Your blues, my blues, Our Blues!

As honest and unpretentious as the title, this show is heartbreaking and heartwarming and can take viewers on a roller coaster ride of emotions. A brilliant anthology of slice-of-life stories told in the style of a novel divided into chapters, each one taking its time to dissect the relationships between the characters. It unpacks and explores the relationships between 14 main characters and yet it doesn't feel as crowded as it sounds giving respect and time for each story to spread its wings. The brilliance of the story was made possible by everyone's stellar acting, creative writing and the finesse of the director in assembling the whole show. The great cinematography almost goes unnoticed due to the amount of talent on display. There is something for everyone in the overall storyline. Highly recommended!

Read More

Cinematography - The saving grace

The headline makes it sound worse than it is. The cinematography is great and decent acting from two promising young actors in Park Ju-Hyun and Chae Jong-Hyeop. Other than that, the rest is questionable. The series starts well with the introduction of the characters with Taeyong's and Taejuns' backstories. After that, it spends most of the time on pure negativity that it's become frustrating. Frustrating is neither entertaining nor educational. Fine, there should be frustrating characters and scenes but shouldn't take up the bulk of the show. Firstly, the more senior athlete agrees to drink and go snowboarding while drunk. Bad move for a senior and she has the nerve to bear hatred. Secondly, a parent puts her daughter on a towering pedestal that she can't see anything else below that. Is that really a way for a parent to behave? Writers and producers have great power to influence viewers and with great power comes... you know the rest. The issue between Taeyang and Junyoung could've been wrapped up in one or two episodes. At least then, the story could've been explored more from what goes on in episode 16. Furthermore, that love story formula of going out, breaking up and getting back together again is starting to err on the side of yawning. This could've been a great show had it followed the story of the manga novels or at least something very close to it. This probably sounds more like a rant than a review but I loathe to see a good show go to waste.
As a side note, professional athletes will usually have nutritionists looking after what they eat and drink and the amount of alcohol consumed shown is a hard No. The story is grounded in reality so it should at least be as close to reality as possible.

Read More

Plenty of room for improvement

This could've been a good series if the producers/director/writers had enough courage to improve on the original story. There are glimpses of potential for brilliance but just fell short and never quite hit the spot.
Some of the acting is questionable and not Kim SeJeong's best performance. Certainly not on the same level as in Businesses Proposal or Uncanny Counter. NYS awful as always. Some of the best performances came from a few of the support role and Choi Daniel's character Seok JiHyung may just be the series' saving grace as everyone's ideal line manager/mentor.
I love webtoons and I must say my favourite part of the series was getting to see great artwork every now and again.

Read More

Lighthearted and fun

I started watching this during its weekly episodes release and didn't find it interesting enough to pursue. I recently revisited it and found it much more entertaining and fun to watch. Some shows are just better when you binge on the whole series and this is definitely one of them. It's easy to ignore the sinister parts of the story and enjoy it. It's full of silliness, but it somehow makes you settle into that and start seeing the humour. I imagine it was a lot of fun to make and it seems that way from all the outtakes and behind-the-scenes footage shown at the end of the final episode. The ensemble complimented each other and is a touch of genius to assemble. I could definitely revisit this again if there is a drought of good tv shows.

