Reviews

God, what a wonderfully powerful story.

Despite a few flaws here and there, Save Me is undoubtedly that one Korean Drama that comes to the closest degree of perfection.

The beauty of the show is in its fearlessness. It yanks out all the controversial social issues that people keep hidden behind opaque curtains and exposes them for what they are.
Religeous extremism, bullying, corruption and abuse of power are laid bare infront of you in their ugliest form.
There's a perverse darkness to the show. This constant undercurrent of foreboding and this feeling that you're watching something that you shouldn't watch. Despite the fact that it has no explicit scenes, the drama still manages to come off as an undeniable Taboo.

Save Me excels at every factor that makes a good show. Excellent direction, a tight narrative and a well-thought out, intelligent script make it impossible for the viewer to not get invested.
Every character and role, no matter how minor, is extremely fleshed out; consequentially making all the more impact.

It is only right that a brilliant script would be backed up by brilliant acting and sure enough, our actors don't disappoint.
At first I thought that I wasn't getting enough from Seo Yeo Ji but as the episodes progress you're entranced by her. Sang Mi is a strong woman caught in a vulnerable position. From determination and rebellion to helplessness, frustration and finally utter desperation; it's an awful never-ending cycle for her.
The deadly world of religeous fanaticism is wonderfully portrayed and Sang Mi's battle with sanity amongst masses of deranged manics shakes you to the core. Her love for her mother, her strong will to save herself, her despair and her agony are all emotions that you feel alongside with her.

However, the star of the show is undoubtedly Woo Do Hwan. I felt so deeply for Dong Cheol that I often found myself tearing up at the unfairness of his situation. He's a warrior with a heart of platinum and a soul that shines. He's sexy, sweet and broken. And I was in love with every version of him. I cherished every moment he was on-screen and missed him every moment he wasn't. It's truly remarkable how excellently Woo Do Hwan acted despite having very little experience under his belt, and that too, in a way that he stole the show from much experienced actors.

Okay, so you know those flaws I mentioned in the beginning? Well, Han Sang Hwan is the biggest one. Considering I'm an egalitarian, I hate noble idiots and goody two saints equally regardless of their gender; and Sang Hwan, to put it frankly, is a little bitch.

Despite the fact that he is the show's hero and this 'leader' that the drama writers want to force you to like- he isn't much at all. He's the classic privileged rich kid with daddy issues that you can find in every other wealthy neighborhood. His character is like an after-thought to the story and Taecyon for me, was very unmemorable.

I hated the fact that the drama, time and time again took away the spotlight from the life of the show (Dong Cheol) and gave it to him. At one point I was bad-wishing him almost as much as I was cursing the evil guys but hilariously enough, he failed in almost of all his hero missions (rescue plans and outsmarting people) all by himself. Until the last few episodes, his character retains the heroic but dumb vibe and I just couldn't take him seriously. Especially when all the real work was done by Dong Cheol.

However, the saving grace about Save Me is that even though it makes it clear who the main leads are, it doesn't discriminate in screen-time. Every single character is given their moment to shine and that is the sole reason why Taecyon did not make me snatch one star back from the rating.

The villains are cleverly written. They are all complex characters driven by different motivations and are as compelling as they are hateful. There are some very lovable side characters- Mr GateKeeper being my personal favorite- and some good ol' bromance to keep things balanced.

Save Me is a show that makes you feel. I found silent tears trekking my cheeks in miserable moments and then there were times I wanted to scream and yank my hair out from frustration. The drama kept me hooked to the screen from start to finish and brought out a whole lotta physical reactions from me.

The OST, mostly instrumental, is pure genius. Played at all the right moments; it incites dread, anticipation and panic in the on-lookers.

There are no plot inconsistencies and the show ends beautifully, providing deep satisfaction and closure, while simultaneously teasing that maybe all that evil isn't gone for good? Who knows.

Personally, this show was right up my alley. It kept me guessing throughout and from the moment I pressed the play button to the time the ending credits rolled; my heart felt like it was in a chokehold of fear for the characters.

While this show may not be for everyone, if you want to test your boundaries and tread into dark waters; Save me is, without a doubt, a must watch.

