kdramas_stan
Emotionally breaks you down and heals you
Our Blues is a unique take at slice of life drama. Following an omnibus format, we get 20 episodes with various arcs belonging to the characters of this island community.The drama covers taboo topics, estranged relationship between a parent and a child, two friends, toxic relationship between siblings, and building up of a new relationship when you’re impacted by trauma. There are lots of triggers too — depression, suicidal thoughts, bullying (abuse.)
Each actor shines in their segment. The OST perfectly compliments the story and the characters in it. Though every arc ends on a feel good note, it doesn’t feel forced. It’s very well done and makes you genuinely feel hopeful about living.
One of the best things about this drama is the disability rep that we have been given. I hope more dramas takes this as an inspiration and make their stories more diverse!
A beautifully, aching drama which will break you down and patch you back up.
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I didn’t think this drama would be my type, but it was a pleasant surprise. Light hearted, cute romance, bromance, parody level humour and intriguing plot that keeps you wondering what’s next even though it feels like you know it already.
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Yikes, didn’t expect it to be this disturbing
Came across this movie because of LJS, and wanted to see him in a negative role and wow I got ore than what I bargained for. VIP is an unsettling movie that makes you question if this much gore was really necessary. The plot is fairly decent, a little bit confusing in the beginning with respect to the timelines but once you figure out the characters there clarity. The cast does a pretty good job and Lee Jong Suk takes it to another level with his feeling less stares. I appreciated the fact that they didn’t glorify him or his actions which could have easily happened. At various points we get to see him as someone pathetic who deserves to be punished for his sick actions. Overall a decent movie, there’s lots of trigger warnings but (rape, murder, torture) so watch it if you can put up with such heavy content.Vond je deze recentie nuttig?
I don’t know if it’s because it’s a Netflix production, but I really dislike how they leave every show with a hint of another season. While season 2 doesn’t entirely end with cliffhangers, we don’t exactly get closure. There are some aspects which were frustrating in the final episode, the CP’s decision baffled me. And we don’t entirely get to know the extent of the plague — which is understandable I suppose. Throughout the series, my favourite characters remained Seo Bi and Yeong Shin, with the rest, I liked them enough but didn’t really connect much. The rest of the characters, the evil incarnates almost had an one dimensional look so I was glad when the Queen became the forefront towards the end.
Anyway, despite some of the issues and it not leaving you entirely satisfied, kingdom is worthy enough for binge-watching. Definitely a decent watch that will keep you hooked!
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A surprising take on period dramas
Kingdom is a mini series set during the Joseon period with a sudden outbreak of flesh eating arisen dead. The series is slow placed but doesn’t leave you feeling like there’s not much happening. It’s almost emotions driven because you feel the nervousness and fear that the characters feel. in this first season we are given a proper introduction to the zombies and their habits while also getting accustomed to the characters. The series ends on a cliffhanger, I’m glad I watched it only after the second season was out. There are some aspects of the plot that feel slightly weak, but it’s all right. I also liked the cinematography, the focus on the vastness of the palace which isn’t usually this visible in the rest of the period dramas. And also the disparity and suffering between the rich and the poor told visually was stunning.Overall it’s a good thriller with lots of goriness and killing and some zombie apocalypse setting. Totally bingeworthy!
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Deze recentie kan spoilers bevatten
Could have gone wrong but didn’t!
My Holo Love is drama with many cliches that you see repeated in dramaland, but surprisingly despite the familiarity of the arcs it manages to remain original. Perhaps it has to do with the sci-fi element in the drama which kept things interesting. I’m glad it wasn’t longer than 12 episodes because dragging it would have made it a frustrating watching. Right from the beginning the pace of the drama was perfect. I also felt that the leads were really cute together and I wish there had bit more focus on their relationship. The AI aspects of the story make you question the ethical nature of such advanced technology and quite honestly, that was scary — to know that such intelligence could be entirely dependent on people’s morals.I liked the supporting cast, their interactions and their arcs as well. Another plus point was how they didn’t focus on unnecessary miscommunication arcs — there’s one bit where the ML refuses to disclose something to the FL but thankfully that doesn’t take too long to resolve. Dramas usually tend to leave a lot of loopholes in their final episodes, but I liked how they dealt with everything here.
Overall it’s a cute watch with some thrill and plenty of non-tech focused sci-fi (if that can be a thing.)
