KDrama to Watch: Descendents of the Sun (2016)

Descendants of the Sun (2016)

Grade: B+

16 Episodes
Viewing Platform: Netflix

Yoo Si-jin is a special forces captain who has a run-in with a pretty doctor after stopping a motorcycle thief and breaking up a street fight, all on his off-duty time along with his best friend Seo Dae-young, a sergeant in the special forces unit with him. Despite the punk's thieving, Si-jin takes pity on the struggling young man who was just trying to leave behind the gang life. Dr. Kang Mo-yeon is suspicious of Si-jin's identity, thinking he's also a thug, but a mutual frenemy – who happens to be Dae-young's on-again, off-again girlfriend – confirms Si-jin is relatively harmless. It's difficult to accept Si-jin's career, however, and Mo-yeon decides to not see the captain anymore. Then, after Mo-yeon abruptly shuts down her hospital chairman's egotistical (and very inappropriate) advances, she is sent to a country in the Middle East for a month on a goodwill service mission. It just so happens that Si-jin and Dae-young are dispatched in the same area. What happens when a natural disaster strikes, trapping Korean workers in a half-finished, collapsed plant with the military and medical teams having to work together? Will Mo-yeon be able to accept what it takes to be in a relationship with a soldier, or will she continue to resist her feelings, opting for emotional certainty and safety?

*For a show about soldiers, it was not based on a central political conflict or war, which I found intriguing. However, it is mostly action and drama, with plenty of violence in the mix, and that combination doesn't hold my interest very well. There was some humor, but it was subtle and only sprinkled in for flavor, and while some characters struggled with romantic feelings, it was not central to the plot. This did lead to dynamic characters that go through some development over the course of the show, including those in supporting roles, which does make for good writing.There is a definite sense of patriotism in this drama as well, which I can appreciate. Then there is Si-jin, who positively drips with charisma (Song Joong-ki from “A Werewolf Boy,” [2012], “Penny Pinchers,” [2011], and “Sungkyunkwan Scandal,” [2010]). I did NOT like how one of the characters broke the 4^th wall at the end of the show, though; it didn't fit the serious, realistic feel of the rest of the drama. And I'm still not sure how the title relates to the show. Overall, it is a quality production, and I might watch it again.*

InFilm to Miss: Heropanti (2014)

Heropanti (2014)

Viewing Platform: Netflix

Dimpy's older sister elopes with a teacher's son, Rakesh, and their father goes on a rampage. Chaudhary's men capture anyone who knows Rakesh, beating them until they give information as to the eloped couple's whereabouts. One of the friends, rascally Bablu, decides to stay captured because he catches a glimpse of a mysterious beauty who previously stole his heart. Once he discovers his crush is none other than Chaudhary's younger daughter, Dimpy, Bablu sends the father on a wild goose chase to Delhi. He also manages to convince the father to take Dimpy along in case she runs off in his absence – ensuring Bablu has even more time alone with Dimpy. What happens when Dimpy starts to have feelings for Bablu? Will she break her father's heart the way her older sister did? How will Chaudhary react when he notices the two stealing glances at each other?

*This drama has lots of violence, and I did not like the overall feel emanating from this group of self-righteous albeit powerful men frightening and grabbing the women in the household. Chaudhary was a law unto himself – he even admits to murdering people early on in the story – and he wonders why his daughters want to leave him. It's frightening to consider there are men today who rule their estates like their own fiefdoms, deciding who to kill, beat, kidnap or disown according to their own laws. The explanation that he was doing it out of “love” for his daughter was inexcusable. The lead guy had some slick dance and fighting moves, but his face looks plastic, and I couldn't like his antics. This was a miss for me.*

InFilm to Miss: Total Siyapaa (2014)

Total Siyapaa (2014)

Viewing Platform: Netflix 

She's Indian. He's Pakistani. However, those differences are the least of this young couple's problems, as Asha brings Aman home to meet her parents for the first time. What happens when mishap after mishap threatens to destroy their burgeoning relationship?

*This flick has a “Meet the Parents” vibe, with every awkward situation imaginable for the characters to go through, but it isn't funny at all. They're all pretty bad people, too, so I didn't feel remotely sorry for them. An alcoholic, flirtatious sister that is hiding at her mom's house because she racked up charges on her husband's credit card bills (and laughs about it); a potentially cheating father and husband (that the movie never clarifies whether or not he's cheating because that's “what all men do”); a daughter who refuses to seek immediate medical attention for the man her fiance bludgeoned with frozen soup, just so he won't go to jail (even though it was an accident); and a grandmother who makes an obnoxious 5 year old girl cry with some harsh chastisement. Poorly written plot, badly written characters, lame music – I won't watch this again, and I recommend skipping it.*

InFilm to Watch: Happy New Year (2014)

Happy New Year (2014)

Viewing Platform: Netflix

Charlie concocts a plan to exact revenge on the man who ruined his family's good name and framed his father for an incredible theft. Charlie assembles a team to break into a safe and steal millions of dollars worth of diamonds from the two-faced, manipulative, greedy Grover. Unfortunately, it all hinges on Charlie's team gaining access to a certain room in a certain building: the hotel hosting the Worldwide Dance Competition. Will they be able to convince the bar dancer to help them, even though her only dream is to open a dance studio for children? What happens when Charlie starts to develop feelings for their instructor? Will it interfere with his plans to successfully avenge his father and bring honor to his nation?

