The premise is straight forward, you watch six celebrities escape from large scale escape rooms, but The Great Escape is much more than that. This is show is very entertaining, funny, quite suspenseful and it makes you care a lot about the hosts.

It is not very rare to see a well working team in Korean variety, but here is a whole another level. They have a common goal which makes them work together, show their best abilities and cheer for each other every time they discover something. This is amazing, because it keeps their spirits high and also you get more into it because you sincerely root for them.

Every escape room (or in this case we can refer to it as "escape complex") has a specific theme. Naturally, you will not be interested in every complex the same, but none of the episodes are boring. I would also like to compliment the editing team on this one, because even though the members get stuck on some clues sometimes, the episode is still seamless, rarely drags and the tempo is there. Not to mention the sheer scale of TGE - I was in awe several times with the props and entrances to some secret passages.

As for the humor, the general rule is - the scarier the theme is, the more entertaining the show gets. There are a lot of inside jokes because they constantly refer to previous funny situations. It is also remarkable to watch them becoming pros at escaping. At the beginning they struggle a lot, being stuck in a tiny room for several hours, but in the last couple of episodes they develop the sense for hints and clues, and it is a joy to watch them.

Lastly, I would like to mention the healthy bromance and male representation. I love that they make it okay to be scared.

The Great Escape is in fact really great.

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Excellent follow up to the first season, I loved it very much and did not disappoint me. The production is just mind-blowing, some of the sets and the scale of the cases is unbelievable, as well as the guests in this season.

I appreciate that they expanded the world building in this season in a way, that created a unique show, but at the same time, if you did not see the first season, you could watch this one anyway. They created a new overarching mystery using some of the guests who showed up in multiple episodes which made the interaction with the hosts just a whole different kind of entertaining. They also kept a nice balance of individual/stand alone cases and inter connected ones.

The addition of Lee Seung Gi was very nice. He has a good sense of what the audience likes and he brought in a nice dynamic. I also read that because of Ahn Jae Wook's scandal they re-edited some of the episodes and it is true that he just appears in the bare minimum, but you notice it only when you focus on it. I am glad that they kept him on and didn't make any weird zooms on the others or edit him out completely.

The second season is still very, very funny, but the funny moments are not abundant like they were in the first season. I was trying to get into it with an open mind, but I just have to comment on the fact, that it was missing Lee Kwang Soo a bit. Other than that, this is still one of the best variety out there and time just passes by when you get into it.

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This was so great, I laughed the whole way through.

It was very interesting to see how the format of the show came together and found its identity. The choice of the guests, especially early on, was incredibly ambitious. On the other hand, this would probably not have become the phenomenon it is without that bold move.

And oh my, the hosts have struggled greatly. You root for them almost immediately and you learn a lot along with them. At first, mostly about how to keep yourself alive in an old school cottage and then about the Korean cuisine. There is so much to love here. The way they both struggle with basic meals and constantly call their moms from the landline ("Wait, that sounds complicated, I will give the phone to Taecyeon.") and succeed in producing an enjoyable meal is very sweet.

Both of them are also really handy, worked a lot around the house and the animals. I also enjoyed very much when they had their outings to town and made so many friends at the market and in the hardware store (Dong Shik rules!). Also, Seo Jin's sassy attitude is my favourite thing.

This show was excellently produced, even the episodes where I was not fully familiar with the guests were entertaining and enjoyable. I just loved it.

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I am still in awe of this drama. How is it possible to cram so many good things into one short series? IHYV will not only make you come back to it, but it will stay with you to think about it a long while after you finish watching it.

The main plot is just so well done and the minor cases that the main heroes solve are not self serving like in many dramas of this genre, but tell a consistent story a give you food for thought. IHYV also centres around a few very interesting tropes and small character/relationship details that keep you emotionally involved.

