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jia

KPOP Utopia

jia

KPOP Utopia
Completed
High School Mystery Club Season 2
9 people found this review helpful
by jia
Jul 9, 2022
8 of 8 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.5
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 8.5
Rewatch Value 9.0

Better than the first season!

I had high expectations because I really liked the first season. Thankfully I wasn't disappointed

The narrative was definitely outstanding! The writers went above and above.  Every episode was significant, and every revelation left you invested. This season's cast worked well together. I adore how more and more all-girl casts are appearing as time goes on. Each cast member has a substantial role to play and has their own shining moments. And may I just say how well all the "NPCs" acted. Each one did a great job with the cast's unpredictable behaviour in some moments. Their ad-libs were excellent. I'm still trying to find most of their Instagram handles. I will likely watch this again, mostly due to the hints I missed in the first watch.

The ending and the fact that there were many unanswered mysteries at the end are my main complaints. Hopefully, season 3 will help me solve some of them (assuming there is a season 3, of course).

In short, watch this series! It's filled with A LOT of hilarious moments.

bye ✌

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Completed
Earth Arcade
7 people found this review helpful
by jia
Sep 18, 2022
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.5
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 9.5
Rewatch Value 9.5

A true variety show gem

Where do I even begin with this incredible show? To be perfectly honest, all of the current variety shows are becoming a little stale, but this show is like a breath of fresh air. Every minute contains an extremely funny segment that you do not want to miss.

The premise of each episode is as follows: the cast must go to several cities in order to capture a rabbit named Torong. Each episode includes a variety of games that the members must complete in order to eat. It's not the most unique idea, but the execution of the games makes the show enjoyable and funny, which is, of course, the most important thing variety shows must have. In my perspective, the best games the four played were the Guess Who game, the Morning Mission Game, and the Shouting in Silence game. But regardless of my favourites, all the games were A LOT of fun to watch, though admittedly it can get pretty repetitive at times.

The cast, imho, is the best part of this show. Usually, at least one person in a variety show fades into the background more frequently than the others in the group. This did not occur here. All four were hilarious and had some terrific individual moments. Their chemistry was evident even during their first meeting. The members' chemistry with Na PD in particular was quite humorous. I came to see Yu Jin, my ultimate bias, but I ended up staying for all four of them :)

Whoever chose the music for this show deserves a raise. They chose catchy and upbeat songs, which fits the vibe of the show. It was also nice to see them use the cast's own songs.
> Oh My Girl's 'Dolphin'
> Young Ji's 'Compromise' and 'Day & Night'
> IVE's 'Love Dive' & 'After LIKE'

I was pleasantly surprised with the song choices because most of them are in my actual playlist I regularly listen to. There were foreign songs that were easily recognizable to me:
> Charlie Puth's 'Left and Right'
> Max Schneider's 'Checklist'
> Wham's 'Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go'
> Ariana Grande's 'They Don't Know' from the movie 'Trolls'
> Smash Mouth's 'All Star'
> Queen's 'We Are The Champions'

As well as kpop songs that are amazing:
> (G)I-DLE's 'Tomboy'
> Red Velvet's 'Zimzalabim'
> TWICE's 'Alcohol-Free'
> NEW JEANS' 'Attention' & 'Cookie'

There's so many more songs that were used but in conclusion: a really solid lineup of songs.

I'm not much of a re-watcher, but I can definitely see myself watching this again in the future. (Which is quite an accomplishment!)

I'd recommend this show to:
- someone who wants to watch a short variety show because they don't have a lot of time to watch a long-running one
- someone who wants to have their cheeks hurt from laughing and smiling too much
- someone who is a fan of NJTTW

I wouldn't recommend this show to:
- someone who prefers more relaxing and soothing variety shows

A second season is needed!! If a second season is planned, I hope the cast does not change. They're perfect the way they are right now. Overall, one of the best variety shows I have ever watched.

aight byeee~

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Completed
Criminal Minds
7 people found this review helpful
by jia
Aug 28, 2022
20 of 20 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.0
Story 5.5
Acting/Cast 7.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 5.0
This review may contain spoilers

Would be a decent watch if you haven't watched the original

CBS's Criminal Minds is one of my favourite non-Asian series, despite only watching the first six seasons. You can imagine my delight when I realised it had a Korean remake. It seemed like a dream come true... but of course, reality is often disappointing.

