Hello, My Twenties Season 2

Episode: 14

Synopsis: This drama is a slice-of-life story about a group of five college girls in their early 20s. The drama shows the different struggles one might face such as financial troubles, romance issues, and career goals. It also shows the power of girl friendship and also the need to adapt to others and learn from others when living together.

Review: 

I really enjoyed season 1 so it is definitely hard for this new season to follow up to that. While it did still remind me of season 1, the characters felt a little off at times in comparison to season 1. It was still enjoyable but I found the characters more annoying at times. Also, my favorite character from season 1 also is not featured in this drama (except for like 2 episodes). Sad. 

I definitely did not invest as much into the characters in this season but I still liked it. The new housemate was really cute to watch because she showed that despite not having a feminine style/clothes/appearance, she can still have a feminine personality. It was just nice to see that not all tomboys are hard, "masculine" girls but instead they can be a health mixture of both. All in all, the concept of this drama is still the same and the focus on the relationships, sass, and friendships still is just as beautiful and wholesome. 

I don't have much to say about this drama as it is pretty similar to the previous season (check my review on season 1 to have a better idea of the characters). However, season 1 definitely won my heart more.

Hello, My Twenties Season 1

Episodes: 12
Synopsis: 

This drama is a slice-of-life story about a group of five college girls in their early 20s. The drama shows the different struggles one might face such as financial troubles, romance issues, and career goals. It also shows the power of girl friendship and also the need to adapt to others and learn from others when living together.

Review: 

This was so enjoyable to watch and so relatable. The 5 main characters are also so different that you are bound to relate to at least one of them or see your best friends in one of them. The five characters are:
1) Yoon Jin Myung-- a 28 year old who is working numerous jobs while attending college. She is late to graduate as she has to work so often and help her family financially. She is very cold, quiet, and detached from other people and it is very hard to get close to her. However, outside the cold exterior, she is a strong, caring individual. She is very career-oriented and hardworking. I thought that her manager at the restaurant was ridiculously shady (but there are many people who face workplace superiors who try to take advantage of them). However, she also gets to interact with the chef at the restaurant who truly cares about her and wants to help her out. It's nice to see how strong this character is and how she isn't scared to fight back. Truly refreshing. Also the chef dude is ultimate husband material. However, I'm glad that this girl isn't swayed by another person's kindness easily. She appreciates the kindness and help but she also remains strong and independent.

2) Jung Ye Eun-- a bubbly, girly 22 year old. Her life, outside of being a nutrition major at school, revolves around her good-for-nothing boyfriend and her friendships with her housemates. She is constantly having to deal with a boyfriend who disrespects her, cheats on her, and also tries to hit on her housemate. However, time after time, she forgives him because she loves him. She was a pretty frustrating character to watch and I think a big part of that is because when you're in a toxic relationship, you slowly toxic person toward others as well. She faces a lot of trust and jealousy issues when she is in her relationship. But when she finally learns to love herself and be more independent upon breaking up with her boyfriend, she ends up in a kidnapping and domestic violence case where her obsessed boyfriend tries to force her to get back together with him.

3) Song Ji Won-- a single, male-desperate 22 year old. She is the eccentric one of the group and she constantly dresses uniquely and makes up ghost stories that she claims are true. She is constant rambling about the importance of losing her virginity before looking for careers but has yet to find a man to have sex with. She appears to be male-desperate but she also doesn't really go for anyone. She also isn't sad or depressed about the fact that she is single and not accomplishing her virginity loss goals. She's fairly happy with her life and uses her lack-of-a-love-life as a joking matter with friends.

4) Kang Yi Na-- a seductive, strong-willed 24 year old who has no career or academic aspirations. She is the one person who is not attending college but instead is earning money by being an escort to rich men. She is extremely confident and also feels very comfortable in her own skin and in the decisions she makes for herself. At the same time, she also carries a burden of surviving at the sake of another person's life during an accident. I really liked her personality and I personally related to her confidence and the manner she deals with problems the most. Also, while none of her relationships with wealthy men are real, her friendship with this male escort is endearing. They both work in the same field but he really watches out for her and also even checked in on her when he thought she got hurt.