Read More

The actors where all selected to play the right parts. If u enjoy CSI,  Criminal Intent u'll enjoy this drama. White Bai is totally hot. Please take the time to watch. Music is awesome & upbeat. Goes great w the story of hand picked top notch officers of various fields.
Doing their best to stay on the heels of the wrongdoers killers who see themselves above the law. Its supper great seeing each talent at work analysing the sick individuals who are committing the crimes/killings. Even though they feel they're doing the justice that the courts failed to do simply because the committer was wealthy.

Read More

this is an amazing drama with very mature and graceful Jerry Yan... if you want to see the very different colours of Jerry Yan this show is a must watch... basically the story is about an illegitimate child who always wanted to have a family but he was too scared to fulfill his desires just because of the scars from the past... even though he is a very successful man but due to him being and legitimate he was usually treated badly by the people around him and this was the main reason he was so afraid to Love Somebody even though all he wanted in his life is love... The relationship between mother and son portrayed differently although both the mothers had same situations... His mother always made him suffer as his father betrayed her whereas his child's mother brought up his kid with love and affection as she consider him a blessing and most precious gift by him... This touched his heart and soul so deeply that he fell for her and even ready to take responsibility for life... Jerry looks so good and unlike other dramas he is much cooler and composed with such a great chemistry with main lead... Even his naughty side look so cute with his son... If you are looking for most wonderful romantic and intense love story then go for it... From the scene one till last drop this drama will capture you... Second lead will blow your mind with his cute smile and naughty eyes.... All in all very good package.... 

Read More

wow, what a ride! I'll definitely miss seeing our Bok Ja Club members every week :')

Avengers Social Club is an excellent drama that perfectly blends comedy and revenge. we get some awesome character development as we see our four avengers scheme how to take down each of their enemies. the villains were very well-written and I like how this drama wasn't like a regular makjang drama that just mixes a bunch of drama and revenge; ASC actually took their revenge plans to the next level.

the cast is on point. this was my first time officially watching Lee Yo Won and I absolutely loved her acting and portrayal of Jung Hye (I also loved seeing her outfits. so classy). it was also my first time seeing Myung Se Bin and I liked seeing how her character slowly gained confidence. this was Jun's first drama role and he totally nailed it. I hope he picks up more roles because this guy's a natural. as usual, Ra Mi Ran shone and there were quite a few scenes that had me rotfl xD

this drama is 12 episodes long (could've easily been a 16 ep drama --> thirsty for more xD), so it's an excellent drama to binge. if you haven't watched this drama yet, make sure to check it out asap... also, you're very lucky that all the eps are already aired and subbed; I was dying every week waiting for the eps to be subbed (they were usually subbed at least 3 days after the eps aired. rip me).

overall, a very satisfying drama. held back from a 10 because I'm stingy with those and ASC didn't leave a particularly big impact on me. now the real question: where to find a Bok Ja club??

Read More

I was hesitant to watch this since the series is linked to another series. As much as possible I wanted to watch both series and come up with a conclusion about both series. I am also interested on how the stories match up on both series but is much more interested to watch how Korn and Knock's love story came to be and I was not disappointed. The series is great.

The acting was superb compared to the past bl series I've watched. Character development is believable as well as the story line. The love Korn has for Knock, the support they get from friends and the challenges they face came in pretty neatly. There may have been a few gasps but the mix is definitely great.  You can sympathize with other characters while you want to smack the "villains".

Not to mention, kissing scenes are great. Definetly on the mature side(expect bed scenes and deep kisses) but those kisses surely are called kisses not just peck and camera angles.

The story is well sewn together. Acting is superb. Chemistry is well lit.  A must watch for those (like me) deep into the bl world.

Read More

It's always something when strong women take over your screen, and it's happening a lot nowadays. What makes Avenger's Social Club stand apart is the fact that it focuses on strong women who are not 20-somethings trying to take on the world. Instead, it puts well-established women in the spotlight as if to say, damn it, we can change the world too.

Some might argue this, and that's fine, but as I watched ASC, I admired what I felt was a tightly-written narrative about three women who decided to take a stand in a world that would otherwise tell them to sit down, shut up, keep up appearances, and melt in with the masses. Thus, while ASG is a comedy (and it is incredibly funny), it is also a wonderful social commentary about sticking one's head out, taking a risk, and bringing down corruption.

