Kdrama to Maybe Watch: What's Wrong with Secretary Kim? (2018)

What's Wrong with Secretary Kim? (2018)

Grade: B-

16 Episodes, 70 minutes each

Viewing Platform: Viki

Kim Mi So has worked her entire life to help support her sisters through medical school and to pay off her father's debts, and now that Mi So has finally made the last payment, she puts in her resignation. Lee Young-joon, the vice-chairman of a very successful company, won't simply stand by and allow his perfectly trained secretary of nine years leave just like that, though. After some prying, Mi So admits the real reasons she wants to resign: so she can find love and get married, and so she can “find herself” after so many years of only existing to help her family. How will Mi So receive the vice-chairman's generous offer to let Mi So date his eligible self? Will she find the oppa that helped save her from a kidnapping situation from her youth? And how will Young-joon's family react to Mi so piecing together their dark family secrets?

*This kdrama starts off with a really creepy vibe, as the viewer finds out what the kidnapped children went through, and then the main conflicts resolve halfway through the show. This made for a really slow-moving second half, which can sometimes be nice, but in this drama, it feels like two different shows. I didn't like the main theme song/music, the physical contact felt too much like an American show (sex before marriage), and the actor who plays Young-joon isn't my favorite. Plus, once a certain fact is revealed, it doesn't seem like he actually changes or develops as a character, since he was “always” that way. Mi so is pretty cute, but I liked watching the secondary characters' love stories more than the primary story arc. Not sure I'd watch this again.*

KDrama to Watch: I'm Not A Robot (2017)

I'm Not A Robot (2017)

Grade: B

32 Episodes, 30 minutes each

Viewing Platform: Viki

Spunky entrepreneur Jo Ji-ah is determined to make a difference with her inventions. She lives with her older brother and his wife, but he isn't happy about her lack of focus, especially when he finds out his wife gave Ji-ah money to fund another one of her crazy projects. Then Ji-ah's ex-boyfriend calls – he needs her help, for which he is willing to compensate her (and then Ji-ah can pay back her sister-in-law). Ex-boyfriend Hong Baek-kyun is a brilliant scientist who created an incredible AI robot, and it was all ready for testing with the reclusive shareholder to the country's largest financial institution, Kim Min-kyu, when a malfunction threatens the entire project. How is Ji-ah involved with all this? Apparently her ex made the AI robot look exactly like her! Will Ji-ah be able to fool the highly intelligent Min-kyu long enough for the robotics team to fix the real robot? What happens when Min-kyu, who has a severe, bizarre allergy to humans, comes in contact with Ji-ah instead of the robot? And how will Min-kyu and the robotics team face the enemies within the financial institution, the people who tried to take the company from Min-kyu back when his parents died?

*This was a fun show, with some pretty neat graphics (and then a little that were cheesy) and decent pacing. My biggest problem is we never find out who Madame X is – a mysterious figure who helps Min-kyu from the very beginning, when his parents die and he is about to sign away the company to someone else in the company. The person plays a big role in Min-kyu's success; I'm guessing the writers just kind of forgot about it. I might watch this again.*

KDrama to Watch: Oh! My Lady (2010)

Oh! My Lady (2010)

Grade: B+

16 Episodes, 1 Hr each

Viewing Platform: Viki

Yoon Gae-hwa is a divorced housewife and mother in her mid thirties, barely making ends meet since her own mother's cancer and early death used up all her alimony. Gae-hwa does her best with the odd jobs she is qualified for, but housekeeping doesn't pay much and isn't steady work, and she soon finds herself homeless. After begging her ex-husband to watch their daughter for a couple months, she stumbles upon a production company job opening through her temp agency's mistake. The production company offers Gae-hwa a paid internship position, despite her having no qualifications, but with one major stipulation: She has to “bring in” top star Sung Min-woo to be the lead in their original musical! Little do they know, Gae-hwa had just met the young star while fulfilling her temp agency's housecleaning assignment AND discovered an incredible secret about him. Will the housewife be able to convince the cocky star to join the show? What happens when Min-woo's manager also discovers the actor's secret? And how will Min-woo deal with his burgeoning feelings for the older woman thrust into his life?

