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.*