“Less Than Impressive Season 2”

Because I was utterly impressed with the screenplay of Lee Woo Jung, directing of Shin Won Ho, as well as the strong chemistry and camaraderie of the main cast in Season 1, I had high expectations for them to maintain the momentum, if not surpass it. But I was let down. Most of the scenes and lines that comprise Season 2 were repetitions and redundancies from the previous season such as the cute exchange of winks between father (Ik Jun) and son (Woo Ju), Ik Jun and Jun Wan wrestling like kids over some snacks, and Ik Jun hilariously reciting a subway recorded message to the annoyance of Seok Hyung, just to name a few. It’s like hearing the same old jokes which were funny the first time but had lost its comedic aspect when heard again for the second time. Another disappointment was the minimal exposure given to the endearing Woo Ju who captured many hearts in the first season. Why did the director and writer make us fall for the charming antics of this adorable wonder boy and then limit his scenes afterwards? And then there’s the dismal finale or episode 12. No impact, least efforts, anticlimactic. It was as if the writer had ran out of creative ideas, the director was no longer driven and the rest of the crew, fatigued. I don’t think the loose ends were purposely made to justify a Season 3. There was evidently no concerted effort in ending the popular series with a BANG.

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“Annoying Slapstick”

Some described this series as a “dark comedy” but I beg to disagree. By proper definition, a dark comedy is one that makes light of a subject matter that is generally considered taboo or painful to discuss. There was nothing of that sort in this painful to watch drama that was full of annoying slapstick and exaggerated actions specially by the female lead who was supposed to portray a respectable and dignified lawyer. The rest of the cast members were as clumsy and absurd which made it all the more irritating. As for the main man - Song Joong Ki as crime boss adviser Vincenzo - his youthful, good boy appearance was not the sensible representation of someone belonging to the fearsome Mafia hierarchy. Nothing seemed to make sense. A ridiculous waste of $18M budget as well as a regretful waste of 20 hours of my time.

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“All Hype, No Substance”

Overall rating of one star because the entire drama series was one-dimensional. It was flat, dragging and uneventful.

The storyline had no depth and to compensate for its lack of development the writer just seasoned it with sensual scenes to titillate the audience.

The female lead Han So Hee annoyingly moves in slow motion, has a shallow viewpoint, perennially stares blankly, and talks mostly in expressionless monologues. She appears lifeless with no energy and enthusiasm. She also has a habit of nagging the playboy male lead about his self-centered and heartless ways but ends up in bed with him anyway. So, what is there to love and admire about the lead characters? Nothing.

Song Kang portraying the playful gigolo is unconvincing. His facial expression is exactly the same whether he is happy, sad, excited, upset, and what not. His entire demeanor is like a cardboard cutout. No impact whatsoever. To be a believable heartthrob he should possess more than just good looks. He needs to have a charmingly vibrant personality, sense of style and eloquence. Sadly, his only redeeming factor is his visuals.

The supporting cast members somehow breathed a bit of liveliness to the otherwise monotonous, sleep-inducing plot.

Don't expect a happy and ideal ending. Lust and stupidity triumphed in the end.

The director, producer and writer should all reflect on their dismal collaboration to determine why this drama of theirs yielded such a shameful outcome. The consistently low ratings and numerous negative reviews are evident proof of their collective failures.

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“A Worthy Watch”

“Youth of May” is a compact 12-episode series which means that the storyline is not stretched nor interspersed with irrelevant, useless scenes. Each scenario and conversation are integral to the plot so they manage to keep the viewer’s interest and maintain their attention.

The effort to transport the audience to life in the 80s, most specifically during the turbulent month of May 1980 in Gwangju, is aptly seen and felt in the set design, props, styling and music.

I was continuously entertained with the delirious mix of drama, romance, suspense, comedy, action and history. Although it leaned more on the brutal side of humanity, the lead characters’ love for each other and towards others, made up for the emotionally heavy and gory scenes.

