Bulgasal: Immortal Souls – Full Review

Bulgasal: Immortal Souls – Full Review

 

Welcome to Bulgasal – Full Review.  A 600 year old vendetta turns into an epic battle between two immortal creatures.    If you haven’t watched this drama yet, I recommend checking out my unspoiled review here.

Bulgasal: Immortal Souls 

Aired: Dec 18, 2021 – February 6, 2022

# of Episodes:  16

Where to Watch:  Netflix

Genre:  Fantasy Thriller

Starring: Lee Jin Wook  and Kwon Na Ra

.

Bulgasal: Immortal Souls - Unspoiled Review

The Story

 

Bulgasal: Immortal Souls - Full Review

A 600 year old immortal mythical creature known as a bugalsal, seeks revenge on the woman who betrayed him.  Cursed with eternal life, he can’t die or be killed.  He hopes that by getting revenge on her, he will finally be able to die and end his years of pain and anger.  But when he finally finds her, she has no memory of him or what she did in that long-ago past life.  And when a common enemy goes after them and the people they love, they are forced to put their differences aside and work together in the hopes of saving all of them from a brutal death.

Bugasal : Immortal Souls - Unspoiled Review

The Leads

 

Bulgasal: Immortal Souls - Full Review
Bulgasal: Immortal Souls - Full Review

Lee Jin Wook as Dan Hwal

After spending 600 years planning his revenge, Dan Hwal finally tracks down the woman who betrayed him to become human, leaving him as an immortal monster known as a bulgasal.  But things don’t go according to plan, because the woman he finds has no memory of him or what she may have done in her past life.  Before he knows it, he has inherited a whole family who are all linked together through their past lives.  And when a second bulgasal shows up with the intention of killing all of them, Hwal suddenly finds himself acting as their protector and forgetting all about revenge.

Bulgasal: Immortal Souls - Full Review

Dan Hwal just wants to get the revenge he has always dreamed of and be able to finally die.  Being immortal has taken a huge toll on him.  But Sang Un reminds him of what it’s like to live and feel emotions.   As the drama goes on, we get to see more of his “humanness”.  Lee Jin Wook is a great actor and he was good as the gruff and disillusioned bulgasal.  I loved the unique relationships he has with each of the other characters.  You could really sense the emotional push and pull that his character went through, not wanting to get attached to any of them, and yet unable to turn away from people he had loved in the past.

Kwon Na Ra as Min Sang Un/ Kim Hwa Yeon 

Since she was young, Min Sang Un has lived her life on the run, hiding in secret.  Her mother and twin sister were killed by a terrible monster known as the bulgasal.  Left to raise her younger sister, she works hard, avoiding the monster at all costs.  But one day, she is saved by a handsome stranger who is the bulgasal she has spent her life running away from.  Although she knows she should be afraid, she is mysteriously drawn to him.  He intends to turn her back into the bulgasal she once was to end his own curse.  As they try to piece together the full story of what really happened between them, they gather support from others around them, who also played a role in what happened 1000 years ago.  And unfortunately, Hwal isn’t the only bulgasal out to take revenge on her and her loved ones. 

Bulgasal: Immortal Souls - Full Review

Despite never being a mother herself, Min Sang Un is maternal and protective of those she cares about.  She is very honest about her thoughts and feelings, which makes her a relateable character.  Kwon Na Ra has a tendency to overuse her “deer in the headlights” expression, but she has definitely grown as an actress.  I don’t know that I loved her in this role.  At times her easy going attitude made the character feel a bit flat.  But I loved her straight forward approach to every situation and how she never backed down from a difficult time.

Bulgasal: Immortal Souls - Full Review

Supporting Characters

 

Bulgasal: Immortal Souls - Full Review
Bulgasal: Immortal Souls - Full Review

Lee Joon as Ok Eul Tae

Ok Eul Tae is the second bulgasal that no one remembered even existed.  He has also spent the last 1000 years waiting to take revenge on Sang Un, because Hwal chose her over him when Hwal killed himself.  He hopes to get Hwal to side with him so that they can team up to kill Sang Un and live together as all-powerful monsters.

Gong Seung Yeon as Min Shi Ho/Dan Sol

Dan Sol was Hwal’s wife 600 years ago.  In this life, she is the younger sister of Sang Un.  She finds out at the beginning of the drama that she is pregnant with her ex-boyfriend’s baby.  Now everyone will rally around her to protect both her and the unborn child.

Bulgasal: Immortal Souls - Full Review
Bulgasal: Immortal Souls - Full Review

Kim Woo Seok as Nam Do Yoon

In the past, Nam Do Yoon was Hwal and Sol’s blind son.  Ok Eul Tae found him and his brother in an orphanage and has kept him close, wating for Hwal to find him.  At first, Eul Tae sends Do Yoon to spy on Hwal and all the rest of them.  But once he gets there, he loves being a part of their “family” and he eventually choses to betray Eul Tae and try to keep his new friends safe.  

Things I Liked

 

♥ Lee Joon

I really loved Lee Joon as the villain of this drama.  He is cold and calculating, and you can just feel the intensity of his eyes coming out of the screen.  This wasn’t an easy role but he really pulled it off well. I applaud his acting even as I was chilled by the character he created.  

♥ Monsters

I loved the other monster stories besides the bulgasal.  The explanation about monsters being reincarnated into evil people was interesting and well-carried out.  Using the elements from the original monster stories to talk about preferences to things like rain or bodies of water brought it all together and made the legends come full-circle.  

 ♥ OST

This OST is haunting and beautiful.  I have noticed that Netflix soundtracks tend to be very well done, and this one is no exception.  The music sets the stage with it’s emotional intensity and I found myself swept away in it.  While it never upstaged the story or felt out of place, it was impossible to ignore as part of the scene itself.

Bulgasal: Immortal Souls - Full Review

Things I Didn’t Like

 

Blood and Gore

I’m not exactly a squemish person, but there were definitely parts of this drama that made me squirm.  I can handle a bit of blood and gore, but it was the gulping and swallowing sounds while the bulgasals were drinking human blood that really pushed me over the edge.    I wouldn’t say it was overdone, but it does bear mentioning, as it was a bit intense.  

Sang Un’s Twin

Sang Un’s twin didn’t really make much sense to me.  The character really has no impact on the story at all.  In the beginning, it explained why she couldn’t remember her past lives, but since she eventually remembers them anyway, what’s the point.  In fact, the character actually brings up more questions than answers.  How and why did fate allow Sang Un to escape her curse by splitting her soul “in half” and what does that do for her soul in the next life?  

Blood Supply

So speaking of blood.  What happened to the cannisters of blood that were the only thing in Hwal’s refrigerator.  Once the house was refined and full of human food, where did they go?  It just doesn’t seem like the kind of thing they would keep next to the milk and butter.  And there wasn’t much mention of him eating after the initial scene where she bought it to him. Sang Un does bring it to him once when he’s hurt, but after that he just sits and watches the humans eat. It may not be important to the plot, but I’m still curious.  Also, after Lee Hye Suk is killed, how was he planning on getting more?

Bulgasal: Immortal Souls - Full Review

The Ending

 

“Bulgasal ends by finally telling the whole story of what happened 1000 years ago and how Hwal and Eul Tae both ended up as bulgasal.  Back in the present, Hwal, Sang Un, and Detective Kwon show up at the well with a plan to poison Eul Tae and lock him in forever.  But things go awry when Eul Tae throws Hwal in, fatally wounds Detective Kwon, and chases Sang Un through the woods, where he finally catches her and injures her as well.  In a final act, Detective Kwon sends his own blood down the well for Hwal, fulfilling the Shaman’s prophecy.  Hwal regains enough strength to attack Eul Tae and protect Sang Un before stabbing himself to insure that both he and Eul Tae die.  The injured Sang Un goes to get Shi Ho and Do Yoon so they will know where the bodies are before she dies herself.  Shi Ho and Do Yoon are left as the last survivors.  We see them together through the years before a 50 year time jump.  Somehow Hwal and Sang Un have been reincarnated as humans.  Sang Un gets a mysterious letter with a picture of their old house.  Out of curiousity, she goes there and runs into Hwal and both feel a strange connection.  Fate has stepped in to finally give this couple their happy ending.

Bulgasal: Immortal Souls - Full Review

Should I Watch

 

Bulgasal: Immortal Souls - Unspoiled Review

“Bulgasal” is a  fantasy thriller that tells the story of a bulgasal, which is basically a vampire on steroids.  If you enjoy fantasy monster stories, this one is interesting and has a unique plot.  One word of warning.  If you are squeamish about blood and gore, this one may be a bit much for you, since bulgasal live on human blood and flesh.  My major criticism with this one is that it was very inconsistent in its pace.  What started as exciting thriller turned into slow-paced romance and “family” drama. This is a complex story that leaves plenty of loose plot threads, but still manages to tell a satisfactory tale of epic proportions. The music and cinematography are beautiful and the story keeps you guessing until the end.  I give “Bulgasal” an 8 out of 10 ramen.

🍜🍜🍜🍜🍜🍜🍜🍜

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Bad and Crazy – Full Review

Bad and Crazy – Full Review

 

Welcome to Bad and Crazy – Full Review. A police officer has made his way up the ranks by turning a blind eye to corruption, but his life is turned upside down when he meets a crazy man with a hero complex.    If you haven’t watched this drama yet, I recommend checking out my unspoiled review here.

Bad and Crazy

Aired: Dec 17, 2021 – January 28, 2022

# of Episodes:  12

Where to Watch:  iQIYI and Netflix (March 28, 2022)

Genre:  Action Drama

Starring: Lee Dong Wook and Wi Ha Joon

.

Bad and Crazy - Unspoiled Review

The Story

 

Bad and Crazy - Full Review

As a prominent member of the Anti-Corruption Unit of the Police Force, Soo Yeol has made his way up the ranks by turning a blind eye to corrupt officials and powerful allies.  But one day he meets a crazy man, called “K”, who has no tolerance for dishonesty or wrong-doing.  K pushes Soo Yeol  to put aside his bad-boy image and work to become a better person.  And K’s uncanny ability to show up at just the right moment doesn’t give Soo Yeol a chance to slip back into bad habits.  But where did K come from and how does he seem to know Soo Eyol so well?

