts. He is the deserving star of this drama and I think he did a great job. I was initially less impressed by Gong Seung Yeon and her blank face stare, but I really started to like her as well, and I'm impressed by how beautifully she cries.

In the 2037 cast the stand out is Kim Kang Woo as Kim Joon Hyuk. It's initially very hard to figure him out which I think is a good thing for this kind of story. This is the first drama I have seen him in, so I had no expectations for him, and by the end he made me tear up. I also really loved Lee Ki Kwang as Lee Ho Soo, his reluctant side kick. This was another character that really grew on me as the show progressed.

The rest of the cast, in both worlds, were really good, even when some were, almost comically, acting in an over the top manor. The villains in particular were definitely extra wide eyed crazy. But all the characters were played well, and those who had a matching future counterpart were matched pretty well. Even the kids were super cute, so I have no cast complaints.

Now, the story is definitely full of complicated and confusing twists, and some of the logic may not work if you pay too much attention, but in general I thought they did a good job of keeping the story constantly interesting, especially when the two stories started to merge more. There may be some holes in the science that I'm sure you could find, but what I liked about the story was that it was more about the moral questions that the science brought up, than the scientific details. I think they hit on some really thought provoking questions like "What makes us who we are?", or "What creates inner peace?", or "Can science go to far?", or even "Should happiness trump all else?". Those are just a few of the things this drama touched on in this story that I thought were very interesting. There are some other thoughts and themes that would fall too close to the spoiler zone to mention here, so I will just sayI enjoyed the philosophical aspects of this drama as much as the story.

I will say that I have mixed feelings about the end. I think the goal was to leave it open for possibilities of a sequel, or just to keep people thinking. Not every question is answered either, but I think everything that needed to be resolved was resolved, and the rest is just open for interpretation, or a season 2. I could see myself watching this again, because it's not drawn out, and it would be interesting to watch the story knowing how all the pieces fit. I admit that the fact that it's not very predictable is what kept me watching initially, but the story and characters are entertaining, and the surprise element isn't it's only appeal.

Overall this is not the kind of KDrama I would usually watch, but I'm glad I expanded my horizons a bit. I do like sci-fi in general, and love Thrillers, and both of those elements were done well here. This may not be full of rom com antics, but it is not totally without some romantic elements. If you like endearing cops cracking the case, there's some of that too. It's also the perfect length, so there is absolutely no dragging storylines, or rushed endings. I know this personally opened me up to watching more dramas like this one. "Circle" didn't give me the obsessive feels that my favorite dramas give me, but sometimes a really good story told well is all you need!

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Completed
Flower Boy Next Door
24 people found this review helpful
May 4, 2013
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 4
Overall 5.0
Story 3.0
Acting/Cast 7.0
Music 6.0
Rewatch Value 4.0
I was unsure about this drama from the start, and the high review scores vs people warning me not to waste my time didn't help. I finally decided to keep watching marathon style, since I was stuck at home for medical reasons, I thought I would relate to the isolated main character a little. The first few episodes were cute, and interesting, but then it all went down hill for me.

Flower Boy Next Door is all about unrequited love triangles, and stalkers. Almost every character harbors a one-sided crush for another character. At the center is Go Dok Mi. She is a super emo recluse, who I had a very hard time rooting for, or liking. Eventually we learn about the event that traumatized her, and made her so distrusting of people, but it never quite excused her selfish behavior for me.

For some reason, in spite of her personality, she has two men fighting to win her affection. One is the equally emo Oh Jin Rak, who has been obsessed with her for years. The other is the extremely hyper, über cute, and sometimes annoying Enrique played by Yoon Shi Yoon. Yoon Shi Yoon is the main reason I watched this drama, and he was the highlight for me. He is the glue that holds this KDrama together.

The supporting cast was also pretty entertaining, particularly the the web-toon director and Dong Hoon (my favorite couple), though I am not sure what purpose Chef Watanabe actually served. The character Cha Do Hwi was extremely annoying, so she did a great job. I gave the cast a 7, because I could not find any fault with the acting. They did their best with what they had, which was not much.

The main downfall of this drama is the story, or lack thereof. The love triangles initially were interesting but became predictable, and boring, quickly. Even the big reveal about Dok Mi's past started to annoy me after a while. I wanted to yell "get over it" at the screen so many times. I get that it was a really bad thing for her, but they relied on flashing back to that story a bit too much. Then they tried to throw in a pitiful storyline about video game obsessed fans, but it was too ridiculous to be believed.

