Reviews

Hands down, one of the best J-dramas out there.

Silent is one the most modern J-dramas I have seen and I only hope more Japanese dramas come out like this one.

As much as I like the silly over-the-top funny J-drams, Silent was just so refreshing. I truly felt like I was watching a cool Korean or C drama. I don’t think the FL has to be submissive. I don’t think the ML has to hold all the cards and is the only one can dress nice. I don’t think dramas have to be overly steamy or have complicated angst.

I love dramas where it focuses on the relationships, has character development and best of all, Kindness! Crazy concept huh?

I picked up the drama because of the ratings and within the first five minutes I thought I was watching a K-drama. Silent is super modern. The FL and ML are pretty with great wardrobe! Thank you for having the leading actress be girly, but also not frumpy. Yes, the FL can have long hair and wear make-up, but she can also wear cool clothing and be stylish.

I really like the soundtrack too, since music and hearing is a big part of the drama, I’m glad they picked a decent theme song that really makes the scenes pleasant to watch.

The best part of the drama was casting. The FL and ML were the best choices for the drama and you can feel the organic chemistry between the two. I love that the drama was also about the side characters. What about the boyfriend, the brother / sister or the parents? How do they feel about this? These parts / episodes might be a little slow and boring for some, but it’s a nice break to really see different POVs.

I should say that I don’t really like J-dramas because they make the FL usually really submissive. It has to take a really good storyline for me to get into it, like The Incurable Case of Love, but even then, some parts can be cringy. I’m SO HAPPY something like Silent was made. I hope this drama was very successful in Japan, because I want more dramas like this.

The FL doesn’t always have to be submissive, frumpy or conservative. Please write more dramas about relationships, kindness and normal females. They can just be regular women with regular feelings and that is okay. The character is strong-enough to be a leading role.

If you ever wanted to start a J-drama or you think you are only a K-drama fan, I 100% recommend Silent. It will completely change your view of J-dramas.

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My first Japanese drama, “Boku dake ga Inai Machi” was something I previously did not want to watch. In fact, Netflix shoved this at me in a highlight merely because of my previously watched Japanese content – they did this 20 different times. Eventually, I caved, watch the trailer and decided to go for it because it seemed pretty interesting.

Oh boy, I absolutely adored this.

This drama took me to the edge, it reeled me back in and then it chucked me in the deep end. Full of wonderful twists and turns, surprises, harrowing moments and as equally sweet moments, it’s hard to summarise this fully. I’ll keep this as spoiler free as possible since there’s a lot going on and each was a wonderful moment on it’s own, spoilers definitely take it away.

First of all, I’m not too much of a fan of crime or time travel. I find often that directors tend to do too much or too little in both genres and it never maps out the way it should – especially in content that is both crime and time travel. Ho boy, we did not have any issues with that here. We stuck with one plot that divided into one or two sub plots, but each had it’s own place within the content, didn’t seem out of place, nor did it come across as being odd in the drama. This is pretty rare from my few encounters with time travel and/or crime dramas.

Secondly, the casting was absolutely superb. I find often with time travel/flashbacks/etc, the children don’t really much look like their adult counterpart. This was not an issue at all with any of the cast of “Boku”. Every cast member looked like their child/adult counterpart and it wasn’t hard to imagine any of the children growing into their adult versions. The cast all also did absolutely stunning. Again, all the personalities of the children and adults matched their character and the children didn’t seem out of place for child counter parts of the adults we’re introduced to. It all felt finessed, and like these children genuinely grew up.

These two points alone are enough for me to give it such a high rating, but I also want to take a moment to speak on the cinematography as well. Cinematographer Kiyokawa Koshi made such beautiful shots in this they absolutely took my breath away, left my jaw hanging open and left me glued to the screen. I definitely want to go on to watch everything this man has choreographed because it was just pure art. There’s no other word for it – the shots that Kiyokawa made are just pure art.

All in all, after watching this, I want to watch the live action movie, watch the anime and read the manga. This is pretty rare for me – usually when I watch one part of a universe’s content, I’m done with it from then on. For me to want to go on and consume every piece of media of this that is available to me… this is probably only the third piece of media to ever do this for me.

Give this drama 6 hours of your life and give it a go. I cannot recommend it more highly enough.

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Not Really BL

I feel like the majority of what I watched was an action-packed thriller, mystery thing that just happened to take place with characters of the same-sex falling in love. Most stories are suppose to be the complete opposite, with it being majority BL, with the action-pack stuff being there for plot purposes, but the romance the overall goal and objective. I didn't get that with 4 minutes though.

Let's Dive In.

So, 4 Minutes in a nutshell is basically about this rich college guy that (SPOILERS!!) in his moments of dying, gets to go back during these traumatic moments and look 4 minutes into the future to fix his mistakes. One of those mistakes happen to be with a gorgeous surgeon, who also has his own life problem's with Great's family business. Then there's also a side couple who is just as rambunctious and cutthroat with all of their own problems as well.

