Trust No One

Is there anything project that Lee Seung-gi decides to do that is bound to fail? The man is seriously talented and keeps going from strength to strength. Each new series gets darker than the last! Vagabond offers something new to the Kdrama genre. You can see it has a massive budget behind it through the gorgeous cinematography, international locations & visual effects which are all very impressive. The action is literally non-stop! We have the winning combination of Lee Seung-gi & Bae Suzy, previously seen to great effect in Gu Family Book. They work really well together. I would have loved to have seen more romance but I guess that will come with the sequel (whenever that maybe)! What's strange is that at the beginning he is portrayed as a loser stuntman & she is seen as a femme fatale spy but then their roles switch and he's suddenly an amazing stuntman that is mistaken for a spy owing to his amazing abilities and she has zero skills as a spy who is just doing the job to support her family...no doubt to reinforce gender stereotypes. Usually in Kdramas you will find at least one token American who acts badly...but in this it's slightly better...we have Jessica who speaks English quite well, the Moroccan police inspector who was quite good as well as the other Moroccan cast members only Michael was a bit off. Every time I see Hwang Bo-ra I'm instantly reminded of Joan Cusack, I think she's a great supporting actress and gives great comic relief. Another great supporting actor is Shin Sung-rok, who I thought could have been better utilised, as he is very talented but his part did get better as it went on. What struck me about the story was how brutal it was at the start, I mean...spoiler alert....a young child is killed and this is what the whole story hinges on. All of Lee Seung-gi actions are out of love for his nephew, which really does give new meaning to 'the power of love', he becomes the everyman underdog fighting corruption at every turn. The ending...if you can call it that, is left open for a sequel, which was very risky as there was no resolution, now what with the Covid delay and conflicting actors schedules I don't see it happening any time soon, which is a real shame particularly because it is in the Action genre, you can't wait too long as the actors won't be able to do the scenes anymore...look at Indy 4!!! :)

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Fun Watch!

The beginning is perfect! I love the hilarious antics of the trio so much. Really endearing and reminds me of 80's movies (ex, Splash). But around episode 12, it just keeps tacking on scenarios with careful thought just to extend the life of the show, which is a shame, cause it's a really great show. It really could have ended in 16 episodes and been a masterpiece!
I really don't like the ML there is just something off about him, also felt this way about him in 'The girl who sees scents'. Anyway, he's no longer on the acting scene due to some scandal.
I regress...back to the show...there are some glaring inconsistences, like when the envelopes get swapped and they have the whole transfer thing going on and I'm thinking...her name is printed on the actual plane ticket proving that she deliberately gave it to her. All of this could have been cleared up with one simple phone call...seriously.
I would have loved to have seen more of the comedic trio towards the end but their parts disappeared much like themselves!
They were more entertaining to watch than the love story. There a good OST, sounds kinda 70's in places.
Good strong characters, a bit one dimensional towards the end but you can't have it all!

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'They f*** you up, your mum and dad'

This impressed me so much when it first came out. Everything about this series is perfect. Each frame is a work of art. It's completely original and different to anything you've ever seen before. I love the honesty of the dialogue which strikes home more than once.
All the actors are endearing and are well-rounded. My favourite actress is the FL: Seo Ye-ji, she totally owns this role. I love her husky voice and her ballsy attitude, she's on fire and hilarious to boot. Her wardrobe is straight out of 80's Dynasty and yah I just adore! I want to see her in more things, she totally deserves more work, she's a force of nature, a role model....and most importantly has a 'strong personality' which is sadly lacking in most Kdrama FL. The ML is gorgeous too! They are very well-matched physically, I must say! Kim Soo-hyun is even prettier than Seo Ye-ji when he shows up in a suit to get his photo taken...I kid you not! They're like two porcelain dolls that just happen to be terrific actors!!! I love the fairytales and the accompanying animations & drawings they're spellbinding and how they relate to their stories. So much creativity, a visual feast for the eyes! Take away word: 배고파 (baegopa) – I’m hungry!

