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Mridu

Jackson Wang's hair salon

Mridu

Jackson Wang's hair salon
Completed
Dali and the Cocky Prince
61 people found this review helpful
by Mridu
Nov 11, 2021
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 4
Overall 9.0
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 9.5
Rewatch Value 9.0

Art Appreciating Art

Are you one of those people like me who were suffering from romantic cuteness withdrawl after Hometown Cha Cha Cha wrapped up? In my quest to find a similar sweet plot, I stumbled upon Dali and The Cocky Prince....and what a refreshingly pure series it has been to unwind to!

Dali and The Cocky Prince or Dal-Ri and Gamjatang (as it is referred in South Korea) is painted as a romantic comedy with a tinge of murder mystery, connecting contrasting worlds of art galleries and global food chains.

The appetizing promotional teasers and iconic portrait paintings recreated as character posters fuelled quite an excitement for this drama amongst fans which otherwise did not boast of any prominent cast.

The 16-episodes drama chronicles the colorful romance between Kim Dali (Park Gyu Young) and Jin Moo Hak (Kim Min Jae), with a crumbling art museum at its backdrop. Dali is a purveyor of fine art studying in Amsterdam, who is the only daughter of the Cheongsong family- a prestigious South Korean family. Sudden events leads her to cross path with Moo Hak, a money-minded businessman, who runs a family food chain. Dali is your typical bookworm who is fluent in seven languages while our Moo Hak has got nothing to do with books or art and laughingly confuses over kid's café as kiss café.

The writing is exquisite, despite not being groundbreaking, as we’ve seen this premise in many romantic comedies. A coincidental cute meet-up which later turns out to be fateful for the main leads, opposites attract trope, FLs which can easily be labelled as damsels in distress and the ML who seems brashy and crude at first glance. Except, in this case, there is more than what meets the eye. The coincidental meets which usually nurtures budding romances here surprisingly acts as a repellent to whatever scope of romantic reunion the viewers hoped for and not gonna lie, it served as the backdrop of few of the most quirkiest moments of the show.

The entirety of the show is about how people of different view points can still accept and help each other while growing together in an extremely healthy and non bickering manner which mind you, is very rare in an opposites attract cliché. While we are at it, a special shoutout to Kim Min Jae and Park Gyu Young who had off-the-charts chemistry as the cute couple. Their on-screen passion, affection and silent understanding for each other spoke through every scene they shared together.

As for the downtrodden female leads, the show does seem to hold vengeance against them by piling one crisis after another in every other episode. Sometimes it sure may seem that they are mere vulnerable puppets. But their silent resilience and calm patience to continue fighting will give us hope when it may seem everything's lost. So contrary to popular opinion the show in actuality does not lacks in feminist themes and rather promotes men who support it.

This is very much a character driven drama and represents an in-depth case study of character dynamics and eventual growth of the central characters. So truth be told, my favorite part of the show has been the character development of Moo Hak. A man who started out by appreciating pig portraits and then went on to adorably woo the embodiment of life-size art that was Dali, was nothing short of a miracle. But beneath all his laugh-out-loud exterior lies a man lacking family affection and going through his own set of emotional traumas that'll make you sympathise with him in more ways than one.

Art lies in the eyes of the beholder, foes impersonating friends and the concept of complex familial ties acts as the central theme of the show. That being said, watch out for Hwang Bora as Moo Hak's quirky secretary. One of my favorite plot point has to be the crazy boss and his equally crazy but doesn’t show it secretary, who’d go to the ends of the earth for him. Another character that will make you both dazzle and disgust in equal amounts is Kwon Yul as Jang Tae Jin. He's hot but he's mostly odd.

Visual appeal at its peak, this KBS drama features commendable production value. The sets are amazing, Chungsong art gallery- the very heart of the show and centric plot point was accurately displayed. As a viewer you'll have a hard time resisting virtually diving into it to appreciate the displayed artworks yourself. The touch of genius also lies in the camera pulling away from a scene at times, like leaving the leads framed in a window, and applying a textured brush stroke pattern over the picture. It’s beautiful and a whimsical way to make the story its own painting. Take it from an aesthete, by the end of it, this drama will definitely urge you to visit your nearest art gallery, if it is in a financial crisis probably the better for easing of the conscience.

