Reviews

"I am here right here, right now!"

From now on, when I hear, that most of the best things are discovered accidentally (I should raise a glass for you, Rita~), but on the best right time, I am going to smile knowingly and relive the feelings I had during the 3 days I watched Q10.

This little drama has neither the mind blowing novelty, eye catching effects, heart throbbing romance, head spinning mysteries, tear jerking dramas... none... it even does not have the best script... but my mind is blown because of the beautiful lines every character delivered, my eyes never left the screen because every word the characters said engraved deep into my heart, my heart throbbed every second of the drama because all the things they said are so known, but so welcome to my ears, my head was spinning from the realization that I know all the words delivered, but I need to hear them so much more often as they are so warm, so true, so sweet and so-so right, my tears were running so calmly and sweetly, I did not even realize I was crying until I sobbed at the last moment of the last episode~

In the beginning Q10's character was so confusing, that I did not know how I could rate her for myself, at first it seems she has no facial expressions (she's a robot, for crying out loud), she delivers her lines in a monotone, tilts her head, does not blink, how... how? I was watching the 2nd episode when I realized, gosh, she is gorgeous! I can see her smiling, even when she is not, I can see her thinking, even when she can't! I was caught in this so quickly...

A little later I discovered why I had the oh-so-familiar feeling about this drama, well, you see, I have a all time favourite drama, and it is Nobuta wo Produce, if you had watched it as much as I have, you would definitely recognize the same 'signature' of the director, as both dramas are directed by the same one... the beautiful shots of the sky, the rook of the school, the friendship of the characters, absence of an antagonist, characters revealing both positive and negative traits, not being perfect, but themselves...oh and so many more things...

I will repeat myself, and say, that the most beautiful thing in this drama are the delivered lines - oh-so-familiar and known, and ought to be said more often.

As for me, am contemplating on rewatching it right now (it has been 10 minutes since I finished it), I am sure this will become one of my favourite additions to my collection and one of the most rewatched ones on my list.

Absolutely recommended~! Paffun~

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Great promise with bad execuation

The idea of this film was very promising and attention-grabbing, especially for lovers of action films and thrillers (for me!). However, the execution and direction of this film just weren't satisfying enough.

In the beginning of the story, I was already doubtful after seeing the sauna scene - "Carter", a single man with no memory, manages to kill over 20 (probably 30+) men, all with knives and other kinds of weapons, basically single-handedly and without a scratch. Even the best-trained killers wouldn't be that capable. The opening already tells you how the story will go. The action scenes are way too unrealistic, almost fantasy-like. For a film that's classified as an action thriller, that's not so good.

The one-scene one-cut technique used during the camera work was nice and refreshing at the beginning but later on became frustrating. A lot of "empty" scenes showing empty rooms, the underneath of a car etc...just absolutely unnecessary scenes.

The non-Korean actors ruined the show for me. Their acting was simply bad, very amateur-like and mediocre.

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Even if you are not a fan of historical dramas (I'm not), this is one that is worth watching. I made the mistake of reading the history of these people before watching the drama. So, I knew what was coming from the beginning. There are also other dramas that are about this story. I think what makes this one different is that the writers write it as a love story between Jang Ok Jung and King Sook Jong from beginning to end. It also written for you to sympathize with Ok Jung. She isn't the villain in this drama (although she does some crazy stuff because she is forced into a corner by the Queen Mother). She would have been happy to be by the king's side in any capacity, but they treated her like crap and made her want more. Also, I loved the beautiful Hanboks. The women were gorgeous. I enjoyed the story and the setting, but that isn't what is captivating.

The acting is amazing!!! Yoo Ah In is the best king ever!!! His portrayal of emotions is all consuming. I felt everything with him to the point that I smiled when he smiled and cried when he cried. BTW...his understated crying scenes are so well done. It is more moving than the over the top wailing. Kim Tae Hee as Ok Jung is just beautiful. I realized after watching this that the only other drama I have seen Tae Hee in is Iris. I think I should watch her other dramas, because her acting is fantastic. I also enjoyed the other actors, but they don't stand out. BTW...if you are watching this for Jae Hee, then don't waste your time. His scenes are limited.

Oh, and just a side note. That baby (although never looking like a newborn) was as cute as he could be.

The music is pretty.

I won't rewatch this.

If you like romance mixed with some historical political junk (the stuff I totally don't care about), then you would enjoy this drama.

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right from the start it was so unlike the usual zombie movie, that alone really had me wondering what will happen next, it was not following the formula!
when I watch a zombie story it's all the same, and I'll be honest, it's not scary.. it's like step 1-an experiment gone wrong. 2- one mutated/infected zombie bites everyone. 3- a group of people try to survive...

like why did no one try to remove a zombies teeth before? that was hilarious.. and it has such a 180 concept of how people changed that was another hilarious part.. overall the movie didn't take itself seriously, I think that's the best part, it's a silly lighthearted new twist to the zombie story that's been told a million times..

I never rewatch stuff, but this was silly enough that might make me rewatch it ;)

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******  EPIC AND ENTHRALLING  ******
This series has it all for me...  Action, Magic and Intrigue with stunning scenery.  The beginning did not 'hook' me in at first, but once the plot starts to develop intricacies it began to captivate me. The slow movement and stillness of the scenes provokes emotion and suspense coupled often with ethereal music that lends a timeless quality to understanding the character's motives and actions based on the causal events of the past. I find the series masterful and engaging.