Although this is mainly a romance, the main couple was less interesting as time went on. It seemed like such a one-sided relationship. Watching Enrique try to cheer up Dok Mi every episode was really frustrating, and they didn't have an exciting chemistry either. It was a struggle to watch the final episodes. They just seemed to stretch out what was already going to be the obvious conclusion. The cheesy expressions of love didn't help either. At the end they tried to tie up the love lives of each character, and even that was super cheesy and predictable. Again, what was the point of Watanabe?

Overall, I did not like this drama enough to recommend it to anyone. I guess huge fans of the actors will be entertained enough to justify the bad plot. It really was a great start in my opinion, but once the couples became clear, the writer apparently had no clue what to do next. If you think you'll like seeing Park Shin Hye and Kim Ji Hoon play two emotionally detached characters who wax poetic about love, then maybe you'll like this more than I did. If Yoon Shi Yoon's smile is all the entertainment you need, then by all means watch this. I barely made it through the first time, so rewatching this is not an option. Maybe I'd youtube a cute Enrique moment, but that's about it.

For everyone else, don't believe the hype. I'll just pass the advice that I should have heeded myself "don't waste 16 hours of your life".

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Completed
My Girl
18 people found this review helpful
Jun 29, 2012
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 5.0
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 7.0
Music 4.0
Rewatch Value 4.0
This drama was so highly recommended by so many people that I finally decided to watch it. I really wanted to fall in love with "My Girl", but It eventually became frustrating to sit through. It took a few episodes for it to grow on me, and I loved the rom-com fueled middle episodes, but I was unimpressed with the final episodes. As a whole, It just failed to leave a strong impression with me. It wasn't great, or terrible. In my opinion it was just mediocre.

I liked the idea of the main character being a good natured con-woman, but I often found Joo Yoo Rin's actions to be really annoying. Lee Da Hae did a great job, even though sometimes she was a bit over the top. She was a good match for calm, and by the book, Lee Dong Wook. I already loved him in 'Scent of a Woman', so I was glad to see him in something else. What I loved most about this drama was their chemistry, and how they began to rub off on each other. I can't say the same about the two supporting leads.

Fans may disagree, but I didn't like Park Si Yeon's performance at all. Not only did her character's actions piss me off, but she just kept making the same expressions over & over again. It wasn't even fun to hate her. She's the main reason my acting score is so low.

Lee Jun Ki's acting was decent, but his character made no sense. He goes from being a mischievous womanizer (though he was a little too girly to make me believe that), to being pathetically obsessed with one girl. It was as if liking Yoo Rin was the equivalent of a lobotomy. I initially liked his character, but by the end his character was no fun at all.

I did like many of the minor characters, and it's always fun to see Ahn Suk Hwan in yet another drama. He & Choi Ran are also in the Hong Sister's latest drama "Big", which I was watching at the same time as this. I liked their romantic storyline, it was cheesy, but cute.

I would call myself a Hong Sisters fan, but I am not a real fan of their first two dramas. This drama relied on so many rom-com clichés, and contrived plot devices. There were some cute funny moments (the accidental kiss), but I didn't find it hilarious, and I think they sometimes relied on too many parodies. Watching all the character "near misses" was starting to drive me crazy, and not in an exciting way. Eventually, almost every character annoyed me, or pissed me off, towards the end. I don't mind a predictable story, but the conflicts became too repetitive, and the characters were too frustratingly stubborn for my taste. I also didn't cry once, I just scowled at the screen. I did like the end scene though. It was a cute surprise.

Perhaps if this were my first drama, my experience would have been different. I think there are so many better rom-com dramas out now, plus this one feels a little too dated (The clothes, the music, the obvious product placements...). The Hong sisters have also gotten much better since then. Overall It was an acceptable rom-com, but I wouldn't recommend it, or rewatch it.

* Sorry fans, I'm just being honest : ) *

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Completed
Café Minamdang
7 people found this review helpful
Sep 6, 2022
18 of 18 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 7.0

A comedy-thriller with Seo In Guk? Count me in!

"Café Minamdang" is a kdrama that does double duty. It's a super silly comedy and a revenge thriller centered around the extremely versatile and talented Seo In Guk. He plays an ex-criminal profiler turned conman shaman on a quest to solve his best friend's murder. I am a huge Seo In Guk fan and I love how easily he can go from dark and serious to over-the-top humor. He is perfectly cast as Nam Han Joon and his antics got me hooked from the very beginning. I think the concept is pretty clever too, since most "psychics" are master profilers, but just know that this drama never takes itself too seriously and takes the humor to ridiculous levels.