*I was genuinely surprised at the complexity of the characters in this simple drama. Even my least favorite, the meddling scandal reporter, showed more than one side (albeit for him it took until the last episode). The plot is relatively simple, and each individual scene is at a slower pace than newer dramas, but I enjoyed the whole experience. Choi Siwon is adorable throughout, with a strength and energy that is charming yet unique to his character. Gae-hwa's character felt genuinely older than Min-woo, as she had the confidence in herself that comes to a lot of people in their thirties. I did have a problem with the youngest actress; the character's age was too old for the actress herself. The music was cute though, and it wasn't a totally predictable plot. I'd watch this again.*

KFilm to Maybe Watch: My Little Bride (2004)

My Little Bride (2004)

Grade: B-

Viewing Platform: Amazon Prime

Bo-eun is a 16 year old high school student, dealing with everything that comes at that age – grades, potential first loves, fights with other girls – with one major exception. Her grandfather is demanding that she marry her lifelong friend and senior, the art major about to graduate from college, Sang-min. The two were practically raised together, all because Bo-eun's grandfather and Sang-min's grandfather had made a pact of friendship that their families would one day become in-laws. After falling ill, the living grandfather manages to manipulate the two kids into fulfilling his wish, and they are married! Will Bo-eun be able to keep her marriage a secret from her peers? What happens when she tries to date a boy her own age anyway? And how will Sang-min convince Bo-eun to return his affections?

*Compared to most kdramas I watch, this had a much lower film quality and a very simple, slow plot. All the dialogue felt familiar though, despite the film's age. It was an interesting look at what might have happened in ancient times, when women were often married as young teenagers to older men. Sang-min was a gentleman though. For something that could have been very awkward, it was tastefully done (aside from one scene where Sang-min is watching porn at his newlywed apartment...). It was also interesting to realize just how much older he was – at first I thought he might be 24, but then they mentioned his 3 years of military service, making his character closer to 28 years old for an age gap of 12 years. That means he felt affection towards her as a toddler, preschooler, kindergartner, while he was in high school – it's a very different way to view love, to consider that it could grow along with the object of affection's age. I might watch this again.*

KDrama to Watch: Marriage Not Dating (2014)

Marriage Not Dating (2014)

Grade: B

16 Episodes, 1 Hour Each

Viewing Platform: Dramafever

Cheerful department store worker Joo Jang Mi decides to propose to her boyfriend of one year, the playboy Lee Hoon Dong. Fortunately Hoon Dong has backup; once he senses Jang Mi's intentions, he calls best friend Gong Ki Tae to help break up the couple. Jang Mi is relentless though, and plastic surgeon Ki Tae has to step in more than once to spell out that the relationship is over. Meanwhile, Ki Tae's meddling mother is threatening to sell Ki Tae's home – his sanctuary – unless he settles down and gets married. Out of desperation and a need to settle things once and for all against his mother, Ki Tae hatches a plan: find a girl that his mother would NEVER accept, and pretend to be dating her. The perfect accomplice is of course the sincere and sympathetic Jang Mi, with the promise of revenge against Hoon Dong. What happens when the supposedly simple lie in this game of chicken with Ki Tae's mother keeps growing bigger? Will Jang Mi be able to keep seeing the mysterious and handsome waiter at Hoon Dong's restaurant? How will Ki Tae handle the realization that he doesn't want the deception to end?

*This drama is more risque than most Korean dramas I've seen, with the characters sleeping around, showing a lot of skin, and drinking a lot – but nothing more than a PG-13 movie would show. Jang Mi's character is cute, and I love when the prideful guy realizes the girl he thinks he'd NEVER love ends up fulfilling him in ways he didn't think possible. This had a great pace as well, with very few slow moments, and the writers managed to show some real character development over the course of the drama. The music was fun, too. I might watch it again.*

KDrama to Miss: She Was Pretty (2015)

She Was Pretty (2015)

Grade: C+

16 Episodes, 1 Hr each

Viewing Platform: Dramafever

Kim Hye Jin used to be a pretty, popular girl, but after puberty, the other half of her genetics kicked in, and she's no longer the cute, outgoing girl of her childhood. Instead she bounces around from temp job to temp job after college, as the larger companies won't give her a second glance. In the meantime, her chubby, awkward elementary school friend Ji Sung Joon has grown up to be quite the success, and handsome to boot. After losing contact for many years, Sung Joon makes an extra effort to reach his former friend, but what happens when Hye Jin decides to ask her best friend Min Ha Ri to pretend to be her when meeting Sung Joon again? Will Hye Jin survive her new job working temporarily at a top fashion magazine – the same magazine which Sung Joon has been assigned to save? And how long will Ha Ri keep up the charade of being Hye Jin?

