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DUEL (K-drama 2017)

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"Duel is a thriller about a detective who gets tangled up in a shocking incident after meeting a clone. They will have to battle each other to survive."

I really enjoyed being a part of this hunting thriller, I was one of those who waited weekly just to watch this complex and dense story about human cloning and a sort of cure-for-all vaccine. Science always makes me feel awkward for a drama,  but not this one, it has a various flavor. The plot is decently engaging with obvious flaws, sensible fight scenes and sad moments that will capture your heart.

Hands down also for the amazing performance conveyed byYang Se Jong.It wasn’t easy to portray one face with two-opposite characters as a barely new actor. He definitely showcases his acting ability in here. Hugs forJung Jae-Young, who's been the best father in this show, no doubt about his diverse talent too.

Bittersweet I may say for the finale, I feel like my mission is done too. "Chasing" has ended with closure, villains went to hell and another new life will begin as human.

Verdict: 9/10

 

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RULER: MASTER OF THE MASK

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In the 1700's, Crown Prince Lee Sun (Yoo Seung-Ho) fights against Pyunsoo group. Pyunsoo is an organization that has accumulated power and wealth through privatizing water all over Joseon. Crown Prince Lee Sun becomes a hope for the people who suffer. Ga-Eun is the woman Crown Prince Lee Sun loves and she helps grow as a ruler.

Master of the Mask is like a roller coaster ride, the story takes you up to intensity, then drag you down with regret and suddenly knocks you off to happiness.  To sum things up, the plot is not perfect at all, it has a high and low point. The cinematography is superb for the historical setting and because it's an all-star cast, this show was favored and impossible not to watch.

The finale was tied up neatly and will give you an approving look while witnessing our main lead achieved his dreams and hopes.  Just bear some loopholes for certain episodes, but in the end, you would never regret of watching it.

Verdict: 8/10

 

 

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SUSPICIOUS PARTNERS (K-drama 2017)

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I give 10/10 to my Ji Chang Wook. He's totally hot as grumpy and quick tempered prosecutor who hated by lawyers and most of the criminals.

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8/10 for Nam Ji-Hyun who was able to present the character of Bong-Hee as a feisty lawyer despite being accused as a murderer and experience a lot of trouble in life and in love.

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The smartest villain for the 2nd quarter of the year goes to Dong-Ha. Without a doubt, I'll give you my 10/10.  You deserve it because I really hate you for being so clever and vicious on your crime.

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To halabeonimLee Dek Hwa, my goodness, I hope you will be my grandpa. For the entire episodes, you make me laugh. You were the ice breaker of the group. I can't imagine you without in this show, it might bore me. 10/10

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I hope I have a friend like you who is very loyal and supportive. I hated you when you almost ignore your own feelings for the sake of friendship and for the happiness of others.  8/10

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Jang Hyuk-Jin, I almost cried when I thought you will die on this show (sorry spoiler). You are the father of the group. Quite dependable and very supportive. Everyone cried when you are struggling to survive in the midst of your death. 8/10

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To the ladies who are the cheater in this drama, good job. I never disliked you at all because you set some flavors to our main cast's relationship. It's difficult to hate you both because you were gorgeous and resemblance to all women who need to be understood and loved. 8/10.

Plot:  About Noh Ji-wook (Ji Chang-wook), a prosecutor and Eun Bong-hee (Nam Ji-hyun), a prosecutor trainee and how they work together on a mysterious case involving a sly psychopath murderer.Verdict: 8/10

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FIGHT FOR MY WAY (K-drama 2017)

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Fight for my way is a kind of drama which you can totally relate. It has the story of our very own which we walked every day with struggles, failures, and achievement in our lives. It features, the chances to attain what has missed by giving up on our dreams and love. It's good to be true that after all, it's not too late to have what we want.

I like all the cast in this drama, it suits them all. The individual characters have their own stories to tell in their own limelight. What I like is their friendship bond, you'd wish you grew up with them too.

Overall, this drama is refreshing to watch. They were all cute and entertaining.

Verdict: 8/10

 

Main Cast:

Park Seo-joon as Ko Dong-man

Kim Ji-won as Choi Ae-raAhn Jae-hong as Kim Joo-man

Song Ha-yoon as Baek Seol-hee

 

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EMPRESS KI (Kdrama-2013)

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Empress Ki tells the story of Ki Sung Nyang (Ha Ji Won) who rises from nothing to marry Emperor Ta Hwan (Ji Chang Wook) and become Empress of the Yuan Empire.  She also gets involved in a love triangle with the Emperor and King Wang Yu of Goryeo (Joo Jin Mo).

Finally, I was able to say goodbye to this drama. I was struggling to finish the 51 episodes, because of my schedules, so for me, this is quite a victory.  Empress Ki is just like the other sageuk or historical drama, the imperfections were evident, however, you will love them, hate them, cry for them, they will use your emotions to storm away from the reality and you just have to swim against the tide because it engulfs you totally.

