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The Meaning of Happiness
I really enjoyed watching this drama. Zombies/infectious disease, police/military, romance, family values! This drama hit many of my favorite elements in 12 1 hr episodes..Acting
The main leads are childhood acquaintances and it’s your standard boy likes girl while girl is ignorant of boys feelings. The male lead really nails the looks of burning intensity. I could tell from the first episodes that he really cares about her even though he claimed not to. The female lead relies upon him and he truly is her source of happiness. Putting two people in a survival situation brings all types of feelings to the surface. I’m glad she didn’t deny them once she understood the direction of her heart.
There were many villains. The infected people or zombie like people actually weren’t the most evil. This how really displays how the evil of human nature can make people more of a mo step than even zombies. We saw many different types of greed surface as the characters are quarantined inside an apartment complex.
Storytelling
I would have liked this element to be more expanded. We spend a lot of time with the charectors in group discussion. There are a few side stories of adultery, drug dealing, and murder. I would have preferred to delve into those stories more and how this virus affected them vs. group discussions in the gym. I loved that these were the traditional zombies and this happened in a post Covid atmosphere….you can see how nonchalant the residents are because of past experience in dealing with the pandemic. For this reason, many people were more cautious but some also treated the virus like they already knew what to do.
Production
This was a nicely done show. I can tell that effort was placed on making scenes as realistic as possible without going overboard. The scenes primarily happened in 2 locations..the complex and the shutdown school…there was a fair amount of blood shed but it limited use of weapons.
Rewatch value
I’d binge this again in a year.
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Justice served in the plate called "Violence"
Girl From Nowhere 2 is one of the best Thailand drama of 2021. Girl From Nowhere 2 brings justice to around, rape, bullying, sexuality, misogynies, capitalisms, beauty standards and more. Episode 1 is so powerful! Nanno gets a man pregnant, so he can see how much women have suffered because of this actions! James acting is insane. Girl From Nowhere 2, Episode 2 : The strict teacher tried building herself wall based on the societies standards of love, in the end Nanno shows, what really love is. It's not just man-woman but also woman-woman. The Emmy awards goes to Kitty Chicha Amatayakul for her role as Nanno, episode 3 and 4 is violent and disturbing! In the episode 4, Friendship is not some ATM card to use and throw. Nanno teaches three girls that! Despite Yuri sending two men to rape her two friends, in the end they raped the two girls and also raped her! Episode 5 is titled as Sotus and it will traumatize you! SOTUS episode is so powerful! If your ever bullied, raped or abused, NEVER EVER DO THAT SAME THING THAT HAPPENED TO YOU ON OTHERS. Nanno shows Bullying is a disease. The cinematography and editing of the "Liberation" episode is a masterpiece! My favorite line is "If things are black, white or colored.Who is right? Who is wrong? and who is better than their friend? Are we really the ones to judge in this greyscale world?". The last two episodes were my least favorite but I sure enjoyed Nanno teaching humans how to behave. The last scene was beautiful. I can't wait for season 3!!! We are also introduced to another devil like character "Yuri", she looks interesting!
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It have made me cry a bucket but it was all worth it. Having seen the show made my sense of Kdrama more diverse, since I tend to choose rom-com to genres like this. My heart is just weak like that, but this show made my threshold on tears much stronger… or so I thought until I saw Cinderella’s sister and 49 days. Heh.
This drama would always be dear in my heart because of the story line. It may sound unbelievable or ridiculous or even annoying for some because everything was such a mess. The main character’s past was so jumbled up that the future became dim for them. You would tend to watch and wait and watch some more, thinking, when would it ever stop?
Until one day, things would just fall into their proper places.
The ending wasn’t that satisfying for me but the whole journey of the drama was worth it. Once again, I got my mother crying out of this drama and she had to point her fingers at me "again" for doing so. I so love my mom when she does that but still continue on watching anyway.
Acting wise was superb, so maybe that’s what got me hooked after seeing the first episode.
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Ignoring the usual plot holes of a lakorn (direct communication between characters, for instance!), I was intrigued by this drama. How far is someone willing to go for revenge? Plot-wise, the story of Tawan Tor Saeng is quite believable although it starts out like a typical “meet cute but hot” rom-com drama. Horne Davika plays the lead role of Rasa very realistically. She obviously enjoys her work and her family. She is very caring to her adoptive parents but not a doormat. In the course of her work as an interior designer, she is hired to renovate a house belonging to Pakaphong, played by Lum Pakorn. She’s put off by his playboy lifestyle and they clash. Eventually, though, he is attracted by her warm family life and sincere personality and they begin to date.