*It's an odd combination of action, drama, comedy and romance, but when you have a 3 hour movie, it can all fit. I didn't care for the “bar dancer” scene when they go to recruit their instructor (there were half-naked women dancing on poles as men threw money at them), or the opening scene with the street fighting and gratuitous violence. The rest of the show was fun, with lots of vibrant colors and upbeat music. I find it interesting that most female lead characters in these Indian films start off as feisty and independent, which initially attracts the male lead, but through the course of the movie, they are shown to possess all the traditional qualities and habits of women that make a good wife. This could be anything from the way she smiles at children, serves the lead a cool beverage, bows respectfully to an elder, or burns incense and prays to a deity statue in her daily routine. That makes me think those things are important in Indian culture. I've also noticed that most of Shah Rukh Khan's films have lots of national pride woven into the stories and motivations for his characters; another important aspect of their culture. Overall, if you like heist movies and dance competition movies, you'll like this movie, too. I might watch it again.*

TDrama to Watch: Who's The One (2011)

Who's The One (2011)

Grade: B+

13 episodes, 70 minutes each
Viewing Platform: Netflix

Shen Ruo Wei is a top plastic surgeon competing for her agency's newly vacant chief surgeon position. She receives a letter from a recently deceased aunt: Ruo Wei is now the proud owner of a ramshackle cabin in the middle of a backwoods village in the mountains. Meanwhile, an obese but sweet-natured and attentive orchid farmer named Yan Tien Yan is attempting to marry his longtime fiancee (for the third time). What happens when Ruo Wei's prominent career inspires Tien Yan's fiancee to finally flee the tiny village, on the very same weekend Ruo Wei drives up to inspect her inherited manor? How long will it take Tien Yan and Ruo Wei to realize they knew each other in the past? Will Tien Yan be able to win over his runaway bride after an extreme makeover? How will Ruo Wei handle the Pygmalion effect (and is it simply her work that she loves)?

*The first several episodes were slow and sad, and overall the script is written rather poorly, but the characters won me over. There isn't a lot of complications in this drama either – just enough so the characters have a chance to develop and grow, without dragging on. I really liked Tien Yan's energy and Ruo Wei's self-assured, self-possessed air that still allowed her to love and be loved. Usually the career woman chooses her work over the man, or if she sacrifices her work, it doesn't seem realistic for her to do that complete turnaround after seeing all that pride from her. However, there are enough reasons for Ruo Wei to *spoiler alert* leave her career that it isn't just for her man. My only wish is that the writers would have given Ruo Wei and Tien Yan that “ah-ha!” moment when *spoiler alert* they realize they've technically been married this whole time. That really seems like a lost opportunity for any drama. I might watch this again.*

Web KDrama to Miss: After School: Lucky or Not 2 (2014)

After School: Lucky or Not 2 (2014)

Grade: C

12 Episodes, 15 minutes each
Viewing Platform: Netflix

Four teen boys have a club where they pick a random mission from a box, then do their best to complete said mission. This can be anything from “eat until you barf” to helping someone in need. One of their classmates, Song Joo Hee, decides to join the club in order to humiliate one of its members after he called her “poop girl” in front of all their peers. The “pick-a-mission” club decides to let Joo Hee join because they need a babysitter (one of the boys gets stuck babysitting a little sibling). What happens when Joo Hee's best guy friend joins with her? Will the club be able to complete their missions? What happens when romantic tensions rise between the members?

*The web drama has a “variety show” feel to it, as each mission allows for the writers to explore different themes and settings, including Chinese action, gang violence, and romantic drama. While this can be fun, when each episode is only 15 minutes it's hard to understand the “original” characters. It feels choppy. There's some fun goofy humor, but this format is not my taste. Probably won't watch again.*

KDrama to Miss: Madame Antoine (2016)

Madame Antoine (2016)

Grade: C+

16 Episodes
Viewing Platform: Netflix

Go Hye-rim is a divorcee and single mother working as a fortune-teller in a cafe. Her gimmick is to claim she channels the dead queen of France for her inspiration, and she is only caught a couple times when a client happens to understand her few memorized strings of French. Choi Soo-hyeon is an award-winning psychologist, and he opens a counseling center right above Hye-rim's cafe after entering a business deal with a makeup manufacturer. Soo-hyeon is determined to prove women do not know or express true love, claiming it is all a temporary hormone-induced state, of which companies can take advantage in their advertising strategies. What happens when Soo-hyeon decides to try and win Hye-rim's affections? Will she fall for the rich, famous doctor, as Soo-hyeon hypothesizes, or will the psychologist find himself the victim of his own experiment? And how will Soo-hyeon's abandonment as a child influence his relationship with the pretty fortune-teller?

* I had a hard time seeing Sung Joon as a male lead – he's played the antagonist in at least a couple dramas, and he just isn't attractive in my eyes. He has that cold, intellectual, almost mean look to him, and I'm just not sure this character's vulnerabilities were enough to see him as anything but the “bad guy.” Go Hye-rim's character was cute, but having her daughter end up living with her ex-husband seemed like a shortcut for allowing Hye-rim to be carefree in her dating, and the deception between the two main characters got old fast. The old grandma having a crush on the guy 30+ years younger than her was really weird, too, although it didn't go too far (thank goodness). This drama had an okay ending, and I liked the mischievous, playful tone in the main theme song, as well as some of the initial “who's deceiving who” mind games. Definitely not scientifically or even ethically sound, though. It's okay for a first-watch, but I probably won't watch it again.*