KBS Drama Specials 2018

They're finally here! I always look forward to the KBS Drama Specials - you'll never know quite what they'll be, so watching them blind is such a fun experience. Here's a mini-review of all the ones I watched. There's something for everyone here. Also, I was half-way through writing this post, when suddenly it just up and disappeared, so hopefully I was able to remember most of my original thoughts?

Song Jae-jung Hates Her Heroines

For anyone who doesn't know, Song Jae-jung is one of the greatest sci-fi fantasy writers on the scene today. She partially inspired the love I have for thrillers now, and is responsible for one of the most romantic dramas I've ever seen. But... I don't think she's perfect. Namely because within the four dramas I've seen that Song Jae-jung has written, I've noticed parallels - in each one, the male leads are charismatic and deftly written, but I'm convinced that comes at the expense of the female leads.

Tonari no Kaibutsu-kun (Movie Review)

So the manga for Tonari no Kaibutsu-kun (which literally translates to something like The Monster Beside Me, but uses the official English title My Little Monster) is a lot of fun. I liked the manga a lot, so when I heard about the live-action adaptation I was happy. But to be honest, I'm really starting to get sick of all these manga-to-film projects now, because it just doesn't seem to be working anymore.

I Can't Forget Forgotten Season: A Loving Ramble

So I've been working on a piece about this year's KBS drama specials, since they're finally being released subbed now, but there's just not enough space to talk about Forgotten Season in such a short paragraph. So here are some more detailed and potentially rambly thoughts - and I spoil everything  by the way, so if you would prefer a vague review then you'll probably need to wait a few more months.

Dropped: Fox Bride Star

Fox Bride Star was one of my most anticipated dramas for this year - after all, Chae Soo-bin is one of my favourite actresses, so as soon as she was on-board, so was I. But I'm disappointed with the show. I'm probably not going to finish it, and here's why.

Your Honour: How to Write a Workplace Romance

When Your Honour started a few months ago, I was obviously going to watch it, since I would watch anything for Yoon Shi-yoon. I didn't expect to fall in love with it. But a straight review format would definitely not work for Your Honour - aside from mentioning the directorial genius in court-room scenes and the perfection of the soundtrack, I'd have to talk about the abandoned plot points, the wasted potential of the story, the underutilised actors and characters. I don't want to talk about any of that, because Your Honour is so good in spite of it all. So today I want to talk about one of the ways that the drama managed to be to satisfying.

Shining Inheritance's Sun-woo Hwan: A Character Study

I didn't do Shining Inheritance enough justice in my review of it a few years ago. It's a timeless classic that I can't help but return to again and again; the epitome of why Korean drama has become such an appealing alternative to western TV. It's addictive formula makes it perfect escapist entertainment. I remember when I watched it for the first time - I didn't quite realise that I was enjoying it until past the half-way point, and yet now it's a guilty favourite. The villainy, the family story, and the cute romance are all perfectly good aspects of the drama, but what Shining Inheritance  really did for me was cultivate an undying appreciation for Lee Seung-gi and the character he played.

Why Meteor Garden 2018 Sucks: PART TWO (Morally Bad)

And here it is, the reason Meteor Garden 2018 is the most ignorant and disgusting adaptation of Hana Yori Dango thus far: Meteor Garden 2018 is about dating violence. This definitely has not been addressed enough, and the popularity of the show means that not enough people are noticing the concerning issues hidden the guise of 'legendary romance'. Does Hana Yori Dango actuality stand the test of time, and if it doesn't, what should be changed? Which characterisation of 'Domyouji Tsukasa' is best? Those are the questions I'm going to answer today.

Why Meteor Garden 2018 Sucks: PART ONE (Technically Bad)

I am angry. Can you tell? I am genuinely far more angry at Meteor Garden 2018 than the drama deserves. To sum up what this unnecessary shit-post is going to say: An adaptation must adapt, or it will fail, and Meteor Garden fails. Of course, it's worse than that. Ironically, this show - which is simply bad - is complex in why exactly it is bad. Firstly, I want to get in the technicalities of why Meteor Garden is a bad show. In part two, I'll talk specifically what ruined it for me, why I couldn't ignore the problems and bathe in the wonderful Hanadan nostalgia.

