DryedMangoez Good Ol’ Reviews written after a television series has completed its premiere run.
It is an outright crime that we were robbed of four more episodes of the tvN drama A Piece of Your Mind (반의 반/Half of a Half). This beautifully poetic and character-driven look at healing, strength and courage most definitely had enough material to fulfill the standard 16-episode order. And with a talented cast at its disposal, the biggest disappointment is not only how it was sadly overlooked by audiences, but how it was inexplicably derided as well.
Jang Na Ra and Son Ho Jun lead the beautifully poignant and emotionally resonant 2017 KBS drama Go Back Couple (고백부부). The series is sincere in its reminders about our everyday lives and also gives hope for those who may be facing seemingly insurmountable challenges.
I don’t think I’ve ever watched a television series as hilarious, as fun, as romantic, as emotional or as wholesome as I’m Not a Robot (로봇이 아니야).
The three-episode KBS drama series Page Turner (페이지 터너) is just as timely today as it was when it first aired in 2016. A hopeful and positive story about youths finding their way.
While the initial draw to the series may be its unique paranormal thriller premise, tvN’s He is Psychometric (사이코메트리 그녀석) keeps you watching for the relationships and the bonds the characters form with each other and the audience.
The South Korean web series Where Your Eyes Linger (너의시선이머무는곳에) is seen as a sort of test run for possible future, full-length productions. And it is a solid, positive start.
The 2018-2019 Olive drama series Dear My Room (Eunjoo’s Room/은주의 방) is a bright, hopeful slice-of-life series that tells the story of young, everyday people working to find themselves and their path in life.
It’s been a few years since I first watched Studio Ghibli’s Arietty (借りぐらしのアリエッティ/The Secret World of Arietty) directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi. I remember enjoying the familiar story presented in a different, but familiar way. That is, Japanese animation. And watching it for the first time since then, I find myself appreciating it even more.
The 2019 MBC drama series Extraordinary You (어쩌다 발견한 하루) is a fun, romantic slice of life adventure with a twist. Poking fun at some Korean romcom tropes, the series gives new flavor to familiar themes with the help of an irresistible cast and the perfect amount of magic and fantasy.
When Marnie Was There (思い出のマーニー) is a moving film about understanding your own identity and the power of love and family. Presented with the stunning animation one comes to expect from Studio Ghibli, the film lends itself to being open to one’s interpretation and understanding while also on its face being a fully realized mystical journey.