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Golden Oldie!

That is in relation to the rapid change in Kdramas in the last decade! I really love this drama. It never gets boring or draggy (not even to the very end which most kdramas do). I had watched it once before and had completely forgotten about the body swap, but that's the power of good storytelling, it is not the main focus of the story. The love & characters keep it going without having to rely on special effects as most shows these days. It really is jam packed with interest.
Ha Ji-won owns every scene, she is a total boss and carries it. I would have loved to have seen her in more kdramas as she is a really strong female role model and brilliant actress to boot. This is early Hyun Bin and not the same hunk as seen most recently in CLOY, which is a shame. You can see the age difference of 5 years and physically I don't feel he suits FL. But I guess he was cast to play her believably as a female. Those scenes crack me up, because I think even the actors got confused!

There are so many familiar faces in this drama that I was surprised they all started off here!
Lee Jong-Suk playing a supporting role but it totally fits him so much, more so than any other drama I've seen him in! Yoo In-Na of supporting actress Goblin fame, she is such a sweet actress, with great comic timing. And the ever versatile Kim Sung-Oh from Korean Odyssey. There is also a surprise cameo from SonYe-Jin, who would have thought that her and Hyun Bin would get together a decade later...amaaazzing!

There is not 1, not 2, but 3 couples and potentially 4 & 5 going on which I love as the attention is distributed in a fair and interesting manner. The OST is great & very catchy. 'The Little Mermaid' features quite a lot in this storyline. It really is a Kdrama favourite as I've seen it pop up in soooo many kdramas with the ending metaphor of turning into foam as a perpetual worry.

I love the ending where they don't have a fancy wedding, this was just more romantic and it reminded me a lot of 'Arthur' (1981) US film where Dudley Moore gives up his fortune for Liza Minnelli, maybe it inspired this drama! Also, their child rearing tactics were great! I love how their relationship was still their number one priority and the kids came second, I know it's not realistic, but hey if it happened in reality there would be a lot less divorce and I think the kids would turn out healthier too. Well, that's my 2 cents...give it a chance, it won't disappoint.

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PG Rated

This is a classic. If you want to LOL you got it in spades here! But if you are over a certain age, I would avoid as it seems orientated towards a younger audience, painfully so! This is an early offering from the Hong sisters and their second time working with Lee Seung-gi, who looks very young here. The beginning starts off strong but then, not even at the half-way point it starts to flag and bring on the tired Kdrama trope of male love interest acting as a father figure to female love interest acting as his daughter (at 5yrs old!) We have very young, recognisable leads, acting cute here in an exaggerated manner. Towards the end I just wanted it to end as I wasn't that invested by then. I enjoyed the OST. Instantly recognisable catchy tunes for each character. The second couple got my vote for being over 40, having a past dating history, meeting under comical misunderstandings and achieving a happy ending. We have the familiar 'Little Mermaid' tale popping up here too...I mean there are lots of other fairy tales out there. I don't really understand the Kdrama obsession with this one. There are glaring inconsistences but hey it was made for children so just leave them to it! CUTE!

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I never can say goodbye...CLOY...

So, what is it about CLOY that make it so successful?

1. Strong female lead that saves the man a few times! And is a successful & rich businesswoman.
2. Each episode it 1 hour and 30 minutes long which is great for story development.
3. Middle-aged leads. We like romance too! Doesn't hurt that both were single in real life and ended up marrying each other after this!
4. The North/South Divide is real. Giving rise to really imaginative stories like this one. Unique geographical /political situation
5.The characters. They are all so endearing and plentiful! You really end up caring about them and CLOY wouldn't be the same without them.

Where does it fail?

1. Second half. It gradually descends into Makjang without the comedy, getting more ridiculous with the fate coincidences!
2. Second couple feel forced at first. But I must admit the end of their love story made me cry!
3. Hyun Bin acting: tough guy one minute... stroppy teenager the next.
4. Second half filler. It suffers from the dreaded 16 episode K drama stretch, leading to symptoms of unnecessary flashbacks, advertising plug-ins & easter eggs!
5. Mobile phone disparity. How does the son of the general director not have a mobile in North Korea (and has to record a year's worth of messages) whereas a recently imprisoned fortune teller has one?