The cases in this story were inspired by some of the various cases in the OG. In case you want a list in order:

○ S1EP1 - Extreme Aggressor
○ S1EP9 - Derailed
○ S4EP18 + S5EP9 - Omnivore + 100
○ S4EP24 - Amplification
○ S2EP3 - The Perfect Storm
○ S4EP11 - Normal
○ S5EP16 - Mosley Lane
○ S2EP14 + S2EP15 - The Big Game + Revelations
○ S1EP14 - Riding the Lightning
○ S2EP7 - North Mammon
○ S1EP17 - A Real Rain
○ S4EP5 - Catching Out (very loosely based)
○ S5EP23 + S6EP1 / S2EP5 - Our Darkest Hour + The Longest Night/Aftermath (mix of two cases combined into one)
○ S4EP15 - Zoe's Reprise (loosely based)

For this remake, a lot of things were changed. I'll start with the good things.

In the original show, S4EP5 was a pretty forgettable episode. tvN, on the other hand, took the concept and made it their own. To fit the more modern Seoul, they changed the setting, the unsub, the method, the victims, and other details. This was a well-thought-out and logical decision. I also appreciated how they combined two cases into one. They did it in a clever and logical manner. So, that concludes the good decisions.

I was frustrated that the writer decided to keep the Reaper alive, but I suppose it made sense. A "big bad" is always required in Korean dramas. This decision would not irritate me as much if it was executed well. Big bads must be terrifying. Intimidating. This cheap Reaper replica was the polar opposite of that. This "Reaper," in my opinion, was not terrifying. It was as if a guy was attempting to portray a psychopathic murderer and failing miserably. Actually... that was exactly it.  Kim Won Hae is a prolific actor, but I don't think he's particularly good at playing villains. He felt so lacklustre. C. Thomas Howell's rendition of the Reaper had so intimidated me that KWH's interpretation felt like a joke in comparison. To be honest, many scenes in this remake were acted crudely.

Episode 4 in particular is a prime example of a supposedly emotional scene that is accomplished horribly. In short, if we haven't seen much of Ki Hyung's wife, there was no need to kill her off so early on. I didn't feel moved by the "emotional scene" because I barely saw the woman.

This decision initially piqued my interest, but as it was repeated, I gradually lost interest. It is the choice to make every other case somewhat personal to the team. Whether a member knows someone who becomes an almost-victim or becomes a target themselves. Hyun Joon's younger sister? Hmm okay, that's an enticing route.  Min Young's niece? Oh, okay. Do it again, ig. A random person who broke Na Na's car windows, threatened her, and acted exactly like the unsub in the same episode? TF? Was this really necessary?

"Was this really necessary?" was a phrase I kept repeating throughout all of the episodes. They had to make a case last an hour. As a result, a lot of stuff was added that had nothing to do with the plot. Red herrings, if you prefer that title.  It's also irritating because they make it so obvious that it's a red herring so the viewer wishes they could fast-forward. (Or they already have, lol.) Dramas like these, police procedurals, are typically fast-paced and action-packed. However, many scenes in this drama dragged on far too long.

I should give credit where it is due. The main cast members are all excellent actors (even though their characters are seriously lacking.) The unsubs were excellently played by the actors/actresses. Im Soo Hyang is a controversial actress known for her lack of acting ability but she performed admirably in this drama. Jo Han Chul, who played the normal man gone insane, can be described in one word. Fantastic. He was 1000 times better than the original actor, in my opinion.

Let's talk characters now.  Ooh, boy. Kim Hyun Joon (Lee Joon Gi) is the Korean counterpart to Derek Morgan. But, to be honest, they are very different. I wouldn't even consider them to be the same person. Kang Ki Hyung (Son Hyun Joo) is the Korean counterpart to Aaron Hotchner. Both are capable leaders and mentors. Ki Hyung, on the other hand, lacked Aaron's ambiance. Ha Sun Woo (Moon Chae Won) is the Korean equivalent of, get this, Emily Prentiss. I had to look it up and double-check to ensure I wasn't making a mistake. I mean, how could they take Prentiss' character and make Sun Woo... that's kinda embarrassing lol. From a badass woman who is also a nerd to a... block of wood. Bruh. Penelope Garcia's equivalent is Na Na Hwang (Yoo Sun). She's an example of a "character trying too hard to be like the original and failing miserably," in my opinion. They tried to make Na Na as quirky and fun as Garcia, but they messed up her character so badly that she became annoying. Lee Han (Go Yoon) is the Korean equivalent of Spencer Reid and exhibit B. Reid is without a doubt the original show's star. However,  Han is a minimal character in this story. It's truly unfortunate how little Han was used. Finally, Yoo Min Young (Lee Sun Bin) played the role of JJ Jareau. Min Young is similar to JJ, with no significant differences. Overall, I was a little disappointed. I think it's because we only had 20 episodes of them, but they all seem so one-dimensional.