What I got from the majority of the plot is: they put a lot of money and effort into the characters, story, special effects, etc., but by the 6th episode, I was honestly kind of over everything. I feel like this is the type of series you have to pay attention to, and pay attention to every single little detail, down to the time on the clock, to the writing on the wall. I think I'm just not that kind a person, to get super-duper invested in a series where I'm paying that much attention to the small, what-feels-minuscule moments to then have then be flipped, twisted, and reverse. Had I not watched this with a friend, I'd be in utter shambles trying to figure out with the hell was going on. Which brings me to my point of why this doesn't feel like a BL series. Kind of like Manner of Death, kinda sorta Triage, and other series that deal with this time-warp, time-traveling shenanigans; what they all have in common is that the main goal is for them to figure out what's going on, not within their relationship, but within these weird, mystical powers they've gain the ability to have.

Moving onto the plot twist and whatnot; I think things were handle as well as they could be with such a complex plot, but there were definitely ways I wish they would've done things better. For instance, while Great and Tyme were stuck in Great's hallucinations, we were also seeing Korn and Tonkla's story, but still set in the actual reality. Which is where a lot of the plot gets weird, confusing, and obnoxiously aggravating trying to figure out what is real and what is not. I think most people find it fun to theorize and analyze, but for me, I was just wanting answers immediately, just cause that's how I am. Again, if you're not big on paying very VERY good attention, then you will be just as lost as I was. I understood enough to get me through, but I had to read a breakdown of each episode to figure out what actually happened.

Again, since this isn't really a BL, I feel like I never really got attached to any of the couples, including the main. I think they also didn't receive a good initial start-up for us to even really enjoy the time we get with them. It's literally sex and lust immediately, quite literally on their first interactions. I feel like I didn't get "We're in love" vibes from them at all, not even at the end when they are actually happy together. I think with Tonkla, it wasn't about the relationships at all, it was literally about getting revenge for his brother, no matter who he had to sleep with to get there. I think it was genuine with Korn in the beginning, which they had a really intimate, really beautiful first time NC scene that was done so well, but after that, and with the trauma Tonkla had gone through, it just all turns to shit. His relationship with the police officer was just very hot, and that was kind of it.

This series received so much hype, obviously because of the very explicit NC scenes, which man, did they go all the way, and I mean alllllll the way. I think overall it's a good story, but I think it was one of those things where people only hyped the sex and not the story, so the cast and the crew that put forth the effort of actually trying to tell a decent story gets but on the back-burner because hot-men-naked-and-having-sex-very-explicitly was happening. Kinda sad, but that's just the reality of a series like this.

Ratings:

Story: 7.5/10 - I feel like I got lost a couple times, but overall, you can tell what's happening, you can understand how things are working, and I feel like I enjoyed it enough to want to understand it all by the end. The romance didn't romance enough for me, but I still didn't hate it.

Acting: 9/10 - The best aspect about this series. All the actors did such a fantastic job, and it also didn't hurt that they were all fine as hell. I'm actually very surprised (and worried??) that Tonkla's character was played by such a young and upcoming actor, cause he probably did the best out of everyone imo. Which feels a little weird cause I feel like his scene were the most explicit ones, but... okay.

Music: 7/10 - intro music was nice, I love a little instrumental moment. Other than that, didn't pay it any mind.

Recommendation Value: 6./10 - Eh. I think if you're wanting to jump on the bandwagon and watch specifically because they have great NC scenes, than you wouldn't be alone. The plot itself is heavy, it's complex and it's raw, which a lot of people might not be in the mood for, so it's really a BL that you watch when you're in the mood, period.

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Rating from a non-Teume

Firstly, I accidentally discovered this show on YouTube during the release of Episode 2. After that, I've been following the weekly releases of the show.

Story:

At first, I was disappointed because the show already revealed the ghost in episode 3. However, the show is not a mystery show about who's the ghost because it was clear that Haruto is the ghost.

I gave 9/10 because some aspects were missed. Like, who's the reason for the teacher's accident? Who's the ghost or what's that bad aura that gives Junhyuk nightmares? Or what's the cause of that bird's crash in early episodes?

These questions were minor aspects of the show yet these questions make the show interesting at the start since they gave me reasons root for answers. Sadly, they weren't answered. Or I certainly missed them?

Anyway, the story is good and entertaining.

EDIT: There are cookie videos (exclusive videos) that are not available on YT viewers. There's a link on the comment below.

Acting/Casting:

As a non-fan, it was difficult for me to learn their names at first. Believe me or not, I've watched Ep 1-4 many times just so I could memorize their names. And for that reason, I appreciate the acting of each member.

