Help! Is there a script doctor in the house?!

The drama started off promisingly. The FL was on a revenge mission and she had to dress as a man to become a royal doctor and hence enter the household of THE army commander. So far so good, the first few episodes was played like a farce and there were funny moments. The meet-cute between the F/ML was good but I don't really like the power dynamics between the OTP for a good portion of the show. There was so much master/slave role play and grovelling. I was just about to type "then the show began to drag" but I had to stop myself because technically, it didn't drag, well, not yet. It just played with the same ideas over and over with some embellishments. There was progress on the side but the main theme went on for too long without resolution. All this time, the smartest dude in the city, aka the ML, just kept missing all the signs that the FL is actually a she. He got really confused about his feelings for her and pull the noble idiot trick by sending her away as he can't have romantic feelings for a man, heaven forbid!
This actually reminded me of Coffee Prince which had the ML all tied in knots with his feels towards the FL (which was also cross-dressed as a man) but the k-drama was far superior to this but I digress.
Where were we . . . . ? While the first half of this show was muddling its way through some rom-com shenanigan, it all suddenly turned very dark when the commander played the noble idiot card. There were evil plots, tortures, murders, etc. Even when the ML rescued the FL from certain death, you would think "hooray, big reveal, happy times!!", the writer(s) actually doubled down on the gender bending plot and injected more angst and more misunderstandings. Honestly, the first half of the show was built upon one big lie but the second half was basically rounds of misunderstandings compounded by more lies and misguided good intentions. It was a frustrating watch to say the least. This type of tonal inconsistency was quite evident in the second half.
At about the 2/3 mark, the ML finally discovered the FL's gender (but not her true identity), he did a happy dance and swept her off her feet and did all the sweet things that should have taken 3-4 episodes to do but covered them in a few scenes. The good times only lasted a couple of episodes anyway and the show went full melodrama on us. It was not even good melo. Just more angst, more deceits and things kind of went full circle.
Why I said the show went full circle was that a lot of things hinted at the beginning came back to haunt us. When you consider there were literally a handful of key characters, the circle was quite small. Annoying characters that were banished returned. Love triangle that was resolved, revived. The sad part was that the 2ML would have won the Noble Second Lead Syndrome hands down had his personality changed so that he became despicable (he was redeemed at the end). The whole 2FL plot basically went nowhere. I mean nowhere.
A lot of the last third of the show served only to push a few emotional buttons and extended the story. The so called evil mastermind plot was weak and served only to tie a few threads together.
It was no surprised that we ended up with a cliché happy ending. It was nice but not very satisfying. The lady that was the root cause of all the misdeeds didn't really pay for her crimes. She just went and became a nun. A standard out in a historical context but not a very satisfactory from a modern viewer's perspective.

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An ode to Chinese cooking with a side order of romance

Setting a drama in a restaurant or café is nothing new, nor is the main character being a chef or kitchenhand. What was new in this case was how important was the food and all its elements in this drama. Not only was eating a key part (did they eat a lot of food!) but every stage of its creation, mise en place, the cooking and plating were all front and centre. Where most drama would show the kitchen as a busy back drop and chefs running around then the food would magically appear, this is like a full-on cooking show. It was so important that the cooking segments actually had its own theme music! Not that I'm complaining as they were beautifully shot and presented. The only minor negative is that it was obvious the FL can't cook this well so the actual cooking were done by professional chefs and some of the footage had a man's hand doing the cooking. Slightly jarring but you get used to it. Also in that vein, the setting was ancient China but some of the dishes were more like fusion cuisine with modern touches.
Needless to say, this was not suppose to be a cooking show so there has to be a story. Honestly, you have to suspend your disbelieve a bit as the (young) FL just appeared from nowhere and had the ability to cook just about anything and to the highest (we are talking Michelin stars) standard. Once you accept that, the rest of the story is not bad. It is the typical rag to riches type of trope. The FL had to work hard to make it big. She still had time to find love though!
The OTP had good chemistry, there were a bit of skinship but not over the top. The ML was a nice change from the usual period drama ML who can look a touch effeminate. He was a man's man, a skilled martial artist with strong features and a tough demeanour but has a soft spot for the FL. They did make a very good team and he helped her a lot in her journey.
While I said that the story was fairly typical, I have to qualify that by saying it was better than the usual trope as the pacing was smooth and plot twists were handled deftly. Nothing was left to fester. Evil plots are foiled in a timely manner because of the OTP's insightfulness, cleverness and diligence. It was also good to see that the OTP were surrounded by good people that were their true supporters and helpers. Unsurprisingly, the show was angst light but it was not like nothing bad happened, it was just that the OTP handled them well and we moved on. The show was full of positive vibes. Some might consider it too sweet.
Now for the not so good bits. Whilst the show managed to weave food into every aspect of the show, it did make the central plot a bit weak. They had to bring out every possible plot devices involving food (and recycled a few as the show progressed). Some worked but some just felt like inconsequential fillers.
Finally, I actually think this show has a high re-watch value as I wanted to watch the cooking again to steal some ideas and the story was nice and sweet enough that you'd go away feeling warm and fuzzy.
BTW, the FL had a busy year. She was also the FL in the General's Lady which I also enjoyed very much.

