DryedMangoez Good Ol’ Reviews written after a television series has completed its premiere run.
MBC’s four-episode Fanletter, Please (팬레터를 보내주세요 /Please Send Me a Fan Letter) is an absolutely sweet and heartwarming miniseries. Excellent, affecting performances from Yoon Park, Choi Sooyoung and a wonderful Shin Yeon Woo really power this heartfelt and sincere story. I only regret not having watched this sooner as it would’ve absolutely made my Top 20 Korean Dramas of 2022 list. But this really is a great feel-good series with a lot of heart.
When it is a film that can illicit such contrasting feelings by so many people, it’s hard not to want to find out what all the fuss is about. That’s certainly the case for Viva Films and Darryl Yap’s Maid in Malacañang. Now, as a Filipino-American, I’m coming into this film knowing the basics of Philippine history, yet not having the personal experience to drive my feelings in any which way. So my thoughts in this review are of the film itself. And I think it’s important for anyone with an open mind to be able to watch things they agree with and don’t agree with. That interaction may even help to support your existing feelings of a topic.
It’s honestly quite a feat that Netflix’s Seoul Vibe (서울대작전/Seoul Grand Operation) could have all the pieces it needs for a great film, yet ends up being just flat and okay. An all-star ensemble cast carries the weight of a longer than necessary screenplay filled with undercooked ideas. No question the film is meant to be lighthearted and mindless fun complete with retro nostalgia with its 1980s setting. But even then, Seoul Vibe leaves a lot of potential on the table.
Netflix’s Jung_E (정이) is a simple, relatable character drama masked as a sci-fi thriller. And that is perfectly fine. Kim Hyun Joo and the late Kang Soo Yeon in her final film appearance deliver fantastic performances to elevate what is otherwise a visually striking film that could have gone deeper into more profound discussions.
ENA’s Unlock My Boss (사장님을 잠금해제) holds a lot of surprises. But the biggest of all is probably how much heart it has. You’ll laugh. You’ll cry. You’ll gasp. The series mixes drama, comedy, fantasy and mystery into a tight package. And the unexpected bit of heart really holds everything together.
KBS2’s Bad Prosecutor (진검승부/True Sword Battle) is surprisingly quite bland despite having a solid cast. An overly familiar story of revenge and corruption that doesn’t really offer any new twists or approaches results in a series that is just there. It is not offensively bad. But there’s nothing memorable about it either. And that’s disappointing.
tvN’s Reborn Rich (재벌집 막내아들/The Chaebol’s Youngest Son) is a creative, high concept series that gives an interesting twist on familiar themes. Song Joong Ki’s charisma and charm is utilized to full effect and the ensemble cast is an important part of what helps the series reach its climax. While there are some missteps along the way, especially in its final acts, Reborn Rich is nonetheless an intriguing and refreshing drama.
To be honest, I only decided to watch Peacock’s new reality series The Traitors because I’m fan of Big Brother and Amazing Race alum Rachel Reilly. And while she delivered fun television as only she could, The Traitors actually ended up being a refreshingly enjoyable and fun new experience.
The 2017 tvN series Prison Playbook (슬기로운 감빵생활 /Wise Prison Life) is an enjoyable, heartwarming and endearing slice of life story about convicts, their families and the corrections officers tasked with keeping them in check. Quite an interesting combination, yet the series easily delivers a wide range of emotions to tell engaging character-driven and relatable stories about life, family and friendship. A stellar ensemble cast is the strong glue that holds all the pieces together for what is a complete and satisfying series.
There is a lot of honesty and sincerity with the stories shared on the show. And when coupled with the awkwardness, drama and romance that comes with reality dating shows, His Man is a refreshing and engaging series. Really great to see a show like this exist, let alone gearing up for a second season too!