Magical

Fab-u-lous! I loved everything. The casting is perfection, with so many good actors (both female and male) and unforgettable characters. I can't even pick favourites. Lee Rang really touched my heart though, especially the scenes of him as a young Gumiho half breed. His feelings of abandonment were palpable. Kim Bum is so good.
The myths included are wonderful, as ghosts and devils are battled.
The child actors are so good too, especially Kim Tae-yul as the young Imoogi, Lee Joo-won as young Lee Rang and Jung Shi-yool as Kim Soo-oh.
The pace of the drama, whilst having exciting scenes, is relatively gently paced, which fit for me; a central romance spanning 600 years can't be rushed!
The ending didn't disappoint either.
I loved the BTS episode 17 on Viki, with the delightful Hwang Hee (Gu Shin-joo) and lovely Kim Yong-ji (Ki Yoo-ri) ~ these 2 seemed to genuinely get on and have fun together.
A must watch and one I know I'll return to more than once. Magical.

Leia Mais

Complex

I loved series 1, but enjoyed this follow-up even more.
Whilst a completely new story and set of intriguing cases to be solved, there are references to the suicide and scheming of season 1.
Both Bae Doo-na and Cho (Jo) Seung-woo are excellent and I love their chemistry, together with the relationship between their characters; she just gets him and he seems to have actual care and cocern for her, something he usually struggles with, having impaired emotions from his childhood surgery.
From the outset the pace and intrigue never let up. There was stuff I thought I was figuring out, only to be slapped off course, as the story within stories twisted its way to the final episode.
This series, like the first, is intelligently written and well directed. It needs concentration and isn't a 'light' watch that can be dipped in and out of, although in truth, if you're like me, you'll be desperate to watch one after the other.
Great cast of characters so well portrayed by a great set of actors ~ not a weak one amongst them.
I know it's not a romance, but I'd love for Shi-mok and Yeo-jin to get together.
Quietly hoping for a season 3 🤞🤞

Leia Mais

Drifting story

Started off great; humour, emotion, a touch of the supernatural. Unfortunately, the story became a little too fanciful for me, with attempted murder and hiding the birth of a child, being treated like they're common occurrences and nothing to take seriously!
There is forgiveness and turning the other cheek, but then there's being a martyr and Doo-rim sadly became just that, regardless of her generally feisty and strong character. She made some really dumb decisions.
I liked Kang-joo's emotional development.
Great seeing Jung Hae-in earlier in his wonderful career, too.
I also found the same actors playing several characters (especially in latter episodes) to be confusing as well.
Could've been a 9 or 10/10 had the story been given a little more thought and wasn't stuck between being a rom-com and [over-acted at times] melodrama.

Leia Mais

Gets emotional

Overall I enjoyed this show, especially the cast (big fan of Sung Joon), with nice performances from all of them. I loved Lee Joo Hyung's character portrayal - I just wanted to climb into my laptop and mother him! I also loved SJ's understated acting in this. He portrayed a quite complex person, who starts out as a seemingly selfish, immature, snob of a psychologist (but not cold - even though he is emotionally stunted) really well, as the character could have been completely unlikeable, but he managed to keep me on his side, though not all the time.

In general they are all pretty selfish characters at times, but that's where their similarities end, as it's a great mixed bag of people.

I liked the various psychological issues that were visited through Prof Choi Soo Hyun's clients, with some very emotional stories amongst them.

The huge importance of support and understanding needed by those suffering mental health issues underpins the whole series, I felt. As is the equally important need to address and seek help for anyone suffering severe changes in behaviour.

Childhood trauma is at the forefront of many of the individual stories and some are quite upsetting. The devastating affects mistreatment (whether it be psychological or physical) can have in later life is made blindingly obvious.

Soo-hyun's character development made this drama for me, to be honest and Sung Joon played him perfectly. The last episode was so very moving.

What let the drama down for me was the times when humour was mistakenly added in the form of silly, childish dialogue and behaviour. It is possible to prevent a story from sliding into melodrama, by adding even dark humour, which doesn't resort to immature behaviour that just didn't fit with the rest of the storyline. Felt like it was plopped in to prevent the story from becoming too heavy. More creative writing could have provided laughs on a more adult level, befitting of what the drama is about at its core.