Bad and Crazy - Unspoiled Review

The Leads

 

Bad and Crazy - Full Review
Bad and Crazy - Full Review

Lee Dong Wook as Ryu Soo Yeol

Ryu Soo Yeol is up for a promotion and all he needs to do is keep his head down and not drawn any unwanted attention.  But when he meets a mysterious vigilante named K, he gets forced into doing the right thing, even when it means getting on the bad side of some very powerful people. At first, Soo Yeol decides to just avoid K, but things get very complicated when he realizes that he is suffering from Dissociative Identity Disorder and K is his alternate identity.  With K’s influence, Soo Yeol begins to see that doing the right thing is more important than getting a promotion and no one should be allowed to use their position and power to hurt others.  Now he and K will work “together” to bring down some very powerful figures and bring justice.  

 

Bad and Crazy - Full Review

Ryu Soo Yeol is laid- back and easy going, but he has buried a trauma from his childhood that left him fractured and created K as a protector.  Consciously, he has only small pieces of memories of the events that led him to his adopted mother and brother.  Unlocking those missing memories is the key to his healing.  Lee Dong Wook is charming as Soo Yeol, although the role didn’t always seem as natural to him as other roles I have seen him in.  It was fun to see him play a more comical character.

Wi Ha Joon as K

K is a mysterious stranger who suddenly begins showing up whenever Soo Yeol is in a bad situation.  He continues to push Soo Yeol to do the right thing, even when it means putting his own life in danger.  Even though K is aware that he is really just an alter-ego of Soo Yeol, he leaves Soo Yeol to discover that on his own. Once Soo Yeol becomes aware of who K really is, he and K agree to work together to expose the corruption that has been going on for years between the police department and city officials. But as Soo Yeol gets more in touch with this side of himself and begins to get his memory back, what will happen to K?

Bad and Crazy - Full Review

K is crazy and loveable.  He does everything with full enthusiasm and sees himself as a superhero.  His job is to step in and protect Soo Yeol whenever he is needed.  This character represents the good that is in Soo Yeol.  Wi Ha Joon was incredible in this role.  I found myself laughing almost every time he was onscreen.  He was funny and yet so sincere.  The interactions between he and Lee Dong Wook were the best part of this drama, and Wi Ha Joon played it perfectly.

Bad and Crazy - Full Review

Supporting Characters

 

Bad and Crazy - Full Review
Bad and Crazy - Full Review

Ha Ji Eun as Lee Hee Kyum

Ha Ji Eun is Soo Yeol’s ex-girlfriend and fellow police officer.  It’s not completely clear why they broke up but it is clear that they both still have feelings for each other.  Ha Ji Eun is tough and outspoken, and she is one of the few people who know how to put Soo Yeol in his place when he needs it.

Cha Hak Yeon as Oh Kyung Tae

Oh Kyung Tae is a rookie police officer whose determination to help a little girl find her missing mother leads to our villains eventually getting caught.  He is honest and hard working.  He is transferred into the Anti-Corruption Unit to work with Soo Yeol and Jae Seon.  He adopts Jae Seon as his mentor and the two have a very cute relationship.  Some even refer to Kyung Tae jokingly as Jae Seon’s “wife”!

Bad and Crazy - Full Review
Bad and Crazy - Full Review

Cha Shi Won as Yang Jae Seon

Yang Jae Seon has known Soo Yeol for years.  The two work closely together and Soo Yeol trusts Jae Seon.  Once Kyung Tae joins their unit, Jae Seon becomes his mentor as they work on the cases to help Soo Yeol.  Jae Seon is irritated that Kyung Tae is able to make connection in the cases that he misses, but grungingly acknowledges his intuition.  

Things I Liked

 

♥ Wi Ha Joon

Wi Ha Joon gave such a stand out performance in this drama.  He is charming, funny, and endearing all at the same time.  There are a lot of ways they could have played this alter-ego, but I loved how they created a whole new character for him.  The energy he put into this role actually made Soo Yeol’s character seem more likeable and understandable.  I love a good bromance story and this one was fun from start to finish. 

♥ Jung Hoon

While Jung Hoon’s character is kind of a small role, he is pivotal in the story arc of Soo Yeon’s healing.  He represents a reflection of Soo Yeol’s past, and when Jung Hoon is victimized by Yoon Ho, like Soo Yeol was, Soo Yeol brings him to the family who loved and supported him through that difficult time.  Jung Hoon also gives Soo Yeol a chance to redo the fire scene from the beginning of the series.  But this time Soo Yeol doesn’t have to be thrown in and forced to save Jung Hoon.  He rushes in on his own, which shows his emotional growth and maturity.  

 ♥ Separate Actors for Personalities

Split personalities are usually just the main actor with a different hairstyle or glasses.  It gives the lead actor a great opportunity to show their duality but it doesn’t really feel like two individual characters.  The decision to bring in a totally different actor to play Soo Yeol’s alter ego was unique and engaging.  Doing this gave the leads a way to intereact and build a relationship that wouldn’t have been possible if one actor had tried to carry both roles.  

Bad and Crazy - Full Review

Things I Didn’t Like

 

Parade of Villains

This drama took a weird approach with their villains.  As each one toppled, they revealed the next one, like a Matryoshka doll, until they finally got to the final villain, Boss Yong.  Unfortunately, these villains got kind of jumbled together so it was hard to remember who was who and what their connection to the others was.  Also, Boss Yong was such a unique and mysterious character that she could have been a leading role.  I would have liked to see more of a focus on her and her operation.  The other villains and their stories hardly seem relevant in contrast to her strong screen presence.   

Misdiagnosis

While this plot was fun and exciting, there were definitely some liberties taken with the portrayal of DID (Disassociative Identity Disorder).  I know dramas need to take some creative license, but if you are going to tackle a hot social issue like mental illness, I believe you have a responsibility to represent it as accurately as possible.  Unfortunately, in this case, there seemed to be a mixed bag of symptoms representing numerous mental illnesses all rolled up into one.  And some of the treatment suggestions made by Dr. Yum Geun Soo, like just allowing the other personality to take over while you “sleep”, can actually be dangerous to a person’s psyche.  I don’t want to harp on this subject  too  much, but it warrants mentioning.  

Yoon Ho’s Profession

So how did the poor, orphan Yoon Ho suddenly become the esteemed Dr. Shin Joo Hyuk?  Even if he had stolen someone’s identity, he had to learn enough to treat patients and earn a reputation that made the police department trust and recommend him.  That feels like an awfully big jump to me.  It doesn’t seem like the kind of thing you can just make happen.  

Bad and Crazy - Full Review

The Ending

 

“Bad and Crazy” ends with the same energy and chaos it began with.  Soo Yeol escapes the mental hospital, with help from K, of course.  He ends up confronting Joo Hyuk and having to pull Jung Hoon out of a burning house.  Soo Yeol wakes up in the hospital, surrounded by his friends who assure him that Jung Hoon is fine and Joo Hyuk, now Yoon Ho again, has been arrested.  Later Soo Yeol walks away from his chance to be reinstated because he refuses to deny that K existed.  We see him working with his brother at the pizza restaurant.  But after a visit from Hee Gyeom, he decides to go back to work and hints that he would like her to stay in his unit.  It seems like the couple are on the road to reconciliation, as if we had any doubts.  Yoon Ho’s lawyer offers to claim mental trauma in the hopes of getting a lighter sentence, but Yoon Ho refuses.  Unfortunately it doesn’t seem like he is able to stand trial, since Yong follows him into the bathroom at the court house and strangles him as revenge for what he did to Andrei.  One year later we see Soo Yeol back at the club where the politicians hang out and do business.  It looks like Soo Yeol is accepting a bribe until he suddenly grabs his phone to snap a picture and his team comes rushing in to back him up.  He is no longer willing to turn a blind eye to corruption.   The final scene mimics the beginning, with Soo Yeol rushing to the corrupt commissioner to call him out.  With a shout, he flies down the stair and launches into a flying kick, straight to the commissioners face.

Bad and Crazy - Full Review

Should I Watch

 

Bad and Crazy - Unspoiled Review

“Bad and Crazy” is a  wild crime comedy with a unique plot and plenty of thrilling action. It covers a wide range of genre and even touches on some more emotional scenes surrounding mental health and self discovery. The bromance between Lee Dong Wook and Wi Ha Joon was entertaining, and they never pushed it so hard that it got old.  This drama is fast-paced and entertaining, but that pace does leave it open to some loose plots and disjointed storylines.  On the plus side, if you want an exciting police drama with plenty of humor and a touch of romance, this one is definitely worth your time.  I give “Bad and Crazy” an 8 out of 10 ramen.

🍜🍜🍜🍜🍜🍜🍜🍜

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The King’s Affection – Full Review

The King’s Affection – Full Review

 

Welcome to The King’s Affection – Full Review. When the young crown prince is brutally murdered, his twin sister steps in to take his place, but she is surrounded by enemies who would love to expose her secret and kick her out of the palace forever.   If you haven’t watched this drama yet, I recommend checking out my unspoiled review here.

The King’s Affection

Aired: Oct 11 – Dec 14, 2021

# of Episodes:  20

Where to Watch:  Netflix

Genre:  Historical Romance

Starring: Park Eun Bin and Rowoon

.

The King's Affection - Unspoiled Review

The Story

 

The King's Affection - Full Review

Dam Yi was born as the twin sister of the crown prince.  But superstitions about twins being a bad omen cause her mother, Queen Jang Sun, to hide her existence and smuggle her out of the palace.  Years later, her brother is brutally murdered and she steps into the role of Crown Prince, pretending to be him.  Hiding her true identity from everyone, except her two most trusted servants, she lives her life in fear of being caught.  And when a handsome new tutor shows up at the palace, she struggles to hide her attraction to him.  Now she is forced to ask herself how long she can continue with this charade and what it will cost her.

The King's Affection- Unspoiled Review

The Leads

 

The King's Affection - Full Review
The King's Affection - Full Review

Park Eun Bin as Yeon Seon / Lee Hwi / Dam Yi

Dam Yi has no idea that she is actually the twin sister of the Crown Prince until the Prince is killed outside the palace grounds.  Desperate to maintain their family honor, Dam Yi’s real mother,  Queen Jang Sun, finally tells her the truth about her birth and asks her to step into her brother’s place, pretending to be him.  Her mother and a handful of trusted servants are the only ones who know her true identity.  But as she gets older, her secret becomes harder to hide.  And powerful enemies within the palace walls would love to find a way to steal the throne.  To make matters even worse, her handsome new tutor just happens to be the young boy she fell in love with while she was a palace maid.  Her feelings for him have only grown now that they are adults. But why should she tell him the truth about who she is when a future together seems impossible.  

