Mr. Plankton: A Bittersweet Exploration of Love, Loss and Belonging

I just finished this drama and i absolutely loved it. To my surprise, the more i watched, the more the series grew on me. Initially when i saw E1, i didnt like it at all. But as the story began to unravel, i found myself getting more and more invested. Im not sure why it didnt click with me at first, maybe i wasnt in the right mood but this time, the show truly resonated with me.

The leads are incredibly flawed characters, which made them both frustrating and fascinating. At times i really disliked Hae Jo (ML) for his selfishness and the way he dragged Jae Mi (FL) into danger for his own selfish reasons. His harsh breakup with her was downright cruel and just when he learned about his impending death, he kidnapped her to spend his final moments with her. His actions made it difficult to root for him initially but as the story delved deeper into his character, I found it impossible to hate him. His backstory was heartbreakingly tragic and despite his flaws, i couldnt help but feel for him.

Jae Mi also frustrated me at times. How could she overlook someone as perfect as Eo Heung (SML)?? He was easily the best character in the series alongside Bong Suk. But as i accepted that the Jae Mi and Hae Jo’s love for each other was unwavering, it became easier to move past the idea of her and Eo Heung. Some relationships are simply not meant to be and theirs was one of those. Once i came to terms with this, i could fully like the leads and their pairing.

Hae Jo and Jae Mi seemed cursed by the abandonment of their parents yet they were incredibly lucky to have people like Bong Suk, Kkari and Eo Heung in their lives. I wish they had focused on cherishing the love and support they already had rather than searching for the parents who abandoned them.

Eo Heung and Juri were undoubtedly the heart of the series. Their love and care for Jae Mi and Hae Jo were unmatched. Bong Suk, in particular stood out, she was like a mother, sister and even a partner to Hae Jo. She raised him when he ran away, embodying every role he needed just as he described her in the first episode. Her dedication was nothing short of extraordinary.

Hae Jo’s closure with his adoptive father was intense moment but i still cant forgive that man for abandoning the child he raised with so much love simply because he wasnt his biological son.

One recurring theme in the show that irked me was the overemphasis on biological connections. Jae Mi’s desperate longing to become a mother felt unnecessary. Was it so important to have her own children?? As someone who grew up as an orphan, she could have understood the importance of love over biology. There are countless children in need of families, why not adopt and give them the love they deserve?? Similarly Eo Heung’s mother’s obsession with having biological grandchildren to carry on the family lineage felt outdated and frustrating.

Despite these issues, the characters felt incredibly real with all their flaws and complexities. Most of them left me with a warm & bittersweet feeling which is a rare feat for any series.

The show also delivered some deeply emotional moments, especially in the final two episodes which were nothing short of tear jerking.

Overall, Mr. Plankton is one of the best Netflix originals of 2024.

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The Struggles of a Thriving Immigrant Family Continues in Foreign Land

The ongoing struggles of a thriving korean immigrant family continue to unfold in foreign lands. This poignant story picks up seven years after the events of Season 1, diving deeper into themes of racism, identity and the painful ways individuals begin to reject their own heritage in order to fit into society.

This season’s heart is Noa's story. Once a gentle, hopeful child, we watch as the harsh realities of his surroundings shape his future. The haunting shadows of the past never leave this family and ultimately, the painful truths from their history come back to ruin everything.

This season also intricately explores the lives of other characters with great depth. Gyeonghui and Changho’s forbidden love, Yoseb’s harrowing PTSD after the war, Gyeonghui’s sacrifice of her love, Han Su’s obsessive ambitions for his son and Solomon’s battle to belong in japanese society as a korean, each of these stories runs parallel, weaving together to make this show feel complete. Each story presents its own unique struggles and perspectives.

The entire ensemble cast delivered marvelous performances, with several scenes leaving a lasting impact on me. The confrontation between Han Su and Noa in the last episode was powerful and Noa’s farewell to his mother, Sunja, was utterly heartbreaking. This scene was even more painful if you know how things unfold in Book 3.

