Reviews

Sword in hand, righteous in heart. 手中握剑, 心中有义.

It was a windy and snowy day. Lei Wujie, a young swordsman wanders into a remote snow-capped inn. Xiao Se, the richly garbed innkeeper is set upon by bandits. The valiant Wujie intervenes and a fiery battle ensues. Appalled by the destruction, Xiao Se travels with Wujie to Xueyue City to collect usurious compensation. Along the way, they are caught in a vicious multi party melee over a mysterious golden coffin. They are swept out of harm's way by Wuxin, a powerful and enigmatic unordained monk. Thus begins the adventures of a loan shark innkeeper, an intrepid airhead and an irreverent monk. On their journey, they make as many deadly enemies as they do lifelong friends. Sword in hand, righteous in heart 手中握剑, 心中有义, the young friends set out on a quest for justice and their vision of jianghu or the martial world. In jianghu there is no absolute right or wrong, just an individual sense of morality and righteousness; the higher values that each swordsman is willing to give their life to protect.

This addictive, high fantasy wuxia captures the spirit of rivers and lakes and the thirst of the wanderer to see where the skies end. The hilarious banter and unlimited friendship between the trio and their ever growing circle is immersive and exhilarating. I love that despite his superpowers, Wuxin needs Xiao Se to bankroll their travels and Lei Wujie has no sense of direction and gets Xiao Se lost all the time. Xiao Se (萧瑟; desolate) is a lonely and guarded character with a subtle air of loss and disappointment cloaked in sarcasm and arrogance. From the first instance he shares a curious understanding with Wuxin, another itinerant character with a cryptic past. They are both brilliant, complex and somewhat broken characters seeking answers and redress. Though younger in years, Wuxin is a wise, almost omniscient old soul, who is more at peace with his past than Xiao Se is. They find solace in Lei Wujie's simplistic, pure hearted idealism; his fearless youthful optimism and sense of invincibility. They are the core that attracts other great talents such as the redoubtable eldest martial brother Tang Lian, the strategic Ye Ruoyi, the divine healer Hua Jin and the sticky as fly paper Sikong Qianluo.

There is a lot to unpack in this story, beginning with the abundance of flamboyant and formidable jianghu characters. My personal favorite is Baili Dongjun, lush brewmaster and first city lord of Xueyue City. The prequel 少年白马醉春风 The Young Brewmaster's Adventure chronicles the youthful adventures of the colorful older generation of martial heroes. This explains the richly defined jianghu universe of legendary heroes and weapons and the fully realised characters with deep relationships and substantive backstories. Many surrounding characters are heroes of their own sub-plots that unfold alongside without seeming to digress from the main storyline. Loyalties notwithstanding, all five sword deities are moving and fascinating characters that make me want to know how their journeys begin. This drama is said to stay true to the original and the well loved manhua. This is likely due to the involvement of the novelist Zhou Munan (周木楠), whose prose is witty and simple, yet profoundly zen.

As the heroes converge on the capital, Tianqi City, the plot takes a political turn. The emperor is ailing and they are caught up in the battle for the throne between Prince Bai and Prince Chi. They race against time to unravel the old conspiracy that led to the downfall of Lord Langya many years ago. Fans of Langya List 琅琊榜 or Nirvana in Fire will recognise immediately that beyond the ranking of heroes, large chunks of this story pays homage to that masterpiece. The plot climaxes in an epic and heartbreaking denouement that reveals all the hard truths. While some villains could be better fleshed out and get off too lightly, the ending ties up all loose ends. Nirvana in Fire left me inconsolable but I am uplifted by how this version of the age-old battle for the throne story ends. Heaven's will does not always prevail over man's will; we have a choice in whether to take the lonely road or the one that is filled with friends.

It is obvious from the production values that the budget is modest at best but money is spent in all the right places. The styling of each characters is distinct and eye-catching and their weapons are badass. The fight scenes are intense, well choreographed, fast moving and exciting; the hallmark of a good wuxia. Each sect and swordsman have signature battle techniques and advantages that are well conceived and awe inspiring.