Another bonus for the visuals (yes the drama clearly comes off as a visual fest) the hairstyles and costumes are very well put together on every character. Embodying their inner self and presenting it to the world. Just like they've stepped out from a painting.

However, the true strength of Dali and The Cocky Prince lies in its cast, their nailed-to perfection acting, the brilliant writing and the OST.

After being part of multiple dramas as a supportive character, (Devil Judge, It's Okay To Not Be Okay and many more) the charismatic Park Gyu Young transformed as a female lead this time into an artistically inclined and elegant Kim Dali. She effortlessly sells the character of an intelligent , rich but friendly girl who excels at the hard things while struggling to take care of the basics – like eating a proper meal. As first time goes, Park Gyu Young does an impressive job.

My second favorite character, however, has been played by Hwang Hee as Joo Won Tak- the brave and charismatic detective named Won Tak (or as Dali likes to call him, Uri Won Taki) from violent crime squad. He was a teen gangster who got rescued by Dali's father and was treated like his own. The fact that Won Tak being protective over Dali and helpful is never played off as romantic, they really just consider each other's siblings despite not being officially related which could've made it so easy to write Won Tak off as "the man who's in love with his non-biological sibling because after all even if they were raised together they don't share blood so it's okay" trope which is honestly, a bit disturbing, made the plot quite refreshing.

Another appealing factor (at this point, you might have guessed this isn't a critique, this is me forcing you to watch this show like right now!) is the drama's OST which has a collection of both heartfelt and melancholic tunes belted out at key moments during the episodes.

In short, Dali and The Cocky Prince is an artwork inside an art frame cause those real scenes morphing into abstract painting shots, appears to be a cinematography masterstroke, literally. So like Mona Lisa, who?

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Completed
Nevertheless,
26 people found this review helpful
by Mridu
Aug 22, 2021
10 of 10 episodes seen
Completed 2
Overall 6.0
Story 3.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 10
Rewatch Value 3.0
This review may contain spoilers

Nevertheless, it turned out to be a disappointment.

It seems Nevertheless too was just another rollercoaster ride, where the drama initially is able to build up so much of anticipation and excitement but literally goes downhill from the midpoint onwards. If you were looking for an honest, realistic portrayal of college romance, then nope this doesn't cuts it, not even close. Nevertheless basically covers just the crust of it whereas I was hoping to unravel the basic core of the experience and the involved characters.

My major disappointment was character development of Park Jaeon or the lack thereof. Expecting more in depth focus on him, his personal life and how and why he was the way he was because honestly, if you want to convince the viewers that a legit fuckboy has turned into a lovestruck puppy, you don't do that through super cheesy intimate scenes instead, you ought to uncover and display his plot arcs with his family and past and his gradual journey to redemption with few episodes from his perspective and not just Nabi's. I mean c'mon Song Kang's acting potential at least deserved that! What was his equation with his mom? What happened to his father? Why did his ex girlfriend or whatever she was just left all of a sudden? Why was he still playing with Nabi's feelings when he fell for her at first sight? Why didn't he confess Nabi of his said "first sight love" much before? Why was he being a douchebag when he could have been so much more? Guess nobody will know.

The drama had no plot whatsoever it just swinged between the concept of attachment and dissatisfaction, these themes could have been explored more genuinely but sadly that was again, me expecting too much out of this 10 episode of a drama.

Using the word realistic in the plot blurb and then going ahead with the second lead receiving the emotional blow despite him clearly being a superior choice and the male lead sweeping off the lady in lead irrespective of the fact that he clearly doesn't deserves her, the Korean Drama writers must be jamming on "oops, I did it again" a little too much I guess.

