Tag: Mystery

Review: The Forbidden Marriage

Posted March 7, 2023 by Rowena in Reviews | 0 Comments

The Forbidden Marriage

Starring: Kim Young Dae, Park Ju Hyun, Kim Woo Seok, Yang Dong Geun, Park Sun Young, Choi Deok Moon
Year Released: 2022
Number of Episodes: Drama, Historical, Comedy, Mystery, Romance
Country: South Korea
Director: Jung Hoon, Park Sang Woo
Screenwriter: Cheon Ji Hye
Where to Watch: Viki, Prime Video

Lee Heon is the king of Joseon. 7 years ago, when he was a crown prince, his beloved wife died. To this day, he has not been able to get over her death. For the past 7 years, the royal family and government members have tried to get King Lee Heon remarried without success. The nation has also implemented a geumhonryung edict, which is a ban on all single women marrying during this time when the king has not married. People are furious over the marriage ban. One day, King Lee Heon hears of a woman named Ye So Rang, who claims the spirit of the king’s late wife exists within the royal palace.

Meanwhile, Ye So Rang is a swindler and claims to interpret marital harmony signs. She is arrested and jailed where Officer Lee Shin Won works. To get out of her predicament, she pretends to be possessed by a spirit in front of Lee Shin Won. During her ruse, she mentions that the spirit of King Lee Heon’s late wife exists within the royal palace. She is then brought in front of the king and he asks her if she can really see his late wife’s spirit. To survive, Ye So Rang acts like her body is possessed by the king’s late wife. Ye So Rang’s lies get bigger and more audacious.

I love me some Kim Young Dae so after watching Shooting Star, I patiently waited for him to come out with something else and this was it. I’m finding that I’m watching more and more shows for the actors that star in them and not the plot or anything like that. I promise I’m not shallow, haha. I do love me some Park Ju Hyun as well so this was a pairing that I didn’t know that I needed. And in a rom-com? Yes, please!

The Story

Kim Young Dae plays a King who has not gotten over his dead wife. He’s still grieving her death and put a law into effect that bans marriage so for the last seven years, everyone has not been able to get married. What everyone doesn’t know is that the King is being haunted by his dead wife. He never gets any peace because his dead wife is always around. So when he meets Ye So Rang and she claims that his late wife is in the palace, he keeps her around so that he can talk to his wife through her and their whirlwind romance takes off. Ye So Rang is battling her own things and is in hiding because she’s never been safe. She’s become a con artist in order to survive and seeing her battle day in and day out made me love her more and more with each episode.

As much as I enjoyed the main romance, the story itself moved slow at times and there were a few episodes where it was so slow that it was very easy for me to be distracted with everything and anything under the sun while the episodes played. That was a bit of a bummer but overall, I did like it.

The Cast

There weren’t too many faces that I didn’t recognize from this drama so it felt like catching up with friends and I enjoyed everyone’s addition to the cast. My favorites of the bunch outside of the two main leads were the second lead, Lee Shin Won, (though I never rooted for him to get the girl, sorry!), and the two palace workers, Se Jang and Won Nyeo, who were trying to steer the King into falling in love so that the marriage ban can be lifted. They were a lot of fun and entertained me with their charm.

Final Thoughts

Overall, this drama was an enjoyable one that made me laugh, made me get teary-eyed, and entertained me. Though there were slow parts of the show, I still enjoyed it. I liked the romance between the King and and So Rang, I liked the second lead, I loved all of the people we meet from So Rang’s life but from the King’s life as well (except for all of those fuckers that were trying to do him dirty) and a giant fuck you to the woman and her daughter that was trying to do So Rang dirty too. I’m glad that when all was said and done, my girl got her happy ending and was able to return to the person she’s always been and was able to step into the light without hiding anymore. I was glad that the King was able to finally move on from his first love and find love again with my girl. There’s enough here for viewers to enjoy and I thought the visuals (not just the actors but the setting as well) were beautiful and I am glad that I watched it.

Final Rating

3.5 out of 5

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Review: He is Psychometric

Posted March 2, 2023 by Rowena in Reviews | 0 Comments

He is Psychometric

Starring: Park Jin Young, Shin Ye Eun, Kim Kwon, Kim Da Som, Noh Jong Hyun, Go Youn Jung
Year Released: 2019
Number of Episodes: Drama, Mystery, Romance, Supernatural
Country: South Korea
Director: Kim Byung Soo
Screenwriter: Yang Jin Ah
Where to Watch: Prime Video, Viki

After losing his parents in a fire, Lee Ahn acquires the power of psychometry, the ability to read a person or an object’s past through physical contact, and he decides to use it to take bad people down. While he does not know how to control his power yet, he meets Yoon Jae In who tries her best to hide her painful secrets. Together with his foster guardian, prosecutor Kang Seong Mo, and the latter’s colleague, investigator Eun Ji Soo, they team up to solve an elusive case that has been haunting the lives of Ahn, Sung Mo, and Jae In. The case revolves around the life of prosecutor Kang’s mother and father, who were the main cause of the fire. Jae In and Lee Ahn heal each other through their past present and future and find the culprit.