Moving and heartfelt, you will fall in love alongside Myung-hee and Hee-tae, despise and abhor Hwang Ki-nam, sympathize with Soo-ryeon, feel sorry for Hyun-cheol, root for Kyung-soo and empathize with Soo-chan. So many different emotions in a rollercoaster ride throughout 12 memorable and action-packed episodes.

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Warning: Don’t watch this if you’re depressed!

Kim Bo Tong, writer of D.P. was quoted as saying: “DP was created to fight the oblivious notion that the military is better now. I wish to help those fighting in the dark. I hope to make a better tomorrow for someone who might be crying alone even at this time.” What a praiseworthy and noble objective! I sincerely hope that the miniseries gets to achieve writer Bo Tong’s aspirations.

It is an action packed 6 episodes laden with heavy scenes that are shocking to see and difficult to digest if you are the overly sensitive and emotional type. Apparently, this is the grim reality that pervades the life of unfortunate junior personnel in the South Korean military, hence the deserters or runaways, and consequently, the need for DPs - those tasked to pursue and bring the deserters back to the barracks. The show resembles a social commentary on how a strict hierarchical society perpetuates and tolerates abuses then hides cowardly under the guise that it is intrinsically part of their culture’s DNA. It is what it is. Take it or leave it.

I appreciate how this show is raw, dark and honest as opposed to glossy, fanciful and pretentious. Director Han Jun Hee was not ashamed to show the dirty surroundings and the faulty system. He did not hesitate to show imperfections down to the minutest details such as the actors’ blemished complexion and rough skin texture.

The unlikely duo of an intensely serious Jung Hae In and an extremely goofy Koo Kyo Hwan was a match made in comedic heaven. Their solid partnership and suspenseful exploits were the victorious part of the story. What amazed me about their acting was how natural and spontaneous they delivered their lines as if there was no script to follow nor any cameras rolling in front of them.

My “D.P.” review in one sentence: Prolific acting, casting, directing, screenplay, production design and cinematography showcased in 6 episodes.

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“A Melancholic Fail”

The listless and uninspiring female lead Im Soo-jung, who apparently has been in the entertainment industry for 20 years and has surprisingly won a Best Actress award in the past, is the reason why “Melancholia” is a melancholic flop for me. It’s baffling how, after all the many years of experience and exposure she has had, she displays this level of “lazy acting” that is really burdensome to watch. Her aura here is very much like her demeanor in “Search: WWW” - unappealing and dreary. Her face is lifeless and devoid of any expression no matter what emotion she’s going through. She is enormously outshined by junior cast members and a wrong match for the powerful acting consistently shown by the male lead Lee Do-hyeon, who is much younger and less experienced than her. This awful mismatch is a major distraction and the main reason why I’m giving this drama series a low rating.

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“Easy on the eyes and on the heart.”

The chemistry between North Korean Jung Hyuk and South Korean Se Ri was so palpable you’d be fervently wishing for the Korean Reunification to finally happen. Clearly, even Hyun Bin and Son Ye Jin felt their strong chemistry that they have now become a real life couple!

The $20M budget was put into good use - from the impressive production design in far flung filming locations, brilliant casting of an array of talented actors, and the lucid contributions from behind-the-scenes of an outstanding crew.

I gushed at the romantic scenes, laughed at the comedic parts, cried at the sad moments, got angry and upset, became scared and shuddered. In other words, I got so carried away with their realistic portrayals even if it was a fictional story.

My one and only criticism: The ending could have been more elaborate in order to bolster that the much-beloved “Ri-Ri couple” did indeed, live happily ever after.

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“Moving & Heavenly”

I appreciate TV series that have an educational aspect because watching becomes dual purpose - I gain knowledge while being entertained. This drama centers around Asperger’s Syndrome and trauma cleaners. Two unconnected and unlikely topics but intertwined so fluidly into the storyline. I admire the screenwriter’s diligence in conducting in-depth research and then incorporating gathered facts into the script.

The storyline is heavy on the heart because there is always a death scene and immense grief but the lessons and realizations about life and love are what always prevail in the end.

The lead character was realistically portrayed by Tang Joon Sang who I first encountered as a naive soldier in “Crash Landing On You”. His acting skills concretely delivered what the creators behind this drama series wished to convey. And, not to forget his impressive memorization skills - his lines were laden with tongue-twisting terminologies that only a genius can utter at lightning speed!

