whatestheriswatching
Yumi's prime cell, the one that really defines her is the Love Cell, and I really related to how she put her partner first and prioritized him. But when Yumi and Woong had their first fight, I was so proud of her for putting herself first and speaking her mind because that is so important.
The show made me feel so many emotions. It was more a slice of life show than a traditional romance kdrama which I wasn't expecting, but it doesn't get boring because the cells are so entertaining and they really make the show. You see the characters as they go through everyday life, like going on their first trip together and the conflicts that arise from just doing normal things. And when they encounter issues in their relationship, it was all so realistic, like having miscommunications and not being honest with each other.
Maybe this is a spoiler but don't expect a "happy ending".
I haven't read the webtoon before, so the ending came out of left field for me but I think they are going to be multiple seasons for Yumi's Cells so I get it, I do. Despite knowing that now, it does feel tough to end the first season like this. Initially when I saw Woong, I wasn't even attached to him and their first date was so awkward and terrible.... it was like the worst first date ever. But then he really grew on me and they were a really cute couple. I liked how his cells and the way that his inner city was built was so different from Yumi's and reflected his personality and the way that he thought and processed things.
I'm really rooting for Yumi and her happiness.
All the feels.
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Full disclosure: I do not game *at all* and I still found this show entertaining!
I feel like the main couple are good for each other and through the show you can see character development and how they are growing because of each other. The romance is slow but cute. At first it was just him teasing her a lot but then he starts doing small things for her, like bringing her slippers and taking care of her when she has her period which warmed my heart and reminded me of my boyfriend. Since it's a drama though, there are super cheesy unrealistic scenes sometimes *shrug*.Despite having some fluffy scenes though, the show still had substance and I like the realistic way they portray the life of a celebrity / public figure. As much as the esports players are loved by their fans, they also experience a lot of hate and I feel like the show does a really good job at showing that through the FL and ML's challenges.
And although I found it hard to keep track of what was happening sometimes, I thought the scenes where the players were competing were still entertaining with the CG effects and everything.
Things I didn't like about the show:
If you watch the show, you'll just have to accept the fact that there is a ton of product placement. There's also a few e-sports gamers who are supposed to be Korean and the dubbing is pretty cringe.
I don't know if its because I binge-watched it and then took a small break before continuing but I feel like them finally getting together was a bit anti-climatic for me.
That being said, it was a cute drama that I feel like is worth watching even if it's not one of my favourites.
Solid 7.5
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This review may contain spoilers
If you're looking for a spy drama, Vagabond is much better.
I went into this expecting a spy drama but it ended up sort of becoming about politics/corporations and I feel like they were just trying to do too many things. The plot was confusing and hard to follow from the beginning, because it keeps on jumping from the past to the present. At first, I didn't mind because the pacing was still good and I wanted to know what was happening, but I think midway through the series it really bogged down and watching got tedious. Maybe it has to do with the narrative style / directing, but it wasn't my cup of tea. I stopped watching for a few weeks and then watched it on and off for in the middle section so this might also be why I found it confusing.Watching how the FL and ML meet and fall in love is interesting. But I feel like the drama just went downhill and stagnated once they were reunited and the plot shifts to becoming a “kingmaker” drama. I finished the show because I didn’t want to leave it incomplete, but I completely lost interest in the main characters.
The FL's character was disappointing to me. Initially they present her as coming from a family of con artists and then she becomes a con artist in her desire to get revenge on Jeong Bok Hee for her dad, but she ended up not being a strong female lead. And for being a GK shadow, who are supposedly super scary, the ML was careless in some ways - not checking his car for trackers, not thinking about calls being traced. Obviously regular people wouldn't think of those things, but it's a bit frustrating when the characters get into trouble because of these things that I feel like spies should know.
My favourite characters were Jeong Bok Hee and Kim Jae Wook, who are the only two that really make the show worth watching. I found myself wishing that I remembered more of the details from previous episodes just for their story arc, and I was way more invested in their relationship although I didn’t really understand Kim Jae Wook’s actions even in the end when everything sort of got explained.
I think between ep 9-13 are probably the most tedious and then ep 14 things start coming together. I found the bad guys’ plot to make the FL an industrial spy not that convincing and the end also wasn’t that satisfying. I think this drama is one that can definitely be skipped.
