A youth drama at its finest (until the youth fades, just as it does in life)

People may be divided on the ending, but I don’t care – this was the perfect youth drama. I don’t watch dramas to escape reality; I watch them to feel all the emotions from the journey of life. I watch to step in someone else’s shoes, even for a moment. I watch to find a glimpse of relatability; to feel comforted in knowing that some experiences are universal and to get insight into the parts that are unique. Those differences are the ones that make me feel blessed for the life I have and both jealous and motivated to drive towards the things that are missing. On that basis, Twenty-Five Twenty-One delivered in spades.

What kind of drama is Twenty-Five Twenty-One? We got the best aspects of school, sports, family, activism, romance (oh, is the romance truly heart-fluttering), slivers of comedy, life, death, hardship, sacrifice, and everything in between. This drama doesn’t veer into the melodramatic territory. We get a slice-of-life as it is and as it can be. I laughed out loud and cried my heart out. The shining moments of youth and first love will stay fondly in my memory, while I remain in the process of writing my own story. I’m 25 right now, and walking in lockstep with these characters made me ultra-reflective of my own choices. In hindsight, I might've had my “Cutie Pie” moments, but not a true first love like this yet – because the highs were never so high and the end was never so low. I’m a practical realist and a planner. I’m ambitious in my career, but choosing that has come with its own sacrifices. I’ve had wonderful moments with friends, and for that I am forever grateful. At the same time, I can’t help but feel like COVID-19 has stolen the prime years of my youth. We’re desperately trying now to make up for lost time, and this drama motivates me to seize the fleeting opportunities remaining to live with reckless abandon.

Now let’s talk about that ending. I admit that I can be a glutton for punishment; that I enjoy the release that comes with a good cry. So naturally, I downloaded the last episode on Netflix right before taking off on a flight, mere minutes after hearing about the ending from the live broadcast in Korea. I started crying about two minutes in, and the waterworks kept pouring. There were moments of joy mixed with regret and sadness. I LOVE a good cry – and this one classifies as good because everything made sense to lead us here. Watching this drama on-air was an Experience (with a capital E) because fans twisted this way and that to dream up a fantasy happily ever after. I am thankful this story went with Occam’s Razor here. No one should feel blindsided by Twenty-Five Twenty-One. Perhaps the original synopsis could use a re-think, but from episode one, we have a sense of what to expect. The show does NOT end on a frustrating open ending. The loose ends get tied up exactly the way they should.

Some people lamented that there was no point to the present-day scenes, COVID-19 and all. I disagree with that wholeheartedly. For one, it dropped constant hints towards the ending – and I don’t think anyone can truly say we were misled here (other than the picture in the photo album, maybe?). There were way more hints pointing towards the conclusion that we got than any other. Moreover, the present provided an immense device not only for the narrative, but for life as well: hindsight. We become fonder of the joyful memories and thankful for the trials that shaped us into the people we are today. I love and appreciate nostalgia, but it has a time and place. We need to keep going and looking forward; in real life, there aren’t often second chances 20 years down the line. The "times" can be a villain, but we can still find pockets of happiness. The “times” is a character of its own in this story, in a way: important world events bookend the story perfectly, from the IMF crisis to other ones that gut-punched us (and Yi-Jin, Hee-Do, and Min-chae!) when we least expected them. It was poetic in a sense to see the people most affected by these world events get depicted on screen. As humans, we are incredibly resilient beings who learn to adapt and survive. From our perspective, it hurts to think that a beach trip can be forgotten, but forgetting only proves that there were even more meaningful moments ahead.

Without the choices she made, Hee-Do wouldn’t have Kim Min-Chae – and I’m sure over the years, she wouldn’t change that for the world. Moreover, I am proud of Hee-Do for putting herself first and recognizing what she needed from the people in her life. Baek Yi-Jin and Na Hee-Do’s lives intersected for a beautiful moment, but paths diverge. As with all relationships, we either grow together or apart. Some people rage at the thought that others could have a happy ending, but it’s all based on priorities. Moon Ji-Woong and Ko Yu-rim serve the perfect foil for the Yi-Jin/Hee-Do story: their relationship works because Ji-Woong’s world revolves around Yu-Rim; he puts her first and always meets her way more than halfway. I’m not saying everyone in this world should be a Ji-Woong. On the contrary, we need to do what’s right for us. Baek Yi-Jin couldn’t live with himself as someone who reported on the inconsequential and the mundane. He had bigger things in store for his life, regardless of how closely they resembled his childhood dreams. Likewise, Hee-Do’s unwavering (hah!) ambition served as the frame for this whole show. When neither is willing to bend, you can only hope that the direction is the same.