The acting is impressive and anchored by charismatic portrayals and compelling chemistry between Liu Xueyi's Wuxin and Li Hongyi's Xiao Se. Both characters are by far the fan favorites. Many characters were so well portrayed they deliver lingering impact beyond their screen time. The only notable exception is Sikong Qianluo, a cartoon character that has zero chemistry with Xiao Se. Someone must have sent them the wrong script because they seem to be acting out the role of the lovesick fangirl accosting a celebrity actor. But romance is peripheral in this saga and there are more riveting ones such as Li Hanyi and Zhao Yuzhen's story as well as that of Tang Lian and Fairy Rui.

This is a must watch wuxia, one that delivers all the best loved aspects of the genre. It has small flaws but I enjoyed it too much to want to pick at them. I will just leave it at that it would have been nice to see more of Wuxin and while the final fight scene was meaningful and satisfying, there were a few other clashes I would have loved to see. All considered, I am happy to rate this 9.0/10.0 and crown it the best wuxia of 2022.

PS - Don't forget to watch the 5 minute special ending episode.

Leggi di Più

As a person who rarely (meaning almost never, you can check my list) watches sageuk dramas, I must say this drama rocked my world all the weeks I was watching it! Though you cannot pass it only under sageuk drama, as it is also a detective story(finding the murderer), a fantasy (mythical world with ghosts, fairies, gods of heaven and hell, grim reapers, goats with flowers growing on them, liver eating demons, etc.), romance (tell me about falling in love with a ghost, falling in love with a person who doesn't know and doesn't even care you exist/ed), family melodrama (EunOh's searching for his mother!), politics (satto against Lord Choi)...I can go on, but I won't. My point is, that taking on so many genres is risky, you never know which one of them is going to get loose and go very wrong and make the drama not so successful... you know what? This drama did not let any of the many plots get loose, the director, actors, the crew, the screenwriters - everyone has done a great job in keeping this drama meaningful, interesting, always keeping the viewer on the edge of the chair with a crazily beating heart.
One of the most important points of this drama is that is answers EVERY question it posts in the beginning and throughout the series, it has not even once made me hang and guess (not that I wasn't trying, but I mean before the answer was given :P).
The fantasy plot was the main reason I started this drama and it did not disappoint me. The detective story went on very smoothly and I like that my guesses were wrong, I like being surprised by the drama.
To say anything about the acting is really unnecessary, as I enjoyed every second with JunKi and MinAh, they are brilliant, but their brilliancy is mostly seen not in the general picture that I would write about if talking about their acting the drama overall, but in the little moments, and maybe that moments will even seen to you not that important, but I was gasping for breath (note: JunKi's acting when his father was reading the Royal Order, MinAh's acting when she was telling him she did not want to leave him in 19th episode). Also Yun Woo Jin - fell in love with him... I was crying for who JooWal had become and how perfectly he portrayed the pain and fear of that poor person. I'm going to follow this guy now!
I am almost sure the music crew of King2Hearts was working on this, as I got the same vibe from the score. Absolutely matched with the feel of the drama, bravo~
I am going to miss my dark-mysterious-ghostly-but-lovely Arang ^^

Leggi di Più

I enjoyed this drama. Firstly because the female lead is so different from what we are used to seeing in C-dramas. She is mature, smart, prepared, and funny (not in a cute way, but in a realistic and mature way). The male lead is the cold male lead, but also different, he cares about her image and about her feelings more than I've ever seen in a drama.

There's only one bad acting from a supporting character, so it didn't affect the story. I liked how realistic the business feels (although it's still a drama), and how the events happened. I wish the main couple got together sooner because at some point the FL rejects the ML because of some misunderstandings, but he made it clear he wanted her, so there was no point avoiding him. But if we ignore this tiny detail, it's an amazing drama.

We have many steamy kisses and affection, I was so happy about that. I loved the leads and loved their chemistry.

Leggi di Più

OMG their chemistry is driving me crazy!!!!! Dangg who made this muhhh ...

