Change Your Image
cheshire-12907
Reviews
Najgwa Bam (2020)
Stranger Things meets Jason Bourne
With a smattering of Inception for good measure! It took me a couple of episodes to get into this show, mostly because I was confused about how much disbelief I should be suspending. This is most definitely, as others have pointed out, a sci-fi show and not your typical crime procédural as you might have expected. It also, despite the description, contains exactly zero romance so don't get your hopes up if that's your thing. Initially a thrilling whodunnit, this show rapidly turns into an exploration of the corruption and greed of shadowy and powerful figures. The "science" is a little convoluted and confusing, but overall it's a gripping, exciting, and entertaining ride!
My Heart Is Beating (2023)
A different vampire story
I wanted to leave a review as I saw many other reviews on here that were unhappy with the ending. I want to say that I disagree that the ending was out of keeping with the tone of the show - in fact, I think that the ending was very logical and made perfect sense. Just as life doesn't always go our way, so many of the characters don't end up getting what they want. It was structured differently to many Western dramas and was generally not the upbeat ending I was hoping for, but I still found it overall to be a very sweet and heartfelt show. The characters were quirky and entertaining, and some of the villains were truly despicable. I can honestly say that, in each episode, I was never bored!
Bulgasal (2021)
Utterly captivating
It's been a long time since I was so invested in a series, but this show had me completely entranced. I couldn't stop myself from watching as many episodes as I could each day after work. It blends together love and betrayal with grief, guilt, and regret in a way that is painfully human, despite the undying nature of the main characters. The actors were incredible, particularly the impeccably cast Lee Jun as the main villain, and the pacing of the story - to my mind - was perfect. I was on the edge of my seat the whole sixteen episodes waiting to learn the origin of the curse that set these events in motion. I can't recommend this show highly enough!
Naeil (2022)
Be wary of watching this if you or a loved one have ever struggled with suicidal ideation
Ok so you're probably thinking that my title is obvious and that - as a person who has struggled with suicidal thoughts - I shouldn't have even tried watching this, and you may well be right about that. I will say that, however, most of the shows I've watched in the past about suicide have not been a problem for me. In some ways, knowing that there are other people out there who struggle with the same things makes me feel less alone and I am glad that the issue is becoming de-stigmatised so that people like me can better access help. I'm writing this review for other people like me who feel the same way, perhaps this can be helpful to you. For me, the issue with this show was not that suicide itself was depicted, but that the level of contempt and derision that was directed towards suicidal individuals by certain of the characters was really hard to watch. It was like being shamed all over again for having mental health struggles. Ultimately, that was what I found the most triggering and for my own sake I had to stop watching. If you or anyone you love has ever faced the same thing, I would strongly advise against watching this show. Don't make the same mistake I did.
Bad and Crazy (2021)
A whole new meaning to "wrestling with your conscience"
I couldn't resist the opportunity to use this title, haha. This series is nuts! Overall, I really enjoyed it, although I had no idea what was going on for the first few episodes. It's funny, engaging, and ultimately hopeful. I particularly liked the empathy with which the main character's mental illness was portrayed. It also doesn't hurt that K is pretty cute!
I took a couple of points off because I found the plot difficult to follow at times and some of the things that happened involving Ryu Su-yeol and K didn't really make sense, but if you suspend your disbelief a little then it's an entertaining ride.
The X Files: Home (1996)
Fine, but I don't get all the hype
I'm writing this review in case there are others who, like me, have heard rumours of the scandalous and gruesome nature of this episode and were wondering if watching it would ruin the whole series for them. Short version: it most likely won't. Aside from the subject matter being a bit gross, I didn't find this episode particularly scary or gory - if you've watched this far you've already seen ones that are far worse. In fact, I didn't find this episode particularly remarkable at all and I find it a little bizarre that it was deemed so controversial. It's got a somewhat derivative plot with predictable deaths and some poorly thought out behaviour on the part of Scully and Mulder. I enjoyed it while it lasted, but I certainly won't be rushing back to rewatch it in the future.
Ailiseu (2009)
Exciting but with questionable "romance" and a poorly thought out ending
Was a solid 7/10 for me until the ending, which I found extremely unsatisfactory. Definitely a series where you have to suspend all the disbelief you have as hard as you can, because there are many instances in which it's difficult to conceive that what's being depicted is realistic. The camera is often shaky, which at times made me feel a little ill, especially on close-ups where the unsteadiness was especially noticeable. It was an entertaining way to pass the time, but I was frustrated by various aspects of the plot, not to mention the "romance", which was often just glorified assault. It deeply concerns me when women are just depicted as falling immediately in love with their attackers, when really they should be filing a report with the police! Overall, it was adequate for passing the time but I would advise trying not to think too hard about the plot.
Miseuti (2018)
Clever, stylish, and unsettling
Each shot in this well-thought-out show is beautifully aesthetic, and the plot intricately designed to weave together a slow-moving yet gripping drama. The editing is slick and each of the actors were excellent. Almost none of the characters were decent people, but the writers did a fantastic job of making each of their decisions perfectly understandable and, in some cases, relatable. The twist at the end, once you reach it, seems simultaneously horrifying and inevitable - the one thing this show is not is uplifting! Overall a gripping and clever drama that was well planned from start to finish.
Twogether (2020)
Brought me so much joy
What this show turned out to be wasn't at all what I was expecting, but I think I loved it even more than I thought I would! The pairing of the sweet and innocent Jasper Liu with the cheeky and quick-witted Lee Seung Gi was hilarious, and I really enjoyed watching their friendship develop as the show progressed. They visited some incredible places, and I really want to try the soccer/volleyball game they played in Chiang Mai, that looked awesome! Only downside was that not all the text on the screen was always translated, and sometimes the subtitles were hard to read because they overlapped with the screen text. I hope they make a season 2!