5) Yoo Eun Jae--a socially awkward 22 year old psychology major. She is extremely quiet and timid. She also has a complicated past as her brother passed away from a peanut allergy and she fears she might have accidentally caused her father's car accident when she was younger. She has trouble voicing out at times but she is extremely sweet natured. Her boyfriend in this drama is pretty dorky but I really liked how he was so head-over-heels in love with her and wanted her to have more of a backbone.

I loved the friendship dynamics between the girls so much and I also loved seeing them develop their own friendships/relationships outside of their house. They're so supportive and realistic of each other. The fights the girls have together resemble sister fights and it was kind of touching when they would make up the next day. The shade they sometimes threw at each other when one was in a bad mood was also absolutely hilarious. It felt so realistic and it just makes you realize girl-on-girl friendships are amazing.
But honestly speaking my friends better be able to differentiate me and another person via messaging the way these girls did when they figured out Ye Eun got kidnapped.
I also really liked the mini interviews at the end of the dramas where the characters talk about what happened in that episode or talk about each other. It gave me The Office vibes but with a more realistic touch. I thought it was so funny when they were asked to rate each other's fashion sense and also the interviews where they talk to the shady characters (like the restaurant manager and the abusive boyfriend). Made this drama feel more like a slice of life. I also like how not everything is explained in this drama and that there are some mini time jumps from drama to drama. But it isn't hard to follow this drama at all. 

Tempted

Episodes: 32 

Synopsis: 

To write a synopsis for this drama is not very easy. For starters, this is a melodrama. There is romance and comedy but there is also tragedy and angst. This drama focuses on four main characters as they fall in love, manipulate love and their loved ones, and emotionally lash out at others. It is a story that is rooted in passion, temptation, and also revenge. When Choi Soo Ji gets humiliated and hurt by a man, she immediately seeks help from her two best friends Kwon Shi Hyun and Lee Se Joo to hurt that man's first love. She manages to convince her friends to work together and have Kwon Shi Hyun seduce the independent, soft-natured Eun Tae Hee. As Shi Hyun begins to seduce Eun Tae Hee, he finds himself falling for her as she begins to fall for him. Thus the drama begins as their fake act of romance turns real and friendships go sour. All in all, it is a great drama and the name "Tempted" is fairly appropriate.

Review:

This drama was thoroughly entertaining to watch as it was a perfect mix of drama, tragedy, comedy, and romance. While this drama does have its flaws, I think I appreciated the drama's pros more.

         I really enjoyed the acting in this drama. A lot of people seemed to dislike Joy's acting as Eun Tae Hee at times but I personally feel like she did a great job. Emotions were conveyed very well between actors and I feel like they all really understood their roles well. I did notice the chemistry between Kwon Shi Hyun and Eun Tae Hee slowly diminish as their love story dragged on but at that point, I was already too emotionally invested in their relationship to turn away. Also, the characters in this drama are so distinct, unique, and brilliant in their own ways. You can hate them but you can also love them; you cannot believe them but you also understand them. I loved this because nobody is truly perfect and this drama shows that. Everyone believes that what they are doing is right but they don't realize the full extent of their situation at times. I also really loved this drama because while there were many toxic friendships and relationships in this drama, the drama did not sugarcoat it or romanticize it. They make it very clear that it is wrong and manipulative...even if you understand why it is the way it is. I think it is healthy to have representations of toxic friendships/relationships and have it blatantly stated as unhealthy. For instance in episode 14, Shi Hyun warns Soo Ji to not push him to his limits and to not "use friendships like weapons." 

