So much of Love Me if You Dare reminded me of the BBC series, Sherlock. Both series incorporate drama and mystery fluidly. Both shows have a brilliant protagonist (Sherlock/Professor Bo) and a helpful assistant/sidekick (Watson/Jian Yao). Even the cinematography and soundtrack were similar. (And at some point, some of Sherlock's theme song played in the background) The major differences between the TV shows is that Love Me if You Dare is slower paced and has more of a romance factor. One minuscule issue I had with Love Me if You Dare was that I felt the relationship flow between the two main characters was drastically sped up. I would've preferred if it was slow and steady like the first several episodes, rather than speeding it up to a climax and then having it plateau. The major downfall of this beautiful drama series, along with several other Asian dramas, was the horrible acting of those seen as 'Americans'. I understand that the show's main audience isn't located in the U.S.A. but, man, were the last few episodes full of cringe-worthy American appearances. Overlooking the 'American' acting, I thoroughly enjoyed the series and am gleefully waiting for the supposed next season.

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W is one of the most interesting and creatively devised K-dramas I have ever watched. It is packed with a fair amount of suspense and drama (from light-hearted to serious). It does have some romance, but this aspect isn't as prominent as the other two. I love this fact as most dramas, especially the cheesy ones, tend to overemphasize the lovey-doviness of it all, while W offers the "mama bear" amount (just right). The first several episodes were light-hearted and easy to follow but became fast-paced and somewhat difficult to follow towards the end (keep your eyes peeled!). I ended up rewatching a few of the latter episodes to reassess and to confirm answers to questions that had popped up in my mind while watching. In the end, most were answered but I still had a tiny bit of questions that remained unanswered...W's cast choices were excellent as everyone appeared to balance each other out in acting styles that flowed seamlessly with the storyline. My hat's off especially to Kim Eui-Sung (Oh Sung-Moo) who portrayed a variety of character tropes that would be difficult for an actor of amateur caliber. Not only is the story and acting/cast well-thought out, the OST and background music really rounded out W, especially bringing out the suspense and fast-paced-plot factors. Overall, I would definitely rewatch W in the future and potentially share the show with friends who aren't even into Korean dramas.

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Fancy watching this during a pandemic. It's so beautiful; it took me by surprise.

Mr. Sunshine.  This awe-inspiring one-season series and its many moments shined in every possible way.  From its deep storytelling to its intricate cinematography.  I loved it.  I have watched several Korean dramas before, but this one was unlike any I had ever seen in every aspect.  It was my first time to even cry while watching a K-Drama. Speaking volumes and truly setting the bar high.

Story:  The show takes place in late 19th/early 20th-century Korea, a time period not often depicted in Korean dramas.  Yet, Mr. Sunshine fluidly combines history, action, drama, melodrama, romance, and even occasional humor.  Never overbearing or overshadowing one genre over the other.  Though the historical fiction aspect of Mr. Sunshine is based loosely on historical events and figures, they are well covered and bring more cohesiveness in the story.  After having watched the first episode, I was hesitant to continue; it really dragged out the plot and I wondered if rest of the show would continue similarly.  One episode later...I was so glad I stuck with it.  There continued to be a multitude of slow-paced scenes and flashbacks in the following episodes, but they helped fill in the gaps or emphasize a foreshadowing. While mostly maintaining accuracy in the language used for the time period, the script was meaningful and witty and contained an abundance of memorable quotes. The overall story was a passionate and meticulous masterpiece writhed with metaphors and life lessons.   

Acting / Cast:  BRAVO!  My hat's off to the main cast.  Each main cast member exhibits great dedication to his or her roles, enveloping the character's personality and characteristics in each emotion.  The characters are written to be three-dimensional and evolving, and the main actors follow through beautifully with that.  The script includes several lines in English and Japanese (even some French). Even with these linguistic barriers, the main actors and actresses pull it off amazingly.  I was especially impressed with Lee Byung-hun (Eugene Choi). It is one thing to speak English and another to act in English. Lee did both so well that I occasionally thought he was a native English speaker, as his diction and accompanying acting were clear and fluid. In terms of the Japanese spoken, I thought several of the actors were fluent in Japanese. I learned later on from a talk show, featuring Yoo Yeon-seok (Goo Dong-mae), that he and many of the actors didn't know Japanese.  Instead, they had someone who was fluent in Japanese on set to critique their accents.  The Korean supporting cast professionally starred in their own right.  Some being familiar faces on other popular K-dramas.  Continuing on with the supporting Western cast...well, they were written to be one-dimensional for the most part, more on the sidelines, more just to be there and speak English. I didn't have many expectations for them in acting and it could've been worse.
 
Production / Visual FX:  The high quality production matches with the expensive budget.  It goes all out to ensure each scene looks realistic, yet artistic. A multitude of visual effects are used, but they don't detract from the story. Several scenes are also shot in slow motion. With this in mind, the choice camera angles really contribute to the cinematography masterpiece that is Mr. Sunshine.  Each shot had a meaning and if I didn't know the meaning while watching the particular episode, it would become much clearer in a future one.

Music:  The soundtrack and score are top notch!  The soundtrack evokes the melancholy, passion, and determination of the characters, befitting the scenes they are placed with.  Not only with their tone and rhythm but their lyrics too. Another plus: the music never emanates the tackiness I occasionally hear from other romance OSTs. The majority of the OST is in Korean and, interestingly enough, some in straight English.  I assume the English songs are meant to follow the current K-drama trend of including a handful of English-only songs, to allude to the "amicable" relationship that Korea had with the United States then and now, or to symbolize Eugene Choi and his existence as a forever foreigner in the show.  Maybe even all. The score is very fitting to the time period and aligns well with each of the scenes' moods.  I loved it all and still listen to the OST and score weeks after having finished the series.

