elc2005 Reviews

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas (2008)

Maybe I'm Too Desensitized

[8/10 · 28 May 2024]

I put off watching this movie for a long time because everyone and their momma talked about how heart wrenching and earth shattering it was. I wanted to wait until I had the emotional bandwidth to handle it.

However, while I agree it is very sad, I didn't shed a tear. Maybe because I had hyped myself up about it. (Maybe because I was expecting an ending scene that turned out to be from another movie - Jojo Rabbit)

It was well acted and directed and truly a tragic story. I realize the POV isn't exactly focused on the Jewish people but I felt some kind of way that only the German family was depicted grieving. They truly showed Jews as cogs (plot devices) in the film.... Which I suppose was the point.

Bottom line, by comparison, it has been 25 years since I first watched Schindlers List and to date, that is the only film that messed me up so bad I haven't been able to rewatch.

I was a young teen watching then. I shudder to think I could actually watch it today and be unmoved. This world really is done for.

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: Persona (2008) Season 10, Episode 8

Great episode ruined

[5/10 · 28 April 2024]

This was an interesting episode. Most of the story was well written. However it didn't make sense that the husband escalated in the way that he did. Pushing her down the stairs or hitting her until she fell and hit her head would have been a more realistic way for him to kill her.

But that's not what ruined the episode. The lead actress of the secondary story had the most distracting voice. I couldn't even empathize with her because it sounded so contrived. Ive never seen the actress in anything else so I don't know if that's just how she speaks but it was really annoying and took away from the seriousness of the episode.

The Light in Your Eyes (2019)

Everyone should watch

[10/10 · 10 April 2024]

Gonna be honest, I really didn't wanna watch this because I wanted to see Nam Joo Hyuk in a romance and with the female lead turning 70 early on, I knew it was just gonna be a story about "an old lady".

Let me make one thing perfectly clear. Kim Hye-Ja gave one of the most deserving Baeksang Grand Prize performances I've ever seen. I didn't expect her to be so funny! So many little things about her made me love her to the point where I half expected the male lead to take her in his arms, full kdrama style, and confess to this 70 year old woman.

Slight Spoilers ahead.

While still believing I was watching a fantasy series, I kept waiting and waiting for a moment that obviously never came. I just wanted the ML to recognize her or for her to announce who she really was. Like every one else, I was completely gutted at the twist.

Some things that had bothered me so much that I assumed would never be addressed were finally answered. Why Hye-Ja's "father" never once looked at her lovingly. Why her "mother" accepted her as old so easily and took care of her.

The "brother" still confuses me. (His bits with the best friend are hilarious) In reality her grandson has a job and doesn't live at home so her brother is completely imagined?

I would have liked to know more about what was real in Joon Ha's story but I know this wasn't about him. What I do know is, in her imagination, Hye-Ja treated Joon Ha much better than than in real life.

But that was obviously because she had the wisdom that came with age. As a young girl, wife, mother, she was quick to put her needs, wants, and feelings, first. As his elder, she was deeply concerned for all aspects of Joon-Ha.

10/10 Everyone should watch. Appreciate what may be coming in your life in one way or another.

Love Is for Suckers (2022– )

Pretty Good

[7/10 · 6 April 2024]

This is sooo my genre. Even though it was jam packed with kdrama tropes, it was still a well written story with interesting characters all around.

People complain about the show changing genres but they must have forgotten it literally started with the reality show. Everything else in the first few eps was just leading up getting to that point.

Siwon had great lines. Dahee was not consistent. Soo-Hyang (Chae-Ri) was my fave.

Here are my few critiques.

The portrayal of the so called fat girl was such a disappointment. Whether it was the actress or the director, they did not let her grow at all. That bleeping voice was super annoying. By the time she stood up for herself, she should have been directed to speak naturally! And for a show that wasnt shy about skinship, we were completely robbed of a kiss between her and her boo.

If I were at home watching Kingdom of Love, I would have been very disappointed at how boring it was in front of the scenes. They never really switched dates and the dates themselves were boring too.