Every time i see the older Sunja, the actress's eyes seem to tell the story of her past struggles. Even after losing so many loved ones, she carries on for the sake of her remaining family. The emotions she conveys are extraordinary and Youn Yuh Jung's portrayal is a masterclass in acting. Its no wonder she is an Oscar winner, her performance makes that clear.

Lee Minho who had never particularly impressed me before, truly shone in Pachinko. In Season 1, i especially liked his performance during the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 scene, where he was outstanding. In Season 2, i was most impressed by his confrontation with Noa where his micro expressions were spoton after Noa left his house.

Kim Minha delivered a brilliant portrayal of the mother of two teenagers. Not once did i feel she was too young for the role. The fact that Kang Taeju, who plays the adult Noa, is only four months older than her in real life surprised me the most!!

This season covers the events from Book 2 and i cant wait for the next season, which will delve into Book 3.

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The Most Beautiful Goodbye: A Drama That Feels Like Home

A few days ago, i discovered and watched Writer Noh Hee Kyung's this short drama The Most Beautiful Goodbye. Without a doubt, its one of the most realistic and moving dramas i have seen in a long time. The characters, story and situations felt incredibly authentic and the acting was outstanding. I found myself relating deeply to the characters, especially the FL. She reminded me of my own mother, the way she tirelessly gave her all to her family, her selflessness and her unwavering dedication. Anyone from a middle class asian family would easily connect with her or her family’s dynamics.

The characters felt so real, like people you would encounter in everyday life: the father who remains detached and oblivious to his wife’s sacrifices, the elder sister lost in her ambitions and tangled in her messy love life, the younger brother striving hard to get into university while being doted on by his mother and the grandmother struggling with dementia, lovingly cared for by her DIL who treats her like her own mother, even cleaning her diapers. Then there is FL’s brother, who is gambling addict and his kind hearted wife whose sweet relationship with the FL stood out. Every character felt like they were pulled straight from real life.

Even if you dont personally relate to all the situations, the emotional core of the story ensures that you will connect with the characters at some point.

The last two episodes were gut wrenching. I couldnt stop crying. One scene that truly broke me was when the FL attempted to kill her MIL after learning that she is soon going to die. Her only worry was who would take care of her MIL once she was gone.
To me, this show felt like one of the most heartbreaking short stories from Noh Hee Kyung’s Our Blues.

I downloaded the episodes from dramacool since they werent available on any official platforms. Despite the subpar video quality, the drama’s content was truly exceptional.

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Finest Mystery Thriller

Black Out: Snow White Must Die

This was one of the finest mystery thrillers i have watched this year. It started off with a bad impression due to its low production quality but the tightly woven mystery plot kept pulling me in more and more, to the point where i forgot about the cheap production. The story just kept getting better with each passing episode until the end.

The show also made my blood boil with its infuriating characters. What made it even more frustrating is how real they felt. They werent inherently evil like the typical psychopaths in crime thrillers, instead they were ordinary people trying to cover up one crime, only to commit more and more in an effort to save themselves.

Byun Yohan's acting was stupendous. He is an actor i usually dislike or at least he doesnt draw me to his projects but here his portrayal of a man falsely accused and unjustly punished for 10 years was outstanding. The way he conveyed the pain and suffering through his performance moved me all the way to the end. Even the supporting cast did so well that i wanted to jump into the screen and punch them.

The show started with a modest 2.8% rating and ended with 8.8%, which says a lot about how it grew on the audience. Like many others, i was initially disappointed but the script and story changed everyone's perception of the drama.

I loved this show and im really looking forward to the director's future projects. Hopefully, he gets a better budget for his upcoming work.

I would have given an extra 0.5 points if the production quality were better but i will still give a solid 9/10 to this excellent mystery thriller.

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KAWAII, KAWAII, KAWAII !!

KAWAII, KAWAII, KAWAII !! Thats the only word i can think of while watching every single minute of this drama. Its pure wholesomeness on another level. Every time i finished an episode, my heart felt so full and i instantly craved more. After finishing drama i have never wanted a new season of a drama this badly before.

The story follows the everyday lives of the Yuzuki family’s four sons capturing their small adventures in episodes that are only 15 minutes long. With 32 episodes in total, it amounts to about 8 hour long episodes. Each storyline spans one or two episodes and every one of them is packed with heartwarming, feel good moments and incredibly lovable characters.

