Falcon747
The first scenes will hit you like a trainwreck on how close it is to women's daily lives (whether they're raising a family or treading their career) in general. A lot of the main character's problems are those we (women) have encountered one way or the other. The unfairness of what she has to go through is relatable and raw, you'll just end up crying because it's true, or because you've experienced it as well.
Jung Yumi and Gong Yoo's acting in this movie is definitely worth the praise. How they communicated their characters have you convinced they have experienced it themselves, or are currently going through similar troubles in life. Delicate scenes in the movie dealing with heavy emotions were also on point and have you feeling the right connection to their characters. Succinct and crisp dialogues between them make you hooked but sufficiently satisfied because it was the right words for each interaction they had as a couple.
This is definitely a movie you must watch for the sake of being reminded about how heavy we should take gender equality in society. It offers insight into the emotions a wife, a mother, a student, a worker would have during the times they're forced to grow up, and situations they cannot control because of the lack of respect for them in their family and in public.
Pack some tissues while you're at it. You'll need it while watching this.
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I've been a fan of BONES, NCIS, and CSI ever since, so this type of series is just up my alley. I've tried to look for Asian series' that matches this, and so far, only Signal (2016) has given me this satisfaction, up until today.
The Victim's Game is a complex series that tackles a lot of serious and delicate issues in society, but the plot centers on one such issue which I think they've handled really well. It isn't like the other series' plots which glorifies it (the issue), and which I've seen on Netflix. It has shed the right amount of light to it, which for me takes a lot of thinking around (props to the writers and directors!).
The arc of the story was also very much ideal - it didn't leave people wanting to leave the series halfway because they lost hope on each episode, but instead gave them the right amount of speculation to watch more and more.
I've also come to appreciate the intricate amount of details they've put into this show - from how the main lead portrays Aspergers; to how close to reality the lines of each character have been attuned to the personality they portray. 10/10, no one in this drama has acted too dull or too out of the line. The cast was well put together and was able to bring out their individual stories without having it stretched too long or cut too short.
It's 8 episodes long, with more or less an hour for each episode. It has the right amount of length to binge-watch, and the ending, although did not try to tie in all of the loose ends in the story, was able to give the right glimpse to where all of their lives were headed.
Watch it, it's worth 8-hours of you binge-watching this series, trust me.
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It's Okay to Not Be Okay
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Hands down, this is part of one of THE best K-Dramas I've seen in the past decades
Honestly, I dunno how to start this without gushing. I've just finished watching this, and the emotions still linger for me. Let's face it, it's hard to find a new refreshing K-Drama that's out of the box, more so if you're one of the veteran K-Drama fans like me who have seen more than hundreds of plots and stories. So when you start watching a really good drama, it feels like you're finding a diamond in the sand. That's what it feels like for this drama, it's a hidden gem you wouldn't have expected to find. I have never given 10/10 in MDL ever. But this deserves it all the way.The characters here are not your typical K-drama characters - far from it. But one which reflects a lot of the actual personalities we would be able to encounter in real life. It does not, however, give you that feeling that it's too close to your own reality thus you would still be reeled in by their stories.
In terms of story and plot, it is unconventional but not unique. What makes it stand-out is how the story is told - how it is given life on the screen through many perspectives, and how we can empathize with the people acting out each emotion on screen. Each episode you're given a balance of emotions high and low, and that's what made it hooking all the more. The storytelling for this drama is nothing short of brilliant, it gives viewers a take-away for life up until the end.
Speaking of emotions, a huge shoutout to the actors and the directors of this drama. The emotions they had to convey were very difficult. There are a lot of heavy scenes and it would not have been given justice if the acting and the directing for each scene weren't concise.
VFX, Coloring, Cinematography wise it was also very much a visual ride. A lot of character perspectives were brought to life in this drama because of how it was portrayed in each scene through thorough camera work. Everything was so aesthetically pleasing throughout the drama, it felt like watching a long lovely movie.
The OST is damn great, I won't say anything but just listen to it on Spotify. There's a curated list already ;)
In conclusion, please, if you have some time to spare, take the time to watch this drama. It is truly heartfelt and amazing, I wouldn't be surprised if the drama and the actors find more fame right after this. It would be very hard to top this on my personal list, so let's all hope we can keep finding hidden gems as bright as Its Okay To Not Be Okay in the future (or else I'll be stuck in a black hole of finding great K-dramas like these for years again!)
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Movie comprehension and symbolism play a big part in this series, something that those who liked older 90s and early 00s movies on passionate slice of life tales would immediately be able to pinpoint. You'll discover that in Followers, it is not just the dialogue being spoken that's important, but even their surroundings and the context of how they're acting in certain scenes.
