Incoherent and frusrating!

Big Mouth now joins Vincenzo in the category of kDrama thrillers that are incoherent, inconsistent, illogical, and frustrating. Especially frustrating because you see talents such as Lee Jong Suk, Kim Joo-Hun, Kwak Dong-Yeon wasted.

While the primary premise was intriguing, the drama does not progress well. There are so many bizarre plot twists and incomplete plot lines, not to mention how a cancer patient looks NOTHING like a cancer patient and a death that was not necessary.

The reasons I watched it through and did not DNF was a) Lee Jong-Suk's Donald Duck face, b) Yang Kyung-won's excellent turn as the incompetent and unhinged Gong Ji-hoon, and c) to know what would finally happen to Choi Do-Ha.

Will not be recommending this one to anyone, ever.

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A fabulous feminist ode to the classic

Where do I begin? This drama held my attention from the minute it was announced. I quite like Kim Gu-Eun, so was pretty darn sure this was going to be a good one. What I was most curious about though was how they would adapt an English classic to modern times and that too set it in a culture far removed from the original work. Having watched the show, I must say, I was not disappointed in the least.

First things first - parallels between the novel and the series. Like the book. there's an absent father and sisters living in poverty. Meg March's introduction in the novel begins with her proclaiming how terrible it is to be poor. An attitude Oh In-Joo embodies. She's the eldest sister (Meg March), naive, not the brightest bulb in the room, and a hopeless optimist. She's obsessed with bettering their (hers and her sisters lives). While her naivety and stupidity annoyed me in the first couple of episodes, I came to root for her by the 8th episode. Oh In-Kyung is the middle sister and the Jo March of the show. Like Jo, In-Kyung is fiercely independent, reckless, impetuous, a hothead and definitely has a Laurie. She's a journalist who's righteousness oft got on my nerves. Oh In-Hye is the youngest sister and like Amy March in the novel is an artist and is given the opportunity to live a better life. I won't talk about Beth March because anything I say is a spoiler. But I absolutely LOVED how they dealt with that character (and if you've read the book, you know what happens to her)

Now where the show departs from the novel is the whole thriller element - there's a death, there;'s embezzlement, a political conspiracy, intrigue, and psychopathic characters.

NGL, the initial episodes were slow and sort of annoying. Especially because of how dumb In-Joo is portrayed to be and how impetuous In-Kyung is. But I must say the last 5 episodes really bring the show home. If I could ever use edge-of-the-seat to describe a drama, it'll have to be for this one. What I loved the most about this drama is that it places women at the centre of all things good, bad, and ugly. It's just women against women. Women portrayed in every shade - grey, black, sunshine. What a treat that is !! The men are just scaffolds and are treated as such. Never has a show's treatment of female characters left me so satisfied.

Is the drama perfect? Hell, no. There are a lot of loopholes, circumstances that demand suspension of belief, and face-palm moments. But these don;t deter from the tight narrative, brilliant acting, haunting music all of which come together to leave you with a satisfactory experience.

Little Women is not a drama for everyone. But if you love a women-centric thriller, this one's the one for you.

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Most nonsense drama I ever watched

** Please do not read this review if you have liked the drama **

MLM has to be the most illogical, cringe, overacted piece of Cdrama I've had the misfortune to watch. There is no rhyme or reason to why any of the characters do what they do. The ML is supposed to be a dangerous man, but what he is, is a typical gaslighting, abusive toxic romance hero and FL a stereotypical manic pixie dream girl who falls in love with her abductor for absolutely no reason. The politics of succession are laughable as is the acting of everyone in the drama. The chemistry between the leads was not enough to save this train wreck of a show (and TBH, I've seen dramas with rubbish plots but much, much better chemistry.)

So, no. This one's a hard pass for me.

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An Unexpectedly Cute Romance

I am not usually a fan of older woman - younger man romances. But this one, this one was such a pleasant surprise.

Its a simple, sweet story - nothing original but still hits the right notes. I found the lead pair likeable and their chemistry was literally fire. An athlete myself, I found the parts about the ML's training, his reactions to rejections & defeat and never-say-die attitude realistic. His passion for athletics was what made me sit through the initial episodes. It helps that both the leads look like athletes themselves.

I also liked that the drama is angst free and doesn't drag unnecessarily (even though I found the whole proposal scene a bit ludicrous. Do people really do that kind of thing?)

Overall, a cute drama for those times when you need a pick-me-up.

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The perfect sunshine-grumpy romcom

My main issue with romcoms is the way they (mis) portray the sunshine and the grump in the sunshine - grumpy trope. The sunshine is always a boundary disrespecting, no filter, hyper active manic pixie girl who is infantalized by a scowling alpha introvert.

I'm very pleased to tell you that this does not happen in Go Go Squid. From the first episode, I loved both Tong Nian and Han Shangyan. The writers get both the characters' shades right. Tong Nian is a sunny, personable, intelligent and accomplished young woman yet she is naive in a way only sheltered young women can be. She is respectful of Han Shangyan's boundaries and pulls down the walls that he's built around himself, one sweet smile at a time. Speaking of the latter, his gruff on the exterior and big softie on the inside personality had me hooked from the get-go. Han Shangyan is not your typical alpha male lead - for all his threatening attitude, he's actually a caring person and very, very vulnerable. The min he realises he's fallen for Tong Nian, you start seeing how he changes (in fact, that mean-to-everyone-but-a-gentle-giant-only-to-her attitude had me MELTING). He does not infantalize her even though he recognises that she's much younger to him not does he get all huffy-puffy and male ego-y because she's much better than him in every aspect (personality, intelligence, education and wealth). He is more than happy to support her just as much as she is ready to support him. Really, their love story was so wholesome to watch.

All additional characters were also wonderful and kind (unlike the extremely bitchy and nasty society shown in LoveO2O) and the production aesthetics one of the best that I've seen in c-dramas (I'm still new. Have only watched 6 thus far).

Go Go Squid has replaced My Little Happiness as the best c-drama I've watched and I cannot wait to discover more of Li Xian and Yang Zi's works.

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A RomCom that knows what it's doing

Do you remember the first romcom you watched/read? That heady feeling, that foolish grin, the rolling of the eyes at absurd behaviour, going weak in the knees at the first confession of love?

Business Proposal brings all of that back. Sure, it's not the most original of plots. If viewed under a magnifying glass, you'll spot a couple of problematic stereotypes and narratives. But, the show is SO fun, so self-aware, so well-acted, you will let all the loopholes and problems slide. Just this once.

Though a romcom, what really stood out for me was the female friendship. Pure chaos and full of unyielding loyalty as young women best friendships are meant to be. I think I probably got hooked to the show because of that (and the Rachel & Samantha scene. Holy God, that scene is the OG of all meet cutes)

A Business Proposal is a cliched romcom that knows what its doing. Give it a watch when you're feeling down and let Shin Ha-Ri lift your spirits!

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