One of my favourite friendships was between Choi Seung-chan and Dr Bae Mi-ran. It was writing like that, when compared with what I've just said, which made me wonder whether the author of this drama doesn't have two personalities, like one of the characters!

Worth watching, although I probably wouldn't revisit it.

Leia Mais

Modern Romance, Intelligent Women

More mature portrayal of the career driven lives and very different relationships, friendships and families of the main 3 female characters.
The hurdles of being in a relationship with a man 10 years younger are portrayed differently from the usual ones, which was so refreshing. The real issues that are hard to face or tackle, even when in love, are considered and doesn't have to do with the judgement of others for a change.
The women in this are all very different, but what links them is their drive, passion, focus and intelligence.
I very much liked the more mature conversations and interaction between Tammy and Park Morgan, which was befitting of a woman and man in their late 30s and 20s respectively.
I loved how one central female's frankly abusive parents and arrogant, audacious, overbearing mother-in-law, were portrayed; such good acting. Loathed them!
My personal favourite character was Scarlett, fabulously brought to life by Lee Da-hee.
The main male characters have an equally modern representation, as none are either phased nor jealous or intimated by clever, feisty and outspoken women. Breath of fresh air.

Leia Mais

Gritty Drama

Perfect casting of great actors, added to a well written script, really make this drama a cut above the rest.
It is very hard hitting, with many of the crimes portrayed being distressing and brutal.
The lives of the rookies this story follows, from jobless to serving police officers, is so good.
The stressful, unappreciated and abused role they fill is at the fore, countered by the few corrupted members on the force, who sadly tarnish them all. Couple this with internal politics and an establishment happy to throw those with less power under the bus to meet their needs, makes me wonder how anyone would choose policing as a career.
If this drama is based on the reality of the Korean police and legal system, it is damning. However, it also shows the closeness of a team, of partnerships where they see more of each other than their own loved ones at home and the impact of betrayals on the moral of everyone associated.
The toll the job takes on personal lives is also touched on, with not just the case stories, but those involving the main characters' families being played out too.
Whilst disturbing, incredibly frustrating and upsetting, it is also funny at times and uplifting at others.
I am so pleased I watched it and would recommend this drama to others.

Leia Mais

I have just finished series 1 and am already at a loss... I will so miss the characters and everyday life of this excellent hospital based drama.
What a refreshing, well written, excellently directed, fabulously paced and realistic programme this is.
It is not at all sentimental, but feels very real and believable ; from the interactions of the main friends and their colleagues and families, to the patients, their problems and the anxiousness of their guardians. There is no overacting, no perfect scenarios, no obvious clichés, but plenty of laughs, some tears and frustrations.
Real doctors, nurses and carers should watch this too, as it portrays the care patients should get, as when they don't, it isn't washed over, but shown honestly and discussed.
The cast has been perfectly chosen and their relationships are very believable and honest.
I cared about all of them, felt invested in every episode and became quickly addicted.
This one of those dramas that stands out, because it is underpinned by talent from every angle; not by special effects, emphasis on gore, over-the-top fight scenes, power crazy CEOs and mistreated characters.
The struggles, tough decisions, stress and bonds of friendship that are played out, are like a breath of fresh air.
I simply cannot wait for 2021 and series 2, and I cannot possibly recommend this drama enough. Simply FABULOUS! Watch it, or lose out ?

Leia Mais

Haphazard at times

June 2024
Google's "in a nutshell" description for this drama reads, "Unsettling, hopeless and cynical", which pretty much sums it up!

Whilst the cast and their acting, is really good, the script is all over the place.

The story keeps haphazardly jumping between the recent past (pre-asteroid) and present, with no warning and little reason for doing so, quite often. This can be confusing and at times I wasn't sure where we were, so to speak.

As news of the asteroid strike breaks and the subsequent countdown to impact begins, we of course see the worst coming out in many people.

From the wealthy and powerful leeching off the ordinary citizens in communities, to secure a way out of Korea (ground zero), to criminal gangs who see ways to make money and exploit the fact law and order has broken down, and it's swiftly become every man for themselves. They seem oblivious to the fact they'll never be able to spend it!

The reactions of some characters to decisions they make, are often inappropriate and/or baffling, given circumstances, reasons and situations. I found this frustrating and irritating.

It does also show a close knit community as well, however, and that stops it being dismal, although it's by no means upbeat.