Episode 40 & 41 - I love the alchemical use of the natural elements in the soundtrack, instead of background music episode 40 uses Rain and episode 41 uses Wind and of course there is the crackling of fire in the camp.  So much majesty has been put into this drama, it is a work of Art, Frame by Frame.

Episode 47 - the soundtrack is amazing, the music itself takes you on a journey - it's an acoustical odyssey.      Cherchez La Femme - it's interesting that they are using women each time as catalysts to ignite a reaction that triggers a turn of events or should it be Cherchez Le Sorcier?  The cinematography throughout this drama is pure visual poetry, enchanting the viewer with the connection to nature; even in Ep. 66 the background noise of crickets chirping adds a layer of subtlety.  

Ep. 71-74:  There are a lot of fragmented flashbacks that seemed like a Bohemian Rhapsody:  'Is this the Real Life or is this just Fantasy, caught in a landslide, no escape from Reality. Open your eyes look up to the skies and See...'     The costume, set designs and use of colour were also aesthetically pleasing.  This should be the Flagship model that will hopefully lead the industry as an example for new dramas in the future.  It's refreshing to view a mature series with such depth instead of the shallow young adult dramas with sappy dialogue and dysfunctional relationships that we have been over-saturated with for years.  I will wait in anticipation for the next season to see what the artists conjure up next!

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This drama was consistent throughout as a light-hearted watch that never took itself seriously. The production quality wasn't great due to the low budget, the CGI was poor and the story was practically non-existent. However, the main couple CH and QY made up for everything, especially QY.

This drama is mainly about a love triangle between a girl and two guys that are polar opposites of each other - Qiu Yue from the Demonic Sect and Xiao Bai from the Feng Ming Manor who claims to uphold the righteous side.

For me, Qiu Yue was the star of the drama. He is an anti-hero, scheming and cunning with no morals but below his cold and ruthless exterior was a vulnerable and lonely person that had an abandonment complex. Li Hong Yi did very well portraying such a complex character and the chemistry between Chun Hua and Qiu Yue was really sizzling. I loved all the kisses between them. Chun Hua was a more typical character, but she showed maturity as the drama progressed and I didn't blame her for leaving Qiu Yue in the latter half of the drama.

Xiao Bai was clearly the weakest link in the main cast. The actor portraying him had too wooden expressions and I couldn't really buy his character or his 'love' for Chun Hua. Though to be honest, his character is a very conflicted/contradictory one that didn't do him any favours either in terms of likability.

A special shout out to Feng Cai Cai who I initially disliked but became such a wonderful, understanding and intelligent character by the end of the drama.

Overall, the drama probably doesn't deserve the 8.0 rating that I gave it since it really isn't a good drama but I enjoyed the scenes between CH and QY so much that I really recommend it if you like xian xia and romance.

On a side note, the ending was actually very faithful to the book although they could have included the side stories that mentioned their child which would have made the ending more satisfying.

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Oh My Ghost can be a hit or miss for some! The romance is butterfly stirring, the comedy will leave you laughing out loud and the suspense will leave you shaking on the edge of your seat. This drama was pretty decent yet the story line , not so much. It's not that I had an issue with the acting nor the characters; it was just the storyline of this drama could have been done better. At times, it felt like this drama struggled to decide what kind of drama it wanted to be; a romantic comedy, a melodrama, a mystery, a thriller...it just seemed all over the place and there were many parts ( and characters) of this drama I wished the writers could have spent more time on rather than rushing the main focus of this drama on the back burner in the last 4 episodes.

The acting here was one of a kind. The actors appeared to have great chemistry and Park Bo Young delivers another great role as the shy/timid Na Bong Sung and my favorite loud/pervy Soon Ae! I found her actions to be very alike to Kim Seul Gi's (Soon Ae) acting style which was very impressive! Another great performance was of Jo Jung Suk (Chef Seon Woo) and Im Joo Hwan who plays Officer Choi!

If I were to re watch this show, I'd only spend it on the moments of romance. This drama delivers in the Romance department and also talks about a certain topic that isn't really talked about in drama land. These 16 episodes went by really quickly for me. I have to say I was really fond of episode 15, which really redeemed the entire series (in my opinion of course). Depending on whose team you're supporting, you'll find yourself wrapped into the love triangle. Overall, I give this drama an 8 based solely on the acting.

If you ever see a 10 for acting, then you know it's a must watch!

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How can someone in love be possibly so calm?

Finally, it feels like a journey that started in 2021, continued in 2022, and now in 2026 has come to an end. And my heart is lowkey broken.

Yumi’s Cells… where do I even begin?
I started it because of the cells. That was the hook. The idea of animation mixed with a K drama? I was sold. And I swear over the years the animation quality, the detailing of the cells, the way their world functioned, it just kept getting better and better.

But I never watched this show for any of the male leads. From the very beginning, it was always about Yumi for me. That is why I never really minded who she ended up with, as long as she was happy.

Because I have seen her journey.

I have seen how much her cells used to overthink. How much they spiraled. How every small situation turned into a full committee meeting. How her thoughts controlled her. How fear, pride, love, anxiety, rationality , all of them were constantly fighting inside her.

Watching her grow from that version of herself to who she becomes in the final season is honestly so satisfying.

Now that it has ended, I feel weirdly happy and empty at the same time. Happy because she got the ending she deserved. Empty because letting go of a journey that has lasted almost five years is not easy.