Like many have said already, the only silver lining of this drama were the side couples especially, Ji Wan and Sol. Chef's kiss to these two cause boy, am I glad that this unexpected but totally necessary plot was added into the drama because they kept me invested in the whole thing till the very end. Extra points and appreciation for the little cameo by that very cute kitten in episode 7 and 8.

I won't recommend this drama to anyone but the ones who crave to see physical aspect of a romantic relationship more than the emotional because you rarely see that happening in the Korean Drama industry and I get that.

In conclusion, the brilliant cinematography, casting, chemistry between the lead duo and OST will sweeten up the toxicity shown in here for sure but still, the lingering sour taste of it all will remain.

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Completed
Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha
16 people found this review helpful
by Mridu
Oct 17, 2021
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 14
Overall 9.5
Story 9.5
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10

Slice Of Life and Everything Else...

Maybe this review will sound more like a drunk message to an ex whom you're not willing to let go.

Maybe this is not a review at all, it's just me trying to deal with the fact that the drama I have been obsessed with since its casting news got confirmed is...O-V-E-R, over. And so is my life. Okay, I am over exaggerating here but am I?

Spent my weekdays blissfully rewatching the previous episodes, analysing every other little detail the show had to offer because the writers incorporated so many layers and deep meanings to each scene and dialogue.

Not to mention had such an amazing time discussing and fangirling over the enigma that was Hong Dushik, gushing about how God awful relatable and funny the Gongjin fam was (where else will I find such wholesome side characters again?) and putting into words the feels of watching the leads gradually falling in love as if for the very first time while romantic sunday played in the background, weekend after weekend, here in the comments section.

Despite some of its minor flaws (which I can probably justify btw) personally, this show will always have a special place. Because if I had to describe the entire thing in one word it'll be- BEAUTIFUL.

From its cinematography, coastal locations, familial themes and how they were dealt with to all its character interactions and gradual growth to almost perfection. Everything comes down to being beautiful and not in a on your face way but a more sublime, understated take to the word.
As if the show itself doesn't know its beauty but only we as viewers could acknowledge and appreciate it. Which needless to say, I obviously did.

I'll probably listen to all the Home-Cha OSTs now and cry a river with the realisation sinking in that no more will I be privy to Du Shik and Hye Jin's bantering like them old couples, Ju-Ri fangirling over her favourite idol all the while his dad pitying her for missing out on the real idol in the town- him. I-Jun and Bora's cute lil friendship and hedgehog both as a pet and a metaphor will be as badly missed and don't even get me started on the grannies and Mi Seon's budding romance with the cutie cop which almost felt like courting before an arranged marriage? I don't know I want a spin-off focusing on just these two and that's it!

Honestly, the myriad of emotions all the characters made me feel throughout the show's runtime will be a fond memory because they included not just those hearty feels but also loaded it with things that I would love to reminisce about, things that actually matter in a society and I, as a viewer could empathise and/or sympathise with
1. Mental Health
2. LGBT inclusion
3. Acceptance
4. Death
5. A child's suppressed feeling of a broken family
6. Remorse

Just a thought but if every man watched Hometown cha cha cha and set Du Shik as the standard the world might be a better place.

The Love triangle which I dreaded would ruin the happy-go-lucky vibe of it all, was nothing but a mere journey of complete closure from a relationship that never actually found its perfect timing. Who hasn't gone through that? So the dreadful triangle wasn't dreadful at all but a lesson on maturity and moving on. Quite unexpected and like I said, beautiful.

Lastly, I bargained just for Kim Seon Ho's character to finally have a happy ending but got drowned in the emotional pile of it all by the end. No wonder I am still crying and smiling at the same time.

Anyway that was me, ranting my views and sorrows from one Homecha lover to the other (and hopefully to the future ones too).

P.S. since I was supposed to be helpful which am guessing I exactly wasn't? Here's link to my article for the drama which has all the overall critiques and opinion.

https://mydramalist.com/article/currently-watching-hometown-cha-cha-cha

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Completed
Goblin
4 people found this review helpful
by Mridu
Jun 7, 2021
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 9.0
This review may contain spoilers

Alternatively titled as: We've Got The Best Bromance!

