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.