#Shin Seol-hee

[leedongwook]

"Thank you. For keeping the promise."

Twinkling Watermelon 반짝이는 워터멜론 // Episode 16

[ppeonppeonhan]

Korean GLs I'd Watch...

Let's try to manifest a world where some of the biggest Korean actresses were cast in major full-length GL kdramas.

COP + CRIMINAL

Esom (Because This Is My First Life) and Lee Da-hee (Search: WWW) play partners and besties, who both fall for their respective suspects for a crime spree against the patriarchy. (Think: Evening the pay gap at a major company; exposing scandals of sexist politicians; and chemically castrating sex offenders). Esom's love interest is Park Eun-bin (Extraordinary Attorney Woo), and Da-hee's love interest is Seo Yea-ji (It's Okay to Not Be Okay). It's a romantic crime thriller.

FRIENDS to LOVERS

Seol In-ah (Business Proposal) plays a new-money rich girl who hires a former old-money rich girl, played by Yoo In-na (Touch Your Heart), to be her personal assistant out of pity, but pretends she doesn't know her backstory. And Yoo helps Seol navigate rich society. Their conflict is that Seol's family bankrupted Yoo's family, and is getting the life Yoo was supposed to have, including the fiancee, the job, and the house. It's a sweet romantic comedy.

BOSS + EMPLOYEE

Kim Ji-won (Fight My Way) starts a job at a family law firm and works hard to get one of the partners, played by Son Ye-jin (Crash Landing on You), to be her mentor, but only because she wants her job. She starts off as a frenemie before Ye-Jin's hard edges rub off, and Ji-won develops a crush. Their obstacles are that Ye-Jin is married and in the closet, and Ji-won might be too ambitious to let go of her goals. It's a slow-burn romantic legal drama.

COOL GIRL + DORK

Park Shin-hye (Heirs & Pinocchio) plays a cold fashion house designer who hires an unlikely candidate to be her muse, played by Moon Ga-young (True Beauty). And what starts off as a toxic relationship blooms into a supportive one. Park Bo-young (Strong Girl Bong-soon) plays her head of design, who befriends Ga-young's bestie-turned-manager, played by Kim Seul-gi (Oh My Ghostess). They're the softer side couple. It's a romantic workplace dramedy.

FRIENDS to ENEMIES to LOVERS

Seo Hyun-jin (Why Her?) and Gong Hyo-jin (When the Camellia Blooms) were friends in college, but they had a falling out after a misunderstanding about a guy. They have a tense reunion as adults when Hyo-jin is setting up her nuptials at the wedding hall Hyun-jin manages. It's a slowburn romantic drama.

ONE-SIDED OBSESSION

Shin Min-a (Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha) plays the wife of a very powerful and abusive man and Hwang Jung-eum (She Was Pretty) plays the maid who is secretly in love with her and helps her escape. They go to Jung-eum's hometown where everyone assumes she's bringing her girlfriend home for the first time, because she didn't have the heart to tell them she got dumped after running away to be with her. Min-a decides to pretend to be the woman to pay her back, and they fall in love. The conflict being when Jung-eum's ex, played by Park Min-young (What's Wrong with Secretary Kim), returns to get her back.

💜 Your move Kdrama world! 💜

[sqjxnnie]

night has come icons

✰ please, like if you save

[stuff-diary]

Twinkling Watermelon

TV Shows/Dramas watched in 2023

Twinkling Watermelon (2023, South Korea)

Directors: Son Jung Hyun & Yoo Beom Sang

Writer: Jin Soo Wan

Mini-review:

I loved Twinkling Watermelon so so much. This drama made my Mondays and Tuesdays for eight weeks. The story might not be groundbreaking, but it's incredibly well-written and fun. I was afraid the plot would be too simple to make it through 16 one-hour episodes, but it never dragged at all. There was always something to look forward to, and many of the twists caught me by surprise. On top of that, the writer gave us two fantastic love stories. Seriously, both of them are among the best I've seen in a K-drama. But the real focus of the show is the friendship between all the main characters, and its portrayal of youth was really heartwarming and nostalgic. And the whole cast was incredible too, they absolutely delivered at every turn. The only flaw I can point out is that the representation wasn't perfect, and they should've hired at least some deaf actors. Besides that, I don't have any complaints. I might go as far as saying this is one of my favorite dramas of all time, and I'm gonna miss it so much.

[lyrics365]

Echo

geudaeyeo, naegero wa kkok japeun suljane buleul bakhyeoyo nareul itji malayo geu yeoreumui kkeuteseo jukeun deut salagagiro haeyo o, uri sarangeun chumchuneun bulbitcheoreom hansungan sarajineun hanyeoreum bam kkumilkkayo cheongukui muneul yeolgo seororeul hemaeineun meariilkkayo geureoni eoseo wayo geu yeoreumui kkeuteseo jukeun cheok salagal teni o, uri sarangeun chumchuneun…

[kdramaspace]

🔁 please consider reblogging to increase our sample size

as always, if you’d like to submit a potential POTW question, you may send in your submissions here.

[odanurr87]

Alchemy of Completed 2022 Kdramas - Part 1

Last year I watched a bunch of kdramas, too many for me to properly review at the rate I write about them. As a result, I'm gonna try something different and quickly review those dramas that released in 2022 that I watched, and maybe recommend a few alternatives here and there in those cases where the show didn't live up to the task. Considering it's been a while since I watched some of these dramas, I binged a couple of them again to better inform my commentary. If you're short on time, or just want to add kdramas to your ever-increasing watchlist, you'll find a ⭐ next to the titles I wholeheartedly recommend, and a 💀 next to those I feel should best be avoided, but you do you. If you still haven't watched some of these shows, this list will hopefully give you some idea of whether you'll enjoy watching them (or not).

A brief note on my rating system before we begin. I use bins for my 1-10 scale in the following way:

Anything between 5 and 6 is considered average

Shows between 7 and 8 are considered above average

Shows in the 9 to 10 range are the cream of the crop

Anything between 1 to 4 is considered below average, with the 1-2 range reserved for the worst offenders.

Thus, I have two possible scores for the average, above average, and cream of the crop categories, what I believe makes my life a little easier when rating shows. I have occasionally given half point ratings (e.g. 7.5) to certain shows when I feel they're halfway to a better grade, but that has been the exception rather than the rule.

So without further ado, welcome to my Alchemy of Completed 2022 Kdramas - Part 1!

A Business Proposal⭐

Episode count: 12

Where to watch: Netflix

Rating: 8/10

Verdict: "You know I'm good at a lot of different things, right?"

We start with one of my favourites and the best short romcom of 2022. Based on the manhwa of the same name by Haehwa (original story) and NARAK (art), Taemu Kang (Ahn Hyeo Seop) plays the 'perfect CEO' stereotype who ain't got no time for love so, after several hilarious events, he eventually hires Hari Shin (Kim Se Jeong) to play the part of his girlfriend to fool grandpa. Unbeknownst to him though, Hari is his employee. Will their fake relationship turn into a real one? You bet your ass!

The show ticks almost all of the required tropes, subverts some -what was a pleasant surprise- and entertains throughout, making perfect use of its runtime. The second lead couple, played by Kim Min Gue and Seol In Ah, also turned several heads, not to mention the latter had great BFF chemistry with Kim Se Jeong. Week after week, I was looking forward to every episode of this show, especially considering how disappointing another romcom that aired around the same time turned out to be, and that you may or may not find in this list. You could say this show aired just in time for Samantha and Rachel to cure my FLAWless disappointment.

Again My Life⭐

Episode count: 16

Where to watch: Viki

Rating: 8/10

Verdict: Lawful Lawyer is back!

The better Lawless Lawyer of 2022. Kim Hee Woo (Lee Joon Gi) is a prosecutor who travels back in time to put the people who murdered him behind bars while the audience wonders which female lead he should date. And between Kim Ji Eun, Hong Bi Ra, and Veronica Park Kim Jae Kyung, well, he's definitely not lacking in choices. Fortunately, time travel is merely used as a trigger to tell the story (similar to 365: Repeat the Year in this respect), so we don't have to worry about kdramas' rather abysmal track record with sci-fi. The show keeps you hooked episode after episode, finding a good balance between the scheming, putting people behind bars, throwing some punches (has those trademark LJG action sequences!), all the while going after the next big fish. Last, but not least, it does an incredibly good job at managing an ensemble cast of characters, and there are a lot of them! If you're a fan of Lawless Lawyer or Lee Joon Gi, you can't go wrong with this one.

