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Uri wo waru (2024)
Brilliant, tender series - misleading Title
Beautifully crafted series about human relationships, the corrosion of loneliness and the critical role of open communication.
FL is a 32 year old office worker who is also a virgin. As life flows by she realises that if she doesn't create a circumstance to try and experience closeness she might miss her chance. Enter the ML, a shy copier service worker who hides behind his hair and mask. She takes a chance, they chat and bond over retro video games. Unknown to her, he has regrets and sadness in his life that diminish his ability to be open but both parties keep trying and the series is well resolved.
The show tackles other secondary stories of insecurity, burn out and regret but the main themes persist. Surround yourself with good people and never stop talking with kindness.
Try to get past the terrible title that implies someone will get screwed over - that neither happens or is implied. Great show, loved it 👏
Chaebeol X Detective (2024)
Well that got emotional dammit....
Flex X Cop is that rare breed of k-drama that strikes the right balance between action hero drama, intelligent plotting and the feelgood payoff of the positive relationships depicted in the police team. Our rich, shallow playboy transforms into an effective lawman with only a few hiccups along the way in convincing fashion.
The cast is inspired - Ahn Bo Hyun's star is clearly on the rise and deservedly so, his ability to convey drama, hilarity and moving emotion is impressive. He's clearly having a ball playing Jin Isoo and a second season has been confirmed.
Park Ji Hyun is as reliable as ever as the calm, dedicated detective and the adorable maknae + secondary romance works ok.
All round restraint for the mad stepmother storyline and the brother's arc is compelling viewing.
Re-watch value/10.
Soundtrack #2 (2023)
Bittersweet but well resolved romance
Boy meets girl. Doesn't work out. Boy meets girl again but this time around some things are different (he got successful, she's at a crossroads) and some things are the same (she can't accept help in life and sabotages important relationships when dependence rears its head).
The 2 leads are kept apart for the requisite satisfactory amount of time while the introduction of a third character (accomplished musician with a crush on our FL) creates the necessary frisson.
When the relationship #2 falters the drama takes an interesting turn by having the FL explore what she does every time to sabotage her relationship.
This provides a quiet maturity not often spied in k-dramas and that patience, affection and insight pays off for them.
Strong chemistry makes up for the unnecessary lull in Ep 6 and the 3 leads are wonderful.
Good resolution, fine soundtrack.
Dang wo fei ben xiang ni (2023)
Heartwarming crush that stays the distance
I thought 24 episodes of this CDrama were going to be too much but this sweet, uncomplicated but funny love story hit all the right notes and didn't outstay its welcome. Compared to KDramas not much happens, there are no villains, no cheating, no bullying, no awful parents and few disasters at work. Here is modern China, confident, hard working, independent, charming and working towards the goals of young love. Nothing felt forced, shoe horned or fake, I really enjoyed watching these kids grow up and embrace adulthood without endless petty drama.
I laughed out loud so many times watching this and as much as I love KDramas, not many were as clever and amusing as this one. More like this please.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023)
Like mushrooms, with a better soundtrack
All I can say is thank God I watch a lot of Kpop videos, or it would have given me a migraine. It. Just. Never. Stopped. Artful mind altering ride it is
Strong on message, even I got the don't let anyone ever tell you you don't belong buzz, but it felt sincere and earned. The messaging comes a clear second to the VISUALS.. it's like an LSD fuelled assault on your (spidey) senses that very nearly felt like too much, but redeems itself with some beautifully crafted slower sequences where your eyes finally get to rest and savour the astonishing art direction.
I only have one complaint. I missed having subtitles. Sometimes there's so much sound I couldn't quite hear the dialogue.
No matter. Just drink in the gorgeous chaos and walk unsteadily home afterwards.
Summer Strike (2022)
Catnip for Introverts - slow healing drama
Summer Strike depicts the slow emotional evolution of 2 characters who are on the quiet side.
FL leaves Seoul in frustration, disgusted by scheming, evil co-workers, the monotony of her life and her inability to get ahead in any meaningful way. For young people watching this healing drama I think this will strike a chord and trigger the question "Is it worth it? Is all this study and thankless work and pressure really worth it? When do I get to live well?"
I think it's a question worth asking, especially in Korea with its high female suicide rate and low birth rate.
She decides to relocate to a seaside town and re-calibrate, reboot and take a moment. And so we are introduced to the townsfolk who are kind and cruel in equal measure, some under protected and maliciously judged with few opportunities to move ahead unless they leave for Seoul.
The slow burn romance that takes place with the ML is satisfying enough but the series really shines when it depicts our strong human need for connection, whether from family or people who become family.
The murder mystery element really only comes to the fore at the end so if you are looking for a strong thriller drama this is not the show for you. Instead, its about people with their quiet desires and unmet expectations and how they deal with it.
The supporting cast is very strong and the message of sufficiency and contentment is wholesome.
Sweet, uncomplicated (and short) healing drama that showcases our human need for connection and community.