 

The King's Affection - Full Review

Dam Yi has grown up having to guard her emotions and trust no one. Among those who serve her in the palace, she has a reputation for being irritable and unfriendly.  In reality, she is warm and caring, but having everyone be afraid of her is the easiest way to keep her secret safe.  Park Eun Bin was great in this role.  I think she was  very believable as the brashly confident Prince, while still hinting at a gentle feminity that she hid under the surface.  This role was a great chance for her to stretch herself as an actress and I think she met the challenge.

Rowoon as Jung Ji Woon

Jung Ji Woon’s world collapsed around him the day he watched his father murder an innocent palace maid.  Crushed to discover the father he idolized was cruel and heartless, he left the country to study abroad.  Now that he has returned, he is a perfect candidate to become a royal tutor.  While working in the palace, he tries to find the young maid who stole his heart years ago, when he was a boy.  Little does he know that the stubborn Prince he is teaching is actually his first love.  

The King's Affection - Full Review

Jung Ji Woon is sensitive and intelligent.  As a tutor, he is devoted to learning and determined to teach the young prince how to understand the hearts of his people.  He is a skilled and kind doctor, who is determined to make up for the wrong-doings of his father.  Rowoon is charming and it was fun seeing him as a gentle, soft-spoken hero.  While this role didn’t seem overly challenging for him as an actor, it did give him a chance to show how comfortable he has become in the drama world, and I look forward to continuing to watch him grow.

The King's Affection - Full Review

Supporting Characters

 

The King's Affection - Full Review
The King's Affection - Full Review

Nam Yoon Su as Lee Hyun/Prince Jaeun

Prince Jaeun is the paternal cousin of Dam Yi.  He has been best friends with Ji Woon since they were kids.  As a Prince, he was close to Dam Yi’s brother Lee Hwi and is one of the few people in the palace Dam Yi trusts.  Hyun found out by accident that Dam Yi is actually a girl, and over the years he has fallen in love with her.  But he has never told her that he knows the truth, so he has kept his feelings hidden from her.  

Bae Yoon Kyung as Shin So Eun

Shin So Eun is the daughter of the Minister of Personnel.  She meets Ji Woon while he is working as a doctor in the countryside and falls in love with him.  Her feelings for Ji Woon create a problem when her father wants her to be chosen as a wife to the Crown Prince. So Eun is very honest about her feelings, even though Ji Woon continues to tell her he loves someone else.

The King's Affection - Full Review
The King's Affection - Full Review

Choi Byung Chan as Kim Ga On

Kim Ga On becomes the Crown Prince’s personal body guard. He take the job because he wants to get revenge against the King, who he holds responsible for the beheading of his father.  But as he gets to know Dam Yi, he gains affection for her and eventually becomes a trusted helper of Dam Yi and Ji Woon.  

Things I Liked

 

♥ Role Reversal

Not only does this drama use the gender bender trope because everyone thinks Dam Yi is male, but they also do a fun role reversal of gender stereotypes with the lead couple.  While Dam Yi is blunt and always hides her emotions, Ji Woon is sensitive and gentle mannered.  I had to giggle when Ji Woon was wearing the flower behind his ear!  It’s always nice when a drama takes an outdated stereotype and turns it on its ear.  In a drama that sometimes seemed to struggle with finding unique content, this aspect gave it its own special flavor.

♥ Childhood Story

First, the child actors were amazing in their roles as young Dam Yi and Ji Woon.  They were delightfully shy and earnest.  Second, I liked the fact that they took some time to develop this story and their relationship.  It wasn’t some 5 second chance meeting between strangers.  Dam Yi and Ji Woon got to know each other and their young hearts had sincere feelings for each other.  That made their reunion so much more gratifying and real.  I always have a fondness for this particular trope, but I felt that this one was handled very well.

 ♥ Ji Woon and Inspector Jung

There was a nice honest beauty to the relationship between Ji Woon and his father.  Obviously, in the beginning, there were lots of past issues, and I liked that they didn’t just sweep those under the rug and ask us to forget the terrible things that Inspector Jung did for Lord Sangheon.  But they also allowed his character a bit of redemption in the end.  Ji Woon was able to make amends with him without excusing his heartless behavior and Inspector Jung died doing something noble.  

The King's Affection - Full Review

Things I Didn’t Like

 

Queen’s Behavior

So, in all the sageuks that I have watched, there always seems to be strict rules about how royalty should act.  I just can’t imagine everyone would let the Queen run around acting silly and clueless without being reprimanded.  Ha Kyung constantly made me cringe with her childish behavior.  Sure, I felt bad that she was destined to be hurt by the whole situation.  But I still would have liked to see her learn to practice some decorum, as is fitting her role.  

No Bodyguard

Kim Ga On’s character is such a great one, that maybe I’m just bummed I didn’t get to see more of him, but Dam Yi spent an awful lot of time running around after dark with no protection.  When Ga On first showed up, she expressed her discomfort at having someone nearby at all times.  But then he seldom seemed to be around.  It’s not uncommon for guards to hide in the shadows, but they usually show up at the slightest sign of trouble.  In this case, he just didn’t seem to be doing his job very well.

“Secret” Door

Okay.  Bear with me on this one.  Maybe I’m being overly picky, but they expect me to believe that this secret door, that Ji Woon discovered within 5 minutes of his first visit to the palace, is never discovered by anyone else.  I know that the legend of it being haunted initially kept people away.  But with Dam Yi and Ji Woon coming and going so often, while they are being watched and followed by Prince Wonsan and his lackeys, this seems like a bit of a stretch.  Especially with Ji Woon hauling wagons full of flowers in.  

The King's Affection - Full Review

The Ending

 

“The King’s Affection” comes down to the inevitable battle between Dam Yi and Lord Sangheon, with the backing of Prince Wonsan and their army.  Prince Wonsan, Inspector Jung, and Prince Jehyeon all die during the scuffle.  Dam Yi and Lord Sangheon meet for a final conversation.  Lord Sangheon plans to make her drink poison when they have finished talking, but Dam Yi is a step ahead.  She offers him a final cup of tea and he accepts, not knowing it has already been poisoned.  They both drink it and appear to be dying when Ji Woon finds them.  Later Dam Yi wakes from a bad dream to find Ji Woon at her side.  While she has been recovering, Hyun, as the only remaining heir, has become King.  He announces Dam Yi’s “punishment” for her years of impersonating her brother is to be erased from the royal records and sent to live with a new identity.  A flash forward has Ga On, now Commander Kang, living with Jil Geum and Young Ji, who are still running the clinic.  Ga On stops to flirt with Young Ji, which is very cute. Ha Kyung was sent out of the palace after Dam Yi finally told her the truth. She and So Eun are shopping together and Ha Kyung stops at a shop to look at something that would look good on the “King”, so she hasn’t totally moved on yet.  The drama ends with a final scene of Dam Yi and Ji Woon walking together on the beach.  They look happy and finally at peace.  And it ends with a happy reunion between the sweet couple and all their palace friends who stop in for a visit.

The King's Affection - Full Review

Should I Watch

 

The King's Affection - Unspoiled Review

“The King’s Affection” is a light historical romance.  If you like historical dramas that focus more on romance than political intrigue and serious drama, this is a good option.  At 20 episodes, I did find that while it started strong, it dragged a bit in the middle.  The “gender bender” premise provides some sweet and comical interactions that are entertaining to watch.  The cinematography is visually beautiful and the stirring OST features some great artists, including the male lead, Rowoon of SF9.   I give “The King’s Affection” an 8 out of 10 ramen.

🍜🍜🍜🍜🍜🍜🍜🍜

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Mad For Each Other – Full Review

Mad For Each Other – Full Review

 

Welcome to Mad For Each Other – Full Review. Sometimes the best way to heal our personal scars is to find someone just as crazy as we are.   If you haven’t watched this drama yet, I recommend checking out my unspoiled review here.

Mad For Each Other

Aired: May 24 – June 21, 2021

# of Episodes:  13

Where to Watch:  Netflix

Genre:  Romantic Comedy

Starring:  Oh Yeon Seo and Jung Woo

.

Mad For Each Other - Unspoiled Review

The Story

 

Mad For Each Other - Full Review

A detective is suspended and required to attend anger management counseling after a raid turns into a barroom brawl.  He meets a woman in his therapist’s office who happens to be his next door neighbor.  Although at first he finds her quirky behavior to be irritating and weird, as he gets to know about her personal trauma, he finds himself worrying about her and wanting to protect her.  Together they will learn that having someone to lean on can be a valueable step in healing.

Mad For Each Other - Unspoiled Review

The Leads

 

Mad For Each Other - Full Review
Mad For Each Other - Full Review

Oh Yeon Seo  as Lee Min Kyung

When Lee Min Kyung finds out that her boyfriend is actually married, he becomes abusive and violent.  The trauma leaves her anxious and afraid.  When she notices the same man in her therapists office and outside her apartment, she is sure he is a crazy stalker.  But it turns out that he is just her next door neighbor, who struggles with anger management.  As she gets to know him, Min Kyung is drawn to his strong, dependable personality.  He offers her the safety and security she needs to finally begin healing, but can she learn to trust herself again?

 

Mad For Each Other - Full Review

Lee Min Kyung is stressed out, paranoid, and distrustful of everyone, including herself.  Therapy hasn’t been enough to heal her.  But the presence of one fluffy orphan pup and a gruff, iritable detective help her find the strength to begin the road to recovery.  Oh Yeon Seo was endearing as this quirky, crazy character.  She managed to make her feel realistic and relateable, even if Min Kyung’s actions were sometimes over the top.  I found myself very invested in her story and rooting for her.

Jung Woo as Noh Hwi Oh

Noh Hwi Oh finds himself on the wrong side of a criminal investigation that results in him being framed for excessive force and suspended from his job.  While attending anger managament counseling, he meets his next door neighbor, who sees the same therapist.  While he works to try to clear his name and get reinstated as a detective, he tries to help his new friend find health and healing.  And maybe her over-active imagination can actually lead him to find some of the answers he is looking for.  

