Chinese Drama: Lost You Forever 长相思

Year Released

2023 (season 1)

Genre

Fantasy

No. of Episodes

39 - running time of 45 minutes per episode (season 1)

Starring

Yang Zi, Zhang Wanyi, Deng Wei, Tan Jianci

Storyline

There was once three kingdoms Xi Yan, Hao Ling and Chen Rong until Xi Yan conquered Chen Rong leaving only two kingdoms. The defeated royalties of Chen Rong became Central Plains clans. Xiyan Cangxuan's (Zhang Wanyi) parents passed away when he was still young and he went to Hao Ling as a hostage prince. His cousin, Haoling Jiuyao aka Xiaoyao (Yang Zi) lost her mother, Xiling Heng (Jin Feng) when she went to war on behalf of Xi Yan and lost her life.

Xiao Yao was sent away by King of Hao Ling (Zheng Guolin) to Mount Yu due to internal war in Hao Ling Kingdom. Cang Xuan who was young at that time was unable to keep his promise to fetch Xiaoyao from Mount Yu. Xiaoyao felt alone and helpless as her father, mother and cousin all left her. She has an internal power being sealed and she could changed herself into another person.

Meanwhile, Cang Xuan went to Hao Ling as a hostage prince but King of Hao Ling takes him in as his disciple and passes all his teachings. Cang Xuan reunited with Xiao Yao when he went to Qingshui town where Xiao Yao is now under the identity of a male physician Wen Xiaoliu. Not knowing that Xiaoliu is Xiaoyao, Cangxuan tortured her due to misunderstandings with Haoling Yi, A'Nian (Xiaoyao's half sister).

Xiaoyao restored her princess status for Cangxuan's sake to help him attain the throne as King of Xi Yan. They were assisted by Tushan Jing (Deng Wei), Chisui Fenglong (Wang Hongyi) and other central plains clan. Xiaoyao also came across a snake demon Xiang Liu (Tan Jianci) who assumes the identity of Fangfeng Bei. 

My View

I watched this drama three times just so I could enjoy each time and re-cry all over again. The part where Cangxuan found out Xiaoyao's identity, the part where Cangxuan was assasinated, the part where Cangxuan was trying to quit being a "drug addict", the part where Xiaoyao telling Xiang Liu she wished she was the one who save him from slave gambling den. 

It is pretty sad as not even one of the four male leads could give up their status/career just to be with Xiaoyao. I seriously hope she just be carefree forever. Waiting for part two to be out in 2024.

Rating

5/5 Stars

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

 

Korean Drama: Doctor Lawyer

Year Released

2022

Genre

Medical drama

Episodes

16 - running time of 63 minutes per episode

Starring

So Ji-sub, Shin Sung-rok, Im Soo-hyang

Storyline

Doctor Han Yi-han (So Ji-sub) has been covering for hospital director's son, Goo Hyun-sung (Lee Dong-ha) as his ghost doctor. Doctor Han was being tossed off by Director Goo Jin-ki (Lee Kyung-young) after being used for the last time.

Yi-han doctor's license was revoked and he changed his profession to a lawyer to fight justice for himself. He uncovered a secret which Director Goo has been keeping for years and tried to bring him down with it.

My View

Some plot twist there which caught me off guard when Yi-han was suspecting on a certain politician of receiving heart transplant. Other than that, this drama is actually okay.

Rating

4/5 Stars

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: Move to Heaven

Year Released

2021

Genre

Family, Slice of Life

No. of Episodes

10 - running time of 52 minutes per episode

Starring

Lee Je-hoon, Tang Jun-sang, Ji Jin-hee

Storyline

Right after Cho Sang-gu (Lee Je-hoon) was released from prison, he was tasked to be the guardian of his late half-brother Han Jung-woo's (Ji Jin-hee) son, Han Geu-ru (Tang Jun-sang). Jung-woo and Geu-ru have been running a trauma cleaning business "Move to Heaven" whereby they cleaned up after one's death. However, they do safekeep those memorable and important belongings to be passed on to family members/loved ones who would cherish them. Now, it is Sang-gu's turn to grow together with Geu-ru as a family and friend.

