One of the best Chinese dramas I've seen this year

There's a lot to love about this drama. It's full of cliches (childhood friends, contract marriage, etc) but it's also entertaining, funny, and easy to watch. Part of what makes it so fun is the FL, who is confident, bossy, funny, loving and sometimes just extra af.

If you watch dramas purely for the love, you'll be happy. The main couple is really good together and it’s not just a cute fluffy romance, there’s actually substance to their relationship and depth to the characters themselves. They have misunderstandings and conflict but as the drama progresses you get to learn about their backstory and understand why they react to situations the way that they do. The show will have you rooting for them and crying alongside through tough situations and misunderstandings.

I usually avoid long dramas but although the show is 35 episodes it’s worth watching. Around ep 20-25 the pacing lags a bit and I found the villain subplot kind of weird, but I think that may have just been an awkward transition between the two timelines. The show jumps 6 years into the future and continues, but despite the abruptness of it it really does work. I feel like that way you get to see a fuller picture of the couple and it helps keep the plot interesting as well.

I definitely wasn't expecting it going in, but the show has a lot of heart and really manages to shine despite having familiar cliches. I liked the secondary couple as well but I found their romance a bit unrealistic / instalove.

8/8.5

Leia Mais

After years of watching audition clips of the Voice on Youtube, I finally decided to actually watch a season. I think maybe because of COVID, the season was a bit shorter/rushed than I expected and I feel like I probably could have just watched performance clips on Youtube and not missed much.

The best thing about the Voice is getting to hear amazing singers that blow you away - and the worst is seeing them eliminated. Some contestants whose auditions were amazing got eliminated really quickly and I wish I had gotten to hear them sing more. This season was only 7 episodes and I think as a result it felt a bit rushed and I didn't always remember contestants' back stories. For this season, after the Battle Round eliminations, half of the contestants were eliminated again and then the semi final and the final took place on the same day. It just seems like a shame that even if contestants win their Battle Round, that doesn't guarantee another performance.

I think for me personally, one of the most disappointing things was that I didn't love all of Golden/G.Soul's performances. I discovered him a few months ago (honestly might have been from his Voice audition) and I LOVE his voice so I think I just had really high expectations knowing that he was going to be one of the contestants. That being said, for other contestants there were stages that I really liked so I think it's just a matter of preference.

Hopefully next year if they do a season and we're no longer in COVID times, the season format will be better and there will be more chances for the contestants to showcase their skills.

Leia Mais

My first time finishing a season to the end!

I've been watching Show Me the Money since season 3, but I think this is the first time in a while that I've actually watched until the end because usually I have a hard time finding subtitles for the later episodes. But SMTM9 is fully subbed and available online to watch!

This season there was 9 rounds for contestants and because of COVID things are obviously different, but I think overall the format worked. Producers choose their team members during the 60 second round instead of later, which makes it harder for contestants to pass but I feel like it was actually a good thing since realistically they have to be chosen by producers later anyways.

There are a lot of familiar faces this season from previous ones, including Swings (who is back as a contestant). I've never really felt strongly about him either way but it was cool of him to come back and compete as a contestant and his stages were entertaining and his shiba (who briefly appears) is adorable. I also got to know a lot of rappers through the show and it's cool to learn about how people are connected with each other, like how Giriboy and Lil Boi were roommates way back when. A lot of really talented rappers were unfortunately eliminated, but there was also some rappers that really showed growth through the show like Kaogai and Miranni.

My favourite performances // songs to add to your Spotify list:

Want It - Khakii, Swings, Layone
Freak - Wonstein, Lil Boi, Chillin Homie
Khundi Panda - Hero ft. Golden (who has the most magical voice)
Swings - Villain ft. Simon D
Tomorrow - Lil Boi ft Giriboy x Seo Dong Hyun
Bad News Cypher vol. 2 - Lil Boi ft. TakeOne
Godok (고독하구만) - Mushvenom ft SuperBee
Upgrade 2020 - Swings

If you're into diss battles, you'll want to watch Swings and Lil Boi, who were both bomb.

