(long commentary yeehaw)

This drama is so tiring to watch, and that's the reason why I loved watching this drama. It made me tired not because of its literary elements, rather because of its resemblance to the reality that we have as humans. How bounded it's by realism and its relatability is how it's able to sell itself to the large population of viewers. This isn't a drama you should watch when you need an escape. Rather, this is a drama you should watch if you want to be slapped by reality.

Arguably, this drama is welcomed with mixed reactions because of our own moral dilemmas. Some are saying that this drama romanticizes cheating. However, I think that's not the case. In our reality where cheating is usually seen as black-and-white, we realize how there are different shades of gray that comes into it. While the act itself is bad, we can see more of its complexity, giving us more room to understand. However, that doesn't mean we are condoning the act. The themes that the drama has are cliche but the way it's presented made it so interesting.

The characters in the drama are complex WHICH I THINK IS ONE OF THE IMPORTANT FACETS AS TO WHY THIS DRAMA WAS ABLE TO PRESENT ITSELF MORE EFFECTIVELY. Almost every character in the drama has an interesting and complex characterization which enabled the story to tackle several issues we see in our reality. Despite being a drama, its effectivity can serve as a commentary on modern Korean society with how raw and fresh it feels.

This drama is the second drama that Kim Eun wrote. With the reminiscent style of writing and vibe, I can confidently say how this drama highlighted her growth with regards her craft. While Pretty Noona Who Buys Me Food felt like a prototype, One Spring Night felt complete and more realized.

I can only have praises for the acting and the casts of the drama. Most of the cast present in this drama can also be found from Pretty Noona Who Buys Me Food. With this drama, we can see their improved capabilities especially for the fresh faces like Jung Hae In. A year difference showed a lot of growth not only for the writer but for the actors as well. I honestly can't critique them negatively for the acting as I find it so compelling to the point that I really wanted to strangle Giseok and Sihoon because of how pathetic they are. ELECTRIC CHAIR!!!

I also have a lot of praises for the music this drama has. This elevated the emotions and the quality of the drama. It gave a nostalgic vibe with a spice of hopefulness and tranquility in every listen.

Overall I'm giving this drama a 9.5/10. It's not perfect in all honesty. However, the growth and charm the drama possess made it deserving of a high rating :>.

Citeste mai mult

Dark Blue Kiss explores the complexity of love and the socio-economic aspect of the symbolic closet.

Raw, Refreshing, and Realistic-- these are words that I would use to describe Dark Blue Kiss, a drama that tackles same-sex relationships in a lens that deeply roots itself to the struggle of acceptance of the self and by society. Being a story bound to the semblance of reality, it was able to serve the rawness of these relationships-- a refreshing approach as it tackles issues that the sector it aims to represent faces in real life. However, one of the most spellbinding elements of DBK is how it makes us understand the concept of the "closet" by closely knitting it to the socio-economic conditions of the characters in the story. Character backgrounds played a big role to further storytelling-- creating layers which reveals more to the characters and their motivations for their decisions.

We were given four main characters in the drama: Pete, Kao, Sun, and Mork. All of these characters are in the spectrum. But what creates the distinction is the fact that they came from varying economic backgrounds-- Pete and Sun are people from the middle to upper class, while Kao and Mork came from the middle to lower class. Notably, those in the higher echelons of society are "out of the closet" even if it's only to their families. On the other hand, we see how Kao and Mork aren't out, thus remaining hidden in the closet. With the need to hustle for their families, we realize how coming out is a privilege especially for people who are mired with societal expectations and responsibilities. As such, it also isn't easy to do in a world full of hatred and homophobia. This is the situation of Kao and Mork-- highly different from Pete and Sun. This dichotomy between their economic status makes it hard for both parties to enter a compromise-- resulting to conflicts. The socio-economic aspect of the closet then became the heart of the story, the driving force to further character and story development-- whether they would be able to open and face this closet is one of the questions inculcated to the viewers.