When it comes to characters, this is the way I imagine a strong female lead. Lawyer Jang is so gutsy, follows through even if she might be wrong and gives her everything to things she deems worthy. Lee Bo Young portrays her in such a lovable and charming way, it's a joy to watch. She also clicks with both of the main male leads and let me tell you - this is a love triangle that truly hurts. Both Park Soo Ha and Lawyer Cha are so fleshed out, strong contenders and both have such unique qualities that you root for them both in everything. I also think, having seen quite a lot of Lee Jong Suk's performances, that this is one of his best ones. Same goes for Yoon Sang Hyun who can pull such different characters in every drama in a totally believable way and his (in this case subtle) comedic ability is simply amazing.

And this is not all there is. IHYV does not centre only on love stories, it's true charm lies in developed relationship all around. The love-hate "friendship" between lawyer Jang and prosecutor Seo feels so real, as well as the relationship between lawyer Jang and her mother. And part of this is also in the way the dialogues are written - they all feel like being led between real people, with common emotions that you yourself go through in your everyday life and the drama emphasises things like honesty, fighting for the right things and truth (plus the "use" of it in the law).

Also, you just freaking hate the main antagonist. Phenomenal performance by Jung Woong In. His conflict with each of the main leads is so different, it kept me on my toes.

I would also like to praise the aspect of a coming of age perspective that is represented by Park Soo Ha. The development of the character is such a journey. The creators also throw in some little elements such as confronting your idea of someone with reality, keeping of promises despite of what you want and learning to leave certain approaches behind. These are all things that we experienced in our reality and the contrast of Park Soo Ha, who is very special because of his ability, and goes through the same is a genius move.

If I had to point out some negatives, it would definitely be the extension of the drama. This makes the very last episode sort of unnecessary and disturbs the flow of the last couple of them. There is also a few cliches used and the typical trope of kdrama timing, which are a bit of a sore spot. Other than that, there is really nothing else that I found lacking.

Overall, this is one of the best dramas out there, a good representative of it's genre and solidly written. It's also worth coming back to and notice all the little hints you might have missed during the first viewing. You should stop hesitating and just go for it. It really is that good.

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RHGHR is easily one of my favourite dramas of this year. I loved my Wednesdays and Thursdays, coming home to this. There is much to be praised, but there were some shortcomings as well.

First of all, I have to congratulate this drama for giving us a strong female lead in a historical drama, that was essential to the plot until the end. I often see in sageuk dramas, that the female starts strong and towards the end, she just lets everyone else handle the situation. This was not the case here, which made me very happy.

The theme of keeping history was very strong and even though it seemed laughable at the beginning, when they spoke about it so pathetically, the message was well received and important in the age of fake news and "believing opinions rather than facts". Massive thumbs up from me.

Other strength of RHGHR was in developing minor characters and various themes within the drama. The whole historian gang was so awesome, I am going to think about them a lot. Lee Ji Hoon shined here, as well as
Sung Ji Ru (him screaming "Mámáááá!" all the time was the funniest thing ever). The leads were cast very well, I enjoyed their performances and loved the fact, that the female lead was older than the male lead.

The additional episodes didn't feel as empty, as they usually do in other dramas. They saved quite enough agency, so it was still quite dynamic but I personally feel like some of the characters were not quite themselves and even though they tried to present it as a development, it just rubbed me the wrong way. The tempo was also a bit distorted and although I loved the first three quarters of the drama, it became a chore for me to finish it.

Nevertheless, I had so much fun, laughed aloud a lot and enjoyed myself. Good riddance, Goo Hae Ryung and please, just dip the brush in ink sometimes.

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Unexpectedly great

I had my eye on this ever since a news article came out about introducing the cast and a basic reference to the concept, that it would take place on an island. The trailer looked intriguing, so I clicked right on the show, when it came out (and to my surprise, only two episodes per week, damn!). I had great fun with this, it was very refreshing an entertaining.

To sum New World up, it's a variety show with very immersive elements and a concept that adjusts by days. The members are basically on an island vacation for six days in exclusive accommodation that had been designed to fit their preferences. They meet every day and a holographic box informs them on the main event of the day and they react accordingly. Depending on what is happening they get more or less competitive with other, they forge and break alliances and basically, just wreak havoc around the island. Their goal is to earn prize money that makes their life on the island easier, they can afford stuff (they even pay for food with it) and in the end, they are allowed to transfer their balance into real currency.