         The romance between Eun Tae Hee and Kwon Shi Hyun was actually pretty cute, even when I knew it was all an act at the beginning. I think it was interestingly portrayed in this drama as the lines of the relationship gets blurred as Kwon Shi Hyun begins to fall in love for real. The pool scene in episode 11 was truly a big step for Kwon Shi Hyun as he slowly realizes that he's in too deep in this bet and it might fall apart on him as he's actually catching feelings. It was also an amazing scene to witness Eun Tae Hee's strength when she confronts Choi Soo Ji. Choi Soo Ji acts the way she does due to circumstances, not necessarily because she is a bad person. However, that doesn't excuse her actions. She often puts on a pity party in order to have things go her way and will do anything to get what she wants. (Soo Ji is honestly a Slytherin Queen). So it was so refreshing to see her try to put on a pity party show about how she has this big secret to Eun Tae Hee and have Tae Hee shut her down with: "I don't care if you tell me the secret. The thing about a secret is that it's a big deal for the person who tells the secret but it means nothing to other people. (Ooooo girl!!)

         But I really appreciated Kwon Shi Hyun's relationship with Eun Tae Hee because they sort of become each other's rocks. It also was fascinating to see the character development. Like for instance Shi Hyun used to act cold and suave when he was trying to get her for the bet, but as he fell for her he became more vulnerable (episode 13) and also more willing to open up to her and cry in front of her (like in episode 15 when he didn't have to pretend to be okay in front of her). Tae Hee on the other hand used to not really take the time to open up and be vulnerable as well. But she's finally able to show that cute side with Shi Hyun and she also has someone to watch out for her, motivate her to do well in school and in fitness, and so forth. The other main relationship is between Se Joo and Soo Ji. They had a fairly toxic relationship/friendship but they were supportive of each other's toxic ways. However, they truly grew together as well and they also helped support each other and protect one another. Se Joo probably deserved better but who's to say Soo Ji isn't the one for him...especially since he knew her over the years and knows what kind of person she can be. 

            The plot was pretty solid. There were parts that dragged and the ending felt a bit rushed. But it was still satisfying as everyone ended up with who the audience expected them to end up with (or at least who the audience thought was  healthy for the characters). I also really liked the fashion in this drama. I stan Choi Soo Ji and Eun Tae Hee's fashion sense so much. Pretty good drama, overall. I enjoyed it.

Princess Agents

Episodes: 67

Synopsis: 

The story starts off with our heroine, Chu Qiao, being thrown on to hunting grounds along with other slaves (who were criminals of some sort). Confused and mostly illiterate, the slaves are given clothes with a Chinese character on it. The next thing you know a group of ruthless, wealthy lords begin to play a hunting game in which the Chinese character (representing a character from each lord's name) on the last slave standing's back indicates the winner. As Chu Qiao runs, fends off wolves and arrows, and uses martial art skills to survive, she is saved by the Prince of Northern Yan, Yan Xun and the lord, Yuwen Yue. Her unexplained ability to fight the way she does and her strong-headed personality intrigues the Yan Xun and Yuwen Yue. Soon, she is brought into the powerful family of Yuwen and begins to train under the strict supervision of Yuwen Yue. She then witnesses the ruthlessness of the nobles, the bloody power struggle, deception and lies, and so forth.  

Review:

This is a long drama as most historical fantasy dramas usually are. Did I really watch this with the intention of finishing a drama of 67 episodes? 

No.

Did I finish a drama of 67 episodes? 

Yes. 

The big reason why this drama was appealing despite its obvious lack of romantic scenes and comedic moments was the plot. If you've been reading my unorganized drama review posts, you can see that I definitely am more likely to enjoy a drama with romantic and funny moments. I also do not like it when dramas are too drawn out. This drama lacked both comedy and romance and had scenes that made me want to skip, skip, skip.  But it still held on to my attention. There were some memorable scenes, great characters, and also an intriguing plot. Despite these pros, I did not feel like this drama deserved a place on my favorites list. Just because I enjoyed a few specific scenes did not mean I enjoyed the whole drama with a lot of dragged out plot lines, shady characters, and unexplained loose ends. 

