#kDrama #WhooshReview

*** Eulachacha Waikiki 2 ***
(2019 - Viki 16 1:10 eps)

[!!CW!! Synopsis & non-spoilery review.]

On a Kim Seon Ho quest, I watched. It turned out to be season 1 repeated with new cast aside from Lee Yi Kyung - same ridiculous gags and juvenile humor.

The guesthouse is in trouble again & the manager (a wannabe actor) asks his friends (a wannabe singer & a wannabe baseball star) to invest. 3 couples end up living in & running the guesthouse. Lots of tropes, slapstick humor, some parental relationship troubles, some disasters & a lot of miscommunication make for some funny & touching moments with a good message about perseverance.

The 3rd leads have a lot of growth & their story stole the show. The acting was very good - a format Lee Yi Kyung excels at, but the writing was lazy - just a rehash of last season's script.

https://mydramalist.com/29322-eulachacha-waikiki-2

#kDrama #WhooshReview

*** Monthly Magazine Home ***
(2021 - Viki 16 1:00 eps)

[!!CW!! Synopsis & non-spoilery review.]

A sr. editor at a monthly housing magazine runs into trouble when the new CEO turns out to be her new landlord. The potential of a story about what it means to have & make a home is unfortunately squandered. The storyline meanders & never finds a good, solid direction.

The cast is marvelous (great guest roles too) & carries the show - a cliched, tropeful story with a self-made, rich, cold boss & a poor, struggling jr. involved in a love triangle, & the worst noble idiocy & time-break/leap I've seen so far.

If you like architecture & seeing a variety of homes (some from other dramas), & appreciate the actors, it's a fun, often silly, kind of sweet watch through eps 15. Just stop there, & it'll be good. The writer went off the rails in the last episode & there's just no redemption possible.

https://mydramalist.com/59909-monthly-house

#kDrama #WhooshReview

*** When the Phone Rings ***
(2024 - Netflix 12 1:08 eps)

[!!CW!! Synopsis & non-spoilery review.]

The presidential spokesperson's dad is running for president & so his life is orchestrated for him. His arranged marriage encountered a hiccup & he married a mute sign language interpreter. They were just 2 people living together on their own -- until his wife was kidnapped.

A makjang with some profound writing, & very suspenseful! However, you must assume the FL is bouncy or some things aren't believable. Talented actors playing interesting characters with growth, amazing chemistry, cute 2nd couple, bromance & womance make a binge-worthy watch.

Communication is a central theme in this story. The questions of how you speak your mind, when you speak your mind, & who has the right to tell you whether you are allowed to speak or not apply to several characters.

https://mydramalist.com/766179-the-number-you-have-dialed

#kDrama #kMovie #WhooshReview

*** Officer Black Belt ***
(2024 - Netflix 1:48)

[!!CW!! Synopsis & non-spoilery review.]

Delivering chicken, playing video games, & practicing martial arts seems enough for Kim Woo Bin's character. One day he saves a Martial Arts Officer. He's asked to cover the officer's job while he recovers. His parole officer partner recommends that he becomes an official Martial Arts Officer.

Warning: the crimes depicted in the show are awful & may be triggering.

The fighting is amazing - great choreography. You will *hate* the bad guy. What's unique is that Kim Sung Kyun really brings compassion to the role of the parole officer & the fun-seeking fighter sees things from a fresh perspective.

In less than 2 hours, Kim Woo Bin provides us with wonderful character growth & a great bromance. It was also interesting to see how an unfamiliar area of the S. Korean penal system works.

https://mydramalist.com/755839-officer-black-belt

#kDrama #WhooshReview

*** Love Your Enemy ***
(2024 - Viki 12 1:10 eps)

[!!CW!! Synopsis & non-spoilery review.]

A trope-filled romcom about rivals since birth. They meet again at their old school as teacher & admin. The old relationship battles begin again.

Both MLs were great, but FLs fell flat. The saving grace in this drama is the backstory. Both of the young leads are fabulous & their chemistry can be felt!

It had a lot of potential, but every storyline seemed to miss the mark & it feels like they pulled problems out of a hat to fill space. Fun cameos & FL's grandpa is a great character, with a couple of his own storylines but neither end up being what they should have been. The love triangle is handled well & there are some funny moments if you aren't looking for reality.

It did make me interested in Ju Ji Hoon's other work & I will be on the lookout for those young actors.

https://mydramalist.com/763553-love-on-a-single-log-bridge

#kDrama
The Penthouse: War in Life (2020)
(2020 - Viki 21 1:25 eps)

[!!CW!! Synopsis & non-spoilery review. Search/Avoid with #WhooshReview]

Residents of Seoul's top luxury apartment will do *anything* to help their families succeed at the noted arts school & climb the ladder of success, including getting rid of anyone in their way. The parents' behavior is echoed in the high schoolers bullying their competition. A revenge scheme becomes the priority & things get crazier.

