"Who confined us here? "

I really enjoyed how the drama mostly focused on the women within the palace, shedding light on the fact that the women in the palace are essentially trapped there, without much say in their own decisions. I believe this aspect often goes overlooked in historical series, where being in the palace and close to the King is usually portrayed as the ultimate goal for women. At least that seemed to be the case in the ones I've watched.

So, it was refreshing to see the female lead, Deok Im, challenging these conventional norms for women. Despite her feelings for the king, she consistently put herself first and strived to have choices of her own. And, the finale of the show proved just how right she was in this insistence. As Queen Dowager said "The palace is a dazzling prison" especially for women...

Another aspect that I enjoyed so much was the bond between Deok Im and her friends. Their support and love for each other were truly moving.

Even though there were a few moments where the plot seemed to drag on, like the former king's constant suspicion of Yi San's loyalty, the drama was impactful both for its message and the top-notch acting from all the actors-especially Junho and Lee Se Young were impressive.

Last but not least, the OSTs by Wheein and Lee Sun Hee fit the show so well and complemented the storyline for me. Even after the show had ended, I found myself still humming them.

Read More

Fame comes at a price

I started watching Celebrity without expecting much, but it turned out to be a surprisingly good watch, and I'm glad I gave it a chance.
The story revolves around the world of influencers and the lengths they go to in order to achieve fame. We follow Seo Ah Ri, who comes from a wealthy family but finds herself working as a cosmetic saleswoman after her family goes bankrupt. Then, through a series of events, she enters the world of social media and quickly rises to fame. But of course, fame always comes with a price! And we get to see how she deals with all the craziness that comes with it.

I think the show did a great job covering the story. The competition among the influencers was intense, it was like a never-ending war of egos and ambitions. They didn't hesitate to throw each other under the bus to stay on top and gain more fame. I enjoyed the fact that they keep it realistic, and it got me hooked throughout the show.

About the ending, I was quite content with the twist, even though it was predictable. It was satisfying to see everyone getting what they deserved in the end.
And I really enjoyed the romance part too. (but it was not the main focus here, so don't expect a full-blown romance) Although there was no mention of it in the synopsis, there was a sweet slow-burn romance between Jun Kyung and Seo Ah Ri, and I think it added a nice touch to the whole story.

Based on the final scene, I have a feeling there might be a second season, possibly with Junho being part of it I guess? (fingers crossed!). It was a nice surprise to see him. But if there is going to be a season 2, I hope they bring in a whole new cast since Seo Ah-ri's story feels complete, and I feel like there is nothing more to tell anymore.

So, Celebrity was an enjoyable watch. If you're looking for an engaging drama with a bit of romance, I recommend giving it a try!

Read More

A Lesson in Self-Prioritization

I don't know why there are so many negative reviews, but in my opinion, 'Doctor Cha' was a decent watch. Despite the cliche elements, like cheating and others, what really caught my attention was the integration of comedy elements. It added a light-hearted and enjoyable aspect to the show, making it binge-worthy.

The acting was also satisfying, with all the actors delivering great performances. Especially, Kim Byung Chul. He played his character so convincingly that I found myself genuinely disliking him, even amidst the comedic elements.

Regarding the ending
Despite all the bad reviews, I found it to be satisfying and well-executed. While I initially hoped for Doctor Cha to end up with Roy Kim, I came to understand and appreciate her decision not to pursue a romantic relationship with him. Instead, it was refreshing to witness her embark on a new journey of self-discovery, focusing solely on herself. I was impressed by the transformation she underwent, breaking free from her old mindset of constantly sacrificing herself for the happiness of others. She embraced self-prioritization, dedicated herself to her career, and ultimately found true fulfillment in her life, exceeding her initial expectations. Personally, I am genuinely content with how her story concluded.

As for the husband, I agree that he should have faced more significant consequences for his actions towards both women and his children. However, the portrayal of both women leaving him behind and moving forward with their lives, finding greater contentment in their lives was a good revenge for me. Also, the scene where he sits alone in his new room after his promotion, with no one to share the news, was a powerful reminder of the consequences of his actions.

Additionally, I appreciated the portrayal of the children no longer being at odds with each other. As Cha Jung Sook pointed out, none of the unfortunate circumstances was their fault, yet they were deeply affected by them. It was important to remind them that the responsibility lay with the adults, not with them.

Overall, Doctor Cha was a good watch for me, and I recommend it to those looking for an easy-to-watch drama with some fun and inspirational elements!

Read More

It all started with my craving for Gong Yoo after coming across some old Coffee Prince clips on YouTube. Since I had already binged that drama countless times, I wanted to try another one of his older dramas. Seeing the cast of One fine day, I decided to give it a try without reading the synopsis first. If you're here for the same reason, I have to warn you, it might not be the best idea!

At first, it felt great to watch an old drama after such a long time. The fashion, the dialogue, it all brought back a sense of nostalgia. I also enjoyed the cliches they used in the story, like the separated siblings who reunite as adults and find out they're not actually related. These are typical tropes that you can easily come across in old K-dramas, and I find them quite enjoyable. But, let me tell you, there was A LOT MORE to this drama that I couldn't take positively...

The first part followed the expected storyline and was fun, but the second part totally drained me. I just wanted to finish the show and forget about it. It felt like they wanted to create a major twist or something in the story, so they came up with unnecessary and disturbing details that I didn't sign up for. Like seriously, did I need to know that the adopted brother who tried to rape the fl (which was already shocking enough) turned out to be her REAL BROTHER?! And guess what? HE and THEIR FATHER were already aware of this fact all along. It's sooo messed up! AND The father, yes the one who knew his son's attempts on her sister, IS also the BIOLOGICAL FATHER of her??!
Like how did they manage to come up with such a crappy and disturbing plot??!

Don't even get me started on Gong Yoo's side of the story and his adoptive parents. Going into those crappy details would only frustrate me more. Oh, and that girl with the heart problem? Ugh, she really got on my nerves. Her actions and obsession with the male lead drove me crazy. Like, give it up if someone does not like you!

If there's one positive aspect of this series, it would be the acting. Sung Yoo-ri was really good with her portrayal of the damsel-in-distress, and Gong Yoo was as good as ever, especially his acting in vulnerable moments. His chemistry with Sung Yoo-ri was on point as well. Lee Yeon-hee also did a decent job playing the love interest with a physical illness. Like really, her character often made me want to slap her through the screen.

So, if you've read this far and still want to watch this drama, I suppose there's nothing I can do to stop you. Just be cautious, and good luck with your sanity :) As for me, I think I'll just go back and rewatch Coffee Prince to cleanse my soul.

Read More