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KimchiByTheSea
This review may contain spoilers
If you're a fan of reincarnation stories, this series fits the bill perfectly. I'm definitely a sucker for reincarnation so that probably gives me a bias. Although it moves a bit slowly, the story is engaging, heartbreaking, and leaves you hoping for the best. All the actors did a great job conveying the roller-coaster of emotions throughout the series. I never had a problem with the pacing, but if you like a story that moves quickly than this might not be for you. The story spends a good bit of time focusing on the past and present relationships between Intouch, Korn, Dean, and Pharm. You discover In's and Korn's story through Dean and Pharm, experiencing everything right along with them from both of their perspectives. It is a sad case of right person wrong time, and their story was never meant to end well, despite In's wholehearted belief that they're meant to be together. Korn gives up and leaves him alone, thus setting off a chain of events that lead only to sadness in the past. What's heartbreaking is this is a reality for some, and the families were left behind regretting their unacceptance. This drama addresses the harsh reality of homophobia, the effects of violence at home, and the connections to suicide.
In the present, Pharm and Dean have always had a feeling that they're looking for someone, though they don't know who. The connection when the two meet is undeniable, and Dean's commitment to not letting Pharm go is unwavering. It's a bit awkward at first, but the two are sweet together. To lay rest to In and Korn, Pharm and Dean must work through the past in the present, and the journey is not an easy one.
All in all, I really liked this series. It had it's light moments and it's very intense ones. The two main present characters have an extremely respectful and wholesome relationship and I'm so here for that. I thought everyone did a very good job with what they were given, save for a few awkward moments during the emotional scenes. At one point Pharm's mother and brother show up during a particularly intense scene and they seem to just know and accept what's going on. I would have like to see more on the relatives coming to the realization that the pair were reincarnations. I enjoyed it for the thoroughly, and would definitely watch it again in the future.
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Lost Romance is well paced with good acting, diverse plotlines, and enough comedic satire to balance out the initially cheesy romance. While this is full of fluff and sweet moments, it is by no means your normal, trope laden, romance drama. It gave off a mix of Romance of the Tiger and the Rose and W: Two worlds vibes, with some pointed jokes at the drama "formula" that so many dramas fall victim to.
This drama takes its time to set up the background and steer our characters onto their future path. It didn't feel rushed, and the chemistry between the casts was great and made the story flow smoothly. This is not all fluff and laughs though as the real world holds danger and trickery at every turn it seems. The two main leads had amazing chemistry together and were highly shippable. Character development is pretty abundant here (for the most part) and there are even hidden gems of advice within. Lost Romance has a great balance of suspense/seriousness, romance, humor, and angst.
The OST in this is AMAZING. The songs are always used well, and each of them was beautiful to listen to.
All in all, I would recommend if you're looking for a romance/comedy with a touch of seriousness in the plot. This was an enjoyable watch for sure, and one I'm sure I'll come back to.
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Behind Every Strong Man Is An Even Stronger Woman
The females in this practically rule the world here, and I lived for it. Plus, we get some lovely romance to boot.Fake Princess follows Changle, an "innocent" robber, as she gets blackmailed into marrying the crown prince, and gets pulled into court politics. What's wonderful about this is that at no point does she succumb to the people around her, but instead is clever and wily. This makes fun adventures and narrowly escaped attempts to catch her in the act.
There is court politics, various poisonings, side rescues and missions, and two other couples to follow along the way. While the plot has some regular fighting for the throne and trickery galore, what really makes it are the couples sprinkled throughout, and the cleverness of the characters (there are some eh moments). There is some drag starting at episode twenty, and a few too quick revelations/solutions, but it picks back up in the last episode and ends satisfactorily for the most part.
The acting was decently good in this, the two main leads and the second coupling/leads carrying for the most part. The love between Changle and the crown prince is wholesome, sweet, and mutually respectful in a way that is a pleasure to watch. It is romance heavy, but the romance in here was perfect. I really kept watching for Changle, Li Che, Mo Sun, and Nong ying.
All in all, a very fun watch. Definitely give it a go if you're looking for a good romance with strong female characters, and some light plot to keep the story moving.
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The sum of our parts.
Death's Game is an interesting narrative on being left alone in the world, including the worlds we make for ourselves, whether purposefully or through a vast turn of events that stack up one after the other.I had a lot of complicated feelings finishing the second part of this series.