I can't stop smiling , y are they so adorable ?
One of the best enemies -to-lovers trope series after H2H series this is the second one I really really like / adore .
Two rivals started spending time together and eventually fall for each other , the way I am saying ik it seems kinda boring , but in reality it is so damn good , highly recommended from my side !!!!!
I am now a big fan of this incredible series , literally some parts were so hot and I totally like the quality and the storyline , after these two got together they became even more cuter
I can't believe those were actually show - offs , they got to know each other's weakness .
They hooked up two times and the last ep kiss was very passionate .
Tum and Oh turned so sweet later on ....
Even though it's a short series it's story is so damn good that it blew my mind it's flawless .
I would like to give it a 10 on 10

Leggi di Più

This drama was cute and interesting, it definitely had a reality tv-vibe to it. It was fun to watch how different couples from different backgrounds, age groups and even with different sexual preferences lived together in one building. It was fun to follow their daily lives, learn about their problems and see the development. I liked how this show pointed out some of the major issues within Korean society with healthy criticism. A lot of old popular songs were incorporated for the sake of the fun, if you know those songs and their meaning to Koreans you will get more out of the show.

The acting was great and, in my opinion, The Lover is one of the best acted drama out there. My biggest problem with the show was how a lot of scenes were stretched to the point they lost all the fun and made me feel like "okay, I get it. Just move on already". And some couples were given waaay more screen time than the others. There were definitely the main couples and the side character couples, which took a bit away from the show. I would have liked it if all couples had the equal standing.

The Lover has a high re-watch value because it's honestly fun and heartwarming. There are only 12 episodes and that¨s great, the show doesn't get any time to get draggy.

Leggi di Più

Nonchalant, sassy, intelligent - a solid enrichment among law&order dramas

"May it Please the Court" is one of my favorite series amid the flood of Law & Order series 2022. I appreciate its witty and grounded touch. I also appreciate the playful, sassy and natural at ease dynamic between the two leads. You get wit without silliness and on top of that an exciting story. In addition, the question (which is obviously burning at the moment in South Korea) about the solid handling of the rule of law in the face of apparently overpowering forces that control politics, the executive and the judiciary, is intelligently incorporated into the network of relationships and case processing.

The story is based on a book with real cases, written by public defender Jeong Hye-jin ("Let Me Start the Argument"). This makes the Disney production a solid enrichment for current courtroom dramas. In addition, this KDrama doesn´t try to downplay its KDrama roots in favour of international streaming market standards. The KDrama remains true to itself and doesn't rely on more violence or sex than usual It rather builds on proven emotional storytelling with an excellent cast and a loving eye for the nuances.

The intro offers an impressive, brilliantly cool stylization of the KDrama orbit, in which the one percent of society is always involved: the fircely quarreling, shaken by internal intrigues and secrets, outrageously rich family clan, in which everything is about the best law firm, the greatest impact on the prosecutor's office or the fat contract. Here you have to be clean, untouched, respectable (which you rarely are). The profession of choice is a lawyer and/or sooner or later assemblyman and ideally a presidential candidate.

So far, so good... we´ve seen it many times. Now, however, the story is driven by a new powerful perspective: the world of public defenders who handle legal cases from the world of ordinary, often destitute people at the bottom of society. Worlds clash - worlds both with people involved. The interface is incorporated by No Chak-hee, who has lived in either. As the number 1 in the law firm, in which she has just been promoted to the youngest partner, she is being transferred to the mandatory public defense. What she doesn't know: this is mere political calculation of her very esteemed superior. What she also doesn't know: the encounter with her new colleague and the world of public defense will unhinge her worldview and give her work new direction and grounding.

Suspense has the central characters fatefully under control. A series of murders occur. Crimes emerge behind old, long solved and forgotten cases. No Chak-hee realizes that even she can no longer wash her hands in innocence. Guilt. Innocence. Right. Wrong. Culprit. Victim. Justice. Injustice. The perspectives get a bit out of the sounding line.

KDrama at its finest. Good entertainment, while also being socially critical and up to date. Pithy. Nonchalant. Intelligent. Exciting. Romantic vibes included.

