Carried by performances and a great ending

It's tough to rate a drama such as The Crowned Clown — the plot is not all that clear in its first act, and the whole show is largely carried by the FANTASTIC acting by Yeo Jingoo. I've seen many of his dramas, so I know he has the chops, but he completely blew this dual role out of the water demonstrating the mot restrained ambivalence and the most shattering despair.
The romance was more accessory, but not in a bad way at all. This drama's female characters have plenty of capability, but the writing is honest in how restrained their literal abilities were.
Towards the second act, the plot becomes pretty much unbearably uninteresting, but then the shining part of the whole thing comes into play: Haksan and his compelling relationship evolution with Hasun.
While Yeo Jingoo gave a stellar acting performance, Kim Sangkyung's impressive performance combined with his character's written development made Haksan the most charming, charismatic, and memorable man on screen by far. Seeing his complexity morph over the course of the drama was an absolute pleasure.
And the most romantic component of the entire drama was unironically the ruler-subject relationship that came to be. Haksan and Hasun's relationship is one forged both by honest trust and integrity-abiding opposition. Through this highly romantic (romantic in a literal sense) relationship , Hasun becomes a true king worthy of his people, and Haksan is able to find his way back to his original political ideals. It's a beautiful relationship that coexists with Hasun's intimacy with other characters, and is perfectly punctuated by the shot of the two men bowing to each other. I mean, this level of romantic ideal hasn't really been highlighted in modern dramas, but it really means so much that Hasun's people truly considered themselves to be his subjects.

The final episodes of the drama were very tightly written and wrapped up, so again, this drama's strongest point is in its ending, and the true hero of it all was Haksan for me. He absolutely stole the show!

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Not groundbreaking, but lots of fun and very captivating

While the overall plot was predictable for the avid revenge thriller viewer, it was still entertaining and kept me on my toes— with a few genuine surprises along the way. It's a classic genre entry, and while it's not groundbreaking, it checks all the boxes of a good revenge drama.
The acting was pretty spectacular for an otherwise mostly green cast for this genre, and I've got to hand it to Han Sohee and Ahn Bohyun for such captivating performances.
While the romance was kind of random, I was okay with it thrown in because both the leads are just so sexy that I'm sure it's just what everyone wanted LOL.
Overall, a fun watch for anyone who likes action, grit, and beautiful actors. A little darker than most cable dramas because I think the online release allowed them more leeway in including things that wouldn't have made broadcast standards.
It's been ages since I've been able to actually finish a k-drama, so I applaud the cast and crew for producing such a solid drama!
Bonus points for being female-led in this noir/action/crime thriller genre AND extras bonus points for subverting gendered savior stereotypes and making the male lead die for a revenge plot point <3

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a really fun, feel-good drama

Twinkling Watermelon was nothing like I expected — its heartfelt in both writing and performance, and is an enjoyable story with a happy ending.

Of course there are flaws, but none that completely overshadowed the story. Some things that I wanted more from were (1) the inconclusive way they handled Eun Yoo’s anxiety and (2) somewhat of a lack of acknowledgment that what they went through is what made them who they are in 2023, but these are rather minor things compared to what this drama brings.

As far as I know, the people behind the production are able-bodied, but this was a positive, warm, and non-exploitative representation for people with disabilities. The show treated each character with fairness and didn’t dish out pity or over-emphasize what they lacked.

There’s also something so warm and tender about the the whole concept of the drama, which is the guilt and love we feel towards our parents, and the outpouring of empathy, grief, and protectiveness we feel when we realize they were once our age too. I love this concept. Though it’s more fairy tale than science fiction, it’s healing and speaks to how much we wish we could could’ve protected our parents once we’ve seen them as human beings.

Great cast, fun writing, and good music!

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Weirdly...it delivered on pretty much exactly what it promised

Listen, if you're tuning into a drama called "The Heavenly Idol" with even the slightest awareness of its premise: manage your expectations.
Everything about this drama was not overly ambitious -- a shaky budget drama with a repetitive episode formula, a fun spark of chemistry, and decently charming actors. I believe that everyone involved HAD to know that they were making a show that people could throw on after a long day of school or work and just not think too much about. It didn't make a whole lot of sense, but it was a novel idea and it tied things up pretty tightly in its ending.
While every single aspect of it could have been far better (music, portrayal of idols, fantasy lore, length, production value) its a fun drama to pass the time with.

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Spectacularly acted, thoughtfully written, and comforting to watch. This drama comes into contact with controversial topics, but still bleeds optimism. It’s showing us what the world could look like instead of defaulting to “gritty realism,” and opens up our perspectives — not only do we learn about Attorney Woo, but we also learn about defendants and plaintiffs who all have their own stake in life…we learn about what drives and motivates Attorneys Jung, Kwon, and Choi as well.