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A good rom-com with an engaging story to back up the cute

The promise of this show is not new but it was executed well. Acting was good and the story engaging. The interesting thing about the plot is that the love line is integral to the story but it doesn't drive it. It is the decade old friendship and e-sport world that forms the core of this drama. Because of that, the romance was fairly straightforward. There was a little bit of angst but no more than a few bumps. However, I don't quite understand why they introduce the senior as a competitor for the ML as it was quite obvious from the start (that is why I don't consider this as a spoiler) that he doesn't stand a chance with the FL. If anything, the writer took it too far and he would have been better served if he just come to his senses and bow out gracefully. What we ended up with a sad and broken man for little gain to the drama.
What is also interesting is the patriotic angle. Thankfully, it is not too jingoistic (except towards the end) and some may argue that it is more about making dreams come true for the younger generation. Whichever way you want to see it, it is not a hard sell and the drama is light and warm-hearted in most parts.
Back to the romance, there are several romantic plots in play, some front and centre and some were hinted at and stayed unanswered in the end. It was nice that there was not a lot of angst with the love lines and what there were was resolved fairly timely so that the OTP (and others) can spend more time being lovey-dovey and cute. Speaking of cute, the FL really knows how to do aegyo. Other FL can learn a thing or two from her. These romance sub plots were used well to space out the tense e-sport dramas and friendship angst and some of the funniest moments are generated by the interactions of the OTP.

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Good girl wins it all!

What a sweet love story. It might start off with the usual hate-hate relationship but when they fell in love (organically) they were in deep. Whilst I dislike the usual breakup trope used in most k/c-dramas, I didn't mind it too much here. It was still hard to watch the sadness and angst but it really served to prove to the world just how much they loved each other and you just can't break that bond. There is also a fair bit of skinship and it was done with feeling and maturity. No plastic or fish lips kisses here. OBTW, the show can also be titled "good girl wins it all". Enjoy!

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Trope heavy, standard fare that went on for too long

The show started as a typical office romance rom-com. It moved along steadily for a number of episodes and there were some funny moments and a bit of cute here and there. The story line is the standard cool/aloof boss, bubbly girl pairing. I won't say that there was great chemistry but enough to sustain the plot. There are a decent amount of skinship in the last 1/3. It really took a turn for the worse when they introduced the ex GF trope about 1/3 way into the run. No problem with that as it is so common in dramaland but some bad writing really gave me pause. Not only was the ex manipulative (given), a bit evil (also given) but the story had the ML and 2nd ML doing nothing to spare the FL all the pain and suffering at the hands of the ex even though she was caught red handed in the backstabbing act. She was allowed to keep working in the same office and in a management role no less. I suppose so that she can keep harassing the FL for many, many episodes for our "entertainment". When you consider the ML brought all this on from the beginning and kept digging a deeper and deeper hole is depressing. Complete failure to communicate is not a good plot device. It is just annoying in my book. The saving grace is Dean (2nd ML), he is a true and loyal friend, smart, handsome and protector of the FL. Which only makes the ML look worse by comparison. When you consider the ML final confessed to the FL at the 2/3 mark, I would have given the show a higher marks if they wrapped it up there and then (with a final happy ending episode) but the show went on for another 8+ hours! This means Just about every trope got an airing. It went from a rom-com to melo to farce! Nobody is ever punished for any misdeeds and EVERYONE gets a happy ending, serious?! It got to the point that I was skipping scenes in the middle episodes because it was so annoying and predictable. The needy ex GL served no purpose other than to generate angst and extend the show for way too long. Use that trope by all means but please don't labour it. Finally, don't be fooled by the episode count on Viki. They are double length episodes. On Netflix, it is 39 episodes about 42 mins each. It is not a short nor a quick watch.

