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Reviews
Anna (2022)
Halfway Review: Interesting themes, excellently executed.
What happens when you sell your soul to a lie?..
The overarching theme of this drama portrays how far someone is willing to go to dive into a lie when they are desperate enough, and the consequences of doing so.
Think plot of "Catch Me If You Can" with Leo De Caprio or "Talented Mr Ripley" with Matt Damon, with an injection of the deeper themes of the first two acts of "Parasite".. If you enjoyed those films you'll really enjoy this one, as I am.
The depth of the plot and the realism of the script and the acting are deep, so deep that I have a hard time distinguishing it from what could happen in real life. This gives this drama a mature and serious vibe, underpinned by an underlying sinister tension that the main character Suzy has, and continues to, commit deeper and deeper sins.
Pacing seems perfect so far at the halfway point, and really feels like a very well executed movie, even though the total runtime should come to around 6 hours. No room for filler scenes, and each scene is poignant, important and feels crisp which lends a feeling of overall quality to the experience.
Highly recommend- Surprised this isn't getting more attention as I think this is absolutely S tier and is so far scene for scene in the ballpark for quality and execution to films such as Parasite, Burning and feels similar to when I was watching the first few episodes of Flower of Evil, and COULD end up being the highest quality Korean drama I've ever watched. Although that is a big IF with half the season remaining.
Seolganghwa (2021)
Very Good. Feels like a big project kdrama.
I hesitated a lot about giving this a chance because of all the overly dramatic attention on Ji Soo's acting- whether they think she's awful or the overwhelming number of kpop fans who want to praise the very ground she walks on. For that reason I'll actually address it for people like me who are after unbiased and un-exaggerated feedback.
Truth is that she's decent (somewhere in between), and within the fast-paced and exciting plot that this show inhabits that's good enough. If it were a character drama I'd want a bit more to deserve an 8/10, but in this she does pretty well considering it's her first role, and in any case attention is dominated by... as I say- the gripping plot and action which are the main highlights that really lift this drama for anyone wanting to give this a watch.
Similar in tone and era/setting to Youth of May, but bigger. Story is bigger, action is more intense, and feels like it had a bigger production budget.
It does kind of have a slight identity crisis, where a large component of it is action-driven, but tries to fit in some oddly.juxtaposed slightly cheesy/whimsical romantic moments in random odd spurts here and there.. I don't mind dramas being a blend, but the timing of the brief switches in tone can be a bit jarring. However, that's really the biggest (small) criticism I can muster for it so far, and mostly it's been quite a gripping and immersive ride that I'm really glad I gave a chance to.
Manyeosikdangeuro Oseyo (2021)
Not quite sure how this is so lowly rated (for a k-drama)
Generally I think K-Dramas are overrated on IMDB by about 1.0, so given that a 7.6 rating is considered "decent/good" which I feel is strange.
"A+" elite for visuals and effects, they're not overdone (like I think happened on It's Okay to not be Okay") but tastefully and artistically applied.
"A" for narrative pacing. I do think it could have been a few more episodes long, but that's only because I was left wanting more, not because the pacing was abrupt or anything, it felt like an artistic choice (whether it was or not, that's what it felt like) and made the drama feel precious while it lasted. A season 2 would make perfect sense here as the story does come full circle but at the same time feels like more can be told.
"A-" for story and premise. Story is very tidy, it doesn't try to be an epic or a masterpiece, but it's clean and cleanly executed. Sets out with an objective to be something, and does it very well.
"A" for acting. I was surprised at how charismatic Song Ji Hyo was on this, I've avoided her acting because I watch RM and felt I was too familiar with her to not see through her acting, but I've changed my mind after watching this. Solid acting.
Overall, again it doesn't claim or try to be a "masterpiece", but what it does try to do in being a cool and clean premise of a drama is "masterfully done" I would say.