Although some members don't have lines, at least the acting was commendable. Examples in mind would be Asahi and Yoshi. No explanation.

For Haruto, the main character. I have to applaud. Also, I love Hyunsuk, Junkyu, Jeongwoo, Junghwan, Junhyuk, and Dooyoung's acting.

Plus, the side character: the Homeroom teacher, and the two boys from the other section. I like their acting as well. They helped the show progress.


Music:

I like BFF (Best Friends Forever) soundtrack and the last song, I don't know the title. The final scene's OST made me sob. It was heart-wrenching.

The scoring and sound effects are also effective.


Rewatch Value:

Well, I've said it already. I've been rewatching the show multiple times.


Conclusion:

From a non-fan, it was a great experience. Though, I haven't heard TREASURE's whole discography—I only heard their title tracks, which are good btw—I finally learned all their names and their acting skills. Maybe in the future, I'll check other songs from them.

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I will be writing an article but I wanted to do a short review here since there wasn't any.

I am a lover of history and the people who make it. The only hesitation for me watching this was the number of episodes.

Story: When writing a tale based on a real person it is difficult not to fudge things, or add extra fantastical things that may be attributed to the person through out time as his legend grows. this did not do that. It simply filled in the gaps seemlessly between recorded events. Tiara no Kiyomori was the first Samurai to lead the Japanese court and paved the way for Shogunates to happen. You can lookup his life on the internet, this drama follows it pretty closely, but be warned, there will be spoilers lol.

Someone asked if there was romance in this. My answer would be real life romance, at the time when a woman duty was a political tool for their family, love does happen. For several couples in this drama the feelings between husbands and wives is clearly shown and the roles both of them play in supporting each other.

According to my husband whose big thing is when movies screw up armor said that the mix of pieces looked accurate, though he feels the use of the Katana was not that wide spread yet. Meh I don't look at that.

The scenery makes you feel like you are there with them, in their mansions, on the pirate boat, or in the forests. it is beautifully shot.

To quote Kiyomori he is following the path of carnage to break traditions and raise the status of Samurai in general, his clan specifically.

The music has on song that is thread throughout and plays a pivotal part of the plot, which is why I gave it and 8, even if you love something , hearing it 100 times in a short period will lessen its appeal.

Re-watch value an 8 only because I now know all the surprises, I would however sit and rewatch it with anyone who wishes to see it.


I gave this a 10, It exceeded my expectations and made me want to watch more tiagas, just not any time soon lol.

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Calm After The Storm

The entire movie is focused on Xiao Jing and her struggles as a daughter of a parent that had a mental breakdown. Xiao Jing's mother has been living a stressful life at work and living in some delusion that her husband is coming home (they're divorced) and she continues to be in denial about this fact. The tipping point was when Xiao Jing was sent home from school when a classmate was found positive of covid. Xiao Jing never cared for her overbearing mother who was on the brink of losing control of everything in her life-- bills left unpaid, staring blankly at the wall at work and the only "normalcy" for her was her daughter. When Pin-Wen almost burned their house down, and she was taken to the hospital, Xiao Jing decided to take care of her mother.

The storyline is a bit forlorn and the movie's pace is slow. But the director's intent is felt throughout the hour and a half. When Xiao Jing's mother's mental health started to improve and when her mother was finally ready to face the realities of life, she decided to find work (she was let go from the previous job) at a supermarket where she met Chen. Despite all the lies that the mother said about her previous work experience (she did not disclose the fact that she worked in a huge company and was let go), she also claimed that her husband died (he was very much alive but now lives with his new wife and son). While Xiao Jing's mother was busy acclimatizing herself at work and adjusting to working with others, Xiao Jing managed to convince her mother to finally sell their huge house to pay for the loans and the other debts that have piled up during her breakdown, and hospitalization. Medicated and adjusting to her work at the supermarket, Pin-Wen finally agreed to let go of the house and all her hopes of her husband to come back to her.

The storyline brings light to the struggles of women in transition and the difficulty of raising children on their own as well as their struggles with mental challenges and fighting off delusions and illusions. The title, The Falls is a metaphor. Pin-Wen when in her psychotic moments hears water rushing through like a waterfall. She tries to run away from the sound and the rising of water but cannot do so in her head... In the last 15 minutes to the end of the movie, Xiao Jing along with her friends had an accident on a school-related trip when water from the dam was released which caused the water to rise and for Xiao Jing to be swept away along with her friends. Pin-Wen receives a call about the accident and was advised to monitor the progress of the rescue operation via television. With her worried eyes, she watch as students were revived and taken by ambulances until the camera finds Xiao Jing assisted by one of the rescuers and the movie ends.

--

The story highlights the realization that mental issues are real and they can happen to anyone. With proper support from family members and medication, anyone with mental issues can live a normal life.

