Kdrama to Miss: Mad for Each Other (2021)

Mad for Each Other (2021)

Grade: D+

13 episodes, 30 minutes each
Viewing Platform: Netflix

Detective Noh Hwi-oh is on leave from work in order to receive anger management counseling after assaulting the man who stabbed his partner on duty. He's also reeling from a breakup with his fiancee. In a series of misunderstandings, his new next-door neighbor accuses him of stalking her and ends up beating him with an umbrella and damaging his car. To be fair, Lee Min-kyung is suffering some paranoia after her boyfriend turned out to be married, then subsequently beat her when she tried to leave and dragged her name through the mud. Will these “mad” individuals be able to overcome their past, or will the hardships of life doom them to a lonely existence?

*This kdrama was rated MA, but it felt more like a PG-13 show. There are certainly adult topics covered – drug use (Hwi-oh is a detective, after all), extramarital affairs (but Min-kyung was not aware at the time), a pervert flasher (nothing is shown and it's used more as a comedic device), and a cross-dresser (this is more American influence, trying to get viewers to think of it as a “harmless pastime”) – but nothing seems quite strong enough to warrant the MA rating. It isn't nearly as funny and lighthearted as the synopsis suggests, though, hence the lower rating. A lot of time is spent exploring the psychological damage that comes from being in an abusive relationship; while insightful, it's not uplifting. Wouldn't recommend.

KDrama to Miss: Mine (2021)

 Mine (2021)

Grade: F

16 Episodes, 80 minutes each

Viewing Platform: Netflix

Despite numerous secrets, everything seems to be going well at the Cadenza mansion and Rubato annex, until one day a new tutor is hired for the 8-year-old Han Ha-joon. The new tutor starts doing inappropriate things at the annex, like dancing in the mother Seo Hi-soo's fancy dress, or acting like Ha-joon is her son. Hi-soo, Ha-joon's step-mother, can't help but feel the new tutor is strange, and soon she discovers her husband, Han Ji-yong, knew the tutor previously. Meanwhile Hi-soo's sister-in-law, Jung Seo-hyun, thinks she has everything at the houses under control – until the new maid attracts her step-son's interest, derailing him from her father-in-law's plans for the grandson to inherit the company one day. (Seo-hyun's husband is an incompetent alcoholic, and his sister has anger management issues, so neither of them are acceptable candidates.) Then it is revealed that Ji-yong is not actually the chairman's biological son, which is another reason the oldest grandson is in line to inherit the Hyowon empire. But what happens when Hi-soo discovers her relationship with Ji-yong was all a lie? Will she be able to escape the mansion and take her beloved step-son with her?

*This is probably the soapiest, most dramatic Kdrama I have ever watched – and I disliked it so much I had to watch it on 1.5 speed, just to get it over with. The music was better suited to a horror film, and there is such ugliness among the family members. Eventually the three main women team up to “take down” the monstrous (or just plain incompetent) men in their lives, making the whole theme a new wave feminist movement. Then there is a significant amount of time spent on one of the women and her lesbian identity, and on top of that, they have a quasi-religious person telling her that it “isn't a sin” (yet another example of western/worldly influence). Luckily the women don't end up actually committing a murder – it's just self-defense – but it's evident they would and could have lied to cover up a murder. Even if it's a terrible person, that doesn't justify murder; the hero needs to bring the bad guy to justice and let the law take care of it. Won't watch this again, and I definitely do not recommend it.*

KDrama to Watch: Business Proposal (2022)

 

Business Proposal (2022)

Grade: B

12 Episodes, 1 Hr each

Viewing Platform: Netflix

Shin Ha-ri is from a hardworking middle-class family who landed a great job as a food product developer at South Korea's Go Food company. Its young CEO, Kang Tae-moo, has just come back from working at the overseas branch, when his grandfather demands that Tae-moo start dating. Meanwhile, Ha-ri's best friend Jin Young-seo is avoiding the blind dates her powerful executive father keeps trying to set up for her. What happens when Ha-ri's efforts to be an over-the-top flirty, worldly, and immodest stand-in leads to a proposal from eligible Tae-moo after the first date? Will Tae-moo destroy Ha-ri's dreams of rising in the company, or will he decide to enlist her help in fooling his grandfather next? And what happens when Young-seo falls for Tae-moo's secretary?