Now, here’s the intriguing, almost awful part (and it is not a spoiler) - Pakaphong was an abandoned child and eventually, he discovers his mother is still alive. She refuses to acknowledge him and, in fact, her new family doesn’t even know she’d been married before. Pakaphong’s revenge? He plans to date his mother’s daughter, Prangthip, until his mom acknowledges him.
I think this is the part of the plot summary that turns people off. It just seems so - icky. How far can he take this? What is even worse is that his half-sister is really quite nice and even Rasa likes her, although she doesn’t understand why Pakaphong seems to be stringing them both along.
When Rasa finds out about Pakaphong’s plans for revenge, she is horrified. It is almost like watching a car accident happen in slow motion at this point - she sees him walk this path of revenge and tries her best to save him but he refuses. He’s basically sending himself to hell for this revenge and everyone in the know - his old nanny, his friends - understands this. It’s tough to watch! My only problem with this plot is that in this modern age of emails, texts and Instagram, no one steps up to let Prangthip, the unwitting victim of Pakaphong’s revenge, know about her brother. Like a whirlpool of revenge, Pakaphong pulls everyone down with him.
One good thing about this drama is all the side plots. Oftentimes, in lakorns, the side stories are very slapstick but these secondary actors do a fine job. There’s a troubling romance for innocent Pim, Rasa’s adoptive family’s sister, and a wonderful second lead for Rasa in Chewin. The back story of Pakaphong’s mother is also very well written.
Music wise, it’s fairly typical for a lakorn. There are no standout pieces but there aren’t any obviously innapropriate musical pieces as well.
Rewatching - I’d recommend it. I’m already thinking of doing this. I think I want to go back and see if I can catch some of the subtle cues that indicate the upcoming horrors of revenge. Did I miss how Pakaphong became so determined to hurt everyone, including himself?
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The running time seems very long, but the writer fills it with plenty of stories from daily life plucked from five best friends and their families in a little community in 1988. At first, it seems there are too many characters, but each are written extremely well. They all have distinct personalities, dreams and goals. These characters are very real and not too outlandish, which allows us to relate to them and care for them. The Reply series is known for its naturalistic tone, poignant and heartfelt moments and the cast were very committed and determined to bring us that same feeling. Except, they outshone their predecessors in the process.
I particularly enjoyed the relationships between our characters. Our three ajummas were the absolute best. They've been through everything together and were closer than family. They were often the stronghold of their family, and they made it look so easy. My favourite dynamic is Bora and her father. Both are very similar characters, both gruff and a little shrewd. But their moments together made me cry the most. Without a word, they are able to communicate their deep love and respect for each other. No matter how prickly their words are, they can always find the underlying meaning. The way the characters endlessly support each other through thick and thin is truly moving.
What touched me is the fact that communities like this rarely exist nowadays. In Ssangmundong, people are good-natured and unassuming. You treat your neighbours like family and you have faith in other people. I watched this series with my mother and she said the show is a true representation of the 80s - a simpler time when hearts were bigger than hands.
I admit I got sick of the husband mystery. I wish the writers did not try to bait us and trick us because it detracted from the story. I also think the last few episodes were rushed, but it efficiently let us see the kind of men and women our lovely five friends had become.
Reply 1988 is also about youth, an innocent golden time that we always reminisce about and mourn. After Deok Sun left her adolescence, she recognises that she is unable to return to that blissful time. It is a reminder for us to enjoy and cherish our younger days while we can.
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If you're squishy about blood and real world happenings - do not watch! Stunning actors who unfolded the storyline with ease and fun. Music was fine, never got in way and complimented the series. Overall, Netflix offered a gem with this series for a mature viewer needing more than the standard fare with a compelling
If you're into tattoos - watch this for sure.
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This drama is so full of cute I nearly died. The relationship between Tae Ri and Eun Dong is so adorable. They are both stuck at the age of fourteen; Tae Ri is still a lonely little girl who can't grow up, and Eun Dong is aching to become a man and protect the woman he loves.
Eun Dong and the coach were also sweet and the mushy bromance had me wiggling.
The story is really great, with the exception of the weird breakups that happed randomly and passively, and Choi Seung Jae. I don't know what is up with that guy. If his character had been more consistent, I would have given this drama a 10. But his bipolar disorder had me really confused.
BUT this drama is so sweet it will give you cavities. Full of heart and warm fuzzy feelings, I highly recommend it.
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It was okay, kind of meh...
