Korean Drama: Queenmaker

Year Released

2023

Genre

Politics

No. of Episodes

11 - running time of 1 hour 7 minutes per episode

Starring

Kim Hee-ae, Moon So-ri

Storyline

Plot revolves around how Hwang Do-hee (Kim Hee-ae) uses her wits to help shape lawyer Oh Kyung-sook (Moon So-ri) into an assembly woman. They are met with powerful figures like Carl Yoon (Lee Kyung-young) and Baek Jae-min (Ryu Soo-young).

My View

Not too bad a fight between few political parties seeing how they plant fake news to smear each others' reputations. I find the schemes not intense enough to make viewers feel the punch.

Rating

3/5 Stars

Korean Drama: Wok of Love

Year Released

2018

Genre

Food

No. of Episodes

38 - running time of 35 minutes per episode

Starring

Jang Hyuk, Lee Jun-ho, Jung Ryeo-won

Storyline

Seo Pung (Lee Jun-ho) dedicates his whole life working as a chef in a Chinese restaurant at Giant Hotel. Not only did he not receive a promotion to Head of Chef (which he has been dreaming/promise of) but he was also betrayed by the hotel's owner, Yong Seung-ryong (Kim Sa-kwon). Seung-ryong has an affair with Pung's wife way before Pung was even married.

Pung leaves Giant Hotel vowing to seek revenge against Seung-ryong by snatching away his business. He becomes a chef at Hungry Wok situated right opposite of the hotel and serves the same dishes but with 1/8 the price. With Pung's superb cooking skills, he eventually won and became Head of Chef at Giant Hotel.

My View

Apart from the cooking scenes, the rest of the story is just not worth watching. I secretly shipped for Jang Hyuk and Jung Ryeo-won though.

Rating

3/5 Stars

Korean Drama: The Uncanny Counter

Year Released

2020 - 2021

Genre

Fantasy

No. of Episodes

16 - running time of 1 hour and 10 minutes per episode

Starring

Cho Byeong-kyu, Yoo Joon-sang, Kim Se-jeong, Yeom Hye-ran, Ahn Suk-hwan, Lee Hong-nae

Storyline

Plot depicts a group of humans selected by Gods as a counter to hunt down demons in human world. So Mun (Cho Byeong-kyu) becomes a counter by accident and decides to continue being one despite the danger in fighting demons. He accepts the task in exchange to see his dead parents once he completes his mission. 

So Mun finds out much later that his parents' souls are trapped inside a serial killer host. He vows to seek revenge and save their souls before they dissipate.

My View

I have great expectation of this drama as I have heard good reviews. Wanted to rate at least a 4 star, but the plot just falls short. Artistes' acting are awesome though even for those evil spirits. *applause*

Rating

3/5 Stars

Chinese Drama: Destined to Meet You 别跟姐姐撒野

Year Released

2022

Genre

RomCom

No. of Episodes

20 - running time of 13 minutes per episode

Starring

Yang Ze, Lu Yanqi

Storyline

Gu Chongbei (Yang Ze) who was threatened by his stepbrothers to befriend Jin Rongrong (Lu Yanqi) to get information about her family business. Things did not go as planned and they got married in the end. The couple went through obtacles and overcame misunderstandings.

My View

Didn't expect this to be a web drama. Everything happened so fast before you knew it. I guess short stories is not my cup of tea though the plot is still acceptable.

Rating

3/5 Stars

Korean Drama : SKY Castle

Year Released

2018

Genre

Family, Slice of life

No. of Episodes

20 - running time of 1 hour 30 mins per episode

Starring

Yeom Jung-ah, Kim Seo-hyung, Lee Tae-ran

Storyline

A group of rich families trying to outshine each other by forcing their children to be the best in their studies. The parents' desire gives a chance for their children's tutor to brainwash and break their families' relationships. Sometimes, it is at the cost of one's death. 

My View

Quite a good plot here telling all parents that grades don't mean everything in life. What matters most is at the end of the day, family is there for you.