There are two non-BGM OSTs in total.
➀ Flowsik, Davichi - 'Higher Plane'
➁ Yoo Hwe Seung - 'Another Day'

Higher Plane had a good beat, but I didn't like the rap parts. (Which is surprising because I usually enjoy rapping.) Yoo Hwe Seung's vocals in Another Day were fantastic.  Per usual, his vocals are always slaying.

Most of my complaints, if you haven't noticed, were because of direct comparisons to CBS's Criminal Minds. I tried to watch it with an open mind, but CBS's Criminal Minds was too much of a favourite of mine to not be critical of the Korean version. If you haven't seen the original, I believe this show might become a favourite of yours (bit of a stretch but ya never know.)

aight byeee~

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Completed
Kieta Hatsukoi
8 people found this review helpful
by jia
Aug 9, 2022
10 of 10 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.0
Story 6.5
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 5.0

Cute and fluffy

This is my first Japanese drama, as well as my first BL drama, so I had no idea what to expect.

I'll be honest. If it wasn't for the exceptional reviews and a pretty high ranking, I wouldn't have watched this. The plot didn't interest me nor did I watch for an actor/actress that I like. ('Cause of course, my first JP drama.) The story is cute but after the camping trip, there wasn't really anything that I looked forward to watching.

The main characters were fine, but I never truly "loved" any of them. I usually love the supporting and guest characters, but in this drama they all just annoyed me.

I thought the acting was pretty good. Aoki (Michieda Shunsuke) was the stand-out because he has great facial expressions. Meguro Ren, who plays Ida, also did a good job at acting as an aloof, but also a sympathetic person.

There are 2 OSTs in total.
➀ Snow Man - 'Secret Touch'
➁ Naniwa Danshi - 'First Love'

I loved that the two leads also sang the OSTs in their respective bands.

After watching this drama, I think I could be a future fan of BL. I need to watch more BLs to decide if that's the case though.

aight byeee~

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Completed
The Killer's Shopping List
6 people found this review helpful
by jia
Aug 6, 2022
8 of 8 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.5
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 9.5
Rewatch Value 5.0

Comedic thriller? Yes please

The combination of Lee Kwang Soo and the premise drew me in to watch this drama. LKS is one of my favourite characters members in Running Man, therefore I was excited to see one of his works.

The plot appeared to be a murder mystery set in a small town, which is one of my favourite locations in media. The story was simple to follow and easy to become engrossed in. Because it was so intriguing, I kept wanting to binge it all. 

The acting was outstanding. Lee Kwang Soo's heartfelt scenes shocked me. I suppose it's because I'm so used to him doing comedy.  Kim Seol Hyun performed brilliantly in her role. I haven't seen her prior works, but from what I've heard, she's improved dramatically, which is a good indicator for an actor/actress. Jin Hee Kyung was exceptional. She truly sold the whole mother-son duo with Lee Kwang Soo. The other actors/actresses also did great. The standout, however, has to be Ahn Se Bin, who plays Seo Yul. At such a young age, she is already a superb actress. If she wants to continue acting in the future, I believe she will do well.

The MS Mart crew is the best part of this drama. I'd like to see a second season in which they all solve mysteries/crimes in the neighbourhood. Or a spin-off of merely their days at the marketplace. I adore their entire dynamic with one another. Fish has to be my favourite character. Fish's story and background were handled wonderfully and respectfully.

There are 3 OSTs in total.
➀ 6band - 'Why, Why, Why, Why?'
➁ Nokdu - 'Orange Dream'
➂ KOONTA - 'Nothing'

My favourite is probably ➂ KOONTA's 'Nothing,' but it was very hard to decide. I thought all 3 songs shined in their respective scenes.

