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Perfect Score because it's Perfect for me.
"Vincenzo" is my ideal drama. It is suspenseful and ridiculous. It is a revenge thriller, a comedy, a romance, filled with action and touching moments, and some of the most literally mouth-open-shocking moments I've ever seen in a drama. It's actual LOLing and cheering moments. It's plot twists I could have never guessed. It's a cast full of characters I can never forget. I didn't even hesitate to give this all 10s. From beginning to the end Vincenzo did not disappoint and even exceeded all of my expectations. I was hooked from the start.The cast is amazing, but Song Joong Ki as Vincezo is pretty iconic. He's so cool and nonchalant with his signature gold lighter that I totally bought into the Mafia consigliere plot from the very first scene... even with what is probably not the greatest Italian ever spoken (lol) I was sold. I love villains with depth and this drama is filled to the brim with them. Vincenzo, even with his mostly unbothered attitude, was such a nuanced character. Joong Ki with just a subtle facial expression would reveal so much. I loved this about him since "Sungkyunkwan Scandal". He is matched with Jeon Yeo Bin as Hong Cha Young, a lawyer of questionable morals, who I also instantly loved. She is strong and smart and completely goofy and can keep up with Vincenzo without crossing the moral line. Their chemistry is incredible, you can feel it through the way they just looked at each other, and although romance is never exactly the center of this drama the way their connection grows from beginning to the end makes it one of the things that made me love watching so much. They are a dream team - an ideal partnership. Think of any romance in this drama as growing love and respect more than cute moments, although there are a few replay-worthy classic romance scenes. Rounding out the leads is Ok Taec Yeon who is also brilliant and I was surprised I loved him so much in this. Is this a love triangle situation? In many ways yes, but definitely not in the way you probably expect. This is definitely a breakout role for him. Just the way he would call Ms. Hong "Sunbae" is an example of the subtle things that he did so well. All three of these characters have moments that are over the top ridiculous, super intense, as well as more intimate and emotional, and they each showed so much range. I was extremely impressed with all 3.
The rest of the cast is equally amazing. Again, many of these characters are super over the top but they still manage to add layers to make them feel care-worthy and relatable and not just characters to REALLY hate or comic filler. The villains are satisfyingly and even frighteningly evil. The heroes are unexpected and hilarious (think Kung Fu Hustle). I wish I could give every single character specific praise but that would lead to spoilers and the less you know when watching the better. This cast has absolutely no weak links. Not one.
That brings me to the writing and directing which I applaud for keeping me excited for every single episode. 20 episodes later, with each episode over an hour-long, I still wasn't ready for it to end. Normally I'm not that interested in business corruption plots but because it was so character-driven I couldn't help but care. There was a perfect balance of scenes that made me cry and laugh and gasp. The ending was also well done and so satisfying without making things too happy or too depressing. If you're looking for a realistic story just remember this is campy as much as it's suspenseful so some scenes are unbelievable in the most entertaining way. There are tropes but they are done so well it reminds me why those tropes work. The pace made every episode fly by. The cliffhangers at the end of each episode made the time until the next episode drag. I was anticipating how certain characters would get what they deserved and I loved how creative the revenge was. Those who get to just binge it all now are super lucky. Speaking of binging...
Would I watch this again? I already did. lol. Once I got super hooked I decided to rewatch older episodes during the week while waiting for the new ones. Yes, I was that obsessed. Yes, It was still good the second time, and some moments were even better when already knowing what was to come. I can see myself easily watching this multiple times.
I thought the soundtrack complemented this drama perfectly too. Whether pumping up the action sequences or the sweet and sentimental "Is this love" song or the music to end each cliffhanger or the monks' wedding song... I thought the music always worked so well with the story and was enjoyable but never too distracting.
My only complaint, and it's a minor one, are the ridiculous product placements. The show is so campy that it almost felt like a wink to the audience, but there really are so many obvious product spotlight moments. I say this even as I purposely made myself a cup of maxim coffee (yes the yellow packet) to watch the finale. Lol. I also had Makgeolli several times while watching. Con-grat-u-laaaaa-tions, they totally got me!
Overall, this is the most fun drama I've watched in a loooooong time. Please note that when I say fun I don't necessarily mean cute or light but rather exciting and thrilling. At its core, this is still very much a revenge thriller with lots of violence, action, and brutal deaths. If you're squeamish the violence is never too gratuitous but it isn't tame either. Also, If you like action and fight scenes there are lots. Even what looked like a nod to Bruce Lee that I appreciated.
Three strong themes that impacted me...
1. It takes a devil to take on a devil.
2. Things are rarely what they seem to be on the surface.
3. The importance of family.
The last part really got to me. I caught on pretty early that a show focused on a Mafia anti-hero would probably be about family but this theme, even in its silliest moments, really touched me. If you can handle rooting for a not-so-good guy, and the violence (which isn't too excessive but definitely the kind you should expect from a Mafia revenge story) this is a must-see drama. Without a doubt, "Vincenzo" is one of my new drama favorite dramas of all time. I think I even love corn salad after watching this! "Vicenzo" definitely lives up to the hype. I would be extra hyped if there were plans for a 2nd season, but even though I already miss it, and the ending certainly leaves room for one, that's probably overkill and I would also hate to ruin such a good thing. As it stands now this is a drama that ends on a high entertainment note and gets a standing ovation and multiple "Bravos" from me!
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Brilliantly Brutal
"Squid Game" is a tough watch. Really tough. If you don't like extreme violence, or seeing blood, this drama is not for you. What I loved about "Squid Game" is that it isn't just mindless violence. In this case, the violence is important to the story, and the story is much more than the brutality of all of the games. For the sake of avoiding spoilers, I will avoid talking about the games specifically, but the childish and cutesy presentation of each game juxtaposed to how anxiety-filled and traumatizing they were is definitely a highlight of this season, and probably the main reason for its popularity. It is definitely what initially sucked me in, but it was the characters that kept me watching.The main lead is Lee Jung Jae as Seong Gi Hoon (or #456). We get to know him as a likable screwup with a gambling problem and a divorced father of a young daughter. He is easy to root for from the start even when his choices are frustrating. I love that through him we can see how good people can make bad, damaging, and even selfish decisions, and it helps that he is extremely relatable. He is approached by Gong Yoo in a brilliant cameo that leads to him joining these mysterious games.