It's been a couple of days since I completed watching Goblin and might I just say am so not over it. I've been reading a lot of its reviews, stalking the fuck out of Lee Dong Wook and basically just obsessing over this one a little too late. I usually try to stray clear of fantasy genre but I hate that I didn't give this one a chance sooner. It's like one of those overly popular dramas that have got the mainstream vibe to it because almost everyone has watched it already and I guess now I know why.
I've got so many things on my mind regarding the series, the good things and the bad ones too that it's a bit hard to formulate them properly into words so I'll probably just rant my way out.

Starting off, Goblin was an extremely whimsical watch to say the least.
The first few episodes were absolutely breathtaking with immaculate cinematography both in the historical flashbacks and in current timeline, interesting choice of characters and plot will force you deeper into this drama, and once you're in well, there's no going back thereafter.

The plus point of the drama was definitely its character interactions with underlying but hugely effective humour. I personally prefer things to be serious and funny both at the same time, too much of just one set of emotion gets boring for my attention span. So needless to say Goblin nailed this one requirement of mine perfectly.

Each and every character dealt with the other in such a playful and satisfying way for most part of the series that I couldn't help but connect with them on a deeper, more intimate level.
That said, don't even get me started on the (b)romance between the Goblin and Grim reaper, probably the best I've seen yet (that says a lot considering bromance is a fairly common trope in K-drama world) they were just so entertaining together that at one point I was just watching the drama, waiting to get a glimpse of their quirky interactions (which were a lot thankfully). So if anyone asks me why I loved this drama as much as I did, I'll gladly put my hand on my heart and just think of all the cheeky moments between these two extremely good looking hunks.

Now coming to the romance, I found the story of Grim Reaper and Sunny a lot more captivating and emotionally investing than the protagonists despite the limited screen time. Not to belittle the leads or to say they were lacking or anything, they were good too in their own way. While the Reaper and Sunny had a heavy hot dose of chemistry sizzling through; the Goblin and his bride were the cutesy heart fluttering couple. The show got a lot more interesting seeing these two romantic parallels unfolding side by side. Not to mention the very evident age gap didn't bother me at all, if more I found it quite endearing and romantic since one of the involved party was a lonely immortal being while the other was an equally lonely but warm hearted magical soul. So whatever works for them in this life and after am all for it without any second thoughts whatsoever.

As much as I was intrigued by the plot and the never ending suspense of how things were going to pan out in the end, the last few episodes were a let down as compared to the heavy plot build in the previous ones. While the story went a full circle it failed to actually make sense. The logic and reasoning shredded into nothingness just like how Goblin was supposed to? But after a short amount of separation he reappeared as if nothing happened only god knows how (pun intended). Many other plot points came off as mere convenience which I possibly couldn't ignore at the end. The story of the Reaper got a whole lot diverted and complicated but I suppose it's a given since rounding up a fantasy takes an even more fantastical on the spot thinking. The writers could have done better because the plot turned out to be a sore spot for this one for sure.

Focusing on the actors, obviously they did a fine job on this one. The emotion transitions were perfect, the comic timing even more so and the inner turmoil in each of the 4 leads was something I actually felt and sympathised with especially in the case of Reaper's identity revelation. Lee Dong Wook has got me spellbound and am probably off to binge watch on his other remaining dramas.

Last but definitely not the the least. The OSTs! Oh my lord the OSTs are so on point in every damn scene and the fact that I absolutely love every one of them tunes (still humming round and round) is something that happens rarely.

So if you're looking for a feel good, fanciful world with beautiful and funny people roaming about it, be sure to delve into this one, if you haven't already.


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Completed
Start-Up
4 people found this review helpful
by Mridu
Apr 5, 2021
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.0
Story 7.5
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 5.0

Fuck them love triangles!