My best friend Therese and I started this drama right after we finished Alchemy of Souls 2: Light and Shadow because we wanted some more Go Youn Jung. We are huge fans of both her and Lee Jae Wook. We finished this show in just a few days and came away huge fans of Park Jin Young’s fine ass. Haha.

The Story

Our main character, Lee Ahn gets hurt in an apartment fire that took both of his parents from him when he was like ten years old. He also gets the power of psychometry. This power of his came with a lot of growing pains but once he’s a teenager, he’s come to terms with this power, and though he doesn’t have control over his powers, he knows to keeps his hands off of people if he doesn’t want to be bombarded by their pasts. He’s a very confident person that lives with his older brother. He’s part of a found family of people that were affected from the apartment fire and he’s determined to grow up into a good, upstanding adult just like his older foster brother. When he meets Yoon Jae In, she hates his guts because of a misunderstanding and the more he gets to know her, the more he realizes that she’s got a tight grip on her secrets, and her past.

This drama centers around Lee Ahn but also around everyone close to him. Their lives are all connected through cases that are all connected to that apartment fire and seeing everything come together piece by piece made for a very engaging drama that me and my best friend enjoyed from start to finish.

The Cast

Our main couple, Lee Ahn and Yoon Jae In were cute but I’ll admit that I enjoyed their romance as it was developing. Once they got together, I cared more about everything and everyone else. That’s not to say that I didn’t love Lee Ahn and Yoon Jae In, cause I did. I just kept waiting for crumbs from Kim So Hyun (Go Youn Jung) more. Lee Ahn was my favorite and I loved every bit of his acting in this show. He showed us such great scenes with a variety of emotions and knocked every single scene out of the park. The humor, the sweetness, the love he had for the people around him while still feeling the effects of being an orphan and without his parents. The way that he clung to his older brother and the hurts he suffered throughout the show made me a really big fan of Park Jin Young. He really showed out.

I loved all of the other characters as well. From the older brother, Kang Sung Mo to the detective, Eun Ji Soo and then Lee Dae Bong and Kim So Hyun and even Jae In’s Aunt and her boss at the police station. They were all such great characters and did a great job of bringing this story to life. The only character outside of Park Jin Young and Go Youn Jung that I knew was Shin Ye Eun. I knew her as that little cheeky ass girl from Yumi’s Cells that made me mad at Jin Young’s character, haha.

Final Thoughts

Overall, this was a solid drama that my bestie and I enjoyed the heck out of. This was definitely one of the better ones that we’ve watched lately and there have been some duds that we didn’t even end up finishing so it was good to be excited about a drama after Alchemy of Souls finished. I love that Therese LOVES Jin Young now and I loved that she seems to be enjoying k-dramas more and more with me because let me tell you, watching these shows with someone else who is just as invested in it all as you are makes the watching experience that much more fun. Big ups to the writers, the actors, and the staff that delivered a solid story with characters that had us rooting for them and even when things didn’t go our way, we still enjoyed this one. So yeah, I definitely recommend this one.

Final Rating

4 out of 5

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Review: Unlock My Boss

Posted February 23, 2023 by Rowena in Reviews | 0 Comments

Unlock My Boss

Starring: Chae Jong Hyeop, Park Sung Woong, Seo Eun Soo, Heo Ji Na, Ahn Nae Sang, Kim Sung Oh
Year Released: 2022
Number of Episodes: Drama, Fantasy, Comedy, Mystery
Country: South Korea
Director: Lee Chul Ha
Screenwriter: Kim Hyun Min
Where to Watch: Viki

As founder and CEO of one of the country’s largest IT companies, Kim Sun Joo is a name everyone knows. A true genius in his field, Sun Joo has everything in life going for him. But living at the top comes with its own set of challenges, and some would stop at nothing to bring him down. In this case, literally.

Hunted down by an unknown killer, Sun Joo becomes the unfortunate victim of a senseless murder. But instead of leaving this life, Sun Joo’s spirit somehow takes up residence in his smartphone. Now trapped within his phone, Sun Joo might have spent an eternity there, had Park In Sung not stumbled upon it.

A down-and-out university graduate unable to find a job, In Sung is shocked to find a phone inhabited by the spirit of Sun Joo. Taking advantage of the situation Sun Joo does his best to convince In Sung to help him; a task which becomes much easier once he mentions the hefty reward he’s willing to give In Sung in exchange for his services.