The games are where we meet the majority of the rest of the cast. They are a random group of people desperate for money that we soon learn to love and hate. Yes, many of the players are the equivalent of the "red shirts" on Star Trek, but there are also many memorable players. Besides the obvious leads like Park Hae Soo as Cho Sang Woo (#218), Gi Hoon's childhood friend now turned desperate failed small-town success, or Jung Ho Yeon as Kang Sae Byeok (#67), North Korean refugee turned master thief, there are quite a few characters that stand out and kept me invested while watching. I absolutely loved Anupam Tripathi as Ali Abdul (#199) and Oh Young Soo as older and wiser Oh Il Nam (#1). I think of them as the main squid-squad.
I do think the thug characters were a bit stereotypical but also well played. especially the dynamic between #101 & #212. Of course, I can't forget Wi Ha Joon as Officer Hwang Joon, who I also liked and I appreciated that on his obligatory quest for the truth he didn't make many silly decisions, and was clever instead of going for the too emotionally invested to be smart trope. Then there is Lee Yoo Mi as #240 who is another amazing standout player. The only characters that were bad... really bad... were the spectators. Their scenes were so long for the acting was so terrible. Distractingly terrible. I know English-speaking characters in KDramas are usually pretty bad but I wish for such significant roles that they could have been better.
Would I watch this again? Definitely, and that's saying a lot considering the extreme violence. It's insanely popular for a reason, and I'm sure I will pick up things I missed when watching it again. I am also curious about watching the dubbed version (Which I never do normally). There are a few times when the script's pace slows, but being such a short series it's easy to just binge watch in a day or two. I was intrigued and engaged the whole time and only took a break from watching when the episodes became more emotional (episode 6 had me ugly crying), but was also my favorite episode. There are also countless theories to explore to keep you viewing some things very differently.
The suspense is consistent throughout this drama, even if some parts of the story felt stronger than other parts. There was one major plot twist that I expected from the beginning, and another that took me by surprise until the moment it was revealed, but either way, it was entertaining watching how it would all be revealed. I do wish they gave it a more definitive ending than just leaving it open-ended, possibly for a season 2, or maybe just to keep us thinking. The lack of a neat ending made it a more haunting story which works too. You can definitely say that the plot isn't perfectly neat, or even completely original... (you know the comparisons already "Hunger Games"..."Battle Royale"..."As God Wills"...), but the execution of the plot (No pun intended lol) is where it excels. Just the idea of us watching the games just like the VIP observers in the show is very meta and disturbing. This drama is disturbing.
Overall, "Squid Game" is a great dystopian spin on capitalism and greed, and human nature/survival instincts. I love stories that explore the good and bad of humanity, and this takes those questions to the extreme. I also love stories that make the viewer question what they would do if the stakes were extremely high, and that's where this drama more than succeeds. Plus it's visually iconic. The sweatsuits, the guards, the giant girl at the tree, those stairs... so many images are now permanently a part of pop culture because of the brilliant direction. I'll never look at shapes the same way again!
I still don't quite understand how you play the Squid Game... it looked kinda like full contact hopscotch gone sumo on a mini baseball field lol! Now that I think about it, children's games can get pretty rough! But I do know that as far as dramas that live up to the #1 on Netflix hype goes, this one definitely wins a spot on my KDrama favorites list!
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Park Min Young and Park Seo Joon are a romantic dream team! Their chemistry, their comedic banter, and emotional moments are flawless. A narcissist male lead is nothing new, but Yeong Joon takes this trope to a whole new level. He is unapologetically egotistical, but early on we start to see that he may be much more considerate than he appears. Secretary Kim Mi So is his perfect work match, but it soon becomes clear that they compliment each other in other ways as well. I never got tired of watching these two together. It doesn't hurt that they look amazing together (with an amazing wardrobe too). Whether their scenes were ridiculously comedic, tragically melodramatic, or beautifully romantic, I loved every moment of watching them together. Their characters were so well played that even their smallest comedic nuances were on point. I also want to give a shout out to Kim Mi So's epic ponytail! I swear it was it's own character. Another shout out to Yeong Joon's house, which is my dream home from Secret Garden (my all time favorite drama, which probably explains why I like this one so much)
The rest of the cast is just as good, and well played. Sure, many of them are comedic, even silly, but every single character is strong on their own, even if they are just for comic relief. I am not always a fan of Korean humor, and sometimes it can be a little to corny for me. In this drama, some of the silliest characters that I thought were annoying initially, became some of my favorites. This is especially true of the work staff, who were such a great ensemble. The mvp being Hwang Bo Ra, who I thought I would hate, but often made me unexpectedly laugh the most. I even liked the cheesy graphics and sound effects. The only character I could think of with any weak acting moments was Lee Tae Hwan as Yeong Joon's brother. Since he had one of the most melodramatic parts in a cast full of comedic ones, I'll give him some extra credit for that.
At some point in the middle there is a major departure from comedy that goes into melodrama, and even the thriller genre a little bit. The reason why I think this worked was because it all helps to better understand the characters. They also were even able to still find some humor related to that storyline, so that it didn't seem completely out of place to me. It's hard to say too much about the story without giving it away.
It was very surprising to me just how much I liked the story. I definitely started out not wanting to see these two together, which I think is the vibe the show purposely gives you. The rest of the show reveals that there's so much more to the story than what it seemed like initially. Some of the story is admittedly unrealistic, and super "convenient", but I can't think of a single hole or flaw. Even the supporting characters had stories that I loved, and there were a few random early moments that I forgot about, but when reintroduced they made perfect sense. Maybe it helped that they had something to adapt from, because even though the plot had some very cheesy moments, the storytelling remained impressive.
I can only give the soundtrack a 9 because none of the songs were amazing to me, but the music in the episodes, especially during the comedic moments, always complimented the scenes perfectly. Also, minor spoiler, Park Seo Joon does sing, which is hard to be mad at.