Leia Mais

I haven't watched a drama where the couple have a student teacher relationship in a long time, but I feel like it actually didn't play a huge role in the drama and in their relationship other than in the first few episodes.

Yun Shu is the typical sweet, clumsy, kind hearted, naive FL. I mean, this girl did not even know how to make toast.
She keeps on getting conned by people and at first the ML is like, NOPE we are not compatible.

Zhang Sinian was the best part of the show. He's a super smart mathematician with high IQ but super low EQ and no knowledge about dating whatsoever, but throughout the series you can see how he matures and he treats the FL so well. Near the beginning of the drama, his grandpa tells him that love isn't about math and that he needs to learn how to view someone imperfect with perfect eyes, and I feel like he really took this to heart.

He defends her when her sister is calling her stupid, goes searching in the trash for her beloved teddy and is willing to change for her and try new things and admit when he is wrong. And also he's hilarious - taking her shopping after the wedding... for books, planning the perfect birthday for her complete with a math lecture and test (YIKES), etc.

Their characters remind me a bit of Because This Is My First Life, and I think they balance each other out. This is an easy to watch drama that's low on drama with a happy ending and they make a cute couple.


Things that could have been better:

I'm sure that most people loved the surprise kisses, but I found it kind of weird that they always had their eyes open. I get that they're out of the blue, but after the first few it just seemed kind of weird. I think I would have preferred some variety and not just all of them being this random out of the blue event. That being said, the kitchen sink kiss was really cute.

The conflict with the cousin was resolved too easily. The ML just pays for his debt and they believe he's going to change and forgive him... and then we just never see the cousin again. What the heck?

I feel like it’s a decent drama but I’m not sure I would rewatch it — I feel like it drags a bit as it goes on and there’s not enough suspense / momentum to drive the plot forward. I feel like the plot just went off in a random turn the last third or so of the drama, when all of a sudden the opportunity comes up for the FL to become a cartoonist. The second ML also pretty much disappeared in the last part of the series although I wasn't that attached to him.

I like that at the end they sort of loop back to the beginning and there's this sense of closure, with her finishing her degree and you can sort of reflect back on the beginning but I also wasn't super satisfied at the end. I think the FL did grow as well, but I sort of disagreed with her decision at the end. I guess it matches with her character, but I just found it a bit sudden and not thought out.

Leia Mais

Suspense-filled drama that will tug at your heartstrings and leave you guessing

Story:
Something I frequently found myself saying was "WOW this is crazy!" because the plot is so unpredictable and there are so many cliffhangers and plot twists that you just want to keep watching. Throughout the series, you wonder what is going to happen to Lee Jae Han, and things take a major turn in the last few episodes and things really get C R A Z Y. The ending is kind of ambiguous but I think it just sets the stage for a second season, which HAS to happen. Otherwise it's super unsatisfying.

It's a crime drama, but at the same time all the cases are connected and lend themselves to the bigger picture of the plot. It was really interesting to think about how the past/present changed because of the walkie talkie and the actions of the main characters. The writing is good and it moves along fairly quickly, although this is definitely a heavier drama since it covers topics like rape, murder, etc. This is a drama that tugs at your heartstrings and makes you sad and angry at injustice. The cases are also based on real events, which is so devastating to think about. There's a sense of continuity in the drama, where the beginning episodes are equally important to the plot as the later ones and it all ties together, so you should definitely pay attention to everything!

Acting/Cast:
Signal has such a stellar cast, including one of my favourite actors Kim Won Hae. He's appeared in what feels like every single drama, but he's such a good actor although he didn't play a big role here. There were lots of familiar faces in the cast, and I can't think of a single one where I felt like the acting was weak. You will hate the villains, and rail at injustice and then remember that it's just an actor and not real life.