The quests or events the show is based on are excellently put together. There is a nice balance of competitiveness because the members organically forge different alliances which makes sense for the day. Because the cast has various experiences in variety shows it is also very interesting to watch them approach this. Sometimes they even play against the game instead of against each other which is very refreshing. The show is also edited in a way, that viewers are invited to pay more attention because not everything is shown as it happens and there are a lot of surprises.

The members, as mentioned, are very well chosen. This was my first time watching something with Kim Hee Chul as a full member (I usually see him as a guest in something or in clips) and damn, he was hilarious here, I totally enjoyed his chaotic presence. Lee Seung Gi and Eun Ji Won as veterans were also great, but I feel like their thunder was stolen quite a bit by the rookies. Jo Bo Ah was fantastic! I really enjoyed her approach of taking a step back and evaluating the situation for herself, she is also very loyal the her (true) allies and when in doubt, uses her amazing acting skills which made her a really strong contender. Kai was also really great, I loved how he "levelled up" by quickly observing his senior members and slowly building his position by sharing when necessary and cooperating with people who benefited him. Park Na Rae is no rookie, but I was surprised by how innocently she approached this show. She worked really hard and went all in, it was nice to see. She also a sort of centre of the members, she often hosts them and takes care of them. All of them has also great chemistry overall and often treated each other well, like when it came to food and snacks.

New World is overall well balanced, even when a daily challenge might be less interesting, they edit in an episode with something else or do the above mentioned trick with not exposing everything and fill it with a twist. My favourite episode is hands down the third one and from then on the show gains momentum, stakes get high and it grabs your attention. I was looking forward to new episodes every week and was very interested in it. I also really appreciated overarching elements through the whole show like the items, or hinting on something mysterious. There is a great potential here and I hope that the show will be successful enough to have multiple seasons. It was also edited really well and you had a genuine feeling of them being on the island by themselves - a lot of it is shot by automated cameras.

Now for things I didn't really like and this is highly subjective and my opinion only. As a show/concept it's really great, but when you think about watching six quite wealthy people in real life competing for fictional money and mentioning jokes about being poor. I don't know, it just rubbed me the wrong way in the first episode and then I got over it. It's just a show, not a social commentary after all. The other thing I did not necessarily like was one scripted part with and extra (I'm trying really hard not to spoil it here). I get that it might have something to do with an overarching story/element they wanted to introduce, but it was quite random and ruined a high paced part of one quest.

I really enjoyed New World and I would love to have more episodes to watch. If you have some spare time, I think that you would enjoy this a lot too.

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This was exactly what I was looking for - cute, fluffy, had an interesting story and it progressed nicely. Overall, I was not at all bored and enjoyed myself.

What My Little Hapiness does best, is that it creates very interesting characters, who learn from each other and their meaningful relationships have an impact on their lives. The main couple is very supportive of each other and they are so fully fleshed out, that nothing was potrayed out of character for them.

Where I really found a jem here was the second couple, though. From the moment they were introduced to us, they were just a perfect fit and I especially loved how they genuienly were an influence in each other's lives.

The OST and the cinematography were pleasant as well. The drama has a nice tempo, I don't even remember it having a slower episode that would make me bored.

The only negative I would maybe mention, but if you watch Chinese contemporary dramas a bit, you well know about this, the hospital parts were a bit unrealistic/cliche. Other than that, a solid 10 from me.

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Sometimes you (and by you it might just mean me) are in mood for a drama that is calm and main plot is a straight forward romance. This is it, you cannot find a better drama than this. And as a bonus, there are real gems hidden here.

In the pretend relationship/contractual marriage genre, there are often almost sci-fi beginnings and silly reasons for the couple to form a quick attachment and proceed on with the plot and sheningans. Perfect and Casual is not an exception in this, however, it features a longer start and by the time we get to the wedding, there are some feelings developed and you are fully invested into the story.