I don't rewatch. And, to be frank, I don't see the value in rewatching a murder mystery/thriller show unless you enjoy the characters and their scenes together.

The way it's written makes it obvious who the killer is by the third or fourth episode, but I wanted to keep watching because of the terrific characters. P.S. Five Thousand Won can go die in a hole lol.

aight byeee~

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Completed
18 Again
5 people found this review helpful
by jia
Aug 5, 2022
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 7.5
Rewatch Value 7.0
This review may contain spoilers

Heartwarming and feel-good drama

I wanted to watch a drama again because I hadn't done so in a long time, hence I purposefully chose one with a high rating: 18 Again. I was slightly disappointed, but I still loved watching this episode.

The plot is straightforward: a middle-aged man is unhappy with his current life and wishes to return to his glory days. There are love triangles, misunderstandings, and familial moments, among other things. Nothing new here, but the amazing cast more than makes up for it. Hong Dae Young bonding with his children, Shi Ah and Shi Woo, is one of my favourite plot lines. To be honest, I wanted to fast-forward through any moment in which Dae Young was not interacting with his children lol.

As previously stated, the cast is outstanding, as is their acting. The standout is Lee Do Hyun. He does an excellent job of portraying a 37-year-old in an 18-year-old body. I'd also like to commend Kim Ha Neul. I was skeptical of her acting at first, but later episodes proved me wrong. She portrays a strong-willed, tenacious, and hardworking lady who never gives up on her aspirations. The ones portraying teenagers performed excellently! I enjoyed how Shi Woo's (Ryeoun's) eyes changed when he was playing basketball. I didn't like Kim Dang Hyun's overacting, but I suppose his character, Go Deok Jin, is more to blame.

There are 9 OSTs in total.
➀ Soyou - 'The Only One'
➁ Sohyang - 'Hello'
➂ Choi Nakta - 'If Only It Was You'
➃ Solji - 'One Person'
➄ Sondia - 'How To Love'
➅ Jukjae - 'Becomes A Memory'
➆ Clara C - 'Somebody' :
➇ Yoon Sang Hyun - 'If We Love Again'
➈ Every Single Day - 'First Time'

Out of the 9, my favourite is ➆ Clara C's 'Somebody.' I adore this part: "Moment to moment, today yesterday, love is the only reason to stay." Her voice there was *chef's kiss*
My least favourite would have to be ➄ Sondia's 'How To Love.' It would be good for a lullaby, however, I thought it was too repetitive.
I liked ➁ Sohyang's 'Hello' at first, but the show overplayed this song so much. Now the phrase "hello, hello" lives rent-free in my head and not in a good way :/

I don't rewatch shows but I feel as though this would be an okay drama to rewatch again and again.

There were a couple of things that bothered me. In episode one, for example, Hong Dae Young (Yoon Sang Hyun) asks his son Shi Woo whether he wants to play basketball. He also asked his daughter, Shi Ah, about her future plans. They both replied no (Shi Woo doesn't want to play and Shi Ah doesn't have any plans yet), but they were obviously lying.  This entire exchange foreshadows future plots. As his classmate,  Dae Young realizes that his son wishes to play basketball.  Shi Woo's whole plot revolves around him gaining confidence and joining the basketball team. You'd assume Shi Ah's plotlines would center around her future plans, right? Nope. Her plotlines are more focused on a superfluous love triangle. It didn't help that the end-game has very little chemistry. Nothing against Ji Ho though lol. Dwelling on a love triangle rather than her future aspirations and dreams limits the character development she could've had.

Second, the writers treated Shi Woo as an afterthought. Shi Ah was given all of the emotional scenes. Even in flashbacks, only his sister appears, not him. They could have done a lot more with his character, but instead, they leave him in the dust once the basketball plotline is over.

Third, I didn't enjoy the editing, notably the portions when they repeatedly replay a scene. I'm quite sure this is something that all dramas do, but it irritates me. Something I previously mentioned is an example of this. When Shi Woo plays basketball, his eyes change. It was supposed to be a cool moment for Shi Woo, but the scene is repeated so many times that it becomes repetitious, cringy, and degrades what was supposed to be a cool moment for Shi Woo. A once-bullied student becomes a basketball team ace. Ugh, what a waste.