My only gripe here was Hee-Do’s allusion to her husband living overseas in the present. Oh sweet Hee-Do, if you know what you need from a partner and you're giving up something beautiful to make it happen, then where is he?! I know the point is that her husband doesn’t matter (and a HIMYM-style ending with a new character in the 11th-hour would’ve rung hollow), but the fact that he wasn’t around for her retirement (bless Yu-Rim and the TRUE love story of this show), the ep 16 funeral and the fact that he seems to travel a lot in the present rather than getting to know his daughter Min-Chae makes me sad for you. You can rationalize it by saying that we are all too susceptible to fall for what we know --- this is why generational patterns persist, after all. We accept the love we think we deserve. But Hee-Do demonstrated in the tunnel that she KNOWS she should deserve more, and I wish we at least got to see a little bit of her happiness (and Yi-Jin’s!), even with faces obscured while cycling through a montage of the big moments of their lives. I needed the news montage from 2002-2009 to include a montage of their happiness, because they clearly continued living and learned to move forward during that time! And then another montage from 2009 to present would’ve compounded that the choices and sacrifices they made were worthwhile.

I appreciate this drama because it made me live and love alongside these wonderful characters. It pushes me to reflect on my own life, cherish the memories of the past that has shaped me, and strive to capture the remaining moments of my own youth to the best of my ability. If you want to feel this broad spectrum of emotions, don’t be discouraged by the distraught fairytale-hopefuls flooding the internet discourse on this show. Twenty-Five Twenty-One is worth watching, and anyone who has yet to see it has the pleasure of knowing what they’re in for: life in all its bright, shining, mundane, and challenging glory. Twenty-Five Twenty-One doesn’t shy away from depicting a story that should feel so relatable and true to so many. Finally, I can’t help but end this review in (an adapted version of) Baek Yi-Jin’s words, because it rings true after everything: “The result was bittersweet, but the journey was beautiful.”

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Not for everyone

Okay, so this is a super unpopular opinion it seems — but I did not enjoy Vincenzo. Yes, Song Joong-Ki is pretty. Yes, the cinematography was beautiful. I even came to like Hong Cha Young's extra behaviour at some point. But the plot??? The side characters???

My biggest gripe was with the story. So many parts simply made no sense at all. I understand that the over-the-top ridiculousness was part of the "fun" to some people. Personally, I hated how the show could go from sublime coolness (like the vineyard, ending of ep 4, or even the demise of our Wusang trio... talk about WOW) to bonkers slapstick moments. I can see how this contrast may add levity to a drama that might otherwise be too heavy, but it felt like a lot of bloated filler. It honestly ruined a lot of the immersion for me. The episodes could be so much tighter without so much time spent on the Geumga Plaza crew (who never became endearing to me, unfortunately). How plausible is it that they're all from such crazy athletic backgrounds too, and can take down professional goons so seamlessly? I could've also done completely without all the NIS stuff, zumba, etc. I didn't even like Inzaghi all that much, although I did like the symbolism related to him + Jang Han Seok at the end. At a higher level, I will give points to the broad direction of the story though. I am glad Vincenzo's character did not fundamentally change throughout the story though, and that the ending remained dark but neatly tied up. Vincenzo is an anti-hero through-and-through, and it's good that the writers stuck to their guns there. The "corn salad" joke was fairly endearing. Also, you have to give them some props for the horseback riding fan-service and the callback to it at the end. Hah!

Still, I will commend this show for its social commentary on corrupt structures in Korea and beyond. It does show the interplay between government / corporate / legal realms well. The OST was fitting and gorgeous, and varied enough to not give me PTSD like "We All Lie" from SKY Castle. And you can tell it was a high-budget production with great CGI and cinematography. Oh, and did I mention Song Joong-Ki is pretty yet? Worth reiterating in case you're willing to watch just for that.

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A PERFECT drama!

Our Beloved Summer actually pulled it off — a PERFECT drama! You have no idea how thrilled I am about this fact, and how much I love this show. It has layers and depth. It has impeccable acting across the board. It has the most beautiful, calming OST. And I can watch scenes over and over again. Heck, I can see myself coming back and watching the whole thing over to pick up on things I hadn't noticed the first time. This is THAT comfort drama. I feel so lucky to have watched along with this show as it aired.