     Now, let's start with the cons. You would think that a drama of 67 episodes would allow me to understand how Chu Qiao is so skilled at martial arts and also what her backstory is that she forgets that she was once the young master of the Feng Yun order. But I did not get that..so...disappointing.  This drama wanted to highlight ruthless young lords who were ready to steal the throne by any means necessary, even if it meant killing off a childhood friend and his entire family. While some scenes were extremely shocking and powerful, other scenes just made me feel a little bit disgusted at how inhumane some of these "bad" characters were. Also this drama makes the two blandest characters the main lead. Chu Qiao is emotionless throughout this entire drama which is disappointing because I wanted to see her grow as a character and as a person. I wanted to see her interact and charm the people around her. I wanted her character to have some weight on this story as she is the main lead. I did not get that. A part of me liked that she was so cold toward others because it was a refreshing look on a character. But as it went on, her personality made it hard for me to understand why the male characters were so obsessed with her and in so much pain over her being gone because she would show no affection or friendship toward anyone whatsoever. Yuwen Yue, our supposed male lead, is not much better. His strict and serious personality and appearance made it hard to understand him or truly appreciate him for his acts of kindness or "romance." I found myself investing more in Yan Xun (as many other people did as well). Yan Xun was probably the most complex character in this entire show and I only looked forward to his scenes as there were so many moments where I was bored senseless. So since we are on the topic of Yan Xun, let's jump into some pros. 

         Yan Xun is a pro, pro, pro and I wish they focused more on him and also made him the main lead. Throughout the beginning of the drama to the end, he has feelings for Chu Qiao and he clearly shows his interest. He accepts her cold, standoffish ways and also doesn't even question her martial arts abilities as much as others did. He never viewed her as a tool. And he sacrificed himself over and over to keep her safe. He was the most cheerful, brightest character throughout the majority of this drama. Then the climax hits and the power struggle affects him greatly as his siblings, parents, and loved ones were all murdered and displayed before his eyes. 

         "Treason" was the reason. Yan Xun was supposedly spared as he was in the city and not acting in on this "rebellion" his father was planning. It was a set up on Yan Xun's family to relinquish the Northern Prince's family's control on their portion of royal power. Yan Xun was supposed to grovel and accept kindness in his pardon while watching his whole family burned before his eyes. Expectedly, he begins to fight back. Hurt, betrayed, and saddened he lashes out at anyone who came toward him. And this was the point that Yan Xun was pushed to the "dark side." This was honestly the most fascinating part of the drama and I felt his character, his story, and his growth was just so interesting and I wanted to know more about him. His kindness toward Chu Qiao despite his need for vengeance against the emperor and his childhood friends would've allowed for a great love story to develop. But the writers did not go down that path. Instead, they contradicted this character by making him solely focus on vengeance, being a ruthless king on his own lands, and also using Chu Qiao as a tool to bring down Yuwen Yue. This could be because the writers wanted Chu Qiao to eventually return to Yuwen Yue and truly understand how much he silently loves her. But honestly it was so stupid. I had invested so much into Yan Xun, the character they made stand out amongst everyone, and now they wanted me to just accept that Yuwen Yue's love is the best kind of love Chu Qiao should be receiving. 

       So as you can see I have many complaints. But I did love some of the characters (such as Yan Xun), I loved the bada** vibes that Chu Qiao portrayed in all her scenes, and I actually also liked the princess in this drama. The princess is not necessarily a good person but she was complex, young, naive, and also faced so many misfortunes in this drama in her quest to receive love from Yan Xun. All in all, I enjoyed this drama but it had its flaws and it isn't one of the dramas I'd recommend you 100% watch (I'd probably just show you some of the intense scenes and call it a day). 

What's Wrong with Secretary Kim?

Episodes: 16

Synopsis: 
Vice President Lee Young Joon is a narcissistic, high-demanding boss and being his secretary is not an easy job. After 9 years of working with a highly competent Secretary Kim, Lee Young Joon is used to having his life in order and used to having a secretary who knows how to handle any personal or professional problem on his behalf. One day, Secretary Kim announces that she wants to resign from her petition and to start finding her own identity as Kim Mi So instead of Secretary Kim. Thus begins a hilarious yet touching series of interactions and romantic gestures as Lee Young Joon tries to keep Secretary Kim by his side. As the two add on a romantic side to their professional relationship, the two begin to fall for one another and also learn about the true origin of their love story.

