Watched - 2021

Watched in Jan. There were too many things that brought down my enjoyment of the show. For one, I wasn't super hooked by the main leads or their love story. Second of all, the story has too many unbelievable incidents/situations happen that were kind of difficult for me to take seriously. The second leads had super inconsistent characterization too. I also disliked the overdramatic 'our love is fated' crap they forced on the leads. Instead of finding it romantic, I was just rolling my eyes the whole time. Lastly, the fighting scenes were completely ridiculous, and not in a good way. The screenwriter just loves her (unnecessary) fighting scenes. And her villains.

The good parts of the show were those little touching moments between the other characters.

Watched in Feb. It was hilarious for the majority of the show and it went to really ridiculous places, but the second half of Mr. Queen was much weaker than the first. The main character was not acting in a smart way, and yet they managed to cruise by the politics. They also got into really stupid plots they could have avoided easily. The ending was also lackluster for me. Overall, it's a fun romcom with the depth of a puddle.

Shin Hye-sun's acting was a standout here.

Watched in Feb. Really good show overall. Placing this drama is kind of difficult--I'd say it's something like a melo/psychological suspense  kind of show. Though the mystery of the past and the old case definitely moved the plot, the core of the story was really its main characters, Do Hyeon-su and Cha Ji-won. It managed to surprise me multiple times. The last 4 episodes did feel unnecessary. Episode 12 felt more like a good point to end things but they were extended for the episode count. The thing they pulled with the final episode, in particular, felt somewhat unsatisfying despite understanding the effect the writer was going for. Oh, well. 

Watched in Feb. Great show, great characterization. I always enjoy an ensemble cast. Loved how there were no ridiculous villain characters. Can't wait for season 2.

Watched in Mar. Great show, really moving. I forgot to add it to the list right after I finished it so my thoughts aren't as fresh.

Watched in Sep. I enjoyed the show overall and have a fondness for the characters but some things bothered me here more than they did in the first season. I already wrote a review for this show.

Watched in Sep. It was just okay. I didn't enjoy a lot of the stories that featured as subplots and and the backstories of the main characters are a sob fest in the most ridiculous ways. I haven't watched something this obviously makjang in a while so I had no patience for it whatsoever. Interesting concept with a subpar story and characters (beyond Han Geu-ru).

Watched in Oct. The show is a mindfuck and pretty gruesome/gory. I'm not the type to watch bloody or gore-heavy shows so most of the violence felt gratuitous to me. The mystery wasn't actually solved so the resolution felt lacking.

Like 99% of the viewers, I found the foreigner scenes (not Ali) absolutely awful and it was a combination of terrible, embarrassing acting and the most cringey lines. I played those scenes at maximum speed and skipped some of the really torturously cheesy scenes. Korean dramas hire D-rate foreign actors all the time but I would have expected something better from a Netflix production, which is meant to be broadcast globally. Completely painful to watch.