Just finished The K2 on Netflix.

Oh.My.God.

I am speechless.

It is now my 6th favorite K-Drama of all time!

An action-packed adrenaline rush with elements of political thriller and sprinkles of romantic comedy.

The epic, choir-heavy, classical inspired music score is the best I've ever heard in a K-Drama!

Action scenes, writing and cinematography were just gorgeous.

There are some notable deviations from K-Drama tradition here: the female lead is the villain in this show, not the love interest (Song Yoon-ah's name comes right after Ji's and she has second longest screen time after Ji), the protagonist and his most of his allies are employees of the villain and most notably, the villain has an unrequited love/attraction to the protagonist!

Acting from the cast is top notch.

Song Yoon-Ah's performance was the standout for me and the best villain I've ever seen in a K-Drama.There are so many gray layers to that character and performance that'll I'll never forget it. She chews up every scene she's in.

Then, we have Ji Chang-Wook, who is a rare gem because he works well in any genre: action hero, romantic lead/heartthrob, comedy, and drama. In this show, he brings charm, laughter and intensity for the serious scenes. His versatility is remarkable.

While the show leans heavily in the cynical realm, there are abrupt, hilarious moments of romantic comedy aided by a classic K-Drama song that will a smile on your face.

There is a scene in the final episode that was so unexpected and beautiful that I started crying. You'll know it when you see it.

The show just blew me away from beginning to end and receives my highest recommendation!

Read More

Great show!

Just finished Eve on Viki. This is my second my second favorite 2022 K-Drama release after Somebody.

It was everything I hoped it would be. A fast paced, revenge chaebol melodrama with elements of thriller and heartfelt and steamy romance. The main themes are forgiveness and atonement. Very similar to shows like Sky Castle, Mine, The Penthouse, Remarriage & Desires. Whereas some of these shows have twists and turns with random subplots and a change in the show's tone, Eve is more strict. The story never deviates from the main plot or tone and it stays focused on about 6 characters, giving each one their own dimensions. What's also noteworthy is that this maybe the first time I've seen the protagonist of the story be a femme fatale. While this character archetype is normally the villain, the femme fatale here is more of an antihero: you don't agree with all her decisions, but you understand where her grievance is coming from and root for her success.

On a technical level, this show is first class: cinematography, editing, make-up, costume design, interior design are all excellent. While the soundtrack is not memorable, it complements the scenes well.

The show's best asset is Son Yea-Ji's amazing performance. Already doing excellent work in "It's Okay to Not be Okay", she's equally wonderful here: confident, vulnerable, seductive, deceptive, insidious, empathetic and sympathetic and of course, fashionable. There are so many layers to her performance that she chews up every scene she's in. It's my favorite performance by an actress in a K-Drama in 2022. The supporting cast is also great.

While I love all genres, I've become particularly fond of what I call the "chaebol" subgenre in K-Dramas; basically any stories with the rich and powerful at the center of the narrative. In a way, they're like historical dramas with a 21st century twist. Instead of a court lady falling in love with a Joseon king; it's the daughter of a mom and pop shop restaurant falling in love with the heir to a billion dollar conglomerate.

Highly recommended!

Read More