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Tragic.
I dragged this drama for way too long because I wasn’t ready for the angst that was promised, and in the end I binged the last six episodes because I knew that’s the only way I would be able to finish it quickly. In the process, I learnt about a very painful part of Korean history. I’m not Korean, but felt that this drama did a spectacular job in showing the tragic events impacted everyone. Episode 9 was a heartache, in fact everything from 7 gets sadder and sadder, it’s almost like each episode is competing with the former to beat the threshold of angst. Knowing how it ends for the couple, I was prepared and yet was able to feel the pain when the time arrived.What I loved about this drama is how well the characters were written, their dialogues so realistic and the acting was top notch! The chemistry between these two was perfect. I also loved that we got a kind of closure in the final minutes of the drama. I wish that the people of Gwanju would have been able to live a life of normalcy, reading up on the history and watching it unfold was brutal.
In the end it’s a very melancholic drama, there’s sadness but happy moments too. There are scenes that will leave you frustrated but they find redemption too. It’s a heartbreak of a drama, definitely on one of my favourite angst watches.
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I’ve been conned.
Okay, so I went in assuming that this is going to be a fun light hearted movie with lots of laughs and lighthearted aspects. Couldn’t have been more wrong. The movie does have its fair share of humour and the brothers share a beautiful relationship— one that isn’t perfect but they work on, and I absolutely loved their interactions and how they took care of each other later on— but there’s so much sadness as well. Did I spend the last half hour or so crying? Yes I did. Plot wise the movie is all right, but it’s the acting and the sibling bond they share that makes it unique. Towards the end I kept hoping for a miracle, but that doesn’t happen.Vond je deze recentie nuttig?
Hilarious, sensitive, layered.
The most attractive thing about this drama would be the promos/teasers — they feel so out of the place and unusual that it makes you really curious about the drama. I began this drama because I wanted something light and wasn’t expecting much, but wow, it was such a pleasant surprise!Mad For Each Other has managed to address topics be which can horribly go wrong without be insensitive. Every character in this has a sense of purpose, and their interactions despite being filler don’t feel so. I loved the protagonists in this — so different from the usual leads we are used to. This is a proper enemies to lovers trope, I think. They start off in an extremely misunderstood circumstances but the progress goes on positively. For a short drama, they have nailed it without make it seem out of place. I also loved the supporting characters. Their interactions felt pure and there was always such growth.
Towards the ending however, I felt things got a little too dramatic. The drama has been a bit extra since the beginning but it’s managed to be that without being slapstick, but the end, it got a bit too over the top — certain scenes just felt unnecessary. I enjoyed the drama because it avoided the usual tropes, but at one point it does move towards that direction and yet manages to salvage itself, I think. Overall a good drama to watch when you want something not very intense!
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Consider my scarred.
I think the title is so apt for this drama. I don’t think I’ve come across a show more irritating than this drama in the recent times. It is the episode of damsel in distress and a series of scenes with absolutely no plot. While most of the characters were mostly meh, even the lead (Hiroto) though his backstory wasn’t creepy, the FL’s character (Risa) was absolutely atrocious — she basically had zero personality and went along with everything no matter who the person was. This is a very cliched drama with all the cute scenes and no plot to back it up. And the acting, god, even Sakurada Dori’s good looks weren’t a distraction because I was so irritated with how the FL was portrayed. She was constantly awkward and scared and during their intimate scenes she was so wooden that it just makes you feel like cringing into oblivion. So much happens in the first episode without actually happening. The chemistry could have been great but the wooden acting from the female lead really killed it in all the wrong ways. Honestly, I felt there was more chemistry between Hiroto and his secretary, Yuki.I would only recommend watching this drama if you want your brain cells to die. There’s literally nothing redeemable about it. It’s just a mix of aggressive hugs, cringe dialogues that make you want to throw away the device you’re watching it on, supporting characters who appear out of no where, and plenty of cliched moments.
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Strange and intriguing.