Alchemy of Souls - Part 1

Episode count: 20

Where to watch: Netflix

Rating: 6/10

Verdict: Watch a fantasy cdrama instead

Alternatives: Fights Break Sphere, Fighter of the Destiny

When I watched the character promos for this show I thought this could be Korea's answer to some of China's fantasy dramas, possibly Xuanhuan dramas, and I was all for it! I liked the male actor, Lee Jae Wook, in other dramas I'd watched with him (he was great in When the Weather is Fine and Search: WWW), and Jung So Min playing a master assassin and mentor in a fantasy drama was quite appealing. Of course, I was a bit worried when the teaser dropped, with its emphasis on some weak comedy, but I decided to give the show the benefit of the doubt. Sadly, Part 1 didn't live up to the task. It meandered a lot, definitely under-using its 20-episode order, focusing on every romantic relationship under the sun and then some, ultimately delivering an unsatisfactory hero's journey for the ML, while the antagonists played ping-pong with the alchemy of souls. At times, I was reminded of Hwarang, a show I have reviewed very poorly and that seems to have relied on the idol factor to garner popular appeal.

I've previously compared Jang Uk's journey to that of Xiao Yan from the cdrama Fights Break Sphere, in that I expected the former, from the previews, to undergo a similar rise to power as the latter, rigorously training under his master, slowly climbing his way back to power, but with the additional appeal of developing that romantic relationship between Jung So Min's character and Lee Jae Wook's, what would've made for a more rewarding journey for both the character and the audience. This is a tried-and-true formula, also used by the popular anime The Rising of the Shield Hero, to mention but one other example. Unfortunately for us, Jang Uk can hardly be bothered to train (supposedly, he "trained" with twelve masters for years and didn't learn a damn), except at the very specific, and limited, times that the script dictates, instead relying on luck and plot contrivances to "skip ahead" his way to power, what makes for far less memorable scenes. Additionally, the cdrama nails the master-student relationship thanks to the great rapport between Baron Chen's Yao Chen and Leo Wu's Xiao Yan, but there's hardly such a bond between Mu Deok and Jang Uk.

In the end, Part 1 of Alchemy of Souls should've been about Jang Uk's rise to power under the guidance of his master, and later love interest, Mu Deok, but it's too unfocused, its attention constantly diverted by comedy, love polygons, or caricaturesque villains doing dumb things under everyone's noses. Perhaps its only saving grace was the character of the Crown Prince, brilliantly played by Shin Seung Ho, who was able to nail both the comedy and the drama when called for. However, if you're looking for a good fantasy drama with a more traditional (or any) hero's journey, watch Fights Break Sphere instead, with the caveat only the first season has been released, and it's doubtful there'll be a second. I'd also recommend Fighter of the Destiny, with Lu Han. It probably doesn't have as good CGI or sets, but it has a better grip on the hero's journey than Alchemy and nails the camaraderie aspects.

Alchemy of Souls - Part 2

Episode count: 10

Where to watch: Netflix

Rating: 7/10

Verdict: Works better as a standalone watch

I should've probably left Part 2 of the show for Part 2 of my list, but I'm going in alphabetical order so that's that. This is one of the shows I decided to rewatch to refresh my memory and, to my surprise, it fared much better the second time around. Why's that? Read on to find out!

Part 2 of Alchemy of Souls starts strong, much stronger than Part 1 did, something many were doubting when the news hit that Jung So Min wouldn't return for Part 2, instead being replaced by the original Naksu actress, Go Youn Jung. Fortunately, she does an excellent job throughout, but especially in the beginning of Part 2, which comes across as more of a fairy tale (Rapunzel's), and where the show decides to embrace some of the typical marriage contact tropes, as Young Jung's character fake-marries the now uber-powerful Jang Uk in order to escape from her mother's tight grasp. Honestly, I wish the show had started with Part 2, in media res, and used the material from Part 1 for flashback storytelling, in a similar vein to how The Untamed did it. God, that would've been so good! Precisely because Jang Uk has become sort of a demigod he can boss around all of the useless supporting characters from Part 1 (I'm looking at you, Pathetic Assembly of Evil), and pretty much do whatever he wants, so it's quite commendable to see him return smarter and more measured in his decision-making.

As someone who watched Part 2 live back then, it started to lose its initial glimmer when an inevitable reveal kept being delayed episode after episode, hinting that it would obviously occur the next one. Of course, this never happened, but what made matters worse was the fact that the ML was kept oblivious while everyone around him found out and chose not to tell him because... reasons? I can understand one person keeping the secret for his own agenda, maybe a couple, but I find it astonishing that even Jang Uk's friends and family shared this same agenda, as they also kept the truth from him. Additionally, the more this delay continued the further the narrative possibilities were constrained and, thusly, certain scenarios conjured up by fans never came to pass. However, this will not be much of an issue for people coming in blind to Part 2 (or with a healthy distance from Part 1). Perhaps even the fact that the noble idiocy card is played, or that the main antagonist is obstinately preserved by the writers until the very last episode to little effect (when he shouldn't have made it past Part 1), won't present much of an issue to newcomers.

Having said this, I still feel the final battle for the fate of the world remains rather underwhelming and anticlimactic, not helped by the fact that certain characters are resurrected right before said battle. After all, if the show outright establishes death is not permanent, minutes before "the end of the world," why should I fear for any of the characters? Even Jang Uk himself, during this final battle, doesn't show an ounce of worry that maybe this time he will not make it out alive, regardless of his powers, making the fight seem entirely mechanical and perfunctory. The writers even throw in some half-baked plot device about the King's Star being powered by seven other stars, and since it had never been explained throughout the show a character has to exposition-dump it on our laps (there's quite a lot of exposition dump going around in Part 2, what helps newcomers to the show). It's a plot device prominently featured in the cdrama Fighter of the Destiny, which I previously recommended, so maybe it was inspired by it?

In the end, if you still want to get a taste of the Alchemy experience, I wholeheartedly suggest you treat Part 2 as the original show, with Part 1 being the prequel made to cash in on the show's success that, ultimately, you may not even need. Thus, as a standalone, I'm revising my original rating for Part 2 from a 6/10 to a 7/10, bumping it into my above average bin.

Extraordinary Attorney Woo

Episode count: 16

Where to watch: Netflix

Rating: 6/10

Verdict: Better luck in S2

Alternatives: Good Doctor, Again My Life

Woo to the Young to the Woo started off with a bang and had me sold after binging its first four episodes (I had a bit of an offset), making me hopeful this could be one of my favourites from 2022. Sadly, it was thereabouts that the quality of the writing slowly started going downhill for me. Woo lost me on two fronts: the weak framing and execution of the legal cases, and the underdeveloped cast of supporting characters, who were mostly neglected in favour of Park Eun Bin's Young Woo. Don't get me wrong, Park Eun Bin nailed the character, and her conversation with her mom in Episode 8 was particularly poignant and well executed, but it wouldn't have hurt to give characters like Min Woo or Jun-ho a case that resonated with them, like "The Strife of the Three Brothers," which was relevant to Young Woo's BFF Geu Ra-mi.

I'll take Min Woo as an example because, out of the whole cast of supporting characters, he showed the most promise. The show mentions in passing that Min Woo is his family's sole breadwinner, what could explain why he's so competitive and regards Young Woo as a threat rather than a boon, but the show never tries to explore this when it has the perfect medium to do so in the form of the legal cases. So why not give him a case that echoes some of his struggles trying to support his family while making headway into the competitive legal world, thus allowing us and his teammates to get to know him a little better? In essence, show us, don't just tell us. How am I then supposed to buy his sudden change-of-heart in "The Blue Night of Jeju" when you've given me nothing to support the fact he's bonded with anyone in the team? (besides Jun-ho who was already his flatmate) Perhaps not surprisingly, this particular episode throws a bunch of arcs left and right for the supporting characters to try and grab hold of, but too little too late.