The cast is full of fun characters, but I was biased towards the main trio. Kwak Shi Yang & Kang Mi Na are great as Han Joon's Café Minamdang ride-or-die team and they match his craziness well. Baek Seo Hoo is pretty funny too, or at least cute. I really liked all of the main characters except for one, and sadly that was the FL Oh Yeon Seo as Han Jae Hee. It's not that I disliked her completely. I loved that she was strong and determined, but I hated how frustratingly stubborn she was. It just started to feel one-note for too long. I also didn't feel like she was an even match for Seo In Guk when it came to romance or comedy. There was no chemistry, so even in scenes played up for laughs their romance felt forced. They were decent rivals but any attempt at butterflies fell flat to me. I also couldn't take their character's supposed age difference seriously. She looked older than him to be honest.

Seo In Guk had better chemistry with Kwon Soo Hyun who was great as straight laced and awkward Cha Do Won. I enjoyed their rivalry more than the romance. One thing that everyone did well was balancing the funny moments and the genuine crime-solving moments. The jokes didn't distract from the intrigue, it just kept the story from ever getting too heavy, even during sad moments.

Would I watch this again? I'm not sure. I did enjoy watching it week to week but didn't have the same kind of excitement I had for other on-air dramas I was watching. The story was pretty predictable, but the twists were well written and didn't feel thrown together. If the main romance was stronger I would probably feel differently about rewatching this drama but knowing how each mystery gets solved would take away most of the fun I had watching. I could also watch other dramas to get my Seo In Guk fix, but I admit just watching him outsmart everyone may be entertaining enough if I'm in a certain mood. Knowing certain twists ahead of time may make earlier scenes more interesting duringa second viewing too.

Overall, this is good but not great drama. The crimeand corruption stories get a little convoluted and hard to follow at times but it all makes sense and comes together by the end. The revenge story is less "old boy" vibes and more "scooby doo", but know the subjects touched on are not childish at all... including murder, abuse, & rape. Still, I found this drama to be lite and equally corny and hilarious, so if you're not laughing at the cast's hijinx it will be hard to enjoy this drama. As for me, this drama wouldn't make my favorites list but if there is a season 2 (which is totally possible based on the last episode) I would definitely watch.

I will miss Han Joon's knowing smirk, fan waving, and thinking man pose, at the very least.

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Completed
Hit-and-Run Squad
7 people found this review helpful
May 19, 2019
Completed 0
Overall 7.0
Story 6.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 5.0
Rewatch Value 5.0
Based on the cast alone I should have loved this movie but I didn't. I don't watch many Korean movies but when I saw one of my couples from Jealousy Incarnate and my imaginary namja chingu from Lucky Romance staring in this one, I knew I had to watch. They didn't disappoint but the story unfortunately did.

The cast is this movie's saving grace, although the supporting cast is pretty forgettable. Jo Jung Suk
as Jung Jae Chul is unexpected but as arrogantly charming as always. Gong Hyo Jin as Eun Shi Yeon is a good strong female lead, although not as interesting as the male leads overall even though she is the center of the story in some ways. Ryu Joon Yeol as Seo Min Jae to me is the best part of this whole film. I am a fan of his weird quirky charm, which made me love him in the first place, but I liked seeing the action star sides of him too. I can't imagine any other actor playing that role as well.

I watched knowing nothing about the plot, which was a good thing, so I won't give much of it away. I liked not knowing who was good or bad, which was one good thing about the story overall but as a police action thriller it was pretty tame with some cool car chases but not much excitement overall. I honestly didn't care about the story at all until maybe halfway through, and even then it was more about loving Ryu Joon Yeol than it was about the plot.

Overall this movie didn't live up to my expectations, but it didn't quite disappoint either. It was pretty light as far as thrillers go, but not funny or romantic, so it was too tame for my taste. Maybe I'm just not as big of a fan of this type of genre in Korean Cinema, but there were hints at a sequel did leave me a little bit curious about the possibilities. Maybe if I lower my expectations for the next one I will like it more.

