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Reviews
Naui Haebangilji (2022)
A must watch for introverts
Brought to you from the same writer who created My Mister, this is a story about 3 introvert siblings and the people around them.
This is not a typical K-Drama love story. The pacing may appear to be slow for some, but not because of filler scenes and dialogs rampant in many K-shows (arguing, kareoke singing, drinking, chasing or yearning scenes) but because the writer and the director wanted to draw you in through non-verbal interactions, facial expressions, silence and pauses.
The more you intently watch, the more the show will reward you. It's a gem.
Jigeum uri hakgyoneun (2022)
Gets better with each episode.
Don't give up after 2-3 episodes.
I'm not a huge fan of the genre, and I skimmed through a lot of chase scenes because they get to be a bit repetitive.
However, I found myself enjoying this show more and more. While there are familiar tropes from past zombie show playbooks, there are plenty of new things in the show that have kept me engaged throughout.
Earthquake Bird (2019)
Folks with interest in Japanese culture will rate this higher. 7.5
The number of1/10 star ratings is baffling. I almost passed on watching it because of 5.9 average rating, but gave it a go due to all the 8,9,10 ratings.
It's well shot. Acting is good. It's captivating and there was no dull moment. However, I can see it not appealing to everyone's taste. I would not recommend it to anyone who doesn't have interest in Japanese culture.
The payoff at the end isn't great, but it's passable. But this movie isn't about the payoff. It's the storytelling and suspense throughout. It's about getting inside the head of the main character, who is clearly troubled.
Really amazing acting by Vikander.
Elegant Friends (2020)
ignore the 6.x ratings. If you're in your 40+, give it a go.
Unlike most K-drama titles on Netflix, this isn't for people under 40 and have mostly single friends. Some topics and conversation, I don't see them be able to relate to at the same level.
While most K-dramas suffer from overly drawn out pacing after first few episodes e.g. Karaoke, drinking, bantering/argument, and solo introspection scenes, this show's pacing has been very good.
I'm into episode 7 and it's still tightly scripted. You don't really want to skip through any scenes. Considering the age of the characters, they're all played by veteran actors with 20+ years under their belt.
I don't want to spoil the show too much, so all I would say is, I'm a middle age guy with very short attention span, but this is one of the few K-drama shows on Netflix that had me binging.
Smash Lab (2007)
Diasaster
This show is a disaster. I watched the episode where the hosts were trying to develop a magnetic fire escape system for high-rise buildings. The solution they came up with was so impractical that a 5th grader would've laughed. Yet, they were busy patting themselves on the back at the end of the show.
But the worst part about the show is the cast. They seem very self-conscious about being on camera, it feels like they just met, and they completely lack charisma. Definitely not TV host materials. I cringed several times watching them as faking "YEAH!" "WOAH!!" and Hi-5s. Obviously they were trying to use those precious moments to offset their dull screen presence.
Also, And I'm sure the girl is a nice person, but her voice is extremely obnoxious to listen to, and her on-screen persona doesn't help her credibility as a scientist.
Slow Dance (2005)
One of the best shows to air on Japanese TV in the past 15 years
This is an excellent drama about a recent college graduate who is confused about his future, and how that impacts his relationship with other people. Some people have criticized this series as being too slow, but it's because this show doesn't try to create unrealistic situations to cause tensions between characters. Rather, the story unfolds in a non-dramatic fashion, using everyday events as a vehicle.
I think a lot of people in their 20s and 30s will be able to relate to this show. It also helps that the cast consists of very talented and probably the best looking actors and actresses in the business. Trust me, you will never see another drama with a cast like this.