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I really liked this movie! It was funny, angsty and had a good plot. I thought the whole movie would be just about dancing but was surprised to find that a development of a romance was a large part of the plot. There were some parts that did feel a little slow. The movie ended on a nice note.

I liked the leads and even with their large age gap they managed to convince me that their characters loved each other. Props to MGY who showed off excellent dancing skills. I can tell she had to work her butt off filming this movie.

I know I'll be watching this again in the future, just not right away.

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worst drama of 2023 starting

if u are planning to watch this drama then its better not to do so its just disgusting....
never spoil ur mood and time in this shit
i was shocked to see screenplay.and writting..i could have write a better story line...
concept was great but totally sopiled with confused character.....
why didnt monther in law didnt get any punishment??.she was extremly evil with Da.
She caused her husband die but why she was always sympathaise by Nai ?
worst thing about drama is male lead Nai who was already in love with female lead after4th day of marriage.
he was ready to move on with Pa ...comeon Da devoted her whole life with such a disloyal man ..
how can he say let it go after Da tolerated her life in such heaven......madam nuan house
no chemistry between male and female lead...didnt got to know when how and why they fell in love
and female lead she made a journey of best sister daughter ...fake wife to...dont know what ...
story is crap ...i will consider worst drama of nyachha carier....

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“The existence of doctors confirm that miracles do not exist, yet the doctors themselves always hope for miracles for their patients.”

If you're not familiar in hospital/medical term, Code Blue are used in hospitals to alert the EMS Department and staff to various emergencies. The scene they head towards is always the worst and sometimes can't help but deal with the situations they are in whether it's good or bad. And those events will always work together for their own good as a doctor. Now, what does it mean to be a doctor?

This is not a drama with "at the edge on your seat". What I like in this series is the "Character Development" so it's not really about the intense to medical term but rather how those intern struggle to become a certified doctors. Though the season 1 has a cheesy scenes and you might find some problematic character or the actor/actress maybe? LOL. But still, you have to watch it before proceeding to Season 2.

The series may be too slow, Season 2 is way better than Season 1. The characters will slowly change and goes to their background. The story itself doesn't need to narrate each of their past, the "sympathy and compassion" alone towards their patients is what makes and already tell who they really are.

Each episode clearly illustrate the cruelty of medical society, it's sad but that's the reality. There were several heart-rending scenes and the OST is good. Not superb but enough to set the atmosphere.

I remember one thing in this drama that, "Taking a long way is not a bad thing, instead it'll bring out the best thing inside someone."

Hontouni, it's burdened a bit and yet inspiring. Life is mysterious, deeply painful at times, yet always beautiful. We all have memories of loved ones whom we have lost. Being a doctor is not an easy job. When grieving the loss of life of their patients, the intensity of their human emotions is actually a testament to the value of human life. And that will change your life forever. Am I too dramatic, ne? I'm not even a doctor myself. Sumi-masen! XD


Overall, I think the drama wasn’t as engaging as other Jdoramas I’ve seen although I have to applaud the writer somehow for some of the well written dialogues. What I like in Jdoramas is usually they have these almost poetic dialogues and sometimes, they speak in their thoughts. So I gave it 8 + 1 (For Erika Toda) = 9. As you watch this one, you may have to be attentive and careful observation between the characters.. No, you don't need to over-analyze it. XD

I love Hanabi by Mr. Children. Moving and sad.

"What value left is there
in this world I live in?
I start thinking its all meaningless
or maybe I’m just tired?"

"We all have our problems
but we hope for a better tomorrow
I wonder to what extent we can love a world
gripped by fear, thrown into unrest?"


PS.
I've read a small trivia somewhere. The main three character’s names were actually related with colors.

Ai zawa == Blue (calm)
Shirai shi == White (passive)
Hi yama == Red (emotional)

Also, a Japanese saying that Blue means “vein”, White means “gauze”, Red means “artery”. XD

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Take a chance, and you might be surprised

When this drama first started, there was a lot of talk about fat shaming and how larger body sizes were negatively represented in the show. I have to admit in the first few episodes of this drama it will really seem like that, and it will definitely turn some viewers off into dropping the show but I say give it a chance and you might find yourself with quite a funny and beautiful drama on your hands. The drama quickly matures and revolves around how a woman is able to grow to find the self-agency to act on her own and personal confidence, not by being skinny but by support and love from others.

This is not to say this is a super nuanced story and deserves endless critical acclaim. At certain times the story can get a little absurd, whether it be the mythology of the magical perfume or the "love triangle". Also if you're looking for some Sismance, you will definitely not find it here lol. However, I went along with the ride and was entertained throughout the series from start to end.