It's not often that a show comes around and makes you feel something, yet Our Beloved Summer makes you run the gamut of emotions. I laughed out loud, I cried in front of others, but mostly, I found myself smiling from ear to ear. You go in expecting a light, fluffy romcom, but you end up getting so much more. Every episode has a clear theme that brilliantly ties to the episode title (all of which are named after famous movies). The production choices are immaculate (let's talk about that ep 8 turning-point montage or the ep 10 thematic switcheroo!). And the biggest feat of all was how tight the story was. I can't help but compare Our Beloved Summer to the Reply series/Prison Playbook/Hospital Playlist — that writer/director duo pulls off uno-reverse-cards on the viewers in a high impact way, but geez, those episodes are always HEFTY. In contrast, I commend the Our Beloved Summer team for doing more with less and keeping every episode to a neat 60-minutes. It is not easy to convey all the depth, heart, and meaning that this show does with such limited time. Somehow, every episode offers a contained and thoughtful lesson, but all the episodes together also demonstrate progression... with overarching themes, behaviours, and character arcs that simply make sense. So many shows start strong but lose the magic in the second half, while Our Beloved Summer goes from strength to strength. In fact, the second half was even better than the first! My favourite moments in the whole drama came from episodes 10-12 and 15. The weakest episodes were 13 and 14 though; I'd say they contributed little to the story (but at least they didn't actively sabotage the story, unlike many other dramas that self-sabotage after certain plot points get resolved).

As for the acting... OSCAR-WINNING CHOI WOO SHIK DID NOT DISAPPOINT. I've seen Parasite, but this is my first time watching him in a "fluffy" role. He killed it as Choi Ung; a deceptively challenging protagonist who could easily become an unsympathetic, annoying or bland caricature in a lesser actor's hands. I am so proud that he's a fellow Canadian countryman and a veritable TALENTED STAR. Beyond Choi Woo Shik, all the other leads brought top-tier performances of their own. I can't imagine another actress as Kook Yeonsu. There were moments I loved Ji-ung and NJ more than our 1st leads, and they serve as a perfect foil. And the rest of the supporting cast rounded out the drama beautifully. Every single character serves multiple purposes, even the minor ones. How did the writers craft such a compelling story without any hatable villains? Everyone is so delightfully human.

I didn't expect to gush about this drama on every single criteria, but I must also point out that the OST is top-tier. V's soothing voice made a wonderful primary OST, with so many other shining gems. I don't think I've ever saved this many songs off a single OST before (seven songs, in case you were wondering). Also, can we talk about the gorgeous cinematography? The changing seasons make you feel like time is passing by. Speaking of time, I've spent way too much of it writing out this review. The tl;dr? Make sure to watch Our Beloved Summer — it's one of the best in the business.

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The juice wasn't worth the squeeze

This show infuriated me by the end. Snowdrop came in with a bunch of promise halted by waves of controversy — if you avoided this show because of that, congrats, nothing about it should tempt you to watch it after all.

To be honest, this show started with a bunch of potential. I loved the nostalgic vibes and shiny wide-eyed jaunt towards first love. Snowdrop started to lose momentum once they got into the hostage situation. It dragged on way too long. I understood the point it was trying to make about politics and corruption, but we got the point after just a couple episodes. Someone joked that they blew their whole production budget on the dorm, and honestly, that sounds like the most plausible answer (considering they had to pay an all-star cast too... but we'll get to that in a second). Moreover, the last couple episodes were tropey and infuriating beyond belief. I didn't care enough about the romance to feel anything for Youngro or Sooho; the show didn't do enough early on to make us cheer for them. And then before we knew it, we were being bombarded by noble idiocy and regular idiocy galore. So many situations toward the end could've EASILY been preventable. Trust these competent agents; don't insert yourself into situations unnecessarily (this is directed at BOTH of our leads).

Jisoo especially frustrated me. All of the actors were incredible EXCEPT for her. And I swear, I enjoy Blackpink music! But she was so clearly out-acted throughout the whole show. She was tolerable for a couple of episodes, but once the hostage situation kicked in, she was clearly out of her depth. She gasped so much throughout the rest of the drama that I'm surprised she didn't pass out from the hyperventilation. She was the most useless person in the whole drama — you could arguably consider her a "candy" (not in the classic kdrama definition of the trope, but by effectively serving as bait for the ANSP and Sooho). Worse than a candy girl though, I'd argue that she was a straight-up liability. She was unwilling to compromise or sacrifice anything for the greater good of others. This was exemplified in a situation at the end that involved saving a random side character and harming four other main characters in the process (even leading to the demise of the one she cared about the most!). She blindly ran into situations without a plan and without being equipped to do anything, thus putting other people at even greater risk as they sought to protect her and achieve whatever random agenda she cooked up. I hate that she faced no consequences for this behaviour either; it wasn't even acknowledged as problematic. Jisoo's acting was awful too — I always knew I was watching JISOO, not some character named Youngro. This character could've had so much nuance and depth: idealistic, innocent, and in love, sure, but she could've also been defiant, emboldened, and thoughtful. If her actions were clearly borne of some strategic thought, I would've sympathized with Youngro. Instead, she was stubborn without seemingly any rationale, which made all her actions seem rash and ultimately stupid.

