A Supernatural Thriller that Surprises

Yet again a ghost story, that was what I thought!

A supernatural suspense thriller, Joo Won stars as Seo Ki Joo, a 7th generation photographer who runs a small photo studio, which specializes in storing the last memories of the dead. The camera he uses for this taunting task was stolen by his ancestor, as such it is a cursed object and the descendants belonging to Seo family line bear the brunt of the curse. They are unable to live beyond 35 years and die in mysterious ways. The overall synopsis spells the ordeal faced by our main lead on a daily basis. Imagine what he has go to through when a crazy attorney who was fired from her job is added to this mix. “The Midnight Studio” weaves a subtle romance in the midst of horror and supernatural suspense. Both the main leads have their own set of problems; Ki Joo lives from day to day hoping to survive while leading the dead souls to their salvation, Han Bom (Kwon Na Ra) is busy finding jobs while being ostracized in her own field. As each case unfolds, the storyline turns into a gripping tale of long-lost love & reconciliation.

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https://kcdramamusings.wordpress.com/2024/05/07/the-midnight-studio-series-review/#more-810

Leia Mais

A Woman's Struggle Against Mental Illness

This is one those of those dramas that could be a “Hit or Miss” phenomenon. There are very few shows that are daring enough to depict main characters with mental disorders. If you have watched this show, Seo Jae Won expresses her life long suffering and anguish in the penultimate episode, while openly challenging the societal mindset and prejudice. As she rightly points out, the disorder itself causes pain to the patient and their family, to be discriminated by the society is ever more agonizing. The scriptwriter indeed hit the nail with this point; patients suffering from mental disorders are the same as others, they have every right to lead a normal life while getting their treatment. There is nothing to be ashamed about, and they should not be prejudiced, the trauma only worsens their situation. As always, Jang Na Ra does a fantastic job portraying the main character’s struggles. Let’s take a moment to talk about Seo Jae Won and her relationships, as the show revolves around them!

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https://kcdramamusings.wordpress.com/2024/02/27/my-happy-ending-series-review/#more-574

Leia Mais

The Best Watch of 2024 So Far

A fabulous journey of lost love, redemption and reconciliation.

Words cannot express my feelings, as I look back at this journey of eight weeks. What happens when you are a stay in son-in-law and dying to divorce both your wife and her family. Before you sympathize with Baek Hyun Woo’s situation, you might need to hear about the said wife’s tragic life. Despite her ruthless demeanor, Hong Hae In is a lone camper who trusts no one. In times of utter despair, she desperately wants to lean on her husband, only he wants nothing to do with her and is seeking a divorce. Both are depressed at different levels; with familial pressure tearing them apart. When I first watched the pilot episodes, it seemed the show was more about their reconciliation. But “Queens of Tears” managed to deliver a beautiful script with a stellar casting that literally embodied the struggles faced by the variant characters. A couple cannot, will not be together until their families get along well. Marriages are made in heaven, aren’t they? Let’s talk about each & every character in this show, as we pay homage to this phenomenal melodrama!

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https://kcdramamusings.wordpress.com/2024/04/29/queen-of-tears-series-review/#more-777

Leia Mais

One of my Favorites in 2024, Surprisingly Impressive

There are very few dramas that actually hold your attention until the very end; I’m the kind of person who mostly fast forwards through the penultimate episodes because I can’t stand the angst or melodrama. I rarely did that with this show, enjoying each and every moment. I grew fond of the characters; it could be the sides or the mains. Adapted from the manhua “Wu Geng Ji” (武庚纪) by Zheng Jian He (郑健和) and Deng Zhi Hui (邓志辉), “Burning Flames” is a dystopian story with the MC seeking justice for the wrongs inflicted by the Immortal realm on the humans and the demons. It was peculiar that the antagonists in this show were actually Immortals who are supposed to protect the common people. From start to end, there wasn’t a dull moment as Wu Geng led the fight against the all powerful immortal while growing mature as an individual. Ren Jia Lun excels in his portrayal of Wu Geng/A Gou. Both are obviously varied personalities, and yet he embodies them effortlessly. Joining this ensemble casting are Xing Fei (Bai Cai), Zhu Xu Dan (Lan), Yan Yi Kuan (Zi Yu) and Zhu Zheng Ting (Ni Tian Er Xing), each of whom make valuable contributions to his arduous journey. There was character development for each of them and some more!