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Cute college romance featuring an aloof tall guy and a short clumsy girl who fall in love
Reasons why I liked this drama:1. The main couple have great chemistry with each other
He's super tall and she's super petite. She's SUPER clumsy and he's constantly having to rescue her. It's a bit cliched but they look so cute together and it's entertaining to watch them interact and how everything plays out. It's pretty obvious from the first few episodes that they like each other, but it's not insta-love and the lead-up to them dating is fun to watch. The drama is full of situations where they share cute moments together or show that they like each other in small ways... like him picking a water out of the trash can.... or giving her a rock. HAHAHA.
2. There's no love triangle
Although there are other people who are interested in the two main leads, there's no false hope or leading anyone on. Yay!
3. Character development and communication in the relationship
Communication is so important in a relationship and so is standing up for yourself. In typical drama fashion, there was a situation when they were about to start dating that could have the potential to be a huge misunderstanding / source of them not being together but I'm really glad that didn't happen. I feel like that is a common trope but they used it in a way that felt actually meaningful because the FL was able to grow and realized she was being unfair to her boyfriend and you also got to see the ML being patient with her, but also calling her out on what she was doing. (Not trying to spoil anything so this is very vague)
Things that could have been better:
-the ML feeling jealous over the FL seeing her male friend / making up ridiculous rules
I think this is fine before they start dating, because he was afraid that she was going to end up with the other guy, but if you're already dating, then I think that there needs to be a certain level of trust. I wish that dramas would normalize having friends of the opposite sex while having a boyfriend and it being OK.
-things wrapped up too quickly / not enough backstory
I usually prefer shorter dramas (16 episodes) and find Chinese dramas too long but in this case I actually wouldn't have minded it being longer. I feel like some of the conflict was resolved too easily between other characters at the end and I wish they gave more backstory into the ML's high school days. I was also expecting to see the ML's family but that didn't happen.
-fat shaming
One of the FL's friends had a chubby face and one of the guys kept on making fun of her weight and I feel like that was part of her "character". Asian standards are so unrealistic and I wish they didn't use that trope. She looked perfectly healthy and she wasn't even fat, just not super skinny.
Categories: Light-hearted, sweet romance, college, coming of age, fluff, cute
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The second season of Stranger starts 2-3 years later, when he is transferred again and reunited with Han Yeo Jin. You definitely have to have watched the first season to enjoy season two, since many of the characters appear again and the plot also ties back to past events. This time, they're a bit at odds, since the police and prosecution are fighting over investigative rights and they both sit on a special council. But despite that, you can't separate the dream team and they still end up working together to figure out the truth.
The plot is so unpredictable and complicated and little details end up being significant later on. It's definitely a drama where you have to use your brain and I found myself rewinding a few times to catch stuff that I didn't understand. I don't want to spoil things, but Seo Dong Jae is also in season 2 and let me just say, I was NOT expecting things to go in the direction they did.
Acting/Cast: Really talented cast and you'll see lots of familiar faces if you watch dramas. If you're a fan of the Reply 1998 / Prison Playbook, you'll notice Choi Moo Sung who played Taek's father / Kim Min Chul, and Jeon Hye Jin who appeared in Search:WWW is back playing another strong female role. There's also a cameo at the end from one of my favs, Kim Won Hee!
I feel like this drama explores the varying shades of black and white a lot. Similarly to Season 1, you're left guessing who is a good and bad guy, and sometimes there's not a definitive answer. You see really selfish, terrible people in this drama, but also people who do the right things under tough circumstances.
Something that makes me feel hopeful is that despite how terrible other people are, Hwang Si Mok and Han Yeo Jin really champion justice and don't care about offending other people or the consequences.
I've heard the drama did really well and I think the ending leaves room for a Season 3, so hopefully that happens!
Music: I honestly don't really remember the music, but since it is a suspense drama I'm sure that it also contributed to building the mood of the drama. The only song I really remember is Yoon Mi Rae's Lost, which really caught my ear.
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I'm not sure how I feel about this show, I feel like it started off better and got worse. The drama started off being a mix of romance and suspense/mystery and then the suspense element sort of disappears. You start off learning about Choi Sang Eun, who has a really interesting job as a "single life helper" and this one client of hers who she has been seeing for five years now who just might be a serial killer......or is he? There's also hints at a troubled past, like Sang Eun paying off a 13 year old debt. Her backstory is really sad, and I'm glad that you do end up being able to see the full picture of what happened in the past that is hinted at in flashbacks throughout the story.
