DryedMangoez Good Ol’ Reviews written after a television series has completed its premiere run.
Build and Zero-One rival each other as my favorite Kamen Rider seasons. But with the latter still fresh in my mind and me craving for even more, it has the slight edge. Needless to say, I was beyond excited to be able to watch Kamen Rider Zero-One: REALxTIME (劇場版 仮面ライダーゼロワン リアルタイム), the first of several (!) post-series movies. And it absolutely delivered.
Scripting Your Destiny (당신의 운명을 쓰고 있습니다) has an excellent premise about fate and free will. A premise so good that the ten, 25-minute episodes almost don’t do it justice. The romantic fantasy is a lighthearted story with a legitimately intriguing core foundation. And though thoroughly enjoyable in the end, it’s hard not to wonder how much better it might be in a different format.
You can never go wrong with a KBS Drama Special. And Expiration Date of You and Me (너와 나의 유효기간/The Time Left Between Us) is another enjoyable gem. Shin Hyun Soo and Lee Da In’s excellent chemistry power a charming story about the memories of love and youth.
OCN’s The Uncanny Counter (경이로운 소문/Amazing Rumor) is an exciting and heartfelt series. A stellar cast is the perfect match for a story that is an effortless blend of character-based drama, comedy, action and fantasy.
Lee Isaac Chung’s 2020 film Minari is a captivating slice of life story. Following a Korean family as they move to rural Arkansas in the 1980s, Minari brings to life a uniquely immigrant story while also being a universal and relatable story about family, community and the American dream.
KBS’ 2015 series Cheer Up! (발칙하게 고고/Sassy Go Go!) is as timely today as it was back when it first aired. The high school-set drama tackles issues that, unfortunately, continue to be pervasive in today’s society. But as the title suggests, the series depicts a story that aims to be hopeful and positive in the midst of the difficult pressures of everyday life.
It’s always a nice treat when you go into a film expecting one thing and it ending up being something completely different. But in a great way. That’s the 2011 Korean film Always (오직 그대만/Only You). The film is a romantic drama that hits every mark and delivers a roller coaster of emotions powered by wonderful performances and sizzling chemistry from stars So Ji Sub and Han Hyo Joo.
SBS’ Penthouse (펜트하우스) is guilty pleasure at its soapy finest. Outrageous, over-the-top moments are paired with clever twists and turns. Its cast revels in the campy stories while delivering emotional performances when the craziness subsides for fleeting moments. It’s not hard to see why the series became one of the year’s most watched and most talked about dramas. And considering it has only just started its second of three seasons, the roller coaster is still careening forward towards who knows where.
JTBC’s Run On (런 온) is a warm-hearted slice of life series. Equal parts drama and comedy, the character-driven Run On follows the stories of people at various points in their lives all trying to figure out just how to navigate every day trials and move forward. An excellent cast, wonderful direction and fast-paced writing make Run On a real winner.
For some good-natured, lighthearted fun, look no further than tvN’s True Beauty (여신강림). The romantic comedy treads familiar ground, but its charming cast and well-placed warmth and sincerity make it a thoroughly enjoyable experience.