As a procedural, I feel Extraordinary Attorney Woo is pretty average. It either didn't know how or never intended to handle its supporting cast of characters and successfully integrate them into the narrative, similarly to how a show like Again My Life did. To draw a curious parallel, the final episode of Again My Life gathers all of "the good guys" at the restaurant of Hee Woo's parents. There are 14 of them in total, not counting Hee Woo and his parents, and I feel like they've truly become one big extended family by show's end. Extraordinary Attorney Woo has a similar scene, gathering everyone at Min Shik's place that is meant to convey the same feeling, but they don't quite feel like a team yet, let alone a family. Maybe in Season 2?

If you're looking for a show featuring another savant autistic lead, but with a better grasp on developing an ensemble cast of characters, as well as a romantic relationship between the leads, then Good Doctor is the show for you. On the other hand, if you're looking for a kickass lawyer, well, you probably already know who I'm talking about.

Fanletter, Please⭐

Episode count: 4

Where to watch: Viki

Rating: 8/10

Verdict: A lot of heart in a small package

The first among three shows in these lists that feature Choi Soo Young and Yoon Park as either main or supporting leads. I'd only previously watched Choi Soo Young in So I Married an Anti-Fan, a show not without its share of issues, but her as the female lead wasn't one. Indeed, she was one of the highlights and I was looking forward to seeing more of her work. As such, I was looking forward to this mini-series, more so when I realised Yoon Park would play the role of a father willing to move heaven and earth for his daughter, what is not a typical setup in kdramas (in my watching experience, mind you). Off the top of my head, I can only think of Marriage Contract and Lie After Lie as similar shows, in terms of how much of a protagonist the child actor is. Both are shows I would wholeheartedly recommend.

As for Fanletter, Please, I was positively pleased by how much content and social commentary this show was able to fit into its 4-hour runtime without harming the storytelling, something that even full-length kdramas struggle to achieve. Having said that, I would've welcomed one or two more episodes to let it breathe a little bit more and, of course, to watch some cute family moments! This is definitely a case of so good you want more of it. Still, Choi Soo Young and Yoon Park make it work within the available runtime, what's a credit to them and the script. CSY was on a roll last year (as you'll find out in Part 2!) so I'll have to keep an eye out for more of her dramas, and it was very welcome to see Yoon Park play this devoted father character after the disappointing Forecasting Love & Weather (though he was pretty good in it). Give me more short dramas!

Forecasting Love and Weather

Episode count: 16

Where to watch: Viki, Netflix

Rating: 6/10

Verdict: Couldn't forecast love and I have my doubts about the weather

Alternatives: She Would Never Know, The Rational Life

I have a soft spot for Park Min Young, having watched romcoms like What's Wrong With Secretary Kim? and Her Private Life, or even melodramas like When the Weather is Fine. And who can forget Healer, where she played the part of Lois Lane to Ji Chang Wook's Clark Kent (watch it, it's a classic). I couldn't remember a drama with her that I didn't enjoy watching, so it broke my heart a little to see what a disappointing mess Forecasting Love and Weather turned out to be. I should've heeded a friend's advice to steer clear of Song Kang dramas, even though the script was clearly the worse offender by far.

The show hooked us in with the initial romcom elements, and then decided to veer into slife/melo territory, as the relationships between the different couples started to fray, with conflict being driven at an accelerated pace by the issues that arose from poor communication, or an outright absence of it, and how the different couples handled (they often didn't) the results of their miscommunication. I didn't much mind at the time because I felt they were being somewhat mature about it without overplaying their hand, and because my weekly romcom fix was being delivered by A Business Proposal, but they were treading a fine line... that got utterly ground into dust in the last six episodes. At this point in the show, the nonsensical drama was amped considerably, to the point it could've given Young Lady & Gentleman a run for their money, setting us up for the inevitable breakup. Why? Because the kdrama gods have written that a breakup must inevitably occur in Episode 14 or thereabouts, and this show is not about to subvert that trope!

Like Extraordinary Attorney Woo, Forecasting Love and Weather failed at properly handling its ensemble cast of characters, trying to juggle five relationships to some very mixed results, when it would've been better off simply focusing on the main and secondary couples. As a result, by show's end I could've cared less what happened to the main couple, and was actually a bit more invested in the secondary one, played by Yoon Park and Yura, possibly because they at least tried to talk to each other and work things out. Honestly, Yoon Park's Ki Jun got the better deal out of all the characters in the show. How do you make Ki Jun, the guy who cheated on his fiancée with Si Woo's girlfriend, a more likable, or at least interesting, character than everyone else? You have him grow from an immature baby into a more or less responsible adult. You could argue that the main leads experience growth of their own, but it struck me as a bit aimless, a bit hollow. I mean, 16 episodes for Ha Kyung's boss to tell her you learn more from your mistakes than you do your successes? Seriously? Just go to r/GetMotivated for that.

Would I recommend this show? Unless you want to learn a little about what goes on behind the scenes of a weather forecast, not really, but maybe it's my fault for having high expectations due to PMY. It's not a bad show though, just average. If you want far better executed takes on this concept, check She Would Never Know on the kdrama side, and The Rational Life on the cdrama side.

Glitch💀

Episode count: 10

Where to watch: Netflix

Rating: 3/10

Verdict: Watching an episode of Ancient Aliens on the History Channel would've been more exciting and a lot shorter too

Alternatives: Circle

Can I get away simply by saying watching this show was a glitch? No? Dammit. I should've known better than to watch a Netflix-produced kdrama, even if it does star Nana, 'cause they've all been a bust for me, but Glitch was one of the privileged few shows I watched in 2022 that made me feel I had utterly wasted my time, with no redeeming qualities about it. 500 minutes to tell a story that lacks focus and is all over the place, perhaps stretched thin to meet a Netflix episode quota, with a FL that is not particularly interesting to follow, as she goes through a midlife crisis and teams up with Nana to investigate a UFO cult that may or may not have kidnapped her ex to sell his kidneys. Okay, maybe I made up that last bit about the kidneys.

The comedy doesn't land, the mystery doesn't land, the drama doesn't land, and the UFO doesn't land either. Undoubtedly, the finale is the better episode of the show, not least of why because it marked the ending, but also because the show didn't have any more time to dawdle as it had been doing for the past nine episodes, what gave it some much needed focus. To make matters worse, the surprises and twists at the end of each episode just weren't good enough to keep you hooked, nor, I'm afraid, were the leads. I was tempted at the time to give this show my first ever 1/10 for the way it wasted my time over the span of those 500 minutes, with a story that was infuriatingly inconsistent and lacked a lot of common sense, but it's probably not that bad. Still, I would only recommend watching it to my enemies, probably alongside something like Sisyphus.

Good Job

Episode count: 12

Where to watch: Viki

Rating: 7/10

Verdict: Good fun

Alternatives: Secret Royal Inspector

Another ENA network show, like Extraordinary Attorney Woo, but shorter and more entertaining, as we follow the crazy antics of Eun Soon Woo (Jung Il Woo), a chaebol CEO who doubles as a private detective (think Bruce Wayne/Batman), and Don Se Ra (Kwon Yu Ri), his newly-recruited superpowered assistant, as they aim to solve a 20-year-old cold case while uncovering other, smaller, cases, helping people and rectifying injustices along the way.

Good Job is just a fun ride overall, even if the comedy can be a little hit-or-miss sometimes, especially when it drags on for too long or tries the Marvel route of undermining certain scenes. The writing too could've benefited from another revision, as some events feel gratuitously delayed, like when a character refuses to reveal a certain name only to do so a few minutes later, while others are forced to a head, like Se Ra discovering Soon Woo's batcave. Oh, yeah, he has a batcave, of sorts, and even an Alfred, in the form of Lee Joon Hyuk's Director Hong, whom you may recall from Mystic Pop-Up Bar. He also has a talented sidekick and comedic support, Jin Mo (Eum Moon Suk), both a lawyer and a hacker, who also gets into a romantic entanglement of his own with Se Ra's best friend, Na Hee (Song Sang Eun). This is the mini-Justice League you'll see play dress-up (these scenes are so over-the-top fun!) from episode to episode, as they go undercover to solve cases and get one step closer to their goal. In this sense, this show could be compared to something like Taxi Driver, but, unlike the latter, Good Job doesn't take itself too seriously and neither should you for maximum enjoyment.

