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Reviews
Urasawa Naoki no Manben (2014)
About the Inio Asano episode: Legends meet
Urasawa and Asano. Both legends of Japanese manga. Legends to the level that if either of them would never have existed, the contempirary state of manga and anime would be more or less different than it is now. In short, their influence on the medium is everywhere.
So, here we basically see how Inio makes his masterpiece mangas. If you've ever wondered why his panels look so realistic, here's the answer: he goes out and takes pictures of real places, comes back inside and downloads the pictures into his computer, then transforming them to look like ink drawings by using some software. Now you might think: He's cheating! Since he is not drawing anything from scratch except the characters. But here's the thing: the madman uses multiple times more time drawing on top of and modifying by hand the pictures-turned-computer-made-ink-drawings than it would take to draw those drawings by hand from scratch. So, actually, he uses more time on the panels than if you would if you would just hand draw them. This is difficult to explain, but he is an absolute madman. Even Urasawa is blown away and puzzled. Even though he is one of the best ever in the industry.
These two legends are still alive as I'm writing this. Absolute legends of manga/anime. This is history.
Dakgangjeong (2024)
Unironically probably the best drama of 2024.
Unironically, this might be the best K Drama of 2024. I'm not kidding. It's fantastic. The plot is great. The humour is hilarious. The actors do a fantastic job, and the directing is masterous. I don't remember when I laughed this much while watching a K Drama last time.
This silly, comedic, probably relatively small budget drama based on a webtoon is a million times better than most recent dramas I've seen in months. No matter how silly it is, it takes itself seriously to the point where it's just beautiful instead of silly. And besides the sillyness, it has heart felt moments and it is very real, even sad, at times.
This reminds me of the good old K Drama's South Korea used to make. There's just something totally unique about this. The 30 minute run-time also gives it a needed freshness that most dragging 1h-1.5h dramas filled with a punch of filler lack.
The two male leads and all side actors are fantastic. But I have to give extra credit to Kim You-jung who plays the girl who turns into the nugget. At least to me, she is probably the most beautiful actress in all of Korea right now, yet her beauty is no match to her talent. An absolutely phenomenal actress who makes this show even better than it has any right to be.
Give it a go, you will be surprised by how good it is. K Dramas need these shows more than you'd think. There really ain't a lot of them anymore. Clearly this was made with love. Something that lacks nowadays. Everyone who worked on this should be proud.
Solid 10/10, would recommend in a heart beat. It secured my faith in K Dramas. Watch it and you'll understand. You won't be dissappointed.
D.P. (2021)
DP has no competition
Most K dramas are fake. During the last four years, I've seen over 50 so I can say this with confidence. Solid 90% of them are completely fake. The actors don't look like regular people, they act like they are flawless and better than anyone else, and the shows manipulate you to think this way about them.
DP is far from this. DP shows you how even the "handsome" people can be bullies (and usually are). DP isn't a regular K drama that follows the same archtypes almost all of the dramas do. It is a mini series, all episodes of a season released at once. It isn't really compaparable with any other big korean tv show at the moment at least. But besides this, DP is in of itself just a hell of a show. Season 2 is in every way, better than season 1. Regarding every K Drama there is, DP stands out. Now, Korean movies are a different story. But Korean Dramas tend to be fake. DP isn't. It's real. Every episode is a rollercoaster. It deals with subjects no other has yet touched, in Korea at least. Jung-Hae in makes a performance of a lifetime. The soundtrack is solid. Do yourself a favor, watch DP. Sad to see it isn't popular outside Korea. It represents how Korean males are truly treated in their country.
10/10.
Pink Lie (2022)
Thriller
Way better than Single's Inferno. Concept isn't original though, as theres a japanese reality show with almost the same idea (forgot the name). Only downside for me is that they reveal too little of their secrets and it feels like the secrets themselves aren't even a revelant part of the show even though the premise revolves around it. Even still, it's really entertaining. I just binge-watched four episodes in a row. It's more than a dating show, episode four turns it to a thriller as one of panelists said. And speaking of the panelists, they're really funny and especially the long haired man. I am eagerly waiting for new episodes from now on. I highly recommend this if you're a sucker for asian reality drama like terrace house. You'll be entertained. The twist in episode four made this really interesting and weird in a good way. You'll be at the edge of your seats.
I Am Not Okay with This (2020)
You know what to do Netflix
Netflix: ?
Answer: Renew the show. Give us the second season. We know you can afford it and everyone who's seen this show wants it.
So, what are you waiting for?
Nabillera (2021)
Boring
I liked Song Kang in Love Alarm and Sweet Home, but even he can't save this. This show is just so boring. It's boring from the very start but as it goes on it becomes even more boring. I can't even finish the seventh episode.
I don't know what it is trying to even tell, it feels like there is no story to convey. It is like watching some random 20-year-old man's life that is not interesting. The fact that he trains ballet could be interesting but him actually doing it is shown maybe a minute per episode - very weird, since the whole premise kind of revolves around it. Otherwise, there would be no plot at ALL.
So, I don't understand why is this even a show. Why not show more of Song Kang dancing rather than focus on all the pointless drama that goes no where? Episodes are filled with pointless dialogue and drama. Some scenes are entertaining but rather than that, lead to no where or give any substance to the story whatsoever. I don't get the high raitings for this one. It's not an 8.8. I'd say it's one of the worst dramas of 2021 (if not the worst). The actors did a great job but other than that, the show is bland. The main character is bland and so is his love interest (though she's a good actor). I liked the grandpa but even he gets boring around the sixth or fifth episode. There is just no interesting story. Even the bully and his motives aren't clear and it feels like the writer is keeping things from the viewer, as for waiting to reveal more in the future episodes, what ends up filling episodes with pointless drama and stupid dialogue, and scenes. Who cares if the grandpa's son does not like that the grandpa does ballet!? No one!
Most of this is just pointless filler but the vibe is fine. The characters are boring but work well. 5 stars for the acting (especially for Song Kang's effort). But I can't finish this.
Don't watch it even if you like slow "slice of life" type of shows like Romance is a bonus book. You'll be disappointed.