I was especially impressed with the female lead (Cha Soo Hyun), who appears in both the past and the present. The way that she portrayed herself from 15 years ago vs present time were so different and made it believable. Sometimes I feel like in dramas, scenes from the past come across as kind of fake or not believable that the actors are really younger (just dressed in different clothes) but this felt really real.

Music:
The theme song really fits in with the old time feel of the show, and I had it stuck in my head but then for some reason midway through they swapped out the song for a few episodes. I'm not sure if this was because of the plot or whatever, but then they went back to the original song. I can't remember the second song, but the first song is a solid 8/10.

Rewatch Value:
If crime/suspense dramas aren't your thing, I would highly recommend watching with someone.
I actually started watched Signal a few years ago when it first came out and then dropped it, but always remembered it as being a good drama despite that. I think it's just a very emotional/heavy drama and I usually prefer romantic comedies, but this time I watched it over Netflix Party with my boyfriend and I think it definitely helps to have someone to buddy watch with! It's not a show that I would recommend binge watching, more like watching one episode a day so things don't get too dark.

Honestly a really good drama. Get ready for suspense, cliff hangers, plot twists, and all the feels.

Leia Mais

If this drama was a food, it would be plain congee. You eat it and then forget about it.

I really liked the drama at first, and found myself looking forward to new episodes each week.
In the beginning, the pacing of the drama is good and there's this suspense that keeps you going while you are finding out the female lead's story and how all these different men tie into her life. And of course, the big question: who is the father?

I think it's just that once it becomes apparent who it is, a lot of the suspense disappears... and although I only finished this drama around a month ago, I've already forgotten a lot of the details. It wasn't a terrible drama, but it's very hard to judge because it just wasn't very memorable and not something I would re-watch.

All I remember is the terrible Cantonese and little snippets of what happened. Oh, and there was a cute dog.

Leia Mais

Wow. No wonder they needed two seasons to get through everything.

The beginning of season two starts three years after the end of the first season and a lot has changed. As everything unfolds, you learn about how the aftermath of what happened three years ago affected all the main characters. Park Dang Gu is now the leader of Songrim, and his engagement with Jin Cho Yeon was broken off. Seo Yul is suffering from the aftereffects of the blood parasite entering his body, and Jang Uk has completely changed. He's now in possession of the ice stone and hunts soul shifters and is surrounded by wraiths. It's a pretty gloomy start to the season, where it's obvious everyone is suffering although I love that Jang Uk is a total badass now who doesn't care what other people think.

I feel like I should have rewatched the last episode of season one before watching the second season, because I definitely forgot some very key details - like Jang Uk having the ice stone. *face palm* I had a lot of questions and things that I was wondering about in the first few episodes of the show, but maybe that's their intention because as the story progresses you do learn more about what happened and why. I was curious about how they would explain Naksu having her original appearance when her body got burned up in season one, but it does get explained in a way that I (sort of) understand. It does get pretty complicated though. I'm glad they go into the details of the blood parasite in depth in this season, because it was definitely one of the things I had questions about from the last season.

If the beginning of the show is dark and gloomy, then the middle is more romance oriented, with Jang Uk and Naksu getting to know each other, with the usual kdrama shenanigans where they misunderstand each other and start falling in love. Things are extra complicated because Jang Uk is still traumatized/waiting for Naksu meanwhile Bu Yeon (who is actually Naksu) is getting her memory back in bits and pieces as flashbacks but she thinks its actually someone else's memory.

The last third of the season (from episode 7 onwards) is where the plot starts to really pick up and it gets good. There's epic fights and showdowns, dramatic rescues, double crossing, and not one but TWO absolutely crazy plot twists / reveals that I did not see coming.

In the midst of all the excitement, it's nice that there is still some comedy to break up the tension. I love the interactions between Jang Uk and the crown prince. The whole season I was just rooting for them to be friends again. And the crown prince's turtle! I love how the writers of the show made the turtle so pivotal to the plot when I thought that it was just a cute thing that brought the crown prince and Bu Yeon together. ???