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A breath of fresh air but not without flaws

I think this series held a lot of promise but not all were delivered and some mono-tonal writing caused it to lose some points. I have to give the writers kudos for including so many societal issues in the plot(s) and hence generated a lot of online reactions in the Chinese social media. While that was a breath of fresh air in the local TV scene at the time, I can't help but feel that it was done largely to generate the said traffic and viewership but most of the issues are not really explored, a bit of issue du jour? This is not helped by fairly shallow character portrayal. Especially the two youngest women, Qiu Yingying and Guan Ju'er. One was naive and immature to the point of being almost an airhead while the other is timid and grey. When so little character development happens in 42 episodes, you have to start asking questions. Not that they don't play their roles, it is just that it almost becomes a caricature and tools for the writers. The whole love line for GJE was just ridiculous. Why/how does someone have an instant crush and then nothing come of it in the drama. Even if she put up a fight for him, it would have been good but it was just side glances and deep sighs. I have to say that Andy as a character was the most complex of the five but then again, I find it hard to ship the relationship with Qi Dian. The writers tried their best to build chemistry but I never felt it exited the friend zone. How hard he tried to get inside her pants was also a bit off putting. The show also have some double standards. They are happy to highlight social issues but at the same time, they also push success and wealth to the front. While they didn't go so far as using the "rich dude get away with murder" trick, so many times fun is equated to staying in 5/6 stars hotels , clubbing with the elites and eating in fancy restaurants. Don't even mention fast cars as they are on full display as moving PPL. On one hand, the masses will identify with the 3 struggling women on the 22nd fl but the have's and have not's are also in stark contrast so that there can't really be happiness unless you have money and power. I did enjoyed a lot of the show but there are moments when I have to stop myself from shouting at the monitor when things get stupid and/or dragged on. OtJ2 is over 50 episodes.

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A cheap wine is not always bad, but a drama can leave a bad taste in your mouth

First of all, do not confuse this with the 2015 k-drama with a similar name.

The premise of the Show is based on the rich guy/poor girl trope. The one key change is the ML has a "rare" genetic disease that cause him to grow younger every day and the FL is the cure. When we first meet the ML, he appears to be around 18-20yo. This allows the Show to turn this into an idol drama. There is nothing new about a young handsome CEO in this genre but it is more problematic here. The issue is that the ML is supposed to be in his thirties, a high profile businessman and a man of the world.

I did try to meld the two characters together but it only serves to break my immersion far too often. I’d do a double take between scenes when I’m trying to realign my bearings. Am I watching the ML being himself or an older man acting out of character? Neither options are a good fit for the Show.

Let's just say it out loud, our young ML just don’t have the acting chops to pull this off. He looks, dresses and acts like an idol. He doesn't possess the gravitas nor the maturity to pull off heavy duty scenes and when he is with the FL, he is just a young gun in love. The script has to share some of the blame because it did little to hide his shortcomings.

On top of that, this Show’s plots are both transparent and predictable. That is a fatal combo in my book. You really don’t need a crystal ball to foretell the future here. Most of the trials and tribulations are piled on in set pieces instigated by cookie cutter antagonists. Some are even self-inflicted.

The antagonists' motivations are crystal clear and their schemes are rudimentary to say the least. To paraphrase a famous movie quote, “of all the trouble spots in all the towns in all the world, the FL walks into every one of them.” Inexperience and naivety can only paper over so much before you start to facepalm as the next pain point approaches like clockwork.

I accept that C-dramas and tropes are two peas in a pod. I can put up with cliché characters and tropey plots as long as the show is enjoyable. Fourth wall/immersion breaking can be fun and an effective tool of the trade but when this is a regular yet haphazard side effect of the plot then it has the opposite effect.

One final thought. With so many c-dramas being produced, new setting and themes are hard to come by. Gaming is popular, so are the medical and business worlds. However, this is a double-edged sword. Some shows do well with the help of learned consultants and industry involvements. You can see and appreciate the effort they've put in. Others resort to a jumble of jargons and make-believe scenarios that are more sleight of hand than creditable. Thus it is brave of the Show to choose the local wine industry as the setting.