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Completed
My ID Is Gangnam Beauty
7 people found this review helpful
Sep 17, 2018
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.0
Story 7.5
Acting/Cast 7.5
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 6.0
This drama is the perfect example why you can't always judge a book by it's cover, or drama by its press pics. Knowing nothing about the webtoon it's based on, I just assumed this would be another cute makeover romance with a love triangle, based in a school. I'll admit that I don't really like school dramas because they can sometimes be a bit too silly and superficial for me, but I decided to give this one a chance. From the very beginning, the story went much deeper than expected in examing the idea of beauty standards, the pressure to be attractive and accepted, and how image and reality can contradict. Sometimes the plot got a bit too preachy when making a point, but I immediately wanted to learn more about Mi Rae and her transformation.

Im Soo Hyang plays Kang Mi Rae, a girl who's "Gangnam Beauty" looks contradict with her shy and insecure personality. I thought she did a good job making Mi Rae sympathetic, and a character I wanted to root for. Sometimes I think she played up the shyness a little too much, and at times her wide-eyed stares felt less sincere and were more annoying. She is matched with Cha Eun Woo as Do Kyung Suk, who plays the emo-est emo rich kid that ever did emo in the history of "Emodom". I thought he played his anti-social hottie role quite well, but he had some wide-eyed extra robotic moments that bordered between cute and laughably bad. Their relationship was pretty sweet, but anyone expecting romance should lower that expectation. Their chemistry is much more awkward than anything. Still cute, but very VERY awkward. Maybe the age gap had a little to do with how tentative they seemed around each other at times, but they still looked pretty good together.

The rest of the cast was good, even if some of them were typical for this kind of drama. I really loved Mi Rae's parents, and liked Do Kyung Suk's family drama. I liked the students, although some were definitely more memorable than others.

Oddly my favorite performance in this drama was Jo Woo Ri as Soo Ah. She definitely helped to keep the show interesting, even though her actions would feel a little repetitive at times. I thought she had the best role and performance.

I know my perspective is different, as an outsider to Korea, but the themes were generally universal and often relatable. I will say their ideas of who was supposed to be attractive vs who wasn't were very odd to me, but the way Mi Rae broke everyone's' looks down was a nice touch. I doubt I will ever really understand the pressure to be attractive in Korea, or how normalized plastic surgery seems to be there, but I think we all can relate to wanting to fit in, and struggling to become comfortable in your own skin when society implies you aren't good enough.

Meanwhile, I am also a person who was distracted by Im Soo Hyang's plastic appearance, but that's probably because the show brings so much attention to her looks, when I would normally just overlook it. At the same time, I loved the way they handled how she used to look, and thought that was a smart choice by the director.

Overall this is a drama that actually tries to say something important, which I appreciate, even if sometimes it was as subtle as a hammer to the brain. It may not get high marks for romance, but they do make a cute unlikely duo, and as a coming of age story I was definitely entertained. This drama also touches on topics like bullying, harassment, sexism, abandonment, image pressure, suicide, domestic violence, eating disorders... without making the episodes depressing. Just consider this a feel-good drama about becoming confident in who you are, and not letting the past dictate your future. I may not have loved it as much as others, but I certainly loved the point it makes.

Oh, and the use of PSY's "New Face" was a cheesy but nice touch!

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Completed
Oh My Ghost
7 people found this review helpful
Nov 22, 2015
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.5
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 9.5
This is a very strange rom com, but in a good way. In many ways it's a love triangle between a shy doormat, a rebellious man-crazy ghost, and a very vain chef. It's also a comedy about a team of chefs in a restaurant (Think "Pasta"). It's also a mystery thriller, which keeps it engaging when the love story starts to follow too closely to the K Drama standard plot. The plot may be a little hard to follow in the beginning, since there are so many characters, but it eventually all comes together. The story also switches from comedy, to romance, to thriller, refusing to stick to one style completely. It's definitely an ambitious plot, but I think Oh My Ghostess succeeds.

The cast is outstanding, and the reason why the complicated story works so well. Park Bo Young is the most impressive in a lot of ways. She switches from timid to bold believably, which is what makes the love triangle work. She has great chemistry with Jo Jung Suk, which is a huge plus, although I was often annoyed by Seon Woo. The scenes when she aggressively propositions him are hilarious, and a nice change from how these romances usually develop. Those scenes are what convinced me to keep watching.

Many of the supporting cast members are as engaging as the main characters. The bromantical team of Chefs, Bing Go the ghost hunter, Sun Ae's father, Seon Woo's mom, Im Joo Hwan's smile... Still, Kim Seul Gi is my favorite of the main cast. I was rooting for her from the beginning, and she is the show's star in my opinion. She made me laugh out loud, and cry buckets, and I looked forward to her scenes the most.