Mad For Each Other - Full Review

Noh Hwi Oh was pushed to the edge by a fiance who left him in his greatest time of need.  But his real crime was trying to hold corrupt officers responsible for their actions.  And it is this extreme sense of justice that make him a great detective and a perfect protecter for Min Kyung.  I love Jung Woo’s slightly dishevelled charm.  I found him very genuine in this role that really plays to his strenths as an actor.  And it was fun to watch the ladies of his building fawn over his boyish good looks.

Mad For Each Other - Full Review

Supporting Characters

 

Mad For Each Other - Full Review
Mad For Each Other - Full Review

Lee Soo Hyun as Soo Hyun

Soo Hyun lives in the neighborhood and has a string of part-time jobs while studying to become a police officer.  Min Kyung and Hwi Oh run into her most often at the convenience store.  She becomes friends with Samantha and one day the two are walking together when they pass a person singing in the park.  Soo Hyun suddenly joins in and everyone stops in amazement.  This leads Soo Hyun to give up on her dream of becoming a cop and start a youtube channel with Samantha.  

Ahn Woo Yeon as Sang Yeop/Samantha

Sang Yeop lives in the same apartment building as Min Kyung and Hwi Oh.  He likes to go out at night dressed in women’s clothing as Samantha. Sang Yeop is also a computer genius, who helps Hwi Oh with his investigation, while Samantha helps him disguise himself as a woman to go undercover.  

Mad For Each Other - Full Review
Mad For Each Other - Full Review

Kim Nam Hee as Lee Seon Ho

Lee Seon Ho is one of the villains of the drama, as Min Kyung’s ex-boyfriend.  He is violent and cruel and will do anything to keep Min Kyung from pressing charges against him and sending him to prison.  This includes poisoning Min Kyung’s dog and kidnapping her.  

Things I Liked

 

♥ Balance

This drama did a nice job of balancing humor with more serious topics in a way that felt very even.  It didn’t ever swing too randomly between the two.  Too far on either side would have made the drama either too silly or too heavy, but I felt like the balance struck just the right chord.  

♥ Healing as Process

I appreciated this drama’s realistic approach to mental health.  While it certainly promoted the idea that having someone by your side can help in the healing process, it never promises instant answers or results.  Even after falling in love, Min Kyung and Hwi Oh still experienced good days and bad days on their road to recovery.  

 ♥ Sympathetic

While Min Kyung is definitely a weird and crazy character, she was also presented as a sympathetic one, especially as the drama goes on.  Just like Hwi Oh, we begin to understand the degree of trauma she suffered and how difficult that must be to recover from.  We also learn about how betrayed she must have felt when no one, not even her own mother, believed her side of the story.  

Mad For Each Other - Full Review

Things I Didn’t Like

 

Seon Ho’s Mom

The only thing worse than a guy who abuses people in the name of love is a mother who defends her son for doing it.  There is absolutely nothing likeable about this character.  The fact that even the nosy neighbors, who are easily manipulated, found out how two-faced she was, proves that she has no redeeming qualities.  A little more humility on her part probably would have saved her a heap of humiliation in the end.

Drug Ring Story

This story seemed kind of unnecessary and not that interesting.  Especially since it’s not solving the case that leads to Hwi Oh getting reinstated, but his therapist signing off on it.  Many full 16 episode dramas have used a similar plot, but I felt like cramming it into a shorter series with so many other stories was a bit too ambitious.  In the end, I didn’t feel like I knew the other officers or had much personal investment in whether they caught Yang or not.

Soo Hyun’s Story

I love Lee Soo Hyun as a performer and I was excited to see her in this drama.  But I felt like her character was too random and disjointed.  She worked doing multiple jobs so she could become a police officer and then one youtube video has her throwing all that away to become a singer.  There was some explanation when she said she never got any of the study problems right anyway, but still.  If she had enough motivation to work as hard as she did, it seems like she would have given a little more thought before completely changing direction.  

Mad For Each Other - Full Review

The Ending

 

The end of “Mad For Each Other” offers some exciting action scenes before bringing us in for a happy ending, but there are some bumps along the way.  After being drugged and kidnapped by that psycho Seon Ho, Min Kyung and Hwi Oh both end up in the hospital, where they have a sweet reunion.  But when Hwi Oh is finally released, he finds out that Min Kyung has moved out of the building.  He chases after the moving van and tells her that he loves her.  At first, Min Kyung plans to leave anyway. but she gets worried when it looks like he is beating up some random stranger, who turns out to be one of the guys from Min Kyung’s wanted poster collection.  Min Kyung and Hwi Oh kiss, while still holding the criminal by the collar, and it looks like all is finally well.  But not so fast.  A time jump shows someone else living in Min Kyung’s apartment.  A voice over from Hwi Oh catches us up with everyone else.  Soo Hyun and Samantha are busy building their youtube channel and seem happy spending their time together.  And the Women’s association finally succeeded in renaming the apartment building the Mapo Noblesse Central River.  Hwi Oh is back to work and seems to be doing well.  He and Min Kyung’s dog are sitting around missing her when they suddenly hear her whistle.  Hwi Oh runs out and finds Min Kyung looking rested and happy.  They stand smiling at each other as the “Happy Ending” song plays in the back ground.  I guess that says it all!  

Mad For Each Other - Full Review

Should I Watch

 

Mad For Each Other - Unspoiled Review

“Mad For Each Other” is a healing romantic comedy.  It takes an honest look at mental health issues like PTSD, anxiety, and anger,  and the struggles that many face, while adding a note of humor to keep the series from getting too heavy or serious.  This drama is shorter than the average, with 13 35-minute episodes, so it’s great if you are looking for a faster, binge-worthy series.  And surprisingly, each 35 minutes is so packed with storyline that it feels more like a full hour episode.   If you enjoy quirky rom-coms that tackle serious issues while maintaining a  light-hearted tone, this little gem is surprisingly touching and sweet. I give “Mad For Each Other” an 8 out of 10 ramen.

🍜🍜🍜🍜🍜🍜🍜🍜

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Let Me Be Your Knight – Full Review

Let Me Be Your Knight – Full Review

 

Welcome to Let Me Be Your Knight – Full Review.  An idol with a sleepwalking problem receives around the clock treatment from a live-in doctor who promises to cure him.   If you haven’t watched this drama yet, I recommend checking out my unspoiled review here.

Let Me Be Your Knight

Aired: November 7, 2021 – January 24, 2022

# of Episodes:  12

Where to Watch:  Viki 

Genre:  Romantic Comedy

Starring:  Jung In Sun and Lee Jun Young

.

Let Me Be Your Knight - Unspoiled Review

The Story

 

Let Me Be Your Knight - Full Review

A lead singer of a famous band begins sleepwalking due to a troubled relationship with his father and the day to day pressure of living in the lime light.  His agency hires a private live-in doctor to treat his condition and keep him safe.  But a crazy case of mistaken identity leads them to hire the doctor’s twin sister, who lies about who she is because she needs the money.  But as she gets to know not just Yoon Tae In, but all the members of the band, she is torn between her desire to stay with them and her need to tell the truth.

Let Me Be Your Knight - Unspoiled Review

The Leads

 

Let Me Be Your Knight - Full Review
Let Me Be Your Knight - Full Review

Jung In Sun as In Yoon Joo/Kang Sun Jun

In Yoon Joo has lost her life savings and is being chased down by loan sharks.  Things are pretty dire until she is offered a large sum of money to work as a live in therapist for a famous idol who has started sleepwalking.  The only problem is they think she is actually her twin sister, who is a well-known doctor specializing in sleep issues.  If she can keep her identity secret for one month, she can pay off her debt and no one needs to ever know the truth.  But as she spends time getting to know Yoon Tae In, she can’t help but be attracted to him.  Will he ever be able to forgive her if he finds out that she has been lying to him this whole time?

 

Let Me Be Your Knight - Full Review

In Yoon Joo is enthusiastic and optimistic.  Her dream is to buy the house she grew up in and be reunited with her twin sister, who was adopted by an American family. She never set out to pretend to be someone she wasn’t and she sincerely wants to help Tae In.  Jung In Sun did a fine job acting in this drama, but I’m not sure she was a good fit for the character.  She seemed more like a house mother than the kind of person two band members would fall in love with.  I know that Jung In Sun is capable of romantic chemistry, but I just didn’t feel it much with this drama.

Lee Jun Young as Yoon Tae In

As the lead singer of the famous pop group Luna, Yoon Tae In lives under constant pressure.  Because of this stress, he has started sleepwalking.  He is totally against the idea of having a live-in doctor, but his agency insists.  But to his surprise, the treatments begin to work.  And even more surpising, he begins to develop feelings for “Dr. Kang”.  Eager to keep her with him, he begins to embrace their sessions together.  But the more he tries to draw her closer, the farther away the doctor becomes.

Let Me Be Your Knight - Full Review

Yoon Tae In carries the weight of the world on his shoulders, between his troubled relationship with his father and his need to make sure that Luna succeeds.  All of this has made him cold and withdrawn.  He doesn’t have anyone he can lean on, until he meets Dr. Kang.  She becomes a much-needed life-line that he never wants to live without.  Lee Jun Young continues to grow as an actor, but his last two roles have been very similar.  I worry that he will get type casted as a cold, unfeeling idol.  I hope he can break out into some more challenging and mature roles as time goes on.

Let Me Be Your Knight - Full Review

Supporting Characters

 

Let Me Be Your Knight - Full Review
Let Me Be Your Knight - Full Review

Jang Dong Joo as Seo Woo Yeon

Seo Woo Yeon is the guitarist for Luna.  He meets Yoon Joo by chance in a bookstore before she moves into the house.  He is immediately attracted to her and can’t believe his luck when she shows up at their dorm.  Even though he notices the connection between her and Tae In, he tries to win her heart.

JR as Lee Shin

Lee Shin plays the bass for Luna.  He has been secretly dating a divorced actress, who he met while appearing on her radio program.  But when word gets out, he is forced to make some difficult choices.  He is young and naive enough to think that he can still have it all, but his fans and band mates are not as thrilled with the idea.  

Let Me Be Your Knight - Full Review
Let Me Be Your Knight - Full Review

Shin He Young as Chae Ji Yeon

Chae Ji Yeon is the former actress that Shin has been dating.  Since her divorce, her career has been on hold.  Her fans and agency all treat her like a has-been, but she still hopes to work her way back into the industry.  She is older than Shin and their age difference only complicates their desire to date.  