It started decent enough, While the narrative is skewed, it is mostly harmless. However, the longer it goes, the more fanciful it becomes. This feeds into the immersion issue I mentioned before. When the plot and acting are good, you can ignore minor issues. In this case, you just can’t unsee/unhear some of the crazy stuff them put up as truism of the whole wine culture. It might sound ok to people who knows nothing about wine but for anyone else, it can be laughable if not downright grating.

Acting wise, I've said enough about the ML. The FL turns in a passable performance but this is essentially a bread-and-butter role for her cadre. The support cast are not doing much better. Their roles are one dimensional and the bar is set fairly low. Nobody is rushing to set a PB.

So, after 13 episodes, I have decided to drop this Show. It is not unwatchable (I have seen worst) but I have lost all interest. I could shelved it indefinitely but why bother to pretend. Maybe quaffing a bottle of vino like they do in the Show would help but my bottles are my Little Precious so I'll take a raincheck instead. Peace out. ;)

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I have a wish too . . please shorten this series by half

The premise of the show is interesting. A demon who can grant a wish to anyone in exchange for eternal damnation. We were shown a few tantalising examples to whet our appetite. It also serves to demonstrate the ML’s demonic powers. It was entertaining while it lasted.

The wheel starts to fall off once the Demon gets his powers back. We are attacked by a herd of drunken unicorns. We have a whole episode of them being lovey-dovey. So sweet, my teeth are aching. Other than a couple of key scenes, it is utter meaningless fluff. This happened again and again. Sugar overload or deepest melancholia, choose your poison.

But wait! There's more. Why stop at unicorns? Let’s throw in a psycho killer, a deranged young man and a power-hungry evil mastermind. That's what I call a party! Some show can pull this off, but this drama wasn't even trying. Most of the characters are one dimensional. Many side characters are just canon fodders. There was minimal creativity. It is a smorgasbord of ideas mashed together and spread super thin.

This is not helped by plot holes, bad pacing and whiplash change of tones. We literally have filler episodes inserted into the middle of the show just to pad out the runtime. Throw in lengthy recaps and repetitive flashbacks to the 18th century and we have a lot of dead space in between the key plot developments. I can only credit this to a need to keep our leads in play for as long as possible so that the production company can capitalise on their star powers. The amount of PPL is quite egregious.

Unsurprisingly, the 2OTP is a lazy caricature. Their "romance" was a 5 sec joke that went on for 5 hours. Those seasoned actors have my deepest respect. They took one for the team.

I also feel sorry for the fans of the two leads. The potential is there. Their pairing could have been magical but there is very little spark here. The script is so heavy handed that you stop believing after awhile. They still look good together, but it feels like they are models sashaying through the glamourous sets.

Sadly, the paper-thin plot and lazy writing makes the rest of the show barely watchable. As soon as the Demon regained his powers, the tension is gone. If that is not enough, they throw in a god who can override everything. Who needs narrative logic when you have god's will. I do have to give the show props for their version of God. It is certainly an interesting take and a brave choice from a Korean perspective.

O Daemon, I beseech thou! Grant me mine wish. Pretty please?

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What is better than one swoon worthy CP? Two, of course!

I was reading a review of a movie and the reviewer made a salient point, a movie is supposed to make you feel something and by extension, dramas should do the same. This pretty much summed up why this show is so good. The writer-nims really know how we want to feel when we watch a rom-com and they delivered in spades.

There is no point is pretending that this show has no clichés or tropey plotlines. In its defence, it was done in such a way that it piqued our interest, pulled us through the door and then threw away the key. It conditions us with little swoon worthy and feel good moments. Angsty bits are fleeting, and it is always followed up by a bit more sugar. We are addicted and want more.

This is aided and abetted by the CP's deep love for each other and they were largely unshakable. This core tenet is what gave the Show an edge over others. We have all seen this before, romance dramas go through the sundry meet-cute and feed us a large dose of artificial sweetener before expending a lot of negative energy to pull them apart. It can be so wearing that we find it hard to ship the CP. We don’t have that problem here. Most viewers should be able to ship the two leading CP’s and ship them hard!

Speaking of the CP's, we have two primary couples (Tae Moo/Ha Ri and Sung Hoon/Young Seo) and a secondary pair (Eui Ju/Kevin). The primary pairings are great with oodles of chemistry and matching good looks. In all honesty, the 2OTP was almost as interesting as the 1OTP and should have equal billing. The 3OTP was ok but I do wish they'd tone down their overacting a bit, especially the 3ML.