Precap

Season 1: Yumi Dated Woong they had a good start some misunderstanding due to Sae Yi Woong's colleague and Yumi's constant insecurity with her and others were due to Woong's job that he had no funds and he felt like a loser to stay with girlfriend and never told he moved out of his apartment until she herself found out so that he couldn't communicate his suffering due to his pride.

Season 2: She has already shift department due to interest in Marketing with recommendation of her colleague which is her love interest, Yoo Ba Bi. Again cute fluffy honeymoon phase, he gets transfer, LDR, Yumi switches careers, they both get busy, Yoo Ba Bi's heart sway for some other girl momentarily (still cheating ok) then they breakup and get back together because they cannot get over eachother, Yumi forgives, Woong is again back as cameo but she doesn't reciprocate, there's a certain distance between Yumi and Babi, they don't tell each other stuff like his accident, the same girl calls him again and it doesn't affect Yumi then the line comes along "How someone in love can be possibly be so calm" and they breakup for the final time.

Season 3: The most long awaited season because this IS THE FINAL love interest

"How can someone in love be possibly so calm"

And that is exactly what this final (sigh) season of Yumi’s Cells is about.

Like I told you before, Yumi’s last relationship ended with her feeling absolutely nothing when she saw the same girl called Ba Bi whose heart once swayed for. That emotional shutdown is where this season begins.

This season starts with Yumi’s cell village basically on airplane mode. She is not really experiencing or expressing emotions anymore. What makes this season make so much sense is that she slowly starts feeling everything again because Shin Soon Rok pisses her off. And I mean truly pisses her off. Which is so funny to watch.

And please do not start with the “Yumi is annoying” or “she forces conversations” take. If you have watched the previous seasons, that is exactly who Yumi is. She initiates conversations. She tries to talk. She fills awkward silence. She overthinks. That has always been her.

Now for me, this is my favorite season by far.

Shin Soon Rok is such a relatable character. His professional and personal boundaries are refreshing and honestly very funny to see. His cell village is just as cute as Yumi’s. And him being in denial about his feelings was my favorite part. Watching him act calm while internally spiraling was so satisfying. And his personality shift is FUNNIEST.

Kim Go Eun is my goat for real. She breathed life into Yumi in a way that I genuinely do not think any other actress could have. If you watch Seasons 1, 2, and 3 of Yumi, you can actually see the changes she goes through in each phase of her life. The personality shifts are not sudden, they feel layered and gradual. You can genuinely feel her growth. The way she reacts to love, heartbreak, career struggles evolves over the years, and it never feels repetitive. It feels lived in. And that is honestly because of the incredible performance by Kim Go Eun. She does not just play Yumi. She grows with her. The subtle changes in her expressions, the maturity in her tone, even the way she carries herself season after season makes the evolution believable. You are not just told that Yumi has changed. You see it. And you feel it.

And Kim Jae Won did so well. I cannot picture anyone else as Shin Soon Rok. The micro shifts in his expressions, the subtle personality switches, the stern yet not so stonic vibe makes him so compelling to watch. The shyness, the awkward pauses, those short and clipped answers, it all felt so real. And that personality shift in the last episode. The role play scene. So ridiculously well done. I genuinely cannot picture one else playing that role. He embodied it soo well.

Romance was genuinely so refreshing. Yes, there is a real life age gap between the leads, around nine to ten years, and even in the drama they mention a seven to eight year gap. But honestly, I never once felt it affecting the dynamic. The chemistry felt natural, unforced, and surprisingly comfortable. It simply existed. And I genuinely think it is one of the most refreshing takes on a noona romance in a while.

The quality of animation got better, the voice artists and creators deserve THAT APPRECIATION.

MY FAVOURITE OST THIS SEASON IS "SHOOTING STAR" BY THAMA (pls listen and you'll be in love too)

Compared to the other seasons, this one has a much slower pace even though it is only eight episodes. And I loved that but also despised (because no more Yumi and her cells :( )

In the earlier seasons, the feelings sometimes felt rushed. Here, the timing feels intentional. Even though the romantic moments are limited compared to the previous seasons, whatever they give us has you kicking your feet and giggling.

I do feel they could have added one or two more episodes to let the relationship breathe and really convince the audience why Soon Rok is Yumi’s endgame. And definitely should've not given away many of Soon Rok scenes to Ba Bi.

But they still explained it well.

Soon Rok was the first man in Yumi's life whose prime cell was also love cell, which meant he valued his love and it was his top priority. Soon Rok having constant clarity about his intentions, without his cells overly interrupting his thoughts once they start dating, and expressing himself clearly to Yumi without making her spiral into the same overthinking loops again, is what makes him the best man for her.

If you ask me whether you can watch Season 3 without watching Seasons 1 and 2, I would say yes.

But you will not grow attached to the cells. You will not witness her personal growth. You will not connect to her character in the same way people who watched everything did.
Because who Yumi ends up with is not the main arc.

How Yumi grows as a person through various relationships and her career shift from her early thirties to her late thirties is.

Because Yumi is the main character of Yumi’s Cells.

I'll just deduct 0.5 for giving us only 8 episodes because for me it is 10/10.

I will forever miss you cells :((((!

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Aged to perfection.

Since Love and Destiny was produced by the same team and resides in the same world, comparisons to TMOPB are inevitable. Pleasingly, the only connection is that it takes place earlier in the same 3L3W universe. This is efficient as less time is wasted on world building and explaining the tribes, hierarchies, time and other conventions. The story-line sticks to the 3L3W formula of an unforgettable love story that spans three lives and three realms. While TMOPB was an intensely passionate love story, this has more of a romantic comedy flavor. This is the story of a pure heart-ed young fairy who falls in love with the powerful and much older God of War. This relationship dynamic sets up for a different love story that again succeeds in delighting and captivating in a way that is now becoming a 3L3W brand.