I had to give this show a high rewatch score, because I am already watching it again. Since I know the story now, there are moments in the beginning that I see differently, and it's making me like the drama even more (Especially the first episode). I became so invested in the characters that I enjoy watching the story again from that perspective.

Overall this drama was a happy surprise. It had elements of two dramas I love ("Pasta" and "Master's Sun") while still being original enough to stand on it's own. There are definitely predictable moments, and filler comedy moments, lots of coincidences, and some over used K Drama standards towards the end, but I was still never bored. The thriller element wasn't the strongest storyline, but it was still good, and certainly entertaining. I was happy with how it all ended too, which is important when you have so many characters that you suddenly care about. I definitely recommend watching this one with an open mind. You may not be into it in the beginning, but if you're like me, you soon won't be able to stop watching it, as if you're... wait for it... possessed.

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Completed
My Princess
7 people found this review helpful
Feb 28, 2012
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.0
Story 6.0
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 6.0
Rewatch Value 7.0
I think of My Princess as a typical, cute, romantic comedy. It was perfect to watch while sick at home. Song Seung Hun, & Kim Tae Hee, are really good together, and make a really good looking couple. I loved their chemistry from episode one, and became quickly addicted to their flirtatious teasing of each other. Lee Seol was charming, without overdoing it. As for Park Hae Young/Mr. P, the P could stand for perfect, as in... 'dream man', as in... 'more shower scenes next time, please!!!'

The rest of the cast was pretty good, but not particularly impressive, except for Park Ye Jin. I loathed Oh Yoon Joo, so I have to credit the actress for bringing out so much hate in me. Clearly a sociopath, Oh Yoon Joo definitely was a perfect villain. The other characters weren't really written with much depth in my opinion. I guess this isn't exactly a drama you should expect much depth from anyway.

I think this drama's weakest area is in the writing. I didn't mind the recycled poor-girl-turned-princess story, and I liked that there was, initially, a legitimate dilemma keeping the two main stars apart. My biggest problem was that eventually the story started to go nowhere for too long. The first episodes set the bar high for cute, funny, rewatchable, and romantic moments. The last episodes felt like complete time wasters, and even the cute romantic moments lost some of their spark. The overall ending was fine, but it felt to me like too little too late. I wish that they'd just quit while they were ahead, then my numbers would have been much higher.

I would still recommend My Princess, but if the chemistry in the first few episodes doesn't appeal to you, I would suggest moving on to something else.

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Completed
Goong
7 people found this review helpful
Nov 13, 2011
24 of 24 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.0
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 5.0
Rewatch Value 5.0
I finally got the chance to watch Goong after so many positive reviews, and I was a little disappointed. I loved young Yoon Eun Hye, who was incredibly cute, and knows how to bring on tears like no one else. I liked the rivalry between the two princes, and kept changing my mind about which prince I wanted Chae Kyung to end up with (though it's obvious who it will be). I wish more time was spent on these three, but most of the story revolved around life in the palace.

The drama within the royal family was entertaining, but many of the palace scenes seemed to drag on way too long. Some of the conversations almost seemed as if they were being spoken in slow-motion. Seeing royal tradition juxtaposed to modern life was interesting, but I would have rather seen more romance, or scheming. I guess I expected more romance, and less time spent on a depressing Cinderella story. It wasn't until episode 13 (my favorite episode) that anything really romantic happened. After a while, watching constant fighting was starting to bore me.

I think I would have liked Goong more if it were shorter, and had a little more romance. I also thought the ending could have been much better, especially yul's ending. I now see how much influence Goong has probably had on other kdrama's that I like, since I kept being reminded of them. Though i'm glad I finally got a chance to watch Goong, I am not sure I will watch this one again.

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Completed
Chicago Typewriter
17 people found this review helpful
Jun 4, 2017
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 3
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10
This drama really caught me off guard because I had absolutely no idea what to expect when watching it. Even after binge watching the first few episodes I still wasn't quite sure how it would all come together, but believe me when I tell you that it all does come together perfectly. "Chicago Typewriter" is very impressive considering the fact that this drama incorporates so many genres. It's part romance, comedy, action, thriller, mystery, supernatural, historical, political, and very original. I guess it's fitting that in this story centered around a writer that the writing is so good. It also doesn't hurt that the cast is also phenomenal.