Read More

Cells steal the show for 2nd season

The second season has parallels with the first, but the cells are more prominent when they were more of a side note in the first season. Not just Yumi's cells but all the cells that appear. They provide the most comedy in the second season whereas Wung was the source of it in the first. Personally, I prefer season 1 but season 2 is deeper emotionally.
I've always thought the overall story is more about Yumi's bittersweet relationship with Wung, which is a much more interesting and emotionally packed story arc. I've always hated the going out, breaking up and getting back together storyline which has become a cliché (boring) and it happens here which is why I prefer the Yumi-Wung storyline.
At the very least the show exposes human imperfections and their decision-making driven by these imperfections. Yumi's hypocrisy, Wung's inability to swallow his pride and BaBi's creepy smile and sociopathic tendencies, and the latter made me worried for Yumi's future had she ended up marrying him. That's because Babi's daddy issues would have been exposed even more and his sociopathic tendencies will manifest into domestic violence and infidelity, but let's not go there. Let's be honest, Babi has been creeping around Yumi since the beginning and pounced on his prey the moment Wung was out of the picture; he mentions he doesn't get on with his father which hasn't been fully explored, and they haven't shown enough of what really happened between Babi and Da Eun. There is no way he didn't dip his bulgogi in her gochujang.
In the end, I hope they all end up with who they deserve. Babi doesn't deserve Yumi and Yumi doesn't deserve Wung. The series has an open ending so a potential for a third season which I would gladly welcome, but wouldn't mind if it ended that way coz that's how life is; there is no happy or sad ending, it just goes on until death.

Read More

Underrated

The Great Show is funny, heartbreaking and heartwarming and all these moments are shown at the perfect time in an impressively structured storyline. Son Byung Ho's and Kang Sung Jin'sawful acting can be easily overlooked as they, fortunately, do not have much screen time. The recurring BG music was always played at the perfect moment to enhance the mood of the scene. Maybe 16 episodes was a tad too long for the content but it wasn't as bad as other dramas where there are too many filler episodes just to make up the 16.
The main plot and subplots focus mainly on resolving the problems rather than the problem itself. I find that plenty of kdramas spend too much time focusing on the problem which renders the whole show extremely negative and frustrating to watch and TGS does well to keep it on the positive side.
If you are looking for a feel-good family drama, then I highly recommend this. It's a typical fairy tale story, but a very good story nonetheless.

Read More

Never watch after reading the webtoon

This started off promisingly, faithfully capturing the essence of the webtoon with meticulous attention to detail in set design, costumes, and more. However, halfway through, the series took an unfortunate turn, deviating from the original storyline. This decision left me perplexed and disappointed, as the changes seemed unnecessary and ultimately detracted from the overall experience. Despite a talented cast, the abrupt shift in direction felt like a disservice to both the source material and the my overall investment. In the end, it left me wondering why they bothered to stick around till the end, feeling like the potential of the adaptation was squandered. What a damn waste of time. TBF it’s not a bad watch. It’s not that good either. But TBH there’s a shortage of good producers and directors. I’m just a viewer but ultimately I’m the target audience. Please me or be better

Read More

Somebody Move Me

"Moving" isn't just another superhero drama; it's a groundbreaking masterpiece that redefines the genre. From its intricate plot structure to its stellar cast, every aspect of this Kdrama captivates and astonishes.

At first glance, "Moving" may seem like just another recycled drama, but it quickly proves otherwise. The way the story unfolds, starting with the students' perspectives and gradually revealing the parents' history, is a stroke of genius. Each character, whether major or minor, possesses depth and complexity, contributing to the rich tapestry of the narrative. And the introduction of new characters is seamless, adding layers to an already compelling story.

What truly sets "Moving" apart is its star-studded cast. From seasoned icons like Han Hyo Joo, Ryu Seung Ryong, Zo In Sung, and Cha Tae Hyun to breakout talents like Lee Jung Ha, Go Youn Jung, and Kim Do Hoon, every actor delivers a mesmerising performance. Han Hyo Joo shines, as always, in her role as a mother, proving her versatility once again. And the rest of the cast follows suit, immersing themselves completely in their characters and leaving viewers in awe of their talent.

But "Moving" isn't just about the performances; it's a visual and auditory feast. The cinematography is breathtaking, capturing every moment with precision and beauty. And the music, especially the BGM, adds another layer of emotion and depth to the story.