Is the Show perfect? If you had asked me before the end of episode 11, I’d have said yes but it did stumble towards the end. The intimate scene of the 1OTP was oddly lacking. It was a long time coming, the stars were aligned but it just felt clunky. Compared that to the intimate scene of the 2OTP much earlier, it was night and day.

The next slip up is the forced separation of the OTP. Simply put, it was a waste of time. The FL was doing fine winning the granddad over and they could have kept going along that line. The 1 year time skip took up precious time and the show lost momentum. I would much prefer they give us a wedding scene (or two!). Maybe even the honeymoons.

It felt like the writer-nims phoned in the last 15mins of the Show from a beach on Jeju-do. The granddad's illness has little emotional impact nor their separation. Why bother at all?

The ending is as sweet and happy as you’d expect but it could have been much more of a fan service. Our two beloved couples were left with just a promise of eternal love. It would be much more rewarding if they followed the webtoon a little closer and gave us the key milestone moments. :P

OST was good. Rewatch value is high.

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Bad show comes with great hair loss when you pull them out in frustration

This show caught my attention because the director helmed My Liberation Notes. The ML also starred in Notes as well as Because This Is My First Life. The FL was in One Spring Night and Our Blues which I rated highly. As you can see, it is quite a cabal of industry veterans and they pack serious firepower.

It certainly started in a quirky and off-beat way. Not exactly laugh a minute but I can see the potential but there are red flags. The characters are painted with bold strokes if you want to be generous. The ML is rude, crude and takes no prisoners. The FL fairs a little better, but she is a wimp and doesn't behave like a 35 years old vet. Most of the supporting cast are opaque or caricatures of the usual motley crew.

The A-plot of the show is focused on the FL having to "reluctantly" touch a living being’s posterior to see fragments of their memory. I'm sure it got more than a chuckle at the pitch meeting.

What we ended up with is a collection of gags and ideas that already feels tired after 4 episodes. There are glimmers of hope in the early episodes, but EP.4 final jumped the shark for me.

Let's backtrack a little. Many funny and engaging shows have quirky and edgy themes, but we need some basic ingredients in the special sauce to make it works. For instance, charismatic lead(s), engaging story and/or strong internal logic. Unfortunately, this show is a fail for me. Please allow me to elaborate.

A charismatic lead allows us to overlook serious character flaws and even turn them into endearing traits. We want to be invested in our leads. In this case, the ML is bellicose from the start and behaves more like a thuggish bully than a police detective. He can also turn into a bootlicking toady with the blink of an eye. To say that his moral compass is spinning freely is an understatement.

On the other hand, the FL is a frumpy doormat. How can a vet get shanghaied without kicking up a fuss? Not to mention her whole career is a facade to appease her grandfather who wants nothing to do with her.

For a fleeing moment, I even entertained the idea that our leads is the OTP but to be honest, they have ZERO chemistry. However, the scenario of the FL going nuts over Suho just because of his good looks feels like an attack of the hormones. This plot idea walked with the dinosaurs.

In terms of internal logic, the show is a mess. So much of the settings, subplots, etc are nonsensical. Rules are either abused or ignored on a whim. A case in point, hair loss is a major issue for the FL. The show makes it clear that overuse the special power equates massive hair loss, simple. However, all through EP.4, she touched so many butts! How does this square with her phobia? I facepalmed when I saw the boomerang shoe. Ye gods!

As you can imagine, there are many dodgy gags, cringey slapstick moments, mostly involve the FL and awkward encounters. It is weird to watch the FL manipulating her BFF’s bum like a touch screen, swiping left and right, pushing and kneading for finer control. Sights of the white handprints on the firm buttocks of the gym junkies is just puerile. More excuses to watch the FL debase herself in front of the ML. The same ML who would blackmail, bully or cajole her mercilessly.

BTW, what police procedure would green-light a police captain charging into a drug kingpin's hideout solo . . armed with just a pencil. Yes, cute John Wicks reference but it works a whole lot better on paper. I’m also perplexed by the ML's (il)logic in randomly tasting white powder in shops as a legitimate way to spot drugs. I am exhausted.