The plot is common for this genre (save the world or save the girl) and is this drama's biggest weakness. Those familiar with the director may observe the backstory of some leading characters (Jiu Chen, Ling Xi and Jing Xiu) were inspired by Journey of Flower - (Bai Zhihua, Hua Qiangu and Dongfang). That said, L&D is neither another TMOPB, nor JOF but a delightful story that stands on its own, albeit with a few cliche tropes. The three main arcs could have been better balanced - the first two took too long and did not leave much time for the final, most satisfying arc. There were too many (well executed) comedic fillers in this drama. This made it feel like "nothing's happening" or the relationship progressed too slowly.

The weak plot was compensated for by superb acting by the main leads. Veteran actors Chang Chen (Jiu Chen) and Ni Ni (Ling Xi) were perfectly matched. They are both gorgeous actors whose emotions and facial expressions transform and make them compelling in their appeal. The role of Jiu Chen was made for a Chang Chen that is aged to perfection - his sculpted bone structure and fierce expression exudes the aura of a stoic, mature and powerful God of War. Any suggestion that some young idol actor could have pulled this off is ridiculous. Jiu Chen is a formidable character that wears the lonely responsibility of keeping the realms safe. He moves mountains to force a win-win in his terrible conflict between duty and love. His instinct is to protect Ling Xi, to the fault of hiding the truth from her. He is alternately stern and helplessly indulgent with her. His impassive expression softens, he even smiles and becomes open and vulnerable only with Ling Xi. He is touchingly candid and unguarded when he confesses his feelings to her. With insight beyond her youth, Ling Xi recognizes the loneliness and burden inherent in Jiu Chen's role. She captivates him with her spell-blinding smile and mischievous antics; he is touched by her devotion and inept attempts to aid him. As their feelings grow, you can feel the invisible bond of their awareness and affection for each other. Ling Xi's best, most courageous moments are when she makes unbelievable sacrifices in order not to add to Jiu Chen's burdens. Each loves the other more than they love themselves.

In the first arc (20+ episodes), the Ling Xi wakes up Jiu Chen, who had been frozen for 50,000 years after sealing the Demon King. He is suspicious that such a weak fairy could have awakened him and takes her in, ostensibly to care for his health. The guileless and infatuated Ling Xi is delighted and disrupts his household with her comical attempts to entice him. She loses her senses over him and fires up his stone cold heart with her devotion. However, as God of War it is his duty to execute the young fairy with the ability to release the Demon King. Initially I found Ling Xi too subservient; a bird immortal with a bit of a bird brain. Yet Ni Ni's portrayal of Ling Xi was never annoying, indeed I was charmed despite my preference for stronger characters. She won me over when she bravely steps up to protect Jiu Chen and takes responsibility for her own life.

In the second arc (up to episode 50), Ling Xi is reincarnated as a mortal Lin Mo who has to go through three trials. She overcomes many challenges and becomes independent along the way. This is where Jing Xiu emerges as a manipulative, petty and sinister love rival to Jiu Chen. Episodes 30-40 can be skipped - this part was draggy and I struggled to empathize with Jing Xiu. This actor overacted the villain when he is actually supposed to be a grey character - he was so selfish, manipulative and creepy I was irritated at Ling Xi for not being wary of him. There were many unnecessary side characters in this arc that lingers too long on Ling Xi's coming of age. The best moments are between episodes 40-50 where Jiu Chen and Lin Mo fall touchingly in love (again). The final arc was the shortest and the sweetest. Ling Xi becomes a powerful high goddess who forces Jiu Chen to let her share his burdens and they face their enemy together.

The supporting cast was strong and there is a lovely secondary love story between Yun Fung and Qing Yao that is nicely intertwined with the primary. The villains did a decent job being evil and hateful but their motivators were typical: revenge, envy and obsessive unrequited love. The OST is very good but the CGI is quite dreadful. Overall a quality and enjoyable drama with a big budget. The bottom line remains as a love story, it boils down to the main leads. In this, they delivered - virtually all of their scenes brought a silly, lovesick and goofy smile to my face. You will enjoy this immensely if you appreciate leading actors and a love story that is truly aged to perfection.

PS - got a number of PMs re: comparison to TMOPB. I avoided directly comparing them but I also reviewed TMOPB and if you read that, what I think the differences are is obvious and reflected in the rating.

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I'm just disappointed at this point

The way this drama pissed me off so much I'm writing a review to save innocent souls from wasting their free will on this mess. Consider this your warning: Penthouse 3 is pure chaos. High-level spoiler alert ahead, but honestly? I don’t even care. Maybe you need to witness the madness yourself to truly understand.

That ending made the least sense in all the nonsense of this season. One, Logan's dead was defo tacked on for no reason, if his cancer came back, Seok Hyung could have donated her stem cell just like Seol A did before since they are twin so she would be a match. But I get that he might not have wanted to keep living cause Sim Su Ryeon was dead, but according to his character, he would have tried to survive to take care of the Seok 'twins' and Bae Ro Na or something.

Sim Su Ryeon basically killing herself is so unlike her character, I get that she lost a lot but she had a lot to live for, mainly her children, especially after finding out that Seok Hyun was her biological daughter, and her 'fake' other daughter in USA (that was forgotten about), also Seok Hoon and Logan and Bae Rona. Stupid death in my opinion.