Shin Sung Rok is really the star of this drama, and it would definitely would not be the same without him. I've heard of him before but this was the first thing I've ever seen him in, now I fully understand all the love for him and he's become one of my new favourites. He can range from being cute, enraged, heartfelt, to distraught. Go Won Hee was just as good, and I was impressed how despite her age she was able to perfectly embody a woman who is in her 40s. Between the two leads, I really felt the connection and emotions between the two. Ha Jae Sook who plays the real Jae Hee also does a nice job. In the beginning, I wasn't really feeling Kim Min Kyu but he definitely won me over.

If you're considering this drama but are concerned about the low ratings from others or the fat shaming controversy, then I say take a chance with the first few episodes to judge for yourself. You might be find yourself enjoying this drama as much as I did.

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The abyss looks into you.

Escape from the Trilateral Slopes 边水往事 is a thrilling survival adventure drama adapted from Shen Xingxing's autobiographical account of his year in The Golden Triangle. The Golden Triangle is a large mountainous terrain at the confluence of the Mekong and Ruak rivers and is comprised of northeastern Myanmar, northwestern Thailand and northern Laos, bordering Yunnan. Despite multiple coordinated crackdown efforts, The Golden Triangle has long been the world's largest drug producing area; initially of opium and subsequently synthetic drugs, especially methamphetamines. It is also a hot bed of related illegal activities from timbering to gambling and is a lawless place where local warlords control different territories and businesses. Names of places and people have been changed to protect the guilty so for the purposes of this drama, the Golden Triangle is Sanbianpo and the story opens in Monung, in the fictional Republic of Bomo. Meticulous research and attention to detail is evident in the world building, to the point of inventing local dialects and written languages. As impressive as this effort is, I would have preferred they staged it in the real respective Southeast Asian countries. However, unlike Hollywood, Chinese productions shy away excessively from portraying other countries and nationalities in an unflattering way. @Frost_edelweiss has meticulously documented this production and the setting in the discussion section for those interested in more details.

Shen Xing decides to skip college to join his uncle's construction company and shows up unannounced in Monung, to his uncle's dismay. He quickly discovers that Sanbianpo is no tropical paradise but a complicated, sunny place for shady people. To collect on bad debts, his uncle ventures into a conflict zone and disappears, leaving Shen Xing to hold the fort. Facing a liquidity crunch, Shen Xing borrows money from loan sharks at usurious rates to make payroll. Things snowball as desperate to find his uncle, he gets involved with counterfeiters and finds himself framed for murder. Before he knows it, he is a fugitive fleeing many different forces. He ends up indebted to Uncle Cai, a wheeler-dealer businessman who juggles the various competing forces in Sanbianpo. Thus Shen Xing becomes the patsy that Uncle Cai nonchalantly sends off on increasingly perilous missions. Before long, he is finds himself embroiled in all aspects of the Sanbianpo economy; sending provisions to drug dealers, smuggling gems, cattle farming; timbering, gambling; everything short of drug trafficking. That is Uncle Cai and his men's bottom line; the one they vowed not to cross. The story highlights how divisive the drug trade is; with some forced into it by poverty or conscription while others doggedly avoid it after losing loved ones to its trade or use.

I am pleased to see Guo Qilin step out of his comfort zone to take on this role of Shen Xing. And he delivers an acceptable portrayal overall but one that is lacking on several notable fronts. For starters, he doesn't look the part so it is a stretch to imagine he is hardy or athletic enough to survive numerous life endangering encounters. To make matters worse, it is absurd to pair him up romantically with a lanky actress like Qi Xi; even though she pulls off her role well, I cringed through that entire arc. He does a credible job humorously portraying the bewildered, naive young man who looks into the abyss and only manages to survive by sheer luck. His critical fail is in conveying what happens when the abyss looks into you. His character stays largely the same throughout and in moments of trauma, dumbfounded tends to be his default expression. This stands at sharp contrast with young actor Zhao Runnan's compelling portrayal of Guo Limin's shattering darkening and psychological downfall. What saves the day is there is fantastic rapport between the entire cast and Shen Xing's relationships with Uncle Cai, Dan Tuo, Wang Anquan, Lan Bo and even the hapless Justin seem authentic and moving enough to make me root for all of them. His enemies into besties relationship with Dan Tuo and how Dan Tuo silently looks out for him is one of the highlights of the story. Jiang Qilin is a fantastic actor and his Dan Tuo stole the show for me and is the unsung hero of the story. I also thoroughly enjoyed Jiang Qiming's hilarious portrayal of jack-of-all trades in the middle of all scams Wang Anquan as well. The villains are satisfyingly nasty and heinous; from the duplicitous Ang Tan to the viciously scary and hateful Mao Pan. While I wish they had cast a stronger character actor like a Liu Haoran as Shen Xing, the entire cast is so exceptional that their riveting portrayals paper over most of Guo Qilin's shortcomings.