Review:

           This drama is a classic rich chaebol + financially struggling, kind-hearted girl romance. It has all of the main components that make an addicting drama: rich men, attractive characters, a sad and slightly traumatizing backstory, cute side couples, comedy mixed into reality, and also constant contact between the two main leads. While all this sounds cliche and "typical," this drama made me so happy when I was watching it and it has a special place on my favorites list. Now, I don't seem to be the only one as this drama had amazing ratings and has also been favorably received on the internet as well. 

           There was a time period that dramas like this often left me bored as I was used to the general premise of the drama plot. However, this drama brought back a lot of the joy in watching chaebol dramas because it was realistic and relatable. I greatly applaud Korean dramas for trying to change up their usual drama plots to offer more "slice of life" dramas. I have mentioned in a few reviews how glad I am that screenwriters are moving away from the basic storylines such as: shady homewrecker, misunderstandings due to lack of communication, and also domineering rich parents who disapprove of their child's lover. These recent dramas are starting to depict much more healthier relationships in comparison to what they once showed ten years ago. 
          Now enough of this "wow this drama was amazing" talk. Let's jump a bit into specifics.
          The chemistry between the entire cast was amazing. The main leads made such a beautiful couple and every dialogue, scene, and script seemed to flow so smoothly. Maybe a big reason was that the cast were all friendly with one another or maybe a big reason was that the main actors were actually dating in real life. But all in all, the actors and actresses in this drama made it absolutely enjoyable to watch. The romance scenes were not only funny but also romantic, passionate, and realistic (despite the fact that a lot of Lee Young Joon's gestures cost a lot of $$$). I love that kiss scenes are no longer just face plants anymore but instead intense makeout sessions with a tint of sexual passion (hello episode 8, 12, 13). These romantic scenes were a beautiful portrayal of a healthy relationship. We got our passionate moments, our fun moments, our LOL moments, and even petty moments. Truly enjoyable to watch. It was also nice to see other relationships dynamics in this drama as well as the side characters all got into relationships. Each relationship was unique and the way the couples acted with each other were so cute. These relationships genuinely made me very happy as I watched them. The friendships between the female secretaries in the drama also made me joyful as they were so supportive, mature, and funny. (Honestly the best scene was when they all got drunk together in episode 15 and then called Lee Young Joon sounding like drunk hyenas, fangirling over the VP's relationship with Secretary Kim).
              The backstory behind the main leads was also so intense and it also touches on taboo topics such as suicide, PTSD, and other psychological based trauma. The whole story of how Kim Mi So and Lee Young Joon met as children was so creepy yet powerful. It tied the whole drama together and it also showed how psychological trauma can affect more than just the victims. Lee Young Joon's brother was also affected by this childhood event and while he was extremely annoying throughout the drama, the backstory allowed the audience to empathize with him. It also gave him room to change as a person and grow into a more mature version of himself. This drama also highlights how trauma may last a long time but people will eventually learn to continue carrying on and finding joy and feelings of safety through other means.
            All in all, this drama made me happy, made it on my favorite's list, and made it on my personal recommendations list. This is definitely one of my favorite dramas of 2018. 

I Am Not A Robot

Episodes: 32 
Synopsis: 
Kim Min Kyu is a successful CEO but he lives isolated from other humans due to a severe human allergy. As a way to avoid allergic reactions, he has no physical contact with any other humans and owns many robots to help him clean, take care of multiple tasks, and also interact with him. Jo Ji Ah is a young woman who has been struggling financially as she continues to pursue her dream of inventing new items and creating her own business. The two are brought together by chance as Ji Ah's ex-boyfriend, professor Hong Baek Kyun, makes an AI robot modeled after her and is to present it to Kim Min Kyu. When an accident causes the robot to malfunction, her ex-boyfriend immediately calls upon Jo Ji Ah to act as the AG3 robot to help him secure the funding for his research labs. Thus it begins a complicated story between these characters as they overcome many obstacles together such as helping with the human allergy, finding ways to not get caught, a blossoming romance, and the heartbreaking reveal of truth.