*I ended up watching this drama TWICE – not because I loved it, but because I didn't realize it was only 12 episodes long and I forgot what this one was about while I watched other shows, waiting for it to finish in the meantime! Cute little drama with fun sound effects and occasional cartoon animation sprinkled throughout. Not too much tension, and a shorter than average run (which made sense considering how light the drama stayed). Good cinematography, good soundtrack, but it did lose steam near the end, and Ha-ri's character felt a bit boring eventually, especially after her initial acts tricking Tae-moo. I also didn't like the translation the second time around – there were a few F-bombs and more swearing than the first time I watched! Might not watch again, but worth an initial viewing at least.*

KDrama to Watch: Extraordinary Attorney Woo (2022)

 

Extraordinary Attorney Woo (2022)

Grade: B

16 Episodes, 1 hr each

Viewing Platform: Netflix

Woo Young-woo is an extremely gifted autistic person who loves whales and the law (and probably in that order). After graduating at the top of her class from a prestigious law school, she has trouble landing a job because of her so-called “disability.” Then, seemingly out of the blue, she is invited to join one of the top law firms in South Korea, Hanbada. Will she be able to adapt to life in the “real world”? Or will her stubborn side and unusual tendencies get in the way of her leading a fully independent adult life? And what are the motivations behind Hanbada's CEO hiring the inexperienced, socially-awkward young lady?

*Well-written individual episodes, with great cinematography and a “soft” ending – meaning the conflicts are resolved without going too dramatic or dark. The cases the attorneys solve are interesting, with moral and ethical quandaries thrown in, so the show ends up being more thought-provoking than simply entertaining (but it is also that). The romance is definitely lacking though; the writers tried to focus on Young-woo as a whole person, not just her love life. There is also an episode that includes a lesbian relationship – which, as I've said before, feels like American standards being shoehorned into Korean culture – but it's a couple minutes that can easily be skipped over. It's a nice show for a once-through watch, but not an instant favorite.*

Kdrama to Maybe Watch: The Man's Voice (2021)

 

The Man's Voice (2021)

Grade: B-

8 Episodes, 30 minutes each

Viewing Platform: Viki

Part-time convenience store worker Go Mi Rim has a bit of a crush on one of the regulars to the store – airline pilot Baek Tae Hwa. Part of his attractiveness is how attentive he is to his pet cat, Natsume. One day, Tae Hwa ends up asking Mi Rim to watch his cat for a few days – of course she agrees, because this could be the way to make her daydreams of getting to know the handsome pilot come true! But what happens when lightning strikes and grants Mi Rim the ability to hear Natsume's thoughts? Will the middle-aged cat help Mi Rim win his “butler's” heart, or will the jealous cat sabotage her efforts?

*Promising premise, with a touch of the fantastic injected into the banal. It is a short series based off a web toon, so there isn't too much substance, and it does fall a bit flat by the last episode (too much time spent on a breakup that wasn't really a breakup since they hadn't quite started dating), but it is at least a little entertaining. Lower quality production, with obvious sound editing issues. The voice actor for the cat was the best part! They picked someone who sounded like a grumpy old man, which worked well for the overall concept. I probably won't watch it again, but it's fun for at least one viewing.*

Kdrama to Miss: Dodosolsollalasol (2020)

Dodosolsollalasol (2020)

Grade: D+

16 episodes, 60 minutes each

Viewing platform: Netflix

Gu Ra-ra wasn't originally a musically gifted student, but with her father's encouragement and money (for hiring the best instructor in the country), she becomes a concert-level pianist. Tragedy strikes when her father suddenly has a heart-attack and dies on her wedding day, plunging his business into chaos and scaring off her fiance. What happens when Ra-ra travels to the sleepy seaside town Eunpo and breaks her arms swerving to miss a young man on a bicycle? Will the now penniless, naive young woman be able to provide for herself, or will she keep having to rely on the kindness of Sunwoo Jun, the guy she hit? And what happens when Jun's identity is revealed?

*Slow, sweet, sad - and STUPID! Good cinematography, decent music, a small mystery to solve, but absolutely ridiculous use of the “selfless breakup” trope (where 1 part of the couple pretends to be a jerk to "save" the other person from having to suffer with them) AND the “time skip” trope (where a drama skips ahead 1-5 years in its timeline). There is no couple in the WORLD who can survive that much time apart; you're almost an entirely new person by that point! And I hate the idea of nobly suffering alone – that's what loved ones are FOR: to lean on and grow closer! I definitely won't watch this again. I guess it's nice Ra-ra finds a community & friends to help her out in life, but it's not anywhere NEAR enough to redeem this drama. Unforgivable use of these two tropes!*

JDrama to Watch: An Incurable Case of Love (2020)

 Jdrama: An Incurable Case of Love (2020)

Grade: B

10 Episodes, 1 Hour each

Viewing Platform: Viki

Nanase Sakura is about to graduate high school and she doesn't know what to do next, but one morning an old woman collapses in front of her. Nanase shouts for help – and the handsome doctor Kairi Tendo, who just happens to be out for a morning jog, hears her. Nanase then decides she must pursue nursing, to be worthy of the handsome doctor, and five years later, Nanase starts working at Kairi's hospital. What happens when Kairi turns out to be a bad-tempered “devil” instead of the knight in shining armor that Nanase had always imagined?