Things I Liked

 

♥ Fun Music

There is something fun about taking musicians from different bands and letting them work together, both acting and making new music.  These idol dramas usually have fun, upbeat soundtracks that fit the mood of the shows.  The song “Beautiful Breakup” has been recorded as a single by the drama actors, making Luna at least a semi-real band!

♥ Side Stories

One of the strong elements of this drama was the time they took to give each band member their own story.  It’s easy for these characters to all get lumped into the same story, so there is just the lead singer and everyone else.  It was a welcome change to have the chance to get to know each of them individually.  

 ♥ Ga  On

So, I am familiar with AB6IX as a group, but I don’t know the individual band memebers.  But Kim Dong Hyun as Ga On was such a wonderfully sweet character.  His sunny disposition and fierce loyalty made him a highlight of this drama.  He felt like the emotional anchor who held everyone together.   

Let Me Be Your Knight - Full Review

Things I Didn’t Like

 

Posing as a Doctor

I don’t seem to be alone in feeling some general discomfort with the whole premise of this drama.  For Yoon Joo to pretend to be a doctor is not just a small white lie or harmless case of mistaken identity.  This is playing around with someone’s health and welfare.  And the fact that she succeeded in “curing” him seems to belittle the seriousness of the problem.  

Stalker Story

While we did see a couple scenes with PR team member Hong Jae Eun that hinted something might be off with her, the whole sudden kidnapping plot seemed to come out of thin air.  A few extra scenes to build this storyline would have made it seem much smoother and given it more context.  It would have made more sense to me if there was a more obvious build up.   

Band Interaction

Although we hear them talk about a time when the band members were close and spent time together, this drama really starts with them so distant that it’s hard to imagine them as friends.  A slower drifting apart might have made this element more believable and interesting.  If they hadn’t said anything, I would have assumed they had never really gotten along that well.  And when Dr. Kang asks how they get along, the managers seem to gloss over it as if there was some secret there.  That only added to my general impression that their relationships had always been rocky.  

Let Me Be Your Knight - Full Review

The Ending

 

“Let Me Be Your Knight” ends on a happy, upbeat note.  After Yoon Joo saves Tae In from the crazy PR stalker lady, he realizes her feelings for him were sincere and forgives her for lying.  But then Yoon Joo breaks it to him that she is going to go back to America with her sister for awhile, and figure out what she wants to do with her life.  While she doesn’t make any promises, Tae In says he will wait for her.  And he uses that time to put his energy into the band.  Luna works together to make a new album with input from everybody.  They go back to their roots and play smaller more intimate concerts that help them remember why they became musicians in the first place.  They also each take time to pursue their own personal goals.  Dong Joo opens his own music studio, Ga On goes to college, Shin creates his own radio show, and Ji Sung takes an acting role.  The final scene shows Yoon Joo back in Korea, when she gets a call that her family home is under new ownership and looking for a renter.  She rushes there and finds Tae In with the keys.  And I’m pretty sure they will live happily ever after!

Let Me Be Your Knight - Full Review

Should I Watch

 

Let Me Be Your Knight - Unspoiled Review

“Let Me Be Your Knight” is similar to last year’s idol drama “Imitation”, and even has the same lead.  This style of drama is becoming popular and they provide a great bridge between K-Pop and Kdrama as well as some nice OSTs.  And because they are idols playing idols, they also give these young musicians a chance to branch into acting without going too far outside of their comfort zones.  The stories are light, simple, and entertaining, if  you’re in the mood for something that is fun without being overly unique or complex. It’s sweet and predictable and not afraid to rest on time honored tropes. I give “Let Me Be Your Knight” an 7 out of 10 ramen.

🍜🍜🍜🍜🍜🍜🍜

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Our Beloved Summer – Full Review

Our Beloved Summer – Full Review

 

Welcome to Our Beloved Sumer – Full Review.  Stars of a 10 year old documentary revisit their hopes, dreams, and complicated relationship.   If you haven’t watched this drama yet, I recommend checking out my unspoiled review here.

Our Beloved Summer

Aired: December 6, 2021 – January 25, 2022

# of Episodes:  16

Where to Watch:  Netflix

Genre:  Romantic Drama

Starring:  Choi Woo Shik and Kim Da Mi

.

Our Beloved Summer - Unspoiled Review

The Story

 

Our Beloved Summer - Full Review

Choi Woong and Gook Yeon Soo appeared together in a documentary when they were in high school.  On-screen, the two argued and fought constantly, but off-screen they ended up falling in love and dating for 5 years. Eventually they go through a difficult break up that neither one of them ever got over.  Now, 10 years later, their series is regaining attention.  In the hopes of cashing in on their sudden renewed popularity, producers approach them about doing a follow-up show.  But being involved in each other’s lives again will stir up lingering feelings and misunderstandings.  They will have to decide whether their relationship is worth mending or if they should just walk away again.

Our Beloved Summer - Unspoiled Review

The Leads

 

Our Beloved Summer - Full Review
Our Beloved Summer - Full Review

Choi Wook Shik as Choi Woong

As a high school student, Choi Woong had the lowest grades in the school, but he loved reading and drawing.  As an adult, he turned his love of drawing into a stable, successful career as an architectural artist.  His break up with Yeon Soo was the darkest time in his life and he has no wish to relive that horrible experience.  But when his best friend comes to him with the idea of a sequel to their high school documentary, he is forced to at least consider the idea for his friend’s sake.  And knowing that Yeon Soo would hate the idea of a reunion even more than him makes him support it.  Spending time with Yeon Soo again, Woong quickly realizes that he is still in love with her, and the question that has haunted him for 5 years may be the key to whether they should try again; why did she break up with him in the first place?

 

Our Beloved Summer - Full Review

Choi Woong hides his abandonment issues by spending time alone so that he has nothing to lose.  He has never told anyone that he remembers being left by his birth father or that the nightmares from that trauma keep him from sleeping at night.  Yeon Soo is the only person he was ever willing to take a risk with, and when she left him with no explanation, the pain was almost unbearable.  Choi Wook Shik was perfect for this role as a sensitive artist with deep feelings about love and loss.  This was his first starring role since 2017 and the part was exactly right for him.  The emotional depth he was able to convey made me love and understand this character.

Kim Da Mi as Gook Yeon Soo

Gook Yeon Soo was the driven top student in high school.  Now she works as a publicist for a small company.  She isn’t at all interested in spending time with Woong again or filming another documentary.  But when Woong offers to participate in her next big event if she does the film, she is left with no choice but to give in.  In the beginning, she hopes to get the sequel done quickly without letting Woong know she still has feelings for him.  The more time she spends with him, the harder it is for her to hide the truth. And when he suggests they just try to be friends, she knows she wants more.  If she can be honest and put aside her pride, she is sure she will be able to win him back.

Our Beloved Summer - Full Review

Gook Yeon Soo grew up poor and alone, with only her grandmother to support her.  She learned early that pride was her best defense.  When she found out that her grandmother was sick, she broke up with Woong because she was too proud to tell him about her troubles or lean on him for help.  But Woong was the only one who ever understood that under that cold, confident exterior was a vulnerable girl who just wanted to be loved and accepted.  Kim Da Mi captured Yeon Soo’s brash confidence while giving us glimpses into the gentle sensitivity that hid behind her eyes.  I enjoyed her in this role and felt like she was able to show good character development.

Let Me Be Your Knight - Full Review

Supporting Characters

 

Our Beloved Summer - Full Review
Our Beloved Summer - Full Review

Kim Sung Chul as Kim Ji Woong

Kim Ji Woong is Woong’s best friend and adopted “brother”.  The two of them grew up together and Woong’s parents took Ji Woong under their wing when his mother was absent.  Ji Woong has always had a crush on Yeon Soo, but he had never told anyone.  Watching the filming of the documentary when he was in high school inspired Ji Woong to go into a filming career because he was drawn to the idea of being a professional observer.  He is in charge of producing the sequel his friends are starring in.  

Roh Jeong Eui as NJ

NJ is a famous idol who meets Woong when  she becomes interested in his art work.  She develops a crush on him and makes excuses to see him whenever she gets a chance.  She and Ji Woong bond over their unrequited loves and become friends.  NJ is candidly self-aware which makes her character endearing and relateable. 

Our Beloved Summer - Full Review
Our Beloved Summer - Full Review

Park Jin Joo as Lee Sol Yi

Lee Sol Yi is best friends with Yeon Soo. Sol Yi made enough money to open her own cafe, but business is slow and she is struggling to stay open.  She becomes friends with Woong’s manager, Eun Ho, and the two commiserate together about their friends’ problems.  Eventually, there are some romantic sparks between them.

Things I Liked

 

♥ “Parents”

I love this subtle theme that parents are made through love not blood.  Both of the biological parents we see in this series, Ji Woong’s mom and Woong’s birth dad, walked away from their responsibility as parents and hurt their children terribly by their actions.  But on the other side of that, we have Woong’s “adopted” parents and Yeon Soo’s grandmother, who chose to be loving and supportive to the children given to them.  Woong and Yeon Soo both have such special relationships with their caretakers and I enjoyed watching their sweet interactions.  

♥ Chae Ran’s Confession

I really felt bad at the very end that Ji Woong never got to make his confession and tell Yeon Soo how he felt.  So it seemed somehow appropriate that Chae Ran made a point of being completely honest about her feelings for him.  It seemed to even the scale in some funny cosmic way.  And I prefer to believe that her confession was just the start of a wonderful relationship for the two of them, free from the ghosts of the past that had haunted Ji Woong all this time.

 ♥ Time Shifts

Sometime time shifts can get messy and confusing, but I really felt like they worked well in this drama.  I enjoyed going back and seeing how everything started, and I never had to figure out which time we were in.  It was clear and the background gave the stories good foundation without feeling disjointed from the main plot.  

Our Beloved Summer - Full Review

Things I Didn’t Like

 

Ji Woong’s Story

Ji Woong had a couple great storylines.  It almost seems like a waste that so much time was spent on the anti-climatic love triangle that never really has much impact on the story as a whole.  He and Woong have a week or so of awkward discomfort and then everything goes back to how it was.  I would have much rather seen more exploration of his relationships with his mother and Woong’s parents.  There was more that could have been done with those plots to make Ji Woong more of a central character than he was.  

Clueless Yeon Soo

Ok.  So Ji Woong was in love with Yeon Soo in high school and followed her around with a love sick puppy look on his face and Yeon Soo never even got a hint of it?  I know that Yeon Soo has her insecurities, but that seems like a stretch.  And 5 years later he is still yearning after her.  I would have liked it better if Yeon Soo had at least figured it out at the end so they could have taken a moment to appreciate each other.  It feels kind of wrong that she is still the only one in the dark on this one.  