The story of DBK makes us understand more of the struggles of the LGBTQ+ community. It didn't only intend to show a charming and loving story between PeteKao and SunMork, but it also open the eyes of the viewers to the realities that people from the spectrum experience-- their path to self-acceptance and opening the closet, and being able to love without being judged for one's preference.

Over-all, I can say that the drama deserves a high rating. It's an honest portrayal of a story of those in the rainbow spectrum. It felt empowering. Although there are some areas that can be improved in the story department, the story is still stellar and it holds itself to a standard.
In the end, the drama aims to send a clear message: No one should be deprived of their capacity to express their love-- not by their gender nor by their sexuality.

(COOKIE BITS)

For the acting, TayNew's acting for this story is truly commendable. They brought us with them as we ventured into the story of PeteKao and their quest for happiness. Fluke and Podd was a breath of fresh air. AJ was so good in acting as a villain that he was able to pull some strings with his portrayal of Non. Over-all the acting deserves a high-rating.
Music is good. Opening sequence is a bomb cue Temptation of Wife realness. For its rewatch value, I'm giving it a nine just because my tendency to rewatch shows are low.

Citeste mai mult

As usual, 2019 is packed with Romantic-Comedy dramas, and this drama is one of it. It's a challenge to produce and write Rom-Com dramas with a fresh approach due to the saturatedness of the genre. However, Be Melodramatic, with its wittiness and brilliant use of Meta Comedy, stands out in the pool.

However, it has failed to catch the attention of the viewers which resulted in low ratings despite having such edge. One of the challenges that this drama faced was enriching the characters while matching the pace. World and character building takes a lot of time which compromised viewership ratings for this drama.

The story started shakey but it was able to pick up once the story progressed. The stories of the characters were compelling and the build-up was done well.

Of course, the charm of this drama is the meta-comedy that it possesses. The awareness of the drama about itself was so genius. However, for non-fans, it might take a while to be able to understand the humor.

Everyone's acting was superb, but I loved Jeon Yeo Bin's interpretation of Eunjoo the most. She was able to interpret Eunjoo's multi-faceted character well. Ahn Jaehong never fails in delivering when it comes to comedic roles.

The OST is good but it lacks variety.

Over-all I must say that this drama is well-crafted and it's unfortunate that it fell under the radar. It's a refreshing drama that deserves the attention of everyone.

Citeste mai mult

For a four episode drama, this drama was able to present the richness of the bestfriends-turned-to-lovers trope. To be able to convey the emotions really well considering the short length of the drama is a feat considering that it really takes time to build chemistry among the characters and actors. Lee Yooyoung and Kim Sunho really made my heart gush with that heart-stopping chemistry. Their portrayal of their characters were so on-point. Every scene felt as if that was reality. Watching it feels like you are meddling with the two-- that's how realistic the drama felt.

The thing is, the drama follows a cliché plotline which for some is a negative factor, but I think they shouldn't dismiss this just because of that. Execution wise this drama did great. It never felt dragging. It was just fine for its length.

I can rewatch this drama many times and I believe that it can also be the case for the people who viewed or who are to view it.

Citeste mai mult

This movie revolves around the idea of the Filipino saying "Pinagtagpo ngunit hindi tinadhana" which translates to "Fated to Meet, Not to be Destined."

The story of the film is not unique at its very sense however the presentation makes you see it in a different perspective. To be able to present it in a way that isn't typical has been a challenge for many PH films and this film was able to break past the challenge.

The chemistry among the leads was really good considering that this is the first time Bela and Carlo acted together. Their acting made the movie stand out so much. The script was superb for the rawness of the emotions radiates from the dialogues as they are delivered by the actors.

But what I loved about the movie is that it didn't focus on the flaws of man, but rather how the emotions of man affect the circumstances that they have.