The Fabulous (2022)
Amazing Fashion ... Great Cast Chemistry
Pros: amazing, beautiful fashion, showcasing some amazing talent. The fashion shows alone are worth your Netflix subscription.
Lots of beautiful people mainly having great fun.
Happy to see real people suggested as having sex and using condoms
A reminder of the power of a well crafted suit.
Positive representation of a gay designer, loved and accepted by friends and family
Positive representation of models as real people with intelligence and agency
Strong acting skills from the leads without unnecessary overly dramatic storylines and villains
Cons: despite the fabulousness the plot is just a little pedestrian
Who cares? Loved the actors, the fashion and the progressive imagery.
Persuasion (2022)
Not a drama or a romance. Derivative
It wasn't as terrible as I was expecting based on the flood of dismembering reviews, but it completely failed as a drama (zero plot tension) and the romance had as much sizzle as a plum pudding.
On the positive side it looks gorgeous, a love letter to the English countryside, natty tailoring and why Henry Golding should be in everything, but as a heartbreaking exploration of the pain of lost love and the second guessing of the heart it falls flat.
Some of the casting was incomprehensible and the rip off of Fleabag is inexcusable, but I stayed for Mary's one liners and a glimpse of Bath.
And if they can't give us what we actually want, this silly, fun (mercifully short) confection will do while we wait for something that rips your heart out and makes you stop breathing while the tears flow, just as a Austen intended.
Ni wei xiao shi hen mei (2021)
Unexpected e-sports gem
I never stopped smiling (no pun intended) during this drama, the casting was first rate and the ending though never in doubt was sweet triumph in the closing scenes.
I was completely hooked for the characters and the secondary actors came shining through too, it was really hard when a team lost :)
This stays firmly in G territory but 5 stars for the kissing (very convincing thanks Kai), the cats and the arena scenes. Loved it and a second season would be amazing.
The Drover's Wife: The Legend of Molly Johnson (2021)
Well done Ms Purcell
Serious understatement to say this is an astonishing achievement, Ms Purcell's passion project is riveting and spare from beginning to end. It also takes no prisoners so prepare for your sensibilities to be assaulted.
Gisangcheong Saramdeul: Sanaeyeonae Janhoksa Pyeon (2022)
Chemistry for miles - loved it
Really loved this office romance set in a Meteorological Agency in Korea - I learned more about the weather and how it is forecast than I ever did in Geography.
The leads are solid and play off each other with plenty of sparks and pathos, the writers even manage the impressive feat of making you like everyone by the end.
The relationships end as they should with plenty of pratfalls along the way, it is a beautifully shot thoughtful and satisfying romance.
And Song Kang is in it, so enough said.
Seumuldaseot Seumulhana (2022)
Uneven is an understatement
What were the writers thinking? Let's portray a love story about the one that got away? Because they'll invest 15 episodes in this relationship and then we'll give them an unexpected ending, more in keeping with real life?
I'm not buying it. No one watches k dramas for real life feels, but for love-conquers-all swoon.
Deeply disappointed about the plot but the leads and secondary characters were a delight.
The Door Into Summer (2021)
Sweet, undemanding Sci Fi Lite
I didn't have any great expectations for this movie, but I'd seen Alice in Borderland and thought Kento Yamazaki was pretty good so I thought I'd give it a go. I was pleasantly surprised. The plot is a tad woolly at times but the characters are really well drawn and the romance (such as it was, this has even less hand holding than your average shy boy k-drama) was quietly moving. The charisma of the movie falls entirely on Yamazaki's shoulders and he's up to the task, plus there's an adorable robot and a CAT. All boxes ticked, thank you Japan.
Geu hae urineun (2021)
Only scoring a 6...
Everyone did a good job in this second chance romantic drama, but it felt like there was a lot of filler, repetition and padding out. The secondary characters were wasted but there was genuine poignancy in the pain and burdens that the three leads carried.
Prefer Kim Dami being edgy than the vanilla version we got here but if you came for Choi Woo Shik he delivers with every gorgeous smile, perfect outfit and criminally long eyelashes. Continue to watch his career with great scholarly interest.
The Electrical Life of Louis Wain (2021)
Needed more cats
Never quite soars, but bittersweet nevertheless. The two leads are clearly having a wonderful time with the dreamy material but the editing leaves the film bloated and slightly rudderless. More cats might have fixed the problem.
Dalgliesh (2021)
Completely Charmless
Complete waste of Bertie Carvel. Cast of unbelievable, rude and charmless characters. Very disappointed with the overpromise of the few critic reviews I read.
Life: Senjou no Bokura (2020)
Spare and very effective
At 4 episodes this drama tells its tale quickly and confidently without a lot of the protracted misunderstandings and tortured restraint usually associated with BL outings. Leads are highly watchable.
Tenet (2020)
Audibly challenged
Entertaining premise, brave casting (only a few of the leads can actually act) and audibly challenging, I'm still giving it 5 because it kicked off some rigorous and mind bending discussion in our house. Looking forward to Batman.