Then let's talk about the romance: it was cute at first, but based on where the story went, it really should've been relegated to a side-plot that took up less air time. Leave it as "Not meant to be" and move on. We lost so much closure and momentum towards the end of the drama by unnecessarily focusing on the romance. Think of all the moments Sooho and Youngro spend gripping each other, asking the other to go, and staring into each others' eyes without any interruption. You know what they could've done in that time? THEY COULD'VE ESCAPED INTO SAFETY TOGETHER. Of course, the more realistic situation would've been if there were constant pressure and action instead, with no time to shoehorn their longing for one another. Because of those moments, especially towards the end, it made their entire tragic situation seem completely avoidable. I found myself shouting at the TV during each of these moments, yelling at them to just GO already instead of standing there (in the basement).

Aside from Jisoo and the romance, the other actors did a wonderful job. I never cared for the moms' machinations (although I suppose they added some levity) or the political squabbles (how silly they turned out to be, although perhaps that was the point?), and I felt too many people were overly motivated by love (Jang Hanna, Kang Cheong Ya, and Lim Sooho especially), but some of the acting was truly superb. To me, there were four standouts: Jung Hae-In excellently blew past his archetype as only playing the boy-next-door in noona dramas. Kim Hye Yoon (Bun Ok), you somehow make me sympathetic towards you while truly giving us the least to cheer for. My only qualm was your choice to help Youngro save Ms. Oh towards the end — how was that choice in any way aligned with Bun Ok's motivations to SAVE HER OWN HIDE above all else? Yoon Se Ah (Ms Pi), I CANNOT believe you are the same person that portrayed Noh Seung Hye in SKY Castle — un-freaking-BELIEVABLE how incredibly she embodied that role as the headmistress. I would seriously watch a movie based on Ms. Pi's life alone. Yoo In Na (Kang Cheong Ya), who knew you had this role in you? I honestly wished Sooho spared her a single glance (or even wound up escaping with her as a way to avoid putting Youngro in harm's way). The rest of the cast did their job too; shout-out to students like Jung Shin Hye (who I liked to think of as "Madonna" for her stylish 80s fashion) and Kim Mi Soo, may she rest in peace.

This drama got my blood pressure up from the suspense; very much shades of SKY Castle. Unfortunately, it didn't critique current issues or hit the zeitgeist the way SKY Castle did, and it also didn't have the cathartic payoff due to its lacklustre, romance-oriented finale. Save yourself the pain of finishing this one!

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How unsettling

This show has become a phenomenon. But I need to be real with myself — this kind of show (with all its gore, stress, and bad decisions) was not for me. It's like acclaimed movies like the Joker or Us: the kind with an impactful social message conveyed in an unsettling way. I could've lived without watching this show, and I would've been happier for it. They say ignorance is bliss, and I'm honestly starting to believe it.

Squid Game was inspired by the highly acclaimed Liar Game. I LOVED the original Japanese version of Liar Game. But what I've come to realize is that I enjoy the STRATEGY more than the desperation. Liar Game focuses on the games. Squid Game has good moments of that, like the dalgona and tug-of-war. But for the most part, Squid Game is a brutal display of human desperation. It is more "Lord of the Flies" than Liar Game; it offers social commentary on the forgotten people who struggle and the dire circumstances by which they live. But I don't feel particularly sympathetic to the plight of most of the characters regardless (except our North Korean gal and Ali; but the rest are unlikeable to a fault).

There were also some completely bizarre choices: the VIPs for one (it's rushed to squeeze them in as if this is The Hunger Games on top of everything else... you're trying to do too much), and our MC's hair colour for another (haha, kidding). A lot of the circumstances of the game were left annoyingly open-ended, which is such a bad habit from Netflix. I love kdramas for being self-contained, single-series stories. I DON'T want to anticipate another season in a year or two after I've forgotten everything and stopped caring about everyone. I don't want to have to deal with stupid casting changes and stretched storylines just to fulfill the production contracts offered to successful blockbusters, guaranteed to keep people watching. It's so greedy. Perhaps that's fitting for a show surrounding greed, desperation, and wealth?

But beyond my gripes with Netflix-and-the-western-serial format as a whole, if I were to judge the show as a standalone, then it was unfulfilling BECAUSE of the loose threads left open about the meta of the game. I said what I said.

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I shouldn't love this, NEVERTHELESS...

Whew, I am most likely going to be in the minority on this one, but I LOVED THIS SHOW FROM START TO FINISH. It was well-paced, cozy, and suspenseful. This is peak romance.