The "drama" surrounding the lead characters relationship never really felt front and center as there was so much else going on. The second female love interest was the absolute worst. I was so embarrassed for her. Would you really want a man to choose you because he just felt so sorry for you? Cause that's what she was giving. "Poor me, pick me choose".

Overall 7/10 Would definitely recommend but don't think I need to rewatch.

My Roommate Is a Gumiho (2021)

Enjoyed it

[7/10 · 1 April 2024]

It's Goblin with a slightly less problematic age issue. The games are made up and the rules don't matter!

LOVED: Lee Dam and Jae Jins friendship! Glory be that I didn't have to fight SLS with a best friend (Daily Dose of Sunshine)

Kang Hana playing a good character. She's so beautiful, I can't stand when she plays a villain.

Library fight scene

In-Hyuk

HATED: Love triangles where no one is really swayed and the 3rd person never even has a chance.

We were robbed of what could have been a beautiful "memory loss" episode of Dam and Seon Woo falling in love only for Dams memories to come flooding back. Now that would have been a real love triangle.

The ambiguous explanation of how the Bead and how all that was supposed to work. But I guess it had to be that way in order for the ending to do what it did.

7/10 It was cute and funny. Not iconic but would definitely recommend.

Don't Dare to Dream (2016)

Glad I ignored the "it's too long" reviews

[10/10 · 1 April 2024]

Problems with this show 1) Jung Wons chapped to the point of cracked lips.

2) Hwa Shins anchor makeup and hairup 3)"SOMEBODY" taking too long to get the a clue.

Das it.

I read some other reviews as I was watching this and it almost made me put this show on hold after the first act. I am so glad I trusted my own eyes and feelings.

Sure, a 24 episode series seems daunting and for most dramas it would have been entirely too long. But the episodes were paced kinda like an American drama. There were extended stories and mini stories that all got to be told in a natural unrushed way.

Even if my criticism (noted above in point 3) drug on longer than I wanted it to, it was still important storytelling.

Now please, give it up for the supporting cast!!! I didn't skip any scenes missing the main leads because the other characters were just that good. The Ahjumma moms (looking gloriously hot at, ahem, 45 plus), All the news station staff (especially the hilarious boss), and the pasta crew (I would've even been happy with more scenes with teens too), and Naris adorable younger stepmom and brother. I loved them all!

Finally, the ultimate flowers go the breast cancer storyline. I understand 2017 was a busy Baeksang year and going up against Goblin, my personal all time fave, was a difficult task. Still I wish there had been room for JJS to get acknowledged for his funny, heartbreaking, charming, and delicate portrayal here. And don't even GET me started on Gong Hyo-Jin not even being nominated!!

10/10. I can't wait to forget it entirely so I watch it again for the first time.

Pinocchio (2014–2015)

LJS's best work!

[7/10 · 16 March 2024]

When the first episode started, I almost quit immediately. I was like "what is this mess, I did not sign up for a hokey comedy."

Glad I stuck around. I enjoyed this drama including many of the actors! LJS was incredible. I've seen a few of his later works but this one his is best performance as far as I can tell.

Shin Hye had such a bad rep for fish eye kisses I had been avoiding watching anything with her. But aside from a few exaggerated gestures, I found her acting to be solid and enjoyable. She has a great voice (no baby talking) and handled the emotional scenes beautifully!

The police, reporters, and other office staff were great, with each of their personalities keeping me interested in their scenes! (Especially loved the headband boss, lol)

Most of the storyline was ok but it was not a 10. As with most 20 episode dramas, there's too much repetition in the final episodes. But it did have a satisfying ending.

SKY Castle (2018–2019)

It's Worth a Watch But Not a Rewatch

[7/10 · 13 March 2024]

So I don't know if this show is a 6 or a 10 but I landed on 7. Some stellar performances but this absolutely could have been done in 16 episodes. By episode 10, I started noticing things were getting a bit repetitive. It's an ensemble cast so imagine 4 to 5 different groups of people reacting separately to the same event. Then those same people also need flashback reminders of events that just took place. Then add the directors creative process of extremely long shots of scenes that have ended.