I can't say enough about the cast, in particular, our three women protagonists, played by Lee Yo Won, Ra Mi Ran, and Myung Se Bin. Their sisterly chemistry is off the charts, and it truly shows in how they interact with each other despite being from different backgrounds. In fact, that might be one of my favorite aspects of this ensemble--the fact that three women of three distinct backgrounds were able (in drama transcript) to rally together. It's something not often seen in dramas. Lee Yo Won as Kim Jung Hye is incredible; one might find her a slight bit rough around the edges at first, but later, she shows amazing gusto with effortless poise. Ra Mi Ran is great as the neighborhood ahjumma with great charisma and an even greater heart; her bond with the two younger women is beautiful. Myung Se Bin does well with her character as well, and her observable growth in the show is great.

Revenge is sweet, of course, and is always better when accompanied by nice background music that adds details to every plan and playful mischievousness to every new revenge-filled  venture. In this, the ASC OST shined.

I'm definitely going to watch this again, even if it's just to hear Jung Hye say, "You son of a b****~" once again.

Read More

If you are planning to watch this drama then let me tell you this is best drama on love and sacrifice... But you need to be impartial when you start watching it if you already made up your mind to hate any character then you will lose the taste of spices that made this drama an exceptional work... Let your heart freely decide to love and hate characters don't judge them with your mind... Song and moon are amazing in this drama... Song looks too innocent but his real face is not that charming... The most wonderful thing about song is that you will get to know about him just in one second... When he is lying when he is deceiving and when he is truly in love you will know all just by seeing him in his eyes... He used his eyes and smile to act... Some scenes are worth rewatch to understand and swallow... This drama is like a 7 layered fruit cake and you will be surprised to have 7 different fruits in each layer... Just don't be biased and don't make judgement so easily... Chew it taste it and the swallow it...

Read More

Never would have I imagined that a drama about taking revenge could be this fun!

I simply started this drama on a whim, this was never originally on my PTW. But I'm so glad that I decided to watch it, because otherwise I would have missed out on such an epic drama.
Why you should give this a chance?

- One of the reasons I was hesitating watching this drama was because I thought it would be too "serious" for me. But like I said, it turned out to be really fun. There's still an underlying tone of seriousness, which is important for the show, mainly because it deals with subjects like infidelity, bullying, domestic violence etc. However, instead of having the dark, sombre energy that I first expected going into this series, this has more of a vibrant energy. Which might be easier for viewers to get into.

- The main characters: 3 strong women, and 1 country boy.
Jung Hye is a chaebol daughter, who is a straightforward and composed woman. Yet there's this vulnerability and innocence about her.
Mi Sook is a calm and subdued housewife, whose husband is a famous professor. She's probably the most rational one amongst all the other members, and never lets them go overboard with their revenge.
Hong Do is the eldest member of the Bok Ja club. She is the most courageous one amongst all the other members. She' always takes care of the other members, like her own family.
Soo Byum is the maknae of the group. Through various circumstances, he later on joins in the club too.

- The sismance is so strong here! Despite the fact that they have completely different personalities, they become a family together. They cheer each other on, they rely on each other, they support each other. Their relationship is one of, if not, the best thing about this drama. The Bokja Club unnies have become my favorite sismance!

- This drama is #SQUAD-GOALS! Although these four people met randomly, they had crazy good chemistry with each other. I loved how well they worked together. Each had their specefic roles. The witty one, the courageous one, the reliable one, and the straightforward one. Together, they formed one of the best squads I have seen in a drama. They came up with so unique, interesting and just plain awesome ideas to take revenge. I loved this squad!

- There's even a minor bromance going on with Hee Soo & Soo Byum, which I found adorable. And there are hints of romance speckled in too, just in case you were wondering.

If you're like me and for some reason hesitating to watch this drama, my advise to you is- give it a go. You never know, you might just come to love this like I did. I personally think this is one of those dramas that you shouldn't pass off.  So I hope you give this drama a chance! Happy Watching!!

