Korean Drama: Vincenzo

Year Released

2021

Genre

Action

No. of Episodes

20 - running time of 1 hour 25 minutes per episode

Starring

Song Joong-ki, Ok Taec-yeon, Kwak Dong-yeon

Storyline

Vincenzo (Song Joong-ki) is an Italian mafia's adviser who flew back to South Korea after his master passed away. He is back to retrieve the golds hidden underneath the basement of an old plaza waiting to be demolished. The owner from Babel Group is difficult to be dealt with as they have connections with all the higher powers.

My View 

Vincenzo is an interesting story with good twists and watch till the end to see those villians getting taste of their own medicines.

Rating

5/5 Stars

 

Chinese Drama : The Long Ballad 长歌行

Year Released

2021

Genre

Action, Historical Fiction

 

No. of Episodes

 

49 - running time of 45 minutes per episode

 

Starring

 

Dilraba Dilmurat, Wu Lei, Zhao Lusi

Storyline

Yong Ning Princess, Li Changge (Dilraba Dilmurat) vows revenge against her uncle Li Shimin (Geng Le) when he killed all her families. She also has a love-hate relationship with her cousin Yong An Princess, Li Leyan (Zhao Lusi) because of this. 

She meets up with a lot of people on her way and ends up being in the grassland with Ashile Shun (Wu Lei). Changge wants Ashile tribe to help her with her revenge but she comes to realise that she only wants peace among the people whether it is the Tang Dynasty, grassland or desert.

My View

 

Some parts are draggy especially the Princess Yong An being kidnapped portion and Ashile Khatun's (Yang Ming Na) controlling the royals. I almost wanted to rate a 3 stars but overall the plot is well written. I like how the relationship between Ashile Shun and Ashile She-er (Wa Er) work out in the end.

Hao Du (Liu Yuning) is kind of adorable and he matches well with Princess Yong An.

Rating

4/5 Stars

 

Korean Drama : Money Heist: Korea - Joint Economic Area

Year Released

2022

Genre

Action, Crime

No. of Episodes

12- 1 hour 10 mins per episode for Season 1 & 1 hour per episode for Season 2

Starring

Yoo Ji-tae, Park Hae-soo, Kim Yoon-jin, Kim Sung-oh, Jeon Jong-seo

Storyline

A group of thieves led by 'Professor' (Yoo Ji-tae) take over a mint located at Joint Economic area between North and South Korea. Their aim is to trap innocent citizens and workers of the mint in order to stall time for them to print billions of dollars. Some want the money, and some are for political reasons.

My View

Understand this is a remake of Spanish Money Heist (La Casa de Papel) but I really enjoyed this drama. The wits of these thieves against the North and South Korean police department are truly amazing. 

Rating

5/5 Stars

Chinese Drama : Sword Snow Stride 雪中悍刀行

Year Released

2021 - 2022

Genre

Action, Historical Fiction

No. of Episodes

38 - running time of 45 minutes per episode

Starring

Zhang Ruoyun, Li Gengxi, Hu Jun, Qiu Xinzhi

Storyline

King of Northen Liang, Xu Xiao (Hu Jun) is feared by all epecially the Royals in Liyang City. In order for his son, Xu Fengnian (Zhang Ruoyun) to take over him and his 350,000 army, Xu Xiao manipulates everyone to be Fengnian's supporter.

Fengnian vows to choose a different way instead of following Xu Xiao's plans. Fengnian believes there is a best of both worlds path which he could take. That is to be in charge of Northern Liang and also to keep Jiang Ni (Li Gengxi) by his side despite her identity.

Fengnian learns swordsmanship from God of Sword Li Chungang (Qiu Xinzhi) throughout his journey to Wu Di City. Along the way, he meets up with various high skilled fighters and improves himself.

In the end, Fengnian manages to avenge his mother's death by killing one of her murderers.

My View

I have not watched such an awesome wuxia drama in a long time. I kind of enjoy watching anything with Wang Juan's as the scriptwriter as he introduces a million characters which keeps the story confusing but intriguing at the same time. Two thumbs up!