Empress Ki will bring you to Joseon period where power was a survival, loyalty was indispensable, revenge resonates hope and love became a sacrifice. Different characters go through many struggles, a bulk of villainous charm driven into more occurrence of intensity. It was very well structured.

The visuals are no joke in this drama. A wide parade array of colors and styles in their costumes will fill your eyes. The plot was epic, one of a kind. It was beautifully filmed with gorgeous cinematography.

I recommend you to watch this drama and don’t be scared off by the long episodes, you will enjoy the bits of it.

Verdict: 10/10

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MAN TO MAN (K-drama 2017)

5bsajinjaryo5d_maentumaenman_x_man_poseuteo_0I would admit I watched this drama because of Park Hae Jin.  I really like his cold, mysterious, and poker face in all sort of his dramas. Well, in real life, this kind of personality always caught my attention. I find it challenging to deal with them.

Back to the story, this show is all about a ghost agent who is skilled enough to do undercover works in any aspects of his missions.  One of his current tasks is to disguise as a bodyguard to one of the most popular actor Yeo Woon-Gwang (Park Sung-Woong).  Despite his purpose, he was able to experience a warm relationship with him and the rest of the gangs which will become his strength and weakness.

For 16 episodes, you will enjoy the different elements of the story, despite discovering some hiccups along the way, the show could keep you on edge. A parcel of actions, tactics, humor and a no chemistry love affair will surely give you a chunk of interest and admiration.

Verdict: 8/10

 

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BAD GUYS (K-drama 2014)

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Bad guys are forming a team of “top criminals” to catch other criminals. How interesting, right?

This drama is full of bad guys and bad ass which packs strings of big punches and blood. The plot is quite complex, well what do we expect of people that have their own criminal cases, creating a squad immediately, while judging and suspecting one another? it must a chaos, right?

Bad guys will kick you a bickering and rivalry among the criminals and eventually see them becoming a team.  With a whirlwind story, a twist and a drama, you will definitely like this one.

Verdict: 8/10

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MY SECRET ROMANCE (K-drama 2017)

This drama started so well and dragged to the end. The plot has the potential to be decent enough if they were able to develop the story line.  There are so many flashbacks and pointless scenes that were skipped-worthy and some emotions circled by inconsistency.

One point for the visuals in this drama. Second points to the sizzling first scene on the first episode. And the rest, it’s up to you to find.

Verdict: 6/10

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Cha Jin-Wook (Sung Hoon) is a son from a wealthy family. His family runs a large company. Cha Jin-Wook only pursues short term love. He meets Lee Yoo-Mi (Song Ji-Eun) and changes. Lee Yoo-Mi has never had a boyfriend before.

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A MAN AND A WOMAN -Kmovie

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Cast: Jeon Do-Yeon / Gong Yoo

A chance encounters with two people who are not free to love, who met at the right place but at the wrong time.

A one night stand that develops into something deeper.

Sweet and intimate moments you will never forget.

This movie showcases a piece of real life. Maybe this is not for everyone.  Maybe most of us would not understand.

As our protagonist struggle to follow their heart’s desire, you will realize the path is very difficult.  There are some sacrifices you have to swallow hard because, at the end of the day, it’s not just about you anymore.

A man and a woman is beautifully made. There are only a few dialogues, but everything is well conveyed.  A very emotional conflict of harsh reality.

Verdict: 9/10

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TUNNEL-2017

Traveling through the tunnel was such a long journey, but nothing to worry, it provides you a comfortable seat while enjoying the mystery and suspense throughout your trip.

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This drama is about a dedicated detective who times travel and found himself in the year 2017 after chasing and failed to capture the serial killer.  He was stuck in the future and no way to return him to the 80’s unless he can solve the case and find the real murderer.

Tunnel offers you quite a lot of elements blended with crime mystery, suspense, action, comedic and love.  A strong and excellent characters portrayals by brilliant cast makes the drama more compelling and nail biting.   The plot is reasonably decent with a perfect delight of warmness and integrity.

Kudos to our hardworking detectives, I truly enjoyed the ride!

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Verdict: 10/10

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STRONG WOMAN DO BONG SOON

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This show is to be watched and enjoyed while being okay to overlook the plot flaws. In my K-drama land, as long as I enjoy it and pull me out from the real world, then I forgive the imperfections.

Do Bong-Soon (Park Bo-Young) and An Min-Hyuk (Park Hyung -Sik) made the show over the top of cuteness and loveliness. It was effortless to love them and join their journey to experience the romance, power and dark thrills rounded to their lives.