There was also little concept of time. Like some characters would be on one day, and the next scene is of different characters on a different day, and then back to the others on the first day. /Another example: When I found that "this one girl" had been () with "some people" for an entire () and the set up was only supposed to be 3 (), I was totally confused./

The main adult antagonist was given no real development beyond her backstory and did not explain at all why after a seemingly long career of producing winners, she suddenly was hell bent on the destruction of the families.

I accept at face value the extreme behavior behind the parents wanting to get their kids into top universities b/c I know it's a thing in SK. Not sure why the mothers with degrees from prestigious universities dropped their OWN careers to be SAHM's tho. Is that what they want for their daughters who they are pushing to the brink of psychosis in order to become Doctors?

Finally, the last few episodes seemed to filled with everyone trying to squeeze in their Emmy (baeksang) performances. Too much wailing and hollering from people I didn't care about at all.

Yebin and Seri were my favorite characters.

2 of the dads were completely insufferable.

The Smile Has Left Your Eyes (2018)

Excellent All Round

[9/10 · 26 February 2024]

Me typing up my review during episode 14: Finally! A romance that felt real without all the cringy kdrama moments. My fave new couple.

Me after the finale: Well damn.

Annnnnyway.. It's usually so boring when the couple finally gets together but omo this is romance done right. It has a tone like Rain or Shine, but I think this romance around tragedy was MUCH better executed. Seo In Guk and Jung So Min SHOULD have won an award for there performances and mad they didn't .

I rate the romantic element on par with My Beloved Summer which is my personal favorite. The "killer" storyline that's a common side story in newer dramas was also done really well. Sometimes a bad secondary storyline can overshadow the rest of the show but this one was actually good and interesting and properly woven into the main theme.

As for the rest of the show, you will just have watch. This is THE first time I've finished a 16 episode drama in 24 hours.

Perfect Marriage Revenge (2023)

My new favorite genre

[7/10 · 23 February 2024]

I would classify this as "Kdrama - Melrose Place Style." It moves pretty quickly. It's not filled overly cliched Kdramas scenes (umbrella rescue, brushing teeth together, adults kissing with their eyes wide open.

The plot is straight forward with lots twists. Some predictable, some not.

The acting was a little eh in places but the FL did wonderful in her switch up. Sung Hoons voice sometimes is a little too deep so his lines come out like a Broadway performer but he's still pretty!

I'd absolutely recommend this if you want a more American night time soap feeling show versus a typical makjang.

Longing Heart (2018)

Very Nice Easy Binge Watch

[8/10 · 21 February 2024]

Wow. I was not expecting this to be so good. And the best part was the lack of typical cringy kdrama elements.

I'm sad there are so few reviews.

Time slips are so tricky and they almost always seem to be thrown together in the end just to make things work out logically. This one was not perfectly done but not so bad as to be called "full of plot holes."

I'll give this one credit. It was very late in the series before I figured out the twist, but even then, there was such anticipation building up to the reveal, I could not stop watching.

The Shinwoo Bromance was sooo well done. Both actors were good but Young Shinwoo stood out among the rest. (More lead roles Ji-Hoon please)

It was perfect at 10 episodes. It almost felt draggy in spots but thats just because I was so anxious to see what happens next, I wasn't very appreciative of some of the heartfelt dialog.

It did overuse flashbacks a bit too much toward the end, but considering it wasnt produced to be watched all in one day, they were probably helpful to the original audience.

So 8/10 for me. Points deducted because I wanted to see more "affectionate action" with Jisoo and both Shinwoo's but I'm just greedy like that. Although, It was a little uncomfortable when scenes portrayed "minors" practically on dates adults but there was so little skinship here it didn't cross into anything inappropriate.

Sungkyunkwan Scandal (2010)

Delightful!