The only downside? It is merely 10 episodes so it’s going to leave you wanting for more...

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“No Boring Parts”

I am not particularly fond of period or historical dramas but I made a rare exception for this series after watching episode 1. The first hour went by without me getting bored or losing interest. Its splendid plot, dialogues, casting, acting and production design collectively kept me captivated and wanting for more so I kept on watching all the available episodes. I clearly see why this drama is fast gaining popularity and winning against its present rivals in the ratings game. I’m now eagerly waiting for episode 7 to be released and excited to find out how the love story between a debonair Crown Prince and an affable Court Maid will wittingly unravel.

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“Put this Drama on top of your List”

Superbly riveting, fast-paced, suspenseful, provocative - and it’s only been 2 episodes since it premiered. Even if it’s an adaptation it doesn’t come across as a poor clone or a struggling version of the original series.

Judging from the well-crafted scenes and soulful acting, I am certain that the high momentum will sustain or get even better! Kim Soo Hyun convincingly justified why he deserves to be South Korea’s highest paid actor. He really got down and dirty.

This drama series definitely has all the elements of a worthwhile watch.

Big tip: Don’t read the synopsis beforehand so that the suspense factor is not diminished. Let the story unravel naturally.

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“Very Timely Storyline”

After 4 episodes viewed it’s a rating of 7.5 for me. Production has layers of praiseworthy complexity which sums up the positive aspect of this drama series. The element that merits criticism pertains to the unrealistic handling of the fatal infectious disease by so-called professionals which made me cringe and flinch such as:
•Feisty SOU officer (female lead) gets scratched during a scuffle with an infected soldier and yet she doesn’t apply basic First Aid as a preventative measure and just stares at her open wound, unworried that the blood-bourne pathogen may infiltrate her system. Personal records reveal that she has “good survival instincts and problem solving skills” yet she forgoes prompt washing of her hand wound.
•She hands over her service gun and mobile phone to a non-gloved and therefore unprotected Lieutenant Colonel of the Crisis Management Center before surrendering for her imposed quarantine.
•The same Lieutenant Colonel is always in a business attire while everyone around him is clad in full PPE in the facility that houses infected patients.
•Equally negligent police corporal (male lead) casually examines a bloodied crime scene and touches contaminated objects then answers a call on his mobile phone. He also zealously sniffs the contents of a half consumed water bottle, putting the rim at very close proximity to his nose. Afterwards, he heads home and jumps straight to his bed without washing-up and still wearing his dirty work clothes.
•A bloodied suspect is whisked away by gloveless police escorts and yet in another scene there’s a conversation about how COVID-19 has made the public more safety-conscious which is why, “We don’t shake hands anymore”.
•Huge irony in the way the characters frequently allude to the present pandemic but blatantly resort to irresponsible handling with no regard for personal health and hygiene. Perhaps the writer and director can put more focus and attention to this vital detail because it’s really uncomfortable to watch.

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“Same Old Song Hye Kyo”

Song Hye-kyo has a beautiful face. Her overall appearance is easy on the eyes. That’s common knowledge. But we seem to forget that she has chosen Acting as a profession. So why isn’t she showing any professional actor’s skill in her supposedly “carefully chosen” projects?

“Now, We Are Breaking Up” is once again very much like a glossy Song Hye-kyo poster ad. Lovely to look at but after a while it leaves you wanting for more substance, more talent, and more dynamism.

The writer is being kind and generous to this veteran thespian by not assigning her a difficult and challenging role to portray. But it is at the expense of the viewers who are expecting high quality and first rate entertainment from someone of her stature.

