Korean Thrillers are the Best

If you're a fan of mysteries or American crime shows like Dexter or You, or if you've ever read webtoons like Bastard, this is the show for you! This show combines action, romance, mystery, and comedy perfectly to make it one of my favorite kdrama watches! Personally, I have never seen a drama like this before, from the plotline reminds me of a show that I could see on American television.

One of my favorite things about this drama is its unpredictability. I have spent many years at this point watching tv shows and movies, so most things I watch nowadays I can guess what is going to occur next in the plot. This show always had me on the edge of my seat wondering what's going to happen next. I can assure you that from the first episode it is almost impossible to guess what will happen at the end of the show (unless you've seen spoilers). This aspect of the show makes you genuinely always want to know what's happening next and you can't help but to watch the next episode.

Also I enjoy how this show is not really a romance, which was new for me since most kdramas I have watched before this were mostly focused on the romance between the two main characters. Not to say that romance isn't a big aspect of the plot, the leads do have great chemistry and there are swoon-worthy moments but it has more of the grittiness that I'm used to seeing in American tv shows. I think a reason that I sometimes have trouble finishing kdramas is that just having the romance as the main plotline becomes boring by like the 9th/10th episode. For this drama I was not only interested in the relationship between the main couple but also the other plotlines with Baek Hee-Sung's past and Cha Jiwon's career as a detective. I think the show does a great job of building up the romance but what kept me hooked is the mystery and crime with the overlying plotline.

Additionally, I think this drama could easily become too dark, but thankfully it also adds in humor with some of the side characters, specifically the reporter and Cha Jiwon's coworkers. Also, the acting was amazing by all characters, but the best has to be Lee Joongki because his character has an extremely complex personality and over the course of the drama you come to appreciate his character more and more.

Honestly, this drama would have gotten 10 stars for me but the last episode was somewhat of a disappointment. I know korean dramas usually only have one season but I think this drama would have been perfect if it had a season 2, I would love to see more about how the main couple navigates their relationship after the events that occurred in the last few episodes. Also I don't think I got enough closure on the 2nd main couple. However, excluding this episode the other episodes were great and I hope to see more kdramas like this in the future!

Read More

hyun bin can crash land on me anytime ;)

Wow I did not expect to like this drama as much as I did! Hyun Bin is a household name in the kdrama world but now I see where he gets his reputation from! <3

The chemistry between Son Ye Jin (Seri) and Hyun Bin (Junghyuk) was some of the best I've seen in a kdrama! From their first encounter with Junghyuk's powerful gazes and Seri's light, fun humor I knew this couple would have me hooked. Not to go on a rant but wow Ri Junghyuk has really ruined me. Lol whoever wrote his character and cast Hyun Bin knew what they were doing, what a man! Also this show has one of the best second couple leads I've ever seen in a kdrama, the chemistry between Seo Dan and Seungjun was also amazing! I think the highlight of this drama was amazing characters, and it also had a good mix of comedy, action, and romance.

The comedic timing of the show is unmatched and I think is what makes the first half of the show especially amazing. I started watching the drama because saw a clip of the show on YT and I immediately searched it because the clip was super funny! The chemistry between Seri and the soldiers is amazing and I always laughed whenever they were on screen. Also Seri's personality in general and interactions with other characters almost always leads to a laugh when she is on screen. Having a female lead character that is not only pretty but has a bomb personality is something this drama has perfected and I hope to see more lively female characters in other dramas!

Some parts of the plotline were little iffy for me, like the whole fate plotline was driven too hard. I think with some minor adjustments to the plotline the drama could seem more believable, which I think helps make the chemistry between the characters appear more genuine. Let's not even talk about how she got to NK because that was wild!

I'm not gonna lie, I was not that interested in most of the other plotlines besides the main two couples' relationships. Also towards the 11-13th episodes the whole conflict with cho cheol gang was becoming tiresome and dragged out. *SPOILER* tbh for me I got tired of seeing someone ending up in the hospital after getting shot *SPOILER ENDS* I personally would have liked to have seen more screentime with the couples together than some of the action stuff. I think this show had too many villains, like being in North Korea is rough enough but then they added on all these extra plotlines with villains. At a certain point, I kind of got confused on who were the villains, especially on the NK side.

The ending made me feel wistful but I think that it compliments the drama well. I think that as a melodrama the way the characters end up fits the drama's theme. Anyways, overall I think this is a great drama, especially for older kdrama fans, and after you finish I definitely recommend watching behind the scenes on youtube because it is very funny!

Read More