If you haven’t watched this drama yet and would prefer a spoiler-free review, please click on the link below for general series information and story summary.

A young orphan dreams of working in the palace and becoming the head of the Royal Kitchen.  So she is overjoyed when she passes the test to begin training.  But while her natural talent and intelligence grant her many successes, her curious nature also causes her plenty of trouble.  Years later, she has achieved her goal to work in the royal kitchen, but her life is full of people who will undermine her skills at every turn to maintain their generational control over the the palace and it’s court ladies.  Watch as she climbs through the palace ranks, from a poor orphan to become the first female Royal Physician in history.  

Min Jung Ho is a scholar who was once recognized as the youngest person to pass the civil service test.  He meets Jang Geum for the first time when she appears as a mysterious stranger and saves him from a knife wound.  Years later, he is still searching for the woman who treated him.  Little does he know, she is living and working right under his nose.  And as their paths continue to cross, he begins to fall in love with her without knowing who she really is. 

Jung Ho follows Jang Geum into exile to look after her, and their relationship deepens.  Later they return to the palace together, but as long as Jang Geum remains in the service of the King, they can never be together.  

Min Jung Ho is nobel and kind.  He always supports Jang Geum, even when her choices keep them apart.  His devotion to her is unwavering through everything.  Ji Jin Hee is perfect in this role.  His easy-going charm fits the character well and I enjoyed watching him in this drama.

Although the Palace can be a place of distrust and betrayal, they did a nice job in this drama of also showing the deep friendships that developed between the palace maids.  Both for Jang Geum’s mother and herself, those relationships kept them going through the worst of times.  

The fact that the “Great Jang Geum” was a real person is really interesting.  The idea that she was the first female to ever become a Royal Physician to the King makes her story so significant, and I felt like they did her story justice through this drama.  If rumors are true that they plan to honor the drama for it’s upcoming anniversary with either a sequel or a re-make, I am looking forward to seeing what they will do with her life story next.  

I felt like Lady Choi’s ending was well-handled and appropriate.  But it seemed like Geum Yeong just kind of disappeared.  I would have liked to have seen a bit more closure to her story, and maybe a scene of her apologizing to Jang Geum for everything she did.  Her struggle between friendship and jealousy was so much a part of the story, and it made her so much more relatable than Lady Choi.  A redemption arc would have been great, but she deserved at least some kind of ending.  

With 54 episodes to fill, it seems inevitable that there would be plenty of palace politics and intrigue.  But seriously, I feel like I sat through more boring meetings during this show than any real life job I’ve ever had.  And some of them just didn’t seem to have any point.  Especially some of the meetings toward the end between the physicians and the cooks.  Nothing seemed to really happen and it made an otherwise beautiful story drag a bit.  

‘Jewel in the Palace’ concludes with a happy ending for Jang Geum and Jung Ho.  Jang Geum’s mother has been cleared of her crimes.  Jang Geum gains the title of “The Great Jang Geum” and treats the King as his private physician.  But when it becomes obvious that he will die from his illness, the King tells Jung Ho to take Jang Geum away for her own safety.  8 years later, Jang Geum and Jung Ho have a young daughter just as inquisitive as her mother. Jang Geum treats the sick in her village. 

But the queen hears of Jang Geum living in the local village and sends her soldiers to bring her back.  There is a happy reunion with all of their friends and family at the palace.  But when the queen asks Jang Geum to stay on as her private physician, Jang Geum makes the decision to continue living with Jung Ho outside of the palace.  The drama ends with Jang Geum performing surgery on a young mother to save her and the baby, while Jung Ho and their daughter assist her.  

‘Jewel in the Palace’ is a classic historical drama based on the true story of a famous woman known as “The Great Jang Geum”.  This sweeping saga of her life story is beautifully told, and the extended scenes of traditional Korean cooking will leave your mouth watering.  It also offers some fascinating examples of traditional medicine and healing practices.  

But at 54 full episodes, this is a drama that requires you to get comfortable and settle in for the long haul.  The story is slow and carefully told, and the romance is so slow-burn that by the time they get around to it, there isn’t much time left.  Also, the extended political intrigues and endless royal meetings can be a bit wearing after a while.  For me, the story was enjoyable and I loved the themes.  But don’t enter into this one thinking it’s a quick, easy watch.    I give ‘Jewel in the Palace’ an 9 out of 10 ramen.  