Yoo Ah In leads the cast as Han Se Joo, an arrogant, eccentric, and celebrated young writer, and he nails it. He's unrecognizable from who I saw in "Sungkyunkwan Scandal", but that just shows how much hair can make a difference in appearance... but more about hair later. Im Soo Jung plays obsessed Jeon Seol, who is another unique character in her own right. It took a while before I realized who she was, because I don't watch as many Korean movies, so I basically missed her whole career since "A Tale of Two Sisters" (one of my favorite movies), and "I'm Sorry, I Love You". It's nice to see her mature version, and I'm so glad to see her return to dramas for this one. The main trio is then completed by Go Kyung Pyo, who I don't really want to say too much about, so I will just say he continues to never disappoint. The chemistry between these 3 will stay with me for a long time. For romance fans, yes there is romantic chemistry, but it's their friendship that drives the show, and got me in the feels.

The supporting cast is also excellent. Many of the supporting characters help to lighten moments, or serve as comic relief, which they did well. Quite a few of the supporting cast members, like the main trio, also have to essentially play 2 characters, one in the past and one in present. I loved how well the cast played the roles in the past, and how they were similar to the present but distinctly different, making the past scenes as interesting as if I were watching a completely different show without it ever feeling disconnected. I also loved that all of the characters had some depth, even if it isn't always as obvious at first. The only characters I had any issue with, and the only reason I didn't give the cast a perfect 10, is because of Tae Min and his mom. I was underwhelmed by the mom as such a bitter villainess yet forgettable character. She wasn't necessarily bad, I just didn't find her very interesting. I also thought Kwak Shi Yang started to over act a little towards the end of the drama, which started to feel a little comical. He was excellent in his complicated dual roles, for the most part, but in some of the final moments his acting really bothered me.

A lot of what made this drama so haunting to me is it's connection to the past, which is set specifically during the Japanese occupation of Korea in the 1930's. There's a nostalgic feel, as well as a definite patriotic feeling, but without it being too sentimental or corny. It pays homage to the artists and revolutionaries of that time, and you don't have to have any historical knowledge to be touched by it. Also don't be worried that the scenes in the past will be too heady or heavy. Many of my favorite romantic, comedic, and action driven moments happened in the past. The past and present scenes work seamlessly together, and don't feel as forced as it can sometimes feel in other dramas.

You will notice that I don't really have anything really bad to say about this drama, so my criticism will be pretty petty, but I guess worth mentioning (at least for my own amusement). Like wanting to know who was the horrible barber in charge of Yoo Ah In's terrible uneven hair cut. The present day cut was awkward and just kept getting worse with each episode, but meanwhile his past hair was sexy as hell. See? Petty! lol. I also had a problem with Im Soo Jung trying to play so much younger than she is. Don't get me wrong, she looks great, but there's no way she looks younger than the two male leads, and her mom looked like she could be her noona. Petty? Perhaps, but I cant be the only person who thought that, right? lol.

Ok, back to the writing, which I can't praise enough. I just loved how well thought out it all was. It's also the kind of story that with a second viewing would reveal even more connected moments, so of course my rewatch score is a 10. If you start watching and don't get what's happening and why, just trust that it will all be explained, and that some of the most random moments are actually happening for a reason. I was admittedly confused, but instantly hooked, from beginning to end. The ending is also one of the most beautiful ones I've seen in a drama, and made me appreciate the whole story even more. It's also a serious tearjerker, making me cry for a full hour, without being completely sad, but definitely feeling emotional. Even the preview of the last episode made me tear up. That's the power of good storytelling. I'm sure one can find flaws if they wanted to, but there is really too much done right to focus on any of that. The episodes are also very long, but always felt like they went by quickly to me, which is dangerous when binge watching! You could lose a whole day with no problem.

The soundtrack is also perfect. I immediately wanted to listen to it after watching the last episode. The song "Writing our stories" in particular stands out, and will probably make me tear up every time I hear it.

Overall this drama often feels more like a film than a typical drama, and hits the bullseye on so many of the things that make us fall in love with dramas in the first place without losing it's originality, no matter what genre you prefer. I would definitely recommend it highly, especially for those who rarely leave their drama-genre comfort zones. This one has a little something for everyone. Do you love characters falling in love in spite of themselves? Check. Rom-com chemistry? Check. Or do you prefer Bromance? Check. Do you love rivalries and revenge? Check. Do you love mystery thrillers? Supernatural tales that blur reality? Emotional melodramas? LOL moments? Historical references that make you curious about the events and people that inspire them? Butt-kicking Action? Girls who defy the damsel in distress routine? Crime stories? Or just good story telling from start to finish? Well, "Chicago Typewriter" has checks straight down the list!