Also I fully believed that the wedding/engagement was purposely planned to catch Ju Dan Tae, it didn't make sense that they would have such a big event and not expect him to show up and sabotage it. Logan even saw him before he went up to see Su Ryeon but then he magically forgot about him and was shocked when he was there. What kind of trash security did they have! And who picks up a call on their wedding/engagement walking down the aisle.

To even talk about Oh Yoon Hee's death, makes my brain hurt, excuse me but when did Penthouse turn to a Marvel movie, Yoon Hee was pushing back her car at the edge of a cliff while another car with a brick on the accelerator is pushing on her car, how? What kinda Super solider serum, Hulk ass power does she have? Before she got to the back of the car, she opened the door where Eun Byeol was unconscious and was shouting at her to wake up, instead of dragging her out like Seo Jin did later on. It was just so dumb.

Lastly, Ju Dan Tae, his man, for the amount of stress and hatred I felt in my body for his guy, his death was not it. It did not satisfy me at all, the amount of evil he's done and gotten away with it, he should have dead way worse, a bullet to the head and falling from the Penthouse onto the statue. DEAD. I wanted Vincenzo level of torture and death, he deserved that. Remember how he tried to kill Bae Ro Na by stabbing her in the brain, ruthlessly and returning like he did nothing. No, that man is truly evil and he deserved more pain in his death. Same goes for Cheon Seo Jin, she did too much to end up killing herself, I get that she's remorseful after what her daughter said in the court room and her ex told Su Ryeon to not kill her but NO, she should have lived a long life in prison, paying for her punishment.

Also, I agree with people who said that this season shouldn't have happened if they were just gonna kill the main 2 good guys, Su Ryeon and Logan, cause in season 1, it was Su Ryeon that 'died' then season 2, it was Logan. Might as well have finished it at season 2 cause Logan coming back was not needed. Lowkey, Su Ryeon could have done all of this by herself with the help of the other people.

I feel like the writers were very inconsistent about the characters, one minute, Su Ryeon and Logan are super smart and they thought of every possibility and planned for it. Other times, they are super dumb and fall for everything. Same with Ju Dan Tae, to be honest, Ju Dan Tae's character, he would have survived season 3 (not the part where he was shot but before that when people were coming to him to ask for money for the copy of him/Seo Jin killing Oh Yoon Hee. He would have just planned to kill them like he normally does, but this time he folds and gives them money til he was broke? Just feel like his character got really dumb at the end just so they can kill him and end it all. So to me it's unsatisfying.

Also what happened to Alex and his black bodyguards?
What happened to Sim Su Ryeon's fake daughter?
What happened to Jennie's Dad?
And the real Ju Dan Tae?

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PLOT: There are many comments saying that this drama is boring or lame. But it is not. It’s funny, and fast pacing. As it was said or mentioned before, the drama plot will not focus more on solving corruption but will revolves around the life of Sung Yi-Gyeom as Royal Secret Agent (and a romance maybe). This drama is unique, refreshing and not your typical sageuk drama that has Prince or King as the Main lead. It’s getting more exciting as the story progress.

ACTION: There are few plot holes but regardless, the drama is pretty decent. The action scenes are not that powerful like any other sageuk drama but still good. I love the turning kick, flying kick, the punches. The fact that Kim Myungsoo trained for weeks to do the stunts alone without having a double, I’m giving him that credit. Good job.

ROMANCE: There was no Romance tag before the promotion of this drama. To those who keep asking if there will be romance or not, the first episode will give you hints (so better watch it).

CHEMISTRY: Some says that ML and FL has no chemistry, and that Kwon Nara looks older for him. Let me give you a fact. They were both born on March 13 but Kwon Nara was born in 1991 and Kim Myungsoo is a ’92 liner. So Yes, Kwon Nara is 1 year older. And maybe, you still can’t move on with Danyeon Couple – know what I mean (I’m one of them). I’m telling you, Yi-gyeom and Da-in chemistry (ship) is smoothly sailing. The way they give concerns to each other, then later on bickers, will give you butterflies. Also, Yi-Gyeom and Chunsam’s chemistry is so funny.

PRODUCTION: If you think that the drama is a low budget because their wardrobe is not as fancy as other saguek drama, well for me, it’s a No. The story is not about the Royal Family. The ML is not a KING or a PRINCE. He’s just an ordinary man working at the palace with a pretty good position so don’t expect him to wear that fancy thing. Their attire fits perfectly for each character and for every situation they are in. Though sometimes Da-in’s lipstick is kinda flashy when she’s wearing man’s clothes. The cinematography is not dull as what others think. Check your phone and laptop or tv. They have different vibrance, lol. :-D

ACTING: Though I still have hang-over with Kim Myungsoo’s character as KIM DAN, I’m loving his character now as Sung Yi-gyeom. He delivers the character well. His facial expression is like emojis. Kwon Nara on the other side is also doing a good job portraying as Hong Dain. Though I say, in the last scene of episode 4, it’s kinda awkward. Lee Yi-Kyung, as always… he makes me laugh in every scene that he has.

OST: So far, we only have 1 OST for the 5 episodes. They haven’t released the full version yet but N.Flying’s OST I’ll Find You is such a bop. KBS please released it soon.
So, for those who are having doubts whether to watch or not, give it a try. It’s a pretty good drama. See for yourself. We do have our own taste buds you know.
I’ll update my review soon

NOTE: Comparing this to MR. QUEEN is lame because they are of different genre and plot. Also, if you think the drama is underrated, well it’s not. The fact that the ratings for each episode is in 5% range despite having a strong contender (I know you know it) even before the drama airs, I must say it’s not underrated. So far, I'm enjoying this drama.