Review: 
I enjoyed this drama because it was cute and emotional at all the right times. However, I must say that this isn't one of those dramas that made a significant impact on me. I don't feel strongly about this drama despite liking it. I found it hilarious when Ji Ah had to play the role of AG3 but it just never felt plausible. As the drama went on, I was able to overcome my initial feelings of wariness and fully enjoy it as it is. A big part of it is because I started seeing more from the eyes of Kim Min Kyu where everything about this human-like robot seems unlikely, I wanted it to be true. The two had such a pure friendship and then relationship. It was truly a pleasure to watch. I also enjoyed how the two characters were able to communicate with one another clearly about the issues as things went downhill and work toward a better future. Overall, very enjoyable.

Episode 14- Kim Min Kyu being drunk and talking to Ji Ah (in robot form) about his true feelings was so heart wrenching for me. (Amazing acting)

Never Gone (Movie)

             Su Yunjin and Cheng Zheng are high school sweethearts. However, the socioeconomic difference between the two often make it difficult for them to be on the same page. Su Yunjin is a transfer student from a struggling family and Cheng Zheng is a popular, intelligent student and is a rich heir to his family's business. Cheng Zheng falls for Su Yunjin and pursues her despite their differences in economic status. Su Yunjin is much more concerned about it and often tries to distance herself from Cheng Zheng despite having feelings for him. She goes to study and live in a different city from Cheng Zheng after high school only to find him pursuing her again. After the two finally get together, they face more issues as Su Yunjin struggles financially to help support her family and her mother's hospital bills. Afraid of using Cheng Zheng for his money, she asks her ex-boyfriend for help causing the couple to fight and break up. Cheng Zheng eventually moves to America to help with his family's business showing Su Yunjin that she didn't know what she had until she lost it. Thus it begins her quest to find him again and get back together.
          This movie was very cute and romantic. It was also fairly realistic. However, I did not like the ending of this movie. It was unsatisfactory and it felt like I was left hanging. There were a lot of loose ends. It is supposedly a happy ending as there are deleted scenes of them reuniting in America but it just felt as though the movie was left unfinished with the way it ended. I felt like there was a lot of miscommunication between the couple as well and that was frustrating because everything could have been solved if they talked it out more.

Terrace House: Opening New Doors

Episodes: 16

Synopsis: 

Terrace House is a Japanese reality television show that brings together a group of strangers and watches them interact and attempt to create a romance between the characters. It is an extremely popular show in Japan and it portrays realistic scenes about love lives, friendships, careers, personal growth, and so forth. 

Reviews: 

       I really enjoyed this show and I loved how it portrayed the many problems we face in life whether it is how we grow into adults, how we figure out our careers, how we interact with people, and how we deal with the problems in our love lives, and so forth. I definitely had my favorites on this show and also people I did not necessarily understand or appreciate. 

          I personally thought Yuudai (the aspiring chef) was extremely immature. He failed to see that he would have to put in the work and effort toward his wanted goals. However, he constantly makes excuse and busies himself with work that is not helpful nor relevant toward his dream of being a chef. However, I feel like he is still young and his interactions with many often show it. I hope that he realizes and learns to make productive changes to himself. I also struggled to fully understand and relate to Ami. I felt like she had constant issues with people in the house, failed to express herself, and then felt as though others were obligated to understand her and read her well. She was awfully immature in my opinion as well making it hard for me to fully understand. 

          I liked all the other people on the show as they were mature, realistic, and also very supportive and understanding toward everyone in the house. 

Love Cells (Season 2)

Episodes: 12
Synopsis: 
In the season 2 of Love Cells, Nebi makes a return as the love cell of the Chef Park Tae Joon. Park Tae Joon removed his love cell surgically upon his breakup with his girlfriend and his life begins to get complicated when Nebi is released from the Love Cell Bank. Thus begins the story of learning to face emotions, heartbreak, and also people we have hurt along the way in our search for love.

