Korean Drama : Welcome to Waikiki 1 & 2

Year Released

2018 (Season 1), 2019 (Season 2)

Genre

Comedy

No. of Episodes

20 - running time of 65 minutes per episode (Season 1), 16 - running time of 70 minutes per episode (Season 2)

Starring

Season 1 - Kim Jung-hyun, Lee Yi-kyung, Son Seung-won, Jung In-sun, Go Won-hee, Lee Joo-woo

Season 2 - Lee Yi-kyung, Kim Seon-ho, Shin Hyun-soo, Moon Ga-young, Ahn So-hee, Kim Ye-won

Storyline

Season 1

Kang Dong-goo (Kim Jung-hyun), Lee Joon-ki (Lee Yi-kyung) and Bong Doo-shik (Son Seung-won) are best friends since school days. They come together to open a guesthouse named Waikiki. However, they struggle to make ends meet. 

Joon-ki's dream is to be an actor, Doo-shik is a scenario screenwriter while being a part-timer at convenience store and Dong-goo starts from a photographer for baby showers before going back to be a film director.

Waikiki families include Han Yoon-ah (Jung In-sun), a single mother. Kang Seo-jin (Go Won-hee), Dong-goo's younger sister, who grows beard overnight if not shaved off. Min Soon-ah (Lee Joo-woo), Dong-goo's ex-girlfriend who stays at Waikiki due to being cheated by another man.

Season 2

Lee Joon-ki is still trying to hard to be a main lead actor. He has another two best friends, Cha Woo-shik (Kim Seon-ho) and Kook Ki-bong (Shin Hyun-soo) and they continue the guesthouse business. Woo-shik is a song-writer and Ki-bong an aspiring baseball player.

Waikiki families include Han Soo-yeon (Moon Ga-young) who is Woo-shik's first love. Cha Yoo-ri (Kim Ye-won), Woo-shik's elder sister who dreams to open her own restaurant. Kim Jung-eun (Ahn So-hee) who strives to be an actress.

My View

Both season 1 and 2 are equally hilarious in their own ways. I laughed so much that I cried seriously. Realise that Kim Jung-hyun is the lead actor in Mr. Queen (this drama is still in my pending list). 

Didn't like Kim Seon-ho in Two Cops and Start Up, but I find him funny in WTW. His on-going drama Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha with Shin Min-ah is having a blast now. My news feed are just full of them everywhere.

Rating

5/5 Stars

Korean Drama : My Roommate is a Gumiho

Year Released

2021

Genre 

Fantasy

No. of Episodes

16 - running time of 70 minutes per episode

Starring

Jang Ki-yong, Lee Hye-ri, Kang Han-na

Storyline

Shin Woo-yeo (Jang Ki-yong) is a gumiho (nine-tailed fox) who has been living for almost 1,000 years. Mountain spirit (Go Kyung-pyo) gives Woo-yeo a marble to absorb energy of humans in order to turn into a human.

Woo-yeo and Yang Hye-sun (Kang Han-na) know each other for 700 years. She became a human four years ago and they happen to run into each other in present time. 

Woo-yeo's marble accidentally goes into Lee Dam's (Lee Hye-ri) body and it absorbs most of her energy. Woo-yeo lies to Lee Dam that he is looking for a way to retrieve back his marble but in actual fact he wants her to stay by his side.

In the end, Woo-yeo tells Lee Dam the truth, gets back his marble and the two starts dating after that. When there are signs showing that Woo-yeo is slowly turning into a human, he disappears.

My View

The drama is okay I guess but I expected more for a fantasy especially about gumiho. No doubt about Hye-ri's madness here as she is still the same from Reply 1988. The funny part which I quite like is the extremely dumb gumiho-turn-human Yang Hye-sun. Lol!

Rating

3/5 Stars

Korean Drama : Start Up

Year Released

2020

Genre

Business

No. of Episodes

16 - running time of 1 hour 25 minutes per episode

Starring

Suzy, Nam Joo-hyuk, Kim Seon-ho, Kang Han-na

Storyline

Han Ji-pyung (Kim Seon-ho) and Seo Dal-mi's (Suzy) relationship go all the way back to 15 years ago during their childhood days. When Dal-mi's father Seo Chung-Myung (Kim Joo-heon) passes away due to a car accident, her grandmother Choi Won-deok (Kim Hae-sook) requests Ji-pyung to pretend as Dal-mi's admirer.