Rating

5/5 Stars

Korean Drama : Bad Guys 2: City of Evil

Year Released

2017

Genre

Action

No. of Episodes

16 - running time of 65 minutes per episode

Starring

Park Joong-hoon, Joo Jin-mo, Yang Ik-jun, Kim Mu-yeol, Ji-soo

Storyline

Plot is about a group of prosecutors, detectives and an ex-gang member who team up together to crack down corrupted powerful connections within the government bodies.

My View

Loved all the fighting scenes and little of twist here and there. One part which touched my heart so much was when ex-prosecutor turned lawyer Min Tae-shik (Lee Yoon-hee) forgave Han Gang-joo (Ji-soo) for trying to kill him years ago.

Rating 

4/5 Stars

Korean Drama: Hidden Identity

Year Released

2015

Genre

Action

No. of Episodes

16 - running time of 60 minutes per episode

Starring

Kim Bum, Park Sung-woong, Kim Tae-hoon, Yoon So-yi, Lee Won-jong, Lee Kyung-young, Im Hyun-sung

Storyline

An undercover police investigation team led by Jang Moo-won (Park Sung-woong) has been trying to track down a criminal name "Ghost" and his accomplices. 

My View

The scenarios planned out by the team are pretty good partiularly the one where Moo-won plays a part as Nam In-ho's (Kang Sung-jin) acquaintance. Action scenes are not too bad, like the ragged look of Kim Bum.

The only annoying part I find that when the team members react to some news, they always go "No way!". Their expression don't look that genuine I think.

Rating

4/5 Stars

Korean Drama: Vagabond

Year Released

2019

Genre 

Action

No. of Episodes

16 - running time for 70 minutes per episode

Starring

Lee Seung-gi, Bae Suzy

Storyline

Cha Dal-gun's (Lee Seung-gi) nephew Cha Hoon was abandoned in an orphanage by his mother after his father passed away. Dal-gun works as a stuntman to raise Hoon. Before Hoon is killed in an airplane crash, he sends Dal-gun a video file.

Just when Dal-gun is still grieving about Hoon, he spots a man similar to the one in Hoon's video file. Dal-gun then suspects that the plane crash is not an accident but a terrorist attack. He works with Go Hae-ri (Bae Suzy), a NIS agent to track down those involved. 

Little did they know that the whole Korean government is entangled in this political conspiracy.

My View

When I heard everyone raving to have a season 2, I was under the impression that Vagabond must be so good. But oh well, the ending was a cliffhanger.

Quite an interesting drama which is different from Mad Dog, and I certainly hope for a part 2. A little weird seeing Shin Sung-rok playing the good guy here. He is quite a villian in My Love from the Star and semi-villian in The Last Empress. 

Rating

4/5 Stars

Korean Drama : Goodbye Mr. Black

 

Year Released

2016

Genre

Action

No. of Episodes

20 - running time of 65 minutes per episode

Starring

Lee Jin-wook, Moon Chae-won, Kim Kang-woo, Yoo In-young, Jeon Gook-hwan

Storyline

The story tells about how Min Seon-jae (Kim Kang-woo) who has low self-esteem due to his ex-convict father Min Yong-jae (Lee Dae-yeon). Seon-jae lives with Cha Ji-won (Lee Jin-wook), Cha Ji-soo (Im Se-mi) and Yoon Ma-ri (Yoo In-young).

Seon-jae is jealous of Ji-won who is loved by his family. On one ocassion, due to manipulation from Baek Eun-do (Jeon Gook-hwan), Seon-jae tries to cover up his own faults. However, he is found out by Ji-won's father Chairman Cha Jae-wan (Jung Dong-hwan). As a result, Chairman Cha was being shot dead.

When Ji-won tries to find out the truth of his father's death, he is being framed as a murderer. When on the run in Thailand, he meets Khaya (Moon Chae-won) who saves his life. Ji-won escapes his life and names himself as Black.

Khaya later moves back to South Korea with Kim Ji-ryoon (Kim Tae-woo) and renames as Kim Swan. Swan becomes a reporter at Panda News to expose the wrongdoings of Sunwoo Group. She reunites with her father Baek Eun-do shortly and her real name is Baek Eun-young. Eun-young loses her childhood memories during the Tsunami incident in Thailand years ago.