Nappeun Nyeoseokdeul 2 (2017)
Fine, I guess
Generally underwhelming. Overall, I found both the plot and the characters somewhat boring. Perhaps that's my bias, though, because I dislike storylines where the main character is asked to blindly trust someone who doesn't even try to explain the reasons for what they're doing. I find it irritating wherever I encounter it, and this series is no different.
I will say, however, that I thought that it improved as the series progressed - fewer long and boring gang fight scenes, for example - although the jump from the first to the second half of the series felt a little disjointed. I also find it hard to believe that any of the evidence they produced would be admissable in a courtroom. It was an adequate watch for passing the time and improving some of my language skills, but overall I wouldn't bother rewatching it.
Maen Too Maen (2017)
Fun, light-hearted entertainment
Don't take this series too seriously - it's silly and it knows it! Part of the joy of watching was how much fun some of the actors seemed to be having on the sets, especially Park Sung-woong as the childish Yeo Un-gwang. I'll be definitely rewatching in the future when I need something cheerful to pick me up!
Vincenzo (2021)
Entertaining and exciting with goofy humour
There is almost nothing about this show that I didn't love, from the slick James Bond-style title scene to the cherub-faced mobster dealing out vigilante justice with a badass lawyer by his side. I've seen some other reviews that didn't like the humour, so I just wanted to say that this style of wacky comedy is exactly my type - absurd, and not too serious! Sometimes dark comedies can get rather grotesque, and while Vincenzo doesn't shy away from gory scenes, gruesome injuries and death are never the subject of the jokes. Engaging characters, plenty of action and an excellent soundtrack make this all around a show that is well worth watching!
Gwimul (2021)
Not for me
I'm usually a big fan of gritty crime dramas, but I just couldn't get into this show. I watched three episodes and found it irritating. The writers spent almost the entirety of those three episodes trying absurdly hard to make the main character look like the guilty party, to the point that there was no on-screen detecting at all and I could no longer suspend my disbelief that all the things that were happening could be "just coincidences". I also don't understand some of the acting decisions that were made - I know the main character is supposed to be a bit unhinged, but would anyone really behave like that in those situations? It flip-flopped between bizarre and boring. In the end I was just so annoyed that I gave up watching.
Modooui Geojitmal (2019)
Gripping and tense mystery
Superb acting from everyone, especially the actor who plays the deplorably narcissistic Chairman Jeong Young-mun (he's not listed on here or on Wikipedia, so I don't know who he is).
The K2 (2016)
Dull characters, poor storyline
For full disclosure, I didn't finish watching this series so it's possible it improves towards the end. I made it to episode 7 before I decided I didn't really care about any of the characters, especially Anna. Considering she's the person that the whole show revolves around, it's a shame that she has virtually no personality. Her lines sounded as though they were written for a child and I just felt frustrated that I was watching an adult woman saying those things. The actors did the best with the script they were given, for the most part, especially Song Yun-ah who delivers a formidable performance as the murderous Choi Yoo Jin. However, I didn't feel that this was enough to redeem the show as a whole.
Sarangeui bulsachak (2019)
Charming, delightful, and ultimately heartbreaking
I'll start by saying that I'm not usually a fan of romances, but due to long covid I've been stuck at home more than I used to be and have exhausted most of my usual genres on Netflix. That together with Hyun Bin's beautiful face persuaded me to give this show a try, and I must say I wasn't disappointed. I quickly fell in love with the vibrant set of characters and their respective storylines. It's true that, at times, I had trouble believing that what was depicted was really an accurate depiction of life in North Korea, but if I'd wanted reality I'd have chosen to watch a documentary. The performances of the actors all around were outstanding and I was hooked from the very first episode. Definitely want this show if you're looking for something that'll make you laugh and cry in equal measure.
Alhambeura Goongjeonui Chooeok (2018)
Darker and sadder than expected
I definitely expected this to be more light-hearted than it ended up being, but I still thoroughly enjoyed watching it. From the trailers, I expected a cheery action-adventure, but this show is more dystopian and has a number of sad moments. However, I loved the idea of a Skyrim-type RPG in real life and thought especially that the choreography of the NPGs was excellent - the way they move and die is just like they would in a computer game. It had enough suspense and excitement to keep me hooked all the way through. I've seen a number of reviews saying that the last two episodes were a let down, but here I disagree. It's true that they weren't as happy as I would have liked, but the ending was consistent with the rest of show and left the plot open enough that the producers could feasibly release a second season. I don't know if that's something that they have planned, but I'd definitely watch it if it ended up being made.
P. S. Jeong-hun is the best and Sang-beom is the worst. Why is he even there. He just follows Hee-ju around like a sad puppy.
Enterprise: Cogenitor (2003)
Bitterly disappointed by the ending
At first I thought that this episode looked interesting (once I'd got past the now-outdated views on human sex and gender) and I enjoyed the efforts Lieutenant Tucker went to in order to help emancipate a cruelly downtrodden individual. What I wasn't prepared for was Captain Archer's bald hypocrisy and blame shifting. If Archer were a real person this would be the sort of thing that would see me cutting all ties with him. This episode has ruined for me what was previously an enjoyable series. I honestly can't understand what the writers were thinking. I know this isn't a real situation, but star trek is so often used to explore real issues in settings that, for the viewers, have no preconceived biases, which is one of the things that make it so interesting to watch. However, the take home message for this episode seems to be that politics is more important than an individual's rights or even life. I can't put into words how much I hated the conclusion of this episode.