It all started with Choi Yee Jae and his difficulties in life - a death on a day that he was supposed to be opening up a world of opportunities, isolation, struggling through jobs, being looked down on, and alienation. After a clinching decision, we then follow him on a journey of others who feel the same, and how he comes to terms with what he thought was true.
Something I really liked about Death's Game was that it really showed how being depressed made one forget all the good moments that led up to the darkness. How difficult it is to realize that the people around you are precious and don't find you a burden, and how, in those darkest moments, all you have left is yourself in a pit of despair that you were given with no choice in the matter.
The acting, build-up, cinematography, and overall storyline was amazing. I enjoyed it down to its grisly, bare bones. The star studded cast didn't disappoint, and they pulled out all the stops to it, which resulted in an absolute masterpiece of a drama.
So here's the clinching reason why I had complicated feelings towards this, and why I'm unlikely to come back to this despite how well it's pulled off. The subject of death, despair, depression, and understanding of love is prominent here, and I was absolutely enthralled by the relationships and portrayal of them. But since the series starts out addressing suicide, and then how it continues to tackle it in a rather outside looking in way, I'm not sure I was a fan of the message it subtly gave. If you watch this and deal with depression or have those near you that struggle with suicidal thoughts, I would go in prepared with several tablespoons of salt.
Other than this though, it was an enjoyable series, and even when I was annoyed, I was never bored of the storyline. It progresses quickly, nails all the underlying plot points, joins together beautifully, and really gives you some insight into those that deal with depression. All in all, I would say give it a go and form your own impression of it, but do so knowing this series is not in any way a light watch.
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cliche, enjoyable, and best of all, unproblematic
Honestly, this is pretty much your run of the mill highschool and young love drama. It took me two tries to get past the initial first few episodes, but after that I coasted right through.There are a lot of things to love about this WIFTY. The main fl is cute, witty, and bright. She has a good heart, but she can stand up for herself and knows how to prevent others from walking all over her. It's a refreshing change from other cute fl characters who need the ml to stand of for them. Although the ml was always there, it was more out of support and encouragement rather than a need to save her. The main couple quietly yet openly supported each other throughout, effectively cutting off many overdone and tiring cliches used to create drama. Because of this, it was easy to watch. All the problems were faced together and solved quickly through the power of good ol' honesty and respect, and honestly, loved that.
There is a second couple that is just as cute and loveable, which you sometimes fail to see. Both were great in their own rights and fun to watch.
The friendships and relationships really shine here. Besides the romance, they tackle things like societal pressure, respect of others and self, growing pains, the meaning of friendships ,and how parental love effects their children. It was all portrayed well and easily digestible without being too frustrating.
Some parts did lose my interest, but not for lack of pacing. This type of highschool drama is either hit or miss for me, and this one sat on the high end of hit. I went into watching with this knowledge and came out pleasantly surprised and with fewer tears in my tearducts.
All in all, this is incredible sweet, meaty in the right places, and just stinkin gosh darn lovable. I would recommend watching if you're looking for something light to keep you in a good mood.
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A taste of the good life, and the addiction it brings.
Just what would you do to get one more taste of fame?Celebrity is an interesting narrative of living life online, and just how that pristine perfection might be hiding the secrets that lurk beneath.
To start off, I honestly thought this would be a lot lighter of a romance (I just clicked and watched) but the storyline is so much deeper than it seems. It follows a girl who was once rich, lost everything, and then glimpses a chance to get it all back. That drug proves to be too tempting, and she falls head first into a world built on the most premium of lies.
Let's be clear, Seo A-ri is not the most likable character. She does as she pleases, sinks her claws into who she needs, and is downright stubborn when being pushed around. She sometimes hurts those who are trying to help her, has an incredibly large sense of pride, and maintains a clear vision of where she wants her future to go. That being said, I didn't hate her. I wanted her to succeed despite everyone else trying to take her down. As you watch, you learn all her faults are just a shield against the world and she's desperately afraid of hurting those close to her. It redeemed her a little.
The acting is quite good, but the nasty troupe do get a little ad nauseum after twelve episodes. I found myself skipping through a lot of the villains scenes, and didn't feel like I missed anything as it was just one more scene where they do the dance one more time. Despite this, I continued watching and without much trouble. The storyline is interesting, I enjoyed the flow of the past and present, and the editing was meshed well all around. My only real gripe is the ending is too rushed. There was a lot of repetitiveness leading up to the last few episodes, but then we sped through all the parts and reveals that I think would have really made this drama memorable.