While the resolution of the final case felt a bit underwhelming, and perhaps a tad perfunctory (I did appreciate the brief redemption arc for one of the antagonists though), Good Job achieves in 12 episodes what Extraordinary Attorney Woo could not in 16, making its cast of characters grow into a team, one I would not mind accompanying in more adventures in future seasons. Will that happen? Probably not, so if you're looking for more fun adventures of the sort, and don't mind traveling to the past, I would not hesitate to recommend Secret Royal Inspector, with Kim Myung Soo and Kwon Na Ra.

Grid💀

Episode count: 10

Where to watch: Disney+

Rating: 4/10

Verdict: Another nail in the kdrama sci-fi coffin

Alternatives: 365: Repeat the Year, Reset, Circle

Sci-fi is one of my favourite genres, but kdramas have had a rather lousy track record at delivering good quality sci-fi and, sadly, Grid does nothing to change that. Our story starts in 1997, when a mysterious time traveler known as "the Ghost" laves a program for an energy grid to replace Earth's failing magnetic fields. This Grid is now managed by the Administration Bureau who intend to track down the Ghost and unlock the secrets of time travel... eventually. The show's comprised of only ten episodes, yet the pacing of the first half is slower than it has any right to be given the events depicted (hint: they aren't that exciting) and the dialogue isn't stimulating enough to sustain such a slow burner. This "season" could've been compressed into 5 or 6 episodes and it would've been stronger for it. Of course, then it would hardly qualify as a "season" (though Netflix seems to think it does).

The main plot line focuses around this serial killer and the fact that the Ghost is helping him evade capture. Why is this time traveler aiding and abetting a criminal? Honestly, this question was never interesting enough to fuel ten weeks of watching (the pain!) and it shows. Additionally, it is not answered conclusively, although there are some bread crumbs for the viewer to put the pieces together. In fact, this statement captures the show in a nutshell; it raises questions, but never provides any conclusive or satisfying answers, playing on the viewer's knowledge of other (better) time travel stories so they can come up with their own. Perhaps the worst example of this is the season finale, which is only meant to set up events for a possible S2 (in your dreams, or nightmares), thereby raising even more questions.

The writer behind this, Lee Soon Yeon, is apparently quite good, having written for Stranger and Stranger 2. I haven't watched either show so I can't comment on them, but time travel stories aren't for everyone. Having said that, the "mysteries" that are supposed to keep viewers hooked were also underwhelming. I remember reading an article that recommended Grid as a show that keeps you on the edge of your seat. I suppose it's possible to fall off your seat while asleep, right? If you want a show that uses time travel well, though in very limited fashion, merely as a trigger for the plot to unfold, watch 365: Repeat the Year. The cdrama Reset is a great exponent of using a time loop and one of my favourites from 2022. If you want kdrama's best exponent of sci-fi to date, watch Circle (review on the way).

If You Wish Upon Me⭐

Episode count: 16

Where to watch: Viki

Rating: 8/10

Verdict: The genie from Aladdin would be proud

First things first, there is a better version of this show if you take out the gangster storyline, which was entirely superfluous, and better integrate the sister storyline into the main plot. You can also drop the jealous doctor who added surprisingly little beyond being jealous at the required times (what a waste of a perfectly good character). Repackage it all into a shorter, 12-episode, season and this show could've reached 9-10 territory for me. Those are pretty much the weakest aspects of the show.

With that out of the way, it's a very good show. People have compared it to Chocolate given that it takes place in a hospice ward but, for my part, I dropped that show after 5 or 6 episodes, partly because of the ML. No such problem with Ji Chang Wook's character here, an orphan and ex-con with a heart of gold, and a cute dog he's named "Son." Despite all the abuse he's been subjected to throughout his life, he slowly starts to open up as he does community service at the hospice. Paired with Choi Soo Young's flirty Nurse Seo (love her!), these two alone make a powerful case for watching this show. Sung Dong Il also delivers a great performance and has some wonderful exchanges with Ji Chang Wook's character.

The show follows the "case of the week" formula for the most part, certainly during the first half of the drama, as Team Genie tries to fulfill the final wishes of the hospice's patients and often positively impact other people's lives in so doing. Be prepared and have tissues at hand. Beyond the gangster detour that wasted our time towards the end, and drew dangerously close to upending all the good will the show had garnered throughout its run, the final episode really brings it home, coming full circle and delivering a really satisfying conclusion to our story, one final surprise as Team Genie brings down the curtain on their show and bids us goodbye.

In short, yes, it could've been better with a tighter focus but, as it stands, it's one of the better shows to have come out in 2022, and perhaps Ji Chang Wook's best work since Healer (with the caveat that I have not yet watched Suspicious Partner nor Lovestruck in the City). And Choi Soo Young is now 2 for 2! (this girl's on 🔥🔥)

Jinxed at First💀

Episode count: 16

Where to watch: Viki

Rating: 4/10

Verdict: Oh, it's jinxed alright

Alternatives: My Girlfriend is a Gumiho, Goblin, Scripting Your Destiny

I had measured expectations for this drama. Na In Woo had previously worked with the same director in 2021's River Where the Moon Rises, a show I enjoyed a great deal, though mostly because it was the first time I delved deep into the history behind the drama, namely the tale of Princess Pyeonggang and On Dal the Fool, and the history of the Three Kingdoms' period. He was brought in late, with production underway, to replace Ji Soo; he barely slept, had to adlib a lot of his scenes, and still managed to have great chemistry with Kim So Hyun and, to my mind, had the better grasp on the character of On Dal. I'd hoped Jinxed at First would give him another opportunity to shine, but, alas, that was not the case.

The first episode alone is a hectic storytelling mess (and, incidentally, River Where the Moon Rises alumni reunion), rushing through a lot of backstory and setup for the rest of the season. We're introduced to Soo Gwang, a bright student with a promising future and powerful friends, whose life takes a turn for the worse when he meets Seul Bi (Seo Hyun), a woman imprisoned since birth by his best friend's dad because of her strange ability to see a person's future through a single touch. Cut to a year later, where we find Soo Gwang working as a fishmonger under a different name, only for Seul Bi to track him down again, determined to remain by his side.

Honestly, I'm not sure what genre this show wanted to be, but I'm pretty sure it failed at most of them. For the first 6 or 7 episodes it tried to resemble something like My Girlfriend is a Gumiho, as Seul Bi is just as innocent and naïve as Miho was (even if Miho sold it better than Seul Bi did, to my mind), and both male leads were resolved to get rid of her. This is perhaps the strongest portion of the show, as Seul Bi adapts to her new environment and neighbors, making new friends while at the same time helping Soo Gwang get rid of his (never explained) bad luck. I even enjoyed some of the comedy. However, unlike My Girlfriend is a Gumiho, there is not enough chemistry between the leads to have them fall in love with each other over the course of 6 or 7 episodes. Well, not in Soo Gwang's case at any rate, as Seul Bi has been infatuated with him for years. Upon falling in love, the trope that naturally follows is a break-up, after which point the show starts to resemble more of a makjang, turning to corporate and chaebol intrigue and infighting. This is also around the time Soo Gwang's best friend, Min Joon (played by Ki Do Hoon, from Scripting Your Destiny), decides he's in love with Seul Bi (what?), something even more out of left field, especially when he's already engaged to Lee Ho Jung's (Soljiwan!!!) charming character, Ja Kyung, who effortlessly stole every scene she was in. Min Joon, if you don't want her, I'll gladly take her off your hands!

Seemingly having exhausted the depth of its narrative well, the show dragged its feet for several episodes, eventually deciding the story was better served by turning a character into a psychopath, who also wanted Seul Bi for himself and was willing to kill anyone in the process, an eye-rolling set of circumstances eventually resolved thanks to Seul Bi's expansive (aka nonsensical) repertoire of supernatural powers. And, of course, in a show of this caliber, the amnesia trope could not be absent, a card that is dealt in the very last episode and resolved at the very last minute. What a payoff.

When I first learned of this drama I recall reading an outline that went something along the lines of, "Unlucky man meets a goddess of luck." Would it have been too much to ask for a show fitting that description, but in the vein of the excellent Goblin instead? Or maybe something like Scripting Your Destiny, which is certainly not as good as Goblin, but is still way better than this, and much shorter too. If you want to watch a show that features a romantic relationship between a god and a human, I encourage you to give those a try instead, as well as the aforementioned My Girlfriend is a Gumiho.