[9/10 · 11 February 2024]

Very enjoyable. Background Plot was a little confusing with the King and who was with/against him, but the other storylines were so great.

Like many have said Song Joong-ki absolutely stole this drama. (Also he is a vampire cause aging? Where?) Every scene with him was just so much more than you normally get from a third or 4th lead. I'm actually picturing him in my mind as the lead on here and see it!

The other actors were mighty fine as well (minus the perpetual death stare from Ha In-Soo, rip to the actor)

Park Yoo-Chun (Seon-Joon) was so gorgeous in this drama. I miss the early 2010s and late 2000s when Korean men were still their natural light brown.

Park Min Young's role has been one of the only times I've actually believed a gender bender worked. She's pretty but not too pretty (just on the show. In real life, yes, she's pretty pretty!) Her voice was just soft enough to sound like a scrawny boy who was stunted in puberty.

Overall, great period piece, still a slow burn romance but it seems like there was enough action to keep me from salivating waiting on that first kiss.

Why Didn't I Tell You a Million Times? (2023)

Not Terrible

[6/10 · 9 February 2024]

I thought the premise and the acting was pretty good. The "whodunnit" was well guarded.

Complaints 1) the cinematography is that of a 2000s kdrama 2) I want the sound director/editor arrested for not knowing how to transition music between scenes.

3) The drama director can go too for having the male actor cry like a goofball during what should have been really touching scenes. Dramatic lines delivered as comedy was super cringe.

4) The last episode... I get why Naoki wanted the cop around, but why in heck was Yui not trying to spend every last single moment ALONE with Naoki instead of all that other jive.

5) The big reveal SCENE took too long to play out. It was painfully and obviously drawn out. The audience knew, the characters knew, but spending almost a whole episode in one spot just to hear some words... Could've been better.

What I did like was the Yui was not a weak, timid, adultchild which I've seen in the few J Dramas ive watched. It was refreshing and I hope to see more female characters that don't just exist serve a man in a show.

Melloga Chejil (2019)

I am FURIOUS. WHERE ARE THE AWARDS??

[10/10 · 4 February 2024]

I used most of my words below to complain about the lack of acknowledgements for this so that means no one will feel like reading my actual review.. So keeping is concise:

THIS IS A 10/10 CRINGE-FREE, FULL RANGE EMOTIONAL DRAMA THAT WILL HAVE YOU HOOKED AND INVESTED IN EVERY CHARACTER. NO SCENES SKIPPED.

Now the rant.

Did the makers not submit "for your consideration" pieces? The ratings have me even more confused. Did this show come on one of those paid cable channels in Korea?

Looking at the 2020 Baeksang TV awards and imho opinion this show was just as good as When the Camilla Blooms and certainly better than Crash Landing on You albeit different genres from both. The writing was excellent on all 3 dramas to but even as a die hard WCB fan, I have to say, Ill be rewatching Be Melo again before I rewatch WCB. It was such an emotional journey that felt true at every moment.

Having seen 50 plus dramas now insert a murder mystery uselessly into an otherwise compelling story, I was so glad to see true dramatic writing that didn't rely on the "killer" trope. I won't diminish any of the other top shows from that year, I'm just saying, someone in promotions made a huge mistake here because I refuse to believe this show was presented to the critics and the fans broadly and was ignored.

Acting awards may have been harder to come by due to the ensemble cast but Jeon Yeobin (Eunjung) and Lee Joo-bin (Somin)definitely stuck out the most to me.

Touch Your Heart (2019)

I agree it's Good Enough

[7/10 · 23 January 2024]

So many things that I loved about this drama. I wish it had been one of the first 10 or 15 I'd ever seen. I probably would have easily given it a 10. But because I've seen over 100 in a year I noticed some things.

The story was actually good. The secondary characters were interesting and funny. The background storyline (law cases) were well written and didn't feel like fluff to fill episodes.

GEUNDE, something about it just niggled at me every now and then. I guess it's the ML and FL, whom I adore and think have good chemistry, but who at times felt like they were being very formulaic in their portrayals.