This was my very first Kdrama that kicked off my addiction. It was a revelation as I had never seen anything so romantic in my life! This has been my 3rd watch and as always, a pleasure. I notice things that I have never saw before, as there are so many details!
CLOY has an extremely strong start. The first episode is total perfection! Everything set in the first half in North Korea is genius but as soon as everyone crosses the demarcation line it starts grabbing at straws. The music is iconic and I really like some of it, just not classical, it's not my cup of tea. Son Ye-jin's acting is excellent, she is a really good comedic actress. I'm not really keen on the ending as it's left vague, but given there are photos up it must be a place she bought, I doubt she left her business behind to live in 'Swiss' alone, and the only way he could leave North Korea for good is if his parents died and he found another tunnel. And what if she/ he wanted kids? They would all get pretty frustrated!!!
Huffy Puffy!

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She gives as good as she gets!

This is a classic from a bygone age. A very colourful & simple tale of a very beautiful couple falling in love.
The couple in question are none other than a very young Song Hye-kyo & Rain aka Jeong Ji-hoon. They have incredible chemistry together. The fashion, hair & accessories are all fun and utilised to reflect changes in the characters personalities. I must say Rain is so beautiful and cute here. I can't believe that when he was starting out he was rejected from an audition because he didn't have double eyelid surgery!!!! WHAT!!! He's perfect just the way he is, just like a lion! Celebrate don't criticise difference! Song Hye-kyo doing comedy is a welcome sight, I only knew her from melodramas before. She's very cute & childish in this, that is up until the end when she decides to act all mature for a second and then I wonder if they really should be together! The second couple where just used as plot devices and not very interesting in themselves.
You may ask yourselves...why are they always cleaning the house??? I think it's a metaphor for their relationship and how you both always have to keep putting work into it or it will become a mess, or it could be because the house was specifically built for the series and they wanted to get their money's worth! Sadly, after being a tourist attraction for a few years it got destroyed in a tsunami in 2013.
Around episode 12 it gets all serious & teary. It's dragged out the usual 16 for no reason. People forgive very easily in this show where fraud, burglary, lying, cheating don't seem to have consequences (even the pregnancy of her so-called friend doesn't show) as we discover in the final episode which is wrapped up in a pretty bow, and I have to say their kiss in the tent was extremely disappointing, was this show made for kids? and after all that sexual build-up!!! 2 wedding proposals with no meaningful first kiss from either fella! Ah the good old Victorian Era in 2004!
And seriously they use the phrase 'Aja Aja Fighting' way too much towards the end. It's as if they ran out of dialogue and used it as a filler.
The soundtrack has just one good song and that's the Korean song, the rest are English pop hits from the 60's & 70's. I'm really glad South Koreans now make their own OST's for their Kdramas. They're a million times better!