That is mainly because of two factors - the actors playing the main couple have an incredible chemistry, they act around in each other naturally and the characters are very endearing. The other is that the writing, especially in the character of the grandfather, is done very well. He teaches his grandson to see Yun Shu's best qualities and her value, which Sinian realises and never compromises on. And it's just great to see how he holds her in equal regard as she holds him.

The plot overall is quite calm. The charm of this drama is in quiet conversations and every day life. The funny bits are not obnoxious, the other characters are entertaining and if you aren't interested in them that much, at least you get to scroll your phone guilt free. I also liked the way this drama was shot, especially the passages from the point of view of some characters/their imagination. It also has a nice tempo and the main couple is nicely balanced and switched on screen depending on which one of them is currently in higher need of attention. However, I had an issue with two characters that are introduced later on, as somewhat of a catalysts for the progress of the relationship of the main couple. I found their involvement in this scale somewhat unnecessary and repeated.

The music is nice but if you watch it on YouTube, one song is not used which results in muted parts of the drama. I also liked the wardrobe, especially Yun Shu's - which is repeated at first, since she has no money, and later on develops with her character. It was nice to see.

To be honest, Perfect and Casual blew me away, I enjoyed it so much that I stayed up for it until one in the morning during a workday (which I NEVER do - being a commuter that gets up at 5:20 - I learned my self-control the hard way and for this drama, I threw it away like a used napkin). I already rewatched my favourite parts and will probably come back to them often. This drama is worth your time.

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CWPFN has an interesting story of an unlikely match. At the beginning, it's very interesting to see the story developing. Especially Oh Sol coming into herself and seeing her own value and stand up for her choices. The other characters are built up quite strongly and developing nicely. And it all just comes to a point of stagnation and stays there pretty much to the end. Not to be super harsh about it, I enjoyed this drama. It was precisely what I was I looking for - a feel good romcom that didn't require much attention.

The cast is the strongest point of the drama. I loved the main leads, all three of them. They had great chemistry and it's a joy to watch them. I loved mostly Song Jae Rim, though. His character and performance made the drama for me. Oh Sol's team members were a delight to watch as well and her family and friends, who were also very well cast.

The music is nice, there were some memorable tunes. The first couple of episodes are very funny and it's an easy watch. However, it continues very strangely - some plot points shown at the beginning are severely underdeveloped or not progressing at all. Motives such as Song Kyeol's relationship with his mother remain the same and their conversations happen in cycles about the same things. We never really know more about his childhood or about his nanny and it's very hard to follow his character. Some plot points are just straight up dead ends that could have been utilised and were not, which just makes the last couple of episodes a chore to finish.

One last note - I was quite angry when Song Kyeol came back after two years, being all like: "I just can't see now why I made such a fuss about that clean in the past." Mental illness is not something that you can sweep under the rug after two years of therapy, dear writers.

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This is probably one of the most wholesome pieces of TV I've seen in my life. At first I was a bit confused, because the editing was done in a different way than the rest of the 3MAD series and then I read about the scandal of one of the hosts and the decision to chop his scenes out of the series. This affects the first three-four eps of the series, but the result is surprisingly fresh and paints a picture of a beautiful friendship between Cha and Yoo (as they refer to themselves). They also both feel drawn to Son Ho Jun who due to bad weather becomes literally stranded with them on the island for 6 days (at one point, they have to lend him some socks). No wonder he later on becomes the replacement host, they totally fell in love with him.

This show features a healthy bromance and plenty of it. The men share raw stuff from their lives with each other and it's very touching. Cha and Yoo also become Ho Jun's mentors, men to look up to and respect and they joke around almost constantly. No wonder this had such a high viewership, this 3MAD is something very special.

Fishing Village 1 is also very educational for people outside of Korea. It's fascinating to see the life of fishermen and you root for Yoo every time he gets to go fishing. I also really enjoyed how the show portrayed the life in the village. The people were interested in the house of the celebrities, they gave them a lot of advice when they met them at random and I loved the part, when the neighbourhood halmoni came to check if they were on fire because the fire smoked too much.