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https://kcdramamusings.wordpress.com/2024/04/28/burning-flames-series-review/#more-768

Leia Mais

Could Have Been If It Was Short & Sweet

After “Welcome to Samdalri”, I had high hopes from “Doctor Slump”; not that the show didn’t meet my expectations. I just feel it frizzled out in the finale week. Focusing on mental health, we had two characters who are facing mid life crisis due to different scenarios. While Nam Ha Neul (Park Shin Hye) suffered depression because of the abuse suffered at her mentor’s hands; Yeo Jeong Woo (Park Hyung Sik) suffers from PTSD because he was falsely accused of medical malpractice. Their individual traumas bring them together; as they struggle with everyday life, being jobless and lonely. The first half of the show was fantastic as the show conceded to the main protagonist’s struggles. There was also the mystery of who caused the medical accident at Jeong Woo’s clinic. Their budding romance was another highlight; but the second half turned out to be entirely boring. This was one of those shows which should have followed the Netflix’s typical pattern of having eight or so episodes. Because beyond that, there wasn’t much substance in the storyline. Let’s review the better parts of this romcom!

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https://kcdramamusings.wordpress.com/2024/03/19/doctor-slump-series-review/

Leia Mais

A Mindblowing Tale of Revenge and Reconciliation

Following up on the three part prelude of “Arthdal Chronicles”, the sequel “The Sword of Aramun” is a fast paced, action packed thriller of events that happen eight years later. The first chapter that ended in 2019 had the lead characters TaGon, Tae Al Ha, Eun Seom/Sa Ya and Tanya perceivably assuming different roles. Eight years, the saga leads them on a different journey as TaGon is faced with the shocking challenge of protecting his dynasty. There is a lot of scheming and plotting happening at any given point of time; each and every character is cunning and searching for opportunities to bring someone else down. Even the dynamics between TaGon and Tae Al Ha who were each other’s strengths have vastly changed in this season. While everything else has changed, the one thing that remains unchanged is EunSeom’s righteousness and kind nature. Starring Jang Dong Gun, Lee Joon Gi, Shin Sae Kyeong and Kim Ok Bin in the lead roles, the sequel is bigger, grandeur and more complicated. Let’s dive into the character’s individual journey as we review this show!

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https://kcdramamusings.wordpress.com/2024/02/16/arthdal-chronicles-the-sword-of-aramun-series-review/

Leia Mais

A Sweet and Breezy Workplace Romance

I’m not a huge fan of Chinese modern dramas; I mostly steer clear of them. If you are a regular reader of my blog, you will notice that I tend to lean more towards wuxia and xianxia dramas. As such, the only reason to start this one was- angst, lots of angst and more angst. Adapted from the novel “Dui Ni Bu Zhi Shi Xi Huan” (对你不止是喜欢) by Mo Yan Chuan (陌言川), the show stars Wei Zhe Ming and Huang Ri Ying in the lead roles, Tang Yu & Tang Xin. Yes, they share the same surnames, something that I have never seen in a Chinese drama before. I just started this drama on a wimp (because I had nothing else to watch) and surprisingly grew to like the characters as well as their individual stories. Technically, the show wades through different romances; but in the end, we only get two happy couples. The workplace setting, the premise of unrequited love adds a rustic touch to the story line and makes the characters even more intriguing. Let’s sit down and talk about my favorite moments in this sublime romance!

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https://kcdramamusings.wordpress.com/2023/12/14/i-may-love-you-series-review/

Leia Mais

Seven Lifetimes of Love

IQIYI’s highly anticipated wuxia drama “Love You Seven Times” recently finished its run and I’m still spellbound by the storyline. Adapted from the web novel “Yi Shi Chong Dong, Qi Shi Bu Xiang” (一时冲动，七世不祥) by Jiu Lu Fei Xiang (九鹭非香), the show stars Yang Chao Yue & Ding Yu Xi in the indomitable roles of the God of War Chu Kong & Empress Cang Hai. The storyline begins with an uncanny meeting between our main couple (in the present), where Chu Kong is trying to cure his damaged primordial spirit. Chu Kong had supposedly sacrificed half of his primordial spirit to vanquish the evildoer, Empress Cang Hai, in the past. If you are questioning the logic between pairing a protagonist and an antagonist, that’s where “Love You Seven Times” does a double take and gives you an effervescent love story that spans across seven lifetimes. The show (true to its name) has seven different settings and timelines where our main couple reincarnate, face various tribulations and return to the Heavenly Realm. Distinctly intertwined with these stories is the backstory, which dates back to 30,000 years where Moluo’s were the most powerful clan and Empress Cang Hai was the “Ruler of the Six Realms”.