*This Jdrama is based on the Japanese manga, so there are some extra cheesy/unrealistic moments throughout. There are also plenty of “cringe” scenes (secondhand embarrassment for the childish Nanase), but she does seem to show some character development, which makes this show a bit better. I don't love the age gap between the main leads (Nanase is 23 and Kairi is 31), and the cold-hearted male lead trope almost goes too far in these instances – as in it almost feels a bit toxic/unhealthy. Takeru Satoh does an amazing job in the steamy romance moments though – I'd watch this again just for his scenes! Fun music, too. I might watch again.*

KFilm to Watch: How to Steal a Dog (2014)

 How to Steal a Dog (2014)

Viewing Platform: Amazon Prime

Ji-so is a young homeless girl, living in a pizza van with her mom and little brother. When their family fell on hard times, the father left with the promise to soon return, but not before the rest of the family was kicked out of their home. Tired of being homeless and wanting nothing more than to have a grand, fun birthday with all her friends at a nice big house, Ji-so concocts a scheme with her friend & brother to kidnap a rich person's dog! Her plan is to return the dog for a reward, then use that reward money to buy a new home for them. Wolly initially outsmarts the kids' dog-napping attempt, and then the nephew of Wolly's owner tries to make the dog permanently disappear in order to secure his inheritance! Will Ji-so's father ever return, or will she spend the rest of her childhood living on the streets?

*Pretty sure this was a family/children's movie, what with the “hijinks,” colors, and camera angles. It had a good balance of happy and sad moments, but it didn't have the “happily ever after” ending one would typically expect from a children's film. It had more of a Pixar movie ending, where the characters still end up happy, but not everything is fixed. Not an instant favorite, but it was okay for at least a one-time viewing. *

KDrama to Miss: Romance is a Bonus Book (2019)

 

Romance is a Bonus Book (2019)

Grade: C-

16 episodes, 60 minutes each

Viewing platform: Netflix

Kang Dan-i is a divorced mom who is down on her luck. After her husband cheated on her and lost their house to pay off debt, she wants nothing more than to return to her career in marketing. However, no employers will look past her gap in employment – the years she spent raising her daughter and caring for their home – and give her a chance. Her childhood friend, Cha Eun-ho is now a famous author and college professor who also works at a publishing company. What will happen once he discovers Dan-i has been squatting in his house, pretending to be the housekeeper she recommended to him, all because her ex-husband skipped town and refuses to pay child support or alimony? Will Dan-i be able to return to the workforce through her friend's company? And what happens when she discovers the secret Eun-ho has been keeping from the world all these years?

*Such a slow, melancholy, sentimental kdrama! Not enough humor, several F-bombs, more western/American influence, and no wedding at the end. There weren't enough heated moments between the two leads to sustain my interest. Plus there was an overall negative attitude towards mothers who want to stay home to raise their children; this show had the potential to be an insightful commentary on that issue, but her desire to be a good mom and wife at home was barely addressed. I even ended up watching this on a higher than normal speed, just to get it over with faster! Not the worst drama, but definitely one you can skip.*

KDrama to Maybe Watch: Revolutionary Love (2017)

 Revolutionary Love (2017)

Grade: B-

16 Episodes, 60 minutes each

Viewing Platform: Netflix

Byun Hyuk, the playboy second son of the Gangsu group conglomerate, is just drifting through life, in and out of minor legal trouble and romantic relationships. His closest friend, Kwon Jae-hun, secretly hates Hyuk, for constantly having to clean up after the spoiled, clueless rich kid. Baek Jun accidentally crosses paths with Hyuk during one of her many part-time jobs and ends up assisting him, thinking he's just some cute guy down on his luck. If she knew Hyuk was Gangsu group's heir, she would have never helped him. What happens when Hyuk is kicked out for yet another scandal and starts to understand how most people live in the world? Will he appreciate the struggle and grind, or will he side with his father and older brother, in a cutthroat corporate world? How will Jae-hun deal with the growing attraction between his longtime friend Jun and his employer's son? And what will Jun do once she realizes Hyuk's connection with Gangsu group?