Rating

3/5 Stars

Chinese Drama: The Taoism Grandmaster 玄门大师

 

Year Released

2018

Genre

Fantasy

No. of Episodes

46 - running time of 46 minutes per episode

Starring

Tong Mengshi, Pei Zitian

Storyline

A little related to God of Honour 封神榜 whereby God Yang Jian 杨戬 had predicted a grandmaster would be saving the world regaining peace between Wolf clan and human realm thousand of years later. In the meantime, he sacrificed himself to create a barrier to prevent heaven realm from destroying Wolf clan.

Zhang Ling (Tong Mengshi) meets Tie Lang (Pei Zitian) together with many others from different sects to participate in a competition and train to become the only taoism grandmaster who protects the world. Their aim is to retrieve back pieces of armours left over by Yang Jian.

My View

The plot is overall pretty good whereby the participants go through trials as a form of training before actually fighting with Demon Fox Bai Qianji (Pan Shuangshuang), who seduced King Zhou bringing Shang Dynasty to its downfall. 

I can only rate 3 stars because though there are a lot of fighting with demons but just too many and draggy. There are like four trials then probably like five competitions to find those armours. In one on the competitions, another three barriers or something.

Too much for me to bear seriously and only twist was I did not expect Tie Lang to be Wolf King.

Rating 

3/5 Stars

Chinese Drama: Legend of Two Sisters in the Chaos 浮世双娇传

Year Released

2020

Genre

Historical Fiction

No. of Episodes

40 - running time of 45 minutes per episode

Starring

Aarif Rahman, Meng Ziyi, Li Yitong, Wang Zhuocheng

Storyline

Rumour has is that whoever marries daughters of Fu family will become the Emperor. The two sisters, Fu Yuzhan (Meng Ziyi) and Fu Jinzhan (Li Yitong) happens to get involved in a task set up by Emperor but this is actually to get rid of one of the sisters.

Prince Xue Rong (Aarif Rahman) is in charge of this task and leaves with no choice but to kill Yuzhan. Using her wits, Yuzhan manages to save herself. Xue Rong eventually falls in love with her and decides to marry her.

However, as Xue Rong is an adopted prince, he faces multiple obstacles from Emperor's sister as she only acknowledges the Xue's family bloodline. Due to an incident, he ends up marrying Jinzhan instead. Jinzhan is already in love with Jiang Shao (Wang Zhuocheng) who she meets up by accident when he tries to kidnap her during Emperor's task.

Little did anyone know except for the Emperor's sister, Jiang Shao is the Emperor's illegitimate son whom she wants to help him to ascend the throne. 

My View

The story is not too bad though in between a little slow but still okay. It should not be two sisters in chaos as I don't see them causing much trouble other than the two "princes". The ending was kind of sad by the way.  

Rating

3/5 Stars

Chinese Drama : The Legend of Hao Lan 皓镧传

Year Released

2019

Genre

Historical Fiction

No. of Episodes

62 - running time of 45 minutes per episode

Starring

Wu Jinyan, Nie Yuan, Mao Zijun

Storyline 

Plot depicts the life of Hao Lan (Wu Jinyan), Queen Dowager Zhao who is mother of Qin Shi Huang, the first Emperor of China. Hao Lan comes from the State of Zhao and is entangled with merchant Lu Buwei (Nie Yuan). She is later being presented to Ying Yiren (Mao Zijun) who is a Qin prince under hostage at Zhao.

With the help of Buwei, Yiren manages to escape back to Qin and later changes name to Zichu. Once Zichu becomes Qin's crown prince, he arranges for Hao Lan to leave Zhao for Qin to become his Empress. 

My View

For the first probably 20 episodes, it's all about Hao Lan being schemed and how she managed to clear her name. In between, also multiple love hate scenes of Princess Ya of Zhao (Hai Lin) and Yiren. I feel so sad for Hao Lan as no one truly loves her in her whole life except for Lao Ai I guess (Zhu Jian).

Most of her men may have loved her at first but in the end abandoned Hao Lan for their own prospects. Like Lu Buwei, Prince Jiao of Zhao (Hong Yao) and finally Yiren who dreams to unite the world.

Rating

3/5 Stars

Chinese Drama : Love in Time 约定期间爱上你

Year Released 

2020

Genre

Romance

No. of Episodes

24 - running time of 45 minutes per episode

Starring

Ren Yankai, Cheng Xiaomeng

Storyline

Lu Boyan (Ren Yankai) and Su Jianan (Cheng Xiaomeng) known each other since high school. However, both of them were separated due to a series of misunderstanding. Fast forward ten years, Jianan is forced to a contract marriage with Boyan to avoid taking over her father's lingerie business.