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Cause and Effect

Ok, everything that needs to be said has been said about Goblin so this is just me throwing my hat into the ring...
- Gong Yoo & Kim Go-Eun have ZERO chemistry together, like NADA! So, if you are expecting an epic love story you aren't going to get it with these two. In reality, he is actually 12 years older than her, but that's still no excuse. I think that they were cast because they are magnificent actors that are really serious about their craft and this shows in their succinct and selective CV's. But they are so busy concentrating on their acting that they kind of forgot to be human! But I don't think there was much choice of actors at the time. They needed this level of acting to pull off the concept of the show.
Gong Yoo is acting like he's bipolar. One minute he is the war-torn philosopical general from a bygone age the next he's a goofy kid.
Kim Go-Eun, I just find this actress annoying...in everything. Here she is just a 19 yrs old hyperactive schoolgirl and then convincingly a 29 yrs old woman ...I mean kudos for pulling it off, but still no...
Basically, she's looking for a father figure and he behaves like one towards her.
-Lee Dong-wook & Yoo In-na on the other hand do have chemistry and even went on to star in another series 'Touch Your Heart' based on this chemistry. Sadly, nothing I've seen them in after Goblin has been as good. It really did bring out their best performances and you can't imagine anyone else in their parts, but still they are doing better in their careers than the main leads. I think this show set the bar too high!
The couple I ship is:
-Gong Yoo & Lee Dong-wook who win the award for best chemistry in Gobin :) They must have had a great time filming it together. I love their witty repartee.
- I have to give a special mention to Lee El, aka Red Halmoni, as she has also been in 2 of my favourite Kdramas: 'Black' & ' A Korean Odyssey'. Both made after 'Goblin' (talk about typecasting!) Anyway, she totally rocks in this!
-There are quite a lot of similarities between 'Goblin' & 'A Korean Odyssey'.
1. Both female leads can see ghosts.
2. Both female leads end up being sacrificed in the end.
3. Both female leads will only end up with the male lead through reincarnation.
4. One of the leads gets amnesia towards the end, but this is just a plot device to recap and fall in love with their love story all over again. But, not to worry they usually recover their memories within 1 episode!
-Another similarity I noticed was between 'My Girlfriend Is a Gumiho' when Gu Mi-ho starts crying it rains. There is a direct link between supernatural beings & the weather, must be in the mythology somewhere. I find this really poetic.
-Strangely, I get a 'Friends' vibe off the series. It is so knowing, like post-modern playing off the supernatural that makes it such a unique concept, which is not easily achieved. It also makes for such great comedy. There are so many funny scenes. that are just gems. Example: When main couple go to the cinema and goblin is terrified watching 'Train to Busan' a film he starred in just before Goblin!
-However the real star of the show isn't the actors, it is the hauntingly, instantly catchy OST. One of the best, if not the best I've ever heard. It really moved me and was utilised like an actor. Powerful stuff music!

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Keepin' it real!

This show goes down easy like a lozenge or whiskey, or whatever is your preference! Park Seo-Joon is one to watch. His last few series are gold. He has the Midas touch due to his a) Masculinity b) Sexiness c) Charisma d) Comedy e) Versatility...Well the list goes on, you get the point. He's different from the typical Kdrama leading man. The show's main question is 'Can men and women just be friends'? And the answer is NO, especially if he was my friend! ;) Kim Ji-won is well cast as they couldn't have a conventional beauty play female lead, it just wouldn't have worked with the storyline. The scenes were they are all kids are so cute in reference to their backstory to present day. I love the honest & real dialogue between the leads as it's sooo romantic & funny, and as only Park Seo-Joon can deliver ( he had a similar effect on me with 'What's Wrong with Secretary Kim'? )I wasn't really convinced by the supporting actors love story, but they only serve as a prop to support the main characters so it's no biggy. They could have used his younger sister more as she was a pivotal motivation for him giving up his dream, but you can't win them all. I really enjoyed the soundtrack, it was very catchy, upbeat & fun which really complemented the drama. But one thing that really impressed with this drama was that it didn't drag! Up until the last minute I was still engaged and I think it was due to the clever plot device that introduces Aera's mum's backstory towards the end which kept it going, however the question of whose mother she was confused me the first time I watched it as I kept thinking is Ko Dong-Man's mother his real mother...whaaaatt??? And it just felt a bit messy. Also because they were freed from the usual Kdrama tropes they had more room to be creative. It's a story of 4 kids who grew up together, yes none of them became super rich and successful by society's standards, but the important point was that they all ended up following their dream and their poverty didn't stop them from accomplishing that, which is a really hard thing to do and I think that's what made this drama stand out, it's about you & me and utilising what we've got to be happy in this world were people can be easily forgotten when they grow up due to financial & family responsibilities.

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Don't Judge a Book by it's Cover...

