Korean Drama : Watcher

Year Released 

2019

Genre

Crime, Mystery

No. of Episodes

16 - running time of 65 minutes per episode

Starring

Han Seok-kyu, Seo Kang-joon, Kim Hyun-joo

Storyline

Detective Do Chi-kwang's (Han Seok-kyu) goal is to watch over other bad police officers and catch them. Kim Young-goon (Seo Kang-joon) joins Chi-kwang's team to find out his mother's murderer from fifteen years ago. Though his father, former detective Kim Jae-myung (Ahn Kil-kang) was imprisoned for being the murderer, Young-goon is still doubful about the truth.

Former prosecutor and now lawyer Han Tae-joo (Kim Hyun-joo) is determined to get her revenge when she was being attacked during her re-investigation about Young-goon mother's murder case. The trio work as a team to locate actual killer and a ledger about bad deeds of high-ranking police officers and prosecutors.

My View

Though the plot moves on steadily slow, I don't find it boring at all. The drama is so confusing that I don't even know what the confusion was. This makes me even more curious to find out what's next.

Watcher is well-written and you will definitely miss out the gist of it if you fast-forward a little. 

Rating

4/5 Stars

Korean Drama : It's Okay to Not Be Okay

Year Released

2020

Genre

Family

No. of Episodes

16 - running time of 1 hour and 15 minutes per episode

Starring

Kim Soo-hyun, Oh Jung-se, Seo Yea-ji

Storyline

Moon Sang-tae (Oh Jung-se) and Moon Gang-tae (Kim Soo-hyun) lost their mother to a murderer since young. Due to Sang-tae's autism condition, the police could not take his statement as a witness to the scene. The trauma haunts Sang-tae for life and Gang-tae has a difficult time taking care of him.

Ko Moon-young (Seo Yea-ji) was brought up without her parents' love. Her only way to communicate with the world is through her fairy tale stories. She longs for warmth and ends up living as a family together with Sang-tae and Gang-tae.

My View

A story about healing, love and warmth. Usually, the loneliest people attract each other as they understand the pain one is suffering from. 

Rating

5/5 Stars

 

Korean Drama : Dazzling

Alternative Title

The Light in Your Eyes

Year Released

2019

Genre

Family

No. of Episodes

12 - running time of 60 minutes per episode

Starring

Kim Hye-ja, Han Ji-min, Nam Joo-hyuk, Ahn Nae-sang, Lee Jung-eun, Son Ho-jun

Storyline

Kim Hye-ja (Han Ji-min) found a golden watch by the beach during her childhood days. She realised that she could turn back time by adjusting the watch. Downside was that she grew older whenever she used that watch to change her past and stopped for a while.

When her dad, Kim Dae-sang (Ahn Nae-sang) was met with a car accident, she turned back time multiple times until she saved his life. However, she changed into an old Kim Hye-ja (Kim Hye-ja) and no one recognised her.

Hye-ja learnt many life lessons while coping with her 'new' life in another perspective. She decided not to harbour any hope on going back to the past since it meant she had to exchange something precious from her life.

My View

Unexpected plot twist here and this drama made me teared so so much. I had to re-play some of the scenes multiple times each day just to have have a good cry again. Dazzling it's a gem hidden under a rock and you need to watch it.

Rating

5/5 Stars

 

Korean Drama : Rugal

Year Released

2020

Genre

Science fiction

No. of Episodes

16 - running time of 65 minutes per episode

Starring

Choi Jin-hyuk, Park Sung-woong, Jo Dong-hyuk, Jung Hye-in, Kim Min-sang, Park Sun-ho

Storyline

Police officer Kang Gi-beom (Choi Jin-hyuk) was rescued by founder of Rugal, Choi Geun-chul (Kim Min-sang). Gi-beom's eyes were being gouged out by members of Argos and Rugal planted a pair of artificial eyes to save him. Gi-beom survived the attack and joined Rugal in order to avenge his wife's death.

Rugal members consist of team leader Han Tae-woong (Jo Dong-hyuk) who was an ex-Argos member, betrayed by his own gang. He had robotic arm installed in place of his broken one. Lee Gwang-chul's (Park Sun-ho) internal organs were being replaced as well since they were damaged. Song Mi-na (Jung Hye-in) who was Gi-beom's junior and her father worked with Choi Geun-chul in the past.

Together Rugal track down all Argos members especially Hwang Deuk-goo (Park Sung-woong) who carries out illegal experiments using innocent human lives to create terrorist attacks.

My View

Rugal is not too bad and I initially wanted to rate 3 stars but given those efforts put into the action scenes, I give them a 4. Another science fiction drama that passed my 1 & 2 stars mark. The first one was Duel which changed my mind on how bad science fiction dramas were.