A very medium series, here are my pros and cons:PROS
1) OFF'S ASS. I would love to see him in a speedo. Dang, I'll bet he could open a jar of pickles with that thing.
2) FOOD. Most of it looked really good!
3) SHORT. It was a fluffy, sweet series that didn't overstay its welcome.
CONS
1) OFFGUN "CHEMISTRY." Sorry, what chemistry? They've always given me good friend vibes and there was nothing here to make me feel differently. And Gun REALLY can't kiss. (Or won't.)
2) THEME SONG. Hated it with a passion! That baby crush song made me want to remove my own appendix with a knife and fork every time I heard it. The MC was in their thirties, for goodness' sake. "Baby crush?" Eww. They're not 12.
3) FIRE'S MOM. What a bitch. I wanted to slap her and didn't buy her complete 180 at the last minute. I thought she was an evil, bad seed who needed to be taken out with the trash.
4) WASTED OPPORTUNITY. You've got Dome Jawarat in the cast, who just happens to be one of THE best singers in Thailand, and his vocal talents were not utilized (even for the OST)? Shame.
A pleasant but forgettable series. It's a 6.0 from me.
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This is my first review so please be patient with me :)I have to say I was hesitant going into this series cause I'm a huge fan of the manga and I didn't want to be disappointed by a poor adaptation and shitty acting as is the case with many live-action adaptations
However I was hooked from episode one because the actors chosen for Takane and Hana actually played their parts so well. Takasugi Mahiro-san completely captured the essence of SaiabaraTakane and was able to beautifully portray his character perfectly. He completely captured Takane's narcissism and his exaggerated way of speaking and acting. Apart from his height, which was a bit short compared to Takane but hey you can't have everything, he was the perfect choice to play Takane. He was really able to showcase Takane's unique traits and also why I found him loveable in the manga. I'm happy to say that I honestly felt like I saw the real Takane come to life
Takeuchi Aisa-san did a wonderful job playing Nonomura Hana. She acted out Hana exactly as her manga counterpart and I never found her acting lacking. She completely captured Hana's spirit, determination, strong will and strength alongside Hana's low-key savage personality which I loved. As with the case of Takasugi-san, Takeuchi-san really brought out the best Hana she could and it totally fit with the character in the manga. Her interactions and relationship with Takane, her family, Luciano and her friends were really well done.
The supporting characters were all played really well too however I wish they had more screen time. My favourite of the rest of the cast in the manga is Luciano and Ito Asahi-san really played him how I wished he was played, he really captured Luci's playboy ways and how he interacted with Hana and Takane.
I also loved Okamo Souma's character. He was really well played and I really could feel his one-sided love for Hana in his actions. I loved how he handled the circumstances and the interruption into his peaceful world. Hana's two friends Ogawa Mizuki (short-haired one) and Fujiwara Hikaruko (megane-chan) were also portrayed well but didn't get enough screen time as to what they deserved.
<<<>>>
Especially Mizuki's relationship with Luciano. In the manga they have a lot more interactions and she falls in love with him, especially after a certain incident that happens, however that was totally skipped over in the drama. They honestly had some really cute moments together, it's a pity we didn't get to see that here
Speaking of the drama skipping over things, well boy did it skip a lot. In fact the last two episodes completely condensed 6 whole volumes (7-12) into two short episodes. Souma's confession which happened end of episode 7 doesn't actually happen till much later. In fact after Takane get's stripped of everything and made to live in that shoddy apartment a lot more stuff happens and it's actually a while before he gives Hana the key. Also with the key the first time Hana uses it is when the whole gang (Luciano, Souma, Mizuki, Hirakuro and even Yukari [Hana's older sister]) decide to throw a housewarming party for Takane and just barge into his place.
Man I have so much more to say but I don't want to spoil even more, however I will say this: Souma confesses to Hana after a certain major event takes place that disrupts the lives of Takane and Hana and her family again. In fact that event is the catalyst for his confession. I'm kinda bummed that they rushed it forward.
Also in the manga Hana does have a love rival (although Takane has no interest in her at all) but she's not too bad of a person, and actually adds depth to the storyline too
What can I say? It was a good adaptation, I loved the characters and the choices of actors but it was still a little too fast-paced for me. If only they had slowed it down a little, or added more or longer episodes, or even made room for a season 2, then it'd be great. Still a solid performance by our actors so a round of applause and a pat on the back to them
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First I have to say that music was awesome, that opening song was one of the best video interpretations I have ever seen. Fits so perfectly in the whole story.