My View

GMB IMHO is an extremely good drama in terms of how each episodes flow. The plot is not boringly slow at times unlike some dramas. Every scene brings me through steadily.

Kim Kang-woo expresses himself skillfully and I love Jeon Gook-hwan as well. His first drama which I had watched was Empress Ki and I thought his character as El Temur was great.

Rating

4/5 Stars

Korean Drama : The Man in the Mask

Alternative Title

Masked Prosecutor

Year Released

2015

Genre

Action

No. of Episodes

16 - runing time of 70 minutes per episode

Starring

Joo Sang-wook, Kim Sun-a, Uhm Ki-joon

Storyline

Ha Dae-chul (Joo Sang-wook) is a prosecutor by day and a masked vigilante by night. He meets Yoo Min-hee (Kim Sun-a) who is a female detective of the violent crime division.  

Dae-chul also has a half-brother, prosecutor Kang Hyun-woong (Uhm Ki-joon).

My View

I guess the plot does not really captivate me as I started fast-forwarding a lot of scenes starting from episode 2.

Rating

1/5 Stars

Korean Drama : Pied Piper

Year Released

2016

Genre

Action, Crime

No. of Episodes

16 - running time of 65 minutes per episode

Starring

Shin Ha-kyun, Jo Yoon-hee, Yoo Jun-sang

Storyline

Joo Sung-chan (Shin Ha-kyun) signs a contract and becomes negotiator for K-Group Chairman Seo Geon-il (Jung Gook-hwan). In return, Chairman Seo lends a large sum of money for Sung-chan's mother's surgery. However, she passes away before getting treatment.

Yeo Myung-ha (Jo Yoon-hee) decides to join Crisis Negotiation Team to reach out to helpless citizens. She believes that by listening earnestly to those in need may ends in a different result. She is one of the victims from New Town Development (by K-Group) 13 years ago. Her parents died in an explosion during rioting.

Yoon Hee-sung (Yoo Jun-sang) is the anchor of TNN Night News channel. He used to be a reporter but makes a deal with Press Director to hide the truth about kidnapping case involving K-Group employees. Sung-chan was the negotiator back then and his girlfriend died because of his negotiation negligience.

A mysterious man named Pied Piper who always make calls by whistling first. Next, he will inform the police department on any upcoming kidnapping, explosion cases etc. 

My View

PP is a very different kind of crime drama. Yes, it is still to expose the bad deeds of higher-ups like any other dramas. But the way the plot is written unravels extraordinarily. 

One of the cases involving a suicide by a helpless lady certainly impresses me. 

Pied Piper's real identity stuns me as well.

Rating

5/5 Stars

Korean Drama : You're All Surrounded

Year Released

2014

Genre

Action, Crime

No. of Episodes

20 - running time of 60 minutes per episode

Starring

Lee Seung-gi, Cha Seung-won, Go Ara, Ahn Jae-hyun

Storyline

After witnessing his mother's murder at a young age, Kim Ji-yong (Lee Seung-gi) becomes a detective in order to investigate his mother's death. He changes his name to Eun Dae-gu. Dae-gu spies on his team leader, Seo Pan-seok (Cha Seung-won), whom he believes to be related to his mother's killer. 

My View

Anything with Lee Seung-gi and Cha Seung-won are just extremely exciting to watch. 

The pair make me laugh so much at A Korean Odyssey.

Rating

4/5 Stars

Korean Drama : Yong Pal

Year Released

2015

Genre

Medical drama, Action

No. of Episodes

18 - running time of 65 minutes per episode

Starring

Kim Tae-hee, Joo Won

Storyline

Though Kim Tae-hyun (Joo Won) - code name Yong Pal - is a talented surgeon, he offers his medical skills to those who cannot go for treatments publicly. Tae-hyun is desperate to earn money for his sister's medical bills.

He is soon being recruited to join a team of corrupt physicians to look after Han Yeo-jin (Kim Tae-hee). Yeo-jin is a chaebol heiress who is under medical induced coma. Her half-brother Han Do-joon (Jo Hyun-jae) is the mastermind behind it as he is going after Han family's inheritance.