My rewatch score is a 10 because I'm already starting over from episode 1. What I already notice is that the show is even more entertaining knowing that there's more to certain scenes that I missed the first time. So nothing is lost by knowing what will happen, in fact, it makes the story a little better. I also wasn't ready to say goodbye to this cast yet.
Overall this is exactly what I love in a romcom drama... a romance I can root for, and episodes that entertain me from beginning to end. Kim Mi So and Yeong Joon are now among my favorite Kdrama couples. I loved both actors in dramas previously, but for me this is them both at their best. "What's Wrong With Secretary Kim?" is the most charming romance I've seen in a while. I think it's proof that a seemingly simple drama can make a strong impact.
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This show basically is about stalking, so if you don't find stalking cute/romantic, then you will probably hate this drama. It takes the opposites attract theory to the extreme, but as the story progressed their relationship started to make more sense. I haven't seen the other versions, or read the manga, so I can't compare it. I wouldn't call Playful Kiss one of my favorites, but it is worth watching.
*beware of fan commenting, especially if you are unfamiliar with the story, because they end up spoiling everything!*
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Slow Burn Sageuk
"Our Blooming Youth" is a tough drama to review. On one hand, it is one of the few political power-based sageuks that had a story that kept me interested, but the story and romance, and mysteries all happen at a snail's pace. Thankfully the cast is great, the leads are charming and likable, and there are entertaining comedic moments, otherwise, this drama would have been extremely boring for way too many episodes. The plot often took too long to explain the obvious, and the corruption plot was very confusing to me until the final episodes because they waited so long to show backstories. Still, I think the slow pace also gave us time to get to know all of the characters better and I really did grow to care about many of the characters.The show stars Park Hyung Sik as the charming prince and he is perfectly cast. He is matched with Jeon So Nee as Jae Yi who meets him in disguise in order to clear her name. From the beginning, I loved that they were both clever and brave fighters, which made their chemistry seem natural and evenly matched. There were definitely times when her actions frustrated me, and also times I wished their relationship would progress more, but they did stay true to the tragic mystery and corruption plot instead of just taking a full romance detour, which I can appreciate too. The rest of the main characters are just as charming.
Pyo Ye Jin and Lee Tae Sun had their own cute chemistry as master and apprentice. Yoon Jong Seok played loyal and stoic well, and Heo Won Seo was super cute and one of my favorites in this drama.
Another favorite of mine was Jung Woong In who just plays evil so flawlessly. Just his creepy smile alone is epic.
There are no weak links in this entire cast except for maybe Im Han Bin as the younger prince, but I'm going to blame that on his awful wigs, not his performance. You know the cast is good when you genuinely care about what will happen to minor characters as much as you care about the leads. I also appreciated that the story gave these characters fuller storylines that helped create well-rounded characters not just cliches you expect to see. I empathized with some villains as much as I empathized with the heroes. Not a single character felt like filler. That's one thing the writers did very well.
What I wish the writers did better was make a less confusing mystery plot. It was only in the last 2 episodes that I was finally able to understand what had happened in the 18 episodes before. This plot had poisonings, massacres, ghost stories, revenge, gaslighting, betrayals, and a rag-tag mystery-solving squad but so many scenes went over my head as I struggled to make sense of it all. I think that's the main thing that stopped me from loving this drama even if it all made sense by the end.
Would I watch this again? Maybe. It is so slow-paced, but maybe binging it would help. I think knowing the full story may help me pick up on things I missed if I watched for a 2nd time. There are also cute and funny scenes but I'm not convinced there were enough to make me want to watch this all again. Knowing what will happen also dulls a lot of the initial excitement.
Overall, this is a good historical drama but you have to really be in the mood for a slow-to-reveal mystery. There is romance, it's one of the main plots of the story, but don't expect too many actual romantic moments, which may disappoint romance fans. If you are a Park Hyung Sik fan he will not disappoint. Royalty looks good on him. If you watched enough sageuks a lot of the plot will feel familiar but the overall story is original enough to stand on its own. I am curious to know what the CDrama version is like, but I'm not sure I'm curious enough to actually watch it. I would recommend "Our Blooming Youth", even if I still don't understand the title, and just tell folks to grab plenty of popcorn for the slow pace and trust all roads to lead somewhere satisfying eventually. I also loved the themes of trust, loyalty, and true friendship! Like an act of well-planned revenge, give this story time to build to make the best impact. Dragging or not this drama definitely made me glad I watched by the end.
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I came for the chemistry and stayed for the Female Lead!
I was looking for a drama featuring great chemistry and Hyena came highly recommended. I wasn't excited by the rival lawyers synopsis, which I thought would be boring, but Kim Hye Soo as Jung Geum Ja is so dynamic that I was never bored. This is the epitome of a strong female lead drama. She's a grown woman and she does whatever she wants! It's refreshing to see it, even when her methods are super sketchy. It took a few episodes for me to really get into the story but once I did I was hooked. Yes, this is a romance with great chemistry too, but it's mainly about Jung Geum Ja being unapologetically bad@ss and unconventionally sexy. Almost Sexy-"Signal" lol"Hyena" doesn't quite reinvent the wheel and follows the usual cliché of rivals turning into teammates and more but it does have a unique beginning. Their initial scenes together truthfully didn't seem all that interesting, but soon it all comes together in a way I didn't expect, so I won't spoil it. Sure, some moments are a little corny, but it was fun watching the leads play off of each other. Geum Ja is ambitious, ruthless, and rulesless and is matched with Joo Ji Hoon as Yoon Hee Jae an arrogant and blunt high-end lawyer who is not used to losing. I loved that he also has a clear sensitive/petty side as well, which made him feel less like a stereotypical character. They are definitely well matched, and both characters I wanted to root for, even when on opposing sides.
Another plus this drama has is that the entire ensemble is great! There are many memorable supporting cast members that I liked, even with much smaller parts, especially as they learned to work together as a team. Some of the clients and rival lawyers were less interesting, but once Jung Geum Ja was involved no scene was ever boring. I definitely have to shout out Oh Kyung Hwa as he secretary Lee Ji Eun who was my favorite of the supporting cast, and a great side kick/ride or die character. I loved her subtle reactions from the sidelines too.