Leggi di Più

I kissed a girl just to try it.

This crisp, cleverly written coming-of-age movie with a bit of a twist, explores the usual themes of first love, rejection, self-discovery, and accepting your family for who they really are. It is carried by persuasive and heartfelt performances by both Wu Lei and Zhang Zifeng whose restrained, nuanced portrayals convey the confusion of awakening youth and the utter depth of despair of first love and rejection. In this genre, young actors tend to lose my empathy by over-dramatizing and overacting in such angsty moments but these two truly moved me by not doing so. I also appreciate the well-timed light humor that diffuses tense moments and captures the ultimate resilience and optimism of youth.

Zheng Yuxing and Chen Chen couldn't be more different - he is a bit of a rebel, the cool kid with a bit of internet following while she is a good student with bright prospects who unexpectedly flunks out. Thrown together by an outrageous lie, a mutual understanding that becomes a touching, unexpected relationship blossom between them. They embark on a most excellent adventure together as Chen Chen convinces Yuxing he must confront Ming, who is breaking his heart. Instead, they end up facing their feelings for each other and what it means for each of them culminates in an "I kissed a girl just to try it" kiss that says all that needs to be said. The chemistry between both leads is incredible and is exactly as it should be. I can't praise enough how these two young actors effortlessly show us rather than tell us the complex multitude of emotions they are experiencing.

Unfortunately for Yuxing and Chen Chen, there are too heavy consequences for their actions. Once again we see that young people are so much better people and I am left hoping these two stay that way on their long journey ahead. The ending is realistic with the right touch of wistfulness and hope.

So now is the time to confess that I only watched this because I wanted to see my favorite Wu Lei of unforgettable Fei Liu fame's first screen kiss. Needless to say, I got much more than I bargained for. While this movie has received backlash for not being upfront about what it is about, I think that criticism reflects a lack of understanding that that is the whole point. Who is Ming? That is the most irrelevant detail because it changes nothing. Yuxing's emotions, Chen Chen's emotions, our emotions, and our experiences are the same regardless of certain aspects of our identity.

The premise of this movie isn't the most original but the way it communicates its simple message is. And the acting deserves a standing ovation. This is an 8.5 for me with a strong recommendation to watch.

Leggi di Più

unique dynamics with confusing execution

Overall: the bizarre editing/timeline in the beginning and lack of explanations made this unnecessarily confusing. I did like the different take on a love triangle. Aired on GagaOOLala and Viki.

Content Warnings: harassment, manipulation

What I Liked
- this was a love triangle that I actually liked
- a morally gray character (aka good intentions, wrong actions)
- good production value (except for the odd editing)
- a female character who wasn't a stalker fan or evil ex
- the ending

Room For Improvement
- this has some bizarre editing and I had to re-watch the beginning of episode 1 to figure out what was happening, as an example in episode 2: first minute is a partial recap of episode 1 set 3 years in the past followed by five minutes of new scenes (presumably still in the past), then at 6 minutes in there is a recap of the last episode in the present and a new scene added, then at 10 minutes of 26 minutes we have the final scene of episode 1 and new scenes from then on
- they should have actually shown the kiss right away to explain their relationship three years ago and then they needed to confirm what their relationship is in the present
- never really explain what happened in the past or how all the "plans" would actually work
- lack of agency from Jung Woo and our supposed hero did the exact same thing that the villain did with making choices for Jung Woo instead of making choices with Jung Woo
- multiple mediocre kisses

Question - is self-publishing not an option in South Korea?

Leggi di Più

Three Blind Mice.

The Chinese title of this drama 天行健/Tiān Xíng Jiàn comes from a profound phrase 天行健, 君子以自强不息 from the ancient divination classic I-Ching. Loosely translated, it means in a dynamic world, gentlemen should constantly strive for improvement; to be virtuous. In the context of this drama, it alludes to how three very different individuals struggle for relevance against the overwhelming tide of history.

