Inspiring story about hardwork, passion and leadership

Starting watching on Sunday, kept hitting "next episode" until i realized i was almost done with the show! If i didnt go out on Monday, i probably would have finished this in 2 days 😅

Likes
1. Amazing performance not just of Namgoong Min but from everyone - the management, the head office, and the players. Each episode focused one 1 to 2 persons' stories and how Baek was able to help and resolve the problem.
2. I only have basic knowledge of baseball so didn't really understand the stats, but it didn't really matter because the whole point is more on how a manager was able to successful transform a low performing team to a champion. It's not just how he worked, but how he influenced the people around him to become better versions of themselves.
3. You can pick up some tips on how to manage difficult people and how to deal with difficult negotiations, Baek Seung Soo is so good at it, i wonder why he is not a hot commodity. I guess they are uneasy with his unorthodox thinking.
4. I especially loved the episodes about Gil Chang Ju, Baek's brother and Lim Dong gyu's redemption. But i didnt like episode 15, i thought it was too much and episode 16 was too simple for a finale.

Dislikes
1. If the plan was to disband the team from the very start, it didn't really make sense to bring a new GM and approve of all his changes. It then feels like all his efforts will just be a waste of time and the best players will all end up team-less. I wish the objective was very clear frim episode 1 - if he can't fix the team before the season then they will disband.
2. I wish we saw more efforts from Seungsoo to look for a buyer all throughout the show. The ending was easily resolved with just 1 company agreeing to buy the team after just 2 meetings. To think Director spent years looking for a buyer.

Other than that, everything else was terrific.

Rating: 9/10

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Most buzzworthy drama of 2020!

I loved everything about this drama. I think this is one of the more solid dramas in recent years. From the casting, acting, writing, directing and evn the beautiful soundtrack! The drama has got everything (fantasy, romance, action, suspense, thriller, friendship, family, politics, work) except mystery and horror LOL. Will just list down some of my fave things about the show.

Likes:
1. I love both Seri and Captain Ri. I cant decide who is my fave character. And they are even better together. Perfect chemistry between Hyun Bin and Son Ye Jin made these two characters come alive.
2. Captain Ri's team. I love them all but i especially enjoy watching the bickering between Chisu and Seri. And special shoutout to Manbok who was a crucial team member. His wiretapping skills are the best!
3. Seri and Dan's fashion. The coats. The jewelry, the bags, and shoes. Dan's hairpins.
4. Captain Ri's hairstyle. I didnt realize you can do so much with a male's hair and Hyun Bin kept looking better in each new hair style. I think my fave is the last one when they were finally together in Switzerland.
5. All the romantic, funny and tearjerking moments between the lead couple. I esp love the two scenes where they crossed the line: when Ri stepped over the line to kiss Seri before she goes back to SK. The other is when Ri crossed the line again to hug Seri before he goes back to NK. and the 2 paragliding scenes when they met.
6. I didnt really pay much attention to Dan and Seung Jun but i loved the ramyun scene, the market scene where the orphans were singing and SJ was crying (made me cry too), the proposal scene and the ambulance scene.
7. The NK ladies. They were annoying at first but they grew on me. Sweet of Seri to remember them.
8. Captain Ri's dad is so cool. No wonder he raised two beautiful and loyal sons.
9. Dan's mom was also amazing. And hilarious.

Dislikes:
Cho Cheol Gang is the worst person. I think he should have died sooner and i hate his face. The actor did a great job of portraying him.

Rating: 9.5/10

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Wonderful story about two single people finding love and happiness

Likes
1. Han Yisang and Go Joon. Yisang's love for maoi statues.
2. The drama wasnt just telling the story of a single lady who wants to get married and have a baby, it also showed that guys also have problems with infertility. And it also showed the different views of people - the struggles of a working mom, and a mom who had to leave the workforce and cant find a job again, to married couple who doesnt want kids. And even fathers who struggle to earn money to fulfill their children's dreams. And mothers who just want the best for her child.
3. The balance between humor and drama. I laughed out loud during the funny scenes and bawled whenever Hari and Yisang cried.
4. The beautiful ost. I wish they release the ost with a photobook!
5. That there are different ways to be happy. And everyone should follow his own path to happiness. It may not be the usual route but we should learn to respect other people's choices without judgment.