If you are not the biggest fan of courtroom dramas or business corruption dramas, like me, don't worry too much since most of this story is character driven there's an even balance. It's not just about the cases and clients and is often more about how the main characters rise to each challenge. It did help that their cases involved the same related characters, so there's no overload of unnecessary new storylines. There are some scenes that I didn't care as much for but they were never long enough to make the story drag. I do wish Geum Ja's personal story got a little more attention, but what they did show was still enough to understand her. The pacing of the episodes are really good and actually get better as the story progresses, building up to a satisfying ending.
Would I watch this again? Maybe. The banter between the leads and Geum Ja's antics are good for a second viewing, but I would be tempted to skip too many scenes without them since I know how it all turns out. There aren't many specific rewatch worthy scenes either . However, I would definitely be interested in this writer creating a new strong female lead drama. We need more!
Final verdict? This drama met my chemistry expectations and surprised me with a character I won't soon forget. I didn't love it enough to add it to my favorites list but I would definitely recommend it as worth watching. This is a grown up drama for people who like to root for a flawed anti-heroine. It has some suspense elements but it's still mainly a rom-com as much as it's a court drama. I didn't mean to binge watch this so fast but I could not stop watching! Did I care about who worked where, and who owned/lead what business? Not even a little bit. Neither did the Geum Ja though... which was fun to watch. She cared about winning, and win this drama does.
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I admit that I am already a huge fan of Park Min Young at this point (Sungkyunkwan Scandal, City Hunter, Healer, Queen for 7 Days, and especially What's Wrong With Secretary Kim), but I wasn't sold on the male lead who I only really liked in Coffee Prince back in his younger emo days. Together they have a grown and sexy chemistry that makes even the most mundane moments hotter than I expected, especially after the rather dull first episode. Sure, they are brought together by the usual clichés, but there's a reason why certain clichés continue to work, and they are what makes this drama work so well.
The rest of the cast is generally good, with a few favorites in minor roles (like hilarious Park Jin Joo, and
Kim Mi Kyung as another cool mom, but I also loved her in Healer too). There are also characters that I should have loved more but didn't. I thought Kim Bo Ra as Cindy was as annoying as she should have been, but too boring to really care about. I also found the object of all this fangirling, One as Cha Shi An, to also be boring. I guess his purpose was mainly to be cute anyway, which he was. I also think Kim Sun Young made the most out of her silly role and was definitely entertaining.
As for the story, it starts off as really silly, which is why the addition of melodrama seemed out of place when it became the main focus. The story is full of repeat chance meetings, misunderstandings, a 2nd lead syndrome worthy bff, and the KDrama romcom staple... "The fake relationship", but the writing does tell a complete story, and everything does come together and makes sense in the end (even for minor characters), which I appreciated. However, I still found that there were too many times, especially in the final episodes, where I was completely bored. I also didn't feel any connection to most of the more emotional parts, which seemed to resolve too quickly and neatly to be engaging to me. The comedy parts were also too silly for me, and the Ryan = Lion jokes definitely got old quick! If it weren't for the romance, I would have dropped this one for sure.
Would I watch this again? Actually Maybe, although I'd be tempted to skip a lot of parts, and maybe skip the last few episodes completely. I am also not a fan of the soundtrack, which was sweet and cute which sometimes clashed with the maturity of the story, but I guess it goes with the sasaeng vibe. That "precious little girl" song was especially irritating to me though.
Overall, I understand the appeal of this drama. I think it's a hit for the two leads, although the story is pretty dull for a romcom in my opinion. I would still recommend it for romance fans especially since I think they are one of the best pairings I've seen this year so far. Also, it is a decent story if you give in to the tropes and predictability. Just know that it's not exactly as lighthearted as it seems initially, but it's also not too heavy with drama either. I'm definitely not fangirling over the writing, but maybe I am over
Park Min Young a little who's fast becoming my romcom queen.
Also, no matter how cute and relatable they tried to make them, sasaengs are still pretty creepy to me! o.O
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The cast was great. Kim So Yeon is great as the by the book Sun Jeong. She was the polar opposite of her role in Prosecutor Princess, which I hated her in,so that was already a plus for me. Jung Kyung Ho, as the revenge driven Min Ho, was also great. Although their chemistry is a little more reserved, I loved watching their developing romance, and they did have great chemistry. I thought Yoon Hyun Min was good too, and made for a great love triangle initially, but eventually his character became such a cliché that it was hard to take him too seriously. This is also one of these dramas where the supporting characters really stand out. Jo Eun Ji (my favorite Kdrama bff), Lee Shi Eon, and Ahn Suk Hwan were just as engaging as the leads to me. Their relationships to the main characters were some of my favorite moments in the show, and Ahn Suk Hwan was the only actor who actually made me tear up. I also liked the mysterious Han Ji Hyun, for her subtly sinister addition to the cast of characters.
Would I watch this drama again? Possible, but not likely. There are far too many frustrating moments, so I would probably just skip to the parts I liked. Also, knowing for sure what will happen next, makes the predictable parts even harder to sit through.
The last episode was satisfying, but a bit melodramatic. I also think it was the perfect length, not too long or short, and no moments that the story dragged (I watched the entire show in a few days).
Overall, I would recommend this drama for romance fans, though not as enthusiastically as I would recommend others. The humor and suspense also makes it good for those viewers who don't want to strictly watch a love story. I would call this a light romantic melodrama, and a good show to watch if you want a break from more intense shows, without going for straight fluff. That's exactly why I watched, and I'm glad I did.
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Scam-Likely just got real! o.O
It's been a while since I watched a good Korean Horror/Thriller so I was excited to see this. It may not be perfect but it won't disappoint fans of the genre. "The Call" plays on "when the past meets the future" tropes but I think the story is really fun (if you find creepy scares fun) and pretty original. It stars Park Shin Hye as Seo Yeon, who returns home resentfully to care for her sick mother. She loses her phone on the way there and so she starts using her landline phone at home. That's when things start to get interesting.Park Shin Hye is good. I have found her performances to be a little boring lately, but she delivers on the tears and scared gasps necessary. She doesn't necessarily bring anything special to the role, but she does play it well. In contrast,
Jeon Jong Seo as Oh Yeong Sook is amazing! It's hard to say too much without giving the story away but she is the highlight and true star of this film. I will also give an honorable mention to Lee El for being just the right amount of sinister as Yeong Sook's mother. I loved how mysterious the past scenes were, especially in the beginning, but some of the beginning phone calls may seem like they drag for a horror movie. Just trust that it will all come together and the pace will definitely pick up to feel more like a traditional horror movie.