I think a lot of the webtoon readers are upset because they came in expecting one thing and got something different. They were expecting certain subversions of tropes and two dimensional characters instead of ones that are morally grey. To be honest, Song Kang's Jae-On is NOT a complete fboi—he's a poor communicator above all. He was haunted by a bad reputation and neglectful upbringing; Nabi became suspicious of him before he really gave her reason to. He feebly attempted to go back to his old ways when she ran away and continuously pushed him away, and it didn't successfully distract him. I don't want to excuse all his behaviour though; he pushes boundaries and the whole Seola dynamic was sketchy. He never truly said no to Seola, even though it was clear EVEN TO HER that Jae-On's attention was no longer hers to hold captive. This is a story of setting people free to let them make their own decisions, and Seola's decision to set Jae-On free allowed him to finally set his own butterflies free. If there's one thing I didn't like, it was how the Seola storyline got tied up without ever clearing up the ambiguity of their relationship. Somehow, I can't even hate her though — she clearly stood up for herself when she realized it wasn't working for her. As for Nabi, she is frustrating with her mixed signals, and yet her behaviour is so clearly expected of a young person who's suffered with abusive relationships and astonishingly low self-esteem. She's too afraid to define the relationship early in fear of losing it, but lashes out when she doesn't receive the validation she so desperately needs. Throw in the confusion of another hardcore suitor in Potato Boy, and I understand how she was so confused.

I think that's the best part of this series: I loved allllll the characters. Normally, some side characters (or worse, the main characters) get on my nerves or I simply don't care about them. In this case, I was gripped by the suspense of the will-they-won't-they between Nabi and Jae-On, I was invested in Potato Boy's success, and I LIVED for Bitna/Gyu Hyun, the sunbaes, and ESPECIALLY Sol/Jiwan. Can we talk about how refreshing and progressive this drama felt?!

This show is best if you don't spoil the ending for yourself. Knowing that there's the "expected kdrama path" vs. the "subversive webtoon path" brings so much suspense to the last few episodes as long as you don't know which direction the story will go. So if you're reading this review to decide whether to watch the show, please do not read the next paragraph. :)

Ultimately, I was satisfied with the ending. I am sure this opinion is controversial. The only other ending I would've been happy with is if Nabi went off to Paris alone and thriving, and WHO IS TO SAY THAT WON'T HAPPEN STILL? But I would not have been happy with the webtoon ending because the chemistry and timing was all wrong between Nabi and Potato Boy. He pushed her because he liked her so much, and she accepted his affection for a while because she was so vulnerable. You can argue that chemistry isn't everything; that having a good, dependable relationship is better than a passionate one. But they are so young, and it's so not fair to him. Potato Boy doesn't deserve to be with someone who pines over someone else. And between Nabi and Jae-On, the best part to me is that they finally COMMUNICATED. They made their choices without any disillusions. Nabi doesn't expect things to last forever between them, but she owes it to herself to see things through — perhaps to get him out of her system, or perhaps to give him a chance to surprise her. I truly believe the drama version of Jae-On has done enough to deserve that chance. As the side characters underscored in their closing scene, what's the point of a relationship if you don't love the other more? The truly romantic point of view is that both sides should feel lucky. They are too young to settle — arguably, we should all come to the same conclusion in our lives.

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Jung Hae In x Jung So Min superiority!

What a cute show!! This is the first kdrama in a looong time that I found myself hooked on week after week. I lapped up all the bonus Youtube content too (that Elle interview had chemistry off the charts). So Min's "Because this is my first life" is my favourite drama of all time, and Jung Hae In is SUCH a treat to watch in romcoms (One Spring Night is probably my favourite of his).

Strangely, it took me a little while to get to the last episode, which felt like pure fluff. I liked the push-and-pull early on, and I didn't even mind the most melodramatic plot lines (which were usually tidied up within an episode or two, much like an American sitcom). I laughed and I cried, which is all I can really ask for.

I was particularly pleased with the exes in the story — I'm glad that they weren't annoying recurring characters, and the way their past relationships played out felt fresh and mature. I wish Seok Ryu's reason for leaving the US weren't so complex though — the burnout would've been enough, and that would've made for a stronger and more realistic statement than all the other circumstances that were revealed afterwards. Another choice that I didn't love was Dan Ho's family circumstances. This is a drama with Jung Hae In, for crying out loud! Erase the stigma and become more accepting of death, divorce, etc. instead of presenting the most tragic backstories ever.

Another thing that disappointed me (surprisingly!) was the chemistry. There was so much potential early on (that pool scene? omg!), and weirdly, even more chemistry in some of the interviews. But when the love really got rolling, we were treated to some awkward closed-mouth kisses. The teasing and banter evaporated, and was replaced by overly sweet honeymoon-phase talk. At least we got glimpses of the couple coming back to earth by the end.

The set was pretty, and the foreshadowing was good. I enjoyed the drama overall, but I wouldn't call it a memorable, all-time great... which is too bad, since these two actors have the chops to provide that kind of impact. The script was a bit.of a let-down in that regard (or maybe some of the directorial choices were off). Either way, this drama was solid and satisfying, but with minor adjustments, could've soared to another level.