StartUp was supposedly my very first K-drama and not gonna lie I went in with very low expectations if none at all, so when I started tearing up within five minutes of the very first episode, not exaggerating, I was taken aback by acute surprise. The thing felt more like a tragic film rather than an opening for a series. Needless to say, I was hooked for more of this emotional depth the plot was trying to deliver. Be it the depressing family arc of the FL or the saddening, lonely, orphaned life of the ML.
Also the entire concept of Sandbox and incorporation of AI into the drama felt almost like cherry on the top. Everything was going perfect except for the fact that the ML (at least I assumed him to be so) wasn't exactly the ML but a SL? I was then informed that quite often in K-dramas the absolutely flawless, charming guys (for no fault of their own) end up only as pining, one sided lovers and nothing else. I hoped that this show won't befall this tragedy on my beloved Han Ji Pyeong (wasn't his life tragic enough already?!)
Turns out there's a terminology for it, so here I am petitioning for second lead syndrome to be included as a real psychological disorder cause boy, does that shit hurts!

While the series lost its grip on me after the tenth episode with its unnecessarily stretched love triangle, unwanted time leaps, unjustified fast paced character development of the "ML" and exploitation of supporting characters for the mere benefit of the leads, it was the hope of a happy ending for Han Ji Pyeong that kept me from dropping this drama altogether.

In conclusion, watch this one for Kim Seon Ho and his gorgeously heartbreaking chemistry with everyone on this show and well, that's about it.

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Completed
One Spring Night
2 people found this review helpful
by Mridu
Jul 7, 2021
32 of 32 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.5
Story 9.5
Acting/Cast 10
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 9.0

"We could still be happy"

There are some dramas that you just don't watch for mere entertainment instead they make you think, leave you speechless and leave an impact on you even after days of completing it. One Spring Night was exactly that for me.

After watching the first episode itself I knew this one was going to hit me hard emotionally. I am not saying this drama was perfect because well, it's not everyone's cup of tea considering the fact that it's a slow burn and has minimal humour. But the way it portrayed the lives of some imperfect people perfectly was enough to get me hooked.
It tackled some of the very hard pressing problems of living in a prejudiced society in an extremely realistic way that every viewer might just find it relatable at one point or another. The main focus was obviously on the relationship between the leads but the inclusion of family traumas and taboos like single parenthood, infidelity, domestic violence and male chauvinistic pride in the plot as heavy and loud backdrop will make everyone sit up and take notice even if one doesn't wants to.

Coming to their take on relationship and intimacy. Oh, it was such a beautiful journey to watch. I could probably feel them fighting their emotions but at the same time also surrendering to it. As problematic as it seemed, it was dealt with absolute care. The romance wasn't rushed at all. The leads took their time at resolving both their inner and outer turmoils one by one (as it should be) while also acknowledging and accepting their feelings for one another. I mean every plot arc hits so close to the heart in this one. Which just shows the realistic and mature efforts put into it as a whole.

Cinematography was so breathtaking that every scene can be screenshoted and put up as wallpaper, no kidding.

The background music can come off as a little repetitive at times but that's only because the music matches the vibe of the drama perfectly and Rachel Yamagata's voice is so soothing that I couldn't possibly have complaints in this department.

At some moments you'll wish to fast forward this drama but control that urge, know that you're gonna miss out on its essence. This drama unapologetically sets its own pace and I had a wonderful time following through each and every second of it.

Also, bonus points to the writer for creating such independent, fierce and strong willed female protagonists. You hardly see that anymore.

So if you're tired of watching them cheesy rom-coms and need something close to reality that pulls on your heartstrings with great plot and even better acting, this one's probably it.

I gave this drama an 8.5 rating initially but considering the fact that it keeps replaying on my mind at random moments, I had to do the needful.

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Completed
Tomorrow with You
2 people found this review helpful
by Mridu
Apr 19, 2021
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 9.0
This review may contain spoilers

The Underrated Gem: Tomorrow With You

This drama was such an entertaining watch, not for a second was I bored or distracted and for someone like me who has an attention span of a bee it sure is a feat of its own.