The food was on another level. Cha is an excellent cook and oh my goodness, they gave him some tough challenges, which he passed with flying colours.

The scenery and overall production of the show was just excellent. Well done all around, I can't wait to watch the second season.

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I rarely experience such high as the first couple of episodes of this drama gave me. I was beyond hyped and the excellent soundtrack kept me entertained and in the mood (for dancing) the whole week. However, True Beauty ended up for me like a bottle of soda that you buy, excitedly open, drink a couple of glasses of, and you when you leave it overnight in the refrigerator all the bubbles disappear and it's simply not as yummy anymore. You finish it the next day regardless, because you know, you bought it and you are not going to just pour it down the drain. So I finished it.

The story is very intriguing and I liked all the levels it presented. I think that was also the deal breaker for me - there was so much to be explored here, filled with refreshing ideas and in the end it just turned into a cliche story with a love triangle and a mediocre villain. To be honest, I did what I almost never do and forwarded some bits of the last four episodes. What heresy!

On the other hand, the secondary characters here are superb. Even the parents of the FL are super entertaining. This drama also created a story based around family, friendships and community and I think that it should be praised for that. I personally enjoyed the subplot around the FL's older sister.

The performances of the actors are A+, the casting on this drama was done phenomenally. The most notable performance is delivered by Hwan In Yeop and he pretty quickly became a fan favourite. Cha Eun Woo grew a lot as actor, in my opinion, and I liked him here a lot. Moon Ga Young was very good as well, she created a lot of mannerisms for the character, including the best derpy smile, which I liked. It made the character of Im Joo Gyung seem very real to me. This drama also featured a lot of enjoyable cameos that makes it almost seem as a part of a bigger universe. The soundtrack is superb and I'm pretty sure that my neighbours now think I'm crazy for listening to it over and over again.

True Beauty presents a unique atmosphere revolving around a very particular age in every person's life. The quarrels between the schoolmates made me go on a trip down the memory lane and I found myself laugh out loud more often than I thought I would. On the other hand, somehow, it is also the drama's downfall. There is a good chunk of middle episodes that feel just stagnant and the tempo is greatly distorted since there is not much left to explore, since the story stayed within the basics. The drama also makes a hasty couple of ending episodes featuring an element that did not do anything for the plot at all, it just made a leap for the characters to tie everything up at a quicker pace.

That all being said, I don't regret the time I invested into True Beauty. It's a light drama that made my gloomy days a bit brighter.

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This one of the best things I've ever seen. It touched me in ways I didn't expect and I think that it will stay with me for a long time. The story is very strong and the drama is made very well made but that is nothing compared to the cast and the characters they portrayed.

The five main characters are a dream to watch. You feel for them very strongly early on and even if you think that some of them are a bit extra, they get under your skin.

I loved Eugene the most, though. His relationship with Ae-sin was my favourite part of the drama. It reminded me of Jane Austen's Emma - he accepted her, admired her, let her be herself and loved her so very much.

If I loved it less, I might be able to talk about it more.

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I was really looking forward to this movie and it did not disappoint me, but there are still some thing that felt just mediocre.

As someone, who has been raised around sci-fi (I had no idea that Star Trek is not real and being and Starfleet officer not a possible career option for me until I was like seven) I love this genre with a passion and this movie has some of the best elements of it, so it deserves a high praise. The visual effects were so good that it me really sorry that I was not able to see it in a cinema right now.

The first half of the movie is very rapid and the characters are introduced in a very interesting way, which makes you root for them since the beginning. I liked how Space Sweepers takes place in a wide universe made of people from different backgrounds and I especially liked how they were able to incorporate a translation system in which everyone was able to speak their own language and understand each other. I also liked the main antagonist - Richard Armitage's performance is superb, he is so evil that I did not even recognise him at first.