Imagine Superman was a tiny woman and cue the hilarity that is Strong Woman Do Bong Soon. Whilst navigating her way in a patriarchal world where appearance is king; what gives her self-assurance & confidence stems from her strength, in not needing a man to physically protect her. Park Bo-young makes for a refreshing FL in not being a conventional weak beauty. We can actually see ourselves in her. I have to admit that this started out with a 10 rating which gradually fell short. At the beginning it is fast-paced and strikes the perfect balance between physical comedy & thriller. The graphics are on-point and the dialogue is snappy. I do get the overall impression that this series was made for a young audience hence the vulgarity in parts. You know her & Park Hyung-sik are made for each other when they start arguing like an old-married couple from the start, they really are one of the cutest couples I've ever seen. However, there is a turning point where the gay gags are just overdone and cease to be funny. Kim Won-hae who was tremendous in the beginning for some reason gets drafted into playing his own doppelganger which does him no favours at all. The Indian guru turning out to be a Korean con man is also a completely futile attempt to inject some juice into the flagging narrative. I am really quite miffed that such an amazing series left me with a bitter aftertaste due to being stretched out to the standard 16 weeks. I hope the KIndustry is learning from Netflix that it's ok to leave it at 12 or less episodes!

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우리

This Kdrama is a composite of many things. A love story, a feminist statement, a thriller (very briefly), a comedy & a philosophical soliloquy. At the beginning what strikes you is how different is is from the usual formulaic K romcoms. In the first episode we witness sex scenes, cat poo & a female virgin kissing a male stranger, all screaming out we are different from the rest. There are visual reference clues to the writers leanings in the start: In 'The Graduate' poster, which is replicated in the story and Breakfast at Tiffany's' in the naming of 'Cat', this must have served as inspiration for the writer. There are subliminal messages in the clothing 'You make your own Luck' & 'Raise Boys & Girls the Same'. You do feel that this story is very personal to the writer and she is documenting her own experience, as the FL is a writer for dramas also. The misunderstandings are hilarious in the beginning and we have some very shrewd observations that any woman can relate to (and not just in Korea) about how gender relations work in society. The characters are well written and have distinct personalities. All the couples are given their own strong storylines which they are allowed to develop equally alongside the main couple. But after 'that' kiss I feel it loses it's way and the FL starts philosophising in a smug calm way, which becomes really annoying. Yes, you've expressed your love for each other and now you are ruining it because he won't open the door to room 19? Like what? She want's to see him cry and get angry, while she remains serene. Then the other 2 couples have their temperamental tiffs which ends up with both the women proposing. So, what is the message exactly?....You don't need marriage? If you get married you'll end up miserable like your parents? Marriage is only going to work when the woman proposes & is in charge? But, that's not equality, that's just gender reversal. What might have been more interesting is if they had stronger male characters, but then the women wouldn't have been able to break-up with them and then get back together so easily. Let's face it, in the world we live in today, if a woman breaks up with a half- descent man (which all of these men were) he wouldn't have waited around, another woman would have snapped him up lickety-split by pandering to his shattered self-esteem, whereas this would not happen in reverse unless she looks like a supermodel and that's the real reason women (pre-children) (not all but the majority) will always be passive in relationships.

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Look Who's Stalking!

This is a totally original Kdrama that doesn't follow the usual formula (except for the knowing each other as kids bit)!
The main theme music seems a bit of a mismatch for the action and is calm & easygoing while the cool action scenes are playing out but somehow it works and is instantly recognisable as the Healer tune.
Ji Chang-wook & Park Min-young as the leads look so young! They get my vote for the most adorable, cutest couple ever to grace the small screen. When I watch them I think...ahhh that's what love is really like! I have to say I love Ms Jo (AKA Kim Mi-kyung) this has to be my favourite character I have ever seen her play (and she's played a lot)! Every character is beautifully acted and incorporated fully into the storyline, This is the secret to every successful drama. There is a sort of docu-edgy cool feel to the drama. It really is impeccably written. There are some really memorable scenes and great dialogue which demonstrate how creative the team were behind this. The last 2 episodes veer off into another direction, but it does not distract from the overall arc.