There are a few big reveals towards the end, like finding out who her real mom is, but I feel like the way they wrapped up everything was disappointing / anti climatic compared to the buildup. Eena Group literally tries to run over Madame Yoo and people break into their home and things seem very serious and it is resolved super easily once Sang Eun steps in. I get that the brother was the "enemy" and with him out of the way things are easier, but it just didn't really make sense to me. And then the chairman of Eena Group turns over on a new leaf and retires and decies to donate everything? What on Earth is happening. Even more ridiculous, the superstar's mom spends years pressuring him and pestering him and then after one conversation with the FL, she decides to let him do what he wants. And all of a sudden, Gwang Nam's family is fine with him being gay because he's going to be a celebrity. I think that was probably the most unrealistic part, because throughout the show, Gwang Nam's character shows the discrimination that LGBTQ people face and repercussions from coming out... and then at the very end, it's like oh well everything is okay since you're going to be a celebrity now. *face palm*
7/7.5 not bad but not a must watch, with an unsatisfying conclusion
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Right at the beginning of the show, a professor gets murdered and a lot of the plot revolves around figuring out what really happened and looking at all of the possible suspects / getting to know the backstories of different characters. It's a show that hooks you in and keeps you guessing, and I think all of the characters were really well fleshed out and interesting. As the audience, you keep questioning the motives of people and if they are the bad guys or not but I also liked seeing the friendships in the show as it progressed. The study group of law students truly became friends and supported each other, and there is a very subtle kind of romance between Sol A and Han Joon-Hwi although it never really gets explored.
The show has this murder case at the heart of the plot, but along the way explores the relationships between people, how good people can make terrible mistakes and conversely, how people are also capable of doing the right thing even when it's not easy.
I found the ending a bit weird in that I would have liked more details on what happened to the villain of the story and I would have liked to have seen more of Kang Dan, but I enjoyed the show and would watch a second season if it came out. And I haven't seen Kim Bum in what feels like forever, but he still looks so young! I still remember him from Boys Over Flowers, so it's nice to see him in a drama again.
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Silly cute drama with a plot you can't take seriously
100% the reason I started watching General's Lady is because of all the cute clips on Youtube.Watching this is sort of like reading a manga - the main couple are really cute together and there's a lot of kissing scenes and in the beginning it's fun to watch them play around with each other but it's also a bit cliched and there's instalove.
The ML and FL have a lot of chemistry and she plays a lot of pranks on him in the beginning which make for an entertaining show. She is super petty but they're a cute couple and compliment each other. Also this show is shouting-in-a-field level of dramatic. If you like a lot of drama in your romance shows, you'll like this show.
It's a light, silly drama but I feel like they tried to make it something it's not by having the underlying plot of the show be this whole mystery of how his family members died and stuff about politics/scheming that wasn't realistic. The king seemed so incompetent and the mystery plot wasn't really consistent in the first half of the show so it was a bit hard to follow/remember what had happened. The bad guys in this show are also really one dimensional and incompetent. Example: sending a random pregnant lady to the FL to convince her that the ML knocked her up.
If my Chinese was better and I didn't have to look at the subtitles and could just have it playing in the background while I was doing something else, it might have been easier to get through. But because I had to stay relatively concentrated on the drama, I couldn't help but notice the weak plot. Halfway through it started getting kind of hard to watch and I took a break for a few weeks. A lot of the plot is also made up of misunderstandings that lead to unnecessary drama that then gets resolved, so it was hard to watch more than a few episodes at a time.
I feel like this show would have been better if they actually shortened it to 24 episodes and they made the plot tighter instead. The end where it turns out it was a screenplay felt kind of unnecessary, like it was a sort of ploy to explain away all the inconsistencies by saying oh it was just a drama. I wish they had explained how he managed to rescue her, because I actually want to know!
One other thing that I didn't love - the FL was constantly jealous/suspicious of every single new female character that was introduced, like they were all there to steal her husband. It just seemed immature and I feel like she didn't have enough trust in her husband, even after they had been through a lot. She's super hot headed and jumps to conclusions / makes assumptions and I wish that there was more character development as the show progressed instead of her staying the same. Even towards the end, she doesn't trust him and thinks he's going to rebel when as a viewer I knew that would not happen.
I liked the theme song but I feel like they only have one song and played it constantly.
It would be nice if they had other songs too.
Unrelated to the review at all, but finding out that the two leads are both a year younger than me made me feel very old hahaha.