If you're familiar with Quentin Tarantino films, you'll find this series very similar to how a lot of his past films are done - from the different uses of POV (point of view), to close up and birds eye scenes, to even the following and tracking shots. The series itself is sort of like an ode to the filmmaker's works, but the good thing about it is they made it work to its potential while subtly thanking the director throughout the whole run.
Ninagawa Mika's aesthetically pleasing play on colors have made each episode such a delight to watch, you'll wonder if you're still watching or been transported to another dimension while glued to your screen. The way each scene inside the series was carefully color graded to showcase different ranges of emotion, is one thing that should truly be applauded. Even the subtle touches of changing surroundings to depict the change in each character's disposition in their life were not to be missed. Everything inside Followers' cinematography and set design were well thought of, and well crafted.
In terms of storyline, this is where it could have been given better treatment - we see that the shift in the characters' lives wasn't gradual but more rushed to meet the 9-episode deadline. Although a dragged pace for this series was also not a good choice, viewers in my opinion could have been treated to a better stretch of the storyline to expound on each character's individual stories. The series' theme centering around moving forward in one's life was conveyed in different stances, all that could have benefited from a deeper context should they have decided to lengthen the episodes a bit more.
Over-all, I would definitely say one should give Followers a watch, as it's worth binge-watching even until the wee hours of the morning. Be there to follow each of the colorful lives the characters live, and step into their world that's peppered with the current problems of a digital-savvy society.
Oh, and close the door when you watch, there are some scenes better watched alone ;)
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This is one of the movies you watch if you want to look back on the good times. A big part of the story was realizing how the memories they all had contributed to the happiest times of their life and I think that's really beautiful. There tends to be different interpretations of this movie for different people, but for those who have valued their childhood friendships, I can definitely say you'll get to relate to this on a deeper level.
I also think that how they portrayed their characters would be something you can also relate to. Sometimes we tend to forget our identity as fondly as we knew of it during our youth, and this movie reminds us that we should still remember a part of ourselves in our daily lives.
Sunny gives us the reminder that in life, sometimes the best savored moments were when we had our youth and had nothing - a blank canvass which you can color on each memory you collect.
Watch it, and pass it on to your friends. They'd appreciate the gesture! :)
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A take on mature love and relationships for women who are still looking for their path in life
When I watched this Drama, the first few episodes hit me like a trainwreck because it conveys exactly my thoughts as a career woman who is still figuring out what path in life to take.Tackling motherhood and the balance you want to achieve while having a career is a tricky one. Partly because most paint it as something glamorous superhero style, or as a comedic tragedy of errors. In reality, it's not - a lot of times you will find yourself doubting the path you've taken, and you will be faced with a lot of sacrifices along the way. It's refreshing to see that in this drama it portrays that type of slice-of-life narrative that each person has their own story and struggle in the life they've chosen, including being a mom or being a career-driven woman who wants to be a mom.
The drama isn't without faults though - in the middle, you would find yourself very annoyed in the men in Ha Ri's life because they can't seem to grasp their own realities. They think that they're doing their best for her but ends up in the opposite direction. They eventually have their own fixes, but it might be less conclusive than others would think of.
However, I would highly advise you to stay for Ha Ri and her mother's story. Their relationship seems so complicated, but as you get older and wiser, that truly is how your relationship with your parents unfold. There will be a lot of questions you can get answers to, and a lot of misunderstandings get cleared up. The love they have with each other is so touching, you will want to hug your own parent right after this.
Contrary to a lot of people's expectations, this romance between Ha Ri and her main male lead (which you'll learn more about later on) actually is less of skinship and more affection for each other. Which in reality, is also very true. As you get older, your desire for a more intimate relationship gets more private. It's not to say that your sex drive will dwindle, but more of that your focus would be companionship and being comfortable around your significant other and the people that are important to them. You keep the bedroom private, and that's okay, that doesn't mean you don't love each other just because you're not all over your partner.
Lastly, I appreciate how in this drama they have put significant weight on Ha Ri's career, even at the end. She started as someone who worked day and night at her job, and she climbed her way to the top. It would have been more disappointing if the story just sidetracked what she does when it directly affected why she wanted more to be a mom and continued her burning passion for being one.
My Verdict: Watch, and watch with an open mind. What happens in this story is more closer to life than what you think. Especially for women who are still figuring out if they want to settle down or continue the career they want. Being a mother is harder than it looks, but not being a mom is hard too. Ultimately, we are the sum of the choices we have made in life, and it's with the outlook of each individual on how they live with what they currently have.
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