Dal-mi is accompanied by Nam Do-san's (pen name used by Ji-pyung) letters which encourage her to go through her tough childhood. She is separated from her mother Cha Ah-hyun (Song Sun-mi) and older sister Seo In-jae (Kang Han-na) when her parents divorced not long ago.

Fast forward to present where Dal-mi decides to look for Do-san to attend a party organised by In-jae. Dal-mi does not wish to be looked down upon. Ji-pyung eventually searches for the real Do-san (Nam Joo-hyuk) who is founder and developer of Samsan Tech.

Shortly after, Do-san, Dal-mi and In-jae join Sandbox (a company which assist start-up businesses in getting funding) to start their own business. Ji-pyung happens to be the team leader of Sandbox and also mentor for Dal-mi and Do-san's team.

A series of events and misunderstandings put Dal-mi and Do-san's relationship to test. They overcome them together in the end.

My View

As a fan of thrillers, mysteries, crimes, comedies, fantasies, romantic and historical period dramas make Start Up a rather slow and boring plot for me. Nam Joo-hyuk and Suzy's chemistry is somewhat lacking, I don't know why. 

Suzy was so good with Kim Woo-bin in Uncontrollably Fond and Lee Jong-suk in While You Were Sleeping. Nam Joo-hyuk was great with Shin Se-kyung in The Bride of Habaek and Seohyun in Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo.

I know there are still lots of Suzy and Nam Joo-hyuk's dramas but they are currently queuing on my list.

The only plus point about Start Up is their business ideas to help visually impaired people and the song, Day & Night by Jung Seung-hwan.

There was also another part which made me cry when Suzy's father finally managed to secure funding for his business idea of having online F&B order and delivery developed as an app on mobile phones (that was 15 years back). When he called Suzy on the phone and asked her what she would like to have and the answer was fried chicken.

Their family was so poor that they could not even afford to have proper good meals. 

Rating

3/5 Stars

Korean Drama : The Village: Achiara's Secret

Year Released

2015

Genre

Mystery

No. of Episodes

16 - running time of 65 minutes per episode

Starring

Shin Eun-kyung, Jang Hee-jin, Moon Geun-young, Yook Sung-jae

Storyline

Han So-yoon (Moon Geun-young) has been staying with her grandmother in Canada. After her grandmother passes away, So-yoon discovers a letter sent from her hometown Achiara's village in South Korea. The content is about an old newspaper article of her family's car accident during her childhood days.

This letter prompts So-yoon to return to Korea in search of her relative. So-yoon is hired as an English teacher of a middle school. During an outing, she accidentally falls down a slope and finds a corpse. While So-yoon works with police officer Park Woo-jae (Yook Sung-jae) on clues of the corpse's identity, it turns out to be her older sister. So-yoon's late sister has changed her name to Kim Hye-jin (Jang Hee-jin). 

So-yoon uncovers more secrets about Hye-jin's death which are entangled with Assemblyman Seo Chang-gwon's (Jung Sung-mo) wife, Yoon Ji-sook (Shin Eun-kyung).

My View

This drama has quite a number of twists which I like. As it is amazing, I have decided not to write any spoiler here. All I could say is every character plays a part with secrets to hide. Things are not what it seems to be.

Special mention about Shin Eun-kyung because of her superb acting in this show. I did not really like her when she is in The Last Empress but she shines very brightly here. *Applause*

Rating

4/5 Stars

Chinese Drama : The Player 指尖少年

Year Released

2021

Genre

Esports, Fantasy

No. of Episodes

20 - running time of 40 minutes per episode

Starring

Gong Jun, Chen Yao

Storyline

Gu Ling (Chen Yao), Ren Yixia (Gong Jun) and Long Ziche (Chen Bairong) are university mates. They meet up online while playing game as well. Ziche has been trying to hack into the game which can control each of the characters.

