Hits the Spot

I love these types of plots where help is being provided to different individuals/families, particularly with a supernatural baseline. Most series don't do it very well for one reason or another. This one, despite my initial judgment on the title name (which of course is why should we shouldn't judge based on cover/name), really hit the spot with exception of some minor gripes.

Everyone involved including the supporting cast jived well together and had great chemistry. There are scenes that will make you tear up, scenes that will make you laugh, and scenes where you're anticipating the unraveling of situation. There's nothing overly gruesome or frightening (though I wouldn't mind it) and the blended-in humor helps ease any of the darker aspects.

The only character I didn't care much for was the female cop. It is more of how she was written rather than the actress herself. She was more immature than the young MLs, selfish (though somewhat self-aware), much too needy, and didn't know when to stop talking. The other minor grip is the series ended with many unanswered questions and rather abruptly, but is also a bit expected with only 12 episodes.

I found myself looking forward to every next episode and would highly recommend for folks who also enjoy these semi-episodic and supernatural plots. The series gets extra kudos for doing a great job at this particular type of plot/genre.

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Surprisingly Enjoyable

The summary on the site for this series doesn't do it enough justice. There really isn't anything negative to point out: the actors were charismatic, the story flow was done well, the action scenes were good, and nothing was under or overdone.

There are multiple mysteries involved that are relatively standalone (where it isn't being forced into being related to the overall plot). Because of this, I never felt the need to time-skip at all for the entire 36 episodes. The mysteries are interesting with some dark undertones and an added touch of the supernatural. The comradery between the main crew is warm and fun which helps create a balance. An added bonus is that any romance mentioned is relatively minimal and doesn't have any overwhelming scenes as many other series.

For those who enjoy watching supernatural elements along with case solving as I do, this one is highly recommended. I'm looking forward to season two.

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Refreshingly Entertaining

After having seen so many series that follow the recipe of non-stop betrayals, it was quite refreshing to see a solid comradery play out. It was also just as refreshing to see subtle human touches being added to relationships between the mains and the supports. The pacing of the plot was nice and steady, without any overly dramatized cliffhangers or extremely long periods of nothingness. Although there's obvious non-realistic aspects to the autopsies which is one of the main highlights to the theme, it was done well enough to not deter. The other positive is although there was some romance, it wasn't overdone.

The only two qualms I had was that the role of the female coroner was lackluster. I haven't seen the actress enough to know if it's her acting or if it was just how the role was intended. And while the overall actors did a great job, there isn't much character development throughout the series. However, everyone stayed true to character and it was an enjoyable series with an ending that felt both slightly abrupt yet fitting. I look forward to how they plan to expand the story in the sequel.

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Good but not stimulating

This series is a bit difficult to describe because the acting and character chemistry were pretty good. The plot (with exception of the ending) flowed relatively well. But for a 29-episode series, it was lacking that "entertaining" factor and the entire series felt like it was playing to a single note. The drama wasn't dramatized enough and the humor wasn't humorous enough. The cases and mysteries that revolve solely around the protagonists were interesting in the beginning but started to falter when they began to poorly insert new characters. And the ending is really where it begins to crack because there wasn't great character development for the aforementioned new characters and some existing ones. They made attempts to do so with some flashbacks but unsuccessfully. However, as with other average series, this one was still entertaining enough to complete with some time skips. Not much actions scenes and no romance (which I usually prefer).

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As Sequels Do Often

Foremost, I appreciate how the sequel picks up right at the ending of it predecessor. If you enjoyed the first movie, this one is definitely worth the watch as it covers a significant portion of the guardians' past lives. Unfortunately it lacks the same charisma (potentially due to losing Cha Tae Hyun as a main) and the characters all get a bit cornier. Outside of the guardians' backgrounds, the blanketing plot around the grandfather and kid is pretty dull and the lackluster acting for the roles enhance this. The actions scenes however have improved a tad and the animation work feels even better this time around.

Most sites I've used to stream the movie has the same horrible subtitles. It left me guessing incorrectly on what was going on and twenty minutes in, I would have unfairly given the movie a significantly lower rating. Make sure you find one with subtitles that actually make sense (personally went with Viki).

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Unexpectedly Entertaining

When giving series/movie a first watch, I don't really dive into who the actors/actresses are. So seeing Cha Tae Hyun as a main was a nice surprise. He has the perfect expressions for comedy-dramas, my favorite blend of genres.

The movie doesn't have the most complex or intricate plot but it has enough of an unpredictable essence that will keep you on your toes. Why was it unexpectedly entertaining? Because I do have a slight bias toward movies that lean too far into animated work as they tend to be poorly implemented and have even poorer dialogues. If you can stomach a few less than average actions scenes, this one was actually done pretty well. And although Cha Tae Hyun's story is a pretty basic tearjerker, it is one of those that will still jerk those tears. So if you looking for an easy watch with likeable characters that will also have you laughing out loud, definitely recommend. I'm looking forward to watching the sequel.