More Noo Ah

The story of Woong’s rival artist, Noo Ah felt rushed and a bit incomplete.  I think his confession at the end that he actually did steal Woong’s work would have had more impact if we had seen more about the evolution of their relationship.  Were they ever friends?  Did Noo Ah really have cause for his jealousy or was he just being overly sensitive?  Kwak Dong Yeon is such a great actor.  It seems like they should have given him a few more scenes to tell the full story.

Our Beloved Summer - Full Review

The Ending

 

Well, we get our happy ending with this one, and a couple tentative hopeful ones.  Eun Ho is working at the cafe with Sol Yi while Woong is studying in Paris.  Sol Yi has completely fallen for Eun Ho but she can’t tell for sure if he is just pretending not to notice or if he isn’t interested.  But their last scene together, Eun Ho takes the straightforward approach and asks her on a date.  Love is definitely in the air for these two.  Chae Ran finally tells Ji Woong that she likes him.  He seems surprised at first and then a bit embarrassed, but there is also a glint of interest that hints at a future for them as well.  As for our leads, the writers play with us a little bit with the whole Paris story.  But in the end, Woong goes away, which he needs to do for his own growth, and Yeon Soo stays home to be with her grandmother and wait for Woong to finish.  They show some quick ups and downs of distance relationships before Woong surprises Yeon Soo and shows up to tell her in person that he loves her.  The final scene shows them sitting on the couch, filming the end of their documentary, and with big smiles, they share the news that they are married.  This ending is a perfect warm and comfortable wrap up that fits the tone of the drama well and ties everything up neatly.

Our Beloved Summer - Full Review

Should I Watch

 

Our Beloved Summer - Unspoiled Review

“Our Beloved Summer” is a nostalgic slow-burn romance.  I really love this kind of drama that takes its time and concentrates on character development.  If slow moving plots frustrate you, then this one probably isn’t what you’re looking for.  The mood of this series is light but the storylines have a depth that draws you in and the chemistry between the leads and secondary cast is fun and touching. If you are looking for a slow-paced, warm romantic drama with sincere characters, this is a great choice.  I give “Our Beloved Summer” a 10 out of 10 ramen.

🍜🍜🍜🍜🍜🍜🍜🍜🍜🍜

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The Penthouse (Seasons 1-3) – Full Review

The Penthouse (Seasons 1 – 3) – Full Review

 

Welcome to The Penthouse (Seasons 1 – 3) – Full Review.  Hera’s Palace is a luxury apartment building in the heart of Seoul where the greedy fight for more and no one is safe from betrayal.  If you haven’t watched this drama yet, I recommend checking out my unspoiled review here.

The Penthouse (Seasons 1 – 3)

Aired: October 26, 2020 – January 5, 2021

February 19 – April 2, 2021

June 4 – September 10, 2021

# of Episodes:  48

Where to Watch:  Viki

Genre:  Family  Melodrama

Starring:  Lee Ji Ah  and Kim So Yeon

.

The Penthouse (Seasons 1 - 3) - Unspoiled Review

The Story

 

The Penthouse (Seasons 1 - 3) - Full Review

Hera’s Palace is a 100 floor luxury apartment in the heart of Seoul.  It is home to the rich and powerful.  While the parents all dream of being rich enough to live in the coveted top floor penthouse, the children compete at the prestigious Cheon Ah Art School, hoping for the opportunity to study music at Seoul National University.  In this highly competitve world, betrayals are commonplace and anyone can be used as a stepping stone as they claw their way to the top.

The Penthouse (Seasons 1 - 3) - Unspoiled Review

The Leads

 

The Penthouse (Seasons 1 - 3) - Full Review
The Penthouse (Seasons 1 - 3) - Full Review

Lee Ji Ah as Shim Soo Ryun/Na Ae Gyo

Shim Soo Ryun has a successful life as the wife of millionaire CEO Joo Dan Tae and mother to talented twins.  But all of that comes tumbling down around her when she finds out her birth daughter was murdered by the core residents of Hera’s Palace and her husband is cheating on her with Cheon Seo Jin.  This leads her on a crash course toward revenge that spans all three seasons and has profound results.  

 

The Penthouse (Seasons 1 - 3) - Full Review

Shim Soo Ryun is the perfect high-society housewife.  But her love and dedication to all her children is her biggest priority.  For three seasons, she never wavers in her determination to make everyone involved in her daughter’s death pay for their crimes.  As Shim Soo Ryun, Lee Ji Ah carried herself with a grace and dignity that made you root for her, even when her actions often crossed the lines of sanity.  Her love affair with Logan was touching and sweetly heartbreaking.

Kim So Yeon as Cheon Seo Jin

Cheon Seo Jin has always gotten everything she wanted, even when she had to steal them.  But the husband that she stole from Oh Yoon Hee in college never loved her as much as she wanted.  So she sets her sites on the ruthless businessman, Joo Dan Tae.  From that moment on, her life begins to get caught in a constant spiral as she desperately tries to hold on to the things that she has sold her soul to possess.  But unfortunately for her, no crime goes unpunished and no secret stays hidden.  

The Penthouse (Seasons 1 - 3) - Full Review

In the end, although her rivalry with Oh Yoon Hee spans decades, it is Seo Jin’s jealousy of Soo Ryun that really pushes her to her limits.  Her desire to be the “Queen of Hera’s Palace” is strong enough to overwhelm any common sense.  And as she spins out of control, things continue to get worse.  In the end, her greed hurts everyone who has ever been a part of her life.  Kim So Yeon is so deliciously evil in this drama, I almost hate to hate her.  She did a wonderful job of pushing this character to the absolute extremes without ever appearing ridiculous or out of control as a actress.  I could never wait to see what Seo Jin would do next!  She is a truly memorable character.

The Penthouse (Seasons 1 - 3) - Full Review

Supporting Characters

 

The Penthouse (Seasons 1 - 3) - Full Review
The Penthouse (Seasons 1 - 3) - Full Review

Eugene as Oh Yoon Hee

Oh Yoon Hee is Seo Jin’s high school rival.  Seo Jin took her voice and her boyfriend, leaving Yoon Hee alone, without a dream or education.  Now that she has a high school age daughter who loves to sing, Yoon Hee will face the difficult past she has had to overcome to give her daughter every opportunity to succeed where she couldn’t.  

Uhm Ki Joon as Joo Dan Tae

Joo Dan Tae is the greedy, ruthless CEO of J King Holdings.  After being raised poor and losing his family at a young age, he vowed to become rich and build  a stunning home on the ground where his mother and sister were killed.  Unfortunately, he doesn’t mind taking out anyone who tries to stand in his way, even if it means destroying them or even killing them.  He and Seo Jin partner together to become a powerful and fearsome couple who will succeed at all costs.  

The Penthouse (Seasons 1 - 3) - Full Review
The Penthouse (Seasons 1 - 3) - Full Review

Yoon Jong Hoon as Ha Yoon Chul

Ha Yoon Chul was Oh Yoon Hee’s boyfriend when they wer young, before marrying Seo Jin and becoming a famous doctor.  But he has always regretted picking Seo Jin over Yoon Hee and that regret plagues Seo Jin with jealousy.  As part of the Hera Club, Yoon Chul partners with Dan Tae on some risky business investments that will either make him very rich or financially destroy him.  

Things I Liked

 

♥ Ma Ri The True Hero?

Ma Ri started out as kind of an unremarkable side character whose only role was to get involved in school drama with her daughter.  But in the end, she is the last woman standing, except for Song Ah, who has lost her fortune, her husband, and her social standing.  Ma Ri has become a successfuly business woman, with the help of her wealthy patrons.  She was the only one who took the punishment that she deserved for her minor role in Seol Ah’s death with grace and even thrived in the prison environment.  Some could argue that she was actually the hero of the story who outlived all her rivals and went on to live a better life.

♥ Lead Trio

This trio of actresses were really so amazing in this drama.  Their characters were complex and fascinating and the cast played them perfectly.  Whether they were teaming up or battling toe to toe, they did it all with gusto.  I can’t imagine any group of actresses who could have done this better.  Without their performances, this series could have easily been written off as over the top and ridiculous.  But they were able to make each character come to life in a way that worked, no matter how extreme they were.  

 

♥  Music

Opera is not something I pretend to know a lot about.  But I really enjoyed the music that they used for this drama.  I even found myself humming songs from it.  What a great way to introduce drama fans to some wonderful culture and beautiful songs.  It was an interesting hook that I haven’t seen in other dramas, that set this one apart and I appreciated it.   

The Penthouse (Seasons 1 - 3) - Full Review

Things I Didn’t Like

 

Alex

So, when Season Three came out, I heard all the chatter about a character that everyone was upset about.  But I was still surprised and baffled when I saw the character of Alex for the first time.  This portrayal was crass and so disrespectful.  At first I assumed it was just another one of Logan’s ridiculous disguises, which would have made it a little better.  But sadly, that was not the case.  There was no reason to make this character so offensive and I had a difficult time taking any scene he was in seriously.  

Joo Hye In

It seems like they could have given Hye In a pretty good story line as Soo Ryun’s daughter.  Instead they hid her away at a rehabilitation center and then shipped her off to America.  At least Logan could have brought her back when he returned to Korea.  I was just surprised that they never utilized her character.  It seems like a waste to ignore her.  

Prison

At the end of Season Two, we see pretty much all the adults besides Soo Ryun go to prison, which was fitting since they all collaborated in Seol Ah’s death.  But if they were just going to have all of them get out at the beginning of Season Three, it almost doesn’t seem worth it.  And of course, realistically, what are the odds that they all find different ways that get them out early?  Pretty ludicrous, really. They should have at least left some of them in there for awhile to make the story worthwhile.  