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Oh my goodness, what a phenomenal story. Despite the funky title, this was beautifully written, pensive, thoughtful, and like a warm, comforting blanket. It got me to be more introspective, and even helped me get through/understand a breakup happening in my own life. Hello, relatable?!

Once the story hit its groove, we got wonderful metaphors and themes that framed each episode. Episodes 11-13 were particular highlights for me, although I cried all the way until episode 15 (as everyone says: that SUNSET). But also, 13 was the episode that got me most of all and was most applicable to my life —  the concept of room 19 is one that will stick with me, for sure.

The social commentary was also strong with this one. I had no idea how patriarchal South Korea was until now (also compounded by The Economist's latest "special report" on South Korea). I loved how this story subverted common / expected tropes, like the possible love triangles that were evaded. It also made me more thoughtful of the differences between love and marriage, and how marriage changes things because of the dynamic it creates with others.

Lee Min-Ki was a bit too robotic for my tastes at times, although the tsundere was built into the character. It did make his emotions later on all the more powerful.

The ending was romantic and heart warming, although a bit too perfect for my tastes. One couple in particular should've taken a different path — I think sometimes we do need to think realistically about our desires instead of dying on the sword under the belief that love conquers all.

That being said, "I'm glad that I got to spend the best time of my life with you."

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Stellar start, sweet end

Oh Startup — my weekly joy that slowly became less enjoyable as time went on. I decided to watch this show as a fan of Nam Joo Hyuk, but as with many others, Kim Seon Ho quickly snatched my heart. The first four episodes were probably the peak of the whole drama (I cried in the FIRST episode! And laughed out loud by the third!). As time went on, some of the lustre had gone away, but I could still live with how it all ended.

The best parts: Halmeoni, obviously (until she said it was too late! HOW COULD YOU?), Han Ji Pyeong (everything about him, including that SUPER lame handshake at the end), tech bros in plaid (got some real "ushering in a new generation" vibe at the end), Yongshil and his human cameo, smart independent women (looking at you, Saha and Injae), and pretty accurate nods to two of the worlds I'm most familiar with (business/investing and tech).

Unfortunately, there were also clear gaping holes where the storyline could've been so much more fulfilling:
• No murder mystery plot. Seriously, cut that out. I saw a post suggesting that this story were more about the character's self-confidence and leading to similar realizations / crying by the corn dog stand moments.
• More Injae!! Seriously, she deserved a backstory as rich as our other three leads.
• Justice for everyone's favourite character. I was weeping seeing him alone in his apartment even by the last episode. Don't give a man that kind of backstory, make him the most rootable character, and not give him the family he so deeply needs. I loved the orphanage bit at the end, but seriously. He deserves the world and then some.
• Less love triangle: it was great to start, but dragged on for too long. At some point, I wanted a resolution one way or the other — and there was still enough room in the plot for both of these men. Either the Dalmi-Dosan relationship should've been fully professional/about working together while Dalmi-Jipyeong was romantic, or Dalmi-Jipyeong was fully professional/mentorship-related (with a side helping of true brotherhood between Dosan-Jipyeong) while Dalmi-Dosan was clearly endgame earlier on.
• Similarly: more closure on the letters. We got a Reply 1988-style "explanation" on the letters for 5 minutes in the last episode, but it didn't pack as strong of a punch because we didn't SEE it happen, and the circumstances were totally different. I wish our characters addressed these letters in more depth and explored the associated feelings more seriously.
• And finally, a better answer to the question: "Why do you like me?" Dalmi's answer was so hollow and unfulfilling (SUCH a cop-out). I would've lived for a more realistic answer — that he's always been there for her, that he pushed her to follow her dreams (and even surpass them!), that he was a doer and someone who balanced her out perfectly. All of those reasons would've made sense to me, and maybe I could've hopped on-board this ship if this type of explanation were paired with some super cute flashback/montage-type scenes.

That being said, it was still a great mix of humour, inspiration, and sweetness. The episode 16 closure felt realistic, and oof I FELT those Good Boy - Halmeoni scenes deep in my heart (from the letters in episode one, to the shoe scene, to his freak out about being a bad boy, to Halmeoni lamenting it's too late, to Good Boy realizing the reason for NoonGil). I even liked Dosan, who was relatable, nuanced, and flawed in his own right. Heck, I probably would've loved him if Kim Seon Ho didn't unprecedentedly outshine him here. The cinematography was awesome. And the OST was one of the best in the business. I enjoyed scaling up with you, Startup!

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This show is sweet, cozy, and endlessly warm. It's quiet, humble, and quaint. You can't help but cheer for these characters. Plus, it is an absolute feast for the eyes and the ears. Truly beautiful cinematography and landscapes, and even better music. I felt like I was in a video game like Harvest Moon or Animal Crossing. Half the time, it was like ASMR in drama-form.