The pair eventually patched up and fell in love but were met with multiple obstacles created by Han Ruoxi (Liu Yuqi).

My View

A short and sweet romantic plot especially when Boyan was trying to feed Jianan her medicine. Though not too much of ups and downs but still acceptable IMHO.

Rating

3/5 Stars

Chinese Drama : Painting Heart Expert 画心师

Year Released

2017 

Genre

Fantasy, Historical Fiction

No. of Episodes

20 - running time of 35 minutes per episode

Starring

Zhu Xudan, Xiong Ziqi, Sun Bohao, Bao Tianqi, Li Junchen

Storyline

Cen Huan (Zhu Xudan) is a painting heart expert who has been forced to leave her sect due to an attack from Jiu Si (Sun Bohao). Painting heart sect's mission is to protect Shi Meng Mo (dream-eating beast). The world that everyone is living in, is in fact a dream and once Shi Meng Mo is awake, everyone will disappear.

Jiu Si does not wish to see this happen as his mission is to protect Zhao Meng Shou (dream-creating beast). He has been controlling humans to get their rage so as to feed Zhao Meng Shou. Cen Huan happens to meet Physician Ning Wei Yu (Ziong Ziqi) and his assistant, Sima Kong Kong (Li Junchen).

The trio often work together to cure people filled with rage so as to destroy Jiu Si's goals.

My View

PHE gives me an anime-turned-drama vibe with multiple hilarious moments which I can only find from animes. Overall, story is not too bad with individual cases which painting heart expert manages to resolve. 

Rating

3/5 Stars

Chinese Drama : Cute Programmer 程序员那么可爱

Year Released

2021

Genre

Office, Romance

No. of Episodes

30 - running time of 45 minutes per episode

Starring

Xing Zhao Lin, Zhu Xu Dan

Storyline

Lu Li (Zhu Xu Dan) admires Jiang Yi Cheng (Xing Zhao Lin) as he is a genius programmer and they both played games together anonymously back in the school days. Due to betrayal by fellow girl programmer Li Man (Sheng Lang Xi), Yi Cheng only recruits male employees into his Co. 

Lu Li had no choice but to disguise herself as a male. She was recruited but her identity was eventually exposed by Yi Cheng. They somehow got involved into a contract marriage. Yi Cheng began to fall in love with Lu Li but was still entangled with his previous love, Li Man.

In the end, Lu Li divorced Yi Cheng and left him for good. Yi Cheng vowed to chase Lu Li back when he realised his true love was actually Lu Li all along.

My View

Quite an adorable drama and I kind of like Bambi here.

Rating

3/5 Stars

Korean Drama : Hwarang

Year Released

2016 - 2017

Genre 

Historical Period 

No. of Episodes

20 - running time of 60 minutes per episode

Starring

Park Seo-joon, Park Hyung-sik, Go Ah-ra

Storyline

A 'faceless' King Jinheung (Park Hyung-sik) who has been hidden since young by his mother Queen Ji So (Kim Jee-soo) after the late King Beopheung passed away. Moo Myung (Park Seo-joon) who is a cheonin and becomes Ahn Ji-gong's (Choi Won-young) son, Son Woo to avenge the death of his friend Mak Moon (Lee Kwang-soo). Mak Moon was the real son of Ahn Ji-gong but separated from his father since young due to Queen Ji So.

Both Jinheung and Son Woo join as Hwarang which is established by Queen Ji So to later on act as an army to support King Jinheung. They both fall in love with Ahn Ji-gong's daughter, Ah Ro (Go Ah-ra) who is a physician looking after the Hwarangs.

My View

While the drama has my favourite veteran actors Choi Won-young and Kim Won-hae, the stroyline just somehow falls short and does not have that much of an impact for me. It feels like the villian Park Yeong-shil (Kim Chang-wan) was easily defeated without a proper fight. 

I actually shipped for Park Hyung-sik and Go Ah-ra instead but oh well. 