Taking on the role of temporary CEO, In Sung steps into Sun Joo’s shoes at the company, much to the chagrin of his secretary, Jung Se Yeon. Working together in secret, will the two be able to find those responsible for Sun Joo’s death?

I became a fan of Chae Jong Hyeop after watching him in The Witch’s Diner and Love All Play. So when this one was being promoted, it was on my radar strictly because Jong Hyeop starred in it. The story itself isn’t one that I thought I would enjoy since it seemed too silly for me and while it’s not a favorite of mine, this show did entertain and keep me curious enough to finish it out though I didn’t think I would in the middle.

The Story

So this drama follows a young man who teams up with the administrative assistant of a CEO of one of the largest IT companies in South Korea as they try to get their boss out of the smartphone. Park In Sung found the phone near his parents house and after some back and forth, arguing with the man that claims to be stuck in the phone, he decides that since he doesn’t have anything else going on, he’ll take a stab at helping this guy find out what happened, who is behind his abduction, and live the rich life for a little bit. Little did he know the adventure that awaited him once he took the job on.

Male Lead

Park In Sung is a down on his luck young adult that can’t seem to land a steady job. He’s been trying but he’s been striking out so when this dream job lands in his lap, he finds himself jumping through hoop after hoop to stay afloat. He’s trying to land a steady job to get his parents, specifically his dad off his back since he seems to have lost confidence that In Sung is going to accomplish anything in his life so he wants him to come back home and help him run their family farm. In Sung is determined to succeed no matter what and with his drive and the good head that he had on his shoulder, I was rooting him on. I loved the way that he was with everyone from the CEO’s young daughter to Uncle Mafia to the female lead, he was genuinely nice to everyone and really tried his hardest to do always do the right thing and I lovedhat about him.

Female Lead

I’m not going to lie, when we’re first introduced to Se Yeong’s character, I didn’t realize she was the female lead and I was side-eyeing the hell out of her. I thought she played a part in the CEO’s abduction and I thought just a whole lot of things that weren’t good. I’m glad that I was wrong on every point because she was so different from Park In Sung and yet I really loved those differences. I loved how smart she was, how strong she was and I really felt for her character and everything she was going through at the same time that she was trying to help find her boss. She ended up being one of my favorite characters and I’m glad for that cause she was pretty awesome. Very relatable.

The Cast

It was a pleasant surprise to see a child actress in this show that I loved so much in the last show that I watched her in. The CEO’s daughter, Min Ah. I absolutely loved her in Our Blues and absolutely loved her in this one as well. I saw a lot of familiar faces in this drama and enjoyed what each of them brought to the show. The characters aren’t what I had issues with, I struggled with the story being told…but I did like everyone (except the bad guys, eff them, haha).

Final Thoughts

Overall, this drama isn’t going to be a favorite of mine but I did enjoy everyone’s efforts. The acting, the humor, the heart were all great. I just wished that I connected with the story being told. The whole AI stuff, the abduction, the bad guys themselves, all of it was super fluffy to me and while I enjoyed the actors, the characters, it was them that I kept tuning in for. I did enjoy the show but I spent most of the time watching this one, hoping that next week it would pick up.

Final Rating

3 out of 5

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Review: Little Women

Posted December 27, 2022 by Rowena in Reviews | 0 Comments

Little Women

Starring: Kim Go Eun, Nam Ji Hyun, Park Ji Hoon, Wi Ha Joon, Uhm Ki Joon, Uhm Ji Won
Year Released: 2022
Number of Episodes: Drama, Action, Mystery, Thriller
Country: South Korea
Director: Kim Hee Won
Screenwriter: Jung Seo Kyung
Where to Watch: Netflix

About three sisters with a close bond who grew up in poverty. It is the exciting story of the sisters as they get embroiled in a major incident and face off against the wealthiest family in the nation.

Kim Go Eun plays the eldest sister Oh In Joo, who wants to protect her family with money. Growing up in extreme poverty, her only dream was to live as well off as other normal people, but a major incident completely shakes up her life.

Nam Ji Hyun takes on the role of the second sister Oh In Kyung, a news reporter who does not want to bow down to money and aims to always do what’s right. When a mysterious case from her early reporter days returns close to her, she starts digging for the truth.

Park Ji Hu transforms into Oh In Hye, the youngest overwhelmed by the love of her older sisters who work hard for her. Although she has never even used decent art supplies due to their family’s financial situation, she enters an art high school with her natural talent.

I’m super soft for both Kim Go Eun and Wi Ha Joon so it was a no-brainer that I was going to be all up in this dramas business. Add in Nam Ji Hyun and it was a must watch for me.

This show centers around the Oh sisters. They grew up poor and though they hate it, they don’t know anything else so they just do the best that they can for each other. The oldest Oh sister, In Joo works a day job that helps pay the family bills but with irresponsible parents, she can never get ahead. She tries her best to help her sisters stay afloat but there is never enough money when there is enough money, the money comes with an onslaught of problems that sends her on a spiral of action to try to keep her family safe and out of harm’s way.