*The premise is cute, with the idea of first loves finding each other later in life and falling for each other again, but the second male lead FAR outshone the lead, even to the point I was hoping Shin Hyuk would win over Hye Jin. There were even clues in the writing that hinted at Sung Joon simply needing to see Hye Jin for closure, that it wasn't necessarily his destiny to be with her, and how Ha Ri needed Sung Joon more than Hye Jin did. I also didn't think the timing for Hye Jin's makeover made sense – why didn't she do it sooner if she knew her looks were part of the problem in finding employment? Or why not do it before meeting Sung Joon, if she was embarrassed with how she looked, or after the first 3 times the big magazine boss said she didn't look the part for the job? Hye Jin's character was rather annoying as well, and I didn't like the slow focus camera technique that this director favored. It really dragged toward the end as well. If you just want a simple, light drama, this could work for you.*

KFilm to Miss: Mood of the Day (2016)

Mood of the Day (2016)

Grade: C

Viewing Platform: Amazon Prime

Bae Soo Jung has to travel to Busan via train for an important business meeting, pitching the advertising agency she works for to a potential new client. The day doesn't start off well – she is hit in the back of the head with a basketball and spills coffee all over her suit as a result, then Soo Jung hears that one of her friends is engaged to her former high school sweetheart. After that, a handsome yet crude young man shares the seat next to her on the long train ride, telling her that he will be sleeping with her that night, and then their train breaks down halfway to Busan. Kim Jae Hyun is used to one-night stands and confident in his charms, so despite Soo Jung rebuffing his efforts, once he finds out she would love to sign on the famous basketball player that Jae Hyun's agency represents, he decides to help facilitate a meeting – if they can find the elusive sports star. Will Jae Hyun convince Soo Jung to have a little fun? Or will she prove her point that sleeping around is empty and meaningless?

*The film has a few cute moments, but it felt much too similar to American movie plots with American values and the nonchalant acceptance of cheating in relationships when they're “basically over” anyway. I can't root for a couple when *spoiler alert* their relationship starts with one or both parties cheating on another person. The comic relief character was kind of gross, too. I wouldn't watch this again.

JDrama to Miss: Happy Marriage!? (2016)

Happy Marriage!? (2016)

Grade: C

12 Episodes, 35 minutes each

Viewing Platform: Amazon Prime

Takanashi Chiwa is working hard at a local office supply store, barely making ends meet while her gambling-addict father spends everything she earns. A mysterious gentleman shows up at Chiwa's day job one day and offers to marry her. She declines, deciding that she would rather marry for love, but then some loan sharks show up at her home – her dad had racked up a substantial gambling debt and she was going to have to work as a prostitute to pay it all off. Then the man shows up again and pays off the loan, and Chiwa finally agrees to the contract marriage. Little does she realize she is now married to Mamiya Hokuto, one of the richest men in Japan. He agreed to marry Chiwa in order to please the head of the Mamiya family. What happens when she meets Hokuto's family? Will Hokuto and Chiwa end up finding true love, or will one of the Mamiya family members finish what they started 30 years ago, when Hokuto's mother was killed?

*There's something about how Japanese culture is portrayed in these kinds of dramas (and mangas) in how women are treated compared to men that doesn't sit right with me. The men are very domineering towards women. They do show women having business success, but for the most part it's a “man's world.” Plus their dramas emphasize the tragic side of humanity, with very few humorous moments. There was a little bit of character development, and the actor who plays Hokuto is handsome, but I didn't quite buy how things worked out. I wouldn't watch this again.*

KFilm to Miss: Wonderful Nightmare (2015)

Wonderful Nightmare (2015) 

Viewing Platform: Amazon Prime

A powerful attorney does whatever it takes to please her influential and wealthy clients, bullying and taking advantage of the less educated and vulnerable members of society, until one day when she accidentally dies before her time. What happens when the soul-sorting center offers her a chance to live for just one month in another person's life (in order to correct another error they had made) and then go back to her normal life? Will she be able to convince the family that she is a loving stay at home mother and supportive wife, or will everyone know she's someone different?