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Checklist on why “Reply 1988” deserves 10 Stars:

1. CAST - Every actor, whether main or supporting, junior or senior, adult or child, wholeheartedly portrayed their individual roles with depth and realism.
2. SCRIPT - Five families living and thriving on the same street. You will laugh and cry with them throughout their many milestones and ordeals, and feel that you’ve become a part of their family by the time you wipe away your tears on the final episode.
3. MUSIC - OST is comprised of upbeat tunes and melancholic melodies that stick to your head like a catchy LSS. They’re played subtly in the background, making the scenes more heartfelt and pronounced.
4. SET DESIGN - South Korea in 1988 gradually transitioning to 2015. From the hairstyles and fashion, furniture and gadgets, to the lingo and trends - the production crew astonishingly enabled the audience to go back in time.
5. LESSONS IN LIFE - Watch and learn!

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“Winner!”

Synopsis: A story about cash-strapped contestants competing in children’s games with only 2 outcomes - either $38M in cash or death in a flash.

If you’re browsing audience reviews to decide whether or not to watch this Netflix exclusive then my quick answer is, “Yes, go for it!” If you want to know the reasons why then read on:

1. Ranked # 1 in the list of Netflix’s most popular shows in 90 countries.
2. Insane plot initially conceptualized in 2008 but rejected several times for more than a decade eventually turning into a worldwide phenomenon, is enough to stir up anybody’s curiosity.
3. Brilliant multitasker Hwang Dong Hyuk was both the writer and director so nothing was “lost in translation”, enabling the storyline to be directly translated into actions and emotions just as it had been intended by the original storyteller.
4. Superb acting all around, from the lead characters to the supporting cast, even the cameo roles. It did not matter whether they are seasoned actors or rookies, superstars or not so well-known. Their acting talents were all at par. Their competencies were same level. And just how impressive were they? Well for one, Ho Yeon Jung, a first-time actress with a following of 400K on Instagram pre-Squid Game era is currently the most followed Korean actress with 23.7M followers, and counting! If her acting was lackluster or lame then these 23 million new fans of hers wouldn’t have clicked “Follow” on social media. *Note: There is an exception to this praiseworthy acting group which is explained below.
5. Captivating set design and enthralling art direction with minimal use of CGI for a more realistic and riveting effect.
6. Gruesome, grotesque and gory scenes are not really my thing but somehow the treatment of these scenes was done in a creatively tricky and insidious way so they did not make me shut my eyes in fear nor give me nightmares at night.
7. Bizarre oxymoron with the most extreme contradictions. How can seemingly harmless children’s games be played with blatantly harmful results? How can an innocent looking doll cause carnage or a whimsical playground transform into a bloodbath? Quite disturbing, nonetheless, impactful.
8. Genius musical score using familiar classical music to tone down the shock factor. Instead of hearing suspenseful tones as a warning that something dreadful is about to happen you hear soothingly nostalgic melodies such as “Fly Me To The Moon”. Weird, but somehow it worked brilliantly.
9. Not annoyingly commercialized with no glaring product placements nor subliminal endorsements. Even the actors’ length of screen time was not exploitative. Those in the superstar level like Gong Yoo and Lee Byung Hun had minimum exposure, while neophytes Ho Yeon Jung and Anupam Tripathi were highly visible. The creators did not have to heavily rely on A-listers to gain widespread popularity.
10. In spite it being a purely Korean presentation there were ironically no communication and cultural barriers which brought about its global appeal. It vividly showcased how human frailties and imperfections bear no nationality.

Now for the constructive criticisms:

1. Illogical instances when the players were demanding the guards to implement fairness and show compassion such as allowing them to use the toilet during bedtime or stopping contestants embroiled in a fist fight. How can they expect civility and morality in a place where wanton killings were casually occurring on a daily basis?
2. VIPs’ contrived dialogues; the fake and forced delivery of their lines made me cringe and wonder if the reason why they were wearing elaborate masks was to hide their identities with all that shameful acting. The otherwise meticulous Korean director should have hired English speaking advisers who could have provided him with feedback as to how unnatural the foreign actors sounded.
3. Unrealistic ending where the protagonist suddenly became pious and honorable after a lifetime of wayward and contemptible behavior. After all the trouble (and near-death experiences) he went through, he decides not to savor his reward. Spending $10 out of a $38M jackpot did not make absolute sense!

Final verdict: 10 positives versus 3 negatives is still a WIN.

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