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What's Wrong With Vice Chairman Lee?

The series has a strong start. We have two beautiful, talented leads with one of the best chemistries I've ever seen! It's so well cast. It is the quintessential romcom!
Each supporting cast member is well-drawn. They each have their own distinct personalities and story lines. Shout out to to Mr Yang & Ms Bong for being so cute & hilarious. Now, what sets this apart from your usual romcom, is that instead of seeing two strangers get together, we have a couple that have known each other for 9 years, so we experience their realisation of their love. This wouldn't work in a western society as other partners & kids would be involved and then this would interfere with the pure love storyline. The beginning strongly reminds me of 40's screwball comedies, what with the jazz instrumentals, snappy dialogue & impeccable dress sense. However, after the secret has been revealed & they do the deed, the story looses steam. There is a reversal of gender roles at the end, where Park Seo-joon is counting down the days towards the wedding..like seriously, he looses his masculinity and Park Min-young just wants to work..more that him...and she's he's secretary. Also, who knew that all you need to do to get married was have a long, passionate kiss in front of an audience of your friends & family!

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Come on Shista!

The first 3 episodes are genius and draw you in like an addict to it's charms. It's campy, hilarious & fun. It's Ji Sung's tour de force and shows off his acting abilities to their fullest. Each personality is lovable and it's incredible that the viewer can tell them apart by just his gestures, no need for props. Hwang Jung-eum is a good choice as his leading lady, as she is not a weak female and she gives as good as she gets. They play off well against one another. We have an early Park Seo-joon here where you can see his male lead aura shining through, but at times they are using him as a tap..be hilarious here (in his interactions with Ahn Yo-Na) and serious there when he's painfully in love with his adopted sister. When it's hilarious at the beginning you can overlook the inconsistencies for pure entertainment value, but when it gets to episode 15 and descends into darkness the questions that you didn't ask before get asked. Another Kdrama that would have been a masterpiece at 16 episodes. The last 5 episodes aren't really necessary. There are some fun moments when the personalities reappear but it looses it's momentum in a sea of flashbacks and happy endings. It's honestly the first time I have ever felt sorry for a ML when his mother & grandmother are bickering over him to take over the reins, honestly...these women need to get a life!
The music is excellent, especially that rap. I have to applaud this drama for it's handling of such a difficult subject matter and turning into something that is a real pleasure to watch. Bravo!

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There's two sides to every story

There is some seriously excellent casting in this drama. I can't imagine anyone else playing their roles. The actors own them.
My favourite character has to be the Scheduler! He supplies the comic relief and I love his snappy banter with Shin Ji-hyun at the beginning. He has a seriously amazing wardrobe! The answerphone messages are great indicators of his mood. I feel sorry for Seo Ji-hye who plays Shin In-jung, she has been stiffed with another role where she's unlucky in love...again! Think...CLOY! The soundtrack is memorable and fits exactly. At the beginning I was watching and thinking, this is tight there are no inconsistencies, which is strange for a supernatural kdrama but keep watching and you'll find them later on. The makers struck a good balance between humour & tragedy...at the beginning that is. Around episode 13 I was thinking... hmmm what more do they have left to say to fill another 7 episodes and it just dragged, unfortunately. It would have been much better to end it at 16 episodes, and for a happy ending but I think that would miss the point of the story which is how do you carry on living after you lose love. I'm sure more people lose love than keep love and it's important to show it can be done. I like how Song Yi-kyung is portrayed as depressed and still can't get over it after 5 years, this is what actually happens to a person if you don't have family support. I can't believe the end where they turn out to be sisters! For some reason I kept thinking her brother was really Kang Min-ho! So, no this sisters story line ticked me off...it was a little too convenient! I liked how the supernatural was portrayed in a realistic way, and applaud the makers for tackling a tricky subject, but I would hesitate to rewatch as it's kind of heavy in parts.

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