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.