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We aim to provide an honest and comprehensive review, which means discussing key plot points and character development. Proceed with caution!

This short but sweet rom-com originally appeared on tvN. It was directed by Song Hyun Wook, who also directed other popular dramas such as  ‘The King’s Affection’ in 2021 and ‘Melohoic’ in 2017.

After moving to the United States 10 years ago, while he was still a high school student, a genius businessman finally returns to Korea.  And on his first day back, he runs into his former classmate and first love, in a cafe.  But she runs away before he can reintroduce himself.  Luckily for him, fate seems to be on his side when he discovers that she lives and works in the same buildings as him.  Determined to take advantage of this second chance, he hopes to win her heart.  But the scars of her own first love and a traumatic childhood will prove a difficult hurdle to overcome.

Lee Hong Ju is an animation producer who joined a company based on her passion for the art.  After her first love broke her heart, she gave up on romance.  But a chance encounter with her former classmate, Hu Yeong, begins to thaw her cold heart for the first time in a long time. 

But just when she starts to think that she might be interested in dating him, her ex shows up and says he wants to get back together. And Hu Yeong’s mother is insisting he leave Korea and come back to the U.S.  Now Hong Ju will face some difficult choices as she tries to understand what her heart really wants and what fate has in store for her future.  

Lee Hong Ju has a deep fear of abandonment that stems from a childhood trauma.  So when her first love, Jun Ho, leaves her with no explanation, it hurts even more deeply.  But Hu Yeong’s unconditional love for her will help her see that it isn’t her fault and has nothing to do with her own worth. 

Kim So Hyun’s bright personality was a nice match for this character.  The role played well into her strengths as an actress.  While I don’t think it was a stand-out performance for someone as talented as her, she played the part well.  

Kang Hu Yeong’s mom moved him to the U.S. while he was a high school student.  But he never forgot his first love, Hong Ju.  So he is thrilled when he runs into Hong Ju in a cafe on his first day back in Korea.  And even more thrilled to find that she lives in the rooftop apartment above his uncle’s house, where he will be staying. 

Now Hu Yeong is determined to make the most of the second chance fate has given him to win Hong Ju’s heart.  But although Hu Yeong is making plans to open his own business in Korea and stay there, his mother has other ideas.  

Hu Yeong was a talented student who has become a genius businessman for his family company.  He is also a dutiful son who has always done whatever his mother wanted.  But through his feelings for Hong Ju, Hu Yeong begins to realize that it is time for him to start living his own life.  

Chae Jong Hyeop is a charming young actor.  He tends to play these reserved, shy parts well.  Although we don’t see a lot of development with this character, I enjoyed watching Chae Jong Hyeop in this role.  

Baek Wook is Hu Yeong’s uncle.  He runs the Korea division of the family business.  He is close friends with Hong Ju, and rents the apartment above his house to her.  He also works in the same building as Hong Ju.  And Hong Ju’s boss is Baek Wook’s first love, although no one at either of their companys’ knows that.  

Not All First Loves are Meant to Be

So often in kdramas, we see the romanticizing of the first love.  And for Hu Yeong, that was true.  But we also get to see through Hong Ju and Jun Ho that just because it’s first love, does not mean it’s better.  I do think Hong Ju was attracted to Hu Yeong from the beginning. But she was too busy fantasizing about her favorite author to realize it.  But regardless, although Jun Ho is considered her first love, he is not her fate.  In the same way that Hu Yeong is not Hye Ji’s fate.  

Second Lead Couple

While Hye Ji’s crush on Hu Yeong was obviously one-sided and not meant to be, I really enjoyed her relationship with Gyeong Tak.  The two of them were really cute together, and the fact that Hye Ji’s father finally got the son-in-law he had always dreamed of was just icing on the cake!  Their shy, awkward interactions were endearing and I was definitely rooting for them from the beginning.

Closure With Jun Ho

I thought this drama did a nice job of resolving what happened between Jun Ho and Hong Ju.  And while it’s easy to sympathize with Jun Ho’s emotional challenges, the drama doesn’t brush off what he did or expect Hong Ju to just forgive it all.  In the end, the fault for their relationship falling apart is his.  And expecting to just show up years later and have everything be forgiven is unreasonable.  But it’s also important that Hong Ju has grown from it and she no longer carries the pain.  

No Guilt?