It is a very weak script, with several plot arcs being speedily concluded, at the cost of the story. Disappointing.

It's a huge shame, because I liked many of the characters, but the build up and the conclusion were incredibly mismatched, even though it made sense.

As is often the case with a good cast who give it their all, they carried this drama and made it watchable. Even though I'd never bother watching it again, I can't say I disliked it, but I was very disappointed.

I've said it before and will say it again; if Netflix are going to make K-dramas, they need to stick to the format that is one of the reasons many of us fell in love with them in the first place. A story told completely, in usually 16 to 20eps.

Not 6-12 eps, with no conclusion and a possible S2, but that being dependent on ratings. Or as in this drama, a complete ('Limited') series, but with an inadequate number of episodes in which to give any depth to the story or coherent conclusions.

Great OST and I loved the acting, from all the cast. One would never have known how much YAI must already have been suffering, at this point.

Leia Mais

Classic K-drama style

April 2024
I love the cast, which drew me more than the plot, so I wasn't sure it would have me watching in one go (or if I'd even like it and end up dropping). Wrong.
The series has a mix of melodrama, kept from being hard work by some genuinely hilarious moments, with plenty of tension, very good acting by all and a bit of action.
It feels quite 'K-drama classic' in style; think a lot of arm grabbing, and pulling out the way of oncoming dangers, with a little reality being thrown to the wind at times, for thrills/tension purposes.
The characters are also the classic dysfunctional Chaeybol family (a mix of greedy, cold, slightly crazy, inept, naive/not bright, and disappointing/soft heir) and country farming folk.
The evil characters really are and very well acted (well done especially, Lee Mi-Suk), not OTT at all.
The 2 Kims make great leads; they are such good actors and I really liked their chemistry. There were some weak moments in the script, but with them at the helm, I actually wasn't that bothered!
I loved seeing Song Joong-ki in his cameo role, and the way he is described by Hyun-woo's lawyer best friend, using all characters SJK has played in the past, is a touch of brilliance!
Even though there were a couple of eye rolling moments for me, I actually loved this. I unexpectedly binge watched and then decided to wait for final ep before completing, again binging to the end and going to bed at silly o'clock.
The OST is lovely too.
I would certainly recommend it!

Leia Mais

Feel good

March 2024
Great cast, great location, great story, great fun! This has everything. Family, community, enduring friendship, loss of purpose and mystery. It's all wrapped up in a more sedate coastal life, where the most exciting thing to happen, outside of the local ssireum (traditional Korean wrestling) team's matches, is a local dog constantly slipping its leash and running off, hotly pursued by the 2 local police beat officers.

The warmth this drama exudes is so lovely. It's a small town, where everyone knows each other's business and when they don't, gossip takes over. In some cases small lives breed small minds, but as happens, many find it hard, or even impossible, to face up to their mistakes and mistreatment of others, when they should know better.

I loved that there was NO stupid, slapstick humour in this, even though it's a comedy-mystery-romance. There are plenty of laughs, generated by daily comings and goings; main character, Kim Baek Doo's, innocent, simple (NOT stupid though), contemplative personality (wonderfully interpreted by Jang Dong Yoon); and the often comicly mundane.

I really liked the coastal setting (filmed in a small area of Pohang, North Gyeongsang), which felt so normal, rather than picture-book pretty. It wasn't unpleasant, by any means, just normal, if that makes sense!

A serious incident leads to the lives of almost everyone in the heart of the town and connected to the ssireum team, being affected one way or another, as tensions build.

The past comes rushing back and some old scars are revealed, to be finally allowed to heal.

Whilst simplistic, it really is a great watch and although I guessed the culprit, it didn't spoil my enjoyment at all (typecasting has a lot to answer for).

The ssireum matches were fabulous and honestly had me twitching in my seat!

Not one character irritated me, even though there's a fair bit of physicality between a few. They get away with it though, because it's not mean or nasty, but out of affection and simply how they interact. Very exuberant.

Most characters are pretty noisy, too; but again, it's how most (not all), speak to each other. Their accent is fabulous. I really found myself engaging with so many of the characters and the cast did themselves proud.

Definitely one to try. I'd happily watch it again.

Leia Mais

Accept it's a fluffy rom-com, not RL, and it'll be a fun watch

Aug 2023
A great big squishy ball of fluff, in the traditionally wonderful vain of many successful rom-com K-dramas.