An entertaining revenge makjang: usual flat characters with no growth & completely erratic behavior - almost all are easy to hate. Superb OTT acting with murders, back-stabbing, jealousy, cheating (in more than 1 way), high finance & more unbelievable plot twists. The cinematography & costuming leans into the dramatic & the sets provide a lot of symbolism. We even have a costume party with Rococo costumes to drive home the point of privilege.

https://mydramalist.com/53535-penthouse

2024 End of the Year Drama Challenge

Day 30 - Was 2024 a good drama year for you?

***** EXCELLENT DRAMA YEAR!! *****

I am too embarrassed to say exactly how many dramas I watched this year. There were so many fantastic ones that I thoroughly enjoyed.

I tried to review almost every drama I watched so that I could remember what they were about. If you're curious, you can search the hashtag #WhooshReview.

[Note: You can also filter the reviews out of your timeline with this hashtag if you don't want to see them.]

#kDrama
Knight Flower
(2024 - Viki 12 1:06 eps)

A fun historical! A widow in a Joseon noble family has to mourn all day (for 15 years) & isn't allowed out. To appease her thirst for adventure & justice, the widow dons a mask at night & uses her martial arts skills to help the needy. She encounters the new captain of the Royal Guard & misunderstandings abound.

It does have court politics & the usual treason, but it's not terribly complicated. There's a lot of humor & the chemistry is unfortunately good because Joseon widows can't do anything about their desires.

Bromance, great side characters (with fabulous actors), sweet moments, thrills, fighting & some twists make it really entertaining. Most episodes have fun epilogues. The story is well-written with well-developed characters who still experience growth. It would be a great historical to start with.

https://mydramalist.com/743683-flowers-that-bloom-at-night

#kDrama
The Atypical Family - REWATCH
(2024 - Netflix 12 1:10 eps)

Even better the 2nd time around!

A dysfunctional family of superheroes who have lost their powers due to modern mental health problems meets a woman who surprises them all & things begin to change.

I was able to pick up on the small clues this time around & a big theme hit me differently. A family that can see the past & the future can't begin to see what's right in front of them in the present. Another idea I liked was that "an ending is a beginning."

Stellar acting, wonderful chemistry, great story, & meaningful cinematography definitely made the rewatch worth it!

https://techhub.social/@whoosh/112593459809405967

#kDrama
Daily Dose of Sunshine
(2023 - Netflix 12 1:10 eps)

A too-nice nurse transfers to the psychiatric unit. She has a lot to learn about psychiatry & herself. She meets a dr. who admires her kindness & then finds herself in a love triangle with him & her oldest friend.

The acting is outstanding, as is the creative cinematography used to portray feelings of mental illness. The very minimal romances are done well. Various mental health problems & their effects on patients & caregivers are the central story. Some illnesses are shown via the patients & some via the hospital staff.

While the portrayal of mental health has made progress in S.K., the solutions & perceived reasons for the problems have not come very far. The "fixes" seemed too easy, but that was expected in this format. Overall, a well-done, emotional story that tries to shed light on problems.

https://mydramalist.com/720737-morning-comes-to-the-mental-ward

#kDrama
Dreaming of a Freaking Fairytale
(2024 - Paramount 10 0:40 eps)

A complete farce! Rich, arrogant, cold chaebol meets poor girl who readily admits she's looking for a Cinderella scenario. Both leads do grow as characters & the show has some good messages about being true to yourself, believing in yourself, & loving yourself 1st.

Decent chemistry - although Pyo Ye Jin disappointed a bit. 2nd lead (same as "Cheer Up") again in a horrible love triangle. Stupid antics, ridiculous meet-cutes, crazy animation & sound effects. Inside jokes about other dramas the actors have been in.

You have to meet this with the right mindset: it's crude & ludicrous. Somewhat similar vibe to "No Gain, No Love," but a common story & not nearly as well executed. Lee Jun Young does not take himself seriously at all - great comedy from him & tears too.

https://mydramalist.com/754061-she-dreams-of-cinderella

#kDrama
Gangnam B-Side
(2024 - Disney+/Hulu 8 0:50 eps)

The dark side of club culture provides the setting inspired by actual events. A demoted, whistle-blowing cop, an ambitious prosecutor, & a pimp work together when girls start disappearing. The villain's seriously evil plan means the corruption runs deep. Discovering the sinister plot makes for an intense watch. There is a lot of violence & some gore.

JCW is not fond of action, although he's extremely good at it. But he accepted this part to get out of his comfort zone. He plays an outlaw very well. Acting is outstanding. Sound & music add to the story. The lighting & cinematography provide a gritty, desperate feel.