Character Development: this was the finest aspect of Tomorrow With You for me because they were able to nail this and with such finesse. The plot and actors collectively complimented the subtle yet clearly distinguishable personality change of every character involved with a justifiable pace that didn't feel too rushed or unbelievable as it tends to happen in most cases. They stuck to keeping them in a grayish spectrum of persona, not too good and not too evil either just a bunch of realistic lives that at some point everyone can relate with.
‌The main lead went to being from extremely self engrossed to a bit disoriented and then to being desperately besotted while still clinging to his selfish gains throughout.

‌The antagonist was very well scripted that at times I kinda tried to justify his actions because he wasn't a beast on a murdering spree from the beginning, just a lil' too ambitious for his own good and that is exactly what struck a chord with me because when has ever demanding what you rightfully deserve labeled as a crime?

‌The female lead was such a cutie, eccentric and cringey too at times but a cutie nonetheless. I truly get where she was coming from. Getting used to rejection from family, friends and random strangers can take a toll on anyone and then suddenly, out of the blue being accepted and loved not to mention the new experience of martial bliss can make you a tad high on happiness if not completely cuckoo in the heads. Ma Rin proved to be such an entertainer and yes, am gonna defend her craziness because she was anything but irritating. She made me laugh my guts out while simultaneously dealing with heavy emotions like depression, disbelief and determination with such gusto that boy, it truly had me. She'll be my favorite FL for a while now, that's for sure.


Plot: I'm a sucker for sci-fi and on your face romance more so if both combined so it was a given already that the plot was going to keep me busy. Not gonna lie the entire concept got way too complicated in the midway than it was initially supposed to be but that's okay, it made me sit up and focus on every scene and timeline as if my life depended on it (cause the lead's sure did lol).
It was such an heart wrenching story sprinkled with humour and overall wholesomeness of developing human relations that despite some plotline loopholes in the end I was ready to overlook every flaw of this show just because the presentation and execution was done perfectly.


Acting: Might I just say, that I'm in love with Shin Min Ah for her work in this one. This is my first drama of hers and man, am I awestruck by her beauty and charm already.
Lee Je Hoon brought a dash of happy surprise as well with his immaculate acting. Mentioning the obvious here but I couldn't resist, these guys had such a rocking chemistry, their lovey dovey marriage even the lovers' quarrels appeared so believable that I was wishing for it to be true in both real and reel life; it doesn't hurts that they both look extremely good together either.
Jo Hee Park appeared somewhat awkward and hasty with her portrayal as the female second lead.
I find Kang Ki Doong, Han Chul Jo and Kim Ye Won annoyingly cute almost everywhere they go so, there's nothing new about it.


Extra: How the hell was everyone on this drama so gorgeously dressed? I mean hats off to the costume designers, who came up with such brilliant chic yet classy looking clothing for every character. I almost wanted to steal them denim jackets and overcoats virtually (don't blame me the entire thing was on futuristic hopes and wishful thinking).

In conclusion, the show is criminally underrated for no reason whatsoever and if you're looking for a heavy romance with an equally heavy plot well, look no further!

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Completed
Squid Game
3 people found this review helpful
by Mridu
Oct 1, 2021
9 of 9 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.5
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 8.5
Rewatch Value 1.0

A Grim Game Of Greed: Play Or Skip?


Trigger Warning: blood, death, gore, gunshots, physical assault, burning, NSFW, flashing lights, graphic imagery, hanging


The recent Netflix hit Squid Game is a thrilling, and emotionally layered survival series which plays off the idea of free will, economic disparity and privilege and turns it into a grim game of greed.

The whole thing starts with when someone offers a desperate man the chance to play a child's game of flip the card and wager on the outcome. As that offer escalates, it turns out that more than 450 other desperate, immensely debt-loaded people have been lured into a similar brutal contest, where they’re playing popular childhood playground games for the chance to win 45.6 billion Korean won (about $39 million), only if they manage to eliminate all the contestants and be the last person standing.

