Loved this! Loved the flawed characters in this seductive slow modern romance

Seems like this drama is getting a lot of hate, but I personally really loved seeing this more realistic approach to modern relationships. Instead of "toxic", what I saw were two flawed characters who had emotionally unavailable parents. Two people who struggle with emotional intimacy. Two people who in their own way, were too afraid to open themselves up to love. Two people who were insanely attracted to each other.

You would think that people who have emotionally unavailable parents would seek out partners who are the opposite, but often times, there are these patterns that emerge where they are attracted to the same in their partners because they are trying to subconsciously "fix" that previous relationship. And I could be reading way more into it than it is, but I felt like that's what happened in this drama.

The FL has a mother who was never really there for her. She's been burned in a relationship before so she's very cautious not to get hurt again. She hides her true emotions and basically has a wall up with one foot always out the door. What she needs is someone who will be there for her and stay by her side.

The ML has parents that have sort of abandoned him. He only does casual relationships because he doesn't want the responsibility that comes with commitment. By toying with emotions, that puts him in control to "test" people. What he needs is someone who will keep coming back despite his flaws, someone who won't abandon him.

So what happens when these two meet and do a dance of seduction? Hot chemistry! I don't care if these two might be bad for each other because this is a drama, not real life. I'm in it for the chemistry. I don't want to see perfect people in a perfect relationship because that would be boring. I also don't want to see the same formula that we see all the time in dramas.

I liked that the characters were really flawed. I liked the natural skinship. I liked the music and tone of the drama. I liked that this was different and had more depth than the typical romance. I liked the acting and how the director didn't take the typical cliched route and showed us the realistic insecurities of wanting more from your partner, but too afraid to be the first to admit it. The only thing I didn't like was maybe the last episode....it felt a bit rushed.

Leia Mais

Entertaining enough, but no real likeable characters

Likes: As a fan of the zombie genre, I thought the production was pretty good. The action scenes were tense and nicely done. It was entertaining enough that I don't regret watching this.

Dislikes:
- There were no real likeable characters. No one stood out. And because the characters weren't fleshed out enough, I didn't feel a connection with any of them so I wasn't really rooting for anyone that strongly. Nobody really left an impression.
- I especially didn't like the character of Ohn Jo. She was so dull (as with most of the female characters for most of the drama) Having one of the main characters be so dull was a wrong move.
-Lack of clear leads. I wasn't sure half the time who were supposed to be the main leads. Is it Cheong San/Ohn Jo? Or is it Nam ra/Soo Hyuk? I think if the drama had focused on the Nam ra/ Soo Hyuk arc , fleshed that out a bit more and also the hybrid changes that Nam ra was going through, the drama would have been more interesting.
-Lack of depth in the story arcs. Like what was the purpose of the detective, his partner, the baby, and little girl? They added no value to the story. And the whole arc of Ohn Jo and her father was kind of a let down. And the purpose of introducing the arrow shooting nuna so late in the game?
-Draggy moments. Not gonna lie. I did FF a little in the draggy parts.

Overall disappointing? Yes, but I was still entertained enough mainly due to my love for the zombie chase. Would I watch this again? No. Would I watch another season? Yes, esp if they concentrated on the zombie hybrids and have cool action scenes.

Leia Mais

Opposites Attract similar to ISWAK or A Love So Beautiful

Likes: The sinuous Tendo and his suppressed emotions and desires. The adorable Sakura who wears her heart on her sleeve. The dynamic between the two.

Dislikes: Like with most dramas, the fainting/near death incidents are worthy of multiple eye rolls, although I get why they are in so many dramas...I just wish they can do it a bit more realistically. I mean, how many people really faint from a cold?

I'm a sucker for these opposites attract type of dramas where the ML is an intelligent nonchalant type who warms up when a bubbly bright FL enters into his life. What I really liked about this drama was that Sato Takeru and Kamishiraishi Mone really sold me on their characters, especially KM. KM really seemed like this adorable clueless girl who keeps getting herself into trouble. I mean, we've seen this kind of female character so many times, but some actresses tend to be a little over the top...a bit too dumb to be real, but I didn't feel that way so much with KM.

And Sato....he has this sultry vibe that's a bit exciting. He has this way of delivering lines that would usually be too cheesy into words that make your heart skip a beat. And his barely there restraint when it came to Sakura would just suck me in like a vortex.

If you liked ISWAK or ALSB, I would recommend checking this drama out.

Leia Mais

Likes: Kim Hye Yoon’s spunky personality. Rowoon’s eyes that could melt buttah..but gently. The blossoming romance. The originality of the story.

Dislikes: The chaste kisses (Come on, you call that a kiss?!) Oh and I didn’t care one bit about the “main couple” (Nam joo/Joo da couple), but that’s the point, right?

I thought perhaps this kdrama would be a bit too juvenile for me, but I was so wrong. The story was so fresh and unique that I was hooked right away. Kim Hye Yoon is adorable as the spunky Eun Dan Oh who will never give up trying to change her fate and Rowoon is just dreamy as the taciturn classmate who will try to help her. They have a sweet chemistry that will have you reminiscing about your first crush. The butterflies, the awkwardness, the slow build to a blossoming relationship. Just so cute!