Read More

At first it took me few days to start this drama due to summary... Sister and brother thing pinched me a little but then I thought about Lee dong wool and I realized he is a gentleman and in all his dramas he maintained dignity and never go over board to show his acting skills like others... I guess I made best decision to watch this drama... Acting and plot compliment each other... Both the main lead are amazing... Intensity of dong made me crazy... He cried, he was heart broken, he was evil, he was a bad guy but still he managed to blew my mind away... How it feels when your parents are your enemies and you know that your life is on risk due to them and how it feels when a parent realized in their ignorance they almost killed the child they wanted to alive for so long and waited for their whole life.... It is not easy to handle such situation but dong's expressions and his dialogue delivery made you feel at ease even after such chaos... He loved a woman who suffered hell due to him but she never gave up on him even after when he decided to left her alone... A promise that they made once kept them together and a string that attach to their heart gave them courage... A mother's hatred to love and a guy's rage to passion is all we need... When a woman decides to love him and ready to sacrifice all for him, he took all the responsibility to protect that woman... A drama that you can watch once a year every year....

Read More

At first it was it was difficult for me to watch this movie for many reason but then my friend recommended me this by saying that she wants my review on it.... I am happy that I listen to her and watch this movie even though this is not an easy thing to swallow but still the intensity and passion worth it the character of king is so amazing and remarkably portrayed by Joo min... to be very honest this movie is totally about him the way he expressed His anger hatred disbelief and player through his eyes is amazing till his last breath he laughed untrusted the only one he laughed and trusted and the beginning even when he was dying the look in his eyes was amazing and beautiful in his pain the only thing that was in his mind was the pain of the man he laughed when he saw his lover with other women the way he expressed His anger and the way he looked at his lover what is belief and looked at the woman in hatred is amazing do the story is little complicated but it worth it... Jo in sung was refreshing too... Main lead girl disappointed me as she failed to act before two giants but her role is not powerful enough so I don't mind her... She was used only for glamour and exposure and that's all she has done good... A heart breaking story and heart warming acting...

Read More

min ho is really handsome and his acting is remarkable... Though the main lead girl is too little naive but their chemistry and amazing kisses filled her lacking places with beauty... Story is really interesting if you are into political and manipulation kind of dramas this is a best treat for you...if you are into obsession and intense love Lee min ho is ready to give you his best... Whatever might be your genre is, this drama offers you all.... Two people went through the same pain but their ways to take revenge and deal with that pain are different... One is too violent to kill and other is too patient to wait... Every picture has two sides and neither both sides are wrong nor right... Sometimes situations put you in trouble to make harsh decisions... That's how Lee min ho portrayed his character... Action and romance are two different genres but writer entangled both so beautifully and actors performed it wisely...

Read More

Such an amazing drama with beautiful and unique love story of a man who believes world belongs to him but then how his world turn upside down for a girl who doesn't even have her own place to keep herself safe... Ven ness portrayed various roles with such an ease.. From a jerk to loveable man and from an understanding guy to a heartbroken... Honestly speaking this show is only about him... He proved he has all you need to fill your heart with warmth ness... Story is about a man who lost his father and then his loved one due to memory loss and a girl who never had a family and then got a family due to the love of that man... Kid is amazing and his acting is remarkable...

Read More

Ah, W.
My first Korean drama, and the one that ruined me for all others.
With how amazing it was, of course (:

Basically, my *only* complaint about this drama is the music. Which... wasn't terrible, but also wasn't great. It just wasn't exceptional or noticeable in any way. But it also didn't ruin anything. So... it was sort of just there. Not really to hit you in the feels, though.

Aside from that, anything and everything about W was fantastic.
The plot, the characters, the acting.
The concept of this drama is so very unique, and I felt that the actors did justice to it.

It was heartwarming, heart-pounding. I smiled, I was sad.
I didn't cry, but it certainly did hit me in the feels.
It was... *intense*. One second you're all "awww" over the romance and the next you're "oh god what is happening noooo!" over the action and suspense.
The perfect combination, and I loved it.

Final thoughts: I *highly* recommend watching this drama. HIGHLY. It has it all - heartwarming romance, touching scenes, funny moment, happy moment, sad moment, wonderful moments. You'll fall in love with those characters and you'll root for their happy ending.
That's the kind of show W is.