Then the story itself was good, nothing too much but different from the other dramas. Scenery was so beautiful, I would have to say I was literally stunned by the beauty of the various scenes. It seemed like the majority of the scenes were directly outside or where you could see outside. I would say this is one of the best shot outdoor scenes I have ever seen.
Characters were fantastic, from him as a main lead to the little girl played by Suzuki Anne, the girl was just so brilliant, she was the light and the sun of the whole drama, I was mesmerized by her acting. Shibata Yoshimori has to be one of my favourite characters of all time. I don't know how Toyokawa Etsushi did it, but I'm in love. Tall and gentle, but strong... and silent. He moved and walked in a quiet space and it was so peaceful to watch him. He had such powerful chemistry with Suzuki Anne, who was serious a child prodigy; the way she drew you in and made you forget you were watching an actress and not a real person...I also liked the character of Kahori, she was like a bird, craving for freedom and wanted to love and to be loved as the purpose of her living. And she succeed in that. You could easily see how she was unhappy in that marriage and how she wasn't in love with her husband, he was more like her savior who helped her and her daughter in a tough time of their lives. I wouldn't say that she was bad because she seduced Shibata and made him to escape with them, she was only very lonely and suffering, you could see that through the end, especially in that most important scene in episode 7, and yet she showed her love for him. I don't agree with that kind of choice especially if you have a child who you love but she was too weak and her love was too strong to continue and accept to get back with her husband, that was something the worst for her and that's why she chose that kind of ending for her, in some way that was her freedom and in the same time she saved Shibata from being killed.
Dramas has two parts, the first part until the episode 7 where Shiori was a little kid, and the second part, after the episode 7 where she was a grown up young woman. First part was so touching, the three of them running and hiding, living a life like a real family, they had such an amazing chemistry. I was hypnotized by the first part of the drama. Also the first part was a true pure romance and the chemistry that Kahori and Shibata had was incredible, I would have to say that those kissing scenes between them went right on the top of my favourite and most passionate kisses. ;-)
And then some tragic happens, everything gets a different sadder, darker tone and you could see exactly all the struggle and emotions of the main characters in that times. I felt tormented and so emotional at the end of the show but I wouldn't have in any other way because that was it, the ending scene which shows you that there are real love that exist on this world and that there are freedom and happiness.
At that same time at the end of the drama, quite suddenly, you realize that the love story wasn't between Yoshimori and Kahori at all...
I would definitely recommend this for any person loving pure human dramas and not afraid of touching moments.
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Cast: my favorite character was Jiseok (Kwon Yool) - he looked best to me when his bangs stayed ON his forehead lol - all I wanted throughout this drama was for him to be happy. Seonyu (Yoon So Yi) annoyed me sometimes with the way her brain worked and the way she'd reason things out - but I liked her most of the time - she too looked best with her hair down. Jihui was a good person who deceived herself basically and I didn't like her for a short while but she redeemed herself in the end for me...I loved the grandma and Hyeonsu ;) Aran was pretty spiteful throughout most of the drama, as for Seonyu's aunt and uncle - her aunt was fine most of the time, her uncle though - those faces he would make - all I can say is "oh boy stop" - I loved her cousin Gijin - super handsome and cool ;)
Music: I don't remember anything except for the intro/outro ....
Re-watch: not likely - good for a one time watch though.
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ACTING/CAST/MUSIC/REWATCH VALUE: Meh.
OVERALL: At 8 minutes, meh. Still, that poster. :O)
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If he's bravery, I must be fear
Every once in a while, a story or show comes along that far and above exceeds the genre and expectations. Not Me perfectly encapsulated that.The idea of twins and swapping roles has been around for ages (Parent Trap, anyone?), but to see it used in this context and as a BL was completely original and different. Then you take this brilliant idea for twins and you add issues around social justice, ones that two years after airing are still so prevalent around the world. Next, give yourself actors with undeniable chemistry and a cast that fits together seamlessly, and then you add a script worthy of awards. That's where you get Not Me.
Off and Gun have a casual intimacy to them that came across beautifully with their characters. It's the reason why for many they are a top couple, and hopefully will continue to be for years to come. Not only that, but the support roles all served a purpose. Too often there are characters thrown in just because, but that was not the case here. The side relationship involving Yok in particular felt very moving, and it took yet another angle to look at society, the demands it puts on us, and our roles as cogs within the machine -- and what you might do to disrupt that machine.