My View

Speechless this drama, every single episode I cried without fail. Highly recommended!

Rating

5/5 Stars

Korean Drama: Shadow Detective 1 & 2

 

Year Released

Season 1 (2022) & Season 2 (2023)

Genre

Detective

No. of Episodes

8 each - running time of 57 & 55 minutes per episode respectively for season 1 and 2

Starring

Lee Sung-min, Jin Goo, Jung Jin-young, Kim Shin-rok

Storyline

Detective Kim Tae-rok (Lee Sung-min) loses his other detective friends one by one from "Friend" who turned out to be Kook Jin-han (Jin Goo). Jin-han was killed in the end as one of the players in this never-ending cat-and-mouse game. Tae-rok is determined to find out the real mastermind behind.

My View

Season 1 was not too bad and as Jin Goo potrays as a good person, I was almost duped into thinking he could not be the villian. Season 2 was more of trying to track down the big boss with quite an acceptable ending. 

Rating

4/5 Stars

Korean Drama: The Sound of Your Heart

Year Released

2016

Genre

Comedy

No. of Episodes

20 - running time of 15 minutes per episode

Starring

Lee Kwang-soo, Kim Dae-myung, Jung So-min, Kim Byung-ok, Kim Mi-kyung

Storyline

Plot focuses on the daily lives of a web cartoonist who produces these genuine and funny stories. 

My View

It is not an easy task to come up with never ending hilarious posts hence not each episode is to my liking. I appreciate the effort and do continue to have more ideas in the future.

Rating

4/5 Stars

Korean Drama: Mr. Queen

Year Released

2020 - 2021

Genre

Fantasy

No. of Episodes

20 - running time of 1 hour 15 minutes per episode

Starring

Shin Hye-sun, Kim Jung-hyun, Choi Jin-hyuk

Storyline

Jang Bong-hwan (Choi Jin-hyuk), chef at Cheong Wa Dae met with an accident and fell into a pool at his apartment. In the process, his soul was swapped with Kim So-yong (Shin Hye-sun), Queen from the Joseon Dynasty. Unable to fathom what was happening to him, Bong-hwan had a number of hiccups during his stay at the palace. King Cheol Jong (Kim Jung-hyun) is attracted to So-yong as she doesn't behave like the usual maidens. Meanwhile, So-yong's soul is trapped inside her own body hiding somewhere trying to find her way out.

My View

Mr. Queen is a totally bizarre fantasy drama which I sometimes could not believe myself either. Overall a hilarios plot and I quite like Kim Jung-hyun here compared to Welcome to Waikiki. 

Rating

4/5 Stars

Korean Drama: Dr. Romantic 1, 2 & 3

Year Released

2016 - 2017 (Season 1), 2020 (Season 2), 2023 (Season 3)

Genre

Medical Drama

No. of Episodes

20 - running time of 1 hour per episode (season 1), 16 - running time of 1 hour 10 mins per episode (same season 2 & 3)

Starring

Han Seok-kyu, Seo Hyun-jin, Yoo Yeon-seok, Ahn Hyo-seop, Lee Sung-kyung, Kim Joo-heon, Jin Kyung

Storyline

Dr. Kim Sa-bu (Han Seok-kyu) has a triple board certification and he impresses everyone with his medical skills and knowledge. He acts as a mentor to all the doctors and nurses who aim to become like him. Kim Sa-bu's passion in saving lives touched everyone around him.

My View

Dr. Romantic is pretty dramatic in its plot but at the same time engaging. I watched 3 seasons at one go until a point where I don't feel disgusted anymore. I could literally dine and watch them operate at the same time. Looking forward to season 4 and hopefully Seo Hyun-jin will be back. I loved her.

Rating

5/5 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