The story gets such a middling review from me because it is really slow. I found myself falling asleep in the middle of episodes a LOT. I suppose this is good if you're looking to relax, but it also meant that some parts were honestly just a bit boring.

Eun Seop is gentle and sturdy. Where can I find an Eun Seop in my life? I understand completely how Hae Won feels warm when she is with him. Plus, Seo Kang Joon's EYES! They are a window to the soul. And I would be remiss not to mention how lovely it was to see Eun Seop and Hae Won smile. Both of them have killer smiles that "light up the whole world," and were rare enough for me to revel in the moments they appeared.

The supporting cast is loving and wonderful as well. I didn't grow up in a small town, but I understand the charm —  especially as Jang Woo explained his life choices at the end. And I want to bundle up Seung Ho and take him with me. Hwi, her friend, and the LED light guy weren't my favourites, but that's okay.

Finally, this review would be incomplete if I didn't mention the masterful performance of the sisters. Their story was so important, and they played their parts well. I just wish we got more confirmation that they were taking care of themselves by the end. But as much as these women were fearless and portrayed important things, my favourite part was revelling in the sweet moments between Hae Won and Eun Seop. I can see myself revisiting their scenes together for a long time.

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It's not often that I watch something and feel supremely unsettled, to the point that I wish I didn't watch it .

Part of the issue is that I watched the Japanese version back when it was released, and truly adored it. My favourite part of the story was definitely the twists related to the game itself; the snazzy music right before someone claims to have a winning solution. Unfortunately, as a remake, all the games were familiar to me. I vividly recognize Minority Rules and the bank heist especially.

Moreover, as someone who loves the games themselves, I've eaten up the "real" version of this show — i.e. The Genius (so brilliant!). I think the Korean Liar Game adaptation realized they weren't here to boggle our minds with the games, so the writer filled in the script with a rich back story for the characters.

However, all this did was chill me to the bone. And the bigger mystery underlying everything... well, it's not settled, is it? And 6 years removed from the end of this series, it seems like there will be no satisfying conclusion to this story / sequel. Now, I'm creeped out by Kang Do-young (although I guess he explained his motives? And was satisfied?), and even more creeped out at the possibility of something scary like Walden 2.

Like the Joker, I honestly wish I never watched this at all.

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A veritable masterpiece

What an epic, sweeping masterpiece. This story is full of heart, han, and jeong. It is deeply patriotic to Korea. I am almost envious of that level of national pride. Where I'm from, we are all hyphenated identities; an amalgamation of immigrants living our lives in the same physical location. I don't know all my East-Asian history, but it's almost overwhelming to think about how a tiny nation could be so powerful (or so vulnerable) and how quick we are to forgive and/or forget things in the not-so-distant past.

I appreciate the moments of levity, love, and friendship too. This show depicts ALL the emotions and facets of life. Kim Eun-sook is known as the master of quippy one-liners — and for good reason! Somehow, all the characters endear themselves to us. My heart is full and aches at the same time.

Guns, glory, and sad endings indeed.

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I think I had misaligned expectations for this drama. I thought it was mostly about navigating your 20s, deep friendships, and some romance. Which I think is true, but it was also crowded out with mysterious, dark plot lines (like SEVERAL ghosts, SEVERAL cases of sexual assault and violence, etc.). The change in tone gave me whiplash, and I didn't find myself feeling invested in each person's storyline.

Maybe the issue is that Korean 20-something issues are not the same as those here in North America. But I don't think that's quite true —  the struggles laid out among Joon-Hee's female friends in Something in the Rain felt very relatable, for example, as were the struggles of those in Because This is My First Life (although those were 30 year olds... am I just getting old? Eep!). I mean, the Belle Epoque house definitely made me feel nostalgic for the time I was in school, living with 7 housemates that became so ingrained in my day-to-day life. The first episode showed this best — how housemates naturally grate on each other through little things that add up. But after that, this aspect of co-habitation barely played a part in the rest of the story.

The friendship moments were the most gratifying, like the time the gang filled in for Yoon Sunbae's shift or went to beat up a certain kidnapper. The party prep scene was also hilarious. But they were too few and far between!

Romance-wise, our little maknae romance was THE BEST. So cute, except when there was a bit of hot-and-cold action. I wish this show did more to explore the idea of "firsts" during this formative period in life though. This relationship would've been perfect for that. I also loved Ye Eun's romance story, for depicting a completely different situation (one's first toxic romance). Yi Na's arc was wonderful as well, because it showcased a totally different way of living. Wasn't as big a fan of the other two romance stories. Also, we have to commend this show for depicting some good boy-girl friendships a well, although they were both hinting at something a bit more by the end (please no!).