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Dropped It Once

The first time I tried watching this many months ago, dropped it relatively quickly after a couple of episodes. Mostly because at the time, I was looking for a series with actual substance. However, this is a perfect series if you enjoy the "mystical" genre and need something very casual to watch (i.e. don't care if you miss out on a conversation or two).

The plot is simple/predictable, and that has its own entertainment factor, especially when the actors are still charismatic. Just go in without any expectations of a tightly-knit execution of a story. This is one where characters just drop in because it is convenient for the plot to progress. The fantasy/action visuals also have the low-budget feel but it does kind of tie into the series' overall comical theme.

Overall, it can still satisfy those days when you just want a couple of laughs, don't want to get in too heavy, and still catch a bit of feel-good moments.

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After recent attempts to find a good crime series (that hasn't already been seen), finally came across this one that was enjoyable from beginning to the end.

This is one where in addition to your fantastic mains, all of the other actors also did a great job with their roles so it didn't feel like anyone was pulling any heavy weight for the rest. The plot maintained enough suspense to keep the momentum going and the pacing worked well. Unlike many others in its genre, there wasn't any glaring or obvious issues with how the crimes scenes were managed and it doesn't rely on excess dramatization to keep it interesting. Although some actions/reactions didn't always seem to fit the characters, it's easy to overlook because we in the real world aren't always rational.

The minor disconnect I had was they tried to interweave too many players into the underlying plot without providing enough background/focus on some of them. They gave just enough for you to see the connections but not enough for you to really feel them, if that makes sense. Because of this, it can slightly feel as if the plot drags on for just a bit at times. Nevertheless, the character developments were done well and the dynamic between Shin Ha Kyun and Yeo Jin Goo in itself makes it worthwhile to check out.

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This one is difficult to describe because on the one hand, the suspense of the series was well laid out until it neared the end but it was also littered with plot holes. But despite the plot holes, it mostly flowed better than most with exception of the weak ending. I really wish they zoned in on some necessary areas that would have given it more depth:

- It makes total sense for Kim Dan to mourn her Kim Ho Ki but really odd that she never mourned her real mother, not even when she was little. And no, the memory loss later doesn't justify this.
- They never provided any background on the children who were tortured and ended up as murderers, or even much about their interactions with each other. Sometimes it seemed they knew of one another and other times they didn't? How did the rest of the children end up where they did after the major event?
- The whole future vision aspect also didn't make much sense and there's only so much that can be interpreted if there's too many inconsistencies.

Having jumped into this one with just the brief plot summary, thought this one would be more episodic but it all revolves around peeling back layers from a past event. The comedic scenes were actual quite fun but it was awkwardly placed, and it sometimes took away what should have been more serious for the characters. However, what was great about this one was the actors and supporting actors. They managed to pull it together despite the flaws and poorly scripted character developments. And I really, really hope to see Kang Ji Hwan and Shim Hee Sub together again in better written/directed series. Both of them already bring their own charm individually, but they also have great on-screen chemistry. These guys deserve more spotlight in this arena and the higher score is mainly due to them.

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It's always difficult to write a review for longer series because it usually incorporates so much, but it says something if you've made it to the end.

This one definitely had a similar feel to Rebel: Thief Who Stole the People except the setting is in more modern times. As with some of the older series, there is an abundance of dramatics but it was done with care and done better than what newer series attempt to do. While it's heavy handed with politics, it interestingly didn't feel as redundant as one would think despite some repetitiveness in the back and forth competition. Likely because the actors were all really fantastic in their roles, particularly when they switch between various facets of being ruthless or kind. I also always appreciate when the plot takes the time to lay out the beginnings well because it only draws you in closer and has you rooting for them harder.

Put this one off for a while because it's not the typical plot that I'm immediately drawn to but it wonderfully exceeded expectations. Be prepared to be biting your nails often and quietly yelling at the screen, be prepared to grab a Kleenex for the successful emotional tugs, and be prepared to laugh out loud at some of those hilarious characters. Towards the end, it does attempt to heightened the drama by throwing in some even more unrealistic events but it wasn't enough to deter from the overall enjoyment.

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Season Two, Please

Decided to give this a try after it came up as a recommendation for another series, and really happy it did not disappoint.

The atmosphere originally felt like a dreaded Department of Motor Vehicles visit for those who passed on, which made it intriguing right off the bat. One of the best aspects of this series is that it really isn't predictable. Every time I subconsciously tried to guess what was to come, it would throw me a curve ball, then lead me somewhere unexpected. And yet, it all flowed so naturally. There is minimal humor but so much gentle, heart-warming moments.

