Jang Ki Yong

Review: Dynamite Kiss

| kfangurl

THE SHORT VERDICT:

Show works really well as an homage to the golden era rom-com; it’s got a light, frothy sort of vibe, where the main order of the day is joy in spite of the ridiculous, and logic is quite optional.

Modern tweaks like a male lead who only looks like a golden era tsundere but is really a very easily persuaded green flag, and OTP sizzle that’s allowed to be front-and-center, definitely add to the sense that the classic rom-com is getting an upgrade.

My favorite thing that Show does, though, is how it works to stay faithful to the emotional throughline of its characters; our OTP in particular.

Show does wobble in the final stretch, but not enough to be a deal-breaker, in my experience. Some lens adjustments definitely help – which I’ll talk more about, in a bit.

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Review: The Atypical Family

| kfangurl

THE SHORT VERDICT:

When Show is at its best, it’s very interesting to watch, largely because it feels refreshing and different, from its drama peers.

From its premise, to the way Show weaves its story, I found this quite delightful, once I got more used to Show’s offbeat, slightly melancholic, rather deadpan sort of vibe.

Unfortunately, I personally feel that Show is not at its best, in its last stretch, and could have done a lot better, in managing the development of our characters and their relationships.

On balance, though, Show has enough merit, that I don’t regret checking it out.

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Open Thread: My Mister Episodes 1 & 2

| kfangurl

Welcome to the Open Thread, everyone! Thank you for joining me on this group watch of My Mister! 🥰

Here are our usual ground rules, before we begin:

1. Please don’t post spoilers in the Open Thread, except for events that have happened in the show, up to this point. If you really need to talk about a spoiler, it is possible to use the new spoiler tags, but please know that spoilers are still visible (ie, not hidden) in the email notification that you receive, of the comment in question. We have quite a few first-time viewers among us, and we don’t want to spoil anything for anyone.

Edited to add: If you’d like to discuss lots of spoilers retrospectively as a re-watcher, here’s a Spoiler Zone for you!

2. Discussions on this thread don’t have to close when newer threads open, just so you know! But as we progress through our group watch, please keep the discussions clear of spoilers from future episodes, so that future readers coming to this thread won’t be accidentally spoiled. Does that make sense?

Without further ado, here are my reactions to this set of episodes; have fun in the Open Thread, everyone! ❤️

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Review: My Roommate Is A Gumiho

| kfangurl

THE SHORT VERDICT:

The great thing about My Roommate is a Gumiho, is how fresh it manages to feel, despite it appearing, at first glance, to be like just about any other romcom dotting Dramaland. Yes, there are tropes, but most of the time, they’re there to be turned on their heads.

In particular, I love our female lead, who’s anything but a Candy. She might appear rather goofy on the surface, but she’s gracious and classy, and has such a good head on her shoulders, that it’s hard not to love her.

I feel that Hye Ri and Jang Ki Yong are well-cast and well-directed in this; I enjoyed them both very much, and I feel that their chemistry works really well. As a bonus, Kang Han Na is wonderful in this, as a ditzy ex-gumiho. This is literally my favorite role of Kang Han Na’s, to date.

I found the ending a touch underwhelming, especially when compared to how solidly the rest of the show stacks up, but overall, it’s still a very enjoyable drama that I’d recommend!

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Dear kfangurl: Who are your favorite supporting actors – and will they ever get to play lead??

| kfangurl

Beez writes:

Dear Kfangurl, Are supporting actors too funny to ever cast as leads?

I keep waiting for my favorites – Park Jin Joo, Kim Seul Gi and my all time favorite, Kim Sung Oh to be part of an OTP or at least a single lead in their own dramas. I’ve seen all of them give snippets of really moving scenes so their acting talent is not in question. What gives?

And phl1rxd writes:

I would love to see an article on your favorite supporting actors|actresses.

There are so many that pop up in our drama world all the time, and while they are not the leads, their work is great none-the-less.

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Review: Search: WWW

| kfangurl

THE SHORT VERDICT:

A dark horse of a show that took a tiny bit of getting used to, but eventually surprised me by sneaking under my skin to grab my heart in a big way.

Search: WWW truly is a rarity in Dramaland.

First of all, it’s women-centric and puts the spotlight on the relationships among our main female characters, which in itself is a big plus.

But even more surprising than that, is that while each of our 3 main ladies has her own loveline with a perfectly matched love interest, those romance arcs never take centerstage in our narrative, even at their most melty.

Instead, the romances are positioned as just one aspect of our women’s very full lives. Seriously, how refreshing and cool is that?

Thoughtfully written, solidly directed, and brimming with consummate performances by the cast, this is one drama that I won’t be forgetting anytime soon.

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Review: My Mister [My Ahjussi]

| kfangurl

THE SHORT VERDICT:

This show is like its titular protagonist; both start out quiet, gloomy and unassuming, but over the course of 16 episodes, both reveal themselves to be beautiful, moving heroes who show us the power of kindness, and the grace of humanity.

Assured writing, tender directing, and outstanding performances from the cast all come together to make My Mister an absorbing watch that feels organic, real and raw.

The OST, which is delicate, thoughtful, and ethereal in turn, is meticulously crafted and applied, and effectively lifts the watch to another level.

Dark and beautiful. And at the same time, warm and beautiful. A must-see.

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Flash Review: Go Back Spouses

| kfangurl

If my many hours of drama watching have taught me anything, it’s that, more than expensively-produced dramas that are all polish with very little soul, it’s the shows that lay their heart on the table, that tend to grab me, and then stick with me, long after the credits have stopped rolling.

In this sense, I’d say Go Back Spouses is kinda like the little drama that could.

There are no Big Budgets here, and Show isn’t even that elegantly written, to be honest.

But, Show packs so much heartfelt goodness in its compact 12-episode package, that I find myself eager to sing its praises – and forgive its faults. Given that these days, I’ve been quicker to drop shows than ever before, I hafta say that’s No Small Deal.

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Flash Review: Love For A Thousand More

| kfangurl

Tis the season in dramaland, it seems, for the spotlight to be on immortals and their human love interests.

I mean, just look at Goblin and his bride, his roomie Reaper and his Sunny, and the Mermaid and her human con-man. I guess it doesn’t surprise me that much, that the trend has reached web dramas as well.

What does surprise me, though, is how this little web drama – with its limited budget and screen-time, and its greener cast – manages to be more engaging and thought-provoking than its bigger, buzzier, full-length drama cousins.

That’s some serious skillz, and I’m duly impressed.

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