Would I watch again? I doubt it. I loved the main couple, despite them having little quality screen time, and the chemistry of the likable characters was enough to keep me clicking to the next episode. However, it's not something I imagine I would want to experience again.
I would say give it a go if you like a short revenge drama, and some tantalizing chemistry between the mains.
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Love & Letting Go
This drama is all about what someone would do for love and when it is time to gracefully bow out.Here's to the nit and the grit of this seemingly low-key drama. It really gave off normal mellow vibes but that is not what it delivered. There was angst galore but moments that shone through with brilliance. This is a very nostalgic drama about a girl who has followed a boy around since her childhood days, but he remains oblivious to her efforts until much later.
The storyline wasn't too special as there are many chased love stories out there, but this breaks away with its delivery. There are many threads between the characters and, just like life, their relationships get messy. There is much laughter to be had but there was frustration as well. If you're not into the annoyingly persistent and unwanted female characters I might suggest giving this a pass. Although there is a lesson to be learned from each character, there were some female characters I could have done without. However, each relationship within shines. My heart broke and was mended repetitively throughout this drama. My only complaint was that there was indeed some unnecessary conflict in the middle of the drama and seemed more filler angst than motivating. I loved the strong women in here who, despite getting hurt, still picked themselves back up in the end. There was only one couple I ended up skipping past and I felt their arc was close to unimpactful. But, they did carry a message and their scenes were pretty concise.
The acting was pretty on par. There were some characters I thought fell a little behind or were slightly outshined here, but the women in this consistently delivered great scenes. The OST was alright, but didn't leave to much of an impression. That's pretty normal for modern day Chinese dramas though.
This drama shows that in life there is a box and we consistently live within that box, often afraid of looking outside. Our judgments and emotions reflect based on the inside of the box, but there so much outside of it. It's really about learning when to push yourself and when to wait for the right time. To just be aware of how we affect those outside our box and to be ready to move on or grow. I think that is what this drama excels in conveying.
All in all, a nice drama but not a super light watch. I would suggest watching if you're looking for something meaningful with enjoyable relationships within.
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This review may contain spoilers
Who-Dun-It
As a kid, I loved playing the board game Clue, and this show immediately brought so many reminiscent feelings of that game. This is a classic who-dun-it drama with a unique take on the storytelling devices. It starts out with a woman who is murdered and the investigation commences. We get tiny glimpses into what actually happened, but they are quick and are only teasing clues. Each character is introduced through an interrogation in which they tell their side of the story, and we get some background on each person. There is no half paying attention to this one. To catch all the nuances in between, you have to devote your full attention to each persons story and the plot as it progresses.There are some heavy trigger warnings for domestic and child/sexual abuse, so please be aware of these elements. The show deals with these elements quite well because of the story-telling device. As we see things from different perspectives, they really show how important it is to be aware of abusive relationships. There are some things I would have liked to iron out completely plotline wise, but it wasn't too much of a bother and by the end, I was just heartbroken at the final reveal. Honestly, a slow and hearty clap to the storytelling abilities in here. The culprit isn't much of a mystery by the second half, but it remains interesting and decently easy to watch.
All in all, I good thriller/mystery. I would recommend watching if you're looking for a solid mystery with good storytelling and world building.
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Tried to be something it wasn't...
I'm so sad, because this started out promisingly. Then the lackluster romance got in the way and spoiled it all.Whenever I see JCW starring in an action drama, I tend to gravitate to such dramas because I know the fight scenes are going to be great. What can I say, I'm a sucker for flawless badassery. This started out pretty well with some intrigue, our main character being a mercenary, and the female introduced was a woman who gets what she wants by any means necessary. I thought, Oo, a blurred lines drama. I love dramas the challenge black and white, give me that grey. Nope. Not it ladies and gents. There was a lot of potential between some of the lines, but it gradually got lost in the calculated mess later on.