This production's rich historical and cultural texture has been widely praised by history buffs. The nostalgic opening sequence seamlessly weaves in scenes from the drama with real footage from that era. It is set in early 1911 which was a pivotal time in modern Chinese history. By then, impoverished by civil strife and foreign incursions, the Qing dynasty was on its last legs. While clearly the time of emperors was ending, China's struggle with what form of government it would adopt went on for almost 40 years. In this story, the court is divided between conservatives (Imperial Household Department) and reformists (Prince Qi); both of whom are trying to preserve some form of constitutional monarchy. Tongmenghui led by Sun Wen (Sun Yat-sen) are rebels who want to do away with the monarchy and go down the path of a democratic republic. The powerful Beiyang Army, (then led by Yuan Shikai, the unnamed fisherman) was a deciding player in Chinese politics right up to 1949 and beyond. At the time, foreign powers including the Japanese, actively meddled in Chinese domestic affairs. Thus while there are indeed too many factions, this accurately depicts the landscape at the time

There is a lot to unpack as this is equally a plot and character driven story. A map leading to a fabled treasure is stolen from the palace. The various factions realize that such a fabulous treasure could make a meaningful difference to the success of their cause. Thus begins a mad dash of a treasure hunt that entangles three individuals who are disenfranchised by the changing times: the personal guard of the deposed Guangxu emperor, a swordsman in the age of guns and a Confucian scholar after the abolition of imperial exams. Can these three blind mice grappling with their own outdated ideals be trusted to see the bigger picture and ensure the treasure ends up in the right hands?

Men Sandao was once the emperor's guard who dared to love a princess. He was imprisoned when the emperor's Hundred Days' Reform failed. Twelve years later, he is freed on the condition he retrieves the fabled treasure that is desperately needed to shore up the national coffers. He is pitted against Zhuo Bufan, the leader of the impoverished Rongtian sect who seeks the treasure as a means to make his sect famous. His nemesis Dagu constable Wang Jialuo doesn't care about the treasure; he just means to hunt down and hold Zhuo Bufan and the Rongtian sect accountable for nine murders in his county. They are all flawed and obsessive characters who are smart yet frustratingly intractable in their beliefs. Even Men Sandao, the fullest and most intriguing character remains true to the only two things that matter to him from the beginning to the end. Similarly, Zhuo Bufan refuses to ditch his cause until his cause abandons him. The greatest zealot is Wang Jialuo, who is the product of everything wrong with the Confucian exam system; a tradition so steeped in rote learning over original thought he is utterly incapable of operating outside of the Qing code.

Men Sandao is Qin Junjie's best role to date, one he delivers with a mastery that matches the stagecraft of the many veteran actors in the cast. The way he habitually held his hands as if they were still in shackles moved me as much as the forlorn tear he shed at Guangxu emperor's grave. His natural chemistry with the rest of the cast elevated the character interactions all around. Despite their conflicting agendas, Men Sandao shared a mutual respect and understanding with Zhuo Bufan and was also able to manage the more difficult Wang Jialuo. I laughed uproariously at how he turned Lucky into his lackey and enjoyed his spirited debates with Liu Lin. I could tell he saw a lot of his younger self in her and their relationship was the one I found most moving. All of the roles that mattered, including the villain roles, were well executed with many memorable scenes featuring Prince Qi, Cunqing and Zhong Haichao. Lin Anjing was the only notable weak link in an otherwise stellar cast.

There is never a dull moment in this well-written screenplay that seamlessly fuses multiple interlocking character stories into the action and adventure. Told with dark humor, wit and irony, the narrative does not shy away from blood, violence and sudden death. Though a bit a bit heavy on slow motion and close ups, the action scenes are intense and well shot; with the occasional dose of bizarre humor. I laughed hardest at Wang Jialuo's Tarantino like foolish bravado in the face of certain death and his absurd resurrections. But laughter aside, I really didn't much care for him or Zhuo Bufan and their romantic entanglements. The only characters I rooted for were Men Sandao, Gege, Liu Lin and the ubiquitous Lucky with his uncanny knack for popping up just when needed. Though some characters got endings they didn't deserve, the ending overall is quite fitting and not surprising. This is ultimately a dark story, reflective of the times. One of the better dramas of 2024 for me that deserves more attention. I rate this 8.5/10.0.