Rating

3/5 stars

Korean Drama : Team Bulldog: Off-duty Investigation

Year Released

2020

Genre

Crime

No. of Episodes

12 - running time of 70 minutes per episode

Starring

Cha Tae-hyun, Lee Sun-bin, Jung Sang-hoon, Yoon Gyung-ho, Ji Seung-hyun

Storyline

A team made up of Detective Jin Kang-ho (Cha Tae-hyun), TV programme Fact Check PD, Kang Moo-young  (Lee Sun-bin), ex-profiler turned pyramid scheme sales person, Tak Won (Ji Seung-hyun), ex-pathologist turned funeral director, Lee Ban-seok (Jung Sang-hoon) and ex-gangster turned bar owner, Teddy Jung (Yoon Gyung-ho) where they solve crimes together.

My View

Overall an okay plot and I'm only impressed by the first case at how they managed to get the fingerprints of a murderer.

Rating

3/5 Stars

Korean Drama : Reset

Year Released

2014

Genre

Mystery

No. of Episodes

10 - running time of 60 minutes per episode

Starring

Chun Jung-myung, Kim So-hyun

Storyline

Prosecutor Cha Woo-jin (Chun Jung-myung) has been trying to unlock his forgotten memories about a girl Seung-hee (Kim So-hyun) who was murdered fifteen years ago. Fast forward to present day, Woo-jin's memory is being triggered when he meets Jo Eun-bi who resembles exactly like Seung-hee. To make matters worse, Woo-jin vaguely recalls himself shooting Eun-bi's father, Jo Bong-hak (Jang Hyuk-jin).

My View

Story was pretty good at the start but towards the ending was kind of repetitive. I was totally not paying attention during some of the scenes. 

Rating

3/5 Stars

Korean Drama : Ruler - Master of the Mask

Year Released

2017

Genre

Historical period

No. of Episodes

40 - running time of 30 minutes per episode

Starring

Yoo Seung-ho, Kim So-hyun, L, Heo Joon-ho, Yoon So-hee, Park Chul-min

Storyline

Leader of Pyunsoo Group, Dae Mok (Heo Joon-ho) has been controlling Joseon King and his subjects by making them drink poppy wine. Without the antidote to be taken every fortnight, they would eventually be poisoned to death.

Crown Prince Lee Sun (Yoo Seung-ho) was also being poisoned when he was a baby buy managed to heal miraculously and since been immune to any poison. Due to this incident, King Yeong Jo (Kim Myung-soo) makes Lee Sun wears a mask to hide him from Dae Mok. 

When Lee Sun is being forced to join Pyunsoo Group, he escapes and another commoner (L) by the same name is put to the throne. The fake King is being controlled by drinking poppy wine as well. Once Lee Sun is out of the palace, he becomes Chief Peddler who collects all information in Joseon under his organisation.

Together with Woo Bo (Park Chul-min), Lee Chung-woon (Shin Hyun-soo), Park Moo-ha (Bae Yoo-ram) and gang, Lee Sun manages to topple Pyunsoo Group, destroy their evil acts and regain his throne.

My View

Overall, quite a nice drama but watching Yoo Seung-ho, L and Kim So-hyun feels like looking at a bunch of young children. They are pretty young anyway back in 2017.

Rating

3/5 Stars

Korean Drama : Save Me

Year Released

2017

Genre

Thriller

No. of Episodes

16 - running time of 60 minutes per episode

Starring

Ok Taec-yeon, Woo Do-hwan, Seo Yea-ji, Jo Sung-ha, Park Ji-young, Jo Jae-yoon

Stoyline

The plot revolves around Guseonwon, a church in Muji town where Spiritual Father Baek Jung-ki (Jo Sung-ha) spreads his beliefs to his followers. He has support from Apostle Jo (Jo Jae-yoon) and Apostle Kang (Park Ji-young).

Unknown to his believers, Spiritual Father is actually a former criminal charged for fraud. He has also been involved in sexual assaults with young girls, mostly are the children of his followers. Baek claims that in order for everyone to enter paradise, he needs to marries a Spriritual Mother.

Im Sang-mi (Seo Yea-ji) is the latest victim of Guseonwon and together with her friends Seok Dong-chul (Woo Do-hwan) & Han Sang-hwan (Ok Taec-yeon), they track down and uncover the truths behind this evil cult.