Obviously, it has been 10 years since high school and it’s not like Hye Ji and Hu Yeong ever dated.  But still, you would think that, at least initially, Hong Ju would feel some guilt for liking a guy her best friend had a mad crush on.  It just would have been nice if they had made it seem like Hong Ju felt bad about the way it all turned out.  They seemed to breeze by that a little too fast for my liking.  

Hu Yeong’s Mom

Hu Yeong is such a bitter, selfish character.  I really couldn’t understand her. She yelled at Hu Yeong and Hong Ju for ruining Hu Yeong’s life, while at the same time suing her own son to make him do something he didn’t want to do. And although I’m glad Hu Yeong and Hong Ju found a way to stay together in the end, I really hate it that once again, Hu Yeong is letting his mom dictate his life.  

Too Much

This drama set out to do an awful lot.  The range of characters and storylines could have easily filled at least 12 episodes.  On one hand, it’s nice to have bingeable shows that are meant to be light and breezy.  But I felt like they introduced too much and then didn’t do a complete job with with any of the characters or their stories.  

‘Serendipity’s Embrace’ ends with happy endings for most of our characters.  Jun Ho has finally made his peace with Hong Ju by telling her the truth.  And now it’s time for him to move on with his own life.   Gyeong Tak finally confesses his feelings to Hye Ji and she and her dad could not be happier.

Hu Yeong’s mom goes to Hong Ju and begs her to come to the U.S. with them, so that Hu Yeong will do what she wants.  At first, Hong Ju refuses and Hong Ju and Hu Yeong plan to just continue their relationship long distance.  But later, Hong Ju shows up at the airport with her luggage and tells Hu Yeong that she has some vacation time from her job, so she is coming with him after all, at least for the time being.

Unfortunately, the multiple storylines are also its biggest weakness.  By trying to pack so much in, we lose some of the focus on the lead couple and their growth together.  All in all, this drama makes a nice, quick watch, the characters are likable and the story is pleasant.  But I wouldn’t say there is anything exceptional about it. The pieces were there, but it just came off feeling a bit ordinary and rushed for me. I give ‘Serendipity’s Embrace’ a 7 out 10 ramen.

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Air Date: May 24 – July 6, 2024

Episodes: 14

Where to Watch: Viki

Genre: Crime Action Drama

Starring: Ji Sung and Jeon Mi Do

But if he is going to keep his job, he is going to need to cover up his addiction until he can solve the mystery of what really happened to his old friend and why.  Luckily, two other friends from his past will reconnect with him and come alongside him to help bring the truth to light. 

Jang Jae Gyeong is a determined, successful detective.  When he is kidnapped and forced to take a powerful new street drug until he forms an addiction, his career is in serious jeopardy.  But when he finds out his best friend from high school, Jun Seo, suddenly killed himself in a suspicious fall from an abandoned building, he decides to put off rehab until he can find out the truth about what really happened that night.

When he meets a group of his old classmates at Jun Seo’s funeral, he becomes more sure that something about the suicide story doesn’t add up.  And the incident bears some striking similarities to an accident of another classmate years ago.  Fortunately, the funeral also puts him back in touch with two of his close high school friends, who share Jae Gyeong’s suspicions.  Now the trio will combine their talents to uncover what really happened, both in the past and now.  

Jang Jae Gyeong was expelled from his high school for threatening to report the death of his classmate as more than a simple accident.  He has always believed in doing right, no matter how hard it might be for him personally.  So finding out that he has developed a drug addiction puts him in a devastating moral dilemma.  But his desire to see justice for his friend takes precedent over his career and personal wellbeing.  And as his addiction becomes more consuming, he knows better than anyone that this case needs to be solved quickly and clearly, for everyone’s sake. 

Ji Sung is a phenomenal actor and he has had a lot of memorable roles.  But even by that standard, I felt that this performance was outstanding.   The emotional distress that he portrays while under the grips of powerful addiction felt real and breathtaking.  I absolutely loved watching him in this series.  

O Yun Jin works as an investigative reporter.  She is saddened by the news that her former high school boyfriend, Jun Seo, is dead from an apparent suicide.  And she is absolutely shocked when she hears that, although she had lost contact with him shortly after graduating, she and Jae Gyeong had been named as beneficiaries on Jun Seo’s insurance policy.  She can’t help but think there must be a reason he would name the two of them.  And since, as long as his death is ruled a suicide, the policy is void, she is even more motivated to join Jae Gyeong, combining their investigative skills, to find out the truth behind Jun Seo’s death.