*The premise had promise, and while I was pleased to see the handsome Song Seung-heon (from “My Princess” 2011), the story didn't really captivate me. The family still had to lose their mother, and there wasn't any guarantee the attorney lady would be able to join the family as the step-mother. There are a couple F-bombs and some sad/scary situations where young girls are taken advantage of, or nearly so, and those are hard to watch. I wouldn't watch this again.*

KDrama to Miss: Evergreen/That Man Oh Soo (2018)

Evergeen/That Man, Oh Soo (2018)

Grade: D+

16 Episodes, 50 minutes each

Viewing Platform: Dramafever

Seo Yoo-ri is following in her father's footsteps as a local police officer while caring for her high school age sister.  Then Yoo-ri's boyfriend of 3 years breaks up with her seemingly out of nowhere. Little does she realize it was because of Oh Soo experimenting with the family's secret, magic tree's pollen, as he was supposed to do to learn and take over the family business. It has been their family's legacy for generations to help others find love. One person from each new generation is gifted with the power to sense another person's emotional state. Oh Soo doesn't realize that the pink love aura coming off of Yoo-ri's boyfriend wasn't actually for her, and when he gives the love-boosting pollen to the boyfriend, the boyfriend immediately breaks up with Yoo-ri to pursue his new love. What happens when Yoo-ri comes back to the cafe, drunk and upset over her break up? Will Oh Soo be able to make amends for his mistake? And is the tree a truly magnanimous master, helping humans find love in exchange for protection and care, or is it a malignant monster, a curse from centuries past?

*So disappointing! The writers could have done SO MUCH with the fantasy element of this story! Instead it focused on the tragedy and suffering as a result of the family's doomed fate. There was even a shamaness character in this show – why on earth couldn't they have used her for help in breaking the tree's curse?? This could have also been a very FUN kdrama if they had used the pollen in a more mischievous capacity. The only good part was the older brother character. He was definitely the comic relief, but it was a unique way to write an oldest sibling. Most of the time we see older siblings being straight-laced and hardworking, so it was nice to buck that stereotype while still incorporating some of the more tender brotherly love aspects to a sibling relationship. Other than that, this was a big miss for me and I won't watch it again.*

KDrama to Miss: Pretty Man/Bel Ami (2013)

Bel Ami/Pretty Man/Pretty Boy (2013)

Grade: C

16 Episodes, 1 hour each

Viewing Platform: Dramafever

Plucky Kim Bo Tong has only one ambition in life: to marry her longtime crush Dok Go Ma Te. Unfortunately, the pretty playboy has an ambition that is at odds with Bo Tong's goal: to flirt his way to the top, on the backs of the rich, powerful and lonely women he finds. It's all in an effort to provide for his mother, a kind, caring woman who has struggled to make a living their whole lives. His father was never in the picture, but his mother assures him it was for their own protection, and when the time was right, Ma Te would be able to meet his father. Unfortunately, Ma Te's mother is harboring a secret: she is dying. Then a mysterious woman shows up, claiming to know Ma Te's true origins and says he will have to conquer many women in order to learn from them and meet his father. Ma Te must learn to understand things like the true essence of money; how to control people's hearts; networking; perfect timing; the importance of clout; using power; gathering intel; being steadfast; the woman who loves only him; and what makes a Mother, the most powerful and frightening of them all. Will Bo Tong remain at Ma Te's side, as she promised his mother? How will she handle Ma Te's manipulative methods, doing whatever it takes to be in a position worthy enough to meet his father? And how will Ma Te untangle himself from each intimate encounter?

*I enjoyed Jang Keun-suk in “You're Beautiful,” and he is handsome, but this drama felt more like a boring, SLOOOOOWWW soap opera with the love story as the background filler. It was also distracting to have new characters introduced every other episode, only to disappear and never be seen again (with one or two exceptions). It doesn't give the viewer enough time to develop a rapport with the characters; the whole story felt weak. The antagonist's redemption wasn't believable, either. If someone spends most of their life committing unlawful and evil acts in order to ruin people's lives, there isn't enough time for that person to “make things right.” I suppose it was to make Ma Te look good by comparison, and he did go through some character development, but the formula didn't quite work. I won't watch this again.*

K Webdrama to Watch: Go Ho's Starry Night (2016)

Web Drama

Go Ho's Starry night (2016)