My View

Save Me is not too bad at first then after a while it starts to get a litte draggy. But the story goes back right on track after that but I think this thriller is not impactful enough. Good artistes there but the story is soso.

Rating

3/5 Stars

Korean Drama : Backstreet Rookie

Year Released

2020

Genre

Melodrama

No. of Episodes

16 - running time of 70 minutes per episode

Starring

Ji Chang-wook, Kim Yoo-jung

Storyline

Jung Saet-byul (Kim Yoo-jung) works as a night shift part-timer at Choi Dae-hyun's (Ji Chang-wook) convenience store. A series of misunderstandings lead Dae-hyun to believe that Saet-byul is a girl gangster.

After they get to know each other more, Dae-hyun eventually falls for Saet-byul's personality. 

My View

A light-hearted drama with exaggerating scenes since this is from a webtoon. Love the cute action part of Kim Yoo-jung apart from her usual adorable way.

Sincerely wish to see more action dramas from Ji Chang-wook. Melting Me Softly was meh and Backstreet Rookie is not too bad at least.

Rating

3/5 Stars

Korean Drama : The Crowned Clown

Year Released

2019

Genre

Historical period

No. of Episodes

16 - running time of 1 hour and 20 minutes per episode

Starring

Yeo Jin-goo, Kim Sang-kyung, Le Se-young

Storyline

King Lee Hun (Yeo Jin-goo) who is not being loved by his father changes from a kind prince to a cold-blooded King after his father's death. Lee Hun orders to kill his own younger brother and is being haunted with nightmares. He seeks the help of drugs arranged by Left State Counciler, Shin Chi-soo (Kwon Hae-hyo).

Lee Hun requests Chief Royal Secretary, Lee Gyu (Kim Sang-kyung) to help him find a solution as his life is constantly being threatened in the palace. Gyu happens to run into a commoner Ha Seon who resembles exactly like the King.

When Lee Hun's condition worsens, Ha Seon takes over his place as the King.

My View

Not too bad a drama and the loyalty and trust between Ha Seon and Lee Gyu is quite admirable.

Rating

3/5 Stars

Korean Drama: The Good Detective

Year Released

2020

Genre

Crime

No. of Episodes

16 - running time of 70 minutes per episode

Starring

Son Hyun-joo, Jang Seung-jo, Oh Jung-se, Lee Elijah

Storyline

The plot revolves around detective Kang Do-chang (Son Hyun-joo) who tries to correct his wrong when he arrested an innocent man Lee Dae-chul (Jo Jae-yoon) accused to have rape and killed a high schooler. 

My View

Quite an okay detective crime kind of drama. Some touching parts about Kang Do-chang's younger sister and his nephew. Also Lee Dae-chul's daughter as well and I felt sad when he was executed.

Rating

3/5 Stars

 

Korean Drama : Voice 4

Year Released 

2021

Genre

Crime, Thriller

No. of Episodes

14 - running time of 63 minutes per episode

Starring

Song Seung-heon, Lee Ha-na, Lee Kyu-hyung

Storyline

The same old Golden Time Team where call centre receives emergency calls and police officers being dispatched to on site. This time round revolves around Derek Jo (Song Seung-heon) from US LAPD entering into Korea to catch a criminal.

Under agreement with the Korean government, Derek is allowed to stay in Korea and to co-operate with GTT in search for his younger sister, Lisa Jo's (Lee Yi-dam) murderer. Derek believes that very same murderer is involved with his mother's death as well many years back on Vimo Island.

While chasing the culprit, Kang Kwon-joo (Lee Ha-na) uncovers secrets leading to her special hearing ability. Her memories slowly come back when she happens to be at a deserted hospital in Sonang Village.

My View

Compared to Voice part 1 to 3, part 4 is kind of mild. Not many cases involved and I don't actually feel tense like I used to have when watching thriller or crime dramas. But I have high expectation for part 5 as it seems like viewers are finally getting the answer to Fabre's beginning. Unless the scriptwritter decides to write some side tracks like part 4 and drag on a little bit.

Special mention on Lee Kyu-hyung as he is truly good in his acting. Liked him a lot in Prison Playbook and he is not too bad in Doctor John too.

Rating

3/5 Stars