During a battle, Gu Ling, Yixia and several other players suddenly inherit super powers from their game characters. 

My View

This drama is really boring and I just stopped at episode 3-4 I think. Sorry Gong Jun's fans.. but I just cannot.. I was very excited as I thought this is another esports drama which may be as good as Falling into Your Smile 你微笑时很美 .

Rating 

1/5 stars

Chinese Drama : Twisted Fate of Love 今夕何夕

Year Released

2020

Genre

Historical fiction, Romance, Fantasy

No. of Episodes

43 - running time of 45 minutes per episode

Starring

Jin Han, Sun Yi

Storyline

Wen Xin (Sun Yi) was killed in a battle in Ding Yuan rebellion. Er Yu brings back her life using the power of his flute. Er Yu then sends Wen Xin back to eight years ago in order to stop the battle.

The first time when Wen Xin gets back, she meets Feng Xi (Jin Han). As she loses her memories, Feng Xi names her Dong Yue. When Dong Yue gradually remembers the past, she knows that Feng Xi is also involved in Ding Yuan rebellion.

Dong Yue vows to get rid of Lu Yuan Tong (Zhang Zhi Jian) and Feng Xi before that happens. Both Feng Xi and Dong Yue are attracted to each other. Dong Yue detests the manipulative Feng Xi but cannot help and fall in love with him. 

Due to Dong Yue’s mistrust towards Feng Xi, he died while trying to protect her. With the help of Er Yu's flute, Dong Yue decides to time travel back again to the time before Feng Xi was killed. Her price to pay is that Feng Xi slowly forgets about their relationship.

Another occurrence leads to Feng Xi's death and Dong Yue time travels back to save his life for the second time. This time, it costs Dong Yue's life.

My View

I have not watched such a good historical drama in a long time. Plot is well written and scenes are not draggy. Everything is on point. 

Rating

5/5 Stars

Chinese Drama : Oh! My Emperor 1 & 2 哦! 我的皇帝陛下 1 & 2

Year Released 

2018

Genre

Fantasy, Historical fiction

No. of Episodes 

42 - running time of 25 minutes per episode

Starring

Zhao Lusi, Gu Jiacheng

Storyline

Luo Feifei (Zhao Lusi) is a doctor from the modern world but time travels back to ancient time. She gets involved with masters of twelve zodiacs in Huang Dao country. Feifei happens to be the thirteenth zodiac, Ophiuchus. 

Ophiuchus clan is being avoided and marked as criminals when the former master killed Huang Dao country's King. This is actually a scam set up by people from Orion Land to sow discord among the zodiac masters.

The current King Beitang Yi (Gu Jiacheng) falls in love with Feifei as they go through thick and thin together. On their wedding night, all the citizens in Huang Dao country are being poisoned by Orions. Most of the zodiac masters are killed.

Ophiuchus being the only zodiac to heal others, sacrifice themselves to save the lives of everyone. Feifei then vanishes into thin air and returns back to modern world. In the end, she meets Beitang Yi again.

My View

Being a web-drama, the plot is not too bad. Just that I think the show does not have much budget so some parts feel kind of weird.

Most of the scenes are funnily lame that I have to roll my eyes. Have a good laugh though. This is the second drama where I see Xiao Zhan as the second male lead. The other one is The Wolf 狼殿下. 

The Untamed 陈情令 made him so popular and one would think why The Wolf, a much later drama still has him playing as second lead. Reason being The Wolf was filmed much earlier than The Untamed.

Also, as long as Zhao Lusi is in historical drama, it is usually from modern to ancient kind of concept. Like The Romance of Tiger and Rose 传闻中的陈芊芊 and Love Better than Immortality 天雷一部之春花秋月.

Rating

3/5 Stars 

Chinese Drama : Falling into Your Smile 你微笑时很美

Year Released

2021

Genre

Esports

No. of Episodes

31 - running time of 45 minutes per episode 

Starring

Xu Kai, Cheng Xiao

Storyline

The story revolves around OPL (Onmyoji PRC League) where Tong Yao (Cheng Xiao) who is the number one player of character Tamamo no Mae 玉藻前 in whole of Chinese server. She joins ZGDX Gaming as a professional player and she plays as a mid solo.