*This drama started off strong – cute sound effects, 4^th wall breaks, and even some “meta” type awareness with characters talking out loud to themselves and then the characters around them actually looking at them oddly, reacting to the crazy self-talk. The MA rating is because of 2 F-bombs, out of 16 hours of material, and there is some violence, but I wouldn't consider it more than a PG-13 rating. The main serious theme song was slightly distracting, as it contains the first 6 notes of “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” (I'm guessing that song isn't well-known in Korea). Choi Si-won's character is reminiscent of a giant, clumsy puppy – not very smart, but enthusiastic and energetic – and he is SO fun to watch. But then the romance cools off, and Jun's character smacks of modern-day feminism because *spoiler alert* she “chooses herself” in the end, which also doesn't show any growth on her part since that's what she did all along. Then there isn't a clear “winner” between the two male leads until the last 5 minutes of the series, and it just feels unsatisfying. So while I probably won't watch this again, the first half is definitely fun.*

KDrama to Miss: 100 Days My Prince (2018)

 

100 Days My Prince (2018)

Grade: C+

16 Episodes, 60 minutes each

Viewing Platform: Netflix

Lee Yul is the crown prince, but not by his own choosing. His father plotted a coup and overthrew the king when Yul was a child, ripping Yul away from his childhood love, Yoon Yi-seo. However, the king cannot rest easy: his right-hand man, the vice-premier Kim Cha-eon, has his own designs for power in the kingdom. Meanwhile, Yi-seo has assumed the life of a commoner after her noble-born father was slaughtered in the coup and her older brother went missing. What happens in the palace when Yul is attacked while on a diplomatic mission and declared dead? How will the crown prince's decree that every bachelor and old maid in the kingdom get married to help end the drought impact Yi-seo's plans to find her brother? And what happens when the crown prince loses his memories?

*Way too tragic for my taste. The costumes are done well, and the music & camerawork are good quality, but I just don't like the dramas where so many of the characters are miserable and or die! The second male lead was a bit confusing as a character as well; he joked when I expected seriousness, and because he kept his motives so close to the vest, he never really felt like a “good guy.” I know now that TV shows are often written on the fly, compared to planned movie scripts, but it was glaringly evident in this show, which makes it harder for the viewer to achieve that “suspension of disbelief” and really get into the story. Not a terrible drama, but definitely not one that I'd watch again.*

India Film to Miss: Good Newwz (2019)

 

Good Newwz (2019) 

Viewing Platform: Amazon Prime

Varun and Deepti Batra have been trying to conceive for nearly 6 years, and the constant hinting from well-meaning family and friends has put a strain on their relationship. Varun's sister finally suggests they meet with a fertility specialist, who suggests in vitro fertilizaiton (IFV). Varun is skeptical about the entire endeavor, mocking the pamphlets and whining about his contribution, but Deepti convinces him to cooperate. Less than two weeks after the embryo is implanted, Varun and Deepti are called back to the clinic, with some astonishing and disturbing news: the lab technicians mixed up the sperm samples with another couple whose last name is also Batra! Will the couples try another round of IVF, or keep trying on their own? If both couples move forward with the mismatched genetic material, what does this mean for their families and their babies' futures??

*The premise is quite interesting; any time a story has these kinds of improbable, yet not entirely impossible scenarios, it draws the listener in and allows them to engage on a meaningful level. This is probably the best aspect of the film. The characters do consider abortion, but luckily the writers do not go that direction, instead valuing life. I didn't love the musical numbers, and some of the humor didn't translate well (I think some of the wordplay was between English, Hindi, and a third language I couldn't distinguish from Hindi, so those jokes were lost on me). I wouldn't watch this again, not because it was particularly bad, but because it was just "meh."*

ChDrama to Maybe Watch: Accidentally in Love (2018)

 (Chinese Drama) 

Accidentally in Love (2018)

Grade: C+

30 episodes, 30 minutes each

Viewing Platform: Netflix

Heiress Chen Qingqing is being forced into an arranged marriage, but after a dream-visit from her deceased parents, Qingqing decides to attend the same college where her parents met. While dodging her grandfather's henchmen, she runs into famous idol singer Situ Feng – who then uses her to disrupt his father's marriage, with Feng declaring he is engaged to the now disguised, scruffy-looking Qingqing. What happens when Qingqing and Feng realize they're attending the same school? Will the resident “mean girls” manage to drive Qingqing away before she finds out more about her parents, or will her grandpa find her and drag her back home? And how will Feng take to constantly being paired up with the outspoken, dorky-looking Qingqing?