The rest of the cast is great too, although they definitely play up some of the campy and cheesy moments. It was nice to see actors I love in bit parts (like Oh Jung Se) too. Another cheesy aspect is the direction at times which relied on some pretty corny special effects. It didn't ruin it for me, they were still effective, but it made it less scary.
Would I watch this again? Yes! This is the kind of story that makes me want to rewatch it after knowing the ending. It's also fun to yell at the screen at all the stupid choices made and it doesn't lose that fun with repeat viewing. I admit that part of the story is slightly confusing and may be inconsistent, but I think it's well-told all the way through to the credits.
Overall, I can see this becoming a horror classic. It's not the best I've seen but it's memorable and fun, especially if you love amazing villains like I do! It's not too predictable and definitely delivers on thrilling and frightening moments. There's lots of violence but most of the gore is implied, which I prefer. If you look for flaws in the story timeline you can definitely find some, but I chose to just accept the fun of the story instead, especially the end. I say grab some gummy bear heads and enjoy the ride. Also, like a twisted "It's a wonderful life" this may even make you appreciate the life you have a little more. It will definitely make you think twice about talking to strangers on the phone.
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Although this is an ensemble cast effort, and Song Kang Ho is clearly marketed at the star of the film, the real star of this story, in my opinion, is Choi Woo Shik as Kim Gi Woo. Gi Woo is the catalyst for everything that happens in this film and I thought he was really great as the idealistically naive but ingeniously calculating son of the family. Song Kang Ho as the impulsive father, Park So Dam as the extremely clever sister, and Jang Hye Jin as the supportive mom with an edge complete the family. The Kim family is the epitome of poor and struggling and seeing how they make their situation work is heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time. They have amazing chemistry as a family which made me laugh and even cry and made it very easy to root for them no matter what they did. They are contrasted with the well off and extremely privileged Park family. I've loved Lee Sun Kyun since Coffee Prince, so I really liked seeing him as less of the nice guy character I am used to seeing him as. I also loved Cho Yeo Jung as the "gullible because she's privileged enough to be" wife who is very nice but also obliviously elitist. However, I liked that she never played her as too stupid, which makes what the Kims are able to accomplish even more plausible and hilariously impressive. The way the two families played off of each other, from the most subtle gestures to the more extreme moments were amazing.
But my favorite actor in the ensemble is Lee Jung Eun as the Park family's maid. She is so good at saying so much with just her expression, and then some. I won't say more because I don't want to give anything away about the story at all. The less you know about Parasite before watching the better.
What I will say about the story is that the Park family literally and figuratively live far above the Kim family. In spite of this they seem nice enough to not be reduced to stereotypical hateful rich caricatures which made any conflict between the two families seem less about good or bad people and more about the dynamics classism creates and how the lines it builds defines who we are but at the same time how easily those lines can blur with some manipulation. The events are also sometimes funny even at their worst and it's so entertaining that it takes some of the seemingly most mundane things like cooking a meal or carrying fruit and makes watching that like watching a fast-paced action thriller. There are no boring parts in this film even during the less eventful scenes, and it has so much great symbolism without relying more on that than an actual story with a coherent plot. It excels when it comes to symbolism and storytelling equally. There are no real plotholes either, all the weirdness made complete sense in this film's world.
Would I watch it again? Of Course. This is a movie that I thought was beautiful and fun to watch. Knowing what will happen will definitely lessen the suspense but it's so beautifully shot with such great scenes and performances that that is enough to put the rewatch rating at a 10. I also would love to maybe catch some things that I maybe missed the first time.
Overall, Parasite is a satire with an extreme yet simple story and it stayed with me emotionally long after the film was over, but not in a sappy overly sentimental way. I laughed a lot while watching it, so despite the theme, this is far from just a downer. Parts of this film may not be for everyone, and the ending may not be either, but I really think this is the type of story that I want to recommend to everyone just so we can talk about it! This is definitely the kind of storytelling that gets folks talking, and I really doubt you will see many bad reviews (although one person in the theater I saw it in was audibly unhappy at the end). This movie is art down to the details but it's also an entertaining story that leaves you thinking without having to be super preachy or depressing. This is also exciting and unpredictable from start to finish, and if you love movies where you can't guess what will happen next no matter how obvious and inevitable the unraveling seems to be, then you definitely won't be disappointed. Who knew that a constant "something bad is gonna happen" feeling could be so much fun. My anxiety was on high, and I liked it. I would never say it's one of the greatest films of all time, but it is definitely one of the most unique films I have ever seen.
Also, I will never look at a peach the same way again.
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Ji Sung is absolutely amazing to watch in this drama. I've liked him in dramas in the past (like Protect the Boss), even when I wasn't really a fan of the drama itself (like "Secret", but umm... more on that later), but this role gave him the opportunity to really show his range. Each personality he played was a completely different, and believable, character. So many of the characters were so entertaining, that I looked forward (almost to the point of cheering) when they would return. It's clear that JI Sung has the skill to make me laugh, cry, or both, whether he's rocking guy-liner, or wearing a huge bow. He's definitely now on my top k-drama actors list.
Hwang Jung Eum also deserves a lot of praise for her portrayal of Oh Ri Jin. Fans of "Secret" should get a kick out of these two reuniting, but as a non-fan, I wasn't expecting much. Much to my surprise, I loved every moment they shared on screen. She played such a pitiful character in "Secret", that it was really hard for me to root for her, or their semi-abusive romance. Oh Ri Jin, however, is completely different from her doormat character in "Secret". She's smart, super silly, vulnerable, but still able to take defend herself confidently. It also helps that this show is so well written, and the characters are so multi-dimensional, that they have a much better vehicle to show their range. Their romantic chemistry is amazing and just gets stronger as the show continues, even during their silliest moments. I fell completely in love with their complicated love story. Park Seo Joon's charm is added to the mix, as Oh Ri On (2nd lead MVP), and you have an irresistible cast of main characters. The entire cast is great, but these 3 make the show addictive.