”He got rid of my turtle” - a truly iconic quote

Overall I really enjoyed the show, but there were still a few things that didn't quite make sense to me. In the beginning it seems like Park Dang Gu and Jin Cho Yeon's relationship is broken and that she resents him for not saving her father three years ago, but then a few episodes later it seems like they are back to being in love. I wish that the show had given the couple more screentime and shown how they were able to get past that.

I also thought that Jang Uk wasn't aware that Naksu's soul was going to disappear, but then it seemed like he did know when he went to go find her and they got married. And did the crown prince actually turn his back on Jang Uk at the end of season one? Maybe I just need to rewatch the show to catch more details but because of how long it is and how complicated the plot gets I do think things slip through the cracks.

I hate it when you get super invested in a show and then it's a sad ending so I'm happy to say that this is not one of those cases.
Yay for happy endings!

I can't end this review with a special mention to Lee Jae Wook for his phenomenal acting with how much his character did a 180 compared to the last season. It was so rewarding seeing his new persona and what a badass he is now. I had also seen Go Youn Joon previously in Law School but she gave off such different vibes in Alchemy of Souls that it made me completely forget about her past character. I was hesitant about how this season would turn out because of a change in the female lead, but the two of them had good chemistry together and made it work! I also have a soft spot for So-i. She wasn't a main character but I still think she shone in this show. Her character was really well-written and although she made a lot of mistakes, I think she really did her best in her own way and Seo Hye Won did such a good job portraying her.

Leia Mais

Dysfunctional, chaotic life of the incredibly wealthy mixed in with revenge and time travelling

This is a really interesting premise that I don't know if I've seen in dramas before, mainly just webtoons which makes sense because this is an adaptation. And of course, the male lead is Song Joong Ki, who is definitely a big draw. I enjoyed Vincenzo and was looking forward to watching Reborn Rich too, but after watching them both I definitely have a preference.

THE PLOT
I feel like they tried to cram as much as possible into 16 episodes and as a result, it got confusing and was going everywhere. I was really looking forward to watching this and binge watched this over a few days during the Christmas holidays but mid-way through it got a bit draggy. I think because so much happens and time moves quickly as well in the show that it's easy to get confused and lost interest. You know its a bad sign when you think to yourself, oh good only 3 episodes left.

Another reason is that I felt like the theme / direction the show was going in was not consistent throughout. I thought that the ML's main motivation was to take revenge against those who had killed him in his past life, but it felt like it started being more of a suspense drama and at one point it just felt like he was trying to be a good grandson. What about your revenge??

Things picked up again in the last episode but then the ending was disappointing. There was a big reveal and things get resolved, but I'm left with questions. Is this the same timeline or a different one?
Why does noone recognize him in this timeline if he looks EXACTLY the same? <-- This was my biggest issue and I just couldn't get over it.

THE ACTING
Despite my criticisms of the plot, the acting and how the characters were portrayed were excellent. One of my favourite characters was his aunt, Hwa Young, who was an awful person but SO entertaining to watch. And the grandma! Wow.
This is a show full of villains and the entire Jin family is so messed up.

THE ROMANCE
I love Hospital Playlist and it's cool seeing Shin Hyun Bin in a new role. There is just so much happening in this drama though and I feel like because their screentime together was so sporadic, I wasn't very invested in their relationship and was focused on other details in the plot. The romance was too fleeting and infrequent for me. Too much angst in this with not enough caring on my end.