Be sure to check out the Behind the Scenes as well on youtube. The teasing that goes on between the cast is fun to watch!

Leia Mais

Likes: A strong heroine. IU’s fab wardrobe & timeless beauty. Yeo Jin Goo’s gazes. The beautiful set design. The banter. The slow burn.

Dislikes: Kang Mina’s superfluous storyline with P.O. Some of the subplots.

Written by the Hong Sisters, I was excited to watch this fantasy series as I generally like their dramas because they know how to pull the heartstrings and they do the enemies to lovers theme well. And it didn’t disappoint!

Let me just say that IU looks stunning in this drama. Her wardrobe was beautiful and theatrical. They did a great job with the hotel design as well, creating this hauntingly beautiful environment. IU did a fantastic job portraying the dark and world weary owner of the mysterious Hotel Del Luna, a hotel for the dead. I just loved the fact that the female in this story is the strong one, the protector. So many dramas portray the guy saving the girl a bunch of times, but here, it’s the opposite. Jang Man Wol is one cool character.

Yeo Jin Goo plays the upright assertive hotelier who’s at odds with IU’s money hungry ways. Yeo Jin Goo pretty much can do no wrong in my eyes in terms of acting. The dude is just a phenomenal actor. Every expression looks natural and real. He had me laughing at so many parts.

And when you pair him up with IU’s opposite personality, the scenes just light up. The banter made me laugh, the yearning made me sad. The slow burn is what I live for. I definitely think they could have trimmed some of the sub plots and I wasn’t a fan of the P.O/Mina love line or even Mina’s character, but overall I really enjoyed this drama

Leia Mais

Never have I ever wanted to try Japanese sweets so badly

Likes: Very pretty leads makin some very pretty desserts.

Dislikes: The soap opera style. Tried too hard to be poetic.

If you can adjust your lens to view this as a soap opera than I think you'll be ok. I, however, struggled with that as soap operas are not my style...I just find them too exaggerated and over the top, but I stuck it out since it was only 8 episodes.

The leads are very pretty . Nao looks straight out of a manga and there were quite a few moments where I could actually visualize the drawn manga version of her expressions. Tsubaki is also very pretty, but has a manly vibe too.
There were a few smoldering moments that had me wanting more, but this felt more melo than romance.

The two are top confectioners making beautiful Japanese sweets that had me dying to try. Not because they looked delicious. But because they looked like beautifully sculpted play doh that had me so damn curious to what they tasted like. It reminds me of my first impression of Taiwanese pineapple cakes. When I saw a pic, I was like why would you eat this bland looking dry fig newton? And then I tried it on my trip to Taiwan. Pure buttery chewy heaven. Let's just say the multiple boxes I then bought after never made it home with me on the plane. It was a massacre. I ate like 15 in one sitting. Which makes me wonder about these Japanese sweets....but I digress.

This story has murder, revenge, broken relationships, and love all mixed in with some overly dramatic music and acting, especially from the villainess mom. It also had some twists that took me by surprise, so if you're ok with soap opera-ish style, then you may enjoy this. For me, it's already fading from my memory...except for those sweets. Gotta try those...

Leia Mais

Gruesome, confusing, and funny

I hadn't heard much about this short gory series, but I'm glad I checked this out. It was entertaining to say the least. Gruesome, but funny too.

Likes:
1) The Acting. Jin Seon Kyu was soo believable and good as the seedy cop. He was able to be despicable, but yet you don't hate him for it. He also was able to deliver the comedy so subtly that I kept having a delayed reaction in laughing, but once it hit me, I thought it was so funny. Jeon Jong Seo was also fantastic as usual. She just has this edgy provocative side that you don't see much of in Korea. I always believe she's her character.
2) The story was a refreshing change from predictability. I didn't know where the story would go so I enjoyed the journey even if it was confusing, though I blame that more on the bad subs.
3) The Bidder #5 storyline with Jin Seon Kyu's character. This is what made me laugh
4) It's short. At only 6 episodes, it's an easy binge watch which I appreciate

Dislikes:
1) Confusing - again some of this is contributed to bad subs, but there's no real explanation for a lot of things so you're left wondering what happened
2) The character development - I was kind of confused why everyone turned crazy. I would have liked some more backstory into some of the characters
3) Sometimes it felt a tad repetitive

Overall, I would recommend this series to people who don't mind dark comedy, violence or gore.

Leia Mais

Suspenseful thriller with excellent acting from Park Shin Hye & Jeon Jong Seo

I watched this for Park Shin Hye, but came out a huge fan of Jeon Jong Seo. Wow. They both acted so well.
Like people have said, it's a similar concept to the drama Signal in where there is a parallel/time travel aspect happening through a phone call. From the 2nd half on, I felt like I was holding my breath the entire time. It was so creepy and suspenseful.
Jeon Jong Seo. I get why there is buzz about this rookie actor. This is only her 2nd film and her acting is so mesmerizing. She embodies her character and has such depth in her acting. If she's already this good at the beginning of her career, I'm excited to see what she can do in the future.
Park Shin Hye is great as always. There has never been a role that I've seen her in where I don't believe that she's her character. For someone so famous, that is hard to do, but she does it so effortlessly.
I'm glad I checked this film out!