I would definitely recommend this film not only to my co-Filipinos but also to the international community for it really did made my day after I watched it :D

P.S. Probably you'll need some tissue as you watch this.

Citeste mai mult

It's absurdly funny at first then it gets really mediocre as the story progresses. at the 45 minute mark, I thought the movie was about to end then turns out I still got an hour and fifteen minutes. It really felt dragging. Story-wise, it was another cliché best friends turn to lovers story, but unfortunately, it was poorly executed. The thing is the acting was pretty good that it kept me watching the film although it was really getting boring. This film actually made me appreciate Kentaro Sakaguchi. So to encapsulate all of my thoughts, I really DON'T RECOMMEND THE FILM. It's poorly done and I'm pertaining to the script at most.

Citeste mai mult

Come and Hug Me: A Paradise That Heals Your Hearts With It's Unexpected Complexity

Dramas are mimicry of reality, an art form that has a wide range of possibilities. As such, harsh realities can be a point of interest and it can also be used in creating art, even with its level of intricacy. The writers of this show chose to create something from the rawness and realness of a human's reality, which ended in becoming a masterpiece.

One of the factors as to why this drama is lauded is because of its ironic complexity. Basing on its sypnosis, the drama can be seen as something linear, a pattern seen often in its genre. To stray from something familiar, character development was given priority than the development of the story which in turn created complex characters in a simple story of crime, romance, and healing. Another outstanding feat of this drama is that it was able to bring in the warmth despite the inherent nature of the show that has crime and trauma as its motif. I mean I cannot stress this enough but, THIS DRAMA'S SKILL WITH CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT IS SERIOUSLY OUTSTANDING AND DESERVES SOME APPLAUSE.

Although outstanding, I can also say that there were many rooms that the writers could've explored to make things better especially in building character relationships. It's unfortunate that they weren't able to open those doors. However, it doesn't make the drama bad. It's just sad because there were some wasted opportunities.

This drama is a masterpiece for its time. Not only did it served as a great drama, it also served as a commentary on the current social climate of our society.
And lastly, what was thought as something typical was actually a revelation as to what can be done from this kind of material.

- A Paradise For New Faces -

One of the things that the drama did is that it enabled new faces and new names to be discovered whether it be the child actors or the rookie actors. As such it made these actors challenge themselves in acting.
The leads Jang Ki-yong and Jin Ki-joo are relatively new to the acting scene but with this drama, they've established themselves as capable and outstanding artists.
Their childhood counterparts Nam Da-reum and Ryu Han-bi did really well in providing a strong foundation for the show and making the viewers hooked. Despite being young, they've proven themselves to be great artists and I must say that they deserve some applause (*cue Lady Gaga- Applause*)
Kim Kyung-Nam and Yoon Jong-hoon are such revelations and I must say they deserve to be known more. They were really excellent in their roles that they made me anticipate their scenes a lot.
Seo Jeong-yeon before this show has been appearing in a variety of dramas but she surely shined in this drama the most. Despite acting as mother for the first time ,(plus speaking in a dialect that she needed to study) she really did well.
Heo Joon-ho and Kim Seo-hyung are considered as veterans in their field, and we can see their greatness in this drama and I must say that they did great in acting as antagonist. One was great in instilling fear, one was great in instilling anger. (a/n: She was a bitch, bitcher than the Queen herself, CL of 2ne1.)

Citeste mai mult

Imagine yourselves returning to your younger days, to the youth you long for once adulthood welcomes you into a newer sense of reality. If you want an escape to that reality and if you want to return to the past via nostalgic feelings, Reply 1988 is a drama that you should watch. This drama is the third installment of the "Reply" series, and like its predecessors, it tackles different stories of family and youth in a certain timeframe. In my opinion, among the three installments, THIS IS THE BEST. Allow me to explain:

This drama might have many similarities in terms of its theme and topic to other dramas, but this drama has a different way of presenting the stories of friendship, family, and romance. There are points in the drama that you'll laugh hysterically, then suddenly you'll weep without you noticing your tears are already falling. The drama does not attain to be deep, but it attains to be relatable. It doesn't push you to think very hard, but it pushes you to relate to the emotions of each  and everyone of the characters. The story telling  is superb for it enabled the viewers to get a clear glimpse of the past and reality without compromising the story. Another thing is that even though most of the contents in the drama speak to the Korean viewers, it enabled overseas fans to feel that nostalgia even if the scales work differently. The story was put up together very well and for that I gave it  a 10 out of 10.