Read More

Wow.
Just... WOW.

I haven't been on the Korean-dramas train for long.
The first Korean drama I seriously sat down to watch was a few weeks ago and it was W.

I honestly thought nothing could compare. I was so sure W ruined me for every other drama out there.
Because nothing worked for me as I tried watching other dramas after it. Nothing hit me in the feels like W had.

At first, while I loved While You Were Sleeping, I couldn't help but think it wasn't as great as W.
I was mistaken.
The more I watched it, the more I realized its greatness.
In all honesty, I can't compare the two because they were each *as* amazing in different ways.

W probably beat While You Were Sleeping for me in terms of plot and pace.
While While You Were Sleeping probably beat W for me in terms of character development and emotional turmoil.

I cried actual tears more than once in While You Were Sleeping because the acting was just... SO... good. I laughed, I smiled, I loved those characters to pieces.

How do you know a show is great? If it makes you feel those strong, those intense feelings. If it makes you laugh, if it makes you cry. If it makes you feel excited just to watch each new episode. Like how I cried when a character broke out in tears. Or how I laughed at the silliness and the jokes.

How do I know if a romance is a great one? If they make me want to root for them.
And boy, did I root for them. I rooted for them from beginning to end, and they never let me down. Their romance developed in the best way possible. Not too fast, not too slow, while still remaining funny, sweet and passionate.
It felt natural, while not feeling dragged out. It had just the right amount of everything, and I loved them to pieces.
They made *holding hands* seem better than a kiss.
And when they hugged? *fanning myself*.
Let's just say the chemistry was sky high.

That, and the OST.
Because I'm telling you... I have yet to hear an OST as beautiful as this one in a show.
It was made to perfection. Each song fit the scene *perfectly*. It only made the romance, the suspense, the scenes, feel more alive.
My favorite of the songs: When Night Falls, It's you, I love you boy, Your world, Lucid Dream, Maze, Come to me.

Final thoughts: do watch this show. Please do. Whether it's because you're like me and you love a good fantasy-romance show with action and suspense, or simply because you love Korean dramas... just watch it. You will not regret it. It's one hell of a journey, and I'm so happy I took it.
And for those of you, like me, hoping for a happy ending... you don't have to worry when it comes to While You Were Sleeping (:

Read More

This show was on track to become one of my favorite dramas of all time, but it seems it couldn't keep itself together for the whole 12 episodes. I was completely hooked from the start. The story is brilliant. I know this is a remake, but still, credit is definitely due here.  The whole theme of lying, deception, and exploring humanity and morality was expressed so brilliantly through the framework of a game show that involves using lies and deception to win money. It was so fascinating seeing all the drama with production behind the scenes while also seeing the game play out and seeing how it twists and bends the characters morals and decision making abilities. The characters here are simply brilliant and fascinating, and there are some truly unique dynamics at play in the character relations. The contrast between sweet and trusting Nam Da Jung and cold calculated Woo Jin made them so fascinating to watch. And throw in Do Young, the mysterious rich executive who seems to be orchestrating the whole thing and seemingly has connections to the players on his game show. The supporting cast as well were totally fantastic.  Dal Goo was probably my favorite, because I love how he subverted the trope of female heroines being harassed by menacing male debt collectors. His brotherly relations with Da Jung were so adorable and probably my favorite part of the show. There is just so much good here and it is such a shame that I feel like it loses it towards the end. By episode 7, things just start to fall apart. The games seemingly ever changing rules were just too hard to follow. I had to keep the dramabeans recap at my side the whole time, and I was still confused. Rules are created and simultaneously broken at random, and it seems like they adjusted the rules of the game show at will to accommodate whatever dynamics and plot twists they wanted to bring it. By episode 9, I feel like the show really lost its original spirit. We saw a lot less of the behind the scenes stuff, and it became less about the characters and their decisions and greed, and more about a convoluted corporate conspiracy. The conspiracy on top of the confusing game show with constantly bending rules was too much for me. I loved this show, I really did. But forcing myself through the final 4 episodes felt like such a chore. Even just reading the recap of the final episodes left me scratching my head and thinking that the journey was a lot more relevant than the destination.

Read More