What’s especially wonderful about this show is that there is not a single negative character. Along with the Yuzuki family, their neighborhood family also play a significant role in their lives and they are equally adorable. The bonds between these families are incredibly sweet and heartwarming.

The three younger brothers of Hayato are so adorable that i found myself wishing i had younger siblings like them!! Hayato, the eldest is a responsible 23 yr old schoolteacher taking care of his three younger brothers. Mikato, the second brother is the cleverest and most intelligent, while Minato, the third is the most outgoing, outspoken and mischievous. Surprisingly the youngest brother, Gokuto is the most mature of them all.

My favorite moments are when Minato, the third brother dotes on Gokuto and Mikato, the second brother, gets jealous. Mikato loves Minato a lot, they are only 11 months apart but his affection for his third brother is truly heartwarming. He even sees his youngest brother Gokuto as a rival because Minato adores Gokuto so much.

This drama is my TOP RECOMMENDATION OF THE YEAR!! Watch it if you are in the mood for something wholesome and heartwarming.

I wish I could rate this adorable show higher than 10.

10/10



Im definitely going to rewatch episodes of this drama whenever i feel down.

Along with this drama, Kotaro Lives Alone on Netflix is also super adorable. This is my second jdrama of a similar genre and i really wish they would produce more shows like this.

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Finest Spinoff Ever

This show was absolutely hilarious, a riot from start to finish. The short spinoff takes place during the moment when Bokgyu tries to apologize to Jayeon outside the police station. He nearly gets into an accident and seeing him in danger causes Jayeon to faint. In that instant, she is transported into her own web novel waking up in the body of the main protagonist, Seo Yeon Seo. Shocked by Bokgyu's near accident, she starts seeing him everywhere as Kang Hajun, the character, Yeo Hajun was originally playing before her transmigration.

From digital billboards to movies, Bokgyu’s face appears in every role. He hilariously replaces Song Joong Ki and Cha Eun Woo on digital billboards and even steps into Lee Do Hyun’s part in Exhuma

Onnie guy from Behind Your Touch also makes several cameos and his scenes are equally hilarious.

Once transmigrated things take a comedic turn as she attempts to alter several plotlines only to fail spectacularly which leads to some truly funny moments.

This spinoff also explains when Nam Jayeon actually fell in love with Bokgyu in the original story.

Overall i enjoyed this spinoff even more than the original No Gain No Love.

9.5/10

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Love In The Big City: Unfiltered Look at Gay Love, Friendship & more.

This was, without a doubt, the most realistic kdrama i have seen in a long time. Its portrayal of gay relationships, friendships and the challenges faced by the queer community was spot on.

Go Young's life was a rollercoaster, constantly searching for true, lasting love. The show captures four different relationships in his life, two were more casual while the other two were serious. He even found his soulmate in one of them but its heartbreaking that they had to part ways. Life, however goes on and so does Go Young’s journey. I wish he had reunited with Gyu Ho in the end but at least we were treated to many great moments between them in the final episode.

Go Young, portrayed by Nam Yoon Su was truly a one of a kind character. His character's journey felt quite real. The show struck a perfect balance between light and heavy moments, just when things seemed overwhelming, it would quickly shift back to a lighter tone in the next episode. It created a beautifully complex emotional experience, delivering both heartwarming and heart wrenching moments.

What i liked most about Go Young was his resilience. Despite all the hardships he faced, he remained steadfast. He approached everything with optimism, even as he struggled with loneliness and an unfulfilled longing for genuine, lasting love. He found that love with Gyu Ho but unfortunately, it wasnt meant to last. Among all his relationships, the chemistry between Go Young and Gyu Ho was undeniable. They both lived their lives to the fullest, despite the ups and downs and always managed to sort out their differences and come back together, until Gyu Ho left for Shanghai.