Finally, there's a lot of filler. It was obvious from the start that this was going to be a problem. It was never going to be easy to turn a 2-hour film into a 16-hour drama. Perhaps I'm simply a fan of shorter dramas, but 12 episodes or less would have sufficed. The Il-Kwon story point was especially useless.

I'd still suggest this show due to the valuable family teachings it contains. I sobbed in four different episodes, which was rather surprising for me. P.S. The two secretaries are the true stars of this story lmao

aight byeee~

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Completed
Would You Like a Cup of Coffee?
4 people found this review helpful
by jia
Aug 21, 2022
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 7.5
Music 6.0
Rewatch Value 5.0

Warm and cozy; bound to make you feel fuzzy inside

"Would You Like a Cup of Coffee?" is a great choice if you want a healing drama. Not to mention, a perfect pick for coffee lovers as well.

If we're talking about side plots, a story like this has limitless possibilities. Each character had a story to tell, and while some of the stories were a little lacklustre, I found many of the characters to be entertaining to watch.

The two male leads, as well as the supporting/recurring actresses/actors, performed admirably. I only have one gripe: Han Ji Ho. He portrays Seo Young Hoon, a cheater who attempts to extort money from his ex-wife. He was terrible at acting. I don't mind if an actor or actress has amateurish abilities, but his was just plain bad.

Kang Go Bi is exactly the type of character I adore. He has flaws. He makes errors. Like, a  lot of them. But he gets better every time. He never gives up. I have a lot of respect for these characters! They are very inspiring to me, ngl. Choi Hurt is another one of my favourites. He's direct, a little rude, and lacks a filter. But he keeps it 100% authentic. He's another type of character I admire, especially because I'm the polar opposite of him: a people-pleaser who avoids conflict.

The music is very relaxing, which fits perfectly with the vibe of the drama. Sadly, nothing stood out.

It was nice watching this drama. I think it would've been a better choice to watch this alongside a fast-paced crime drama, because sometimes it felt a bit boring.

aight byeee~

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Completed
Sutekina Sen Taxi
4 people found this review helpful
by jia
Aug 21, 2022
10 of 10 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 6.5
Story 3.5
Acting/Cast 7.5
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 5.0
This review may contain spoilers

If only a time taxi existed irl too...

Each episode features a different character attempting to change their regrets. I must admit that, in comparison to other episodic format dramas, I did not enjoy the majority of the stories. I thought they were over-the-top, and it was difficult to root for many of the clients. Episode 3 & 9 stuck out like a sore thumb for me the most.

In episode 3, we follow the life of a woman who is aware that the man she is dating is married but is indifferent. Throughout the episode, it's shot as if we're supposed to feel sorry for her.   Why should we, though? I would probably feel bad if she didn't know he was married, but she did. She even spoke to his wife a few times! Even if you felt sorry for her, your feelings were obliterated the moment she revealed she wasn't pregnant. Like ma'am????? 

I didn't like episode 9 for one simple reason: I didn't like the humour. There was too much back-and-forth, needlessly stretching it out to the 45 minute mark. I believe this is Japanese humour.

For the most part, I thought all of the actors/actresses did well. I wouldn't say there is a standout because they all appear to be on the same level. This does not diminish their acting abilities, but I found some of their voices extremely annoying to listen to. But not Takenouchi Yukata's voice. His voice is extremely soothing.

The opening sequence encapsulates the essence of this drama really well. The colours blended nicely together. I also liked the "Start" and "Retry" text. Small details like this increase the appeal of watching.

I enjoyed the jazzy music. Every time it was played, I vibed.

The concept was great, but the side plots ruined it for me. It was interesting to follow some morally ambiguous characters, but they needed to have at least one redeeming quality for me to root for them. Unfortunately, I couldn't think of a single positive trait for most of the characters here.

aight byeee~

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Completed
Handmade Love
4 people found this review helpful
by jia
Aug 15, 2022
8 of 8 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 6.0
Story 6.0
Acting/Cast 7.5
Music 5.0
Rewatch Value 5.0

Lee Soo Hyuk's Hairstyle >>>>>> everything else

I didn't know what to expect for an "ad drama." I honestly thought they were going to focus more on the clothing, but I was pleasantly surprised this drama focused on human dynamics.