[wysteriahigh-rpg]

⛧ A-B-C-D ⛧

Anatchaya Suputhipong (Natty) - Brekker

Anton Lee - Gaku

Bae Joo Hyun (Irene) - Aqua

Barbara Palvin - Stone

Cha Eun Woo - Garfield

Chittaphon Leechaiyapornkul (Ten) - Kira

Cho Mi Yeon - Serenade

Choi Beom Gyu - Destrie

Choi Soo Bin - Labyrinth

Choi Ye Na - BILLIE

Choi Yeon Jun - BILLIE

Chou Tzu Yu - soul

⛧ E-F-G-H ⛧

Fukutomi Tsuki - Brekker

Han Dong Min (Taesan) - Helyg

Han Yu Jin - Mimi

Hanni Pham - Labyrinth

Hong Eun Chae - Hina

Hwang Hyun Jin - Avalond

Hwang Ye Ji - soul

Kai Kamal Huening - Wari

⛧ I-J-K-L ⛧

Jake Shim - Gaku

Jang Won Young - Wari

Jeong Jun Ho - Rancid

Jeong Yun Oh (Jaehyun) - Mei

Jo Yuri - Baptism

Johnny Seo - Riv

Kim Dong Hyun (Lee Han) - Iridescent

Kim Jennie - Labyrinth

Kim Ji Woong - Howling

Kim Ji Soo - Zodiac

Kim Jong In - Kazu

Kim Min Ji - Helyg

Kim Min Jeong - BILLIE

Kim Sun Woo (Sunoo) - Helyg

Lalisa Manoban - Starlight

Lee Hee Seung - Rancid

Lee Ju Yeon - Helyg

Lee Min Ho (Lee Know) - Shota

Lee Tae Min - AKJ

⛧ M-N-O-P ⛧

Myoui Mina - Wari

Nakamoto Yuta - Ganamides

Ning Yi Zhou - Sillhvee

Nishimura Riki - Wari

Nakamura Kazuha - Bambi

Park Gun Wook - Silvergray

Park Sung Hoon - Baptism

Park Won Bin - Pierrot

⛧ Q-R-S-T ⛧

Park Jong Seong (Jay) - Mimi

Scarlet Leithold - Stone

Seol Yoon Ah - sweet.bubbles

Shen Quan Rui (Ricky) - Pantenom

Shin Ryu Jin - Gato

Son Chae Young -Gato

Song Ha Young - sakura

Sung Han Bin - BLOSSOM

⛧ U-V-W ⛧

Wen Junhui - soul

⛧ X-Y-Z ⛧

Ye Shuhua - Kuromi

Yang Jung Won - Brekker

Yoo Ji Min - amnesia

Zhang Hao - Mimi

⛧ FAMILIAS CANON ⛧

Dracul - Wari

De Nile - Brekker

Emberfall - Rancid

Pierrot - Rivers

[shinyempirerpg]

A-B-C

An Yu Jin (IVE) — Sugar Rush Cha Eun Woo — sunflower Christopher Bang — bluehour Choi Beom Gyu — LittleJoanna Choi San — sonogong Choi Soo Bin — Bonvoyage Choi Ye Rim — Cherry Choi Yeon Jun — Nahida

D-E-F

Fukutomi Tsuki — Eunoia

G-H-I

Hanni Pham — Kamek Han Yu Jin (ZB1) — Dumpling Hirai Momo — Kamek Hwang Hyun Jin — Némesis Hwang Ye Ji — Dalí

J-K-L

Jake Sim — Darimda Jang Won Young — jellypop Jeon Jung Kook — genos Jeon So Yeon — Bluey Jeon Won Woo — Zag Jeong Yun Oh — Blue Joshua Hong —sonogong Jung Woo Young — wang Kang Seul Gi — bluehour Kang Tae Hyun — shinyland Kim Chae Won — Kamek Kim Jennie — Promqueen Kim Ji Woong — Gaku Kim Ji Soo — Lynx Kim Min Ji— Hype Girl Kim Min Gyu — Than Kim Min Jeong (Winter) — Leixah Kim Seon Woo (Sunoo) — shinyland Kim Tae Hyung (V) — Bonvoyage Kim Yoo Jung — Pebbles Lalisa Manoban — Peach Lee Chae Min — Rotten Lee Chan (Dino) — Gatitos Lee Felix — shinyland Lee Min Ho (Lee Know) — Bonvoyage Lee Hee Seung — badlands Lee Ju Yeon — Nahida

M-N-O

Min Yoon Gi — Gatitos Minatozaki Sana — ReiRei Miyawaki Sakura — soul Myung Jae Hyun — Hype Girl Na Jae Min — poppy Nakamura Kazuha — ReiRei Naoi Rei — Darimda Ning Yi Zhuo — jellypop

P-Q-R

Park Ji Won (ESteem Model) — Gaku Park Jong Seong (JAY) — butch Park Sung Ho — Hype Girl Park Sung Hoon — Dumpling

S-T-U Seol Yoon Ah — kitty Shen Quan Rui (Ricky) — Disaster Shim Ja Yoon — Nahida Shin Yu Na — Peach Sung Han Bin — Sugar Rush Song Yuqi — ReiRei Stephen Yoon (Keeho) — soul

V-W-X

Wang Yi Xiang (Nicholas) — Gaku Won Ji Min — whiskerssmile

Y-Z

Yang Jung Won — caracolcito Yoo Ji Min (Karina) — whiskerssmile Yoon Jeong Han — Darimda Zhang Hao — whiskerssmile Zhou Tzu Yu — darum

[papaya2000s]

The Crossroads of Youth

It is important to recognize that "The Crossroads of Youth" and "Turning Point of the Youngsters" are two translations of the same Korean title, "청춘의 십자로." For clarity, this post will consistently refer to the film as "The Crossroads of Youth." Enjoy.

"The Crossroads of Youth" (청춘의 십자로; 靑春의 十字路) is a melodrama film from 1934, produced during the Japanese colonial era in Korea. Directed and written by Ahn Jong-hwa, the film features performances by Lee Won-yong, Shin Il-sun, Kim Yeon-sil, and Park Yeon. Notably, it predates Korea's first sound film, "The Story of Chunhyang," and is recognized as the sole surviving silent film from this period, classified as National Registered Cultural Property No. 488. The narrative follows the experiences of a protagonist who migrates from the countryside to the capital. Initially considered a lost film, its original version was rediscovered in 2007 and subsequently released in 2008, albeit with some unrestored segments.

A scene from the 1934 film Crossroads of Youth silent film

Directed by Lee Gyu-seol (이규설) Cinematography by Lee Myeong-woo

Supervision, Script and Editing by Jong-Hwa Ahn (안정화)

Production Company - Geumgang Cinema (금강키네마)

Opening Date - September 21, 1934 at the Chosun Theatre (조선극장)

Movie Duration - 73 - 80 Minutes

Nation - Japanese colonial period Joseon during the Japanese colonial period.

Language - Silent Film/ Korean Commentary

Cast:

Lee Won-yong (이원용) – played Yeong-bok (영복)

Shin Il-seon (신일선) – played Yeong-ok (영옥)

Park Yeon (박연) – played Jang Gae-cheol (장개철)

Kim Yeon-sil (김연실) – played Young-hee (영희) (Some say it is Gye-sun, not Yeong-hee)

Yang cheol (양철) – played Ju Myeong-gu (주명구)

Moon Kyung-shim (문경심) – played Bong-seon (봉선)

Lee Bog bon (이복본) – played Baggage Carrier Friend (수화물 운반부 친구)

Choi Myung-hwa (최명화) – played Baggage Carrier Friend (수화물 운반부 친구)

Plot

The film opens with the sight of a train passing, setting the stage for Young-bok's journey. Having left his mother and younger sister, Young-ok, in their hometown, he arrives in Seoul to work as a porter at Gyeongseong Station. Previously, Young-bok spent seven years as a son-in-law at Bong-seon's household, but he relocated to the city after Bong-seon was taken by Ju Myeong-gu. In his new role, he encounters Young-hee, a gas station attendant who struggles to support her ailing father and younger sibling.

In the meantime, Young-ok, having lost her mother, travels to Gyeongseong in search of her brother. Unable to locate him, she secures a position as a waitress at a café. During her employment, she meets Gae-cheol, a wealthy associate of Ju Myeong-gu, who exploits her vulnerability, leading to a traumatic encounter. Concurrently, Young-hee, who has also lost her job, becomes ensnared in Gae-cheol's predatory circle.