UPDATE: I won't say much. But I just want to tell you all that the story of this drama keeps getting better and exciting. Every episode is a must watch -- The blossoming romance between FL and ML, the complicated relationship between ML and his half brother. The problems that they have to deal with - corruption, murder and more.

UPDATE: I'm only giving this a 9.5 rating as I badly want season 2 for this drama. This drama ended with 14% for the last episode (such an achievement for KBS because it has been long (2018) since they achieved a double digit rating in Mon-tues drama timeslot. Too bad many viewers are sleeping on this masterpiece. It deserves recognition and hype too.

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Those who seek revenge dig two graves.

This is a heartbreaking and sobering revenge drama about an ancient Me Too movenment by nine commoners seeking justice. The two main protagonists, Rulan and Meng Wan are apprentices at Yanyu Tower, whose exquisite embroidery are prized by the imperial palace. Underneath his polished and elegant facade, Yanyu Tower's proprietor and master embroiderer Wu Lian is the worst kind of predator; one who uses his power and privilege to repeatedly manipulate and abuse the young women working for him. When Rulan has the audacity and tenacity to seek legal redress, most including her bestie Meng Wan hesitate to help her; knowing how stacked the system is against them. Ultimately her plight and her conviction inspires nine people to devote their entire reason for existence to taking Wu Lian down and obtaining justice for Rulan and in some cases themselves. There are no fairytales in this drama; their stories are utterly devastating; alternately moving me to tears and making my teeth clench and my blood boil.

This drama is not for the faint hearted and comes with a ton of trigger warnings. It is ruthless and brutal in terms of its scathing depiction of the unbalanced power dynamics between the powerful and the powerless. It convincingly articulates why regardless of consequences, Rulan, Meng Wan and their friends decide to take a stand against a clever, powerful and ruthless opponent. Their efforts are stymied at almost every turn and many of them pay the dear cost of justice. Wu Lian is almost too smart a villain and too well resourced. It is dismaying to see these nine avengers fall for the same traps over and over. In desperation, some of them take unnecessary risks and make terrible sacrifices with scant payoff in their attempt to gather enough evidence to indict him.

This is a large cast with consequential roles that deliver all around strong performances. Hu Yixuan's portrayal of Rulan's disillusionment, agony, bravery and forlorn quest for justice is harrowing, piteous and ultimately tragic. Wu Qian also impresses as the icily soft spoken, resolute avenging angel and mastermind of the revenge plot. As for Wu Lian, it is rare to encounter such an intelligent and downright despicable villain, masterfully acted by Qiao Zhenyu. All of the support roles come together well to paint a picture of common people from all walks of life with dreams and goals that get disrupted as they come together to get justice. The thief Li Chunfeng and the embroideress Jue Ming charmed and moved me into rooting for them most.

This kind of drama that tackles such a difficult subject matter is unlikely to appeal broad audiences. It is well executed for the most part but tends to be unnecessarily melodramatic in the later arcs. The villain origin backstory left me unmoved and is not convincing. I would expect Wu Lian's father's concubine to have impacted him in a more positive way. While this story ends in a realistic way, I am not satisfied. Wu Lian's enablers who covered for him repeatedly get off way too lightly. Finally the way this wraps up sends too strong a message that those who seek revenge dig two graves. Revenge becomes their sole purpose and end game to the extent that I wonder - did they really win? There is just too much collateral damage and sacrifice even though Humpty Dumpty can not be put together again. Maybe it would have been better to just live well. I needed to see at least one of the victims recover from this and go on to have a good life. The final What If episode 25 made me feel worse not better. I struggle with how to rate this. As much as I applaud the topic, the acting and how emotionally invested I got in the story, it left me with a hollow feeling after the ending arcs. It is still a good, thought provoking watch but I can only rate this a 7.5/10.0.

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First of all, I want to make one thing clear: "He was cool" should be treated differently from other movies. Why?
Well, first of all, you have to consider the time when it was released and the intention.
Because of my many reasons this movie will remain as my favorite one. Let me explain why:
1.The topics
Even though this movie's main target group might be young people, it also deals with very "mature"/serious topics.
The first time I watched this movie ( as a teenager) I didn't realize that this movie was kind of revolutionary or daring comparing to other Korean movies.
On the one hand, serious topics like AIDS and prejudices were shown. And on the other hand, it is also about a teenager's problems and everyday/love life.
For me, it was interesting to see how those "serious" and "ordinary topics" ( I can't think of a more appropriate word) were connected.
Apart from that, this movie was some kind of a roller-coaster ride: It was funny, sometimes sad and then it was funny again.

2. The characters
Apart from the great mix of the topics, the main characters were really...well, it is hard to describe each of them with one word.
The male lead did a great job as an actor considering the fact that it was one of his earliest work. Moreover, his character wasn't presented in a superficial way. As a viewer you could see and feel all his feelings and the changes he went through during the movie:
For instance the shyness when it comes to showing affection or even accepting it.
Actually, the movie helps one to understand his personality that seems to be a bit weird in the beginning: Sometimes he is nice to the female lead and sometimes he isn't nice. In many ways he is a immature young male and but in some ways he is more mature than his friends.