You get the flashy backdrop of a wealthy family run conglomerate; the main story centres around the successful 5 Star hotel, while also featured are the company's Airline and a high end clothing branch, where each of the FL's 2 besties work.

Within these settings are power struggles, prejudices over education, divorce and social standing, with a smattering of greasy palms, connections and the usual jealousy, spite, bitching and abuse of the have nots/underlings. Some characters are wonderfully nasty and underhand... I was having a right go at the TV on many occasions! ;-D

Then, of course, there is the most important, most focussed on, romance between our drop dead gorgeous ML and effervescently can-do, pretty FL, who when at work speaks in the same way UK announcers did in the 50s ;-D and smiles through 99% of everything that a busy day as Hotel Concierge can throw at her.

Due to a childhood trauma, our ML hates what he sees as the false smiles automatically plastered on the faces of a large percentage of the hotel's staff and refuses to either conform, or acknowledge them.

With our FL gaining success with her attitude and having more and more dealings with our ML, it's very much an enemies to tolerated colleagues, to friends, to lovers.

There is almost every cliché in the book, from one falling into/onto the other, a bike ride, fairground visit and sudden overnight stay, to money getting offered to get rid of people.

There are also the trials and tribulations of the FL's 2 best friends sewn into the story and plenty of light moments with the ML and his dork of an assistant.

This fit absolutely perfectly with what I wanted to watch. There are imperfections (I never really understood why someone who disappeared, did) and realism is often overlooked to make things and people beautiful, and the story work... but the drama is a rom-com and from the very amusing first arrival of our ML, does not set itself up to be anything remotely true to life, so no disappointment in that respect, for me.

There was one scene near the end, with the FL's grandmother (played by a favourite senior actress, Kim Young-ok) that was so touching, I needed tissues.

The music I did find exceedingly odd at times, especially when a group of them visited Thailand... it was almost hilarious, with what sounded like bangra, and Ska!!! I've heard traditional and modern Thai music and it didn't sound like that!

It's no more than a bit of fun, and a great feel-good drama. I quickly ate up every second of it!

Leia Mais

Missed the mark

This very calm and meandering drama has a slightly surreal feel to it.
From the FL character of Ji-eum, who has been reborn early this life and has always been able to remember her past lives (with varying degrees of clarity), to the characters she's reconnected with, it's presented as being all rather mysterious.
Ji-eum is quirky, unique and very focussed. Several scenes made me laugh and I liked Shin Hye-sun's portrayal of someone with an extremely old and life-experienced soul, in its new body (loved her in Mr Queen too).
As she reconnects with the now grown up young boy from her tragically cut short last life, various conspiracies and ominous predictions come to light.
The first few episodes I found captivating, but the pace never picked up and the 2 main mysteries that revolved around her, Seo-ha and some of the other characters, kind of fizzled out as they were brought to their conclusion.
It was a nice watch, but I didn't find it in the least exciting, or exhilarating. I was invested, to find out why she was stuck with so many memories, but disappointed in the fact the conclusion in this life was just so 'meh'. There was one bit in the past that did make me gasp though.
The revisits to her past lives were some of the best bits, I thought.
How the other mystery got solved, was again so flat. It felt like imagining you were climbing to a great height, to find you were only on level 2! 😄😬
It totally lacked any punch at all and yet with the plot it carried, there should have been so much more. I have no idea how they managed to lose the momentum entirely. There was more than enough opportunity, but time was instead given to very wordy scenes where she was basically trying to tell Seo-ha who she was, without actually saying it.
I really liked the character of Seo-ha, whose childhood traumas left him scarred in so many ways. He was gentle, clever and had a vulnerability about him, but was not pitiful.
It is a very romantic drama, however, in the nicest way and that, I thought, they got right. The relationships from the past and present, that bind the characters together, I loved. That was the drama's saving grace.
I also liked that Ji-eum's past lives were both male and female, from different continents; they weren't all the same actress in varying guises, which is not what reincarnation is about at all. I would have seen that as a lazy cop out in production.
Overall an OK watch, but it did miss the mark and fell short of what it could have been. The cast did not disappoint, however and the soundtrack was excellent (especially loved ABH's contribution, Colde's 'Star' and Jo Yuri's 'Down'/Juicy Juicy).