After fleeing her home, Young-hee confides in Young-bok about the harrowing events. Upon learning the truth, Young-bok confronts Gae-cheol at his residence, where he reunites with Young-ok. She recounts her ordeal, prompting Young-bok to seek vengeance against Gae-cheol. In a climactic confrontation, he and his fellow porters launch an attack on Gae-cheol and Ju Myeong-gu's gang. Ultimately, with the conflict resolved, Young-bok receives Young-ok's blessing and vows to start anew alongside Young-hee.

Production

"Crossroads of Youth" marked the inaugural production of Geumgang Cinema, a film production entity. Initially conceived as a sound film, the decision was made to transition to a silent format due to certain deficiencies identified in the original footage. Producer Park Chang-soo, who adopted the stage name Park Yeon for his role as Jang Gae-cheol, financed the project himself after experiencing setbacks in his acting career, including an unsuccessful audition for actor recruitment.

The filming took place across various locations in Gyeongseong. The narrative commences at Gyeongseong Station, where the character Yeongbok serves as a porter, while scenes featuring Yeonghee as a gas station employee were captured in the vicinity of Gyeongseong Station Square. Additionally, a pivotal fight sequence between the characters Banbu and Gookilgwan was filmed in one of Seoul's numerous restaurants.

Screening

"Crossroads of Youth" premiered at the Joseon Theatre on April 21, 1934. On September 26 of the same year, an incident occurred involving an actor from the film who was stabbed. Um Dong-ok (엄동옥; 嚴東鈺), a boxer and gangster known as Shinmajeok, confronted Lee Won-yong and Park Yeon after viewing the film. During this encounter, Um Dong-ok requested a drink, citing the movie's commercial success, and subsequently demanded payment for his suit. When Lee Won-yong refused to comply, Um Dong-ok attacked him with a dagger. The weapon penetrated Lee Won-yong's left abdomen, cutting through his suit jacket and pants, yet fortunately did not injure his flesh.

Excavation and Re-examination

Following the discovery of "Sweet Dream" in 1936, a private collector reached out to the Korean Film Archive, claiming possession of nine rolls of vintage film. The collector explained that his father had operated a cinema named Dansungsa until shortly after the Korean War began, and the films were preserved when the theater ceased operations during the conflict. Upon examination by the Korean Film Archive, it was confirmed that these rolls contained the original negative of "Crossroads of Youth," which premiered in 1934. Notably, the discovered material was a negative rather than a positive print, consisting of nitrate film, with eight rolls representing the main content and one roll dedicated to the ending credits. Regrettably, one of the eight main rolls exhibited a whitening effect, rendering it irreparable.

The discovery of this film marked it as the oldest surviving Korean cinematic work, leading to occasional screenings organized by local authorities and film archives. Given its silent film status, many of these screenings featured a narrator to provide context and commentary. In 2007, the Korean Film Archive was approached by another private collector who provided nine nitrate negative rolls from the 1930s. Among these, one roll included the film's concluding titles, while another was too deteriorated to undergo restoration. The collector's father had retained these films from his time managing Dansungsa until the onset of the Korean War.

During the restoration efforts, the film research team initially identified the work as "Passion Flowing Through the Galaxy," directed by Ahn Jong-hwa. However, further investigation clarified that the film was indeed "Crossroads of Youth." This process underscores the challenges associated with preserving nitrate film, which is susceptible to oxidation and poses significant fire hazards, as evidenced by historical incidents even in well-organized archival environments like the United States. The fortunate survival of these films, despite their precarious conditions, is a remarkable achievement in film preservation.

Evaluation

In 1938, the Chosun Ilbo Film Festival recognized "Crossroads of Youth" as the sixth best entry in its list of the "Top 10 Silent Films."

Show

At the time of its debut, "Crossroads of Youth" achieved significant commercial success. Baek Ya-saeng, in his article "15 Years of Joseon Cinema" published in the Chosun Ilbo, remarked that "Mr. Ahn Jong-hwa produced ‘Crossroads of Youth,’ and the audience, eager for Joseon cinema, responded with applause reminiscent of raindrops at a festival." He further noted that during its screening in Daejeon on Chuseok in 1937, three years post-release, the venue was filled to capacity.

Director Ahn Jong-hwa later reflected on the film's box office performance, attributing its success partly to the return of actors Lee Won-yong and Shin Il-sun to the screen after a lengthy absence, which provided the film with a competitive edge at the box office.

Impact and Value

“Crossroads of Youth” predates the first sound film, “Chunhyangjeon,” released in 1935, and stands as the sole silent film produced during the Japanese colonial era. Its historical significance is underscored by its designation as National Registered Cultural Property No. 488 in South Korea, reflecting its cultural and artistic value.

Film historian Kim Jong-won highlights several aspects of “Crossroads of Youth” that contribute to its importance in Korean cinema. It provides insight into the state of filmmaking at the conclusion of the silent film era under Japanese rule, showcases the talents of early silent film actors like Shin Il-sun, Lee Won-yong, and Kim Yeon-sil, and offers a glimpse into the early works of Ahn Jong-hwa, whose contributions remain largely unexamined due to the loss of his films. Notably, the film's discovery occurred within South Korea, further enhancing its cultural relevance.

Anseong Art Hall to hold performance of historical drama 'Crossroads of Youth'

Anseong Art Hall in Anseong City set to showcase the historical drama 'Crossroads of Youth' at 7:30 PM on July 28, 2021, in the Small Theatre. This event was part of the hall's programming for Culture Day in July and represents a reinterpretation of the 1934 Korean silent film 'Crossroads of Youth' by Jong-hwa Ahn, presented in a new format known as bensa drama. The performance aimed to evoke the atmosphere of the Gyeongseong theatre district during the 1930s, as articulated through the bensa's dialogue in the original film.

Anseong Art Hall in Anseong City will present the historical drama 'Crossroads of Youth' at 7:30 PM on the 28th as part of the July Culture Day planned performance at the Anseong Art Hall Small Theater. (Photo = Anseong City).

The significance of 'Crossroads of Youth' lies not only in its status as a landmark Korean film but also in its aesthetic and historical value. The film has garnered acclaim for its visual artistry and has been featured in prestigious film festivals, including the Seoul Chungmuro International Film Festival and the Busan International Film Festival in 2008, as well as international events such as the 47th New York Film Festival in 2009 and the Guanajuato International Film Festival in 2011. These accolades have played a crucial role in promoting the global recognition of Korean cinema and its performances.

This production is under the direction of Kim Tae-yong, known for his work on "The Birth of a Family" and "Manchu." Jo Hee-bong, recognized for his roles in "Chuno" and "My Love from the Star," served as the narrator, showcasing his abilities and artistry throughout the performance.

The silent film play "Crossroads of Youth" creatively fills the voids of silent cinema with a blend of humour and wit. Tickets were available for 5,000 won with a 'Culture Day Discount,' and Anseong Art Hall implemented safety measures by limiting attendance to 143 seats, which was under 50% of the venue's small theatre capacity, to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 transmission.

[ulkaralakbarova]

