Jang Sung Bum

Review: Undercover High School

| kfangurl

THE SHORT VERDICT:

Show starts with a bang, with an unapologetically silly, dorky, badass sort of sensibility, which I loved, so, so much. 🤩😍

Unfortunately for me, Show changes focus (and therefore tone), about midway through its run, spending a lot more time on the central mystery, than on relationships.

The story still works; I just found it a lot less fun to watch.

The silver lining, is the Seo Kang Joon and Kim Shin Rok are both fantastic in this. He basically steals the first half of the show, while she steals the second half. 😁

Not a must-see by any means, but not bad, overall.

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Review: Call It Love

| kfangurl

THE SHORT VERDICT:

I feel like the most effective, succinct way to describe this show, is a sentiment that I saw floating around the interwebs; that this show is very much My Mister – but with romance.

That’s high praise, because most drama fans agree that My Mister is a masterpiece of a drama – and I do think that this show deserves that praise.

To my eyes, this is as thoughtful and as carefully conceived, and as nuanced and faceted, and as illuminating, organic and visceral, in the watch experience, as My Mister.

Our entire cast is excellent, but Kim Young Kwang and Lee Sung Kyung truly stand out, as our leads.

As a bonus, the music is lilting and lovely, in a manner that amplifies Show’s sweet melancholy.

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Review: Healer

| kfangurl

THE SHORT VERDICT:

Healer is that special snowflake of a drama that manages to combine action, romance, and some nice spots of comedy, all in one tight little show. And it’s a mighty successful combination too, I might add.

Sure, the backstory runs a little bit melo and may not appeal to everyone, but the blend of adrenaline-pumping thrills, a truly sparky, heartfelt OTP, a deeply melty – yet flawed and believable – hero, and a courageous, strong heroine, makes for an exhilaratingly heady combination of feels that just sends my heart in multiple directions all at once.

Add on Show’s highly polished camera work and its very effective, very immersive OST, and it’s a combination that’s pretty darn hard to beat.

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