Dislikes
1. That they made Jae Young into a selfish annoying second lead. Park Byung Eun deserved better. He could have been the nice childhood friend with a one-sided crush on Hari.
2. The first few episodes when all Hari could think of is to be a mom. That it's her main dream and she wont be happy until she was a mom. I disliked her views on that but the ending when she finally realized she was wrong made it all worth it.

Rating: 9.5/10 (9 for the story plus 0.5 for Yisang )

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Light disaster movie

I love disaster movies! This one has a blend of comedy which usually happens when Jo Jung Suk is on screen.

The story is a little bit farfetched, and there's really not much background on the disgruntled scientist releasing a toxic gas, but that's not what matters. There's not much story but the action scenes were nailbiting, (although i know they wont fall and die)!

For the majority of the movie, you will just see the two leads running and using their rockclimbing skills to get away from the toxic gas and reach safety. So it's just a mix of watching them run, climb, run, climb until they get rescued! It was still entertaining though and never got boring! There were some scenes were it was sad because when put in a life or death situation, it is tough to choose - do you try to save yourself, save your family, or save other people?

I also loved how social media played a big role in their rescue. The romance between between Jo Jung Suk and Yoona were implied and subtle. Great for a fun friday night movie.

Rating: 8/10

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Started strong but ended flat

Likes:
1. I really loved Park Bogum in show. Extra special because it is almost like him and not Sa Hye jun reminiscing about his 20s and saying goodbye to all the fans.
2. From the title and from the narration i already felt like they were talking about the past and the romance was always about making good memories so i already braced myself that they were going to break up. I also expected the time jump. I honestly think they are better off as friends. There was something off about their relationship. It was too fast and surreal. And i felt that Hye Jun loved Jungha more. But it's not bad i think it was a prefect way to sum up their 20s.
3. I really loved all the scenes with Hyejun's family. Esp loved how much Gyeong Jun, Grandpa and Yeongnam matured. And how they grew closer.
4. Super loved Minjae! I was hoping we see her get more clients after 2 years and be more successful.
5. I really loved the start with the 3 friends together but it dwindled in the middle and we barely saw them together. At least the last two episodes they were back to almost normal and are close again.
6. I love the ways the drama tried to portray different relationships between parents and children. In the end, parents just wants the best for their children. And children should learn to appreciate their parents more.

Dislikes:
1. The show really started strong. I loved everyone and all the possible storylines, but after Hye Jun hit big time, the story slowly went downhill. Then ending was underwhelming. The romance fell flat. Lots of storylines were never resolved.
2. Park Sodam and her character didnt get a lot of screentime and her character was underdeveloped. It felt like it's Sa Hye Jun show and the girlfriend was a cameo.
3. Too much about Charlie Jung and the endless scandals that are false. I hated Suman and Taesu, they never paid for their misdeeds and are still working. That's how scary media can be and how they can ruin a person's life.

Rating: 7.5/10 😔

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Just Like Harry Potter

Alchemy of Souls Part 1 (2022)

Likes
1. I like the whole fantasy part about soul shifters and spells. Reminds me of Harry Potter since this drama also had different teams, they used swords instead of wands, and Uk is like Harry Potter who didnt know he was the boy that will save them all (or the boy with the King's Star)
2. I like Mudeok/Naksu coz she is brave and ruthless but she also learned to mature and love instead of becoming an assassin. Im still confused about Buyeon, how can 2 souls reside in 1 body. They say Buyeon is controlling the body and yet when Naksu heard the bells, Buyeon couldnt do anything. So i feel like writer is using Buyeon if they need a plot device.
3. I loved Jang Uk and how much he has grown since ep 1.
4. I love the master-pupil pair of Mudeok/Jang Uk more than as lovers. Naksu/Yul were better in terms of tragic romance. Cho Yeon/Danggu were cute but Jin/Maid Kim/Master Lee were my fave.