*This is probably one of the better Chinese dramas I've watched. The lip-synched dialogue is not as annoying as usual, and it has a more sincere feel overall (compared to the times it felt like the script was written by a bunch of “suits” sitting in a board room, simply checking the boxes off for common/popular tropes). It did feel a bit juvenile with all the high school type antics, but the writers managed to give at least some depth to the characters. I disliked the inclusion of an F-bomb and a couple suicide attempts; it brought a darkness to the drama that didn't quite fit. I also didn't like how the “bad guy” treated the [rather flat] female best friend; he never became likable. Bright colors, decent music; possibly worth at least one viewing, but I wouldn't watch again.*

KDrama to Miss: Was It Love? (2020)

 

Was It Love? (2020)

Grade: C-

16 Episodes, 1 hr each

Viewing Platform: Netflix

Single mom Noh Ae-jung lives with her mother and young teen daughter and is striving to follow her dream to become a top movie producer. Her boss at the tiny production company Thumb Film tricks Ae-jung into co-signing a billion-won debt and goes into hiding, leaving Ae-jung with an impossible problem to solve. Meanwhile, her daughter is starting to wonder who her father might be when she stumbles across some clues that point toward Ha-nee's school PE teacher and possibly a famous actor. What happens when Ae-jung finds a contract for the production rights of a vastly popular yet vengeful novelist? Will the scary loan shark coming after her settle on a new deal, one where he actually gives her MORE money to invest in her movie idea, as long as she signs on his favorite actor?

*This kdrama is basically the plot to “Mama Mia!” if it were fleshed out into a miniseries, which sounds cute at first, but it turns out to be pretty sad and unnecessarily dramatic. This doesn't follow the traditional kdrama formula, and they included some pretty big swear words (annoying, and not true to kdramas). I couldn't stand how “progressive” Ae-jung's character is in * spoiler alert * refusing to let the father know about their daughter. Let's say she's right and the daughter doesn't really need him – what about HIS need to BE a father/have a daughter to love and care for? Such a selfish perspective fostered by her ignorant mother. It would be a different situation if he purposely ignored her for all that time, but he didn't even know she existed! And then they had to do the trope of a 1-2 year separation for the two leads – that is a traditional kdrama thing, but I hate it. A separation like that isn't healthy; if they love each other, they should stay and work out their problems, together! There's also some hinting that one of the other characters had an abortion, which, while she seems to regret it, it still feels like just more western/worldly influences creeping in to further destroy the original charm of the kdrama. I won't watch this again, nor would I recommend it – despite their use of the really cool Cranberries song, “Dreams.”*

Kdrama to Miss: My Sassy Girl (2017)

 

My Sassy Girl (2017)

Grade: C

16 Episodes, 1 hr each

Viewing Platform: Netflix

Hye-myung, the princess of Joseon, often sneaks out of the palace to drink and carouse – very unacceptable behavior for royalty. When the returning young scholar Gyeon Woo bumps into the princess (unaware of her station) on one of her drunken escapades and saves her from trouble, she repays his courtesy by barfing on him and then accusing him of attempting to rape her! What happens when Gyeon Woo discovers the real reason behind the princess sneaking around? Will it jeopardize his new prestigious position as the crown prince's instructor?

*Too much politics, not enough romance! The costumes and colors are very bright, and there are a few funny moments, but in all my years of reading and watching TV/movies, I have NEVER come across such an impotent, ineffectual king! The bad guys walk all over him for YEARS, and I never see the king do anything to try and shift the power back into his own hands! Not only that, the first two-thirds of the show are about how the naughty princess keeps sneaking out of the palace, but by the end, she's outside whenever she feels like it and nobody says “boo.” She also becomes exponentially less “sassy” as the drama unfolds, and I'm tired of the feminist endings where the girl doesn't want to get married because she wants to be “fulfilled” before she commits to the guy. Plus, it's clearly freezing during their night shots, with snow on the ground in many scenes, yet we're supposed to believe the princess has access to a palace garden in full summer bloom. (It was clearly a greenhouse; there are even a few scenes where you can catch glimpses of the modern structure.) The villains are disposed of much too quickly as well; it's disproportionate to the grief they caused. I wouldn't watch this again.*