HIGHLIGHTS
--Do Jun's schemes and screwing over his aunt and uncle
--heartwarming moments with Do Jun and his grandpa
--cheeky references to the present like the FIFA World Cup and talking about cellphones

THEMES
--the rich get richer and the poor get poorer, privilege and how it changes the trajectory of your life
--parents doing anything for their kids

7-7.5/10

Leia Mais

A drama that tugs at your heartstrings

Our Beloved Summer chronicles the two lives of Choi Woong and Kook Yeon Soo as they meet in high school while filming a documentary, fall in love and then meet again 10 years later post a painful breakup and after having no contact for 5 years. The story alternates between present day and the past as you find out what happened between them and as there are new developments in their relationship in present day.

While it is a romance drama, the show also really dived into both of their individual lives and what made the characters who they were... their upbringing, their family, the way that they present themselves to the world and how that was a result of their history. It's definitely an emotional show and I feel like I cried a lot but you do really get to know the characters and they all grow so much.

I liked the friendship between the two "Woongs" and it was so heartwarming seeing how Choi Woong welcomed Ji Woong into his family and pretty much gave him a home. I was NOT expecting the big plot twist / reveal near the end but my boyfriend predicted it so maybe I'm just not good at picking up subtle hints. Regardless I feel like the writers / director were very clever with how they chose to reveal things and with the flow of the show.

Even before I watched the show, I listened to Christmas Tree by V because it was so popular and it really did fit the show so well. Beloved Summer has probably one of the best OSTs I can recall in recent shows that I've watched.

I also liked NJ's character a lot. She was really fun and I looked forward to her scenes and how they added to the story. I also like that she was a decent person, despite being the second female lead and she didn't do anything shady.

Leia Mais

This drama has a cliched premise that reminds me of Mischievous Kiss, where it’s a female lead who chases after a cold male lead but they actually start dating fairly quickly and the plot doesn’t drag.

I like that once they started dating he always reassures when she doubts their relationship and despite his aloof personality, he does show that he likes her… mainly by kissing her. She’s so forward and keeps liking him despite being brutally rejected at the beginning but yet gets discouraged so easily and doubts a lot once they actually start dating. But other than her lack of confidence in herself and always putting herself down, Nanase is a great female lead.

She makes mistakes and isn’t perfect but she also cares for her patients, notices things others don’t and is super hardworking. I think having the other new nurse Sakai there as a contrast really highlights Nanase’s strengths and shows that you can be a good nurse even if you’re not perfect technically.

Nanase and Tendo are also a great couple. Other than their crazy amazing chemistry, you can see the two characters progress through the show and how they help each other. Nanase becomes a great nurse thanks to her hard work and his mentorship and he starts to not just focus on work and have some joy in his life.

Sometimes I don’t care about couples anymore after they’re already together and it feels like the plot isn’t moving but they are such a cute couple and I would watch a second season. And the scene when he finally confesses his feelings is really cute. The ML starts as an icicle and fully thaws out. Fully.

It’s not perfect but I think I would still give the drama an 8 in terms of likeability. Its a good length, doesn’t drag, and the main couple have loads of chemistry. I tried to read the manga before and dropped it, but maybe I’ll give it another try. I've also found myself singing the theme song at random times since I finished the show a few days ago, which I think is a sign of how much the show sticks with you.

Leia Mais

Time travelling drama inspired by the Hwaseong murders

I actually watched the first episode a while back and then started watching it again last week, so it took a few episodes for me to really get invested in the show but overall this was a good drama that I looked forward to watching. Warning: I watched it on Netflix and they blur out some graphic parts but it is still a bit disturbing at times (ie. seeing someone's severed leg) since this is a drama about murder/serial killers so I don't think this would be good to watch too late at night.

This came out around the same time as Signal, when I feel like dramas were really leaning into the time travelling idea but the stories are completely different. In Tunnel, the main character travels through a tunnel to go forward 30 years in time while chasing a serial killer and the whole series revolves around that main story, although the detectives do end up solving a few other cases along the way.

There were lots of of familiar faces in this show, and the acting was great. The plot was interesting and I think the reveals were done well, although some I guessed. There were a few times when I felt like the characters were being stupid, but this was a really solid show, especially for people who like crime and police dramas.