Yun Jin is the only person Jae Gyeong tells about his recent kidnapping and drug addiction, since they seem to be somehow related to Jun Seo’s death.  It is Yun Jin’s support, through some of the roughest moments of withdrawal, that keep Jae Gyeong from falling deeper into his reliance on the drug.

O Yun Jin lost custody of her young daughter during her recent divorce.  Since than, she has become desperate to earn enough money to bring her child back home.  Because of this, she has gained a reputation as someone who will do anything for the right amount of money.  Right or wrong, this definitely factors into her decision to help Jae Gyeong investigate Jun Seo’s death.

Although Jeon Mi Do is actually rather new to the small screen, I have enjoyed her as an actress.  I feel like her feisty personality was a nice fit for Yun Jin.  But I wish that they would have done more to show her character’s journey and growth through the drama.

I loved Yun Jin’s character but I wish we could have seen more of her story.  I think this is even more disappointing because the foundation is there.  The story of her divorce and custody battle, the obvious missed romance between her and Jae Gyeong in high school, and her confusion about what to do with the insurance money all have the makings for an interesting character.

It was surprising and a bit far-fetched that at the end of it all, it was Chairman Won, not the guys, who actually killed Jun Seo.  It seems incongruous that the man who chose to abandon his own son to save the company would bother getting involved in the drug problem Tae Jin caused in the first place.  Also shocking that in all the years since high school, none of the friends had ever figured out that Jong Su killed their classmate.

I feel like it would have been nice to see more of the relationship between Jae Gyeong and his colleagues.  After all, Yeon Joo and Chang Soo put their careers on the line to help him.  To make that believable, it would have been nice to see a bit more of their closeness demonstrated.  

‘Connection’ ties up all the lose ends and sees justice served before ending on a sweet, comic moment.  In the end, we see Yun Ho and Tae Jin dead.  Jong Su, Chairman Won and his secretary, Sang Ui, and Chang Soo are all behind bars for their crimes.  Jae Gyeong and Yun Jin got the insurance money and share it with Jun Seo’s wife.  The final scene shows our trio on a beach trip, when they suddenly realize the final code for the crypto account is a date dubbed by Jun Seo as Friendship Day back in high school.  They use their final attempt, and when the account opens they react in shock and excitement!

In “A Comprehensive Look at Sweet Home Seasons 1-3“, get a closer look at the Korean drama sci-fi series, ‘Sweet Home’ with plot and character analysis, series highlights, and an explanation of the ending.

This review contains significant spoilers for Sweet Home Seasons 1-3. If you haven’t watched the series yet, we recommend you do so before reading further to avoid any plot revelations.

People enter a phase of evolution called “monsterization’ that threatens to wipe out all human existence as we know it.  Behind the violent transformation lies a small team of researchers and a handful of test subjects know as “special infectees”. And as humans band together and seek safety and protection, an unlikely”monster” will show the world that all is not lost, and traces of humanity still exist, even in the fiercest of symptomatic victims.  But can a small group of survivors find a way to end the destruction and offer a safe, normal future?

 Cha Hyeon Su moves into the Green Home Apartment Complex after the death of his family.  Strange transformations among his new neighbors soon leads to a nation-wide outbreak of what scientists call “monsterization”.  As more residents fall victim to the symptoms, we find that Hyeon Su in not only aware of what is happening, but has the ability to somehow hold onto his humanity despite showing symptoms.   

And as the group is forced to leave their “safe” hideaway, Hyeon Su goes his own way in the hopes of finding a cure. But he stays close by to protect those he has come to care about.  His journey will eventually bring him to a final showdown between those who believe this evolution, beyond “monsterization” and into “neo-humanism”, will beneift the world and those who want to protect the world from it.  

Cha Hyeon Su has lost much in his short life and this has made him something of a loner.  But when he moves to Green Home, he meets people who are willing to befriend him without judgement.  And although his relationship with his own family had been strained before their deaths, this new family that he built teach him about love and friendship.  Their bond as survivors keeps Hyeon Su at their side, even when the rest of the group goes to live in the stadium shelter.  This role was such a great one for Song Kang.  He was able to explore complex emotions in a thrilling story.  I think he was perfect as Hyeon Su.  