The final straw for me is the abuse/harming of a young woman purely to inject some unnecessary shock/horror. What is more egregious is that the victim was only rescued by our leads from her abuser at the end of ep.3. The show spend the whole of ep.4 denigrating her so that when she was dragged away by a faceless assailant, we can feel "okay"? Nobody deserves that. It is callous and lazy writing.

At this stage, the Show is unwatchable for me. I might give it more leeway if it is a traditional farce. So why reach for the sinister plots and gratuitous violence which changes the tone completely? What would motivate such well regarded director and seasoned actors to sign on to this project. I hope it is not just money.

Can I watch 12 more episodes of this? Not unless I get hit by a meteorite.

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Why does this show exist?

I liked the leads from their other starrers, but this show have me scratching my head and in need of a stiff drink.

The premise of this show is that the FL is a game tester for a new “farming” game set in a generic ancient China. The technology side is very vague.

She enters the game Fortnite style, and we know it is a game because big bold computer-generated graphics will pop up from time to time. She also talks about NPC, internet and her cell phone while she is in character. As a play tester, she never takes notes nor critique the gameplay. I hope she is not pay by the hour.

Dramas have used computer games/e-sport as backdrop for some time. A lot of them are based on wuxia games or contemporary shooters like CrossFire. Usually, the drama is firmly rooted in RL and only use recreated game segments to add some spice. However, this show is almost completely set in game except for the first few minutes where the FL was seen in the company's modern office. Oddly enough, there is very little CGI used.

Initially I was attracted to the concept but I end up finding the show very problematic. The biggest issue is the script and the setting. The FL was given a game winning goal which is a tough ask. She can’t exit the game until she reach that goal. This is an odd concept for a commercial game. What is the correlation between game time and real time? There has better be a health warning on the box.

This is not helped by the “world” being very confusing and, to be honest, sloppy. Sometimes it behaves like a game where anything goes and logic be damned. At other times, it is just like a normal world with rules and consequences. There is no clear boundary. We are left guessing if the show is going to play nice or jump the shark on the weakest pretence. This is further complicated by the ML running a more serious plot parallel to the “gaming” one. The player has no control over him, yet his actions/reactions are far more intriguing.

By the end of ep.6, the show has evolved into a tropey feudal family melodrama. Are we still watching a "game" or got bait-and-switched? I am so confused. The FL has little influence on what is happening around her but it doesn't faze her at all. There are no further hints that this is still a computer simulation. That's taking role playing and immersion to the next level.

I know this is a very circular way of asking my original question. Why does this show exist? It is disjointed, confusing and farcical. There are so many "NPCs" but most of them are awkwardly portrayed. A game can get away with it by design but not a proper drama. The show seems to have taken a shortcut to parachute the FL into the plot but then it becomes a completely different beast. The plot is lazy and self-serving. It flips from a farce to a tragedy without stopping for breath. What happened to cause and effect?

BTW, production value is questionable. Acting is definitely hammy and patchy. OST is adequate.

Maybe it will git gud later or the plot will actually make sense. How long are you prepared to wait for that to happen? It is exhausting to watch for me and I'm done. I still like the leads but I'm dropping this show on principle.

Caveat Emptor, my dear dramaland friends.

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Jack of all trades, master of none

If you watched the show because of the official Netflix trailer, then you’d be in shock when you watched the first episode. It has some lighter moments but the bulk of that episode is dark, very dark. It is not until the FL leaves the island when the mood starts to lift but even then, there is a dark undertone that rears its ugly head from time to time and really hits some serious lows towards the end of the run. I’m not talking about drunkenness or bullying but multiple suicides, domestic violence and attempted murders. It is no joke.

Here lies the main problem of this show. The premise of a teenage girl surviving by herself on a deserted island for 15 years is fantastic and if they play it purely as an escapist fair it could work. You will have to suspend your disbelief but with the right cast and a good script, it has a lot of potential. However, like so many k-dramas of late, the writer-nim have to inject darkness into what could have been a light and breezy show.

On top of that, this show put the FL front and centre at the start of the show but then shift the focus onto to the older FL and that changes the tone and pacing of the show. I appreciate the importance of the old FL’s role in shaping the FL but her story as a faded star is much less engaging than the FL's. It is functional but it dips very close to a melodrama when it should have been uplifting and fun. It can hardly be called inspirational.

I understand some dramas are makjang by design while others are psycho thrillers but why do shows need to incorporate elements from several genres. Simplicity and a clear focus might deliver a better outcome. There is a throughline here but sometimes it fades or branches until you are not sure what is the A-plot anymore.