Leia Mais

Hilarious, heartwarming, and so much fun to watch!

Vincenzo is truly a dramedy - dramatic, extra af and full of little gems of comedy that combined make for a really good time.

The acting is phenomenal, and as the show progressed you really learn more about the different characters and they keep showing new sides to themselves. When I first started watching the show, the FL reminded me a lot of Fiery Priest - and then I found out later that it's actually the same director, so if you loved that show you'll love this one too.

The show centers around a Mafia lawyer Vincenzo Cassano (aka Mr. Corn Salad) who comes back to Korea and ends up entangled with the tenants of Geumga Plaza, which is on the verge of being demolished by a big (and bad) corporation fittingly named Babel Group. The acting in the show is just spectacular, not just from the ML and FL but also from the tenants of Geumga Plaza and the various guest stars that appear.

Kim Sung Cheol (from Prison Playbook) appears in a few episodes and is SO funny. There's a scene where Taecyeon sings the Produce 101 song and the comedic timing was so good, I had to replay it for the laughs. There's a subtle nod to Sungkyungkwan Scandal in one of the episodes (one of the earlier shows that Song Joong Ki was in, and one of my early favs) and the plot keeps everything moving quickly. I can't even choose one favourite character because I liked so many of them.

Did I mention everyone is secretly a badass? I love it.

Vincenzo is easily one of my favourites of 2021 so far.

Leia Mais

Nostalgic memories of being 15 years old and diving into the world of kdramas

I feel like I almost can't rate this show because it is such a piece of nostalgia.
I think You're Beautiful was one of the first kdramas that I really fell in love with and now 11 years later I am still an avid kdrama watcher.

I remember how CN Blue was newly formed and Jung Yong Hwa was an unknown and how much I loved Jang Geun Suk x Park Shin Hye in the drama, so much so that I was looking up news of them to see if they were a couple in real life. And this takes me back to memories of rewatching endless clips from the drama of Jeremy / Lee Hong Ki being absolutely adorable online, and downloading episodes onto my iTouch to watch away from the house.

I haven't watched this drama in years but I remember it with fond memories. Also I still remember the melody of the theme song 11 years later, so there's that. I feel like this rating is more how much my 15 year old self enjoyed the drama and not necessarily how I would rate it now.

Leia Mais

I tend to go through periods where I binge watch a lot of dramas and then periods where I read a lot of webtoons. Business Proposal is one of the webtoons that I really liked but that fell off my radar while I was waiting for updates. When I heard that it was becoming a drama though, I had to revisit the webtoon!

Style-wise, this drama is very over the top but it's addictive and easy to watch and beyond the comedy there are also heartwarming moments between the characters. In the webtoon, I don't think the author specifies what kind of company Tae-moo and Hari work for, but I feel like they made a really good choice in making it into a food company in the drama. It really worked with the plot and made for some genius advertising as well. Another nice touch was what felt like the production team making fun of themselves / breaking the fourth wall by having the grandpa watch a show that sort of mirrored what was happening in the drama.

Drama fans will find lots of familiar faces in this show, and it's nice to see the same actors/actresses working together from previous shows. I first discovered Ahn Hyo-Seop in My Father Is Strange, which I think was his breakout role, and found the romance line he had in that show super cute. But in this drama, I found his character a bit too exaggerated, especially moments like when he would use his hand to brush back his hair. I still liked the main couple and think they look good together but I feel like the second couple actually had more chemistry.

I was a bit surprised at how they chose to end the show, since the actual webtoon is over as well so I feel like they could have ended it the same way as the webtoon. I also feel like the webtoon did a better job of delving into the relationship between Hari and Lee Min Woo, whereas in the drama you can't really tell how Min Woo felt about Hari.

The drama is only 12 episodes, but I definitely could have watched 16 episodes. I feel like there isn't really the potential for a second season unless they go off of the plot of the webtoon, but if there was then I would watch it!

Leia Mais