After a deadly earthquake turns Seoul into a lawless badland, a fearless huntsman springs into action to rescue a teenager abducted by a mad doctor. Credits: TheMovieDb. Film Cast: Nam-san: Ma Dong-seok Yang Gi-su: Lee Hee-jun Choi Ji-wan: Lee Jun-young Han Su-na: Roh Jeong-eui Lee Eun-ho: Ahn Ji-hye Kwon Sang-sa: Park Ji-hoon Teacher: Jang Young-nam Tiger: Park Hyo-joon Yeon-su: Seong Byeong-suk Madame: Jung Young-ju Ju-ye: Lee Han-joo Director Choi: Park Sang-hoon Director Oh: Ahn Seong-bong Ju-ye’s Father: Jeong Gi-seop Ju-ye’s Mother: Kim Young-sun Western Grandfather: Sin Sin-beom Western’s Mother: Hong Yi-joo Film Crew: Production Design: Jo Hwa-seong Sound Supervisor: Kim Suk-won Editor: Nam Na-young Special Effects Supervisor: Jung Do-ahn Adaptation: Ma Dong-seok Lighting Director: Song Hyun-suk Director of Photography: Byun Bong-sun Production Sound Mixer: Jung Gun Producer: Choi Won-ki Makeup & Hair: Nam Ji-soo Special Effects Makeup Artist: Pi Dae-seong Digital Intermediate: Lee Hye-min Production Design: Park Gyu-bin Original Music Composer: Kim Dong-wook Editor: Ha Mi-ra Martial Arts Choreographer: Heo Myeong-haeng Writer: Kim Bo-tong Executive Producer: Byun Seung-min Martial Arts Choreographer: Yoon Seong-min Original Story: Kim Dong-gyun Adaptation: Kim Chang-hoon Writer: Kwak Jae-min Executive Producer: Choi Byeong-hwan Special Effects Makeup Artist: Seol Ha-un Props: Kang Shin-hong Key Grip: Lee Hyun-gyu Special Effects Supervisor: Im Jong-hyeok Line Producer: Choi Su-im Visual Effects: Yuk Gwan-woo Movie Reviews: Chris Sawin: The film features some hard-hitting and explosive action sequences that will rightfully cater to fans of the genre. The battle in the basement of the apartment building, where we see Nam-san use a shotgun to blast his way through some of the doctor’s ‘enhanced’ individuals, is a total exhilarating blast. Ma Dong-seok has been a powerhouse for most of his career post Train to Busan, but he sends people flying whenever he throws his fist or pulls the trigger. _Badland Hunters_ also has to break a record for most decapitations in a film. **Full review:** https://bit.ly/bdlndhntr MovieGuys: Badland Hunters does something things well, others just passably. Action is wall to wall and well choreographed.Special effects are excellent. Characterisations are solid if predictable and the acting is not to be sniffed at. However, the story is unremarkable, with a climax that feels, well, anti climatic. In summary, an okay but hardly exceptional watch, that would have benefited from more creativity on the storytelling front. Ritesh Mohapatra: “Badland Hunters: A Visually Striking Action Spectacle with Narrative Shortcomings” In this post-apocalyptic action thriller, Badland Hunters, while suffering from a repetitive and clichéd plot and uninteresting characters, excels in stunning hand-to-hand choreography and scintillating action set pieces. The film benefits greatly from the expertise of its veteran stunt coordinator turned director, known for his work on Train to Busan. Commendable world-building, visionary concepts, and excellent VFX are hindered by conventional writing. The short, crisply edited runtime avoids unnecessary elements. Don Lee’s exceptional portrayal of Nam-san, with exhilarating action sequences, overshadows the film’s narrative weaknesses, making it a guiltily satisfying popcorn-worthy entertainer, particularly for adrenaline enthusiasts. Instagram & X @streamgenx.

[leedongwook]

“Watch closely. This is only for you and no one else."

Twinkling Watermelon 반짝이는 워터멜론 // Episode 13

[chants-de-rome]

Elegance de Muse

Name: Kim Ji Won (김지원) Birthday: October 19, 1992 Zodiac Sign: Libra Height: 164 cm (5’5″) Instagram: @geewonii Facebook: OfficialKimJiWon1

Kim Ji Won Facts: – She was born in Geumcheon District, South Korea. – She has an older sister. – Education: Dongguk University. – She is a former actress under Agent Lionmedia. – She is now currently under King Kong Entertainment. – Her nickname is “Little Kim Tae Hee” as she is alike to her. – She would like to shoot a household appliance commercial in the future. – She made her acting debut in Japan in 2012. – She is friends with actress Park Shin Hye. – She likes to listen to 70s and 80s music. – Kim Ji Won’s ideal type: Someone who makes sacrifices for their significant other.

Kim Ji Won Movies: Detective K: Secret of the Living Dead (조선명탐정: 흡혈괴마의 비밀) | 2018 – Wol YoungHorror Stories 2 (무서운 이야기 2) | 2013 – Sa Tan Hee Horror Stories (무서운 이야기) | 2012 – Herself Romantic Heaven (로맨틱 헤븐) | 2011 – Choi Mi Mi

Kim Ji Won Drama Series: Arthdal Chronicles (아스달 연대기) | tvN / 2019 – Tan Ya Mr. Sunshine (미스터 션샤인) | tvN / 2018 – Hui Jin (cameo ep. 1)Fight for My Way (쌈 마이웨이) | KBS2 / 2017 – Choi Ae Ra Descendants of the Sun (태양의 후예) | KBS2 / 2016 – Yoon Myung Ju Hidden Identity (신분을 숨겨라) | tvN / 2015 – Min Tae Hee (cameo) Gap-dong (갑동이) | tvN / 2014 – Ma Ji Wool The Heirs (상속자들) | SBS / 2013 – Rachel Yoo To The Beautiful You (아름다운 그대에게) | SBS / 2012 – Seol Han Na What’s Up? (왓츠업) | MBN / 2011-2012 – Park Tae Yi High Kick 3: Revenge of the Short Legged (하이킥: 짧은 다리의 역습) | MBC / 2011-2012 – Kim Ji Won

Kim Ji Won Awards: 2017 KBS Drama Awards | Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries (“Fight for My Way”) 2017 KBS Drama Awards | Female Netizen Award (“Fight for My Way”) 2017 KBS Drama Awards | Best Couple Award with Park Seo Joon (“Fight for My Way”)2016 KBS Drama Awards | Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries (“Descendants of the Sun”) 2016 KBS Drama Awards | Best New Actress (“Descendants of the Sun”) 2016 KBS Drama Awards | Best Couple Award with Jin Goo (“Descendants of the Sun”) 2016 APAN Star Awards | Best Supporting Actress (“Descendants of the Sun”) 2013 SBS Drama Awards | New Star Award (“The Heirs”)

[kdramaladies]

We would like to thank everyone who participated in our 2023 Year End Poll last month! Thank you to those who voted, promoted the event, and also liked/reblogged our top 10 gifsets.

If you missed the Top 10 sets we posted during the last 10 days of 2023, or would just like to support them again, please check out our event tag #KDLYEAREND23. We will also be listing the results for the Top 20 under the cut.

Please also check out our new desktop header featuring our top 3 winners by @orangesyellow, mobile header by @natahjikio and icon by @haeyeongs featuring our #1 voted character of 2023.

We hope your 2024 is off to a good start, and looking forward to another year of our favourite kdramas and ladies!!!

1) The Glory: Moon Dong-eun (Song Hye-kyo) 46 2) Moving: Lee Mi-hyun (Han Kyo-joo) 45 3) Twinkling Watermelon: Yoon Cheong-ah (Shin Eun-soo) 44 4) Crash Course in Romance: Nam Haeng-seon (Jeon Do-yeon) 42 5) Alchemy of Souls 2: Jin Bu-yeon (Go Youn-jung) 38 6) Revenant: Gu San-young (Kim Tae-ri) 36 7) Moving: Jang Hui-soo (Go Youn-jung) 35 8) King the Land: Cheon Sa-rang (Im Yoon-ah) 34 9) My Dearest: Yoo Gil-chae (Ahn Eun-jin) 33 10) Twinkling Watermelon: Choi Se-kyung/On Eun-yu (Seol In-ah) 29

11) Daily Dose of Sunshine: Jung Da-eun (Park Bo-young) 27 12) Call It Love: Shim Woo-joo (Lee Sung-kyung) 25 12) See You in my 19th Life: Ban Ji-eum (Shin Hye-sun/Park So-yi) 25 13) The Glory: Park Yeon-jin (Im Ji-yeon) 20 14) Crash Course in Romance: Nam Hae-yi (Roh Yoon-seo) 19 15) Crash Course in Romance: Kim Young-joo (Lee Bong-ryun) 17 16) The Uncanny Counter 2: Do Ha-na (Kim Se-jeong) 15 16) Love to Hate You: Yeo Mi-ran (Kim Ok-vin) 15 17) A Time Called You: Han Jun-hee/Kwon Min-ji (Jeon Yeo-been) 13 17) Tale of the Nine-Tailed 1938: Ryu Hong-joo (Kim So-yeon) 13 17) Doctor Cha: Cha Jeong-sook (Uhm Jung-hwa) 13 18) Mask Girl: Kim Mo-mi (Lee Han-byeol, Go Hyun-jung, Nana) 12 18) The Glory: Kang Hyun-nam (Yeom Hye-ran) 12 18) The Good Bad Mother: Jin Young-soon (Ra Mi-ran) 12 19) Doona!: Lee Doo-na (Bae Suzy) 11 19) The Good Bad Mother: Lee Mi-joo (Ahn Eun-jin) 11 20) Alchemy of Souls 2: Kim Do-joo (Oh Na-ra) 10 20) Heartbeat: Joo In-hae (Won Ji-an) 10 20) See You in my 19th Life: Yoon Cho-won (Ha Yoon-kyung) 10 20) Not Others: Kim Jin-hee (Choi Soo-young) 10 20) Call It Love: Shim Hye-seong (Kim Ye-won) 10 20) My Lovely Liar: Mok Sol-hee (Kim So-hyun) 10