So if we pared back the plot to just the main theme regarding the rescue of the FL and her eventual rise to stardom, it is actually good and wholesome fun. Park Eun-bin played the role with heart. She can be naive one moment and glamorous the next but you can relate to her. Even the simple love story of Mok Ha and Bo Geol is sweet and heartfelt. That makes the padding out of the story feels all the more unnecessary. There is more than enough fuel for a decent 12 episodes run. Rather than watching the growth of the FL into a diva, we ended up with multiple threads pulling in different directions and by the time the spotlight is back on the FL, it is a done deal. We see very little of her “struggles”.

Is it an enjoyable watch? Yes, mostly but it could have been better. As a social commentary, it is stilted and heavy handed. As a fantasy, it feels hemmed in. The constant juxtaposition between the horror of domestic violence and light, uplifting moments can be jarring. Neither theme is helped by the other. It is like watch an unicorn frolicking in the meadows except it also breaths fire and has glowing red eyes!

OBTW, there are moments when I see glimpses of Attorney Woo when the FL looks a certain way. Uncanny. OST is FAB. I believe PEB sang some of the songs. That’s impressive.

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Why are people so unkind?

Writing this review is difficult. It is not because this is a bad show, far from it. However, it does deal with some serious mental health issues. Hence, we must deal with two sides of the same coin. How well does it do as a drama vs how does it handle the portrayal of mental disorders, their manifestations and ramifications.

Let’s tackle the easier objective stuff first. In terms of acting, the show is great. This is particularly true of the cadre of nurses and some of the patients under their care. Their characters are well nuanced, and has depth. I’m “happy” that all the nurses are shown to have RL challenges beyond their professional ones. They are human after all. Of course, there are some cliché characters, but they are on the periphery. Surprisingly, most of the doctors are quite bland and one dimensional.

Production quality is high. We are told that the show created the set based on a real hospital ward. The attention to detail is unmistakeable. However, I am perplexed by the use of glossy and slippery tiles in some public areas and thoroughfares. The FL slipped and hurt her wrist in ep.1 because of them. How could that pass a hospital’s OH&S guidelines?

Let’s move on to the tricky part. Mental health related show is always going to be a challenge to make. Is it drama or reality? This show walks a fine line. I do find it a challenging watch at times, but I’m totally invested. This is largely due to the acting of the key ensemble actors and the rollercoaster storylines. I’m not going to lie, some of the subplots are tropey and can be like a smorgasbord of chapter headings from a textbook. For me, they didn’t appear to have over trivialised the conditions for our entertainment. If anything, the show focused on several serious disorders which resulted in actual suicide, self-harm, deep depression plus other life altering indications. Some scenes are gut wrenching and very impactful. The show is not shy of triggers. Please be aware and exercise caution.

Needless to say, those of us who have not experienced such disorders either directly or indirectly can truly appreciate what the patients are going through and how it impacts on their friends and loved ones. I think the show made an earnest attempt. However, it is still a dramatisation. At some point, the sun must come out and illuminate the way out of the darkest pit of despair so that we can have a decent ending (yes, I know, there have been shows that have gone completely rogue). There is even 2 low key romances that helps to bring the mood to a more even keel. There is little to no skinship though which was a bit disappointing. Don't be fooled by the Netflix promotion. This is not a rom com.

As I mentioned before, I like this show and appreciate its core message. Not all cases will have a positive outcome. A daily dose of sunshine and unwavering support will help a great deal in the treatment and recovery process. There is no panacea. It will be a long and bruising journey. This is a very subjective subject so your personal experience and view will weight far more heavily than my words. Peace out.

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Maybe I need a session with Poong after watching this

Oh, woe is me. Part of my brain that is shipping the OTP and cheering on the gang of Gyesoo Clinic is swooning over the fan service. The ordinary viewer part is saying "meh" (with a Gallic shrug). The cynical reviewer in me is facepalming and asking, "why was this made?".

Let’s take a step back, Poong 2 is watchable and more enjoyable if you are a fan of S1 but at the same time a fan might feel cheated as well. Why is that so? I'm not sure I have a simple answer but let's have a look-see.

As I recall, S1 was cut to 12 episodes. The story progression slowed down towards the end and the development of the love line was arrested, possibly in view of the upcoming S2. After watching S2, my conclusion is that it is not up to the standard of S1. At best, it is a dubious sequel. At worse, a cynical exercise to milk the popularity of Poong 1.