The enigmatic, utterly ruthless and diabolically charismatic Uncle Cai is the lynchpin of this story. He is the most fascinating, multi-faceted character in the story. At surface, he is pragmatic, reasonable, an incredibly devout Buddhist and loyal to his wife's memory; a ruthless businessman when he needs to be but one with a bottom line. Thus he is not a villain for the sake of villainy but only when it serves his purpose; there is a utilitarian calculus involved in every action and decision. He doesn't hide who he is or what he is about but this is masked by his devoutness and humble persona and how he disarmingly switches between Cantonese, Mandarin and local dialects to best convey his sincerity. Only a highly skilled veteran actor like Francis Ng can deliver such a mesmerising portrayal. Like Shen Xing, Dan Tuo and his many followers, I was so dazzled, almost spellbound by his personal charisma that I didn't look too hard at his actions. He callously sends Shen Xing out on missions without full information but seems so wholeheartedly delighted that he survives time and again that I forget that he is the guy that tossed him in the frying pan and turned on the fire at the same time. Uncle Cai holds his cards close to the chest and never explains himself unless he has to. The drama respects audience intelligence and leaves it to the viewer to figure out how he manipulates situations and outcomes. This is a character that keeps you guessing until the end that can only be fully understood upon (multiple) rewatches.

The narrative builds to a shocking and thrilling climax and the ending is chilling and realistic. This drama has fantastic production values and movie like cinematography. It is riveting, thrilling and unpredictable from start to finish and sets a high bar future Chinese suspense and adventure thrillers. A must-watch that I am happy to rate 8.5/10.0. I knocked off 0.5 to be fair because as much as I like Guo Qilin, it is impossible to deny that the key role of Shen Xing is mis-cast. It is the dramas only real flaw.

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I believe this is the first modern-day Japanese adaptation of Alexandre Dumas' original French novel, which is really surprising! The book is probably as well-known and popular a piece of classic Western literature in Japan as it is in the English-speaking world. It was first translated from French into Japanese at the turn of the century and is still extremely well-known.

Many anime fans are familiar with Gankutsuou, but is more of a creative interpretation and is not set in current-day Japan (future-future!), so it can't really be compared imo. There's also the 1979 Nihon Gankutsuou starring Kusakari Masao, which is set in Edo period. And while there have been a massive number of adaptations into other cultural or time settings, it's an extremely twisty story, so I always feel it must be wickedly hard to adapt completely into a modern-day setting in a satisfying and believable way... without taking major artistic license with the plot.

However, writer the writer has a lot of experience with novel adaptations, as well as twisty plots (i.e. Boku no Yabai Tsuma), and along with creative directing and generally great performances by the cast, this difficult feat was achieved with class.

While there are certain elements that require some suspension of belief such as the fictional country involved at the beginning (although creating fictional countries is pretty common, especially when there's anything negative involved!). I guarantee you will be absorbed in the plot at least by the third episode. The first two are filmed in a with a kind of generic light tone, as the past and present timelines for the characters needed to be massively contrasting. But starting with the third episode, the tone goes darker, and the cinematography gets heavy into suspense (in a great way).

If you're not familiar with the story already, feel free to just go in cold and enjoy even more surprise and suspense. But even if you've read the book or seen other movies, I would say that you will probably shockingly find the suspense and intrigue elements still compelling. I initially wasn't sure if I'd be a little bored in the beginning, because everything sticks so close to the original plot, which I'm familiar with, but I quickly got so absorbed in the characters and storytelling, I couldn't stop watching.

While dark, it wasn't just straight-up depressing revenge film. One would think that everything about the nature of vengeance and justice has been explored in the genre, but I think this actually was even more interesting an exploration of it than the original book. I wasn't sure how much artistic license they would take with the plot, so I never knew what the characters would or wouldn't do as they felt so believable thanks to the great acting and compelling dialog and pacing. They somehow managed to stick to the plot/characters of the original, but made each one very real and unique in their modern-day Japanese setting.

The cast is great. For the most part, the main characters nail their roles, and Dean Fujioka really surprised me. I've really liked him in a variety of dramas, but he went beyond with his enigmatic character here. Of course he lays on the innocent exuberance heavy in the beginning since there's a big time gap between it and the the majority of the story, but it's kind of stylized, basically the way most actors in Japan will play a younger version of their character for past events. For his current-day role, though, he's so good as the conflicted but brilliant Shinkai, who can be cold and calculating, but who also has this admirable sense of justice that makes him not-quite devious or cruel. Rather than simply trying to punish, he seems to want to find the truth of these people who destroyed his life. His character is impossible to not feel for, considering all he's gone through.

Music was spot-on...the two pop songs, especially Dean's (ECHO) are almost too catchy (fyi they sound really good with the tempo sped up!), and the score provided that extra sense of unease and suspense that kept the overall tone just right.