In the end, "Moving" isn't just a drama; it's an experience. It's the kind of show that keeps you on the edge of your seat, eagerly anticipating each twist and turn. And even after it's over, it stays with you, begging to be rewatched again and again. With its flawless execution and unforgettable performances, "Moving" is easily a 10/10 masterpiece that sets a new standard for television dramas. Binge watching it twice is enough to justify this review. I’ll watch it a third time to confirm but I’m certain the result will be exactly the same. Watch it and challenge me to an opposing review.

Read More

Failed at so many levels

A person's ability to prophesy and turn fortunes around but absorbs the misfortune and transforms into a demon, in turn, is a great concept. This alone can carry a whole series and more. The writer had the whole world in his/her hands and the director had a good cast at his disposal. Everything was ruined due to the writer's lack of sense and the director's lack of direction. The worst actor is the male lead with his pity party all over the show which meant a lack of direction. The best acting: Kim Dong Young, Yoon Ji-Hye, Hwang Young-hee, Lee Ho Jung, Yoon Yoo Sun, Kim Bo Yun..the rest went from awful to worst and the worst was the male lead, unfortunately. Seohyun, who is usually a show stealer, played a mediocre part for a female lead but shines here and there and eventually shows her light and blinds even with your shades on. She is an absolute doll and should be treated accordingly. A better story structure, a stern direction and a lot more creativity could've made this one of the best shows ever. Awful editing, terrible directing, poor storytelling. Shame!
There is also the matter of incest in the storyline which should have been resolved early on in the series.

Read More

Almost

The series had moments of brilliance, largely due to its stellar cast that effortlessly captured the essence of playful banter, heartfelt connections, and the charm of found family dynamics. Initially, I found myself fully immersed, intrigued by the characters and invested in the well-balanced blend of suspense and drama.

However, as the story progressed, the lighthearted tone occasionally veered into awkward and exaggerated territory, reminiscent of scenes that missed the mark from other similar shows. Despite my attempts to overlook these moments, they gradually became more distracting, leaving me somewhat unsettled.

While I appreciate the attempt to tackle mental health issues within the narrative, I was disappointed by the conventional resolution presented. The reliance on medication as the primary solution felt cliché and overly simplistic. Mental health is a complex issue requiring a multifaceted approach encompassing therapy, lifestyle adjustments, and robust support networks, aspects that were touched upon but not fully explored. Furthermore, the swift resolution of the characters' traumas seemed unrealistic given their experiences.

By predominantly portraying medication as the answer, the series missed an opportunity to delve into the intricacies of mental health care and treatment. It's crucial for media representations to reflect the diverse and personalised approaches often necessary for genuine healing. While I applaud the effort to shed light on mental health, I would prefer a more nuanced and realistic portrayals in future storytelling.

Despite my initial high hopes for the series, the flaws became increasingly apparent, and I reluctantly accepted that it wouldn't reach the pinnacle I had envisioned. Ultimately, I had to surrender the notion of it being a standout for me.

Read More

Linked emotions is a great concept

I was so looking forward to watching this when I first saw the trailer, but it didn't turn out as great as I wanted it to. Maybe my expectations were too high. The mystery/thriller element of it is fun and entertaining; the love story is ok. I'm really not a big fan of the going out-breaking up - going out again format. It's boring.
Moon Ga Young and Ye Soo Jung always seem so natural whichever characters they play and this was no exception. Yeo Jin Goo's Gye Hoon was a disappointment. It wouldn't matter so much if he was a supporting or guest role but as the main character, too much melodrama in a man doesn't add anything to the show, but rather the opposite. Perhaps he wasn't the right actor for the role or he didn't play it well. That's just my opinion. What do I know?
I think the hand to the chest when their emotions link is a bit too much. Maybe a simple visual effect would've sufficed. I'm sure the flow of the story would've panned out the same way without that kind of melodrama. My other gripe about overly melodramatic scenes is the idea of bawling their eyes out first instead of calling an ambulance or untying a victim.
Overall, it's still entertaining enough not to be dropped. I feel like there was more content in the final episode than there was in the final half of the series put together, bar the last episode obviously.

Read More