Even though the relationship between the main leads was one the weirdest one I've seen, I could feel/see the romance. You might wonder, why it was weird: The whole relationship between them was rather forced than planned at the beginning. But you could tell that it changed after some time.
For me it was kind of amusing to watch those two arguing,making up and once again arguing. It somehow reminded me of the young boys in the kindergarten who prefer to annoy the girls they like instead being nice to them.
The female lead: She acted pretty well. Even though she played the role of a rather immature student, she was able to show various emotions. I think, I will never forget certain scenes she played with all her heart like jumping up and down with weird clothes on in front of the school jard. Just the thought of it makes me laugh.

3. The plot
Movies aren't dramas with 16 eps or more. So, I guess, as a viewer I will always have the feeling that everything was a bit too rushed and ended too quickly.
Nevertheless, I liked the way everything progressed. It wasn't dragging or something like that.
Even now, I am able to divide the movie in different chapters.


To sum it up:
This movie is great! It might be a bit weird at first but you will like it the more you watch! Apart from that, a movie's intention should count as well. And this movies proves that you can make use of serious topics in a way that you don't even realize that you are learning something new.

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Korea´s socio-political North-South dynamics suspensefully catapulted into mass consciousness

"Money Heist: Korea - Joint Economic Area" is a remake of the Spanish Netflix production "La casa de papel". As with "Designated Survivor: 60 Days", "Suits" or "The Good Wife", this South Korean remake also sticks closely to the original. Many viewers may work through what is better, whether it is necessary, etc. - Not me, though. Rather, what fascinates me is how specifically Korean socio-political dynamics have been woven into the present story and suspensefully catapulted into a global consciousness.

Against this background, the series is truly brilliant. Most viewers might probably miss this or could care less, and thus don't even pay attention to it. Nevertheless, this or that might eventually fall in places, unconsciously. Be as it may be...

"Money Heist: Korea - Joint Economic Area" takes place in a fictional economically united Korea. This premise as a setting alone is ingeniously visionary, because it conveys into the mass consciousness such a not sooo unrealistic agreement scenario for the stuck situation between the two countries: An economic union that could be profitable and attractive for all sides... Yet, immediately the potential stumbling blocks are swimming in the wake... Exploitation, fraud, abuse! The promise of freedom and unlimited opportunity turns out to be just more profit and opportunities for those who are already living in the fast lane. The promising scenario for peace and prosperity for everybody might be one side of the coin, a raised index finger is pointing to the other side already: Attention! Wiheom! Danger!

"Money Heist: Korea - Joint Economic Area" is provoking with a dramaturgical "Hello-Wake-Up!" - On the one hand these potential capitalist dynamics could make a promising peace scenario possible, but on the other hand, in the same breath, would also torpedo it. This is where the big plan of the 'professor' comes in. He wants to counteract the machinations of the powerful, who are busy filling their already full pockets, regardless of those, who pay the price. Thus he comes up with a spectacle that will shake up the public (and their decision-makers). In the end this might ultimately force the system to be more mindful and aware in approaching a true joint venture in order to make it work for the people (not only the CEOs and the powerful).

In this context, the characteristic difficulties between Koreans from North and South are successfully demonstrated again and again: the deep distrust that has been actively cultivated for so long. The fear that the war, which has officially not ended yet, will openly continue. The constant spying. The contempt for the other system. All of this was politically tirelessly staged for more than half a century. Families were being torn apart almost at random back then (1950s) - like in Germany after the Second World War. At a time X, some were on one side of the boundary line and others were on the other. Coincidence. Fate. What followed after that was propaganda, both here and there. Building up an enemy image. And what was done back then, even if the framework conditions for rapprochement might been created, has to heal over time first. (This can be learned by the experience in Germany: having reunited for more than three decades, still in society the 'wall' between ´Ossis´ and ´Wessis´ has not yet been truly overcome...)

"Money Heist: Korea - Joint Economic Area" succeeds in weaving a realistic future scenario for a united Korea into an exciting story. With all difficulties and opportunities. In this respect I consider this KDrama a strong production. In doing so, the KDrama brings this possibility of a Korean peace closer into the mass consciousness - first of all for the South Korean society, which is extremely sensitive to this topic, but ultimately also for the rest of the world.

I also have criticism.
This is neither concerning the story nor the actors, on the contrary. And it is not about the fact that connoisseurs of "La casa de papel" will be strongly reminded of the original (including the names of the characters). No. I rather have a more general complaint regarding many Korean Netflix productions (vs. the national KDrama TV productions).
-First, there is the spice up of the narrative style for an international (rather male) eye that is generally used to a good portion of sex & crime and a higher pacing. Well, I don´t need it.
-Second: Why not really telling the story to the end? Yes, it could be "worth" one or more seasons, but nevertheless. They even split the first season into part 1 and 2. I don´t like it.
-Third: The sensitive emotional momentum, that is so crucial for KDramas, is reduced to the max. Yet, the strength of a KDrama, in my experience, is that we are emotionally drawn inside, that we identify ourselves, feel empathetic, and get very close to the protagonists, get involved into their world. International Style on the other hand is rather characterized by keeping a critical distance. Here the audience is watching from the outside. The story and acting may grab you, but you stay outside and watch. You don't necessarily get emotionally involved. What is happening will be and will remain the story of others. In this particular case as well. So unfortunately once again a central KDrama unique selling point was abandoned for the standards of international Netflix world. This is not necessarily bad, yet different. I would say the experience of watching is less intense compared to other KDramas.