Grade: B+

20 Episodes, 15 minutes each

Viewing Platform: Dramafever

Go Ho tends to give things in her life star ratings – it's probably a trait of being an advertiser and habitually comparing products and services. She supports her mother and unsuccessful, perpetually a student brother, so she also writes articles for online magazines on the side. Work is difficult enough with cranky Manager Kang constantly yelling at her, but it all takes a turn for the worse when Go Ho's ex-boyfriend is suddenly hired and placed as her direct manager. The webzine writing isn't going well either, until one night when inspiration strikes: rating her single male co-workers. What happens when Go Ho starts to realize many of her male co-workers are giving her extra attention? Will she ever find out the reason why her ex dumped her? And how will she feel about love transforming her hotheaded boss?

*Cute, quick watch. The plot is not complicated, but enough attention is given to character development that the viewer is hoping, curious and ultimately satisfied along with Go Ho. The only part I didn't like was the one manager that was blatantly sexually harassing the women in the office – it was so over the top and made me feel uncomfortable. I think it was to *spoiler alert* justify him being beat up in the end, but I think that could have been accomplished with a lot less grossness on screen. I was pleasantly surprised with Kim Young-kwang's performance (Kang Tae-ho), as he was the second male lead in “Pinnochio,” which was not a favorite drama to begin with, and that character was more happy-go-lucky. *spoiler alert* Kim Young-kwan pulled off the aloof, strong male lead quite well, and I wouldn't mind seeing him in a longer production as the male lead. I'd watch this again.*

KDrama to Watch: Jealousy Incarnate/ Don't Dare to Dream (2016)

Jealousy Incarnate/ Don't Dare to Dream (2016)

Grade: A-

24 Episodes, 60 minutes each

Viewing Platform: Dramafever

Weather girl Pyo Na Ri is an aspiring news anchor at a large television station. She is also recovering from a 3 year crush on the athletic and charming yet arrogant news anchor, Lee Hwa Shin, who has been on assignment in Thailand as a news correspondent for the past while. Hwa Shin had exposed his older brother's meat company for false advertising and selling lower quality products, creating a rift in their family. Na Ri is excited to go to Thailand to earn a few extra bucks on a short work assignment, even though it means interacting with the object of her one-sided love. She does run into a handsome, kind young man on the plane ride over, Go Jung-won – who just so happens to be Hwa Shin's rich best friend. While in Thailand, Na Ri accidentally feels Hwa Shin's chest and notices a lump – her mother had died from breast cancer, and while Hwa Shin is a man, Na Ri can't shake the feeling that Hwa Shin's health could be at risk. What happens when Na Ri's suspicions are proved correct? Will Hwa Shin be grateful for her help, or continue to reject her? How will Na Ri feel when she realizes Jung-won is interested in her?

*This drama is an interesting cross between a soap opera and a romantic comedy. The first few episodes are very confusing, as coworkers and ex-wives, uncles, step-moms and grandmothers are all introduced and eventually connected. However, the large cast lent itself well to having so many episodes and helped keep the plot interesting. The caricature-like characters were quite entertaining as well – loud and funny yet mostly relatable. Lee Hwa-shin was my favorite character because of the struggles he encounters and growth that happens. Everyone else was not nearly as entertaining, or pitiable, or dynamic. And as always, Gong Hyo-jin's clothes (Pyo Na Ri) are extremely distracting/ugly. She is a good actress, though, and a good foil for Jo Jung-suk. Loved the chemistry, the music wasn't my favorite, but the pacing was excellent for such a LONG drama, and I liked the ending. I also liked how the writers kept coming back to and using the jealousy theme; repetition in art brings balance, and it all worked very well. I'd watch this drama again.*

KDrama to Watch: One Percent of Something (2016)

One Percent of Something/1% of Anything (2016)

Grade: B

16 Episodes, 40 minutes each

Viewing Platform: Dramafever

Unbeknownst to Kim Da-hyun, that elderly man she had seen fall in the ditch behind her school and helped take to the hospital wasn't actually a homeless nobody – he is the owner of a giant, successful business conglomerate, and that is the day her fate changed. Stubborn, hot-tempered chaebol Lee Jae-in has to deal with his crazy grandfather's whims once again when the elderly company owner decides to change his will. This time the grandfather includes an edict that his eldest grandson, Jae-in, won't inherit the company and all its riches unless Lee Jae-in marries the lowly school teacher, Kim Da-hyun. What happens when Jae-in settles not for marriage, but for dating Da-hyun for half a year in order to fulfill the requirements of his grandfather's will? Will he be able to persuade Da-hyun that he isn't a scam artist first of all, and second, that he can make it worth her while to date him temporarily?