All the nine episodes take place in present-day Korea, and the players are invited who are on the margins of society. It seems like the entire game could very well be secretly undergoing with none the wiser. Recent Korean cine stories like Parasite and Itaewon Class have adeptly addressed wealth inequality and class struggle in real-world circumstances, rather than through the lenses of American fantasies like The Hunger Games and Elysium. Film director Hwang Dong-hyuk (known for My Father, The Crucible) follows this trend with Squid Game, his first drama series. In spite of unrealistic elements, the show seems to have been designed to convey that our present reality can be just as hellish as any imagined world.

The script is a ticking clock that will glue you to the screen as shows of this genre should do by constantly making the audience question "what would I do in that situation?". The whole point of shows like this is to become extremely relatable. Despite the cold violence, gore, and blood, the story does not lack all the emotional impact that it's supposed to generate. The haunting score by Parasite composer Jung Jae-IL only adds to this constant terror and suspense.

However, I could not help but feel disappointed by the final leg of the series. In episode six, which is a total emotional stunner, it feels the series has reached its summit plot-wise but then suddenly veers into unsatisfying and predictable story decisions, with quite a number of glaring plot holes. The last three episodes seems highly underwhelming in terms of intensity and insight of the earlier ones.

Thankfully, everything else appears to be immersive and brilliant. Beautiful scoring, enchanting set design, and immaculate visuals are some of the ingredients that will keep you hooked. Along with exceptional performances from a remarkable ensemble. The personality changes that Ki-hoon (played by Lee Jung-jae) goes through is an acting masterclass. Other notable work from actors came from Anupam Tripathi, Wi Ha-Joon, Oh Young-soo, Kim Joo-ryoung, and Lee Byung-hun. Although, Gong Yoo's cameo acts as the cherry on the top. His brief appearance both in the pilot and the finale episode acts as a captivating device as well as a friendly reminder to our Goblin ahjussi.

Squid Game grips you through 9 episodes that are realistic enough but watching it is uncomfortable and is certainly not for everyone. Keeping the multiple trigger warnings in mind, the show should not be viewed by both kids under 15 and adults undergoing mental health issues as some scenes can get quite traumatic. The drama is tempting to fast-forward, either to skip the gore, or to bypass the sense of dread when the show stretches out some of the lethal rounds. While the discomfort could be written off as the price of admission for watching a deadly game, it really affirms our own humanity. The fact that this show has become an overnight global phenomenon both seems like an irony and a sad reality.

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Completed
What's Wrong with Secretary Kim
1 people found this review helpful
by Mridu
Apr 7, 2021
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 2
Overall 10
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 7.5
Rewatch Value 10

There's absolutely nothing wrong with 'what's wrong with secretery kim'

If perfection was a Korean Drama, I am sure this one would make the cut.

Character Development: Every character involving the leads and supporting alike, will grow on you. Their individual stories morphing into a whole within an office scenario will almost compel the viewer to feel the laughter, shock and turmoil with/within each one of them.
The depth and character development hence, comes out exactly on point. Not too fast neither too gradual, just perfect.

Plot: There as such, wasn't a well defined plot in here, a theme rather. Of reconciliation, mutual admiration, acceptance layered with a veil of enigma, that were some past memories. Which lemme tell you the drama pulled off. Brilliantly.

Acting: What more can I say of the overwhelming "aura" that is of Park Seo Joon that hasn't been said already. The guy himself is a masterpiece (even when he's trying to be an obnoxious douchebag).
Park Min Young complimented him thoroughly and I was impressed.
Everyone else kept me entertained throughout.
But I'll give the credit where it's due, the child actors especially Moon Woo Jin did the finest job.
For me, the excellent portrayal of the childhood trauma was in all honesty, the highest point of the show.

Extra: The love triangle could have been avoided but I forgive them cause they didn't stretch it pointlessly for too long.
Unpopular opinion, the blooming romance between Gwi Nam and Ji Ah was more fun than that of the lead pair. I mean the duo had their own quirks and toe curling moments which I enjoyed from the get go.

In conclusion, if you're into rom-coms you really can't miss out on this one!

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