The appeal of "Kill Me, Heal Me" is not just about the cast. This story is extremely entertaining, and so well written. Many dramas get less exciting during the last episodes, as secrets are revealed, but this drama does the exact opposite. In the beginning, I was a little confused, but eventually, even the smallest details are explained and have great meaning. There is a lot of melodrama, and some moments are definitely over the top, but writer Jin Soo-Wan made all the elements work so that everything makes sense. There is also a great balance between hilarious moments and use a full tissue box cry-worthy moments. Even the sometimes excessively repeated flashbacks made sense to me because they helped illustrate the pain and confusion involved in trying to make sense of the past and reconcile with the present. No episode or moment seemed wasted. Director Kim Jin-Man deserves credit for that too.
It's really hard for me to think of anything I disliked about this drama (except the title, though it makes sense). I even loved the soundtrack, which I only subtracted half a point from, because of the number of times certain songs were repeated. I already want to watch this drama again, and I think knowing the plot would give it a different, but still entertaining perspective, especially because of the cast - and the one-man cast of characters that is Ji Sung. Of course, knowing how everything turns out would make it less suspenseful the second time around, but it would still be engaging, and you may even pick up things that you missed on the first viewing.
Honestly, I'm not sure how medically accurate their D.I.D. portrayal was, but I think they were respectful, while still being entertaining. It definitely left me dealing with a range of my own emotions.
I would definitely recommend this as having a little something for everyone, but also as one of the best romantic k-dramas I've seen so far. It's a completely original spin on the cliché chaebol who's family fights over power while hiding horrible secrets story. It's also much more than a story about a crazy guy with all these wacky personalities. Even the romance has more depth than your average k-drama romance. These are the reasons I'd suggest putting this on the top of your 'to watch' list. The 20 episodes will seem like they're over too soon, and In my opinion, this multiple personalities story is absolutely multiple views worthy. It may even give you a slightly different perspective on what's important in life...
Remember this time. Written today, at exactly 10:15 pm. That's when you read this review and decided to watch this drama. You're welcome.
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Perfect for your romcom sweet tooth, featuring eye candy!
When I first saw this drama I thought it would be a reversed version of "My Girlfriend is a Gumiho", which is one of my favorite old-school Kdramas. Although the plot of "My Roommate Is a Gumiho" is definitely different the main elements are similar. Like the former, this is also a fun Interspecies romcom about an extremely attractive Gumiho whose fox bead ends up inside of an unsuspecting college student who must move in with the Gumiho for the sake of the bead. The Gumiho lore in this drama is pretty interesting, but what I liked about this drama is that it never tried to be much more than a light and often silly romance... no major melodrama, no taking itself too seriously. Sure, it is definitely full of tropes, but I was entertained. Yes, the sweetness sometimes goes to type 2 Diabetes levels, and the storyline isn't always the most logical or original, but great characters kept me excited about watching each episode.I'll start with Jang Ki Yong who is perfect as the male lead Gumiho Shin Woo Yeo. Even when I don't necessarily like the drama he is in, I am usually impressed with his performance, but I feel like he comes into his own as a leading man in this drama. He can easily play mature so he is totally believable as someone centuries old. He is funny, charming, major eye candy, and has a mysterious sexiness that makes a very convincing Gumiho. I loved his cool, composed, soft-spoken, and unbothered style, with just a hint of danger to it, and would love to see him play a true villain one day. He is matched with Lee Hye Ri as Lee Dam who is the exact opposite. She is bubbly, immature, messy, drinks too much, eats EVERYTHING, shows ALL of her feelings on her face, and unapologetically says exactly what she feels. This character could have easily been annoying but her honesty made her relatable and funny and I also really liked that she was proactive instead of passive and didn't just wait to be saved or have everything solved for her. Together these two have great chemistry, although romantically they are more cute than sexy. I loved watching him subtly flirt with her, although I wished she would react less wide-eyed and innocent sometimes. I even appreciated that they could pull off the big age gap in the story while actually being close in age so it never felt too inappropriate. Still, if the story was just about them I could see it getting redundant after a while so the supporting characters were a huge part of what kept me watching.
Most of the supporting characters are great. Not only did they make me laugh, but I cared about many of them as much as the leads. I loved the Hermione-esque Soo Kyung and the adorably sensitive Jae Jin as Lee Dam's BFFs. They are definitely friendship goals and I was glad to see that supportive friend dynamic including a guy. I also couldn't resist developing a drama crush on Jae Jin and I was glad he turned into more of a lead character. Then there’s Kang Han Na who was such a great frenemy as Yang Hye Sun. I really expected to not like her character that much, but she became one of my favorite characters in the whole drama. Lee Dam's brother Lee Dan was very funny too, and they hilariously seemed like real siblings, although he does have less screen time than the others he stood out too.
There is only one character that I did not like at all and that’s Bae In Hyuk as Sun Woo. To be such a major character in a comedy I found him to be extremely boring and uninteresting. It didn’t help that they kept presenting him as a super attractive playboy, which was not convincing. To be fair, it’s hard to be compared to Jang Ki Yong’s level of eye candy, but I would have appreciated a personality that matched the rest of the cast or at least had way less screen time. The love triangle is a major part of the story, and I did like that concept behind it, but he gave me less 2nd lead who you can sympathize with feels and gave more entitled stalker you may need a restraining order for vibes. Other characters that could have had less screen time were some of the bigger cameos. Jung So Min’s and Go Kyung Pyo’s characters both felt like their guest roles were much smaller than their talent, and their scenes added more confusion than mystery to the story, seemingly to fill in time. The whole mystery/thriller element of this story felt like a waste of time so it's definitely skippable.
Would I watch this again? Probably. There are enough cute and humorous moments that would be entertaining to watch again, and I liked the drama’s theme of figuring out what makes us human and what makes life worth living. I think I may still be tempted to skip a lot of scenes, but I'd be just as tempted to rewind a few others. I would definitely have to be in the mood to binge watch wrist grabs, falling into people’s arms, strategic glamour lighting, stalking, stares, and so many other kdrama romance clichés… but sometimes that’s exactly what I am in the mood for.