Although there is a relatively low number of episodes at only around half an hour each, it's quite surprising how many stories they were able to squeeze in despite it being slower paced. Although there is a bit of "gore" due to the nature of plot, it's not done in the way where they're trying to trigger or feed into the audience shock factor. Rather, it's just a matter of fact, as everyone passes away under different circumstances. I love that they didn't try to stuff drama in your face or spell out what you should take away from each story as many series do (where they assume you wouldn't get it, so they just shove it in your face repetitively). The stories are simply laid out for you with subtle reactions from the seemingly stoic team.

The only real negative I have is that there needs to be another season. Partially because there is still plenty of pending, unfinished business and partially because there is so much potential for more.

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I was wavering on giving this a slightly higher score purely because it was more memorable than some others in its genre but because there was some redundancy in the plot and the ending was just a bit far-fetched, I'll keep it here while looking forward to the potential of a second season. For those who care, it doesn't end in a hard cliffhanger so you won't let out a big sigh wondering if and when the next season comes around.

Always have a soft spot for plots where someone who was wronged returns to the scene as a formidable adversary. This one was more unique because while it falls under the vengeance theme, it's quite calming and doesn't have the usual overwhelming woes or anger that is sometimes thrown in your face excessively. The slight overacting actually works really well here because it creates that special layer of humor over the darker theme.

While some viewers might not enjoy how the plot can ping-pong a bit, it actually does make it more realistic. In the real world after all, you don't take down corruption down in one fell swoop and then life is all peachy. People who are corrupted will fight back and fight even harder in their desperation.

There isn't the most intricate weave of plot layering but as mentioned, it's pretty unique (at least from what I've come across) and overall enjoyable. There is almost no romance, didn't feel like skipping through any parts, Namkoong Min was very likeable as the main protagonist, and against all odds, I totally fell for the Kim Jung Nan character.

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Although this movie can't be categorized as a masterpiece, it was incredibly memorable. It helps that the main leads, Sean Lau and Leon Lai, are two of my favorite actors. They have this available with Cantonese or Mandarin audio and the subtitle files are easy to find.

The story is summarized pretty well in the synopsis and it really is as simplistic as following two friends who belong to rival gangs. Both are loyal to their leaders and this creates inevitable complexity for the friendship. The differences in their characters and the way they communicate with each other non-verbally was fun to watch. One of the highlights for me in this was how vastly different their girlfriends were, and how each of them showed their loyalty to their men when faced with extreme circumstances.

I've always loved the gangster movies from the 90s. While this one has some holes with the plot and the decisions the leads made were questionable, it was still very unique and many of the scenes stayed in my memory even after years of not having seen it.

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A key memory that I have for this film is sitting at a friend's house with his younger brother browsing through my starred ratings on Netflix, and telling them I've never given a 5.0 on anything before, until this title showed up. They are Korean and have not had too much exposure to Chinese films. The younger brother really didn't want to watch this one because the picture quality just wasn't good enough for him and he had zero interest in slower-paced dramas. We forced him to sit through it anyway.

Let's just say after the film was over, he turned to us with tears in his eyes and exclaimed how it was unexpectedly awesome.

I loved King of Masks in so many ways. So much of it was done with attention paid to factual elements of its era and every scene provided subtle meaning. If you pay attention close enough, you'll find many hints of humor as well that would be missed otherwise. I won't mention too much of its plot because it really will be a spoiler (although the synopsis provided some already).

The actors did an amazing job in their roles but the child actor was definitely the star. The very realistic and complex development of the bonds between our leads will tug hard at your heartstrings. And if you turn your nose up at older films with poorer picture quality, maybe get someone to force you to watch it as well and you may just become a fan like my friend's younger brother.

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How do children cope and churn through adulthood when raised by a twisted psychopath?

You'll be thrown into a world of dark suspense right from the first episode and you'll find yourself wanting to get to the next episode even if to just unravel the mystery.

I want to commend this series for being able to highlight a number of facts. When surrounded by overwhelming gloom, even a brief glimmer of light can create dispute within the self. Whenever a sob story is heard about a shitty parent or loved one, that person usually blames all of their misgivings on that individual. But there usually is- whether it's the other parent, a sibling, a grandparent, etc who has been in the background trying to protect them them. People tend to take for granted any support structure they were provided and become ignorant of those who've had absolutely none.

They did a good job here at portraying life from the different viewpoints of each son. The internal and external struggles they are made to go through alone and together. The three main actors, despite their personality differences, really did mesh well together here.

It could have been better if there was more in-depth background on many of the characters but it is also an 11-episode series. Points were taken off because while the initial episodes kicked off with good momentum, it started to lag a bit during its mid-point before picking back up. From this mid-point, I already had a hunch as to where the plot was leading so the ending was a bit predictable.

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