Though the episodes become a tad bit boring towards the end, it’s a steadily building rhythm to a resolution. Youngwoo’s character arc is allowing herself to feel extraordinary — knowing that it can be painful, but valuable and beautiful. She doesn’t have to undergo change, and conquer others, but only forgive herself. It’s a really thoughtfully written story.

And PROPS to Park Eunbin for such a spectacular performance. I really appreciate her approach of not simply trying to “play a person with autism spectrum disorder” or “imitate an autistic person,” but rather tell Woo Youngwoo’s unique story, and treating her as a whole and individual character with her own idiosyncrasies.

Great drama, and although it could be called a little too perfect, it’s a world I want to live in.

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Refreshing Entry in the Sageuk Genre

As an avid sageuk watcher, I found "The Red Sleeve" to be incredibly refreshing — though it's a dramatization, there was a heavy sense of honesty infused into its direction sensibility. I appreciated how the writers didn't shy away from themes of power just to create a swoon-worthy rom-com. The passion in this drama is not so explosive, but quiet and sustained throughout. Some viewers may not find the drama very satisfying, as its not composed in very western story structures that we are used to. The story "The Red Sleeve" tells is holds ambiguity, spans generations, takes a practical approach to characterization.
To reference Ursula K. Le Guin's carrier bag theory of fiction, while most modern dramas we see are tales of hero's journeys and triumphant struggles, "The Red Sleeve" instead of a receptacle of true human experience. At times it can seem messy and aimless, but that is a true reflection of life, especially from the female gaze.
The acting in this drama was fantastic, especially with a surprisingly knock-out performance from Jun-Ho! The scores was also amazing as well. The cutting and cinematography was some of the best I've seen for TV.
I'll be honest: this isn't a drama that changes my world or lingers in my heart, but it opened my eyes to the types of narratives that we are allowed to have— that WOMEN are allowed to tell. And that is an empowering feeling.

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Rebel was right where it needed to be in story and plot, but it absolutely excelled in characters, acting, and OST.
To establish the perspective of this review, I'm a complete sageuk/historical junkie (scarlet heart, orange marmalade, queen inhyuns man, rooftop prince, splash splash love, the moon that embraces the sun, the princess weiyoung(c), saimdang, rebel, nirvana in fire, to name quite a few in my list) and will review this show both standalone and within the context of this genre.
The story isn't especially surprising, but that's what I liked about it. Modern television has been pushed to an almost ridiculous level of pursuing thrill factor that other aspects of shows lose their luster. Rebel isn't overly ambitious in its writing, but that allows it to shine as a whole. Of course, it is indeed gripping and refreshing, but that is due to the attention to detail and fleshed out characters. Rather than seeking originality through complete innovation of this genre, it finds originality in the writer's care for the story rather than pandering to an audience. Weaker points of the story would get into spoilers, but let's just say that there could have been more episodes (surprising because I usually call for less) and that while the antagonists were good, they weren't my favorite.
Now the acting- this was just phenomenal. Kim Sang Joon's Ah Mo Gae is arguably my most favorite portrayal in a historical drama. Ever. His irresistible charm pulls in viewers and his control of emotion makes him like the most human character. I'll cut the character/acting section short because I'll sound repetitive but tldr every character was unique, properly developed, and absolutely charming in their own ways.
The music. Oh my god. I just found out the OST was on spotify and have had it on repeat since. Before we start, I must say that I take OST very seriously- it's just as important as cinematography, casting, everything. Rebel has a distinct and unified sound that matches its story. It ranges from your typical heart-wrenching ballad and love song that every kdrama has, to the intriguing music of the palace. But what really takes the cake is the section of the OST that has the traditional sound more akin to what common people actually sang and still do sing. Fiery tracks like If Spring Comes are what get me excited and even sing along while watching. Definitely 10/10
Overall this drama is absolutely my top sageuk because it deals in complexity with great care. I live for nuance, and most of my favorite media involves ambiguity. No plot spoilers, but I'm going to say that Rebel somehow pulls off complexity without ambiguity and excessive nuance, which made it work as a sageuk really well. Definitely recommend, and I will be posting a spoiler-included review later on my blog!

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A drama that is overall just okay, with good character portraits

To preface, I absolutely love historical dramas, and was pleased to hear about one set in this particular era jet during the invasion of the Jing/Qing. But, while the pacing kept me afloat to episode 9, I was greatly disappointed by this drama.