Dislikes
1. The first half was so boring, it got interesting only starting ep 12. I think this should have been 16 eps not 20. There were several unnecessary sidestories and too many characters. And why no one ever suspected Mudeok to be Naksu when there are so many red flags about her! For supposedly powerful mages, they were all stupid except for Uk and Yul. And they cant even capture Jinmu who is always one step ahead of them!
2. I didnt feel the romantic chemistry between Mudeok and Jang Uk, even when they finally confessed and kissed on ep 19 it was blah.. the only scene that stirred me was the end when Naksu stabbed Jang Uk and he died and Mudeok woke up and realized what she has done.
3. A little unbelievable that 3 guys were fighting over Mudeok esp the Crown Prince who didnt know she was Naksu and thought of her as a mere servant. I also didnt like the Crown Prince although i think he was meant to be arrogant. I dont know if he is going to be bad in part 2.

Rating: 8.25 (8 for first half, 8.5 for second half)

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True Beauty is both outer and inner beauty

Likes
1. Jukyung and Suho 🥰 I think even without the childhood connection they could have still worked the relationship. I love that Suho loved Jukyung for herself and Jukyung helped Suho come out of his shell.
2. Poor Seojun, he really is a good guy, but just not the right one for Jukyung. I was hoping for a cameo of someone pretty at the end so that Seojun will have his own happy ever afer but i liked that he was able to debut!
3. Still is hard for me to watch the bullying scenes but i love that Jukyung was able to stand up and accept herself with or without makeup. And im glad she found real friends like Soo Ah.
4. Jukyung's family is weird but fun! I love the softhearted dad and the cute younger brother.
5. Bromance between Suho, Seojun and Seyeon.
6. All the cameos feom Extra You cast.. but why is Kim Young Dae's cameo so short? (Maybe he was busy filming Penthouse).
7. The makeup PPL and the OST! I almost added to cart all the colorgram cosmetics in Lazada last weekend 😁 but restrained myself. But i bought the OST!

Dislikes
1. The last two episodes felt like fillers, although they were able to wrap everyone's story. It did feel like it was more of appreciation episodes for Seo Jun as he got a lot of screen time.. he had a date with Jukyung and confessed his feelings, he still maintained his friendship with Suho and he debuted and sang twice.
2. I didnt expect the time jump, but I appreciated seeing the gang all grown up and living their lives after school. I didnt necessarily hate the breakup, i thought it was the most sensible reason at that time. Suho didnt know when he will be back and he didnt want Jukyung to wait for him. I hoped instead of Suho breaking up with Jukyung like that, and going silent for 2 years, they could have mutually agreed to hold off the relationship until he was back. I think Jukyung would have understood it.
3. I missed Soojin and i was hoping she had a better ending than volunteering overseas. It felt like she was trying hard to atone for her past behavior. She can go back to school, do what she wants and be her badass self again.
4. I'm prolly the only one who didn't like Hee Kyung and Mr Han's romance. I mostly fast forwarded their scenes.
5. I wished more reconciliation scenes between Suho and dad.

Rating: 9/10 (8.5 for the story +0.5 for Eunwoo)

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Beautiful story of Second chances

Likes
1. Everything about the drama was beautiful!! The three leads were so terrific and their chemistry worked so well. There was a seamless transition between Woo Young and Dae Young, it really felt like they were the same people. Kim Haneul is gorgeous as always.
2. The visuals!! 🥰 all the guys were handsome and the girls were pretty! Except for the bad coach, i loved all the friendships and how supportive they are of each other. I absolutely loved Aerin!
3. Perfect balance of laughter and tears. My favorite storyline was of Dae Young and his dad and the sign language scene 😭. And when Sia finally called up Dae Young to tell him she misses her dad.
4. The cinematography was so pretty too. And the OST. Im sad they didnt release the OST album coz i really wanted to get my copy.
5. So many life lessons about dreams, family, marriage and relationships.

"There are days when we hated each other. But thanks to that, we understand each other better. We learn to appreciate each other more. And we love more. There were more days when we were happier. For that happiness, we decided to love our decisions . We chose people based on love. And we are grateful for our decisions."

"In life, even if you miss out on happiness, as long as you have that one person who will look for happiness with you, your life will be worth living. Dont forget that you love each other. Be disappointed that you cannot cherish each other better. And promise for a better tomorrow. Just like that, our lives will continue."

Dislikes
1. Wished for more scenes between the twins. They dont seem to be close.
2. Deokjin-Ms Ok romance dragged on for too long. It was hard to see Deokjin get rejected so many times when he's such a nice guy. I thought he would go well with Aerin coz they're both sweet and hilarious but at least Aerin got a potential boyfriend in the end.

Rating: 9.5/10

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