I'm so glad that people's posts about this show made me curious enough to check it out for myself. It's only fitting that I shout out the writer Jin Soo Wan, who wrote "Kill me, Heal me", a drama that I also rated a 10. I will definitely look forward to anything she writes in the future. If there was ever a drama that made me appreciate writers, down to the hilarious "Misery" references, the hilarious naming of Go Kyung Pyo's character "Yoo Jin Oh", or even the perfect title choice, it's definitely this one! And if you've ever thought about writing this will either inspire you to do just that, or scare you away from the profession completely!

Ok, enough praise! I guess I'm still on a high from watching this! Who knows, I may even start rewatching it again immediately. Yes, it's really is that good.

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Completed
Are You Human Too?
8 people found this review helpful
Aug 8, 2018
36 of 36 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 9.0
This drama exceeded my expectations so much and is definitely a new favorite of mine. This is less because of the story, even though a romance involving a robot is an interesting premise, and absolutely about Seo Kang Joon as Nam Shin III. This is a character that I won't forget, and his performance is amazing!

"Are you human too?" is a sci-fi drama that plays brilliantly off of the current AI trend. The story explores the idea of androids blending into society, to the point of being mistaken for actual humans, but it does it in a unique way that combines thriller, romance, melodrama, and even comedy. I won't go much into the specific plot, because I think it's fun to watch all the elements unfold, but expect to laugh and cry and swoon. Even the melodramatic and completely unrealistic parts of this story work well because the acting and storytelling are that good.

I've already mentioned how brilliant Seo Kang Joon was as Human Nam Shin and Android Nam Shin III, but it's worth repeating. He manages to make both characters so different that they felt like they were played by completely different people. His leading lady is Gong Seung Yeon as Kang So Bong, which is a part as weird as it may sound, but she manages to make this story seem completely plausible, and their amazing chemistry helps. There were moments when Kang So Bong got on my nerves, but that was because of the character, not her acting. Just like there were moments when I completely loathed Nam Shin because Kang Joon plays a jerk so well. The rest of the cast is pretty brilliant too.
Lee Joon Hyuk as the Secretary was definitely one of my favorites in the cast, and I got my villain fix with Park Young Kyoo and Yoo Oh Sung. Then there's Kim Won Hae who's always good for comic relief. I think there was only one character I couldn't stand at all, and that was Reporter Jo, but maybe that's because her acting as a pretty awful friend was just way too good.

I was tempted to give the story a higher score because it kept me engaged and excited for each new episode from start to finish, but some parts of the story are so over the top ridiculous that sometimes the story felt silly when it wasn't supposed to. The entire drama has a comic book feel, with over the top characters and scenes, so it does work. I just felt like some plot moments were a bit too much.

For romance fans wondering if they will get their romance fix watching this, I say yes, especially if you are willing to be open to what romance can mean. One theme this show explores is human emotions and relationships. Watching an android navigate through this theme definitely made me think about how we connect as humans and what feelings actually mean. This gave even the seemingly superficial moments in the story much more depth and gave all the characters' choices more depth too.

I will also admit that I needlessly worried the entire time watching this about how it would all end, afraid that the ending would be too corny or make no sense, but I actually liked how it ended. There was no rushed or convoluted ending or glaring plot holes, and the story never lost its momentum. It was also emotional without feeling too melodramatic, even with over the top character choices and just a few tropes. I just decided not to think too hard about the logistics of what would happen after the ending. Sometimes thinking too hard about "reality" ruins the magic of the drama.

Overall, I definitely recommend this one to sci-fi fans, romance fans, or any drama fans looking for an interesting drama to watch, and a non-traditional character to root for. Of course, this isn't the only android themed drama out there, but I would dare say that it's one of the best.
I'd certainly watch it again, just for Nam Shin III, because he's that likable. I'm even a little curious to know what a sequel might look like, but I was satisfied with this drama just as it is.

This was definitely some good programming! Get it? *hangs head in shame* Sorry.
Now what will I look forward to at the start of the week... *sigh*


Side note: Korea really should do something about their white truck problem... I'm just saying...

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