Lee Eun Yu and her step brother, Eun Hyeok, live together in Green Home Apartments.  The pair didn’t have much time to get to know each other before the death of their parents left Eun Yu under Eun Hyeok’s guardianship.  But when the people in their building start to experience strange symptoms, her world quickly becomes focused on the need to survive. 

When the group is forced to leave Green Home to find shelter somewhere else in the city, Eun Yu loses both Eun Hyeok and Hyeon Su, who have protected her up until this point.  And while she is sure that the phantom “angel” who rescues her whenever she is in danger, is her first love Hyeon Su, she spends her days wandering their old neighborhood in search of her brother.  But when she finally finds him again, she will be shocked to discover he is not the same young man who she left behind in their old home.

Lee Eun Yu is rebellious and angry at the world.  The death of her parents ended not only her happy family life but eventually her dreams of becoming a dancer.  But when she meets Hyeon Su, she finds a kindred spirit who has been through his own tragedy and is willing to keep fighting.  Unfortunately, she never appreciated Eun Hyeok and all he did to take care of her, until he chose to stay behind and help the other residents escape Green Home.  Go Min Si did a wonderful job developing this character into a young woman who seemed realistic and sincere.  I enjoyed her in this role and I felt like she was a good fit as Eun Yu.

Monsters as Heroes

This drama strays from the common delineation that says humans-good monsters-bad.  Hyeon Su is a fascinating anti-hero.  Even in human form, he is emotionally detached and ready to give up on the world around him.  He is hardly the stuff most heroes are built from.  But this sensitive soul understands pain enough to sympathize with those who are hurting and protect those that can still be saved.  And it is only as a monster that he could have the strength to do anything about it.

New Approach to Zombies

With the abundance of zombie stories these days, this drama offers a fresh look at the evils of monsters.  This is not some random virus or medical experiment that somehow got out of hand.  This is a condition that scientists believe will have a positive impact on the world and ultimately humankind.  Though the difference is subtle, it shifts the focus to a bigger question;  are we as a species destroying this planet, and what would it look like if we took radical actions to somehow “save” it.

Balance of Genres

While this drama is obviously a thrilling sci-fi story, I felt like they did a nice job of developing complex characters and relationships that made it more than that.  The stories of love, family, and loyalty, both from a positive and a more negative perspective, gave this drama a depth that went beyond exciting horror story to include elements of both romantic and life dramas.  

2. Survival of Season 1 Characters:

I think the filming gap may have also contributed to the death of so many season 1 characters.  But even the ones who left Green Home had a surprisingly low survival rate.  There were a lot of great characters from season 1 that I would have liked to see developed more instead of introducing a whole new set of characters that we never get to know that well.

3.  How it All Works:

I know this is sci-fi horror and maybe most people don’t watch this drama for the whys and wherefores, but I would think after 3 seasons we would understand a bit more about the process of monsterization.  How did it happen, what’s up with the vial in the special infectees stomach, and was neo-humanism part of the plan?  How did Dr. Lim lose the ability to turn himself into the monsters he admired so much?  And how did all the monsters suddenly turn into neo-humans simultaneously?   The whole process felt a bit rushed, convenient, and unexplained.  

‘Sweet Home’ Seasons 1-3 ends with the anticipated, although a bit lack-luster, final showdown between Hyeon Su and “Sang Uk”.  After some body shifting, Hyeon Su finally throws Sang Uk into the fire, killing him once and for all.  I Kyeong dies trying to protect Yi Su from her “monster” father, and Yi Su herself dies during the final battle.

With the villains dead and the stadium destroyed, Hyeon Su with the help of the remaining Crow Squad, decide to take the survivors back to their “Sweet Home” as humans and neo-humans make an effort to coexist.  But all is not hopeless as Hyeon Su realizes that neo-humans can regain their humanity slowly through their memories.  This is proven by the slight smile on Eun Hyeok’s face at the end.  The final scene shows Eun Yu, now an expressionless neo-human on the roof of Green Home as Eun Hyeok and Hyeon Su wait for her to regain her human memories.

You should expect plenty of blood and violence with this one.  I definitely would not recommend it if you are squeamish.  And while I enjoyed binging all 3 seasons, I enjoyed some seasons more than others.  I suspect the gap between season 1 and the other 2 seasons may have effected the continuity of the story and its casting choices.   I give ‘Sweet Home’ Seasons 1-3 a solid 8 out of 10.

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