Rewatch: I'm too familiar with the story to want to rewatch, but if you've never encountered the plotline, this could be really cool to go back and watch with the knowledge of who is who and what will happen even if the suspense would be gone.

I'll leave it at that since I don't want to create any quasi-spoilers for anyone who doesn't know the original story. I definitely recommend even if you're not into revenge dramas (I'm not—I like some of them, but not all!). I never felt dragged down at all. If you like well-crafted dramas that are entertaining but also have some depth, while also being psychological and clever, I think you'll enjoy this.

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They say: revenge is a dish best served cold, what they don't tell you is that it is even better when it is served by three badass women who have a bone to pick.

Everybody knows I love my drama boys but sometimes you just need good ol' girl power to get you going.

Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned and Avengers social club brings you three furious women who've been scorned enough.
Jung Hye, an heiress who has had to put up with ten years of empty marriage, being constantly overlooked as a decoration piece that has no say whatsoever in important matters; Hong Do Hee, a fish-selling single mother who has had to deal with her children being bullied and facing constant contempt because of her poverty and Lee Mi Sook a perfect wife who has had to suffer domestic violence and humiliation on the hands of her husband.

But when you get tired of all the agony, what do you do? You take revenge.
And this brings us a show about how three women band together to stand up for themselves against society conventions, domineering men, stuck-up bitches and anyone who thinks that a middle-aged ahjumma is easy to run down.

However, two is better than three and three is better than four. And the fourth member in this perfectly mismatched group is Jung Hye's smart and compassionate step-son. Just a highschooler who has been constantly abused and used by his parents, he's taking it no more.

And so these four beautiful individuals form the infamous Bokja Club, ready to turn the tables on every bastard that did them wrong.

Avengers Social Club is an excellent drama. Together with genuinely heart-touching moments and high class comedy, it comes out as a quality show that has you totally invested.

The best thing about the drama is the character development. All these people grow together as friends, forming a permanent bond and excellent chemistry, while simultaneously growing strong as individuals. By the end of the show there's not a single person in the drama that doesn't change or grow.
The three women come into their own, embrace the power wihin and their journey is simply heart-warming to watch.

The cheeky instrumental soundtrack makes the hilarious antics of the Bokja Club all the more enjoyable. The drama is beautifully written, shining a light on society's serious issues all the while mainting a constant sense of humor.

All the revenge schemes are realistic and you find yourself whole-heartedly cheering the members on. Even the antagonists, not the brightest bulbs in the kitchen, bring a lot of mirth to the table.
This is a show that gives you pure joy and fills your heart with warmth.

Empowering women, the power of friendship and the message that it is never too late to take a stand; the drama comes with its fair share of unadulterated goodness.

With Avenger Social Club, revenge has never before tasted so sweet.

A must-watch.

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This drama gave me a feeling like I was literally on a vacation. Not just because it was filmed in France, and made me feel like I was revisiting many of the places I got a chance to see while there, but because I loved getting to know these strangers on this package vacation, who felt like friends I didn't want to leave by the end.  

If your'e a fan of dramas with a great ensemble cast, this one is a must watch. There are no real leads, because each character's story feels important. Lee Yun Hee may be the leader of the tour, but she doesn't really feel any more important than the other characters. I guess "The Package" would be classified as more of a slice of life drama, but because France is such a romantic place, and the characters are literally "coupled off", it definitely feels very romantic (including some surprisingly passionate moments that can be rare in kdramaland). However, I don't just mean literal romance, but more exploring different types of love, and stages of love, and even self love.  Part of the fun is getting to know about each relationship, so I won't say too much, only that things not always being as they seem is a major reoccurring theme.

The entire cast is excellent, but I did have my favorites, and not so favorites in the cast. First, I loved Jung Yong Hwa as Ma Roo, and the complete randomness of his character. It would have been so easy to make his character super annoying, but he's so charming that I had no choice but to like him. He's come a long way from his boyish charm in "You're Beautiful", and it was nice to see him as a more mature lead. I was less excited by Lee Yun Hee as So So, who's character did annoy me at times, but she definitely felt real and relatable. She also had to do double language duty, which I can't vouch for as far as accuracy, but if her french was really bad she faked it really well.  The rest of the cast is endearing, and felt like real people as well, but the MVPs in my opinion were the older couple, who were frustrating, heartbreaking, and the absolute cutest. I've been on a group vacation once, with mostly strangers, and it definitely captured that dynamic well. The non vacation characters were a lot less developed, and except for So So's boss and brother, they weren't as memorable, but they were all well played.