Review: 
This was a lot better than the first season of Love Cells but opinion still stands about this series. I felt like season 2 is more believable but it was still not a satisfying watch. I did not enjoy the plot or the characters as much as I would have liked. I was also fairly disappointed to see one of my favorite child actresses grow up to still take on roles like this instead of focus on bigger, meaningful projects. These side projects seemed to not be up to par with her potential (which I know is great) and it was boring, childish, and not enjoyable to watch. I am fairly disappointed with this series and will not continue to watch any further seasons should they keep coming out with more.
First one was definitely not a good season.
Second one is significantly better--with more of a plot and a more realistic scenario.
However, it is not up my alley.

Love Cells (Season 1)

Episode: 15
Synopsis: 
Ma Dae Choong has failed in numerous love relationships and has become jaded toward women and romance. Giving up on himself and his love life, he has become an unmotivated, lazy, and messy person. One day a "love cell" called Nebi from his body comes out to try to get him to find a girlfriend and fall in love, otherwise the love cell would be dead forever and Ma Dae Choong would continue the current, unsatisfactory life he is living. However, the goal girlfriend Nebi decided for him to chase after is no other than Ma Dae Choong's favorite celebrity, Seo Rin. 

Review: 
The episodes were all very short to watch and it was quick watch. I personally did not enjoy this drama because it did not fit my preferences. It was an easy storyline but not very realistic as it was meant to be a romantic-fantasy/comedy. If you plan on watching this, do not take this drama seriously and go into it with the mindset that you will simply be entertained and possibly have your time wasted. I did not enjoy this drama and did not much have to think about it. However, I found some plot issues with this drama. The ending was confusing because did he lose his love cell? Would that mean he has no ability to love the landlord's daughter who looks like Nebi? Also, if he developed feelings for his love cell wouldn't that be contradictory because it would mean that he loves himself? The plot did not seem to make sense at all for this season and I did not enjoy it.

Black

                                                   

Episodes: 18

Synopsis:

This drama follows the story of a grim reaper who inhabits the human body of Han Moo Gang. As he tries to uncover the truth about a serial murder mystery, he begins to fall in love with a mortal woman named Kang Ha Ram and he also begins to learn about his life before he became a grim reaper. Kang Ha Ram has a unique ability to foresee when someone is about to die and constantly asks for the help of Han Moo Gang. As the two help one another uncover the murder mystery together, the two go through numerous trials and Han Moo Gang faces the possibility of facing a terrible fate as love is forbidden for grim reapers.

Review: 

I watched this drama on Netflix after it was recommended to me by a friend. This drama may remind viewers of other dramas that involve fantasy elements. For those who watched Master's Sun and/or Goblin, you may find that this drama is very similar. I personally found it very enjoyable and I loved the dark elements this drama had within. This drama definitely isn't filled with a lot of "happy" scenes. It is quite dark in it's own way. The characters all had dark secrets and all the characters had their lives intertwined with death, grim reapers, and the spirits of those who passed away. I thought the story line was fascinating as it dived into the lives of Kang Ha Ram, Han Moo Gang, the grim reaper, and the many characters who were fighting against the reveal of truth and justice. 

        I thought the whole concept was absolutely amazing. It was dark and imaginative. It swept me off my feet. The characters were twisted in their own way or suffered through great tragedies but it only made them more interesting to follow. The love line was complicated but a pleasure to watch. Overall, I did greatly this drama. It is not necessarily the drama I'd constantly watch over and over again as it is not completely up my alley. However, I would recommend to many others to watch this drama if they are into something dark or something filled with mystery.

Hwayugi aka The Korean Odyssey

Episode: 20

Synopsis:

This drama is based on the well-known Chinese novel written in the 16th century, The Journey To The West. However, all the spirits, demons, and gods are now living in modern day Korea. It is 2017 and Son Oh Gong and Ma Wang cohabit together and are often butting heads together. However, they work together to find the savior who will help save the world and defeat evil. Seon Mi was a young child when she encountered Son Oh Gong and Ma Wang and she made a contract with Son Oh Gong to have him protect her from evil spirits who constantly followed her. However, Son Oh Gong manages to find a loophole out of the contract and after 25 years later, they meet again and help one another in a world that is beginning to be shrouded with evil. As the two fight against the supernatural world, the two begin to fall in love with one another.