I wouldn’t deny I was hooked from episode 1 and I feel the Oof from my heart when it has ended. Actually, I don’t find the plot exceptional, heroine genres is far from unique, I suppose. But they nailed it. They got it all when they depict their characters and act seems so real. Park Bo Young acting is still excellent, and you’ll gonna love our gentle Park Hyung Sik polished charm of what truly man should behave when in love.

Enjoy the drama!

Verdict: 10/10

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INTROVERTED BOSS (K-drama)

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I love the handsome, over-thinker, smart, perceptive, shy and introvert boss.  When you know him deeply, despite being an introverted person, he really cares and protects who dear to him. He managed to observe his employees and know their worth.

This drama received a mix comments of disappointment and acceptance. I honestly didn’t anticipate this one to watch, but found myself doing the marathon and finished it for three days without complaining. Yes, I have liked it.

There was so much to like about the introverted boss and so much to understand about his lonely life.  He spent years living in his own shell; protecting his weakness, hiding his strength, misunderstood his silence and trying to change his incapability to interact and face with people.

There are lots of kisses, internal monologues and flings in this drama that you would surely enjoy too.  It will give you comfort, that though you are different from the rest, there is always someone who will sincerely discover the real you and accept you for who you are.

Introverted boss finale is warm, sweet and the cutest.   It wraps up accordingly from where it falls and stands.

Verdict: 8/10

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Eun Hwan-Ki (Yeon Woo-Jin) is the CEO of a public relations company, but he is extremely shy. Due to his personality, even his employees do not know him well.

Chae Ro-Woon (Park Hye-Soo) begins work at Eun Hwan-Ki’s company. She is very energetic and receives recognition for her work, but her only interest is in CEO Eun Hwan-Ki. She plans to reveal who Eun Hwan-Ki really is.

 

 

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Tomorrow With You (K-drama)

Tomorrow with you is another time travel drama that is heartbreaking and beautifully written at the same time. It had one blast for doom, happiness, the rains, and rainbows.  It’s about saving whoever you love most, a roller coaster of leaping from the past to the future, change the original plans and face the consequences that filled with unbearable sadness.

I love time travel and no matter how mystifying the plot could be, I would still watch it. But this drama was not complicated as Nine Times Time Travel.  Yes, there are some hovels in the plot, but because of this captivating chemistry and the magnetic romance between the main couple, you wouldn’t mind at all.

Lee Je-Hoon as Yoo So-Joon is a CEO of a real estate company. He has the ability to travel through time via a subway. Song Ma-rin (Shin Min-A) works as a photographer and destined to meet an accident where Yoo So-Joon saved her, and later got involved with her life too.  These two will give you a ride to travel the emotional mundane of life, a real hitch of every couple do and experience.

Tomorrow with you shows us that we should live each moment in our life, to be true with our feelings and to less worry about our future by trusting the process in the present. No matter what we do, we can never tell what awaits us because life is peculiar and full of unwanted surprises.

I hope our tomorrow with someone we love brings real happiness in our life.

Verdict: 9/10

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DEFENDANT (K-drama)

“I’m Seoul Special Unit Prosecutor Park Jung-woo.”

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Ji Sung.  My favorite Korean actor.  He is excellent, versatile and his skills is a top notch.  Why Am I saying this? because, in this drama, he will grab your attention from episode 1 to the finale with his detailed acting abilities. He was superb! He sent chills down on my spine and leave me speechless.

Defendant was truly an enjoyable ride. It’s not a surprise they got the impressive ratings that broke its own record.  The story depicted not only about corruption, violence, and prejudice, but it’s all about love.  A kind of love that you would fight to attain truth and justice, a love that was never returned and lead you to become a twisted person, a love that will give you endless strength to fight.

I would say that this drama upped not only because of the strong plot presented, the acting was astounding too.  The cast is actually quite large, but despite, everyone’s character played a significant role to their best (especially the villain) which help the show become more thrilling and remarkable.

If you want to be desperate, lunatic and emotional, this drama is for you.

Verdict: 10/10

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HWARANG: The Poet Warrior Youth

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Drama series depicts the story of Hwarang (literally “Flowering Knights”) – an elite group of male youth in during the Kingdom of Silla.

What I like about this show is the beautiful faces of our flower boy warriors, certainly, it helps the show to look striking. However, good looks are not enough to make a drama good and convincing.

The plot would be much better if they were able to progress the story and not just partially divulged, then leaped to another situation and no follow up to what has been untold. I was expecting more fights, blood, and craziness, but never had the taste.  It wasn’t right for a historical drama to miss something like that.

Another weak point of the show is the romance sucked. Literally, I have never cared about it because there’s no element of chemistry thumping around for the leads. Bromance was quite fun, but the character development between the two was so slow.

Surprisingly, the finale wrapped up according to my expectations. Well, I never had high hopes, but they ended it on a high note. Though it wasn’t the best of the best, but it has its moments too,  enough to watch for a little entertainment.