Please let me explain. In Poong 2, the bulk of the side plots are superfluous to the main OTP plot. They padded out the runtime but contributed little. The ghost of Jo Tae-hak was largely a storm in a teacup which ends abruptly. The royal inspector plot was just a power trip of a vindictive and twisted man. The Princess subplot is probably the pick of the bunch, and it is cute in the end but even so, it is largely about an entitled person lording over others (many doors were harmed in making of this show). The plot involving the new governor Ahn is just bad. The man is a blundering fool with a sadist streak and too much power for his beeches. He is a horrible human being, period.

That is lazy writing in my book. Want more angst? Just add an antagonist who love to abuse their powers for little gain other than to make our protagonists’ life difficult. Not once, not twice but three painful times! After each round of maltreatment, the clinic just regroups and carries on. It is a zero-sum game.

Furthermore, the medical practice side seems to have been further simplified to a few cure-all acupuncture points and a bunch of extras milling around the clinic. The so called psychiatry side is very vague, more fanciful than realistic. It is dramatised to be sure but it also makes the palace intrigue and power trip storylines even more egregious.

To be fair, I do like how each member of the found family is given their moments in the sun. However, that can be integrated into S1 if they choose to. If we look at both seasons combined, I'd have to say that they padded it out to 22 episodes with filler subplots. If they had made Poong 1 tighter and have a normal 16 episodes run (instead of the 12 we got), we won’t need a S2. The decent S2 contents can easily fit inside 4 episodes including all the key developments in S2/E10. There is even room for extra skinship. ;)

BTW, airdropping Woo Do-hwan into the show to plug his upcoming Joseon Lawyer drama is either cute or cringey. Take your pick.

Acting from the regular cast is good as expected. The ML carries the show with able supports. I'd still question the chemistry between the leads though. They are cute together but not exactly pulse raising. The new support cast is mostly par for the course. I'd say the last episode is the only one worth a rewatch.

Like I said in the beginning, part of me wants to give this a higher score but the rational side realises that to do so would be sending the wrong signal. Peace out.

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Face/Off ancient Chinese style

I shall start with a mea culpa. I know it is unfair to compare two shows directly but because of its subject matter and lineage, I can’t help it. In fact, it is because of this lineage that I was excited to have found this drama.

The other show in question is The Killer is Also Romantic. It has the same director, period setting and short episodic structure. I have to say that I was quite impressed by TKiAR so I have high hopes for A Familiar Stranger.

To be honest, this Show is good, but it is not great. The issues are manageable but when taken as a whole, it is problematic.
Let’s look at the positives first. I do like the short format as it distilled a lot of the typical wuxia themes down to the fundamentals without all the draggy side plots or distractions. I really appreciate the Viki presentation because it thoughtfully combined the short 16x10mins episodes into 8 longer episodes ranging from 20mins to over 30 mins. It is still bingeable but more practical.

The central pillar of the show is the love line between the leads. That is very well done. The progress is logical and angst lite. It helps that the Show has a laser focus on the leads, and you can sense their longings and feel their love. The “daughter” is cute and wise beyond her age.

Now the issues. The plot is functional rather than well crafted. The theme is tropey and the writer didn’t push any boundaries. While the initial face change device looks promising and fantastical, it was an one trick pony. It came down to soulmates will always recognise each other no matter what. Other wuxia/xianxia dramas have taken this trope further.

The romance of the 2OTP starts out fine. Toxic and manipulative which is de rigueur of the palace intrigue genre. However, the show’s progression feels self-serving. It went the way it did because the plot mandates it rather than being sensical. It felt old school and contrived. Speaking of palace intrigue, once the Show gets going, there is very little actual intrigue. Just some snippets of dialogs and a bit of simple scheming.

This brings us to a key issue. The antagonist is meant to be an evil mastermind but while he is a bit of a homicidal manic, he is no mastermind. If anything, he turned into a weak and pitiful character. This took the wind out of its sail from that quarter.

I binge watch the whole drama in one sitting and I enjoyed it even with the caveats. The swoon worthy romance saved the show. A lot of its problems comes down to not looking after the secondary plots and characters. Almost as soon as the leads are off camera, you start to see plot holes and inconsistencies. A show of such short duration should be tighter and more impactful. It is still a worthwhile binge but not high on my rewatch list.

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