A cliffhanger at the end so probably there would be part 2. Is it a Netflix kind of thing that their series usually come with 'to be continued'?

Rating

4/5 Stars

Korean Drama : Duel

 

Year Released 

2017

Genre 

Science fiction

No. of Episodes

16 - running time of 60 minutes per episode

Starring

Jung Jae-young, Yang Se-jong, Kim Jung-eun, Seo Eun-soo

Storyline

Detective Jang Deuk-cheon (Jung Jae-young) entangles with two men who look exactly the same, Lee Sung-joon and Lee Sung-hoon (Yang Se-jong). The two are involved in the kidnapping of Deuk-cheon's daughter Jang Soo-yeon (Lee Na-yoon).

Reporter Ryu Mi-rae (Seo Eun-soo) gets to know Sung-joon while trying to find out about her mother, Ryu Jeong-sook's (Kim Bo-jung) life as a nurse before her death.

My View

I'm extremely surprised that a Science fiction drama sits so well with me this time. Usually, they just get rated one or two stars. Not even Ji Chang-wook's Melting Me Softly makes me change my mind. 

Love Duel's plot twist and how things being uncovered, glad that I watched it till the end. But one thing that bothered me was how did Sung-joon recover from his illness. Lol a mystery right there.

Rating

4/5 Stars

 

Korean Drama : Detectives in Trouble

Year Released

2011

Genre 

Crime

No. of Episodes

16 - running time of 70 minutes per episode

Starring

Song Il-gook, Lee Jong-hyuk, Song Ji-hyo, Park Sun-young

Storyline

Jung Il-do (Lee Jong-hyuk) heads the team in Gangnam Police Homicide Division. Among its members are Detective Park Se-hyuk (Song Il-gook), Nam Tae-shil (Sung Ji-ru) and Shin Dong-suk (Kim Joon). Se-hyuk has been trying to find out the reason for Il-do who shot a criminal five years ago as this incident inadvertently killed Se-hyuk's daughter.

My View

Reason why I watched this drama was due to the fact the crimes featured were based on true stories. But I feel like I'm watching those old HK TVB series. 

The only plus point is that dramas in those olden days (ten years ago probably) do show the victims' bodies covered in blood etc. Nowadays, they are being masked out unless we are watching from Netflix.

Rating

2/5 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 : Tell Me What You Saw

Year Released

2020

Genre

Crime, Thriller

No. of Episodes

16 - running time of 60 minutes per episode

Starring

Jang Hyuk, Choi Soo-young, Jin Seo-yun, Eum Moon-suk

Storyline

Criminal profiler detective Oh Hyun-jae (Jang Hyuk) lost her fiance to 'Peppermint Candy' serial killer five years ago. The police announced the serial killer's death in an explosion but recent murder cases proved otherwise. All victims had a peppermint candy left behind in the crime scenes.

Cha Soo-young (Choi Soo-young) is being recruited into RIU to assist them with cases relating to Peppermint Candy due to her ability to remember what she sees. Together with team leader Hwang Hwa-young (Jin Seo-yun) and the rest of RIU, they worked with Oh Hyun-jae to track down the real murderer.

My View

My second Jang Hyuk's drama, the first one was Voice. I guess he is pretty suitable in doing crime dramas. Plotline flows through well and I don't feel draggy as much though everyone seems to be linked to peppermint candy serial killer. 

Rating

4/5 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 : Sell Your Haunted House

Year Released

2021

Genre

Fantasy, Horror

No. of Episodes

16 - running time of 70 minutes per episode

Starring

Jang Na-ra, Jung Yong-hwa, Kang Mal-geum, Ahn Kil-kang, Baek Eun-hye, Kang Hong-suk

Storyline

Daebak Realty deals with haunted houses/buildings where exorcist Hong Ji-ah (Jang Na-ra) sends away unrested souls with the help of a psychic. Once these souls had been sent, Daebak Realty earns a comission from the sale of houses/buildings.

Ji-ah has been trying to find a way to send her mother Hong Ji-min's (Baek Eun-hye) soul away since her death twenty years ago. She finally meets a strong psychic Oh In-beom (Jung Yong-hwa) and they work together in many exorcising cases.

Ji-ah loses her power after sealing off Do Hak-sung's (Ahn Kil-kang) spirit. She eventually realises a way to help her mother find peace without having to be exorcised.

My View

I love those mini cases Daebak Realty works on and mostly are quite touching. The ghosts here are kind of acceptable in SYHH unlike those in dramas written by Hong Sisters. I would just die on the spot when watching those like A Korean Odyssey and Hotel del Luna. Too damn scary!!

Rating

4/5 Stars