Characters and character development? GREAT. Characterization? EXCELLENT. Throughout the drama, the script was able to develop the characters well. It was able to present the struggles, and the innate feelings of the characters with their dialogues and actions.  Without bringing out spoilers, I would like to commend the  character development of the parents and the four main characters, but unfortunately, I had dilemmas in terms of the character development of the lead girl, Dukseon, for the simple reason that the lack of character build-up intensified the debate regarding the plot (I wouldn't want to expand on it for I might give spoilers unconsciously.) The acting is just so great that it was able to capture the hearts of the viewers. Like what I said awhile ago, the drama appeals to be relatable, and the acting is that key component that made the drama MUCH relatable. ALL OF THE ACTORS DID GREAT that I actually want to commend everyone who acted in the drama.  So in terms of the Characters and acting, I would give this drama a 10 out of 10.

The music scoring? Well, I can't find an adjective worthy for its soundtrack and OSTs. The soundtrack of the drama is so reminiscent of the 80's sound and the soundtrack was able to mirror the sounds of Korea during the 80s. It added greatly to the vibes of the drama thus making the drama more nostalgic. It helped in highlighting the emotions in each scene and not only that, the OSTs were so close-knitted to central themes of the drama. Personally,  my favorite OST of the drama was "Don't Worry" by Lee Juck, and "Hyehwadong" by Park Bo-ram. I personally loved these OSTs for it enabled me to reminisce the happenings and the emotions that I felt while watching the drama. The music was able to intensify the emotions and it was able to set the mood greatly thus giving it a 10 out of 10 is just righteous.

The drama is easy to watch, and the drama is that drama that'll give a lasting impression to its viewers. This is the kind of drama that you would like to watch again and again. Unfortunately, for someone who has many things to do in life, it'll be hard to watch this drama again due to its length. Because of that reason, I gave it a 9 out of 10 in terms of its rewatch value.

The Reply series has been a great series ever since it was created. I'm not saying that 1997 and 1994 weren't great, it's just that 1988 was more superior in my opinion. I'm so glad that I gave this drama a huge chunk of my time and I promise you, you won't regret watching this drama :D.

Citeste mai mult

This drama is said to be another adaptation of the "It Started With A Kiss" franchise. I personally haven't watched any of these except for this version thus I'm gonna base my review from this alone without any comparison :D.

Most of us have experienced studying in high school. Although not everyone had experiences of relationships in high school, most likely we have observed this happenings around us. "A Love So Beautiful" is that drama that highlights the  innocence of high school as well as the experiences of having a crush or falling in love with someone. This drama has a typical high school drama plot line which focuses on the lives of the main characters during high school. This is another instance wherein a drama doesn't appeal to be deep, but merely to be relatable. I'll delve deeper with this review by discussing each components for rating, from its story until the rewatch value.

The story of this drama is light. It's a story that is easy to digest since the story is told in a linear manner. The pacing was kind of steady but the ratio between the past and present was kind of unsatisfying. I believe that the story would've been more interesting if it was able to balance the two parts of the story since the character development can be highlighted more in a setting as such. Another characteristic of the story is that it's romantic. But this characteristic is a double edged sword. It was able to create a story that can be fantasized by many but it can create misconceptions in terms its main theme: love. It was my dilemma while watching the drama since at times it challenges my thoughts about relationships.