Scroll down for more detailed spoiler ending thoughts.









MAJOR ENDING SPOILER COMMENTS



I found both Zhuo Bufan and Wang Jialuo's ending very fitting and oddly justified. Make no mistake, Zhuo Bufan was not a great guy. He betrayed many jianghu codes of conduct in his quest for greatness and sacrificed his sect members with callous indifference. It is no wonder they turned on him. He arguably would have never really given up were it not for the fact that the Rongtian sect was no more. He also conveniently forgot he promised Wang Jialuo that he would settle accounts with him and tried to ride off into the sunset after abandoning the treasure hunt. There was so much blood on Zhuo Bufan and Huo Qin’s hands including Wang Jialuo's shifu and the poor, heroic Tan Xian that there had to be consequences. Of course Wang Jialuo was no better and ultimately also betrays his true love and his beloved Qing code in his obsession with closing his case. It is both ironic and fitting that he was his own judge and executioner. It cracked me up that Men Sandao went after him in case for the tenth time he didn’t really die dead.

The most undeserved deaths were those of Lucky and Liu Lin, who were the true heroes of this story. They represented the best, most idealistic and hopeful voices of their movement and the future their world had to change for. Their deaths were not necessary and far more cruel and pointless than telling us that Men Sandao and Gege never reunited after Fujian. In any case, there were no lasting good outcomes for anyone during that time in history. Any survivors would have had to face an ugly 40 years of civil war with Tongmenghui ultimately ending up on the wrong side of history. So it has to be enough that they fought the good fight that led to the movement’s finest moments. RIP Liu Lin and Lucky Hao Han who was definitely a hǎohàn/好汉/good guy but just not that lucky.






X

Leggi di Più

I consider this drama a little gem in its genre. It doesn't have a tremendously eventful plot, no big, earthshaking truth to be revealed in the last episode, no memory loss, birth secrets or time jump - forgive me, I couldn't help it.
It tells an ordinary story in a refreshingly modern way, without giving up on those elements we inevitably associate to k-dramas and make them into the shows we are all addicted to: a love triangle or square of some sort, love obstacles of various nature, parents who meddle but without being completely unreasonable or out of this universe evil and a corporate sub-plot.

I wouldn't call this a romantic comedy. I think it's more of a life drama. There's romance, of course, and there's a mature, clever humour, but both these aspects are rationed throughout the narration in a sedate and yet very effective way. This is why I believe I do, I do isn't for you, if what you're looking for is a typical rom-com. The pace may deter some, and others could find the raised issues uninteresting or controversial.
I loved it because it offers the viewer a range of different points of view on subjects which are very common in real life, and not so common in the Korean drama world; there's no judgment involved, no stance is presented as better than the other. It's up to you to decide what you would do and how you would react in a similar situation.

A life drama is only successful when the characters are well outlined. And this is the true strength of I do, I do. I myself was amazed at how gradually and yet fiercely I got attached to some of the characters, mainly the two leads. They are both so well portrayed I ended up identifying without having a trait in common with either one.
Acting is spot on. I consider Kim Sun A a guarantee. I may not like all the dramas she acted in, but it's never been due to her. She enters the character in such a plausible way, she does not create fictional characters but real persona. Always believable, never predictable. And let me add how wonderfully satisfying it is when you finally land on a drama with an intelligent, self-assured, successful female lead who does not passively accepts events but make them happen!

The character of Tae Kang has been an amazing revelation for me. A cute thing who looks like a puppy and acts like one is all I believed he was in the beginning. I was very wrong. He's tremendously endearing and such a blend of childlike enthusiasm and caring maturity I couldn't help but being completely captured by him. My admiration goes to the actor for capturing the essence of his character and portraying it in such an adorable way.
The chemistry between those two is also a work-in-progress. Their feelings grow as the characters grow. We fall in love with Tae Kang the moment Ji An does, not before. I loved this aspect the most, as I am usually very frustrated by knowing a truth which the characters will be oblivious about for three quarters of a drama.