While not entirely unpredictable, I still found it enjoyable. I saw things coming, but it didn't deter from the overall message or heart of the show, one that has me continuing to think and grateful that a show was brave enough to put spotlight on what others make an effort to hide.
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Distorted Reality
Dr. Brain is a character-driven story about one man’s quest to unravel a profound mystery through highly experimental science that delves deep into the far reaches of the human subconscious and beyond the boundaries of reality. Simply put, the main character boldly goes where no one has ever gone before, in a metaphysical sense. Watching this drama feels akin to consuming magic mushrooms because I find my entire cerebral cortex utterly immersed into the warped and psychedelic nature of the storytelling.Co-produced by Kakao Entertainment, the company that owns popular streaming platform Kakao TV, Dr. Brain is promoted as an Apple original series. It is the first Korean-language series to debut on the American platform, where the global premiere on 4 November 2021 coincides with the launch of Apple TV+ in South Korea. Principal photography took place at Daejeon while Daejeon University was used as the setting for the Brain Science Research Centre.
The drama is an adaptation of the Kakao-Daum webtoon Dr. Brain by Hong Seong-hyeok, which was serialized in 2016 (Season 1) and this year (Season 2). The source material is a sci-fi thriller based on the premise that the brain is able to live on for 37 hours after death.The titular character harnesses this knowledge by tapping into the brains of the dead to seek clues or answers for solving mysteries. I haven’t read the webtoon but I can attest that the narrative stays true to the basis of this pseudoscience. I get similar vibes of Flatliners (both versions of the US film) where things quickly escalate out of hand when folks volunteer as test subjects for their own experiments. I find the plot immensely intriguing, complex and suspenseful. The first episode is extremely slow burn where the backstory of the ML is painstakingly established but once the overarching mystery begins to take shape and the mind-blowing action sequences kick off, particularly from the second episode onwards, there’s no turning back after that.
The quality of this drama is top tier, in terms of the production values, technical execution and the reputable production team as well as the critically acclaimed main cast. Kim Jee Woon, the multiple award winning filmmaker and celebrated auteur, serves as director and screenwriter. The influence of his unique stylistic approach extends over the masterfully executed cinematography, which presents some of the most gorgeous visuals seen this year in K-dramaland. I love the cinematic grading, neo noir outlook of the night scenes, and beautiful application of colours, especially in the “mind warped” segments. In terms of the direction and tempo, the director deftly balances the transitions between the quieter introspective and emotional moments with the intensely frenetic parts. Despite the short format of 6 episodes, the storytelling does not feel constrained while the tension as well as plot points are allowed to breathe without giving the impression of being rushed.
The original score is composed by Lee Sung Hyun aka Mowg, another stellar name attached to the production who comes with a long list of achievements and prestigious awards. The music is a blend of suspenseful, evocative and deeply emotional instrumentals that encapsulates the essence of the drama and connects very well to the varied scenes. Elements of contemporary electronic music and orchestral renditions are incorporated into the soundtrack as part of the eclectic BGM.
The cast is headlined by Lee Sun Kyun, fresh from his appearance in Parasite, for which he garnered major acting honours and critical acclaim. He plays the titular character in a performance which he delivers with consummate conviction where he showcases such impressive range that matches the depth of characterization. He not only has to portray an extremely intelligent scientist but also an emotionally dysfunctional man who literally goes through hell and back in both the real world and the surreal state of the human psyche. Add to that his affinity with a particular feline, a truly surprisingly absurd yet incredibly entertaining aspect of the drama.
Park Hee Soon is an actor who won the hearts of many through his compelling performance in the recent Netflix drama, My Name. Here in a supporting role as the side character, Lee Kang Moo, he is much more understated and has limited screen time. Seo Ji Hye, recently seen in Crash Landing on You and Dinner Mate, portrays police detective Lieutenant Cho. She has slightly more screen time than the rest of the supporting cast and gets involved in a number of high octane action sequences. She certainly looks the part and provides a decent account of the rather limited characterization. I would have liked to know more about her character but the focus is very much on the ML, hence the lack of significant character development for the people around him. The same applies to the character of Jung Jae Yi, his wife, played by Lee Yoo Young who almost spends the entire time being comatose, were it not for the numerous “flashback” scenes.
All things considered, along with the well written and executed ending, I would consider Dr. Brain a hugely satisfying entry to the K-drama psychological thriller genre. Kept on the edge of my seat once I was hooked, I simply could not stop watching and anticipating the conclusion to the ML’s search for the truth. My only qualm - I wished it was longer. This is truly one of those productions where I’m hoping for a second season.
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