Hana Nochi Hare: Melodrama of the Year

So today I'm here to defend Hana Nochi Hare. Again. Perhaps I'm wrong in my belief that Hana Nochi Hare needs 'defending', per say - after all, it encompasses all the same flaws as Hana Yori Dango, which was a hit sensation, the final episode of season two having reached a peak rating of 27% viewership. Clearly the flaws with the Hanadan format do nothing to mar its entertainment value.
  What I want to argue is a point that surprised even me, and may not be so readily accepted by hardcore fans. Hana Nochi Hare arguably came into existence so that author Yoko Kamio could milk the fame that the franchise had offered her - it didn't have to be good. But I think Hana Nochi Hare is stronger, as a whole, than its predecessor.

SPOILERS: I talk here assuming that you'll know the story like the back of your hand, the way I do, so assume there will be spoilers for Hana Yori Dango.

A Lovenote to Daria

I realise that this isn't what I typically do, but Daria doesn't get nearly enough attention. Having spent the last week revisiting the show, I was reminded of how it stands in the same stead as other cartoon masterpieces like Avatar: The Last Airbender and Gravity Falls. This isn't going to be a review, just an appreciation post for one of the best animated programmes ever made.

Bride for Eight Years (Movie Review)

This was a lovely film.

Mini Reviews: Romance 2018

So here comes my yearly post on the abundance of romantic-comedies I watch but have very little to say about. You know, its hard to flesh out a review if all you can say is 'it's cute' or 'its funny', but hey, you deserve to know which shows are, right? Expect this post to be updated regularly until the end of the year.

Kimi wa Petto 2003 VS 2017

Kimi wa Petto is an old favourite of mine - it's a brilliant josei manga about dependence and healing. It's also one of the two manga (I know of) which have been adapted (in the same country) into drama twice. Are either a perfect adaptation? No. Somehow, both dramas manage to feel massively different. I put off the 2017 version for a while, unhappy with the casting, but now I'm watching it I just have to make some comparisons.

4 Han Hyo-joo Films

Yes, four is a weird number, It was supposed to be five, but I can't bring myself to finish Love, Lies knowing how destructive and tragic it will be. Anyhow, here any some mini-reviews, a product of my impromptu Han Hyo-joo Marathon last week.

Come Here and Hug Me: An Imperfect, Beautiful Drama

I'm very glad I decided to take up Come Here and Hug Me, and anyone watching will agree with me that it somehow surpasses its imperfections. Its a top example of a melodrama done right that I haven't seen since Just Between Lovers, and therefore deserves some more attention. Sadly, the show's ratings are low, even though that doesn't speak for its quality.

Mistress

This is going to be a short and to-the-point review for a short and to-the-point drama. I'm so glad I chose to pick up Mistress after installing the Viki app on my phone, because it's just enticing. Warning now, this isn't for the faint of heart, but for anyone craving a steamy murder mystery, this is perfect.

Hana Nochi Hare: Trash or Treasure?

Few people seem to understand the importance of "ironically good" shows. Have you ever watched something, and thought all the way through: "This is absolutely awful. So why do I love it so much?" That's what Hana Yori Dango has become for me; a nostalgic favourite, but also a seriously outdated romance-melodrama that thrives on chemistry alone. The author of the original manga clearly knew that she couldn't afford to lose her most popular work (although, really, she could have just put more into Cat Street, the only of her works I've actually loved), thus this strange little spin-off came into existence.

Love For a Thousand More: Trash or Treasure?

FINALLY. Proof that good web-dramas exist! Okay, I'm coming clean - when I made that list on web-drama (the first, not the second - the second actually had some good stuff on it), I thought all of those shows were sub-par, and normally they wouldn't be the kind of thing I recommend. Because, sadly, despite the potential of web-drama to showcase unique ideas in a digestible and accessible format, this potential is rarely tapped into. That means the best ones are usually mediocre rom-coms. In some senses, Love For a Thousand More is a stereotypical web-drama, and in other senses it's so much better than every other one I've watched.

Shitsuren Chocolatier

To be honest, I caught a little of this in the past, but dismissed it pretty quickly. I thought it was shallow, but now that I've watched it start to finish I can confirm Shitsuren Chocolatier is dark, sexy exploration of love and idolization. It's not a drama for everyone, but I would definitely recommend for anyone looking for some delicious looking chocolate and even more delicious heartbreak.