The secondary characters are normal people. They make mistakes, they gossip, they laugh, they get angry. With the exception of "madame CEO" - and her horrid taste in figurative art, allow me to add - I liked them all. Everyone has an arc and a role in this story. They are not thrown in just in order to fill empty spaces.

The music isn't unforgettable, but I must confess the main theme is addicting and the instrumental pieces very well chosen.

This isn't a drama I will run to re-watch as soon as it's finished airing. However, it has many delicious, thought-provoking and poignant moments I'll be more than happy to immerse in again in the future. I recommend this drama to everyone who likes a solid, modern script, unusually believable characters and a no-nonsense plot.

Leggi di Più

The plot has enormous potential, yet more bite and sting really wouldn't have hurt.

The share of Makjang in South Korea's series productions seems to decrease noticeably. After 3 seasons of "The Penthouse" in 2021, taking the evil within the "´War of Life´ to the extreme, it might have been somewhat exhausted? Thus, "Curtain Call" may be a noticeably 'softened' Makjang series (if at all). In this manner however, the KDrama represents a social zeitgeist that should not be underestimated: the desire for reconciliation. Reconciliation with the North. Reconciliation between generations, between the past and today. Reconciliation between duty and dream. The search, the longing, the need for South Korean society to balance itself on a new level - finding peace. To me, that's what "Curtain Call" stands for.

As so often, the focus is on the rich and beautiful. In this family clan, too, the third generation could disassemble itself in the fight for the golden spoon. But somehow things are a bit different here than otherwise in KDrama Orbit.
The head of the family is (quite progressively) a woman. Matriarchy instead of patriarchy, that makes a difference. While she probably represents business acumen and a strong leadership style, for all the respect she receives, she has NOT sacrificed her heart for her grandchildren and employees on the track. Also: For once, she (at least she) does NOT embody the incarnation of disparaging arrogance. She is NOT someone who mercilessly pursues her own interests without regard for human losses. In the contrary, there is a healthy dose of humility, because even in old age she is still close to the very simple roots of her origins. This is also because her homeland is in what is now North Korea. She remains aware of the painful separation throughout her successful life. No amount of money can turn back time or realign the political structures. Like that, she embodies a vicarious pain shared by many family histories across the country. And so an emotional bridge is practically built to the audience - ´halmoni´ gets some sympathy.

The plot has actually enormous potential: the grandson from North Korea, for whom the now old and terminally ill chair(wo)man longs in her last remaining weeks and months, was actually found. However, his personality seemingly doesn't lend itself to a peaceful happy ending - and so an actor who is versed in the North Korean dialect is introduced into the family as a fake grandson instead. He does his job so well that he ends up doubting his own identity...

"Curtain Call" manages to play out some of its punchlines in an emotional sensitive way. Nevertheless, the story remains more harmless than necessary and the potential isn´t realized. The KDrama doesn't take its chances, instead prefers to choose warm colors and soft images. All in all, "Curtain Call" might find its own pitch in the KDrama orbit, yet it keeps a low profile along the way and unfortunately does not take the next step. It rather remains kind-hearted and thus gambles away a dramaturgical chance. In my opinion, more STING really wouldn't have hurt. Too bad.

Nevertheless: "Curtain Call" is nice to watch. The cast is top notch. In places razor-sharp and at the same time pointedly funny, the KDrama also operates (especially against the background of the North-South dynamic) in a good mood with small socio-critical side swipes here, there and over there as well. The dialogues exploit this potential with relish. The bottom line is that "Curtain Call" is probably worth seeing if you DON´T feel like too much excitement, revenge, action, thriller, legal affairs or romance.