I think this is one of the first shows that I've seen universal hype for. I came in with expectations through the roof, but ultimately felt that it played into a lot of common drama tropes (frozen kisses, kidnapping, murder mystery plots, wrist grabs, etc.) and was shockingly unrelatable, despite being in my early/mid-20's. Unfortunately, Age of Youth didn't quite hit the mark.

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What a journey!

Oh, this show was GOOD. I got that feeling I hardly ever get while watching dramas — wanting to keep watching, but also feeling sad as the episode numbers dwindled because I didn't want the show to end! I totally understand the hype for this show.

Above all, the standout factor of this drama comes from the characterization and the acting. Jang Geu Rae is pitiful yet determined and endlessly rootable, and Im Siwan pulled it off flawlessly. I thought I needed this show to eventually get over Run On, but instead, I am glad Run On is still airing because it means I get to see more Siwan after Misaeng. Whew. Similarly, thank goodness there's Hospital Playlist 2 so I can see more of our lovable Kim Dae Myung. And I'm excited to watch When the Camellia Blooms for more Kang Ha Neul. But above all, the standout actor was Lee Sung Min; the stubborn yet fiercely moral Mr. Oh. The Baeksang awards that Mr. Oh and Geu Rae achieved were 100% deserved.

I liked all the small moments of office culture and office life, as well as the contemplative hot takes on how we choose to live our lives. As an office worker, this show resonated in many ways. As someone in the west, I recognize I won't relate to everything — such as the strict hierarchy, the militant influences / punishment, the extent of corruption and bribery, the reward for good work being... more work. Even still, I saw shades of what must be the universal plight of office workers everywhere — the importance of social relationships in the office yet few "real" friends, several issues that women face in the workforce from family planning to discrimination, the friction between plant and office, the many late nights and stressful hours spent to only perform as one tiny cog in the machine, the sacrifices you have to make to live the good life (e.g. missing out on family time), the time and effort it takes to build trust and gain responsibility when you're starting out, and so much more. Beyond the office, we also got to see broader societal issues at play too: difficult families and socioeconomic circumstances, the pressure to date but establish your career at the same time, or having to save face among relatives (among others). I love the subtlety and finesse — plus the real laughter and tears that I shed along the way.

I think the standout moment for me was when Baek Ki eventually came to understand the term "privilege." We all get dealt different hands in the game of life. And I'm not going to lie, the Go and sauna scenes preceding this had me tearing up hard. I love how Geu Rae realized that family isn't necessarily by blood either, nor do these found families disappear when you cut ties. I also loved the hotel working weekend — it reminded me of my old case competition days, locked up in a hotel room all bleary eyed. It's an experience that bonds you, and was done in such a heartwarming and realistic way.

My only qualms preventing this show from being a perfect 10/10: a couple draggy episodes in the middle, too much yelling and stress (which felt unrealistic to me, but perhaps Korean office culture is really like that?), and the lack of logic to put so much time and effort into training a temp employee. But at the end of the day, there were unexpected twists, a whole lot of adventure, and amazing characters. We got to see people grow and face consequences (both good and bad) of their actions. I'm not sure I can describe the feeling this show gave me into coherent English words... perhaps this show is the one that finally got me to understand the meaning of the Korean term "han."

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So much wasted potential

Sigh. This drama was a total disappointment.

Context: I LOVE Park Bo Gum. I enjoy Park So Dam. Slice of life? Sign me up! And yet something didn't quite click from the start. I hoped things would pick up, but the plot line became more convoluted and frustrating. We spent too much time on annoying side characters and side plots instead of developing our protagonists, so I didn't end up caring what happened to them.

My issue from the beginning was that the dialogue was weirdly snappy and unnatural. People didn't speak like they do in real life, and that took some of the immersion away. Another key issue was that a lot of the characters felt one-dimensional —  we only saw the bad side of our bad characters for so long, with POTENTIALLY some last-minute redemption towards the end. I suppose I can understand the parents and miserable people like Lee Tae-Su, but at what cost?

We never got strong enough development for Jeong Ha or Won Hae Hyo, and that's what bugged me the most. I would've preferred if the show took us down the love triangle line!

I did enjoy how the show was somewhat autobiographical for Park Bo Gum (lol @ his Love in the Moonlight remake), and I liked seeing his range. I liked the messages on enlistment, and the depiction of this cultural nuance that feels so foreign to outsiders. It's like homework hanging over your head, and it's an experience that unites people of all ages, socioeconomic classes, and walks of life. As far as the ending went, I was as satisfied as I could possibly be, considering the circumstances. Everything tied up with a neat little bow, although that meant some people acted ridiculously out of character. The unfortunate part is that the show was consistently so lacklustre that the ending was unfulfilling anyway.

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