What the villains are willing to do to people is terrifying & the team chasing them is thwarted at every turn. There's not one main protagonist. Everyone is fighting for justice in their own way.

https://mydramalist.com/747053-bulk

#kDrama
Cheer Up
(2022 - Viki 16 1:10 eps)

Yeonhee University's cheer squad has a long history, including a terrifying prophecy. A poor woman concerned only about supporting her family & paying tuition is persuaded to join the cheer squad for money. She realizes there is value in doing things you enjoy & having relationships. Other members of the cheer squad also find value in belonging & having others cheer you on.

Interesting look at an unfamiliar (to the U.S.) part of Korean campus life. The love triangle is intense (big-time 2nd ML syndrome) & really becomes the story, making the message take 2nd place. The criminal's motives are mostly glossed over & the crime-ing was very uneven, but since it wasn't central to the story, it's okay. Not a lot of character development, but it did try to present a good message. Some great acting saved the show & made for a very fun watch.

https://mydramalist.com/715821-cheer-up

#kDrama
Brewing Love
(2024 - Viki 12 1:10 eps)

A former military officer works in liquor sales. Despite being great at her job, her branch is about to close. To save it, she tries to recruit a brewmaster to make a new product.

Her past has caused her to hide her emotions. The brewmaster has moved to a rural farm because he's sensitive to sounds, emotions, smells, & tastes.

A lovely story about listening to your heart, taking care of yourself, supporting your community, & found-families is not executed well. The story shifts focus from the sensitive ML & his problems to the FL discovering her emotions. The FL, although fabulous in the action scenes doesn't play the tearful emotions well. 2nd couple is great - touching & funny. Some fun side characters too.

Cute & interesting brew info, but misses the mark on a potentially great story about allowing yourself to have feelings.

https://mydramalist.com/766237-in-the-name-of-alcohol

#kDrama
The Trunk (1 / 2 posts)
(2024 - Netflix 8 1:03 eps)

A divorced wife whose ex-husband still loves her applies for a new wife for him from a contract marriage company that provides 1-year contracts. The new couple slowly gets to know each other, but unresolved past traumas arouse suspicions & jealousies & crazy things begin to happen. The synopsis on MDL is wrong again - yes, there is a mystery, but that is not the story & neither is the romance.

Warning - sex, drugs, & suicide are depicted.

The pacing, aesthetics & sound create a sense of isolation fitting the emotionally damaged characters we meet. They all carry baggage (the trunk) that makes their connections to others extremely tenuous. They use contracts, drugs, other people, & avoidance to deal with their problems instead of facing them. The acting is amazing, with some profound dialogue to make us think about relationships differently.

(See comment for more)

https://mydramalist.com/748589-trunk

#kDrama
Family by Choice
(2024 - Viki 16 1:10 eps)

A little girl's widower dad takes in a young boy & along with the divorced dad & his son who live upstairs, they create a found family. The kids have a close relationship but when the boys hit adulthood, the boys spend time apart from their dads & sister with their "other" families. After 10 years, the family reunites.

The 1st 11 eps about their found family are wonderfully done. But the last eps try to wrap up 10 missing years & the pacing feels off. The story is still good, the acting was great, but the writer got sloppy. Nothing was really left hanging, but neither was it fully fleshed out. Fixing broken relationships takes more than we were given.

Choi Won Young as the girl's dad was excellent. Bae Hyeon Seong played a complex character really well. It was nice for once not to see a family pressuring kids about studying.

https://mydramalist.com/751097-a-prefabricated-family

#kDrama
Mr. Plankton
(2024 - Netflix 10 1:00 eps)

On the day of her wedding to the heir of an ancient family, the bride, pregnant with the next heir, is kidnapped by a man who has just received life-changing news.

It pulls so many emotions out - I was laughing while sobbing. The 1st scene helps to prepare us for this journey of discovering what life means, how important each individual is, what love is, & what being family entails.

The details in the costuming (shoes, baseball uniform), lighting, sound FX, & OST pull you further into the story & impart so much meaning to a simple gesture or a beautifully written line - of which there are many.

The title is unusual, but surprisingly carries the weight of the most important message in the drama. Still pondering all that I learned several days after makes it one of the best of 2024.

https://mydramalist.com/750795-mr-plankton

#kDrama
Remember You / Hello Monster
(2015 - Viki 16 1:10 eps)

A psychological thriller with minimal violence. A criminal interferes in the early lives of the leads. As adults, one a detective, & the other an internationally famous criminal profiler, they are both interested in the criminal. As they discover the relationship between the other & the criminal, they realize they are being manipulated in a twisted game.

Both the screenwriter & main director have other highly-rated drama credits. But the cast! Not only excellent mains, but Kim Jae Young, Doh Kyung Soo & many other great actors create an immersive world. Questions of the end justifying the means, is "good" really good & is "evil" truly bad? Stories of brotherly love show up in several relationships. There is a bit of romance too. The directing & editing keep you wondering & guessing throughout. Very well done!

https://mydramalist.com/13476-hello-monster