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I usually don't finish these types of reality shows, but I liked this one, although the ending was completely unexpected.I also watched this after En Hyphen had already been formed, so there wasn't that element of being able to choose the boys for me, although I didn't look at the member line-up on purpose because I didn't want to spoil it for myself.
The show is an interesting format - at first the boys get to vote for who leaves and then later on it's more dependant on what the viewers / producers vote for, but I like that the boys got to decide at first since they are the ones who have to work with each other. Throughout the show, you can see them forming their group dynamic and see different roles that the members would potentially play in their new group, like Niki leading the dancing or Heeseung directing the vocals. In the later episodes you also get to see their daily lives too outside of practise time, like who does the cooking and cleaning.
The show starts with 23 contestants and there are some heartbreaking moments, like when K used his card and then he ended up eliminating Taki who he was trying to save in the first place. You really cannot predict who is going to get in. Only 4 of the people that I was sure would get in made it, and there were so many plot twists since every episode the ranking changed. It's sad that people get eliminated, but I think the latter episodes when there are only 11 contestants left is when you get to really know and like them. Niki is an amazing dancer, and super hardworking. Heeseung is such a nice guy and takes care of other people too. Jay is a hilarious, emotional rollercoaster of a human. He goes from angry and sad and vowing revenge all the way to being a sweetheart and writing goodbye letters to everyone because he thinks he's going to be eliminated. Honestly they all seemed like really nice people, and it sucks that they couldn't just make an 11 group team and call it a day. The biggest shock for me was K not making it into the final line-up when he was so talented and I could totally see him in the group.
Music: I feel like the songs are a higher quality than the ones that were made for the Produce 101 shows and this show actually made me more interested in BTS. I've heard some of their songs before, but I actually learned a lot from the show about the different songs and they had the lyrics translated on screen too. And the episode when BTS was there was hilarious from what I remember.
Performance: My personal favourites were the Dive Into You performance (Jay and Hanbin were really good in this) and Fake Love (Heeseung was amazing in this). I dance casually, and just from watching them practise and their process made me think about stuff like facials / performance and inspired me to want to work on my performance skills.
Finished Nov 15, 2020
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I think this is one of those shows where you have to watch a few episodes to really get into it. When I first started watching, I just remember thinking, "Wow all that drinking can't be healthy" and the blind date scene where all three of them went on a date with the same guy make it seem like their characters were a bit over the top. But then as I watched on, I got engrossed and invested in the lives of the three main characters and their behaviours just seemed to fit them naturally.
Sure, drinking is a big part of the show, but beyond that it's a show about really strong, enduring friendships and unpacking the lives of these three very different woman who happen to be best friends. It's funny, touching, absorbing and just overall fun to watch while also talking about some really tough life situations.
I think the show also has a nice message about acceptance. The three best friends are so different in personality and lifestyle choices, but they all love each other and accept one another for who they are.
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Heartwarming sports drama that introduced me to speed skating
Firstly, the male lead and female lead were such a cute couple. At first, I felt like she just looked really young so it was a bit hard to believe that she was a university student but as I kept watching I started really liking the two of them together. The fake dating plot is cliched and has been used a lot, but how they went from that to liking each other and dating was really cute. Their first kiss was so awkward and adorable that it really gave me the feeling of first love. This is a really long show at 33 episodes but I feel like I actually could have watched more. The two main characters go through a lot of challenges and hardships together and worked so hard for their dreams. It felt like even though there was a romance in the show, there was also a lot of clips of them training and being on the ice and a big part of it was about their sports which makes sense to me since they are both athletes. I haven't seen the male lead in anything before but his acting was great.I came into this not knowing anything about speed skating, but I enjoyed learning about this sport and actually ended up watching some clips from the Winter Olympics afterwards. I really liked Coach Zhang and how she tries to give all her team members a fair chance and encouraged them to reach their full potential instead of showing favouritism. I never played sports and I don't know what it's like to train at a competitive level but I really hope that there are coaches out there that support every member of their team, not just the ones that are supposed to be the best. The competition scenes were so exciting it felt like I was watching a real competition, not a TV show. Some of the skating clips are kind of funny, but I don't know if that's intentional.
I liked how Shen Zhen Yi and her best friend Zhu Le Le supported each other and had each other's backs in different circumstances and as a supporting character I feel like Zhu Le Le was an important part of the show. I liked how the show gave her lots of screen time and her own struggles as well and I really empathize with her being scared to truly "like something" and feeling mediocre. I think that a lot of people can relate to having imposter syndrome and fear of failure holding you back. But I feel like this show did try to convey the message that everyone can be a main character and has their moment to shine which I appreciated.