Leggi di Più

The story started out in a slow pace but eventually picked up its pace after a few episodes. I love this kdrama! It has so many twist and turns in the storyline that keep you guessing. The story itself is riveting! It's a fusion of fantasy, melodrama, mystery, and romance. You'll feel different emotions as you go along. =) I love so many parts of the story--most notably was how Jeong Bum was vindicated after the mystery which labelled him as the serial killer in past life, was finally unraveled in the present life. =)

The last scene initially got me stumped, 'coz it shows Jeong Bum lying in the hospital bed as Sa Bin begins to show him stuff in an attempt to wake him up. But after re-watching the last few scenes, I was able to discern it. =) The last scene (i.e. hospital) is like a flashback of the current scene wherein you find Jeong Bum in Sa Bin's bookstore reading a book and suddenly recovers his memory by recognizing Sa Bin from the window and uttering her name. So that flashback shows that he did undergo a successful surgery but temporarily lost his memory. Hence, the final scene is Jeong Bum recovers his memory in the bookstore and utters Sa Bin's name. =)

I love the ending--in her past life, she ended up with Detective Cha then with her present life, she ended up with Jeong Bum whose name has been cleared as the serial killer in the past life. =)

Pls. give this kdrama a chance! Don't be daunted by the negative reviews. =)

Leggi di Più

A Drama for Philosophers and Deep Thinkers

(I tried to not write spoilers, but to leave little cues that might also make your viewing experience more enjoyable if you read the review before you watch it.)
So, for me this a drama with so many layers, I don't even know where to start.

At the beginning all I could do was just go with the feelings it created. I think the cinematography and storytelling is so well done, you can just float by on the feelings it creates if you let yourself. Turn off the logical brain and just let yourself be there with these people, living and knowing they will soon die. The pain of it, and the twisted turns the human heart takes to the point of relief.

And that is the second layer. People do start acting weird when they hear the clock ticking, the existential dread causing people to go through all the stages of grief.
Denial
Anger
Bargaining
Depression/Grief
Acceptance
This can be seen in all the "restarts" the drama takes. Understandably this was boring for some, but it made a lot of sense to me. I don't want to get too spoilery, but if you have watched it, you can see these stages clearly.

Having had cancer-scare (it was something else, thank deity) myself this year, I understood Dong-Kyungs every emotion and reaction right of the bat. Pretending like it was nothing, getting angry, getting sad, worrying about the people you leave behind, getting upset by the injustice of it and even wishing they would forget about you.

Another layer was Myul Mang and Dong Kyungs journeys to leading fulfilled lives.Both are depressed and wish the world could just end, so they would not have to suffer ever again.
Both felt lonely and out of place, both processing their negative feelings about suffering in different ways, one by being apathetic and resentful and the other by being people pleasing and internalising pain to an unhealthy degree.
One needed to learn how to love, even when faced with the inevitable ending and the other needed how to be selfish, even when faced with the inevitable ending. To truly live means to grow, and to grow means to accept suffering and joy all the same.

What can be more poetic than having to learn to love Doom in order to surive?

Another layer to me was the religious aspects, of having two deitys, one the creator, one the destroyer and both have been made by and for man to explain the randomness of suffering. This is part of many religions. But especially Buddhism has this ethos of having to go through the same suffering in different ways until you accept fate and learn the lesson in this life and grow. Here again, the frequent repetition of their old patterns is explained. Especially the part in the middle where they can both can see what they would have been had they not grown through their pain and their joy in each other.

A whole other layer is hidden in the many symbolisms, the flower, the strange dialogues, pictures and books mentioned in the show. Admittedly, I had to watch every episode twice to really catch them, having been taken up with the emotion of it in the first run. I knew I was missing something, even though I am a philosophy nerd, but one of the more obvious ones was the Pinocchio reference (from puppet to man) and the butterfly metaphor (creeping, metamorphosis, which is basically dying and being rebuilt, and then flying). What I was missing, was that a lot of the dialogue and scenes are based on Nietzsches book "Thus spoke Zarathustra", because I haven't read it, duh. If you want to know more about this, I recommend this blog: https://mindmeltonabun-blog.tumblr.com/tagged/doom-at-your-service

Btw, I am not one to care about OSTs much, unless they are extraordinary, but here I really noticed how well it was cut together with what was happening in the scene.

And no, I don't want to talk about Ep.15. I never rate dramas on their wrap up episodes, because let's admit it, most of them are a mess.

Leggi di Più