So, we have the Jae Ha who dealt with some sketchy murdery stuff while deployed, and was blamed for killing someone. He's on the run when he collides with An Na, who's also on the run from her mothers lackies. She's the romance interest, but I honestly wanted it to be Yoo Jin. She had so much more chemistry with the ML, and I wanted her redemption ark more than I want potatoes in every form. That woman had so much potential and it got thrown away in favor of a classic damsel in distress storyline. Nothing could save it once the tears started. It's a pretty run-of-the-mill political, money greedy story with some romance and back and forth thrown in. The acting was fine, but like I said, tears. I don't know why, but when a character only contributes tears to the screen, I lose complete interest. However, the OST is absolutely beautiful, so definitely listen to that even if you don't get around to watching this drama.
All in all, maybe not a bad drama, but the romance got in the way of the good bits. I couldn't get back into it, but you might enjoy it if you like the damsel in distress line.
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Humanity In All It's Flaws
This drama perfectly displays how messy love and life can be. It deals with so many things like mental illnesses, familial abuse, and ptsd among other issues.This definitely isn't a drama that depicts an unreal perfection between the characters. They fight, and can be nasty to each other, but at the end of they day, they were all there for each other. That's really the beauty of this series. Too often we get first or secondary characters that don't seem to contribute to the plot, but this does not fall victim to that in the least bit. Each and every person was integral to the storyline and were important in another persons own journey.
They did a decent job at portraying different mental illnesses and conditions. Some seemed to be a little downplayed, but everyone's different so I didn't think too much on it. The acting was quite spot on, and I liked the gradual romance and relationships throughout. This drama is full of character development which is lovely. There were times I got frustrated at the way a few characters were acting, but it ultimately made them more relatable. They really stress the importance of communication and a persons love language in here. Every message within was presented wonderfully. The OST is very lovely, and fits the drama really well.
TW for familial abuse (there's a lot of scenes where a Jang Jae Yeol is beaten aggressively).
All in all, a really good and in depth drama. I would recommend if you're looking for something with head-on content and romance.
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A Brothers Love
This story is so complex, it's hard to say how I came out of this feeling. There were some positives to this as well as negatives, but I just couldn't seem to connect with the characters on the screen enough to want anything for them. Except for Kanon. She and her brother were shining lights in this drama, and I wanted it to focus all on them.The story revolves around the FL lead, Kanon, who's brother was convicted of the murder of their parents. She is shunned in society for parricide and treasures the happy moments of the people she passes by as she is alone. She ends up falling in love with a man who is still in love with his comatose fiancé. Although it was only two episodes, it felt MUCH longer. They packed a lot of elements in this, and the storyline deals with several different characters throughout. That might be why I had trouble caring. There was so much going on, but not in the right places in my opinion. The romance line fell flat for me as, even though I cheered Kanon on for her happiness, I couldn't make myself like the male love interest. His character came off as severally one-dimensional, oblivious, and just plain undeserving.
Anywho, that isn't to say Innocent Love is all bad. It deals with some very heavy issues including child abuse and the affect the press has on certain events. There were ups and downs, but ultimately it was about sacrifice, unconditional love, and moving on to make yourself happy. The OST is actually quite pretty and I enjoyed the music. The plot-line was the most wavering factor for me, with too much and not enough going on simultaneously. The love is very bittersweet, and takes most of the drama to develop, but it did left me with a nice feeling by the end.
All in all, would I watch again? Probably not. Am I upset I watched it? No, not really. I would recommend if you're looking for something short, but a little content heavy.
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The Story of Books & People
"I love old books. Not because of the story written inside, but because they are passed from hand to hand. That writes its own story too."This is a short drama about a man who can't read books, and a woman with books in her blood. It's a very light-hearted story with a Sherlock Holmes vibe mixed in to keep it interesting.
While not fast paced, Biblia is sweet and to the point. Each episode centers around the main characters, with some new ones coming to stay or pass through, and deals with a new mystery. It was a fun watch as the characters solved the cases, mended relationships and people, and developed their own storylines. This is by no means an infinitely deep drama with a spellbinding romance, nor an ultimate plotline behind it, but nevertheless is a nice quick watch. The villain was a nice surprise in the last few episodes, and made them a little more personable by hitting closer to home. I would have liked to explore more of Shinokawa's background, but I was left with a nice feeling after finishing the drama, so it wasn't a big deal. There's a good, upbeat soundtrack to this, and the acting feels homey and warm.
All in all, I would recommend for book and mystery lovers, especially if you're looking for a light but fun drama to watch.
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The Pen Is Mightier Than The Sword
In a world for of societal pressures, what will you be?I have a lot of appreciation for what RHGHR was going for, the good, the bad, and the cuteness.