The Gentlemen of Wolgyesu Tailor Shop: Good Show, Lazy Writer

I have to be in the right mood for a weekend drama, because they take patience and commitment, traits I wouldn't say I have in spades. But Wolgyesu has just enough to keep me reaching for more, even though I wouldn't necessarily say it's an objectively 'good' show.

Unnatural

Satomi Ishihara strikes gold again. Is it too early to claim Drama of the Year? Probably.

Top 5 Korean Movies

I don't believe I've done this before. Movies are not so much my forte as dramas are - I don't tend to find a lot of movies that are praise-worthy. I watch manga adaptations, and awful romantic comedies  that are neither romantic nor funny most of the time. I think I've finally seen enough Korean movies to have some favourites - surprisingly, none are strictly romance, even though it's the bread and butter of drama! I have something for everyone here. Thus, without further a do, here are some of my favourite films (in no particular order, because that's less of a strain on my conscience).

Why I'm Loving Grand Prince (and why I'm not going to pretend it's perfect)

I'm excited right now. Really excited. Having only seen less than half of the show, I probably shouldn't be making any judgments about Grand Prince just yet... But I can't help it! It's been a really long time since I was this excited about a sageuk. The interesting part is that it isn't even phenomenal. It might even be pretty run-of-the-mill. But I love it, and I don't care. I'm going to run though why Grand Prince is totally worth your time, but also what it lacks.

Oh Hwayugi, How Did You Go Wrong?

The Hong Sisters made a name for themselves with fresh, addictive romantic-comedies like Delightful Girl Chun-hyang, and explored their strengths over the next decade. Sometimes they were successful, like with adorable fantasy My Girlfriend is a Gumiho, or with delightfully eccentric Master's Sun. But their most recent blunders, Big and Warm and Cozy, have turned so many fans away from them. After an almost three year hiatus, they brought Hwayugi to the table.

NOTE: Expect spoilers. And, again, Blogger is playing up with the spacing. 

Pasta: First Impression

I put off Gong Hyo-jin's Pasta for one reason - people told me it wasn't good. And I don't know why I was listening, because Gong Hyo-jin has the golden touch, her projects have never disappointed me. Plus, my newfound love for Lee Seon-kyun put this drama in my favor. It's early days, but Pasta might just suit my tastes perfectly.

Last Cinderella VS Kyou wa Kaisha Yasumimasu

Last Cinderella and the I Need Romance series stand out to me as the kinds of dramas you're very unlikely to see. Romantic-comedies which are frank about sex and modern relationships are more likely to be found in America, for example Sex and the City. Depending on what kind of person you are, the fantasy aspects of the perfect romances you normally see in drama could be right up your street, but here's something for the realists (and my fellow noona romance fans).

Fullmetal Alchemist (Movie Review)

Right, time to join the long history of anime fans hating on live-action adaptations. I love Fullmetal Alchemist - I adore everything about it. The world is logically thought out and rich with history, the characters bold and unique and each valuable. So despite how unconvinced I was that this could be pulled off well as a live-action movie, I was cautiously optimistic. Were my hopes fulfilled? Not in the slightest.

The Best and Worst of 2017

It's finally December (is what I write when I started this post almost two months ago) - and damn, has it been a year. Not a good one in reality, but I watch some great shows. That counts for something, right? My method of in-taking shows has changed since last year - I've more readily dropped disappointed shows. Therefore, I had to massively expand the categories so I could fit in as many winning shows as physically possible!

No, Drama, the Bowl Cut is Not a Good Look

Hey there, Drama. Look, we've been buddies for a while now, right? I mean, sure, you've made some mistakes but we stuck through them together. I watched Tree of Heaven for you, so you owe me one, right? It's only because I love you so much that I think I can ask this of you: You need to cut your female leads some slack.

How Netflix Upsets Me (As a Drama Lover)

I got Netflix about a year ago - what I've noticed since getting it is the massive growth in their investment in western media since I joined. At first there were only a few little jtbc shows on their platform - now, they're working harder to make the drama we so love into something mainstream? Is that a good thing? Well...

KBS Drama Specials 2017

You can always count on KBS to deliver at least one good drama special a year - and this year they've outdone themselves. These can all be watched on the KBSWorld Youtube channel, by the way, so I'll hyperlink the videos up to the titles of each one. Be sure to check out the ones that peak your interest. I'll update this post if I get around to watching the remaining few. 

NOTE: Sorry for the spacing, it's Blogger's fault, not mine.