Leia Mais

Bawled my eyes out

Heartwarming, touching, and also heartbreaking, this movie made me cry like a baby. Sung Dong II and Kim Hee Won play two debt collectors who take a little girl (So Yi) away from their mother as collateral until she pays back her debt. The growing bond that forms between the gruff Sung Dong II and the little girl is what the story is about. The acting was fantastic from the entire cast especially Sung Dong II and Park So Yi. I'm amazed how that little girl could act with that range of emotions. Ha Ji Won plays the older version of the girl and she also acted really well , often bringing me to tears.
Definitely check this out if you like sentimental stories.

Leia Mais

Heartbreaking story of the rape of an elderly lady

There are many things I can't stand, but one that sends me immediately into fits of outrage are crimes against children or elderly. This is the first time I've seen anything that even broached the topic of an elderly lady's rape. The director handled this matter in a very sensitive way. You don't see the actual rape, but hear the conversation leading up to it and see the emotional aftermath that just breaks your heart. Not only does the FL have to deal with the trauma itself, but she has to deal with ageism in seeking justice. It's a sad story that depicts the problems with society and how we treat the aging population....something that I, to be honest, don't really think about, but after seeing this film, definitely opened up my eyes. This is a great film that I hope more people will watch.

Leia Mais

A relatable story about a smart & introspective FL and her longtime crush...

Likes: I loved the realistic characters, especially the FL. She's intelligent, introverted and very guarded, but not in a stereotypical way. All the main characters feel like people you may have known sometime in your life.

Dislikes: Too many side characters that no one really cares about

Right off the bat, this simple story sucked me in with the FL's introspection. She has a secret...it's called unrequited love. It's her journey from high school to college...from being invisible to her crush to something more than a possibility. I absolutely LOVED this female character. I find her relatable and realistic. She's smart, independent, knows who she is, and doesn't change herself to fit a man's ideal. Her only issue if that she's very guarded and reticent and has a tendency to push people away, but once you peel back the layers, you see she's this amazing interesting girl.

I loved that this drama stayed natural. No ridiculous or dramatic obstacles. The hurdles and reactions felt like real situations that could occur, real misunderstandings. Seeing the ML's interest grow and him trying hard to figure out how to break down her wall felt genuine. The ML's best friend who jokes around to keep the mood light and deflect any kind of seriousness or his own feelings of hurt feels like someone I've come across in my life. In fact, most of these character do. I just really loved watching their story unfold.

It's sweet, relatable, and natural. I wished more dramas would take note.

Leia Mais

Awkward

Likes: Eiji Akaso is very cute. Baba Fumika is pretty.

Dislikes: If I hear "Eh?....Eh?" one more time.....

This had the potential to be super hot, but instead it was just awkward as hell. There were no sparks. The ML was very cute, but his acting was a bit stiff. The FL was at first cute, but then got SO annoying with her "Eh?....Eh?....Eh?" Everything just felt a bit random and almost uncomfortable.

I think in the hands of better actors and direction, there could have been an undercurrent that would make you understand why these two belong together. Instead you're left wondering what the hell did I just watch?

Leia Mais

Easy watch

Likes: Cute and easy to watch

Dislikes: There were a few times where Haru would grin and I wanted to reach for my toothbrush

This is a cute story of two lonely outcasts who eventually fall for each other. Suda Masaki does an excellent job portraying the strange Haru Yoshida who is like this wild dog tamed only by Mizutani Shizuku, the antisocial brainy act played by the wonderful Tsuchiya Tao. I loved how the ML had no filter and showed how intensely he liked the FL by following her everywhere.

The two had great chemistry and I loved that they both were a bit weird. It 's a cute story and a breeze to watch.

Leia Mais

LOVED THIS! Forget Real Men, Steel Troops is the real deal!

This military survival show is incredibly inspiring. I can't tell you how many times I was amazed and touched to see these former Korean soldiers work so hard at mind boggling training and never once give up.

The men are divided by the department that they formerly served: special forces, UDT, SDT, Marines, 707, and SSU. They compete in strength, endurance, and teamwork in harsh conditions to see which military group is the best of the best. Because these are former soldiers, to watch them in action is so cool! It's like watching a real life action movie.

It's really interesting to see how the groups and members differ. Some use their brains more (like Pak Goon), some use their brute strength (SSU and UDT come to mind) , some use their speed (go SDT!). You can see who are natural leaders and who are the weak members, but all teams just never give up no matter how freaking tired they are. I mean, I really don't know how they endured some of these missions. It's a good glimpse at the kind of training korean men might have to go through in the military.

I also really loved the MC panelists specifically Heechul, Jong Min, and Kim Sung Joo. They cracked me up because they were just as much of a fan as I was, I'm surprised Lee Seung gi wasn't an MC. He would've been a great addition.

For some reason after watching this, every other variety show pales in comparison and is now so boring to me. I've already rewatched this three times. I really really hope they have a season 2!

Leia Mais