Don't know how else to say it except some scenes seemed especially K-Drama-Y and I was annoyed because I wanted them to just be normal which they were A LOT of the time. Several times I found myself imagining the show with different leads altogether. (JiSung- Son Ye Jin for example)

Lastly, I really like how all of the other couples were resolved even though I wish the audience got a bit more than G rated affection shots. Hey the lesser super gorgeous people deserve on-screen kisses too!

Speaking of... I'm gonna start docking points when dramas end with the main characters staring at each other from 10 feet apart. This one did not do that, but I still would have preferred... Well you'll see.

XX (2020)

Very Good

[8/10 · 19 January 2024]

I would rate 10 stars if it were longer.

Instead, in my opinion, it needs to be looked at as a blueprint for Korean writers who are tired of repeating the same tropish dramas over and over.

What we have here are all the elements that could very well fill a 10, 12, or 16 episode drama, but basically stripped to only essential characters and scenes.

That means no: Office dinner Office Karaoke Someone rushed to hospital with enteritis Someone needs a bandaid for their heel Getting drunk and piggybacked Getting drunk and confessing Overbearing parents Annoying coworkers with uninteresting filler storylines Adults who've never had skinship Adults who've never dated or talked about dating Umbrella rescues

I hung on every scene and was anxious and emotional throughout. I definitely wanted more and I wish there could be a second season because I just don't see a universe where any of the 4 main characters would get boring. Especially after that ending.

I'm thirsting for more content like this. I recently finished Call It Love and I didn't know Ahn Hee-Yeon (Hani) at the time but I didn't care for her character. However, she's a great actress and I'm on my 4th show with her because she picks winning projects!

Castaway Diva (2023)

Great Storytelling

[8/10 · 13 January 2024]

Throwing all your regular clichés a twist. Very well written and Park Eun Bin shines again.

I really really loved this drama for checking all the emotional boxes!

My only complaint would be that the domestic violence was rated TV MA while the romance was rated TV G.

Don't get me wrong. It was miles better than the awful dead fish eye lip press kisses we sometimes wait 20 episodes to suffer through. All adults behaved like adults and expressed their affection normally. But I was screaming for more couple time with the OTP. And Sometimes I was like "a little less inspirational and a little more ROMANCE please."

So it's losing 2 stars only because such a fantastic backstory of love deserved so many more coupley romance scenes.

That said, I'm sure after begging for 4 more episodes of lovey dovey time we'd all be complaining that the show dragged on for too long. Kudos for keeping it every episode interesting!

Now, We Are Breaking Up (2021–2022)

Skip the Main Leads & You Might Have Something Great

[5/10 · 7 January 2024]

Geez this could have been solid 9/10 show if not for that absolutely bananas theme. Naming the show "Now We Are Breaking Up" and then forcing that ridiculous plot point throughout with the main couple was just stupid. So much so that after 3 episodes I didn't even root for them anymore. Didn't care about their relationship and actually wished they would just END IT ALREADY and put the audience out of our misery.

But let me tell you about the redeeming points of this show. The costars! Choi Hee-Soo and and Kim Joo-hun made the hotter couple and I was invested in them from jump! Their relationship was beautiful and worthy of being the main storyline.

The other best friend (Misook) and her tragic storyline was compelling and well acted by all parties. Feeling sympathy for the villains in that arc was not in my life plan but they acted the hell outta their story.

Those two storylines gave me a full range of emotions that I expect of a good drama.

Even the rest of the office staff had my attention.

But i really need Song Hye-Kyo to stop fooling yall. The Glory was a role she was made to play. But after seeing her flat toned, repetitive cadenced, still and expressionless face in TWO supposed romance dramas, (this and Encounter) SHE. AIN'T. IT.

And Ki-Yong only gave me one believable line the whole show (Telling his mom "I said I loved her!" in episode 11 or 12) Otherwise I felt like I was watching an audition reel. I hated Both of them with those internal monologs that I guess were supposed to be poetic but sounded more like a metaphor word salad.