Her team members - Xiao Pang (Sun Kai) as support, Lao K (Gao Han) as jungler, Lao Mao (Xiao Kai Zhong) as top solo and Captain Chessman (Xu Kai). With great rapport, ZGDX team members work together through their journey in getting the National Championship.

My View

Esports Chinese dramas are on the rise now and I find it pretty interesting. I was expecting only on-screen gaming but I'm actually quite surpised when they show some parts of characters fighting in animation which is very engaging for me. I hope to see more of such esports dramas.

The way Chessman handles the reporters and fans like how he reasons and rebuts them are quite cool. Esports gamers are also professional players and not doing nothing all day. They sacrifice their youth training and trying to get a champion title before it is too late as time waits for no one.

When ZGDX won in the finals, I totally teared for them. It's like I'm their little fan now.

Rating

5/5 stars

 

Chinese Drama : Love Better than Immortality 天雷一部之春花秋月

Year Released 

2019

Genre

Historical fiction

No. of Episodes

40 - running time of 36 minutes per episode

Starring

Zhao Lusi, Li Hongyi, Wu Junyu

Storyline

Chun Hua (Zhao Lusi) believes in love more than being an immortal. She enters a game in year 2196 looking for true love. When she wakes up in a historical era, she takes on the name Chun Hua. However, her former self was Hua Xiaolei, Xiao Bai's (Wu Junyu) fiancee.

The game rule is that the first male Chun Hua sees when she wakes up is her rightful man. Chun Hua thought Xiao Bai is the one for her but in actual fact, it is Shangguan Qiuyue (Li Hongyi).

Shangguan Qiuyue and Hua Xiaolei were once lovers. Chun Hua is constantly stuck between Xiao Bai and Shangguan Qiuyue. She is being manipulated by both so as to take over the world.

In the end, Shangguan Qiuyue sacrifices himself to save Chun Hua's life.

My View

The plot is just keep on repeating the same thing over and over again. Like Shangguan Qiuyue appearing out of nowhere and threatens Chun Hua.

Then Chun Hua being kidnapped and Xiao Bai and gang looking for her everywhere. It's exhausting.

The only reason why this drama is rated a 2 and not 1 is due to the true love of this couple Fu Lou (Hu Jian) and You Si (Lin Jing) in Chuanqi Valley. Though the leader belonged to evil sect, his love for his wife touches my heart.

Rating

2/5 stars

Chinese Drama : The Blooms at Ruyi Pavilion 如意芳霏

Year Released 

2020

Genre

Historical fiction

No. of Episodes 

40 - running time of 45 minutes per episode

Starring

Zhang Zhehan, Ju Jingyi, Liu Yichang

Storyline

Xu Jin (Zhang Zhehan) has been guarding the border since young and only comes back to Hengjing recently. On his way back, he is met with multiple assasinations. Fu Rong (Ju Jingyi) happens to save Xu Jin's life at Ju Shui Place.

The owner in charge is Ju Shui Farmer (Liu Yichang) who is also Xu Jin's imperial uncle, Xu Ping. Due to a misunderstanding, Xu Ping assumes that Xu Jin is the one who killed her mother ten years ago in a temple fire breakout.

He manipulates Ru Yi Pavilion's owner Liu Ruyi (Gong Beibi) who is a jeweler on the surface but actually the leader of real Ru Yi Pavilion which sells and trades information. Fu Rong is Liu Ruyi's disciple who manages Ru Yi Pavilion after Liu Ruyi's death.

Xu Jin is made believe to be Liu Ruyi's murderer. Fu Rong then marries Xu Jin in order to avenge for her master. The couple face numerous obstacles and near-death together.

My View

Overall, TBARP is still acceptable. The reason I give a 4 star is because of the ups and downs of its plot. Just that the main leads face too many near-death already. Like Xu Jin is always being attacked and injured. Lol..

All the male and female first second leads are extremely good-looking I must say. Even the bodyguards look cool!

Rating

4/5 Stars