The era this is set in was full of turmoil as the world around it changed, but time stood still there. This drama captures those struggles and happenings within the palace, mainly focusing on the women's role within the walls. It's a mystery, romance, adventure drama that was easy to watch and a nice break from other body count heavy historical dramas (yes, I'm looking at you Scarlet Heart).
There is some drama (what would a historical drama be without some power hungry mongrel) but all is well in drama land as this issue is dealt with quite quickly and concisely. The ending was almost too quick for my liking, but left a smile on my face nevertheless, so I didn't have a big problem with it.
The music is lovely, the acting good (nothing groundbreaking), and the conflicts and humor were well-placed. There is much character development to be had, and a lot of light moments are spread throughout to keep the viewing experience pleasant. This drama faces societal pressures and norms head-on, and I'm very much here for it. There were challenges as to what was right and wrong, and where the grey in society should be placed. The male lead's character here was also very soft in comparison to a lot of dramas, with the woman saving him most of the time, but his character had balance between brave and sweet. It was nice to watch. The women here are kickass and meddlesome in the best ways as well.
All in all, a lovely, romance driven, light watch with some plot to it that keeps the drama from dragging. This is by no means a fast pace, heart-pounding, watch. It was highly enjoyable since I needed a break from the heaviness of other dramas. I would recommend if you're looking for something cute and fresh with some plot.
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Chicken Noodle Soup For The Mind & Soul
"Because our scars are like a GPS to our lives."This was mindful, healing, and found a place close to my heart as someone who struggles with mental health. It was a beautiful drama that tackled mental illnesses and the preexisting negative views that society has towards mental health.
The story wasn't really anything special or new, but the execution was pulled off flawlessly. While the storyline does follow Han Woo Joo mainly, it also shines the spotlight on the doctors, nurses, and various patients as well. Not only do we see the way they approach improving other patients lives, they humanize the doctors. They really portray the fact that everybody is dealing with something underneath very well. It was refreshing to watch. There was no perfect solution to everybody's problems, but it was more of a road to traverse with different checkpoints for the people dealing with mental illness. They tackled so many stereotypes in this, but it never felt rushed nor boring. There was a pace set, and they kept to it.
The acting really carried Soul Mechanic. There was not one actor in here who delivered a less than stellar performance, but special kudos to Jung So Min. Her portrayal of her character's illness was emotionally evoking and spot on. There were a few times when I really didn't like her character, but I understood her. While some may say her ending was rushed, I had no issues with it since everybody's path is different. True to it's name, there were so many moments that really spoke to my soul in Soul Mechanic.
The OST is beautiful for this, but was sparsely used. If you're looking for heavy romance, this is not it. The main focus is on the relationships within, and how we can help those around us. There is VERY light on the romance, with a couple side couples, but they are by no means the main focus of this drama. I didn't have a problem with it because I felt it would take away from the bigger picture, but if that's what you're looking for, this may not be for you. There is also a bit of an age gap between the ML's that throw some watchers off. They were so sweet together, that it wasn't a problem for me.
All in all, I would highly recommend if you're looking for a content and relationship positive drama with loads of character development. This was a lovely and meaningful watch.
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Are you looking for aliens, mind control, mystery, and good storytelling? If so, Circle is a one stop shop for all your needs.
Circle's story takes place in two different timelines, and uses a gradual reveal to keep you on the edge of your seat.
The acting is done really well in this, and there were so many emotions introduced from all the characters. In a world were emotions are controlled to promote peace, the actors kept on their toes and conveyed everything really nicely. There were several actors in this that I'm normally not a fan of, but they delivered a solid performance. The OST for this is quite good, but I wish they utilized it more throughout the drama. There were several soundtracks that really could have enhanced some scenes.
The storyline had me with the slow reveal. There is a bit to keep up with two intersecting storylines, but they melded them together coherently. There are many elements to the plot which propel it forward easily and it definitely grabs your attention. The romance in this is light and tastefully done in a way that does not overtake the storyline itself. There is some, but it is by no means the main focus.
All in all, a good sci-fi drama, light on annoying characters, and full of nice relationships throughout. If you're not into open, unfinished endings this might not be for you. It is set up for a second season, but obviously didn't gain enough recognition. It is a enjoying watch, and I would recommend giving it a try.
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