The second sister, In Kyung, is a reporter who is always fighting the good fight and reporting on it. She takes pride in her work and never lets anything bad slide and she kind of bulldozes her way through each story. She seems so strong and capable but she’s hiding a secret that will destroy all of that and when she runs into a story that she can’t walk away from, no matter how much danger it puts her in, she stands firm in trying to find out the truth.

The youngest sister, In Hye, is a high school student who just wants to paint and go overseas to an art school to grow her art. She loves her family but feels smothered from her older sisters’ care and love. When she finds a way for her to make money using her talents with art, she jumps at the chance and becomes involved with a family that is shady as shit.

The thing that I found interesting about this drama was how each sister had their own set of struggles but they were all knee-deep in the same drama. They were all coming at the drama from different directions and each of their parts in the story being told had me at the edge of my seat each week. Each week left me wanting more and though I spent a good deal in the beginning, confused as hell, the way that the overall story unfolded was neat and I was a fan. The characters that I’m supposed to love, I hella loved and the characters that I’m supposed to hate, I thoroughly hated their asses so each actor and actress served what needed serving. The way that this story wraps up was satisfying though I would have been completely satisfied had there been more romance between In Joo and Do Il and if there was more of a conclusion for them as well. But, I guess I’ll write my own ending for them in my head, haha.

Is it the perfect drama? Nah. But it is still super enjoyable and visually stunning. I really enjoyed this one and thought everyone delivered their roles really well and everyone looks really good in it as well. I totally recommend, especially if you like looking at Wi Ha Joon. 🙂

Final Rating

via GIPHY

4 out of 5

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Review: Blind

Posted December 1, 2022 by Rowena in Reviews | 0 Comments

Blind

Starring: Ok Taec Yeon, Ha Seok Jin, Jung Eun Ji, Jung In Ki, Jung Eui Wook, Park Ji Bin
Year Released: 2022
Number of Episodes: Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Country: South Korea
Director: Shin Yong Hwi
Screenwriter: Kwon Ki Kyung

Ryu Sung Joon, Ryu Sung Hoon, and Jo Eun Ki become involved in a serial murder case involving jury members as the victims. These three individuals try to uncover the truth behind the deaths.

Ryu Sung Joon works as an enthusiastic detective. He is always determined to catch the bad guys. Due to his determination, his arrest rate is always among the top for detectives. His older brother is Ryu Sung Hoon and he works as a judge. Ryu Sung Hoon is a perfectionist and smart enough to have passed the bar exam with the top score and graduated at the top of his class at the Judicial Research and Training Institute. He is an upright man who does his best to impart a fair judgment. Jo Eun Ki works as a social worker. She has a warm heart and is full of justice. She always puts people first and tries to be a reliable guardian to children who come from poor backgrounds.

I’m not sure why this drama came onto my radar but man am I glad that it did. I have enjoyed Ok Taec Yeon in every drama that I’ve seen him in and this drama wasn’t an exception. This drama introduced me to some new actors that I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for and from beginning to end, this drama had me captivated and wanting more. Everything about this drama was interesting.

The Story

The story here was out of this world crazy. It was one of the most thrilling dramas that I’ve watched all year the way that the story started, how it unfolded, and then how it ended? All of it was woven together so well that it was hard to say goodbye to this one. I’m going to miss the suspense, the thrills, and the OMG moments.

So this story starts off with a jury trial but as we get more and more into the drama, we start to realize that this particular story starts long before that jury trial but each member of the jury trial was specifically chosen for reasons that start to make sense as the drama continues. The above synopsis summarizes the story of this drama up really well and I’m trying to stay away from any major spoilers so I’ll keep this short and brief. Just trust me, the story is good.

The Cast

Each member of the cast did their thing in this one. I enjoyed every character (good and bad), and I liked how each character had a story to tell, had a part to play that moved the story along. Not one character felt out of place. There were no wasted characters or space in this one so I thought that was good.

Our three main leads led the way and were each memorable in their own way. They each brought something different, and unexpected, and the way that their story arcs wrapped up in the end was satisfying and just felt right.

Final Thoughts

Overall, this drama was packed with so much action, angst, and revenge that it was hard to keep up with everything. It was hard to get through at points because of that too. It was a really dark drama with a compelling story and a group of actors that really brought the story to life. I thought each actor did a fantastic job of carrying this story and keeping the viewer invested in what was going on. The writers did a great job of writing those plot twists and keeping those plot twists coming. So was this good? Heck yes. Do I recommend? Of course. Lots of great storytelling here so if you’re in the mood for a good thriller, try this one.

Final Rating

via GIPHY

4.5 out of 5

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