So yea, watch it and FF as much of the main couple as you can to save yourself the irritation.

Extraordinary Attorney Woo: Extraordinary Attorney Woo (2022) Season 1, Episode 1

Not A kdrama

[10/10 · 5 January 2024]

What I look forward to most in 2024: 1) Rewatching season 1 again hoping enough time has passed so it feels like the first time again.

2) Kang Tae Oh Oppa coming home from the Army and hopefully ready to jump right into filming season 2.

This was only my second kdrama ever, the first being Squid Game 1. I had no idea what a kdrama was, wasn't familiar with the formulaic aspect of the way their shows go, and didn't get the sense of the little tropish things happening.

Well it turns out, it's because EAW is unlike any other kdrama I've ever seen and I have since watched over 100. Don't get me wrong, I have quite a few kdramas on my rewatch list that I give 10/10 stars and are simply amazing shows.

However, EAW has proven to be in a class of its own. It's 100/100 Even the soundtrack and opening theme music is unmatched. Park Eun Bin Baeksang was WELL DESERVED! The other cast members shined in their supporting roles. At no point did I feel like I was watching a show designed specifically for a Korean audience. Forget Squid Game. This is your mainstream crossover hit that I hope everyone in the world watches.

The best part is that the English dubbed version is excellent quality. It's how I initially watched it. A few months into my kdrama addiction I went back and rewatched with the original actors voices and fell in love again.

It's one of my top 10 favorite shows of all time.

Run On (2020–2021)

I only came for Kang Tae Oh

[5/10 · 30 December 2023]

The storyline was definitely weak. I was not interested at all in the track story once the bullying part was wrapped up. (Sorry Woosik)

Positives: By ep 14 I decided to treat the ML and FL as 22 yr Olds instead of 30 plus year Olds and then they became cute to me. They were both just so so SHY the whole time but I have to give credit to the DIRECTOR in that at least it didn't come off cringe.

FL never acted like a baby (silly voice and never been touched). ML was mostly a cardboard cutout but he did finally show some range in the final leg of the show.

The SFL was a very interesting character and had a great story arc that I think would have made for a much better main story. Kang Tae Oh stole the show in my opinion. He had all the Rizz!

Negatives: Quite a few useless extra characters.

-The baby brother was pretty pointless as was the older brother actually seeing as how the SFL was, in fact, a SECOND female lead.

-Celebrity mom kicks off the show.... relegated to hit lines here and there -Done over and over Politician Dad and CEO dads.

-Second male lead's best friend's little sister. Like seriously. Didn't need any of them.

NO REAL CHEMISTRY between the main couple. Because of the MLs cardboard demeanor, we didn't even know if he liked the girl for far too long. There was no wooing. She obviously liked him and seemingly one day he goes "ok I'll like u too". Lame.

Pretty long review for a show I won't rewatch or recommend but, it's not in my Terrible list. 5/10.

She Would Never Know (2021)

Please Stop Putting Lipstick on Rowoon's Perfect Face

[9/10 · 30 December 2023]

Wow! What a well written beautiful romantic drama. I was seriously not expecting it to be THIS good!

It's K-Drama at its VERY best. Every character was interesting, every side story was unskippable, clichés were somehow un-cliched.

Most importantly, the female lead as well as the female co-stars behaved like adults. (My pet peeves in Kdramas include 30 yr old baby talking FL who've never even touched a boys hand. Soo cringe) Won Jin-A was incredible and I was jealous the whole time.

I've seen a few negative comments about Leads lack of chemistry and I just wholeheartedly disagree. I believed in their entire journey and their romantic scenes did not disappoint!

Last comment will be that I really wish more shows gave proper endings like this one did. Whether it's happy or sad, just make it complete! There was only one choice I didn't agree with and it wasn't a knock on the writing or direction because it was executed perfectly. I just didn't like that the (spoiler starts) married sister basically allowed herself to be a doormat for her confused husband. She deserved better than to have to hold HIM up when he's effectively destroyed her with seemingly no consequences.