The movie keeps a high tempo packed with action, however I did find the latter part weirdly inconsistent and I felt the length of it. It also featured some cliche elements of the sci-fi genre which I found a bit cringey. On the other hand, the movie succeeded in creating a sense of community in the universe which I found very endearing and it was wrapped up nicely.

The performances of the main cast are pretty much flawless. I was pleasantly surprised by Park Ye Rin's performance, since child actors in sci-fi can be often annoying, but she was actually the highlight of the movie. Visually, it really was a feast and even the sets were high quality and appeared properly run down. The OST was very fitting, it gave you the appropriate feels.

Space Sweepers is without a doubt a good representation of its genre and even though it features some mediocre parts, it was still very refreshing and very welcome distraction in these dark times. Give it a go.

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Busted caught me by surprise, I could not let it down and gulped it within 6 days with a busy schedule. I would put it in similar category as a LARP (live action role play) that is being shot on camera, but the hosts got play themselves with some character modifications.

The story is very interesting and every mystery has its charm. Personally I found a couple of episodes in the first half less interesting than in the other, which is bound to happen since not every theme could be your cup of tea, but overall it was balanced quite well.

What makes this show so great though, is the cast. They are phenomenal and work so well on the screen together. I must also add that this featured some of the most hilarious scenes I have ever seen. In some parts I actually had to pause the episode and laugh it out. Some tears were spilled as well.

It is pretty much a perfect show, I am so happy that it is coming back. I will be on it like a hawk. I am sorry however that Kwang Soo is not going to be in the second season, he was my favorite out of all of the detectives.

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It's been a while since liked a drama this much, yet hesitated with the ten star rating. Mr. Queen is a drama that does not feature any filler episodes, it's written so well that every episode is eventful and it develops even the minor characters. That being said, for you to enjoy this drama fully, prepare to do some mental cartwheels to see the main leads in an "innocent straight relationship" the creators want you think they are in.

The cast of Mr. Queen is nothing short of spectacular. Shin Hye Sun does an incredible job, I especially liked her performance as the character got more and more incorporated with both people inhabiting the brain. She also has incredible gestures and mannerisms that reminded me of Choi Jin Hyuk and me never forget, that she basically played two characters at once. Her chemistry with Kim Jung Hyun is amazing and his performance is also amazing. I was surprised by the acting range of both of them. The amazing performances don't end there. Everyone was just so good, I have no complaints.

The story is very interesting and it almost makes the viewer feel as a companion to Bong Hwan. He is quick on his feet and often surprises with his wits. At first, I was in awe of just how into it (the slapstick and hilarious comedy) were the creators willing to go. The comedy was very strong at first and even though it makes room for more dramatic elements later on, it was a constant in the drama. There was one plot point, quite early on, when the personalities of Bong Hwan and So Yong clashed a bit more and they started to be a lot more intertwined with each other, which made doubt that it could be still entertaining, but it turned into a good move. I also liked how they kept the inner voice of the Queen, even though it changed in tone, throughout the entire drama.

Mr. Queen features a lot of classic elements of a true historical drama and I liked the incorporation of modern elements as well. Especially interesting was the use of Bong Hwan's skills in the kitchen and the addition of the royal kitchens was a nice view of the court from this perspective.

What this drama did also well was pairing the characters up into smaller squads (#squadgoals all around) and it featured a lot of banter and funny moments, even for the less interesting characters. And, as we are in a historical drama, the villains are properly evil and the heroes are properly heroic. Soundtrack is also very catchy and I liked it very much.

I would like to address the main issue that a lot of people, including me, have with this drama, but I feel like having stepped on thin ice. I see the cultural context and the point of Bong Hwan coming into So Young's body, which was primarily to help her in a dire situation. On the other hand, well... It's a situation in which everyone who watches it takes what he/she/they want to take from the main relationship. But if helps in accepting other types of relationships other than the typical heterosexual ones, I think, that it would be a big help.

To sum it up, Mr. Queen is a damn good drama, unfortunately with some baggage. Regardless of that, I enjoyed it very much, I looked forward to it every week and I will miss it a lot.

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