Nurse Files is a drama that invites you in a world of fantasy that challenges the norms. Our lead is a young woman who sees things called “jellies” — left behind by people, or just creatures which are invisible to most. Along with her we have a Chinese teacher who’s ability is being a forcefield visible to only few and a disability visible to all. I would suggest you going into this drama with no expectations of wanting to understand the powers of our FL, or even the issues that are centric to the plot. In accordance to the FL’s life, we as viewers are expected to simply accept whatever comes our way. Strange creatures in the school built over a what was a pond with great aura? Okay. Connection between students causing them to start behaving hysterically? Okay. Mite infestation which cause a person to be born simply to eat the mites away? Okay. There are plenty such things that confuse you, but like the leads, we simply accept it and try to fix it.Apart from the strangeness and fantastical elements, I simply loved the portrayal of characters. Loved the relationship between the FL and ML — starts of awkward and then just becomes comforting. The take away from this drama would be it’s okay to be weird as long as you are not a bad human.
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Cliched, funny, over the top.
Fated To Love you is a drama about a couple forced to marry each other after an accidental one night stand resulting in a pregnancy. I loved the cast, the characters was fun, Jang Hyuk was humour all around and Jang Nara had this sweet innocence about her. Initially her character is a little annoying because of how heavy the emphasis on her being a pushover it. But it grows on you after a point.The first half of this drama is really interesting and good despite all the cliches, but after the ‘amnesia’ plot it gets all over the place and you might start to regret starting it a bit, because you’re already invested in it and don’t want to stop halfway. There isn’t really much of a growth in the main couple — there’s constant hot and cold vibes from the main lead towards the female lead. Certain incidents lead them to separate with the FL going after her dreams — this was a little ridiculous because we never see her into that skill she pursues and there’s nothing exceptional or eye catchy about it but since this is a kdrama, we’ll let it pass.
On reaching the final episode, I was just happy that it’s over. Fated to love you is easily a forgettable drama with few scenes living in your memory. I wish they hadn’t taken such an angsty turn and added more subplots and kept it simple because they already had a lot going.
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Underrated, focus on relationships and love.
Mystic Pop Up Bar is drama that takes you along on a fantastical journey. It’s packed with humour, emotional backstory, well written characters who make you want to reach out and hug. The dynamics between the leads is so good! I wish their were more dramas with such a wholesome focus on familial banter and support. Each episode focuses on single stories. As the main lead strives to settle human grudges, we are introduced to various realistic scenarios which seek our sympathy.This is a perfect show to watch when you want something that feels like a warm hug. With just twelve episodes, it’s an easy watch that made me wish that there was an epilogue or a spin off movie at least.
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Captivating, quirky and Meta!
Melo Is My Nature/Be Melodramatic is a bundle of surprises. When I started watching, I didn’t expect that I would end up binging it. The first couple of episodes are a bit slow, with the introductions still happening and due to it being very different from the usual dramas you aren’t sure if you’ll love the characters and the story or not, but there are some scenes in the first few episodes that force you to continue. And after that, each episode is only better than the previous one. I was very impressed by the acting and the characters portrayal. Especially when heavy emotions had to be depicted. (Trigger warning: depression, homophobia, emotional and verbal abuse, loss of a loved one)When it comes to the second half, some dramas which start off well often fail to live up, but this show continued to exceed my expectations. With every passing episode, the characters continue to grow and so much was said in between pauses and silence. Once again, props to acting! So many emotions felt SO real and I often teared up. This is a beautiful drama that you’ll come back to repeatedly.
I’m slightly disappointed with the finale, because there were certain arcs that didn’t go my way, but the writers do a convincing defence on why it actually makes sense and though you might not agree entirely, you can see TID happening as well.
Another favourite of mine was how throughout the drama, it continued to break the fourth wall and parodied some of the lines and scenes from other well known dramas. And of course, the PPL was hilarious and so well done!
If you enjoy watching slice of life dramas or dramas with interesting characters and storyline, you cannot miss out on this. This is easily in my top ten dramas for now.
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Relatable and dorky.
Fight For My Way is a drama with very little plot, but keeps your attention because of the characters Dong Man and Ae-Ra who are childhood friends who have always rooted for each other in their own special way, with their dreams come to an abrupt stop because of reality. Despite the core of the drama not being too heavy, the experiences of the characters individually makes you feel for them. Being unable to chase their dreams, being held back because of a financial situation, not having the right connections to help you out, etc. Along with the focus on their professions (though this is a minor subplot), we also see their friendship blossom into romance. If you love the childhood to lovers trope, this is a perfect drama to binge.Vond je deze recentie nuttig?
