A good series to reflect on life, no matter how tough it is

This is an unlikely moral tale of how wrongful actions, bad decisions, and most of all, the cowardice/stubbornness of staying that way can run the lives of many, but most of all one's self and beloved. Innocent playful student love that gets complicated real quick, but thankfully comes to a reflective conclusion. A recommended watch for the storyline, but docked a few stars only because I felt the two leads didn't show romantic chemistry. Nonetheless, it does make one reflect on what best to include on one's bucket list, if it should come to that, and what memories one would hold most precious.

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The Little Mermaid, Kdrama not Disney

Take my favourite childhood cartoon, stretch it by ten times its duration, remove Ursula and all the lovely Menken melodies, replace it with the stomach growls of a perpetually hungry Gianna Jun, throw in the neuralyser from Men In Black, and you've got this Legend of the Blue Sea. A tad too formulaic in many spots, but one is tempted to overlook them all, as the pleasant young official always has. The parallel storylines, and seemingly inevitable historic doppelgangers raise a lot of questions, but ultimately, it all ties together all right. The fishy bits were rendered quite well too.

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When serendipity strikes, or crash lands...

As the desolation of isolation hits, this modern day Classic is a heartwarming distraction. From Toto-we're-not-in-Kansas-anymore to sullied-consciences for Das Leben der Anderen, to Casablancan self-sacrificial charms in the unlikeliest of minefields, this hopeful hilarious romcom shows love may extend beyond our virtual, internally-or-externally-imposed confines and perhaps transcend even the unbridgeable chasm of the 38th parallel, causing viewers to rethink what happiness, honour, duty-of-care, compassion and community mean in today's world, no matter the sociopolitical and technological trappings.

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An insightful delve into Kyoto traditions

This short and sweet j-drama about of all things, traditional japanese sweets, or more specifically the challenges of being born into a family business spanning four centuries, is thankfully a delight, with a pleasant aftertaste. The protagonists are three single girls who are expected to take over the confectionery shop (and what visually delightfully confections they are), along with all the societal and familial encumbrances that are attached. The proprietress, and each of the vastly different daughters, are spot on in their acting, as is the head chef who is expected (in turn) to marry all of them. Hilarity and heartbreak ensue, not before the romantic complications of a banking salaryman, and the perpetuator of another centuries-old profession steeped in japanese culture.

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Lucid dreaming at an unreal level

Nothing like the Sandra Bullock movie of the same name, this dreamy romance of intertwined lives by saving-indebtedness is sweet and heartwrenching at parts, with pretty solid acting particularly by the neighbourly mom who provides daily breakfast, and the investigator sidekick. Bae Suzy carries off her bob with panache, but what was most endearing was that scattered throughout the series' cutscenes were lil furry inserts of the neighbourhood cat and indoor corgi. One liner non-spoiler summary of the series: "If you could dream the future, what salvific changes would you effect, and how would you live with the consequences of your (in/)actions"

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