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https://kcdramamusings.wordpress.com/2023/09/04/love-you-seven-times-series-review/

Leia Mais

The Worst Show of 2024, So Far

A hyped revenge saga that was bound to be good? Right?

I was so wrong when I wrote the First Impressions for this show. Starring Xu Lu, Wei Zhe Ming in lead roles, the drama was meant to fill the wide gap left behind after "White Cat Legend" & "In Blossom" finished airing. I was like "here's a good drama with a stellar casting, don't mind the mediocre settings". I really hoped that this show would be as good as the premise; unfortunately "Lady Revenger Returns from the Fire” became a stable foible of bad storytelling and wasted potential. While the show does try its best to draw intrigue with murder mysteries and encore suspense, it fails. The script is all over the place, the main protagonists though daring don't know what they are doing half of the time and the antagonists are plain stupid. Didn't make for an easy watch. So, why did I persevere to watch this horrible show? Read to find out why exactly!

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https://kcdramamusings.wordpress.com/2024/05/18/lady-revenger-returns-from-the-fire-series-review/

Leia Mais

An Entertaining Watch for a Weekend Binge

When I first started with this drama, it was solely for two purposes, first being Jeremy Tsui. I really enjoyed watching his recent dramas “The Autumn Ballad” and “Royal Rumours”. Secondly, because I had nothing else to watch and the fantasy element got me hooked. The show definitely had a strong start, I binged watched this on a weekend and was thoroughly entertained. Jeremy Tsui as Lu Shiyang has a meaty role; he is the Imperial Inspector tasked to arrest the female protagonist, Shen Zhen’s (Ouyang Nana) father. Yes, their romance begins from a full-blown war; the only catch being Lu Shiyan feels immense pain whenever Shen Zhen sheds tears. Their past life connection resonates throughout the storyline with Lu Shiyan remembering bits & pieces while Shen Zhen remains oblivious to his ordeal. It is this painful reconnection that makes them fall in love again. Let’s get down to reviewing the show in detail!

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https://kcdramamusings.wordpress.com/2024/03/16/yong-an-dream-series-review/

Leia Mais

The Best Fantasy Drama in a Long Time

Adapted from the web comic “Under One Person” (一人之下) by Mi Er (米二), YouKu’s latest fantasy drama “I Am Nobody” is a robust mix of intrigue, mystique, suspense and comedy. YouKu dropped the first four episodes unceremoniously on 4th August, 2023. Ironically, the next day, it was announced that the show has been suspended until further notice. After a month long delay, “I Am Nobody” resumed broadcast on 6th September, 2023. In the midst of all this drama, I really didn’t get the time to watch this show. I wasn’t enthusiastic about it and when I checked the first few minutes of the pilot episode, the show seemed mediocre. Despite that, suspending my disbelief, I decided to watch this show one more time, and this is what I learned- if you could get past the first few minutes of the zombie nonsensical action, then “I Am Nobody” is definitely your time. The show chronicles the main lead Zhang Chulan’s (Peng Yu Chang) journey as his life is toppled upside down when the said zombies steal his dead Grandfather’s body from his grave. Met with unusual circumstances in the “Outsider” world and haunted by a villainous group “Sinister Pleasure”, Chulan is forced to seek refuge with NDT Express (the official organization whose job is to punish evil Outsiders). Along the way, he is tutored by Feng Baobao (Wang Ying Lu), as he gets acquainted with other powerful Outsiders like Wang Ye (Neo Hou), Zhang Ling Yu (Bi Wen Jun) and Zhu Ge Qing (Julio Wan Yan).