Overall this is the kind of drama you enjoy for what it is. I didn’t shed any tears. There were no mind blowing plot twists. The story is pretty standard, a little predictable, and isn’t too deep, but it does explore empathy in a way that made me think without feeling preached to. The ending is ridiculous but satisfying. If you know nothing about the webtoon it’s based on, like me, I would think of it as a classic style kdrama that is "basic" but in the best way possible… plus eye candy! Delicious eye candy! I don’t think I can mention enough how "risk it all" attractive Ki Yong is in this. That still wasn’t enough to make this drama a new favorite of mine, but I do recommend it to all who have a romcom sweet tooth.
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So Basic ( Romance KDrama 101)
If you love rom-coms with cute couples with cute chemistry and need a filler drama to watch I recommend "King the Land". This drama is every KDrama cliché ever in cute repackaging. Do you like reluctant Cinderellas and brooding Chaebols? Check. Do you like families fighting for succession, meddling parents, childhood trauma, ridiculous misunderstandings, damsels in distress, and plenty of product placement? Check! Do you swoon over a "trip and dip", or the umbrella savior swooping in, do you cheer for mild stalking, makeovers, being forced to stay overnight in a remote town/island, men cooking enthusiastically, and other assorted food porn, bonding while drunk, or lots of lingering stares? Big checks for all of the above. Don't worry about these being spoilers either, the story is so standard it can't really be spoiled.Whatever you think is going to happen is going to happen.
I admit I was on board for all of the above and then some. I would definitely classify this as a fan service drama for that reason. I was entertained consistently until things started turning more and more into a Tourism Ad and the obvious product placement became too overwhelming. It all leads to a decent ending, with some satisfying character conclusions, but if you told me this entire script was written by ChatGPT compiling successful romantic KDramas of the past I would believe you!
"King the Land" is not original. It's as basic as basic gets, but not bland. That may be the appeal for a lot of viewers. It felt kind of relaxing guessing exactly what was going to happen next. I thought the main couple was cute without being too cheesy. Im Yoon Ah is great as the confidently quirky and optimistic Cheon Sa Rang. She balances out the moody charm of Lee Jun Ho as Gu Won. I've definitely liked Jun Ho in other dramas and he owns the leading man role swag in this. The rest of the supporting cast of BBFs , Co-Workers, and Ahn Se Ha as No Sang Sik are great too. My only character complaint is that the sister role was so one-note it made her character less interesting in spite of her performance.
Would I watch this again? Maybe, once it slips my mind, and it will slip my mind. I do feel like this drama loses its momentum about halfway through, which makes committing to rewatching this harder, but the cuteness and well-executed tropes may be enough to convince me to rewatch. Sometimes junk food dramas are exactly what I crave. It's escapism that you can rely on. This drama is very self-aware of its cuteness and tropes and attractive leads and milks it.
This is a Cozy drama for sure! It's also a love letter to the service industry. What it's not is plot twists and clever dialogue. It's also lighter on the drama that I'm used to for a hotel-centered drama, so It doesn't even stand out in that genre, but once I watched episode 1 I knew what to expect and knew I was committed because it was exactly what I was in the mood for. This is the kind of drama you can leave playing in the background and just catch all the smile-worthy moments whether that is couples flirting or friendship and comradery. I loved watching the characters rely on each other and have each other's back even if the actual situations weren't always funny or interesting, and If you skipped from ep 10 to ep 16 you probably wouldn't miss much.
Overall, "King the Land" gives me an old-school KDrama rom-com feel without feeling dated. I wish it were shorter because their cuteness couldn't always carry the boring and repetitive plot. Maybe enjoying this drama is an exercise in appreciating the simple things once in a while. A drama doesn't have to be a 5-star masterpiece to be enjoyable. Sometimes a few Squid Game references are enough to amuse you. The one real mystery in the plot is resolved in the most anticlimactic way, however, even this simple plot generated a genuine smile from me many times, a major theme in this drama (that I liked a lot). So "Hermès" to that!
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A post-covid blood sucking zombie survival drama called Happiness? Yes, Please.
"Happiness" seems like an odd title choice for a drama about blood-sucking zombies but it actually makes perfect sense. Like most popular zombie/plague/monster invasion stories this drama is less about actual zombies and more about human nature and survival instincts. The concept seems pretty far-fetched when you read it but the way it plays out is pretty realistic. Since we can all relate to how out of nowhere this covid pandemic felt, the randomness of "madman rabies" seems pretty legit and timely. I don't like to add too many spoilers, but I think anyone watching should know at least the basics of what they are getting into. If you're a fan of movies like "Train to Busan" or "The Mist" then you will probably love a lot of things about "Happiness". The story can be a little cliché at times, and more eerie than scary, but what I enjoyed most were the characters, especially the main leads Han Hyo Jo and Park Hyung Sik.First, I have to applaud Han Hyo Jo as Yoon Sae Bom. If you are looking for a drama with a strong bad@ss female lead you found it and she will not disappoint. Sae Bom is impulsive and hilariously reckless, but her bravery, loyalty, and smarts make her the clear hero of this story. She is matched with Park Hyung Sik as Jung Yi Hyun, who is an equally brave and impressive hero, but it's clear from the beginning his first thought is always the safety of Sae Bom his "lifesaver". Some may wonder if this drama is at all a romance. I would say yes, but not in the way you may expect. These leads have amazing chemistry throughout, from the very beginning, but there are no cutesy moments that distract too much from the main story. Instead, it just adds more depth to their friendship, and higher stakes to what motivates them as a team. Seeing even the small ways they cared for each other made me care even more about them.
The rest of the cast is filled with many over-the-top and duplicitous characters. They are hilarious, and frustrating, and reflect the good and bad in all of us, sometimes to the extreme. I know that everyone would like to think that in a situation like this they would be considerate, responsible, brave, empathetic, and heroic but stories like this reflect what we may not always want to admit, how selfish, greedy, fear-driven, and irrational we all have the capability of being when it comes to our own survival and happiness. Good people may make bad choices. Bad people may save lives. This is what makes this drama fun to watch and hard to predict. You can't always tell what the characters will do or read their true intentions. There are a few clear villains that are fun to hate, but I think almost every character (besides cute Seo Yoon) did something that made me want to yell at them through the screen at some point.