The Penthouse (Seasons 1 - 3) - Full Review

The Ending

 

Well, in the end, revenge does not pay, even for those whose fight may have seemed justifiable.  I will admit that I waited right up until the final seconds, thinking that Yoon Hee had to still be alive somehow.  But that was not the case.  Because actually, almost all the adults are dead.  The only adult to come out ahead is Ma Ri, who has a successful business and is moving to a newer, better luxury apartment, while she waits for her husband to get out of prison again.  Lee Gyu Jin managed to weasel his way out alive but he is  on his way back to prison and Song Ah wants nothing to do with him.  Dan Tae dies in the rubble of Hera’s palace, just as he wished.  Yoon Chul falls over the balcony while fighting with Seo Jin and dies on the spot.  Seo Jin gets a temporary release from prison, which she uses to catch a glimpse of Eun Byul before killing herself with pills.  Soo Ryun purposefully throws herself off the cliff while making it look like Seo Jin pushed her, which is Soo Ryun’s final act of revenge.  And Logan lets himself die from cancer because he missed Soo Ryun too much.  As for the younger generation, Eun Byul is teaching choir at a local church.  She seems to be happy leading a quiet, simple life.  Seok Kyung is also living a normal life, working part time jobs and gaining her independance.  Seok Hoon is making a living as a professional pianst in Vienna.  Ro Na has become a famous singer who lives in Italy. She and Seok Hoon are dating long distance for now while they each establish their careers.  And Je Ni is planning to come and study in Italy with Ro Na.  Min Hyuk is home from the military and joins his mom, Je Ni, and Ma Ri for Ro Na’s concert.  The final scene shows Soo Ryun picking up Logan in a convertible as the two ride off together into the sunset (or Heaven if you prefer).  And that finally brings this whole thing to a dramatic close.

The Penthouse (Seasons 1 - 3) - Full Review

Should I Watch

 

The Penthouse (Seasons  1 - 3) - Unspoiled Review

“The Penthouse” is like the old-school American night soap operas.  It is extreme, over the top melodrama where everyone has the chance of having a twin and “death” is never really final.  If you don’t enjoy this kind of exaggerated plot and acting, then I doubt you will want to invest in all 48 episodes.  On the plus side, the cast, especially the three female leads, are spectacular (With Kim So Yeon taking Best Actress at the Baeksang Awards) and the high budget provides for elaborate sets and costuming.  It is a chaotic ride full of twists and turns that are so far-fetched, you probably didn’t see them coming! I give “The Penthouse” an 8 out of 10 ramen.

🍜🍜🍜🍜🍜🍜🍜🍜

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Nevertheless – Full Review

Nevertheless – Full Review

 

Welcome to Nevertheless – Full Review.  A handsome art major with a reputation for avoiding commitment meets a fellow student and the two begin a complicated and uncertain relationship.  If you haven’t watched this drama yet, I recommend checking out my unspoiled review here.

Nevertheless

Aired: June 19 – August 21, 2021

# of Episodes:  10

Where to Watch:  Netflix

Genre:  Romantic Drama

Starring: Han So Hee and Song Kang

.

Nevertheless - Unspoiled Review

The Story

 

Nevertheless - Full Review

A university art student, who had her heart broken by the art teacher she was dating, is no longer interested in dating or falling in love.  But one day she meets a handsome fellow student known as the campus flirt.  He is a player who is kind and friendly to everyone, but keeps a safe emotional distance.  Despite herself, Yoo Na Bi finds she is drawn to him, but how will she ever know if his feelings towards her are sincere or all just part of a game?

Nevertheless - Unspoiled Review

The Leads

 

Nevertheless - Full Review
Nevertheless - Full Review

Han So Hee as Yoo Na Bi

Being betrayed by her mentor and first love, Yoo Na Bi no longer believes in true love or idealic realtionships.  She is an art student at the local university who creates beautiful sculptures and dreams of using her talents to study abroad.  But when she meets a handsome and mysterious fellow student, she can’t help but be drawn in by his charm and seductive style.  They begin a casual, undefined relationship, but Na Bi has no way of knowing if he really likes her or is just looking for a short-term fling.  And Jae Eon’s ex-girlfriend, who always seems close-at-hand isn’t making things any easier.  Now she will have to decide whether she is willing to risk following her heart and having it broken again.  

 

Nevertheless - Full Review

Yoo Na Bi is a jaded yet surprisingly naive character.  Despite her best intentions, she falls for Jae Eon quickly and completely.  Even the safe devotion of her childhood friend, Do Hyuk, isn’t enough to sway her wandering heart.  Han So Hee plays this role well.  As the big-eyed, hopeless romantic, it’s easy to see how she got herself into this predicament.  But I found her inability to understand and be honest with herself frustrating at times.

Song Kang as Park Jae Eon

Park Jae Eon is an art student who specializes in metal sculpture.  He also has a strange obsession with butterflies.  So when he meets a beautiful fellow art student whose name literally means butterfly, he is intrigued by her.  What starts out for him as just another casual fling brings up new feelings that he isn’t used to. Emotional commitment is something he has never been good at so he is suprised when he finds himself suddenly  wanting to give it a try.  But old habits die hard and he has a long way to go if he is going to convince Na Bi that his feelings for her are sincere.  

Nevertheless - Full Review

Park Jae Eon grew up as the son of an absentee mother who is a weatlthy and famous actress.  While he likely inherited his love and talent for art from her, he never got the love and support that would make him emotionally stable and mature.  As a result, Jae Eon is cold and closed off  He is popular and surrounded by friends, as long as they don’t try to get too close.  I think it is Na Bi’s vulnerability that is most attractive to him.  This was an unusal role for Song Kang and it was good to see him try something new.  But I missed his more heartfelt acting.  This character, while tragic, lacked the emotional dimension to feel relatable or generate sympathy.

Nevertheless - Full Review

Supporting Characters

 

Nevertheless - Full Review
Nevertheless - Full Review

Chae Jong Hyeop as Yang Do Hyuk

Yang Do Hyuk is Na Bi’s oldest friend.  They grew up together before losing contact when she moved to Seoul.  The two meet up again by chance and Do Hyuk, who never got over his first childhood crush, is hoping they can start dating.  He is a chef who is famous on Youtube and plans to reopen his family restaurant in the small seaside town where he and Na Bi were raised.

Lee Yeol Eum as Yoon Seol Ah

Yoon Seol Ah has just returned from studying abroad.  She and Jae Eon dated at one time and she has never really gotten over him.  She isn’t all pleased when she notices Jae Eon’s interest in Na Bi and she does everything she can to keep them apart.  

Nevertheless - Full Review
Nevertheless - Full Review

Yang Hye Ji as Oh Bit Na

Oh Bit Na is also an art student at the university where Jae Eon and Na Bi study.  She is fiercely independant and free-spirited but she is surprised when a drunken mistake reveals her attraction to one of her closest friends.  

Things I Liked

 

♥ Art

Using a university art school as a setting provides a great opportunity to show some beautiful and interesting art pieces.  All of the sculptures were great to look at, and even the bracelet Jae Eon made for Na Bi was unique and noteworthy.  I love when dramas use the setting to promote certain scenery and this was a perfect example of that.  I want to cry right along with Na Bi when her amazing sculpture is crushed into pieces.  

♥ Nam Kyu Hyun

The character of Nam Kyu Hyun was such a great addition to this drama and I loved his relationship with Bit Na.  So I was extremely disappointed when a personal scandal halfway through the drama caused the production to team to edit his parts out.  I am not commenting on the scandal itself but only the fact that his honest and down to earth character was a welcome contrast to Jae Eon and I would have enjoyed seeing more of he and Bit Na together.  

 

♥  Mom Backstories

I really enjoyed the way both Jae Eon and Na Bi had mothers with backstories that gave some understanding into their own emotional development.  To show glimpses of their personalities and fears through the stories of their moms made it more interesting than if they had just told us about them with no context.     

Nevertheless - Full Review

Things I Didn’t Like

 

Yoon Seol Ah

Yoon Seol Ah was a mysterious character.  It is easy to see that she and Jae Eon had dated at one time and that she still has feelings for him.  But I couldn’t understand Jae Eon’s lingering attachment to her.  Why was he the one to take her to her doctor’s appointments?  And why does he rush to her side and put up with her obsessive personality even though there is no romantic interest in her at all?  I wanted a little more back story about how they got to where they are and what were Jae Eon’s real feelings about her.  

Yang Do Hyuk

Na Bi’s treatment of Do Hyuk really bothered me.  It’s not just that she chose Jae Eon over him, although I know lots of people questioned that choice.  But this is her oldest friends who she obviously cares a lot about.  And she knew that while he is a great friend, he never made her heart flutter.  I understand that a part of her really wanted him to be the answer, but deep down she knew he wasn’t.  He was an adorable guy who deserved better.  And for those who are interested, I did hear that the original webtoon does give him a better ending.  

Butterflies

Maybe this one is just me but I swear, I heard so much about those dumb butterflies that I was expecting something really spectacular.  Don’t get me wrong.  Having a whole room in your house full of trees and free-roaming butterflies is definitely eccentric, but I was expected at least a couple shots of stunning butterflies or something.  The reality was much more mundane than I had anticipated.  

Nevertheless -Full Review

The Ending

 

So…this ending.  There are a lot of disagreements about whether or not this is a happy ending, so I will skip any classification.  Let’s just break it down.  After some panic about having to recreate Na Bi’s project we come to the end of the semester.  Sol and Ji Wan are an official campus couple and seem happier than ever.   Bit Na and Kyun Hyun are also still together and all smiles.  Later at dinner, Kyun Hyun confesses that he has liked Bit Na for years.  At the art show, everyone admires Sol and Na Bi’s art, and even the professor praises Na Bi.  Do Hyuk shows up with flowers to show his support but Na Bi keeps waiting for Jae Eon to show up.  It seems like Na Bi’s classmates are the only ones excited to see poor Do Hyuk.  When Jae Eon finally comes, he sees Do Hyuk there and tries to leave.  Na Bi pushes the flowers back into Do Hyuk’s arms to chase after him, basically making her choice obvious.  But Jae Eon is already gone.  Everyone goes out to dinner but the overwhelming couple vibe depresses Na Bi, so she ducks out and heads back to see her piece one more time.  Jae Eon is there and asks her for one more chance and after telling him how much she hates him, she agrees, even though she says she knows she will regret it.  They kiss while Jae Eon sheds tears of relief.  The final scene shows them together and smiling.  Some girls try to give Jae Eon their number but he politely refuses.  Na Bi joins him and as they walk, Na Bi spots Do Hyuk through a window.  She hesitates for just a second before walking away with Jae Eon.  And that’s the end, folks.