My View

I choose to watch YP due to a scene on trailer whereby Yeo-jin attends her own funeral leaving everyone in shock.

Rating

5/5 Stars

Korean Drama : Two Cops

Year Released 

2017 - 2018

Genre

Action, Fantasy, Crime

No. of Episodes

32 - running time of 35 minute per episode

Starring

Jo Jung-suk, Lee Hye-ri, Kim Seon-ho

Storyline

When detective Cha Dong-tak (Jo Jung-suk) and con-artist Gong Su-chang (Kim Seon-ho) are being chased by an unknown motorcyclists gang, they both escape by jumping into a river. That is how Su-chang ends up being inside of Dong-tak's body. Su-chang's own body is still in coma. 

A mysterious fortune teller tells Dong-tak and Su-chang that they have to work together in order to solve a case. Once completed, Su-chang will be able to go back to his own body. But it must be within 49 days or he will die forever.

Su-chang eventually gets the idea on how to possess and go out from Dong-tak's body. When Dong-tak is splashed with water, Su-chang possesses him. When Su-chang needs to leave, Dong-tak has to be injured and filled with blood.

Reporter Song Ji-an (Lee Hye-ri) has been trying to clear her father detective Song Ji-seok's (Kwon Hyuk) name when he was being framed for corruption. Little did she know that her father's death was entangled with Dong-tak and Su-chang.

My View

A typical trying-to-look-for-truth story with a bit of twist.

Maybe I have watched too many dramas until my expectation become so much higher.

Rating

3/5 Stars

Korean Drama : Bad Guys

Year Released

2014

Genre

Action, Crime, Thriller

No. of Episodes

11- running time of 65 minutes per episode

Starring

Kim Sang-joong, Park Hae-jin, Ma Dong-seok, Jo Dong-hyuk, Kang Ye-won

Storyline

Detective Oh Gu-tak (Kim Sng-joong) often uses excessive force in catching his criminals which leads him to suspension. When law and justice could not take the criminals down, Police Chief Nam Gu-hyeon (Kang Shin-il) requests Gu-tak to form a team.

Gu-tak recruits three convicts from jail to form his team. Lee Jung-moon (Park Hae-jin), a genius psychopath serial killer, Pak Un-cheol (Ma Dong-seok), a mob boss and Jung Tae-soo (Jo Dong-hyuk), a contract killer. Joining them is police inspector Yoo Mi-young who tries to deal with the team rationally.

My View

A terrific idea in getting bad guys to catch bad guys. You especially need a psychopath's mind to know the other serial killers' thoughts.

I fell in love with Jo Dong-hyuk... *melts*

Rating 

5/5 Stars

 

Korean Drama : The Player

Year Released

2018

Genre

Crime, Action

No. of Episodes

14 - running time of 65 minutes per episode

Starring

Song Seung-heon, Krystal, Lee Si-eon, Tae Won-suk

Storyline

Kang Ha-ri (Song Seung-heun) forms a con-artist team with Cha Ah-ryung (Krystal) who is a skilled driver. Lim Byung-min (Lee Si-eon), a hacker and Do Jin-woong (Tae Won-suk) a powerful fighter.  

They join forces with righteous prosecutor Jang In-gyu (Kim Won-hae) to take down corrupted officials. Ha-ri is actually Choi Soo-hyuk, the son of Choi Hyun-gi (Heo Joon-ho), former team leader of Special Corruption Division.

Hyun-gi was accused of corruption and killed in front of his junior In-gyu.

My View

I love swindlers dramas a lot, and hopefully I get to see more of these kind of shows.

Rating

5/5 Stars

 

Korean Drama : The Last Empress

Alternative Title

Empress' Dignity

Year Released

2018 - 2019

Genre

Mystery, Action

No. of Episodes

52 - running time of 35 minutes per episode

Starring

Jang Na-ra, Choi Jin-hyuk, Shin Sung-rok, Lee Elijah, Shin Eun-kyung

Storyline

Oh Sunny (Jang Na-ra) is a musical actress who marries Emperor Lee Hyuk (Shin Sung-rok) of the Korean Empire. Hyuk has an affair with Imperial head secretary Min Yoo-ra (Lee Elijah).

