Lee Ki Woo

Review: The Trunk

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THE SHORT VERDICT:

This is not your usual kdrama – is, essentially, what you need to know. 😁

There’s a murder mystery that doesn’t function like most murder mysteries in dramas, and there’s a contract marriage that absolutely doesn’t function like most contract marriages in Dramaland.

I personally felt that Show could be a little pretentious sometimes, but I found the psychological exploration of our characters fascinating enough, to make my drama investment worthwhile.

Gong Yoo and Seo Hyun Jin are very good, as can be expected, and there are spots of sweetness between their characters to be had, for the patient.

Not a must-watch by any means, but could be interesting and worthwhile, given the right viewing lens (more on that in a bit).

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Review: Knight Flower

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THE SHORT VERDICT:

Show is a simple story based on a simple premise, and importantly, Show works out its simple story with thought, consistency and heart.

The politics never overwhelms the most important thing in this drama world, and that is its characters and their relationships.

Our cast is all-around capable, but the spotlight belongs most to our protagonist, played so, SO well, by Honey Lee. 🤩 Lee Jong Won also does very well, as our male lead, and I enjoyed him a great deal; much more than I’d originally expected to, honestly.

The central burgeoning connection between their two characters, was hands-down my favorite thing in this show.

Altogether very enjoyable, and I would recommend this.

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Review: My Liberation Notes

| kfangurl

THE SHORT VERDICT:

This show really isn’t for everyone, I think.

It’s slow, meandering, slice of life, and our characters take time to become more understandable and endearing, all of which are things which I think can work against this show.

However, at the same time, Show is thoughtful, thought-provoking and quite meaty, if you are so inclined to engage.

It’s not quite an escape from real life, like many of us tend to look for in our dramas, but instead, it’s a pretty great gateway through which to reflect on life.

Different, and worthwhile.

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Review: 18 Again

| kfangurl

THE SHORT VERDICT:

Don’t let this show’s silly, farcical trappings fool you; this one has so much heart that it simply never runs out of feels.

Fatherly love, familial love, romantic love and even platonic love; they all get their day in the sun in this drama world, and the result is a deeply heartwarming watch that I never wanted to end. This show made my heart so, so full, and I happily drowned in all of the feels.

Our cast is very strong, but I do sincerely think that this would’ve been a different show without Lee Do Hyun. He delivers such a heartfelt performance, with such a distinct sense of gravitas, that I am completely blown away.

The heart-eyes that I’ve grown for Lee Do Hyun are completely involuntary, and likely permanent. 😍

Unreservedly recommend.

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Flash Review: Fates and Furies

| kfangurl

Have you ever been hearts-in-eyes infatuated with someone – charmed by their good looks, sweet words, and thoughtful chivalry – only to be later disappointed by their glaring flaws, on deeper acquaintance?

Whether it was with a real-life crush or with a celebrity Oppa, I feel like many of us would likely have felt this way at some point in our lives.

That feeling, my friends, is how I felt, watching this drama. For Show’s first half, I was very much smitten, and gobbled up episodes back-to-back, pacing myself only because I sincerely dreaded running out of new episodes.

The bum thing was, Show became a lot less cracky for a good chunk of its second half. On the upside, Show comes back with a reasonably solid finale, so it wasn’t all downhill.

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Flash Review: Just Between Lovers

| kfangurl

Before I started this show, I had the impression that viewers basically fell into one of two camps with this one: they either really really love it, or really hate it.

Well, guess what, you guys.. I fall kinda in-between. What can I say, maybe I’m a little bit special? Or maybe I’m weird; take your pick, heh.

Essentially, watching this one felt to me like I was eating my spinach – at a time when I was learning to like it, but wasn’t quite there yet. Like, I’d have to tell myself to eat it, coz it had good vitamins and minerals.

Kinda the same thing with this show. I often had to decide to start on an episode, because I found that this show often wasn’t easy to watch. But I also knew this one had good things going for it, and that’s why I kept going.

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Review: Miss Korea

| kfangurl

THE SHORT VERDICT:

Quiet, low-key and unassuming, Miss Korea is the modest little drama that could.

What Miss Korea lacks in big plot movement, it makes up for with attentive character establishment and development, which gives this series its almost-but-not-quite slice-of-life, almost-family-drama feel.

Populated by earnest characters who feel ordinary, real and likable, Miss Korea is the kind of show that one develops a slow but enduring affection for.

Another helpful thing to know: Despite its title and premise, Miss Korea isn’t really about beauty pageants per se.

It’s more about how ordinary people muster up their inner mettle, to face seemingly insurmountable challenges; not only to survive, but to pursue meaning and happiness in their lives.

An underrated, heartwarming little gem.

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