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Easy to watch drama about gaming and space with a great main couple
I wish my Mandarin was better because I think the meaning of some of the banter between Yu Tu and Jing Jing didn't translate well into English so sometimes I got confused but I still really enjoyed watching this show. Despite one of the main characters being a celebrity, the relationship between the ML and FL is surprisingly down to earth and low key. And in terms of conflict, much of it is internal and related to character growth - mainly Yu Tu's struggle between chasing his dreams and having financial stability to support his family, and this struggle to accept his feelings for Jing Jing.I wish that they had talked more about their high school days because I'm so curious about whether Yu Tu had feelings for Jing Jing at all before or if it was entirely one-sided. It seems like right off the bat when they meet again he's willing to go out of his way to spend time with her (ie. commuting hours every single day and tutoring her in gaming) when they've only just met again and they weren't close in high school so I feel like there is some history behind that.
Although it was 32 episodes, I think it's really easy to watch. Their relationship isn't cliched / like the typical romcom, but they have good chemistry and cute banter and although it's cheesy I lived for the moments when Yu Tu's friends found out that he was dating a celebrity hahaha. After they become a couple, it does pick up a lot and I really like their relationship dynamic. He gets to pursue his dreams and she is equally successful and passionate about her career too.
I was definitely not expecting the show to focus so much on space and Yu Tu's job but the transition from gaming to space felt natural.
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The absolute worst thing about the show is that it's over
Just like the first season, Hospital Playlist 2 gave me something to look forward to every week and when I thought of Thursdays - I thought to myself "Oh there's a new episode out!"I liked that it was released weekly and I was watching as it aired so that I could savour each episode rather than binge watching it. In season 2, relationships continue to develop especially between Ik Jun and Seong Hwa and Seok Hyeong and Min-ha. I remember watching the first season and actually not really liking Chu Min-ha that much but then she kept on growing on me and watching her and Seok Hyeong was probably one of my favourite parts of this season. But really, I love everything about the show.
This show honestly has everything. Great relationships, meaningful dialogue and heartwarming moments, plot twists, tackling tough topics with compassion, and hilarious scenes. You will laugh, you will cry, you will sing along to songs you know (and don't know).
I feel like a lot of time actually passes by in this season, more than I expected, but it flows really well. I can't believe season 2 is already over... maybe it's time to rewatch season 1.
I can't think of a single negative thing to say about the show, other than that there isn't a confirm third season yet. *cries*
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I expected the show to be a bit cliched because of the OCD angle but it's actually not. The backstory behind the ML is interesting and I like how the drama is art-oriented. This is a hate into friendship into love type of show, and the ML is really unlikeable in the beginning. Super rude, controlling, really not a nice person. But there's hope! Later on their relationship is very sweet and he is super supportive, helping her study and just becoming a great friend and they do make a cute couple. A lot happens (this is a 30 episode drama after all) so I feel like you just have to go with the flow and not think too much.
ALSO - If you're watching this, it's important to know that the summary is wrong about her age (or else this was just a huge plot hole on the show's part). It says she's 18 which contextually doesn't make sense, but then halfway in the show they mention she's actually 20. I would save you the confusion if you're like me and need things to make sense.
Also, the mom in this story is actually the *worst*. You have been warned.
There are some obvious plot holes and some sudden things that happen that were confusing / didn't really add to the story, but overall I enjoyed watching the show. I did find the ending a bit lackluster. I feel like it was a bit abrupt and everything just wrapped up so easily but it didn't spoil the show for me.
This is a show with good supporting characters who are fun to watch as well, and I really liked the friendship between Xun Ran and the FL. He just reminded me of a pure innocent puppy, who just happens to be a genius. *shrug*
I take it back about the cliches though. There are still a few, like when she gets a makeover and suddenly noone recognizes her even though she looks the exact same LOL.
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short, doesn't drag, can finish it in one day since in total it's around 3 hours long
Cons:
due to its length, I feel like sometimes the plot jumps / there's not enough explanation so it can be confusing trying to figure out everything
I didn't love or hate this show. It's good if you're just looking for something short to watch and don't want to commit to a full-length drama but I found the plot lacking and it made it hard for me to really root for the characters so it wasn't that satisfying to watch.
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