Lee Jung Eun

Dropped: Heavenly Ever After

| kfangurl

My friends. I really, really wanted to love this one.

Not only does it feature a number of actors whom I love (Kim Hye Ja! Han Ji Min! Son Seok Ku! Lee Jung Eun! 🤩🤩🤩🤩), it also comes from the team that brought us The Light in Your Eyes (review here!), a drama that I think is very, very special. 🥲

I felt that with all that going for it, I just couldn’t miss this drama.

And yet, now, 8 episodes into Show’s 12, I’m sorry to say that I’ve decided to throw in the towel. 😅

However, just because this show doesn’t work for me, doesn’t necessarily mean that it won’t work for you, because there are folks who really, really love this show.

Who knows; you might be one of them?

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Flash Review: Light Shop

| kfangurl

My friends, this is the review that almost never was, not because I almost didn’t watch this show, but because I wasn’t sure how to go about this review, and I almost gave myself permission to just.. not write it a review. 😅 Almost.

If you’ve seen the show, you might have an inkling of why I feel like this isn’t a straightforward review to write, heh.

In the end, though, I thought that there would still be value in adding my two cents to the collective wisdom of the drama community, so here I am.

I make no promises, but I’ll do my best. 😅

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Review: Miss Night and Day

| kfangurl

THE SHORT VERDICT:

This show was wholesome and funny despite its serial killer arc, and made me laugh week after week, thus becoming an unexpected highlight to my drama week.

I liked our cast as a general rule, but it was Lee Jung Eun who shone the brightest to me, and I just got a huge thrill, watching her get to show her awesomeness on such a regular basis, on my screen. 🤩

Unfortunately, Show did not stick the landing, in my opinion, and that absolutely marred my watch experience, as well as my feelings towards this show.

I don’t regret watching it – but that’s almost exclusively because of how wonderful I thought Lee Jung Eun was, in this. 🥲

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Review: Marry My Husband

| kfangurl

THE SHORT VERDICT:

When Show is at its best, the writing feels smart, thoughtful and inspired, and Show is cracky fun to watch. When Show isn’t at its best, however, the writing feels paint-by-numbers and pretty lazy, to be brutally honest.

The good news is that Show has more good moments than not-so-good ones, in my opinion, and overall, works out to be a solid ride.

Our leads are great, and this is absolutely a worthy comeback for Park Min Young, but it’s also true that it’s our second leads, Lee Yi Kyung and Song Ha Yoon, who end up stealing very large chunks of the show.

Worth a look, with the right lens adjustments – which I’ll talk about shortly.

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Review: Daily Dose Of Sunshine

| kfangurl

THE SHORT VERDICT:

In a nutshell, I’d say that Show is two main things.

One, it works as an educational, illuminating PSA, aiming to help everyone who watches, to come to a better understanding of the struggles that many people face, with regard to mental health.

Two, Show is, at the same time, a tender, compassionate representation of all the patients who have mental health struggles, thereby showing them that they are seen, and they are not alone, and that there is hope.

Poignant, tender, and important.

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Review: Our Blues

| kfangurl

THE SHORT VERDICT:

An earthy, charming slice-of-life drama that manages to add up to more than the sum of its parts – even after taking into account its impressive star-studded cast, AND the gorgeous backdrop that is Jeju Island.

Show’s omnibus approach makes each character come to popping life as we delve into their story, and by the end of our journey, it feels like we’ve come to know an entire community of good people.

Our cast is excellent, all putting in performances that feel pitch-perfect and down-to-earth, and their chemistry is so natural across the board, and feels so genuine, that it’s easy to believe that these people have spent many years of their lives together.

Feels a little meandering at times, but is absolutely worthwhile.

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Flash Review: Juvenile Justice

| kfangurl

I’m actually somewhat surprised to find myself writing this review, because I almost didn’t watch this show.

I’d dipped my toe into episode 1, where Kim Hye Soo’s character states emphatically – like she does in the trailer – that she detests juvenile offenders, and somehow, that didn’t roll off my back the way it did when I watched the trailer.

I decided really quickly that this show probably wasn’t for me – and then, hours later on the same day, cautiously poked my head back in, thinking that I’d just watch a leettle more, if only to see how the first case wrapped up.

..Which is how I ended up finishing the entire show, heh. Funny how that worked out, eh?

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Review: Soundtrack #1 [Mini Series]

| kfangurl

THE SHORT VERDICT:

Short, breezy, and polished, Soundtrack #1 is a friends-to-lovers nugget of a drama that should scratch that drama itch nicely, particularly if you:

(a) like Park Hyung Sik &/or Han So Hee;

(b) enjoy friends-to-lovers stories; &/or

(c) just want something quick and easy as a drama snack.

Really quite satisfying, for a short little thing of just 4 episodes of 45 minutes each.

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Review: A Piece Of Your Mind

| kfangurl

THE SHORT VERDICT:

More lens adjustments are needed for this show than the average kdrama, but with the right lens, Show is a warm and sweet watch experience that manages to feel satisfying, in spite of its flaws, and in spite of Show having had 4 episodes sliced off from its run, in the middle of its run.

If you’re able to dial down your need for logic, and to some extent, cohesiveness, Show presents a thoughtful thematic exploration of love and loss, solitude and solidarity, and the confusing, bemusing journey of dealing with all of those things.

Jung Hae In and Chae Soo Bin are lovely in this, particularly together. This was worth the extra lens management, in my opinion.

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Flash Review: When The Camellia Blooms

| kfangurl

Y’know, I’d gotten to the point where I was so tired of serial killers and murders being mixed with romance (what is up with that, Dramaland?), that I was ready to give this show a hard, blind pass, just for having the audacity to mix murder with romance, again.

But, the overwhelming positive buzz around this show piqued my interest, as did the high ratings, and the glowing, persuasive comments that a number of you left me, which is how I ended up checking out this show, in spite of myself.

With 20/20 hindsight, now that I’ve emerged on the other side, do I still think Show didn’t need a serial killer murder arc? BIG YES. Did I manage to enjoy this one, despite my by-now-very-firm serial killer drama allergy? Also, yes. I guess that means Show wins, overall?

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