KDramaCritic

  Green Mothers' Club (2022) Where to Watch:  Netflix Number of Episodes: 16 Netflix Summary: "Five moms in a competitive grade school community keep their enemies close, and one another closer, as envy and secrets tangle and unravel their lives." Starring: Lee Yo-won, Choo Ja-hyun, Kim Gyu-ri Creators: Ra Ha-na, Shin Yee-won MyDramaCritic Rating: Watch MyDramaCritic Short Review: Green Mothers' Club (2022) got me hooked on KDramas.  I couldn't stop watching the series and thoroughly enjoyed the drama. Some scenes in this show are especially intense because the main characters' children are regularly part of the plot.  The child actors are fantastic, but it makes some scenes or interactions difficult to watch. Lee Yo-won's performance is absolutely fantastic.  In fact, most of the actresses from this show are firm favorites of mine after seeing their performances. There is domestic abuse (mostly language) and drug use. I do think the writers captured the p...

  Familiar Wife (2018) Where to Watch:  Netflix Number of Episodes: 16 Netflix Summary: "After receiving a bizarre chance to go back in time, a man wakes up to find that his whole life - including the person he married - is different." Starring: Ji Sung, Han Ji-min, Kang Han-na Creators: Lee Sang-yeop, Yang Hee-seung KDramaCritic Rating: Meh KDramaCritic Short Review:  I stopped watching Familiar Wife (2018) after three episodes.  The humor used in this romantic comedy is mostly cringe or awkward situations and I was not finding it to be funny.   In addition, the marriage between Seo Woo-jin and Cha Joo-hyuk was clearly not in a healthy state.  In addition to the lack of communication, Seo Woo-jin throws items and yells at Cha Joo-hyuk.  In turn, Cha Joo-hyuk hides purchases and tries to avoid home (and by extension his children).  When Cha Joo-hyuk wakes up to his new life with Lee Hye-won as his wife and she shows him basic affection, I dec...

  The Uncanny Counter (2020) Where to Watch:  Netflix Number of Episodes: 20 Netflix Summary: "Noodle shop employees by day and demon hunters by night, the Counters use special abilities to chase down malevolent spirits that prey on humans." Starring: Cho Byeong-kyu, Yu Jun-sang, Kim Se-jeong Creators: You Sun-dong, Yeoh Gee-na, Kim Sae-bom  KDramaCritic Rating: Watch KDramaCritic Short Review: The Uncanny Counter (2020) is a solid fantasy show.  Some parts were predictable fantasy plot arcs, while the writers surprised me in other places.   The writers and actors developed the main characters well and I enjoyed seeing Kim Se-jeong's range in a more serious role.   The heart-tugging scenes did make me cry and the overall sense of urgency that the show communicates would make this a difficult re-watch for me.  However, I do think it is solidly "Watch" and that less sensitive viewers could easily add it to "Favorite." 

  Extraordinary Attorney Woo (2022) Where to Watch:  Netflix Number of Episodes: 16 Netflix Summary:  "Brilliant attorney Woo Young-woo tackles challenges in the courtroom and beyond as a newbie at a top law firm and a woman on the autism spectrum." Starring: Park Eun-bin, Kang Tae-oh, Kang Ki-young Creators: Yoo In-sik, Moon Ji-won KDramaCritic Rating: Favorite KDramaCritic Short Review: Extraordinary Attorney Woo (2022) resonates with me on a deeply personal level.  As someone on the high functioning end of the autism spectrum, seeing a fairly accurate portrayal of an high functioning autistic woman is wonderful.  The show captures some of the nuances of behavior and the dichotomy of this condition: How can someone with such intelligence struggle with day-to-day functioning? After watching the first three episodes, I immediately texted my husband that he needed to watch this show ASAP.  I then called my parents and told them about it.  So many behavi...

