Lee Sang Yi

Review: Good Boy

| kfangurl

THE SHORT VERDICT:

Show’s got a great cast, an interesting premise, and a whole lotta budget, to bring its story to life.

It’s just too bad that the writing turns out to be the weakest link, in this entire drama.

From focusing on just one Big Bad for 16 whole episodes, to spending all its time, effort and creative energy on designing action and fight scenes, so much so that literally zero time, effort or energy was spent on creating actual character growth, the writing tanks it all, in my opinion.

This show started out pretty fun, but eventually turned into a slog, and it’s such a huge pity, in my opinion.

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Flash Review: Spice Up Our Love

| kfangurl

You guys. When this show was announced as a spin-off of No Gain No Love (review here!), I was honestly sooo excited.

Not only is this whole spin-off thing rarely done in kdramas, this would also mean that we’d see Lee Sang Yi in a lead role!

I’ve had a soft spot for Lee Sang Yi for some time, so this was a must-watch, for me.

And now that I’ve come out the other side, I’m here to tell you guys allll about it. 😁

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Review: No Gain No Love

| kfangurl

THE SHORT VERDICT:

On the upside, Show can be fresh, fun and zippy, and serves up some unexpected narrative surprises that I personally found interesting &/or refreshing.

On the downside, I feel that Show tends to be a bit too matter-of-fact in its portrayal of its lovelines, and is therefore lower on the feels than I would like.

Additionally, I feel that the ending could have been better handled, on several fronts.

Not a bad watch, necessarily, but definitely could have been better.

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Review: Yumi’s Cells

| kfangurl

THE SHORT VERDICT:

If I had to pick just one word to describe the watch experience of this show, it would be “fresh.”

Show is just really good at what it sets out to do. It’s great at mixing the live-action with the animation stuff, and it’s also great at shining the spotlight on all our human thoughts, reactions and foibles. And Show manages to be funny and entertaining, while remaining heartfelt and relatable. Really impressive, all-around.

I’d suggest putting this on your list, even if you were originally going to give it a pass.

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Review: Hometown Cha Cha Cha

| kfangurl

THE SHORT VERDICT:

A breezy, laidback sort of show, Hometown Cha Cha Cha is kinda like a seaside vacation in drama form.

It’s meandering and sometimes it feels like not a lot happens in our drama world, but the charm of the small town of Gongjin, along with its equally charming residents, is such that it eventually gets under your skin, and then it doesn’t let go.

Show’s Main Event is the double-dimpled duo of Shin Min Ah and Kim Sun Ho, and their combined cuteness is arguably Show’s most lethal weapon. Show isn’t perfect, but the OTP Cute is so strong, that it got me to forgive Show for most of its missteps.

Perfect for when you’re looking for something light, sweet and feel-good.

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Review: Youth Of May

| kfangurl

THE SHORT VERDICT:

Set against the Gwangju Uprising of May 1980, our story is primed not to be an easy one, from the outset. However, Show does a fantastic job of bringing its story to life via our characters, their experiences, and their relationships.

I felt invested almost immediately, particularly in our OTP lead characters and their burgeoning connection, thanks to the thoughtful, tight writing, and also, the wonderful performances by Lee Do Hyun and Go Min Si, who are likable, sympathetic and so naturally easy to root for, both separately and together.

Although the OTP was my personal highlight, I also wanted to mention that our entire cast is strong, to the extent that the arcs of some more minor characters managed to be surprisingly affecting, even.

A rollercoaster of emotions that’s not easy by any means, but that’s completely worthwhile.

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Review: The Third Charm

| kfangurl

THE SHORT VERDICT:

Not the sweet rom-com Show was marketed to be.

Instead, this one is a thoughtful and sensitive portrayal of personal journey; the ups and downs of life, the struggle to follow your heart, the mistakes you make and their consequences, as well as the growth that you gain, from those mistakes.

Some minor plotlines didn’t work as well for me, but by and large, I really appreciated the way Show fleshed out its characters. Seo Kang Joon and Esom are excellent as our leads, and made their characters feel like real, living, breathing people.

As a bonus, the music is really quite lovely in this, and makes the watch that much more immersive.

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Review: Prison Playbook [Wise Prison Life]

| kfangurl

THE SHORT VERDICT:

A show that takes the dark topic of prison and crime, and infuses it all with warmth and hope, Prison Playbook is the unlikely contender for your heart that will likely make you laugh, cry, wring your heart dry, and then fill it right up again.

Writer-nim weaves a story that makes primary and secondary character pop, while every actor in our ensemble cast breathes actual life into the characters, and PD-nim’s signature touch comes alive in both the palpable sense of community and the corny jokes.

As a shining bonus, the bromance at the center of our story feels emotionally deep despite its often gruff surface.

Poignant and homey, despite its grim premise.

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