Would I watch this again? Definitely. The story would probably be less exciting the second time around, and some parts of the plot are messy and choppy, but I think it's a great survival thriller with a great, although slightly heavy-handed message about happiness and what makes life worth living. It's also a great bingle length. I was a little sad when it was all over but at the same time, 12 episodes felt like the perfect length. I also appreciated the ending even if it felt rushed.
It's worth mentioning that the soundtrack is really great and compliments the various moods in the plot well.
Overall, this drama surprised me. I wouldn't call it my favorite drama of the year or even add it to my own favorites list but I understand why it's so popular. It's the perfect drama for these quarantine times. It's not too scary, and it leaves you with the perfect amount of schadenfreude reminding us that things could always be waaaaaaay worse. It also humanizes the crazy zombie transformation which made me overlook the cheesy makeup and instead see how we sometimes villainize and ostracize sick/infected people instead of helping and supporting them. "Happiness" also doesn't go too far with gory violence. It's pretty tame, besides lots blood, scary sounds, and some jump scares. It's the perfect balance of genres for a broad audience without being too frightening, too romantic, too melodramatic, or too silly yet I laughed, jumped, felt butterflies, and even teared up at least once. I'm sure this drama will definitely make people think twice about who their neighbors are. It certainly makes me very suspicious of too many empty water bottles... o.O... The premise isn't very original, but it's still effective. Maybe it's time to watch "Sweet Home" next? I never thought of myself as a huge fan of this style of drama but this one left me thirsty for more... in a good way. ; )
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If a Kdrama is a Netflix suggestion, and has polarizing reviews on MDL, do you click play...
I started watching "The Frog" without knowing anything about it, not even the genre. I finished watching it not sure how much I liked it or not. It certainly turned out to be an interesting ride. Sometimes thought-provoking, sometimes ridiculously frustrating, but the suspense kept me watching the entire time. This thriller/mystery follows two separate yet related not quite linear stories that explore awful luck, questionable choices, and unapologetic evil. The two male leads each run remote vacation rentals and both learn the dangers of hosting the wrong guest.What kept me engaged more than the story were the characters. Yes, I wanted to know what was happening and why but I was more interested in why the characters reacted the way they did. Many of the characters had me yelling at my screen over how they could do what they did or how they didn't do what I thought they should do. The fact that many of the characters are morally gray left me unable to guess what would happen next. Even characters I empathized with would often make decisions that I would consider to be problematic, but I think this show explores the idea that poor choices made as a response to horrible circumstances beyond your control don't make you less of a victim. Each episode starts with the famous "If a Tree falls and no one is there to hear it does it make a sound" question while simultaneously making us question if characters who choose to look the other way and not get involved when they suspect something is wrong are also guilty or complicit.
The characters being so essential to this story means the performances are crucial and every cast member delivers. Kim Yoon Seok as the passive protagonist Jeon Yeong Ha is perfectly cast. He is the epitome of plausible deniability. He is both easy to empathize with and irritating for that reason as we watch him slowly and reluctantly get pushed into action by escalating events. Yoon Kye Sang as Koo Sang Jun acts as a mirror to Yoon Seok and in my opinion, is the most heartbreaking character as we watch his positive and helpful nature become broken. He is the quintessential nice guy, which is said ominously by another character, and that mentality can't spare him from despair. Lee Jung Eun and Ha Yoon Kyung as cold and observant Yun Bo Min in many ways is the glue that connects these two main characters but I found her to be the least interesting character. I don't fault the actors for this, who I think did a decent job, I just think with so many interesting characters her storyline often slowed down the pace without adding much more to the suspense until the later episodes. There was an opportunity to make a very memorable detective character which I think was missed by choosing to make her blank-faced and seemingly detached.
The rest of the cast is great, and even some minor characters were surprisingly hard to read or to predict their actions. The cast's grounded performances helped as the story became more and more extreme and borderline unrealistic. Speaking of extreme, the clear breakout performance in this drama is Go Min Si as Yoo Seong A. It was so much fun to watch how unhinged she could get, to wonder if she was really that evil or misunderstood, and to watch how far her performance could go. I hope it's not too much of a spoiler to say that if you love an antagonist you can openly hate - she over-delivers! She seemed to be in her element as a manipulative and irrational villain. The crazier she got the more I was entertained. Her performance reminded me a bit of Christian Bale in American Psycho. She is without a doubt the biggest highlight in this drama for me. She deserves some extra praise for her performance.
Would I watch it again? Definitely. Even though the story was initially confusing to follow and dragged in some places I was always intrigued, even rewinding when I thought I missed something important. A 2nd viewing without that confusion, and understanding the characters better, would be fun to watch with a revised perspective. I could spend less time focussing on guessing what will happen and instead enjoy watching the dynamics of the characters. Plus the cinematography and soundtrack are great too. The use of the popular Bobby Blue Bland song "Ain't No Love In The Heart Of The City" in a sinister way was geniusly done, like one would expect from a Jordan Peele movie. Some people may think this drama relies too much on atmosphere and too little on story, but it made even the locations feel like an important character. I have no complaints about the director's choices, and was often impressed by how certain highlighted images set the tone, or how they leaned into the overall theme of not trusting everything you see.
Overall, this is an ambitious 8 episode drama that has a lingering quality I really appreciate. It was easy to binge and kept me too curious to be bored. I don't think it was overly philosophical or deep but it did leave me still thinking about the various characters long after it was all over. The ending was decent, not necessarily predictable or wildly original but tied up the story neatly. I was not profoundly moved, even during the saddest scenes, but I was disturbed in an oddly fun way throughout. I'm not surprised that the reviews so far are on the extreme ends of low or high ratings. It has a polarizing style that won't appeal to everyone, even if you're a fan of the genre or the actors. I can't say it's a favorite of mine, but I think watching it without expectations made me appreciate the journey this drama took me on.
Maybe it also helps that remote woodsy areas are automatically creepy to me, and I won't be planning a vacation in a rural area any time soon, even if there's a nice view! o.O
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