Review:
This drama was fairly enjoyable to me. I love fantasy genres and this was perfect as it was based off of the very old Chinese novel: The Journey to the West. I grew up watching The Journey to the West and fell in love with the beloved characters like Song Wu Kong, Zhu Ba Jie, and the many other demons and deities. It was absolutely fascinating to watch how these characters translated into Korean culture and how this story was portrayed through a modern-day Korean perspective. I loved the casting of all the characters and I enjoyed the drama greatly for the friendships and interesting characters and plots. The subplots, side characters, and friendships throughout the drama reminded me greatly of the drama Goblin. While this did not compare to Goblin in my opinion, it was still captivating, touching, and humorous.
       However, despite enjoying it for all these things and more, I also noted a few things I did not like about it. I did not like the lacking chemistry between the exceptional main leads. I was unsatisfied with the character development of Seon Mi as she started off strong and independent but ended up being dependent and weak. It made her strong character unbelievable in the beginning and it made it harder for me to believe she made it this far in life fighting off demons and ghosts by herself. I also felt that the plot between her and Son Oh Gong was being dragged out over time and the constant question of whether he truly loved her vs didn't love her became boring to watch.
       Overall, this drama was enjoyable for a light-hearted watch. At times, this drama did frustrate me but it still captivated me enough to keep watching.
          

Fight My Way

Episodes: 16

Synopsis:
This story follows a group of friends in their thirties. They are all not living the life they want to live and struggle with their less-than-satisfactory situations. They are underdogs with big dreams and passions but are unable to achieve them. Go Dong Man and Choi Ae Ra are childhood friends who grew up together. Their relationship dynamic hasn't changed since they were children-- they care for one another, they bully one another, and they often argue. However, as both begin to pursue their dreams one more time, romantic feelings begin to develop.  

Review:

This year I will be trying to watch wholesome, positive dramas more often. I ended the year with "Because This Is My First Life" and I felt like my life changed. It showed me the struggles of life and the obstacles we face as women in careers, families, and relationships. It also showed me that it was okay to not know what you're doing and that things will figure themselves out eventually. After this drama, I was kind of in a drama slump. I skimmed through other dramas and just didn't feel for any of them. It took a while to find another drama that made me feel the same way and I finally decided to watch this. This drama is basically a mixture of "Because This Is My First Life" and "Reply 1997". I really enjoyed "Fight My Way". The acting, the chemistry between actors, and the story line were all very enjoyable for me. This drama did have it's share of cliche moments but the actors were very charming and charismatic in their roles, making it much more easier to watch. I would recommend this drama because it is a good mixture of romance and comedy while still showing you a slice of reality.
       Choi Ae Ra and Go Dong Man had a very interesting relationship and I really liked watching them together. While I understood Ae Ra's reasoning for not wanting Dong Man to fight toward the end, it also threw me off. Dong Man's dream has always been to fight and to redeem himself. While he has always supported Ae Ra's dreams, I felt as though Ae Ra should have returned the favor and made him feel less alone. Ae Ra was scared of him hurting himself but by refusing to stand by him toward the end, it made her seem unreliable when Dong Man spends the entire drama being there for her to rely on. As for their friends who were dating one another, I have some more things to say. I love that Ae Ra's friend grew as a person and became more independent with what she experienced in her relationship. As for the man, I have a lot more to say. I noticed that many commentators pointed out that he didn't actually cheat and they questioned why he was being treated as a cheater. Emotionally cheating is just as severe as physically cheating. It is not the fact that he has a tendency to play white knight that is the issue. The issue was him swaying emotionally, disregarding the person is he dating to conflict over someone he isn't, and also hiding things from his significant other. Why hide if he has nothing to hide? He was unfaithful emotionally.
       The other aspects that I didn't enjoy in this drama as much was the whole story line with Ae Ra's mother and also with Dong Man's ex-girlfriend coming back to try to win him back. It just seemed a little unlikely to me. So as I mentioned before, it was sort of cliche for these story lines.