Verdict: 7/10

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STAR OF THE UNIVERSE (K-web-drama)

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The story revolves around the romance between Woo-Joo (Suho) and Byul (Ji-Woo). Woo-Joo is a gifted singer-songwriter and Byul is an angel of death.

This web drama was far better than I had expected.

The plot was carefully laid without pushing you to understand everything that was going on.

It was my first time to watch the main leads; the acting was quite impressive and noticeable. Their chemistry was perfect too. The music and soundtracks played throughout the drama was captivating and gives a sense of highlighting emotions.

Star of the Universe is telling us to love those people who are still with us – alive and never took them for granted. We should give time to do the things that make us happy so that when we leave this life, we have no regrets.

The ending? I have mix emotions actually.

Verdict: 9/10

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The Legend of the Blue Sea (K-drama)

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Sometime during August 1598, newly appointed governor Dam Ryung (Lee Min-Ho) stays for a night at an inn run by Mr. Yang (Sung Dong-Il). During that evening, Mr. Yang shows Dam Ryung a captured mermaid named Sim Chung (Gianna Jun). Later that night, Dam Ryung releases her into the ocean and, before she swims away, Sim Chung reaches out her hand to Dam Ryung which he briefly holds.
In the present day, Joon-Jae (Lee Min-Ho) is a smooth-talking conman with magician like abilities. He works with Nam-Doo (Lee Hee-Joon) and Tae-O (Shin Won-Ho). For their next score, Joon-Jae impersonates a prosecutor and swindles a large amount of money from a wealthy suspect’s mother. Joon-Jae then travels abroad and stays at an oceanside resort. Meanwhile, Sim Chung is swept up in a tidal wave and washed ashore near the oceanside resort. She sees Joon-Jae.

This drama is like my comfort food; warm and familiar.

The legend of the blue sea managed to bring the characters into satisfying portrayal. The relationship of the two main leads stands out as the finest legend of sweetness and impressive fairytale.

Though we have Lee Min-Ho and Gianna Jun’s combined talent, the story writing has not become the perfect drama at all. It was predictable, and though there was an appearing of slight twist and turns, still there was no element of surprise. It was just so enjoyable and relaxing to watch, avoiding you not to be pestered with any inconsistencies that weighed down from numerous episodes.

The finale of the show seized with lots of emotions, apparently with goodbyes and reunions,  plus lots of love and kisses. They wrap-up all with perfections, giving everyone a happy and satisfying ending.

I’m pretty sure you will leave the screen with a big smile and a happy heart.

Verdict: 8/10

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Romantic Doctor -Teacher Kim- Kdrama 2016

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“Boo Yong-Joo was a famous surgeon with the nickname of “Hand of God.” He suddenly disappeared and nobody knew exactly why. Boo Young-Joo is now as Teacher Kim and he calls himself the Romantic Doctor. He enjoys his life in seclusion.
Kang Dong-Joo became a doctor to win somebody over and Yoon Seo-Jung becomes a doctor to be recognized by somebody. After they meet Teacher Kim, they learn about life values and comfort from love.”

Honestly, medical dramas never failed to mesmerize me. I always respect those who value the lives of their patients and hated those who thinks only what they can get from them; either profit or glamor.

Romantic Doctor demonstrates this kind of scenarios in the medical world. The shows possessed with compassion and right prescriptions of righteousness and idealism. Some have a conflict characters which suffered a tragic downfall from their past, but eventually, they got to redeem.

This drama has one of the most heartwarming stories in 2016. I truly enjoyed the show!

Verdict: 9/10

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SWEET STRANGER AND ME ( The Man Living in Our House) K-DRAMA

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Hong Na-Ri works as a flight attendant. Her mother passed away 10 months ago and she doesn’t have any other immediate family members. Hong Na-Ri returns to her hometown to visit her mother’s grave. There, she sees a young man at her mother’s grave. The man, Go Nan-Gil, introduces himself as her father. Before Hong Na-Ri’s mother died, she married Go Nan-Gil. He now lives at her mother’s house and runs the small dumpling restaurant that her mother ran.

The Finale, bow.

I can’t wait to end this drama not because it really interests me, but because I just don’t like it anymore.

Objectively, Sweet Stranger started out with so much potential. It was sweet and warm. The whole step-father setup was the main course of the plot, the show was well cast, and there was no doubt from the actors’ performances too, but just like the other dramas without a better plot, the story runs slow, was dragged and a lot of flashbacks which I believe was just shown to kill the time.

In fairness, what I like in some parts of the story is the mature relationship of our protagonist. The couple used to discuss their problems and issues, being honest with each other and trusting their relationship even though things got messed up and scary. I like the Hong dumpling store too, actually I love to eat dumplings. This must be enough.

Verdict: 7/10