Nevertheless - Full Review

Should I Watch

 

Nevertheless - Unspoiled Review

“Nevertheless” is a modern romantic drama that is provocative and, at times, frustrating.  This is not a sweet love story full of cute, couple moments.  Instead it focuses on two young people who are on a crash course to disaster with a toxic, unhealthy relationship.  That doesn’t mean there is no chemistry, or even potential, but it’s not always easy to watch.  If you dislike manipulative male leads, you should probably just skip this one all together.  But if you are looking for a mature romantic drama with annoyingly flawed yet realistic characters, you might give it a try.   I give “Nevertheless” a 7 out of 10 ramen.

🍜🍜🍜🍜🍜🍜🍜

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The Red Sleeve – Full Review

The Red Sleeve – Full Review

 

Welcome to The Red Sleeve – Full Review.  An upright Crown Prince falls in love with  the free-spirited Court Lady who attends him.  If you haven’t watched this drama yet, I recommend checking out my unspoiled review here.

The Red Sleeve

Aired: November 12, 2021- January 1, 2022

# of Episodes:  17

Where to Watch:  Viki

Genre:  Historical Romance

Starring: Lee Jun Ho and Lee Se Young

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The Red Sleeve - Full Review

The Story

 

The Red Sleeve - Full Review

In the 18th Century, Yi San is a crown prince who dreams of becoming a righteous King.  The current King, his grandfather Yeongjo, is known for being a cruel and ruthless leader who is uninterested in the people he is supposed to represent, but San is determined to redeem his family name.  Sung Deok Im is a Court Lady who serves in the library of the Prince’s palace.  A chance encounter with the Prince leads to a unique friendship between the two.  As their connection grows, the King expresses his desire for Deok Im to become his Concubine.  But although she has pledge to support and protect him until he becomes King, Deok Im is not interested in a formal royal title that would take away the little amount of control she still has over her own life.  As her feelings for the Prince grow, she is locked in a struggle between love and freedom.  

The Red Sleeve - Unspoiled Review

The Leads

 

The Red Sleeve - Full Review
The Red Sleeve - Full Review

Lee Jun Ho as Yi San/King Jeongjo

Yi San spends his days studying and preparing for the day he will become King.  One day he meets an outspoken young Court Lady who works in his library.  Spending the days in the library with her helps him pass the time and they quickly become friends.  As his affection for her grows, he dreams of a future with her at his side as an honored Concubine.  But unfortunately, she isn’t as thrilled with the idea as he is.  Refusing to abuse his power and influence, he sets out to convince her that he loves and needs her and that his feelings are sincere.  

 

The Red Sleeve - Full Review

Yi San’s father was killed by his grandfather when Yi San was a young boy, and he lives with the scars of that experience.  He is a perfectionist who careful calculates each action.  Deok Im is the first person he has ever really allowed himself to trust and love and that makes his feelings for her all the more special.  I can’t say enough how much I loved Lee Jun Ho in this role.  He was simply amazing.  Kdrama rulers are often portrayed either as totally cold and unfeeling or prone to fits of rage and screaming.  But Lee Jun Ho manages to convey absolute authority with a tilt of his chin and a steely glare that brooks no arguement.  It was natural and never overdone.  I have always been a fan of him as an actor but this character showed a new level of talent and maturity that was so enjoyable to watch.

Lee Se Young as Sung Deok Im/Royal Consort Uibin

Sung Deok Im lost her parents when she was young.  As an orphan, she was sent into service at the palace.  Because of her love of reading and her skills in writing, she is sent to take care of the Crown Prince’s library.  When she encounters a man looking for a book in the library one day she mistakenly assumes he is the King’s tutor.  The two of them strike up a friendship  before she finds out he is actually the Prince.  As their relationship blooms, the King wants to make her a Concubine. But Deok Im isn’t interested in just being another one of the King’s women, with no identity or independence of her own.  

The Red Sleeve - Full Review

Having grown up without a real family, Deok Im treasures the family she has made among the Court Ladies who serve together.  She is determined and outspoken and her mentor usually tries to place her in positions where she can’t get herself into trouble.  This is my favorite role I have seen Lee Se Young in.  Her exuberance was perfect in this part and I loved watching her run from place to place and laugh with pure joy.  The complexity of this character was one of the key elements to the drama and Lee Se Young portrayed the range of emotions well.  I felt empathy for the character and her difficult journey.  

The Red Sleeve - Full Review

Supporting Characters

 

The Red Sleeve - Full Review
The Red Sleeve - Full Review

Kang Hoon as Hong Deok Ro

Hong Deok Ro was brought in by the King when he and San were young boys to be the Prince’s companion and his grandfather’s spy.  As they grew up, he became the Prince’s primary tutor and only friend.  But his warm and charming personality hides a cold and sinister heart.  His only allegiance lies in his own success and his jealousy makes him mean and petty.  

Jang Hye Jin as Court Lady Seo

Court Lady Seo is in charge of the ladies who work for the Crown Prince.  She is Deok Im’s caretaker when she is a young girl, and continues to be her mentor  and mother-figure.  She is a strong worker who is attentive to details and does her best to not draw attention to herself.  But keeping Deok Im out of trouble can be a full-time job.

The Red Sleeve - Full Review
The Red Sleeve - Full Review

Oh Dae Hwan as Kang Tae Ho

Kang Tae Ho is the Crown Prince’s most trusted body guard.  He is honest and loyal and has earned the Prince’s respect and friendship.  At times, he tries to give the Prince advice on his personal life although his personal knowledge seems pretty limited.  

Things I Liked

 

♥ Complex Relationships

I especially loved the complexity of all the relationships in this series.  The lead couple had a very unique dynamic, especially for this time period.  But there were plenty of others that were poignant and special.  One of my favorites was between San and his grandfather.   It is the perfect reminder that forgiveness is never easy, even with those we love.  I also enjoyed the special bond between the Court Ladies and Deok Im.  But each lady had their own individual personality and way that they interacted with her.  

♥ Painful Farewell

A lot have expressed frustration about Deok Im’s death scene and her brutal honesty in those final moments.  And in all honesty, I initially felt so sorry for San and the pain those words would bring him as he had to live on without her.  But I have to give credit to the writers for staying true to both  the original novel and Deok Im’s free-spirited character.  It was a very fitting ending for her.  And I felt like Kyung Hee’s final visit to San cleared up any misunderstanding or doubt he may have still had.  

 

♥ Women’s Issues

So many historical dramas portray all women characters as fighting to get into the palace however they can.  So this series was a pleasant change of pace.  Taking a more realistic approach to the conditions for women in that day, it shows that life behind the palace walls was not all rosy and perfect.  Being a Court Lady required hard work and sacrifice, and if you got placed under the wrong master, sometimes your life.  And while the work load was easier, the dangers to life and freedomI reall only increased for higher profile roles like Concubine or Princess.      I really enjoyed this realistic look at the lives and issues of women in that time.  

The Red Sleeve - Full Review

Things I Didn’t Like

 

Secret Lady Society

The secret society led by Head Court Lady Jo storyline felt a bit rushed and out of place with the rest of the plot.  First of all, the whole hidden lair under the castle (that looked susiciously like the lair from “The Scholar Who Walks the Night”!) seemed a little unrealistic.  The idea that none of the men ever noticed it’s existence doesn’t seem very likely, especially in a place as well-scrutinized as the palace.  And second, what was Lady Jo’s motive?  She didn’t want San to be be King but she didn’t seem to have another option.  She supported the Princess until she fell out of favor, and then threw her to the side without a second thought.  So what was the end game?  

The Queen

Usually the Queen is surrounded by supporters from various factions who vie for her favor, so the character of Queen Jung Soon Kim was a little strange for me.  Her only loyalty seemed to be with her brother and even then, their future political aspirations were unclear.  While it was understandable that she would hate the Princess, who was direct competition to her, her constantly wavering support of San was weird.  Some days she seemed to like him and other she seemed to hate him, with no real motive for either side.  Did she have other’s who were standing behind her?  I would have liked to see her character more clearly defined.  As it was, the Queen’s role felt a bit wasted.

More Married Life

After fighting so hard to be together, it would have been nice to see a bit more of San and Deok Im’s life together, especially as parents.  I know time was limited but just a couple scenes of them with their son as he grew upwould have made the child’s death scene all the more powerful.  It felt like a bit of a whirlwind that bounced from her pregnancy, to the death of their son, to her death with no real context.   

The Red Sleeve - Full Review

The Ending

 

“The Red Sleeve” ends in a bit of a traumatic whirlwind.  Hong Deok Ro is dead by his own hands, which is disappointing for San, who had tried to spare his life.  Deok Im is living as the King’s Concubine, and she is pregnant. She finds out that Young Hee had a miscarriage and has been arrested for adultery.  She goes to visit her friend one final time, but understands that San would never use his power to pardon someone who was guilty.   A 10 year time jump goes straight into the death of their son, who contracted measles. His death breaks the hearts of Deok Im and San, who are expecting another child.  Shortly after, Deok Im falls ill as well, and asks to see her friends one final time.  But instead, San sits by her side and she tells him that while she has loved him, in the next life she would rather not meet him, so can live by making her own choices.  One final time jump shows the King who has grown older, calling Deok Im’s friend Kyung Hee, as the only one who still remembers her.  She tells him that Deok Im used bravado to maintain what little control she still had over her own life, but that she truly loved him.  She leaves him with the few keepsakes Deok Im left behind.  The King becomes sick and asks to be left alone.  Falling asleep in his chambers, he wakes up with his head back in Deok Im’s lap.  And as other scenes from their life together rush through his mind, he finds himself face to face with her.  While she begs him to return to his people who need him, he says he would rather stay with her and begs her to love him.  The choice of whether you interpret this final scene as a dream or vision or the afterlife is up to you.  Personally, I believe that whether in life or death, the important thing is that she will always remain the only woman he chose to love.  

The Red Sleeve - Full Review

Should I Watch

 

The Red Sleeve - Unspoiled Review

“The Red Sleeve” is a beautiful and thought-provoking  historical romance drama. It is neither light and silly or weighted down with complex political intrigue.  Instead, the beauty of this drama lies in the raw thread of realism that focuses on difficult life lessons like love, sacrifice, and regret. It is not a series full of perfect happily ever afters, but rather  the joys and sorrows that often come hand in hand as we live and make choices. For me, this drama is easily the best historical drama of  2021. A terrific cast, gorgeous production, and captivating plot all make this one a drama well worth your time.  I give “The Red Sleeve” a 10 out of 10 ramen.

🍜🍜🍜🍜🍜🍜🍜🍜🍜🍜

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