KDRAMALADIES YEAR END POLL: Favourite Female Drama Characters of 2023

Welcome to our (hopefully!) annual year end poll! Vote for your favourite female characters from dramas in 2023, and at the end of the year we will announce and celebrate the top 10 most beloved characters with some gifs, and feature the top 3 in our blog’s desktop and mobile themes.

vote here

polls are open until December 10, 2023 at 11:59PM PST

results will be announced in the last week of December

the options are sorted alphabetically by title

only dramas set to complete by the start of the voting period has been included (dramas ending in December or January will be included in the following year's voting period)

if there are series or characters we missed, there is a write-in option at the bottom of the poll

if writing-in, please make sure to include the show title and the character or actress name

Happy voting! Please feel free to reblog this post to promote the poll to your friends and followers!

[korelist]

BUSINESS PROPOSAL //  KDRAMA DİZİ YORUMU

UYARI : Yazılar genel olarak spoiler içerebilir. İçermeyedebilir.

İmdb puanı: 8,2 Benim puanım: 7

Drama: Business Proposal

Hangul: 사내맞선

Director: Park Sun-Ho

Writer: Hae Hwa (web novel), Han Sul-Hee, Hong Bo-Hee

Episodes: 12

Date: 2022

Language: Korean

Country: South Korea

Cast: Ahn Hyo-Seop, Kim Se-Jeong, Kim Min-Kyu, Seol In-A, Song Won-Seok    

 Aynı isimli webtoondan uyarlanan Business Proposal uzun süredir izleme listemdeki bir diziydi. Çok fazla gözümde büyüttüğüm için bir türlü izleyememiştim. Tam anlamı ile çerezlik, eğlenceli bir diziymiş. Kore dizilerine nazaran mini dizi bile denilebilir, çünkü; 12 bölümden oluşuyor. Oyuncular keyifli, hikaye keza keyifli, vakit geçirmek için birebir bir.

Konusuna gelirsek; zengin iki aile büyüğü başarılı çocuklarının izdivacına ön ayak olmak istiyorlar. Ailesini kaybettikten sonra tek akrabası dedesi kalan Kang Tae-Moo (Ahn Hyo-Seop), yurtdışında eğitim almış, birçok alanda başarılı kendini geliştirmiş genç bir adamdır. Ülkesine dönünce şirketin başına geçmiştir. Bütün hayatı iş üzerine kuruludur. Dedesi Kang Da-Koo(Lee Deok-Hwa) ise artık torununun mürüvvetini görmek onu evlendirmek istemektedir. Seçtiği zengin ailelerin kızları ile sürekli buluşma ayarlamaya çalışır. Jin Young-Seo (Seol In A) ise , Chaebol ailesinin kızıdır. Babası kızını tek başına büyütmektedir. Artık düzgün varlıklı bir adamla evlendiğini görmek ister. Öte yandan Young-Seo kendi ayakları üzerinde duran bir kadındır ve aşık olup evlenmek istemektedir. Bu konuda babasını ikna edemeyince ayarlanan “kör randevu”ya en yakın arkadaşının gitmesini ister. En yakın arkadaşı Shin Ha-Ri(Kim Se-Jeong) randevuya gidecek, gelen damat adayını bezdirip onunla evlenmek istememesine neden olacaktır. Bir şekilde bu duruma ikna olan Ha-Ri randevuya gider.

Ancak randevu hiç kimse için umduğu gibi gitmez. Tea-Moo ile randevuda karşılaşan Ha-Ri, onun çalıştığı şirketin Ceo’su olduğunu fark eder. Tea-Moo ise Ha-Ri’nin aşırı hareketlerine rağmen ondan hoşlandığını evleneceğini söyler. Bu sırada kendi işleri ile meşgul olan Young-Seo ise markette aradığı ‘ilk görüşte aşk’ı bulur. Ve o kişide Kang Tae-Moo’nun sağ kolu Cha Sung-Hoon(Kim Min-Kyu)’undur.

Öncelikle diziyi sevdim, onu bir netleştirelim. Kim Se-Jeong’i The uncanny counter dizisinden tanıyorum. Orada daha maskülen bir karakterdi. Counter’da karakterlere çok romantik sahne yazılmadığı için bu dizide nasıl olacağını merak ediyordum. Bence olmuş, eğlenceli sevimli bir kadın karaktere bürünmüş. Hikaye başlangıcı ve örgüsü klişe ama eğlenceli olmuş. Kafa dağıtıp biraz uzaklaşmak için birebir olabilir. Gel gör ki, dizinin tek sevmediğim hatta nefret ettiğim noktası ise seyirciyi salak erine koyması oldu. Birbirlerinin gözünün içine bakıp gözüme bişey kaçmış tam göremedim diye çevirmeler mi dersiniz, açık açık görmesine rağmen anlamamalar mı dersiniz… Çok uzatılmış anlayacağınız. Ha-Ri’nin söylediği kişi olmadığını Tea-Moo’nun keşfetmesine kadar geçen sürede, ömrünüzden ömür gidiyor. Saçınızı başınızı yoluyorsunuz, ölüp ölüp diriliyorsunuz.

Senaryoda bütün klişeler var. Üçüncü kadın, erkekler. Yanlış anlamalar. Son dakika ile kaçırmalar. Zengin kız fakir oğlan, fakir kız zengin oğlan tripleri. İkili arasına giren aile büyükleri. Kuyu kazmacalar. Var da var yani. Bu kadar çerezlik bir dizi olmasının nedeni belki de bu olabilir. 12 bölümlük dizinin yarısı ay yanlış anladı, ay öğrendi mi diye geçti. Bu kadar boş sahneyi çekmeyip 6 bölümlük gerçekten mini bir dizi yapabilirlermiş. Gerçekten ama, o kadar yüksek eğitimler almış, on parmağında on marifet, zeki, çalışkan, kurnaz bir genç adam gözünün içine baka baka baka o kızı nasıl tanıyamaz, aklım almıyor. Biz bunu böyle yazalım, seyirci yer demişler. Bağır çağır salak yerine koymuşlar bizi.

İkinci çifti de sevdim bu arada. Onların arasında yanlış anlama olmaması bi nebze beni rahatlattı. Jin Young-Seo ve Cha Sung-Hoon çifti hoştular. Tanışmaları, karşılaşmaları, diyalogları tam romantik komedi tadındaydı. Kimseyi de salak yerine koymadılar. Ayrıca Tea-Moo’nun dedesi Kang Da-Koo dizi izleme konusunda benimle yarışır bir karakterdi. O pembe dizileri izleyip televizyon ile konuşan halleri çok eğlenceliydi. 2022 dizisi olan Business Proposal’ın webtoon’unu okumadım ama dizinin devamı geleceği söyleniyor. Konuyu bir şekilde tamamlayıp tatlıya bağlasalar bile Kore sonlarına benzemiyordu. Devam edeceği için olduğunu düşünüyorum. Eğlendim, saçımı başımı yoldum, güzel zaman geçirdim. İzlenebilir.

 OST:

Woo Ji Hun , Park Sejun - Be Mine

Raven Melus

BAŞKA NELER VAR ?

FOTOĞRAFLAR

[lyrics365]

치마 (Skirt) (Acoustic)

geuttaen malya urin urireul moreugo geoleotji du paleun heundeulrigo du darineun gabyeopge nan cheoljomangeul ttwieoneomeo jjiteojin bajireul kkwemaeeotna nan oteul beoteo deonjigo almome gin chimareul geolchyeotne yeongwonhi ttwieogari geu hae yeoreumi jinan georiui motungireul jina tto yeoreumi doeeo naneun yeojeonhi nareul moreun chae nan cheoljomangeul ttwieoneomeo jjiteojin bajireul…