My Annoying Brother (2016)

Too Short?

[8/10 · 26 December 2023]

Great movie that will make you laugh, but all too suddenly make you cry.

It needed to be at least 15/30 minutes longer with scenes in between the club and the hospital.

I would have written more developments between the brothers and the coach and the friend and the decision to train again. And at least sprinkle in some clues that a shift was coming.

Overall, good movie. D. O. Seems like he can really do EVERYTHING. I love my short king!

(I don't really have anything to add but to reach my character limit I guess I'll just say that Yes I would recommend this movie but No I probably won't rewatch it.)

Crazy Love (2022)

She Ain't Secretary Kim

[6/10 · 26 December 2023]

It's another one that tried the WWWSK formula and couldn't match up. I'm sorry but Krystal's acting doesn't sit right with me. It was too obvious that I was watching a California girl do an impersonation of a kdrama actress. Her best scenes are when she not in "kdrama" mode and doing the funny revenge bits on Gojin. But when she had to portray that submissive, annoyingly shy, doe-eyed role, she was not good. Rather, it was not good for her.

Plotwise, it was very engaging actually but executed quite sloppily by the director and probably the editor. *spoiler* (Segi was too smart not to pick up on all the obvious signs of Gojins memory loss secret.) This could have been corrected with better shots. Like, the lines were delivered correctly, but Gojin would have a menacing lying smile the whole time. The show broke the 4th wall a lot so maybe that was just for us viewers but, to me, it just made Segi too dumb to take seriously.

Fatal flaw - ENTIRELY TOO MANY VILLAINS. The backstory was pretty layered and if this had better execution, it could have been a multi season drama.

Regarding the last episode... I thought it was mostly boring as a wrap up but the very last scene with him reminiscing about everything was perfect.

Because This Is My First Life (2017)

A Fully Engaging Ensemble

[9/10 · 24 December 2023]

I been loving this show down!! It's checking all the boxes and I had my long glowing review ready to go.

HOWEVER... Up until episode 12/13 the FL was giving a master class on the "shy girl" trope. She was just too freaking cute.

But by episode 14, somebody must have given her downers cause she.

Was. Talking. Soooo. Slow. To. Every.

One. (Even in her voice over narration) No longer in just the cute way she only talked to Sahee. This was enough to lose one star.

I found the "poetic" voice over narration a bit too tedious by end as well but that's just my personal taste. Too many metaphors.

This is going in my rewatch list and I can't wait until enough time passes to where I can feel like I'm watching for the first time 💗💗💗. I was invested in every character and their storylines.

Daily Dose of Sunshine (2023– )

The guest stars carried this.

[7/10 · 22 December 2023]

I'm not sure if it's the multiple writing credits but this show was literally all over the place.

After the first 2 eps, I assumed I was getting a cute rom-com with a side of 2nd male lead butterflies to boot.

But the show actually got BETTER and deeper when it focused of the guest stars of each episode and how their tales affected the lives of the main characters. I cried and even had to turn the TV off suddenly because I was getting therapy my damn self and I wasn't prepared for that. Those parts were written so well.

So I was actually disappointed every time the romance between Daeun and Goyun was brought back up. Yes it was cute that his OCD was seemingly tamed by his crush but let's be for real. At least ONE of these many writers must have wanted Nurse Jang to be with her best friend. If all they were going to do "cure" her depression in the end was have her say that someone shows up for her before her depression does, no reason that couldn't be YuChan.

However, I think it was a mistake to put her in a relationship at all in this. One relationship in the show was enough and they were about as dry as bag of rice.

Multiple writers is so common on western shows but idk how that works on k dramas. Here I thought I was watching 2 different shows at times and in the end, I felt neither genre of the show was completed.

As much as I HATE IT, I kinda needed a "2 years later" scene...

Signed- Jang Dong Yoon Bias Club Member.