Aside from his relationship with Gyu Ho, i absolutely loved Go Young's friendship with Mi Ae and his close knit group of gay besties. I was disappointed that Mi Ae disappeared after the first two episodes, she could have remained in contact even after her marriage. It was odd not to see her even when Go Young’s mother passed away. Despite that, their friendship was so deep, like soulmates that i wished she had stayed in his life during both good and bad times. As for his three gay best friends, they were the best characters in the whole show. They stood by him through everything and one of my favorite scenes was when they created ruckus at the hospital while Go Young was recovering also when Go Young and his gay friends were dancing to a girl group kpop song at the center of the club, it reminded me of a news story i saw on twitter about two gay men in seoul fighting over (G)I-DLE’s Soyeon’s part in Super Lady. They portrayed gay life in seoul very realistically, lol.

The show also addressed sensitive topics like HIV, internalized homophobia and family rejection, all while keeping its lighthearted tone intact.

Although the show did a fantastic job portraying the story realistically and covering all the volumes of the novel, the limited episode count made the pacing feel rushed, especially in the beginning. Thats my only criticism of the drama.

Overall, Love in the Big City stands as one of the best queer dramas i have ever watched offering an authentic look at gay relationships and the challenges that come with them.

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❤️ Love Next Door ?

Eomma Chingu Adeul is a multigenre drama that does justice to each and every genre it tackles. It incorporates some of the most used cliche tropes of 2024, yet they are executed and concluded in a highly satisfying way, delivering meaningful life lessons. Whether its the terminal illness trope, quitting a job due to depression, the childhood friends-to-lovers arc or the exes storyline, each one is handled in a gratifying manner. Many shows i have watched this year that use these tropes tend to disappoint but this drama managed them far better.

The chemistry between the leads is exceptional. From the very first scene, they felt so natural together, as if they truly were childhood friends, the kind of vibe that made their bond believable. As the episodes progressed, their connection only grew stronger. There were plenty of ups and downs in their relationship but everything was justified. The progression of their relationship felt smooth. While some might say Seokryu jumped into a new relationship rather quickly after her breakup, i think the buildup was convincing, so it didnt feel strange at all.

The acting was phenomenal, especially from Jung Somin. She was incredibly natural in every scene, whether it was emotional, happy or sad. She absolutely killed it. Other actors like Jung Haein and Kim Jieun also impressed me. The supporting cast, who are veteran actors, delivered solid performances as expected. I never got a fake or forced feeling from anyone’s acting.

This slice of life drama excellently portrays the different phases of life in a highly believable way. Each storyline is given proper buildup and a satisfying conclusion, all while teaching that life is about growth. Every character has their own story to tell. The leads and secondary characters are depicted with their flaws, just like real people. I appreciate that the drama didnt idealize the lead characters like many others do. Here, they are shown with both their strengths and weaknesses and every action they take has a reason behind it. The more you try to understand things from their perspective, the more you will enjoy their stories. Whether its the parents, the brother or the leads themselves, each one follows their own moral compass. At times, you will see the parents at fault, while at other times, you will understand that Seokryu made mistakes by not being honest with them. Once you grasp where they are coming from, the show becomes even more meaningful.

Friendship and family are the highlights of this drama. Whether its the bond between the four neighborhood ladies or between the three leads, these relationships are cherished, though they also go through their ups and downs. The same applies to family dynamics.

The slow burn romance is executed perfectly. Waiting 10 episodes to finally see the leads romance unfold was worth it. Their sweet relationship, which began after weathering the storm, made it even more enjoyable. The show does an excellent job of handling the angst between episodes 6 and 10 and then giving plenty of time for their relationship to flourish from episodes 11 to 16, with plenty of sweetness. Most romance dramas fail at this, introducing conflict in the last two episodes, which often results in a rushed ending. But here, it doesnt feel that way at all.

I have watched plenty of romance or romcom dramas this year but honestly, this one has the most meaningful script. While there are a few romance/romcom dramas i liked more, i cant deny that this one has a solid story and script. There is so much depth to the characters and the story that the more you think about it, the more fresh perspectives you gain on various aspects of life.

All things considered, i would give this a solid 9.5/10. It satisfied me from start to finish and i even enjoyed the angsty phase between episodes 6 and 10, which was disliked by many viewers of this drama

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