  The Glory (2022) Where to Watch:  Netflix Number of Episodes: 16 Netflix Summary: "Years after surviving horrific abuse in high school, a woman puts an elaborate revenge scheme in motion to make the perpetrators pay for their crimes." Starring: Song Hye-kyo, Lee Do-hyun, Lim Ji-yeon Creators: Kim Eun-sook, An Gil-ho  KDramaCritic Rating: Favorite KDramaCritic Short Review: The Glory (2022) is my favorite Korean drama of all time (so far).  Considering that physical and sexual abuse are a key part of the plot, this is a surprising favorite.  I even kept track of when the final eight episodes were released and watched them all day of, something I never do with shows. The writing, directing and acting in The Glory (2022) are fantastic.  From episode one to episode 16, the story was cohesive and maintained the same level of quality. Revenge is the focal point of the show with each episode diving into the emotional and dark journey to reach this end.  As ...

  Extracurricular (2020) Where to Watch:  Netflix Number of Episodes: 10 Netflix Summary: "A model high school student who's steeped in a world of serious crime finds his double life upended when a classmate takes an interest in his secret." Starring: Kim Dong-hee, Jung Da-bin, Park Ju-hyun Creators: Gin Han-sai, Kim Jin-min KDramaCritic Rating: Skip KDramaCritic Short Review:  I will be honest; I stopped watching Extracurricular (2020) after about four episodes.  There were several reasons why I stopped and why I rate this "Skip." ***Minor Spoilers *** (But the show isn't worth watching so it doesn't matter as much!) First, the hermit crab died from being stepped on.  It was to emphasize how little one character cared about another's stuff, but the death was a large part of the episode and later episodes.  Other aspects of the plot had already showed how terrible this character was, so it was unnecessary. Second, Extracurricular (2020) took itself e...

  Vincenzo (2021) Where to Watch:  Netflix Number of Episodes: 20 Netflix Summary: "During a visit to his motherland, a Korean-Italian mafia lawyer gives an unrivaled conglomerate a taste of its own medicine with a side of justice." Starring: Song Joong-ki, Jeon Yeo-been, Ok Teac-yeon Creators: Kim Hee-won, Park Jae-beom KDramaCritic Rating: Favorite KDramaCritic Short Review:  Vincenzo (2021) has turned into one of my favorite shows.  I laughed and cried while enjoying the character development and overall plotline.  It balances itself out well with heart wrenching moments and goofy scenes.  Because the show doesn't take itself too seriously, the viewer's suspension of disbelief is maintained throughout the whole story even when some eyebrow raising events occur. As a crime drama, the show contains violence but not to an excess. Also, since the protagonist is a mafia lawyer, his justice and criminal tendencies are slightly glorified. My KDramaCritic rating...

Sweet Home (2020) Where to Watch:  Netflix Number of Episodes: 10 Netflix Summary: "As humans turn into savage monsters and wreak terror, one troubled teen and his apartment neighbors fight to survive - and to hold on to their humanity." Starring: Song Kang, Lee Jin-uk, Lee Si-young Creators: Lee Eung-bok, Hong So-ri, Jang Young-woo, Kim Hyeong-min, Park So-hyeon, Park So-jeong My KDramaCritic Rating: Watch KDramaCritic Short Review:  Sweet Home (2020) puts an original spin on the typical zombie horror narrative.  The individual character development and plotlines carry the show.  As with all zombie stories, the exploration of humanity in a crisis is fascinating. It's hard to say more about it without spoilers.  I will add that the dog survives and a second season has been announced.  There is a fair amount of gore in this series.  Personally, the worst scene was early on when a cat head rolls past the camera, but thankfully the show does not rely too ...

Business Proposal (2022) Where to Watch: Netflix Number of Episodes: 12 Netflix Description: "In disguise as her friend, Ha-ri shows up to a blind date to scare him away. But plans go awry when he turns out to be her CEO - and makes a proposal." Starring: Ahn Hyo-seop, Kim Se-jeong, Kim Min-gue Creators: Park Seon-ho, Han Sul-hee, Hong Bo-hui KDramaCritic Rating: Favorite KDramaCritic Short Review: Business Proposal (2022) is the first romantic comedy to make me laugh out loud multiple times throughout the series.   The only major weakness of the series is that the last plot arc felt like filler to stretch the series out.  While not as strong as the majority of the show, I completed watching the series without being disappointed.  In regards to social issues, I would say the trope of pursuing someone romantically even after a firm "no" has been said is present.  Sadly, I think most kdramas I have watched use this to extend romance arcs.  However, I still en...