Rewatch Value:  I have rewatched the majority of Mr. Sunshine and was never disappointed.  Each time I rewatched a whole episode or a few scenes from a prior one, I noticed new nuances, whether it was in character development or a metaphor relating to the culture, time period, and juxtaposition of characters.  It felt like strolling through an art museum that I could never get tired of.  Art that could never grow out of taste and style.

Overall:  STANDING OVATION *slow clapping with tears. That was my reaction after having finished Mr. Sunshine. I would recommend this drama even to those who dislike K-dramas or who have never considered trying it out.  It was that amazing.

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Chicago Typewriter is a show that epitomizes slow and steady character development. Though the plot goes back and forth from present-day South Korea to 1930s Korea under Japanese rule, the story is fairly easy to follow with minimal twists and turns in the first few episodes. Since I have an interest in stories based in the early 20th century and didn't have much knowledge of Japan's occupation of Korea, I found the past plotline to be intriguing to watch and learn from. I think I was an even bigger fan of the past plot because this particular period isn't often found in Korean dramas (at least based on my experience in the K-drama-sphere), so it was in a way, a breath of fresh air. Romance, action, and comedy are often exhibited in Korean dramas, and Chicago Typewriter is no exception. It does not solely focus on one of these three typical genres over another, rather the show has a small, balanced slice of each. What the drama focuses most on is the character development and the characters' relationships, mostly the friendship exhibited between the three main characters. The soundtrack and score blends quite well with the complications and emotions of the trio's friendship (i.e. ranging from "sublime reminiscing/remembering" to deep sorrow to pure joy). I've rewatched bits and pieces of the drama, the poignant and most memorable scenes, rather than rewatched the show's entirety; in doing so, I've realized that being well-aware of what will happen made the story appear much slower for me. I would definitely recommend Chicago Typewriter to close friends who value and appreciate steady character development and a well thought-out storyline over big and bold action and romance.

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Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo was a breath of fresh air. I found the story, the characters, and the music to be light-hearted and refreshing. Initially when I heard about the show, I was conflicted whether to watch it because I had never been fully invested in the sports genre for dramas and found this particular drama to be unrealistic (i.e. Kim Bok Joo didn't look similar to the weightlifter who the show is somewhat inspired by, Jang Mi-ran, or a weightlifter in general...). Even with these concerns, I am definitely glad that I ended up giving Weightlifting Fairy a chance. The story encompassed the themes of comedy and school, but most especially of friendship, romance, and youth. These themes just happened to use the sports genre as a 'backdrop' per say. The cast's chemistry really tied together the themes of friendship, romance, and comedy (this may have been the case as several of them worked closely together in Cheese in the Trap). Lastly, the music matched the cheerful story and the noticeable chemistry between each of the characters and the actors who played them. This can most especially be heard from Kim Min Seung's "From Now On", which I believe was played at least once in each of the episodes (or as often as one would hear the word, "swag", in the series). It is likely that I would rewatch some or all of Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo when I'm in need of a break from the stresses of a busy life or when I'm in a reminiscent mood.

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Let's Eat centers mostly on food (surprise, surprise). So much so, that the plot barely touches romance or drama until maybe the last few episodes. Watching this show made me not only hungry but also a little envious since I didn't have access to such delicious-looking dishes at the time. From time to time, I was also annoyed by the noises. The noises that the characters made whenever they ate food. Yes, I understand that you're enjoying the food, but I don't want to hear prolonged periods of moans and sighs (*Sidenote: I don't come from a culture where long noises with food is often appreciated). Other than food and eating (and the noises that come with it), the story has some comedic and friendship/neighborly relations aspects that definitely assist in moving the plot forward and making Let's Eat more pleasant to watch. The acting was decent, nothing too out of the ordinary. Though, for two of the characters, Koo Dae-Young (Yoon Doo-Joon) and Kim Hak-Moon (Shim Hyung-Tak), I couldn't tell if it was bad acting or if their characters were generally stiff, lacking well-rounded personalities. The music definitely went hand-in-hand with the storyline and the character's relationships. Even more so when food was displayed or whenever the characters ate. Overall, it is unlikely that I will rewatch this show and I am somewhat hesitant to continue on with Let's Eat 2...

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Strong Woman Do Bong Soon introduces a character trope rarely seen in the Korean dramasphere, one of a strong woman (as it says in the title) who isn't necessarily harsh and cold-hearted, but rather quirky, compassionate, and courageous. I was immediately reeled in by this aspect of the drama. The show includes the genres of supernatural, action, thriller, and from time to time comedy (the cheesy and slap-stick kind). But the investigation ('frontal' episodes) and romance (latter episodes of the drama) elements are the most prominent. The pacing of Strong Woman had me hooked when I initially watched the show, but I kind of drifted away towards the end of the series; the main plots had finished much earlier than I expected, so I felt that the resolution dragged on more than it needed to (the drama could've been condensed to 13 or 14 episodes). Nevertheless, the well-rounded cast, especially the chemistry seen between Do Bong Soon and Ahn Min Hyuk (and the actors who play them). I was also a fan of the soundtrack and score of Strong Woman; they mostly reflected the romantic components of the show. My favorite song was the main theme song, Super Power Girl; rather than a romantic ballad, it's an upbeat alternative/rock song that definitely matched the quirky personality of protagonist, Do Bong Soon. Overall, I would recommend Strong Woman Do Bong Soon to those who typically like romantic/investigative K-dramas but would like to spice up their tastes with a unconventionally supernatural twist.

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