*The plot is fairly simple, particularly because there is no true second male lead in this drama. I also didn't love the male lead – his happy smile is weird/cheesy, but not in a cute way. I did like that Da-hyun is a strong female lead, not to be bossed around by the whims of a crazy ex-girlfriend and not swayed by the promise of riches. At the same time, this does eliminate some of the usual tension, which makes a drama lose its excitement. I appreciated that the business side of the drama did not get much screen time. When a drama goes too far off into the complexities of the business or the evil scheming of the antagonist, I lose interest real fast. It also ties up everything neatly in the end. So for a lighthearted drama, give this one a shot.*

KDrama to Maybe Watch: Strong Girl Do Bong-Soon (2017)

Strong Girl Do Bong-Soon (2017)

Grade: B-

16 Episodes, 1 hr each

Viewing Platform: Netflix, Dramafever

Do Bong-soon was born with a mysterious power of incredible strength, passed down to every woman in her family line, yet all she wishes to do is be “normal.” She even hides her powers from her former schoolmate (and longtime crush) In Guk-doo, who is now a police officer in their neighborhood; her tiny size and cute face make it easy to play the weak damsel in distress – except when she slips up. As strong as her desire is to hide her powers, she can't help but defend the innocent and preserve justice when the need arises. It is during one of these slip-ups that the young CEO of a major video game company, Ahn Min-hyuk, happens across Bong-soon when she's in the middle of demolishing a group of tough gangsters. What does the quirky company owner do? Hires her as his bodyguard! Why does she agree? Because she has always wanted to make a video game character based on herself, and this is the perfect way to go! How long will Bong-soon be able to hide her powers from the world? What happens when love enters the mix? And what happens when the serial killer discovers Bong-soon's secret, along with the method to take away her powers?

*I really liked the soundtrack for this show, but some of the humor was not quite my taste, and I did not like the thriller/horror element mixed in with the rom-com feel. They did a good job making the villain super creepy, but I don't like that genre, and I don't think it mixed well with how the rest of the show felt. There needs to be a good villain to counterbalance the hero, but I don't think the balance was quite there with this drama. There were also several gay characters/homosexual references/behaviors that were supposed to be humorous, but they missed the mark. The physical comedy just wasn't that funny either, so that threw off the “flavor” of the show for me as well. Bong-soon's clothes bothered me, and Min-hyuk's too, now that I think about it - not flattering and somewhat distracting overall. I also wasn't drawn into the love story the way I am drawn into other dramas, especially in those heat of the moment love confessions, so all of that combined is why it isn't one of my favorites. Still worth at least one viewing, though.* 

TDrama to Miss: When I See You Again (2015)

When I See You Again (2015)

Grade: C+

32 episodes, 45 minutes each

Platform: Netflix

Successful businessman Xia You-qian runs into his former high school crush, An Xi, while visiting small Pulang village. An Xi of course doesn't recognize You-qian, since he's completely transformed from an awkward, ugly teenager into a handsome, suave adult. She's also too concerned with saving her bed and breakfast from being sold off to her creditor/suitor to notice. Ever since her father died, An Xi has been dutifully running the homestay in hopes her long-lost mother would return. You-qian decides to have some fun/revenge at An Xi's expense, but what happens when real feelings start to develop between the unlikely pair? Will An Xi figure out You-qian's identity? How does You-qian's business rival factor into things? And what happens when An Xi's long-lost mother is discovered?

*This show has some pretty cute actors, but it is SO SLOW! I lost interest at least three or four times, and when you have to force yourself to finish a show, that is not good writing. Oddly, I found the antagonist the most intriguing character, and how the writing showed his love interest as not really seeing the bad in him. The mother (spoiler alert) had a change of heart far too quickly, especially compared to the scene where she was highly emotional and it was the best time for a change of heart until she denied it. The film quality is decent though, and like I said, some of the actors are attractive, so if you're in the mood to watch something very SLOW, this isn't terrible.*