In order to seek revenge on his mother's death, Na Wang-sik (Choi Jin-hyuk) changes his identity to Chun Woo-bin. He then becomes Hyuk's most trusted imperial bodyguard. 

Sunny is involved in an investigation about the death of Grand Empress Dowager Jo (Park Won-sook).

My View

The story has a number of twists and turns.

A not too bad drama.

Rating

3/5 Stars

 

Korean Drama : The K2

Year Released

2016

Genre

Action

No. of Episodes

16 - running time of 60 minutes per episode

Starring

Ji Chang-wook, Yoona, Song Yoon-ah, Jo Sung-ha

Storyline

Kim Je-ha (Ji Chang-wook) is a former mercenary soldier known as “K2” who suddenly turns into a fugitive when he is wrongfully accused of killing his girlfriend while he is serving in Iraq. Once back in Korea, he becomes a bodyguard for Choi Yoo-jin (Song Yoon-ah), the owner of JSS Security.

Yoo-jin is also the wife of presidential candidate, Jang Se-joon (Jo Sung-ha). Je-ha uses his new job in planning revenge on Se-joon's rival, Park Kwan-soo (Kim Kap-soo). Je-ha believes Kwan-soo as the one who ordered the murder of his girlfriend.

Je-ha is assigned by Soo-jin to guard her step-daughter Go Anna (Yoona). He is in a dilemma when he falls for Anna as he wants to help her escape from Soo-jin. But at the same time, Je-ha needs Soo-jin's help to take down Kwan-soo.

My View

An absolutely great mix of action with political struggle plot.

Rating 

5/5 Stars

Korean Drama : The Guardians

Alternative Title

Lookout

Year Released

2017

Genre

Action, Thriller

No. of Episodes

32 - running time of 35 minutes per episode

Starring

Kim Young-kwang, Lee Si-young

Storyline

A group of five people teaming up to serve justice themselves after losing their loved ones to criminals.

Prosecutors Jang Do-han (Kim Young-kwang) and Kim Eun-jung (Kim Tae-hoon), detective Jo Soo-ji (Lee Si-young), Seo Bo-mi (Kim Seul-gi) who communicates with the world through CCTVs and hacker Gong Kyung-su (Key).  

My View

I enjoy watching how the truths are being unfolded and Park Solomon's acting is not too bad actually. 

He should have more future opportunities.

Rating

4/5 Stars

Korean Drama : Terius Behind Me

Alternative Title

My Secret Terius

Year Released

2018

Genre

Action

No. of Episodes

32 - running time of 35 minutes per episode

Starring

So Ji-sub, Jung In-sun, Son Ho-jun

Storyline

Go Ae-rin (Jung In-sun) becomes a single mother after she loses her husband. She hires her neighbour Kim Bon (So Ji-sub), as a caretaker for her two young children. 

Ae-rin is unaware that Bon is a black ops agent with NIS under the code Terius. They soon discover the truth to Ae-rin's husband's death which involves a huge conspiracy.

My View

The story is okay at first then towards the end, I'm kind of bored..

Rating

2/5 Stars

Korean Drama : Protect the Boss

Year Released

2011

Genre

Action, Romance, Comedy

No. of Episodes

18 - running time of 65 minutes per episode

Starring

Ji Sung, Choi Kang-hee, Jaejoong

Storyline

Cha Ji-heon (Ji Sung) is an incredibly childish young man who does not contribute to his job as a director at DN Group. His cousin Cha Mu-won (Jaejoong) is a mature, hardworking and perfect executive.  

Spunky and tough Noh Eun-seol (Choi Kang-hee) struggles to find a permanent job because of her juvenile delinquent record and poor academic background. She is surprisingly hired by DN Group even after giving the directors a piece of her mind during her interview.

Mu-won is attracted to Eun-seol's personality and he hires her to be Ji-heon's secretary. The three leads eventually have a love triangle.

My View

If I cannot remember much about a drama, that means it is okay to watch.

If not, they are either very good or too lousy.

All I know is that Jaejoong is so charming.

Rating

2/5 Stars