Next is the Acting and the Cast. Personally, this component is the one that made me continue watching the series. It might seem a bit contrary since I only gave it an 8.5 out of 10 but I considered many factors in rating this criteria. The casting for this drama is really great. The chemistry between them is really commendable.
Shen Yue and Hu Yi Tian's chemistry however, is what made this drama special. It can tug heartstrings and it can make you punch or slap the back of someone who is beside you. If the casting was the only thing to take into consideration in rating, I would've gave this a perfect rating, but there is a need to rate the acting, thus lowering my score. There are many times while watching that I felt sad because there were many opportunities to show more emotions, to give more adlibs but there wasn't anything. Character relationships aren't even an excuse because the acting could've been better and sometimes, you feel that the acting is a bit too calculated. The latter lines however, pertains to the acting for the two main actors, Shen Yue and Hu Yi Tian. The acting isn't perfect, nor excellent, but it's still commendable.

The music for this drama is actually good but the thing is, it can only be memorable if you don't skip the opening sequence. The theme songs are beautiful, but I the music lacked variety, thus lowering my score.

Lastly the rewatch value. I personally think that this drama has a really high rewatch value since it's a light watch and also because of the cast remarkable and memorable chemistry.

It has been a long time since I last watched a Chinese drama and I must day, watching this drama was a good and pleasant experience. I recommend that people to watch this if they want a light and a heartwarming drama :D.

Citeste mai mult

Hospital Playlist reimagined medical dramas by viewing it through a different lens--and it's great!

Hospital Playlist is a captivating medical slice-of-life piece that devoids itself from the usual medical drama tropes. Lesser blood, lesser operation scenes, and no politics, yet I can confidently say that this is one of the greatest dramas of its kind with how it maximized its setting to create a profound drama that explores matters that revolves around the hospital and its people-- doctors, nurses, as well as the patients.

One of the common worries by viewers of this drama as it started is its seemingly "plotless" nature. However, I think this is the genius of the writers and the director that is working. They introduce these characters to the viewers and they focus on their unraveled stories and their improvements are given focused, being loyal to its slice-of-life nature. To further it, they tell various stories of the patients that the medical staff characters tend to. These characters add another layer which enrich the characters as well as reveal more to who they are and their personalities. From this point, the plot is getting developed. However, one of the greatest plot devices that this drama used is music. The well curated music that is showed every week is a way to make the viewers understand the motif and themes that are present in each episode. It also is a way to show and tell more about the characters in the drama as the lyrics of the songs can be related to the experiences that they encounter.

As a sucker to slice-of-life dramas, I love how the team made this drama very human and relatable. Every character in the drama explore varying facets of humanity by exploring human experiences, emotions, and relationships. At some point, viewers can see themselves with the material that they are consuming-- and that is a feat. I also loved how this drama humanizes doctors and medical practitioners. This layer is very important especially during these times when we are facing a pandemic. It gives us a huge room in order to understand and celebrate these frontliners who always aim to try their best with whatever case they are facing.

This story wouldn't be magnificent without the great characters and its actors. From the main characters played by Jo Jung Seok, Yoo Yeon Seok, Jeon Mido, Jung Kyungho, and Kim Daemyung (WHAT A STELLAR CAST), to the actors that played every supporting characters and the patients, everyone played a role to make this drama magnificent.

Can I just say how great the OST this drama has? It is a perfectly curated list of great Korean classics that are reinterpreted magnificently (my personal favorite being Confession is Not Flashy because yES WINTER-GARDEN).

The drama has only 12 episodes for this season. I give it a high rewatch value as I see this drama as a possible refuge whenever we are lost. This drama has a lot of lessons in life that we can take note for ourselves.

Overall, Hospital Playlist is a great drama that will take you into a wild ride of emotions. It will make you cry, laugh, and empathize with the characters. It's a healing drama not only for its humor but also with its capacity to enable its viewers to relate to it.

Citeste mai mult