Leia Mais

Engaging

First trigger warnings: there is violence (torture, child abuse references, bullying etc) and some quite graphic images.
I watched on Viki, where it is titled "The Killer Inside".
This drama had plenty of twists and turns, intrigue, deception, threat and surprises.
I did decide fairly quickly who I thought the culprit was, and turned out right.
However, this drama kept me engaged right the way through and I watched all episodes back-to-back.
The cast was pretty good and suited their roles. Some very unpleasant and messed up characters. A little over-acting at times from some, but not too often. Occasionally it felt a little stilted/awkward too and several scenes were less than credible (the court scenes were a little bizarre - no witnesses or indication of what exactly the trial was of), but overall I thought this a decent watch and needed to know the outcome.
I did also wonder how a character could return to more or less where their life left off, after having been incarcerated for an unknown length of time (clarity around that would have been good). Hey, it is fiction though!
Credit to Yamada Ryosuke and Kawaei Rina, who I thought were very engaging.

Leia Mais

Gripping

Incredibly intense at times, very human and believable, plus moving.
A fascinating insight into the very humble beginnings of criminal profiling in S.Korea.
The dreadful way many colleagues and 'higher ups' treated the 3-man team of the profile unit, was disgraceful. From where they were located to how they had to fight every step of the way, until their methods showed results, time after time.
Kim Nam-gil and Jin Seon-kyu were excellent in their character portrayals, worked so well together and their character's totally different personalities complimented each other perfectly.
KNG's character's change through the episodes was a hard watch at times and I really wanted to climb into my TV and give him a hug.
Another character that matured through the series and quietly added so much to their small team dynamic, was Analyst, Jung Woo-joo (Ryeoun), who was a delight.
The different cases they became involved in were very gritty and quite distressing on occasion, ranging from rapists to child abduction and murder. It wasn't quite as gory as some series I've watched, but very unpleasant at times, adding to the reality of just how sick the serial killers they profiled, were. This eventually took a toll on some.
I hated the police's Commissioner General; even though the series spans a number of years starting in the 1990s, his out-of-date behaviour (even for the time) and attitude was shameful. From regularly using physical abuse of his subordinates (who were not low down the pecking order themselves), to demanding results as though evidence and perpetrators could be magically created, he was an embarrassing portrayal of a senior figure in S.Korean law enforcement. He even demanded unsolved murders be blamed on an existing criminal they'd caught, who had nothing to do with them!
Luckily, 2 senior colleagues (Baek Joon-shik and Heo Gil-pyo) were supportive and ensured the profile team were utilised and respected.
The length of this drama was shorter than the norm, but it never felt rushed and the story was almost perfectly told in those episodes.
There was one scene where an alluded murder victim was disposed of, but not covered when the killer confessed and I didn't get that. It was never mentioned.
Likewise, exactly what happened to the people replaced when changes were made in the police hierarchy, once the profile team had their first major success, wasn't made clear.
There was also no follow-up, or any insight into what became of the convicted killers; their sentences weren't even given.
Had those things been clearer, I would have given this series a 10.
The fact this is based on reality and a book written by one of the profilers, makes it all the more compelling.
Recommended!

Leia Mais

Lead acting was good

Not a bad watch and Kim Min Jae rarely disappoints.
His character here is arrogant (but I felt this was often a front for feeling inferior), very business savvy, but lacks the social skills, sophistication and knowledge of art to fit in amongst Dali's peers, co-workers and gallery connections. He does, however, have the money.
I am not sure what the drama was trying to be, because it's not a fluffy romance, not quite a detective story (although it would have made a good thriller) and not a true comedy.
Ep1 was amusing and humour is used through the show, but it's needed.
There is bullying, physical and mental abuse by parents, drug addiction, coercion, threat, a huge dose of snobbishness and more than one psychopathic character.
Moo Hak often seemed to revert to gangster behaviour when he felt humiliated or out of his depth. The response to it was...... nothing.
Dali infuriated me at times ~ the character could have been co much more. I think they were going for kind of ethereal, graceful, yet strong, but incredibly patient, demure and sophisticated.
The behaviour of some characters (the worst were all family members) was, frankly, sick inducing at times.
The ending wrapped it all up fairly neatly, but it's definitely not one I'd watch again.

Leia Mais