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https://kcdramamusings.wordpress.com/2023/09/12/i-am-nobody-first-impressions/#more-126

Leia Mais

An Intriguing Mix of Suspense & Romance

Set in a fantastical universe, My Journey to You reunites “Love Between Fairy & Devil” co-stars Yu Shu Xin & Zhang Ling He. This drama is a long overdue treat for those fans who secretly shipped Yu Shu Xin & Zhang Ling He’s characters in LBFAD and hoped to see them together in another drama. If you are one of those fans, then it is time to rejoice; because this show pretty much hinges on the natural & refreshing chemistry between Yu Shu Xin & Zhang Ling He. Directed by Guo Jing Ming who is well known for helming fantasy artworks like L.O.R.D 1, L.O.R.D 2 and The Yin-Yang Master: Dream of Eternity, the show has the distinctive Guo Jing Ming signature. It is a big budget project with a high production value; set in a cinematic universe, everything about this drama screams opulence. Jing Ming never spares any efforts when it comes to building a fantasy world that is rich, divergent and intriguing; My Journey to You follows through on the same premise. You can’t help but gasp or swoon at the lush green locales or the snow-clad mountains; the settings are mesmerizing and beautiful. The costumes are resplendent and understated. Starring alongside Yu Shu Xin & Zhang Ling He are Ryan Cheng, Lu Yu Xiao who have prominent roles as well.

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https://kcdramamusings.wordpress.com/2023/09/08/my-journey-to-you-first-impressions/#more-114

Leia Mais

My Favourite Watch in 2024

Adapted from the web novel “Xi Hua Zhi” (惜花芷) by Kong Liu (空留), “Blossoms in Adversity”, this drama isn’t a one man show. No, rather it chronicles the individual journey of each character. It could be the main leads, Hua Zhi or Gu Yanxi, each of whom had their own struggles; or it could be the female residents of the Hua Family whose sudden fall from grace led them to live a life of misfortune, something they could have never imagined before. Even though they had their disagreements, blood is obviously thicker than water. They argued, fought and yet stood together when the times were worst. How far can a bunch of women hold out when the Emperor of the nation is out for their blood? The story line beautifully weaves a redemptive recourse with a somber romance. Neither overpower each other, they exist in perfect harmony, blending through motions. For now, let’s talk about the main characters and their journeys!

Read the complete article here-

https://kcdramamusings.wordpress.com/2024/04/27/blossoms-in-adversity-series-review/

Leia Mais

A Befitting Sequel to 2022's Sleeper Hit

Disney+ is back with the sequel to its 2022 hit “Soundtrack”. Starring Park Hyung Sik and Han So Hee in a “Friends to Lovers” romance, the show was well-received because of its heartfelt story and the natural chemistry between the two stars. “Unrequited Love” seems to be the recurrent theme in this series. Banking on this premise, “Soundtrack #2” stars Geum Sae Rok, Steve Noh and DEMIAN in a surreptitious love triangle that is equal parts exciting and intricate. With Director Kim Hee Won’s return, you can expect great things and honestly, I wasn’t disappointed with the pilot episodes. Despite the short format, the first two episodes weave a somber tale encompassing the main lead’s past affairs and their present trajectory. It is as slow burn as it can be and yet, the characters are so quirky; you can’t help but fall in love instantly.

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https://kcdramamusings.wordpress.com/2023/12/07/soundtrack-2-first-impressions/

Leia Mais

Not on Par with the Prequel

Keeping up with its popular first edition, “The Uncanny Counter Season 2” truly packs a punch with upgraded versions of both the protagonists and antagonists. With evil spirits pooping right and left, our favorite gang of Counters have been training their psychokinesis skills, under the able leadership of So Moon. The show has been in making for almost three years and is undoubtedly one of the most anticipated releases in 2023. With a casting that is comparatively bigger than the prequel, “The Uncanny Counter Season 2” delivers on its promise of some exciting demon hunting coupled with the effervescent familial love that is so typical of this show. Doing a short rehash of the prequel, The Uncanny Counter (adapted from the webtoon “Amazing Rumor” (경이로운 소문) by Jang Yi (장이) describes the story of evil spirit hunting heroes who are known as Counters. Each of them have different abilities and they are paired with their afterlife counterparts who exist in Yung (the boundary between the afterlife and the world of the living). The first season was well received and as such, the anticipation for the sequel has been building since then.

Read the complete article here-

https://kcdramamusings.wordpress.com/2023/08/24/the-uncanny-counter-season-2-counter-punch-first-impressions/

Leia Mais