Let’s start with Jang Hyun. The way he is written is freaking annoying. His character and background is so vague it’s impossible to have any attachment to him. I’m aware that his mystique is part of the plot I guess, but withholding a backstory for a twist later is no excuse for having such a poorly developed character for a majority of the story. We only get glimpses of “tragedy” that don’t really explain anything about him. He’s also got a serious case of Mary Sue. I also think his companions could have been far more complex.

Now, he still has shining points as a character: he provides candid views on political situations, and what he said about Lord Nam’s burdensome idealism and weaponized incompetence was a BAR — the best written part of the whole drama.

Next. Let’s talk about my one casting gripe: Nam Goong Min. He’s a fine actor, but it’s so hard to get to the interior of the character when his face is so stiff. I don’t mean this as a drag or an insult, it’s just my criticism in a vital component of acting — with screen acting, you can’t profess your inner thoughts like in plays or lean on clever language like in books…the performers face must say what’s left unsaid. And Nam Goong Min simply has stiff facial performance. It’s creepy. And not good. I can tel by his eyes and his voice that he has all the skills necessary, but his FACE simply doesn't move!

More in stuff I liked: I love the character of Gil Chae. She’s a fascinating heroine (to me, who has seen every trope in the book). She’s neither a do-good heroine that prioritizes the good of society and well-being of the public nor a “spoiled brat with a secret heart of gold” trope that you typically find in sageuks.

Her character is clear, defined, and consistent. Pretty much from the beginning it’s clear that she takes exceptional care of her closest loved ones, but she protects them with by nanking hard decisions that can be seen as cruel and selfish if from an outside perspective. I found the boat scene leaving Ganghwa such a bold and powerful decision to portray her in.

In what I’ve seen so far, the balance of flat and round characters is very well used here (a round character must have an engaging direction, a flat character must be able to represent a force).

I’m not extremely well versed in the history that inspired it, but I did find some of the ‘foreign’ characters to be fascinating. It’s always refreshing to see some rounded out Jurchen characters as opposed to simple caricatures.

Overall, it’s not terribly interesting, but My Dearest has averagely decent political intrigue, engaging pacing, and important messages about the decay and de-romanticization of war. But the weakly written male characters dragged it down, and there wasn't a committed enough message on any single theme like anti-war or serendipity or youth.

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need to just get this review out

Just finished force-feeding myself episode 13 - I am committed to finishing this drama, but BOY is it one of the worst.

Don’t know who wrote and directed this, and I barely care to look it up, because it’s shocking how much of a step back in the modern rom com scene this is. Poor writing, farcical acting, nonsense plot, and terrible characters. It’s a really lame take on progressive themes, and honestly only brings us backwards in its message about relationships.

To be fair, I’m tuning in for the pretty people, to turn my brain off after work, and the bask in the glory of Jung Somin, but BOY does this drama not give her the wings to fly as she usually does. The directing, plot, script, character is so weak that I’m not surprised that even her performance falls flat.

The characters are absolutely nonsensical and awful, the writing is confused with itself, and all the directing is this weak attempt at being deep at exposing actually important concepts like career, esteem, social inferiority, and family.

The themes are right. The execution is wrong. I only kept watching for Moeum’s story, but even that one fell flat too.

It’s watchable if you just want to relax I guess, but it’s really Not Good. Also, the Netflix subtitles are not really exact translations, so not sure what’s going on there.

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Comforting and meditative

First off, I just want to say the cast is fantastic here. I believe there is no greater acting challenge than communicating with silence — the most moving beats are the ones of silence.

Second, I want to applaud this drama for being a genuine slice of life. It’s not perfect, but it’s honest. It never strayed too far into melodrama, and it didn’t buy into this false hope like many other shows. The hope here in this show is genuine because it’s so ephemeral. It’s not noble, it’s prosaic and honest and desperate all at once.

And while this may just be my own cultural interpretation, I think this show gives a very honest and fair view of what common metropolitan depression feels like. In every character.

Lastly, the soundtrack is wonderful. Great show, and I recommend to those who enjoy seeing the truths of life through the eyes of others.

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A show we needed

This show was a pleasant surprise to find — beneath a raunchy premise, is a drama that 100% empowers women. It's about affirming women and validating their desires, their choices, and their refusals.

The friendship between Mina and Heejae is so sweet, and they went just fleshed out enough in this drama's short runtime, which I can appreciate. I think Woohee and Hani were incredibly charming picks for our leads, as they both just give great energy on screen.

Overall, this show was surprisingly progressive, advocating for safety, for pride over guilt, and for really having a good relationship with one's own body. We live in a world ruled by male gaze that prioritizes male desire, and watching this show is such a healthy step for women to let go of the shame and guilt that's forced upon us. A great watch!