There were 4 storylines in total. The first was about a failing relationship, the second about a deteriorating relationship, the third about an actress's dreams gradually being crushed, and the last about a mother's love for her child. I only liked the latter two of the four. It appears that the writer improved in the second half of the drama.

I thought the acting was fine. They did the best they could with the mediocre writing and dialogue. You could tell that Sa Rang (played by Lee Su Ji) and Joey (played by Park Seung Ji) were rookies, but I didn't have as much of a problem with that as others did. The stand-out is obviously Lee Soo Hyuk - he seems to really nail his roles as a mysterious, cool figure. I don't mind if actors/actresses take the same type of role over and over again, as long as they're charismatic and have believable acting skills. Soo Hyuk is definitely one of them.

I hope that a longer second season is made. Dramas with this type of format do not bode well as short-form.

aight byeee~

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Completed
Tomorrow
4 people found this review helpful
by jia
Aug 9, 2022
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 9.5
Acting/Cast 10
Music 7.5
Rewatch Value 5.0

I binge-watched this drama... send help...

I honestly have no idea why I binge-watched this drama. I'm still recovering from the emotional damage every episode gave me.

At first, I was doubtful of the story. I wasn't sure if transforming the concept of a "grim reaper" into a company would be a good idea. I'm so delighted I was proved false. Each episode focuses on a different issue that today's society faces, such as bullying, academic failure, body dysmorphia, and so on. There were various subjects covered, but each episode did so in a respectful and consistent manner. But I warn you to keep a box of tissues nearby whenever you watch. You. Will. Need. It.

The acting was fantastic. The main cast, as well as the supporting and guest actors, performed excellently in emotional scenes. Although we only know a character for an episode or two,  the actor/actress captured each expression so well that viewers bawled their eyes out. It was difficult for me to pick a standout, but in my opinion, it was Lee Soo Hyuk who plays Park Joong Gil, the uptight and serious leader of the Escort Team. Despite having only an average of 5 minutes of screentime each episode, Joong Gil manages to steal the show. This series has turned me into a fan of all of the key characters. (*^_^*)

There are 6 OSTs in total.
➀ J.DON - 'Red Light'
➁ An Da Eun - 'Don't Leave Me, My Love'
➂ Suran - 'My Loneliness Calls You'
➃ Yoo Hwe Seung - 'Still Love You'
➄ BEN - 'My Only One'
➅ Bo Ra (Cherry Bullet) - 'VLV (Viva La Vida'

Out of the 6, my favourite is ➀ J.DON's 'Red Light.' I really love happy-sounding rap songs. 'Still Love You' is also pretty good and I actually prefer it over the original with FT. Island's Hong Gi.

My only gripe about this drama was the ending. I won't go into detail but I just expected a little bit more, y'know??

Honestly, I think this show is a gem. Even after watching the show I'm still thinking about all the characters and their heartbreaking stories. Eun Bi, Jae Soo, Woo Jin, Young Chun, Ye Na, Kong, Yun Hui, Yun Jae, Yu Hwa, Bok Hui, Cho Hui; I hope they live well in their fictional world T0T

aight byeee~

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Completed
The School Nurse Files
4 people found this review helpful
by jia
Aug 17, 2022
6 of 6 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 5.5
Story 4.0
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 5.5
Rewatch Value 5.0

A fun story executed very poorly

I was honestly skeptical of people's comments saying how weird this drama was. I mean, how weird can it be?? Turns out, VERY WEIRD.

The initial premise was what piqued my interest, but the more I watched, the more I realized that the story was one of the weakest points of this show. 6 episodes did not do this drama justice. There were multiple times where the characters' interactions together happened off-screen, characters appeared then were written off for no apparent reason, and many more problems. There wasn't any time for the story to delve into the side characters backstories and even the main characters. Maybe it was done intentionally to make the viewers even more confused, but I didn't like how that was implemented. Just because it's supposed to be a trippy drama doesn't mean that character development and explanations should be thrown out the window.

I love dramas with some sort of mystery that is explained at the end, or at least an open ending that ends with me theorizing. That's only if clues are hinted at throughout the episodes. In this drama, there are basically no clues whatsoever. I really dislike dramas where the writer(s) deliberately and intentionally hide stuff from the viewers. To me, it's like a cheap gimmick to surprise the viewers. Good writing can make an ending shocking while still having numerous hints sprinkled throughout its runtime.