The story telling is well done, and kept me interested the entire time. At the same time the stories are filled with clichés, some predictable and not so predictable twists, silly humor, and a lot of what felt like manipulating the audience's emotions. Like I said, this drama is big on misunderstandings, so they purposely present some moments in a way that will make you likely to misunderstand them. After a while the obvious misunderstandings were becoming fun, just because I loved watching the character's reactions. Another cool thing was how certain locations were incorporated in the story, so France wasn't just an arbitrary location, but a big part of each character's experience.

Would I watch this again? Definitely. When it was over I had the same feeling I usually have with a good vacation... Although I knew it was a good time for it to be over (12 episodes seemed like the perfect length), I also didn't want it to end, so it left me longing to return.  Still, the ending was extremely satisfying, even with some major tropes in full effect, I loved it. It's also the perfect length to binge watch!

The soundtrack was great too, although I don't have any favorite songs, the music definitely added to the atmosphere of the show.

Overall, even with thoughtful themes of self discovery, and some moments that had me in serious tears, this was a mostly feel good drama that I needed. Expect to laugh, cry, and sigh deeply, and possibly want to book a trip to France. (I guess that Air France product placement was well spent). I wasn't sure what to expect when I started watching, but much like the characters signing up for this package vacation, I'm so glad that I decided to take the journey.

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A portrait of Joseon scholar Jeong Yak Jeon that is both affecting and thought-provoking

This may be my favorite of the films I’ve seen from director Lee Joon Ik. It is based on the writings of Jeong Yak Jeon, a scholar who was exiled to Heuksando during the Sinyu Persecution in 1801, where he wrote the Jasaneobo (The Book of Fish). His story is told alongside that of Chang Dae, a fisherman whose knowledge of fish and marine life helped Jeong Yak Jeon to write his book. Most of Chang Dae’s story as presented in the film is fictional, but Jeong Yak Jeon did make multiple mentions of him in his work. The juxtaposition of the two characters and the growth of their relationship over many years is the core of the story told here.

At first this seemed to be a serene, serious, and slow-paced introspective film. Then as it went on it became more light-hearted. I found that the characters were surprisingly charming and it actually felt rather wholesome. At least until it shifted to a darker tone, before finally ending on an emotional note. The journey through the different phases of the story didn’t feel jarring as the transition was gradual and natural. Towards the end, I did come to feel nostalgic for the earlier parts of the film, which I think was the response it intended to evoke.

The film offers in intriguing peek into the intellectual atmosphere of late Joseon: Catholics persecuted, in part because the religion threatens fundamental Confucian practices, ideological conflict between Eastern learning (donghak) and Western learning (seohak). This story is really built on contrasts. An erudite scholar of high-birth, who had once occupied lofty government post, must find a place for himself in a rural peasant village, and he comes to find inspiration in the mundane knowledge of a common fisherman. Chang Dae struggles to find the same value that Jeong Yak Jeon does in practical learning and the marine knowledge that he has always taken for granted, aspiring instead to attain the philosophical truths gleaned from a traditional education in the Classics. He’s idealistic and perhaps does not have the sophistication to understand the nuances and wisdom of Jeong Yak Jeon’s more complex, even seemingly-contradictory, beliefs. The film both portrays the ideal of the Neo-Confucian scholar, their beliefs, their art, etc. as well as the reality of Neo-Confucian Joseon, while also touching on broader themes, like the value of different kinds of learning and how learning can shape one’s beliefs over time. I think Kim Se Gyum deserves praise for composing a screenplay that coveys so many ideas without feeling overly-didactic.

One other little touch I appreciated was the use of poetry to communicate the emotional states of both Jeong Yak Jeon and his brother, Jeong Yak Yong. Not only is the accurate to how Confucian elites expressed themselves, but I felt it also added to the atmosphere and beauty of the film.

Sul Kyung Gu and Byun Yo Han both gave excellent performances. They fully embodied the personalities and complexities of the characters, and really made me feel for them at times.

This film was shot in black and white, which perhaps was intended to create an ink-on-paper aesthetic to match the themes of scholarship and writing. Although I don’t know that there was any reason it absolutely needed to be in black and white, I really appreciate that they made that choice. The majority of the story takes place on an island, but ocean scenery isn’t the point, and removing the color lent a simplicity to the visuals that allowed the cinematography (Lee Eui Tae) to find a perfect balance. There were many beautiful shots, but it avoids the overstimulation of colorful landscapes. I found it relaxing to watch and visuals never distracted from the true focus of the film, the intellectual portrait of Jeong Yak Jeon. The music (Bang Jun Suk) wasn’t memorable. I hardly noticed it to be honest.

Overall, I think this film was successful in portraying the characters in a way that made me care for them, while also exploring thematic ideas related to the intellectual atmosphere of the time. Well worth the watch, especially if you have an interest in history, scholarship, or have enjoyed previous Lee Joon Ik films, like The King and the Clown or The Throne.

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