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I have so many wonderful things to say about this drama, but I'll start with the one thing that I haven't seen praised enough, and that is the cinematography and editing. I absolutely love the way so many of the scenes are lit and shot. The letterboxed ratio of the entire drama also gave it such a wonderful look as well. Scenes were shot from such thoughtful angles and were framed in such an effective way to convey mood or meaning.

Secondly, I've got to give a hand to the writing. Although the last few episodes felt a little bit sudden, the overall drama was written to be both heartbreaking and immensely heartwarming. Through the combination of slice-of-life writing and talented acting, this ensemble grew to be a family in my eyes. For a drama about prison, this drama ended up being more about ordinary life than one would think. It's not a dramatized caricature that's looking to romanticize criminality, but rather it's a narrative that attempts to portray real people dealing with the same problems that we all have, just in a unique setting.

Specifically, with this drama, each character's arc felt meaningful and subversive. Everything in the drama really is not what it seems, and that holds most true with our "loveable idiot" Jehyeok. Yes, we know that he can be a bit slow and thick-skulled at times, but Jehyeok isn't at all an idiot – he's thoughtful, he plans things out, and he never gives in. He sees people as they are, and maybe that is the gift of his straightforward thinking. I also love that he's reading Romance of the Three Kingdoms this whole entire time, because it's clear that he can't get through it, and yet he's kind of planning out his own tactical strategy this whole time – it shows that his talents don't lie in book smarts, but he can still make good choices based on his sense of self and his ability to be good to others. Also, love that this drama is called "Prison Playbook"/"Wise Prison Life" because that's really what it is – kind of like a playbook for surviving life.

The soundtrack is also amazing, from commanding K-hip hop raps to sweet k-indie love songs.

Everyone should watch this drama! It's just darn good TV, and I also learned a few things about my own life from it.

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Long story short, Age of Youth 2 is a great follow-up to the prequel season and is definitely worth a watch.

Getting into the details, I would have to say that this season is inferior to the first one, but it's certainly not disappointing.

The story and subplots were solid, but none were particularly as outstanding as the ones in the first season. It did get melodramatic at times, but maintained a good slice-of-life balance, as it was realistic in depicting how life gets tough and dark, yet life goes on. The first episode was definitely the best; it was a great and dramatic return to the belle epoque we know and love. Jiwon's development arc was amazing, as she gained a bigger focus this season, Yeeun's arc was a bit stilted, but it did fine in articulating a sensitive topic of trauma. It was also awesome seeing our loving motherly Jinmyung finally paving her path in the world, and since season 1 was her success story, she played more of a supporting role in the plots of others, which was still great to see. The addition of Joeun was great as well; she has a relatable subplot, and the actress is completely charming and adorable. Unfortunately, I personally found Eunjae's arc to be highly unsatisfying and unconvincing. It was mostly due to the writing and partially to do with the recasting. I'm not going to blame the actress because her hands were really tied by the fact that Park Hyesoo had defined Eunjae too well as her own character and the writers not being more adventurous with her development.

As always, the music is fun and sets the mood really nicely throughout the drama. The girls are hilarious and this slice-of-life is totally rewatchable. The acting of all the girls was great; I wasn't particularly impressed by the male actors except for Kwon Hochang's actor, becuase that was a tough portrayal.

Overall, this is still an amazing follow-up drama, but I wouldn't say it has the strength to stand apart from it's explosively well received predecessor. Give it a watch!

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Fight For My Way has probably been the most enjoyable drama I've seen so far this year.
The story is refreshing, relatable, and fun all the way. The characters are fantastic, the leads have great chemistry, and the stories told are real to those in their 20s out there. Each character captivated and moved me in their own ways with a good balance of well-paced storytelling and depiction of reality. Dong Man and Ae Ra are lovable and goofy, Sul Hee is a strong fan favorite, Joo Man is a character that can be both liked and disliked for the same reason: he's incredibly flawed like ourselves, and Hye Ran is a character with surprisingly good development.
When I was watching the stories unfold, I didn't get the typical drama tropes I was expecting. Instead, I got all too familiar stories I've heard and experienced before. None of the drama in this show is outrageous or melodramatic because it happens in real life so often. No story spoilers here, but I will say that this show sticks true to being a slice of life in its own unique way.
The music is really good- both in composition and lyrics. The tunes capture the moods quite well, and the lyrics of the first OST really encapsulate the feel of this drama.
It's great to rewatch as a light romcom, and overall, it's incredibly enjoyable. Highly recommend.

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