The acting is by far one of the best parts. Jung Yu Mi does well in the role of a zany, wacky, and tbh a bit creepy school nurse. Nam Joo Hyuk nailed his role as a down-to-earth, normal teacher. I also enjoyed the students' acting, for the most part. They were able to make a number of scenes convincingly unsettling. However, in other scenes, they come across as cringey lol. They're a double-edged sword, I guess.

Eun Young and In Pyo are an unlikely pair, but they mesh together really well. An eccentric person who wants to be normal, and a normal person who wants to be eccentric. Their subtle hand-holding shows their bond. They were, without a doubt, the best part of the show.

At first, I didn't like how the jellies were cartoon-ish. But considering how bizarre this series is, I later realized how good this decision was. The whole cinematography (lighting, camera angles, location, etc.) were of normal quality. I liked the composition of some scenes, for example, when Eun Young talked to someone, the next angle showed her talking to the air, indicating she was talking to a ghost/jelly. I thought those parts were really clever.

The music wasn't anything outstanding.

I enjoyed the strangeness of it all. It's distinct from any other drama.  However, the execution was abhorrent. I might watch if there is a second season, but only if the drama has more episodes. As I previously stated, 6 episodes was totally inadequate for this sort of narrative.

aight byeee~

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Completed
New World
2 people found this review helpful
by jia
Jul 21, 2022
8 of 8 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.0
Story 10
Acting/Cast 7.5
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 3.5

Enjoyable with a unique plot

With this being a Netflix-produced show, I had high expectations for the production. Overall, I wasn't that disappointed.

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Story:
One of the most unique storylines with amazing execution. I loved the island and its little games inside, as well as the use of the phones and the polls. The staff did amazing at creating a world that's detailed and so fun. I would 100% live in New World if I had the chance.
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Cast:
The cast was a good mix of experienced and variety show newbies. The reason why I rated it 7.5/10 is because I didn't really click with any of the cast members. I just don't love the cast as much as I do with casts in other shows.
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Music:
I enjoyed the tunes, it being ethereal vibes and all. I just didn't find it particularly memorable. I also got sick of the melody that's played in every credit scene at the end lol
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Rewatch Value:
I don't see myself rewatching this unless I get forced to.
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This show is weird for me to rate. While I enjoyed some episodes, I didn't feel the need to continue after I finished each episode. Even at the height of the climax, I didn't mind if I were somehow banned from continuing to watch more. For me, it didn't have the IT factor I look for in variety shows. All-in-all, enjoyable in the moment, but definitely not a favourite.

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Completed
The Great Escape Season 4
2 people found this review helpful
by jia
Jul 11, 2022
13 of 13 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 5.0
I've finally finished watching the most recent season of one of my current favourite variety shows. This season is still overall rather nice, despite the fact that I was a little let down in some areas.

Story - When it comes to the narrative and the plot, this variety show is the go-to choice. It's truly amazing how inventive the crew is with their ideas. Each story offered something unique. Time travel, the metaverse, a zombie prison, entering a terrorist/serial killer's subconscious, disarming bombs, and mind control/hypnosis.  Don't all those descriptions seem enticing?

Acting - This season's cast of actors and actresses is excellent. The biggest stand-out would be the Devil in the Crazy House episode. Dude legit showed up for about 5 minutes but stole the show because of his amazing acting. Him just standing there is intimidating enough LOL.

Cast - I know some people complain about how some members aren't pulling enough weight, but I feel like the cast is a perfect balance. If all of them are geniuses, it's very likely that episodes won't be as fun as the current ones since they'll probably solve the puzzles really easily. It works vice-versa as well - only funny people would be frustrating at times since they won't get anything done. Honestly such great casting by the staff.

Music - Every single music/soundtrack fits in with the concept of the specific episode. Intense music when the scene is intense, eerie music when the scene is creepy, etc. The music here makes you really immersed in the story.

Rewatch Value - This one was the hardest to rate. While all the episodes are pretty fun to watch for the first time, it's unlikely that I'll go back to rewatch. The other seasons had better rewatchable episodes.

The staff put so much effort and time into this series. Please send them some love <3

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