Luckily, the KDrama in general has more than one crucial strength and can instead show off some of those others. So does "Money Heist: Korea - Joint Economic Area"...

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You simply cannot compare

I always find it interesting when people cannot objectively review a series or a movie because of previous bias or rumors they read somewhere. When "2Moons" ended everyone fell in love with Kimmon and Copter and some of the other actors in that series. Then, when it was announced that a sequel was coming but with a completely new cast, people went crazy because they couldn't understand how the company was managing its actors. But, "2Moons2" aired, with all new actors and then people fell in love with Earth (playing Wayo) and the steamy scenes between Pavel and Dome (playing Forth and Beam) were also incredibly popular (just go to Youtube and you'll find A LOT of reaction videos on that). So, the world didn't end because the cast of "2Moons" was completely replaced, right?

All this preamble is to say a similar thing about Color Rush S1 and S2... you simply cannot compare both just because the character of Go Yoo-han is not present in season 2, and here is why...

1. The acting of Yoo-jun (playing Choi Yeon-woo) remains as one of the solid points of both seasons. In the first season he deals with the fact that he is a mono, his mother is also a mono but is missing, and he finds new friends and also finds Yoo-han who is also his probe. He experiences the rush of being able to see colors and also the disappointment of losing that ability after the decoloring effect begins. In season 2, he goes from the uncertainty of his mother still being missing, to the dread of witnessing Yoo-han's kidnapping, to the potential of uncovering all the illegal activities the Gray Scale/Woksun/Nerve Candy people (led by a mono that goes by the nickname of "Monowife"), to dealing with his new feelings towards Kim Se-hyun, to finally finding out his mother did die but being rather calm about it.
While I think some of his facial expressions still need a bit of work, his eyes do manage to express a lot of the feelings Yeon-woo goes though in both seasons while showing the calm but decided character that Yeon-woo needs to be.

2. The acting of VIXX's Han Sang-hyuk (playing Kim Se-hyun) was also a nice surprise as he never doubted or was hesitant about acting in a BL story (according to an interview he gave) and showed a very strong character that goes from befriending Yeon-woo, to trying to help his sister improve her condition as a mono and not be bullied by others, to mourning her death, to seeking revenge while protecting Yeon-woo, to confessing his feelings for him despite knowing he might never get a chance if Yoo-han returns. Sang-hyuk was able to mix some serious tones in his acting with some comedic moments, like in ep. 8 when he daydreams he is kissing Yeon-woo.
The chemistry between him and Yoo-jun was quite strong as they acted like a married couple in some parts (like when Se-hyun moves in with Yoo-jun) or like Sherlock Holmes & Watson when discovering the truth about the Lapis Lazuli tea, the Lapizata pill, and the illegal probe surgery or like Batman & Robin in the action scenes in the final episode.

3. The storyline had a bit more action. Season 1 was a slow-burner in many things because we needed time to process the mono-probe world, the introduction of each character, Yeon-woo's mother being a mono and also missing, Yeon-woo's aunt being a reporter trying to uncover the truth and find her sister, and then also go through the color rushes that Yoo-han made Yeon-woo feel along with all their interactions.
But, season 2 had nothing of that as we already knew the mono-probe situation and Yeon-woo's familial situation. A bit of a complain is that a lot of the action happened way too fast and we jumped from scene to scene without proper time to digest what just happened. Further, several things like a) Yoo-han's kidnapping, b) the introduction of Se-hyun as "someone who wanted to get close to Yeon-woo but couldn't because he was always glued to Yoo-han", c) Se-hyun's sister life as a mono and her part in the secret society, d) the secret society of monos trying to see colors through drugs and illegal surgeries, and e) Se-hyun's being a mono himself but being able to deal with it in secret, were not completely explained/introduced and then not fully developed... so in most parts, we need to either remember things that happened or were said in season 1 or figure out by ourselves how the characters get to the point we see in that particular scene. And also, do they never go to school? Not much happens inside their classroom this time and the secondary roles of Yeon-woo's friends are relegated to a few scenes here and there.

The only truth about this series is that Hur Hyun-jun (the actor who played Go Yoo-han in S1) was not present in S2 and honestly, I'm not sure that his absence made much of a difference. Sure, we heard the name "Go Yoo-han" many times during season 2 because of him being kidnapped and Yeon-woo's wish to find him... but at no point I felt like, "geez, it would be great to have Hyun-jun acting here". There are many rumors about Hyun-jun's exclusion from season 2... rumors about him not being happy about his first major role happening in a BL story, rumors about the production crew/staff being unhappy about his "lack of professionalism", rumors about the production company being unhappy about his "lack of acting skills", and rumors that this was all planned along because of the storyline/plot that season 2 was going to have. Whatever the real reason is, the only real fact is that Hyun-jun was not part of season 2 but comparing both seasons or how Hyun-jun would have acted instead of Sang-hyuk ends up being a useless and ridiculous exercise because, you simply cannot compare.

The storyline (especially the after credits scene in episode 8) sets up the series for a third season with Monowife going into Yoo-han's hospital room and telling him to wake up as Yeon-woo "needs him" and him opening his eyes. Could we have a third season with Yoo-han coming back and now having a love triangle if Yeon-woo and Se-hyun remain in the series as well? Could we have a third season that explores Monowife's connection with Yoo-han? Could we have a third season with a whole new plot twist?
Who knows! But it sure is more exciting to think about all these options than waste time lamenting the absence of Hyun-jun or complaining about what this season could have been like if he acted in it, don't you think?

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