DryedMangoez recaps, reviews and commentary of Korean drama series.
It is always a great experience when you come across a series that is well-written, fun, has a great cast and can make you simultaneously laugh and cry throughout. That is exactly what Delivery Man (딜리버리맨) is. The fantasy/mystery comedy/drama from ENA is such a wonderful treat from beginning to end. And one of the most satisfying series so far this year.
In looking up some Korean BL series to check out, I somehow stumbled upon Blue of Winter (유도 소년/Judo Boys). The roughly 45 minute, five episode series follows the angsty and sometimes messy relationships of four boys as they navigate high school and reach for their dreams. (That’s a very generous logline for the series though.)
The bottomline, up top, is that TVING’s Duty After School has a great premise, good ideas and slick production. But its plot-driven narrative and lack of depth hold it back from realizing its full and more meaningful potential.
tvN’s Crash Course in Romance (일타 스캔들/Ilta Scandal) is an unexpectedly delightful, dramatic, but sincere series. Led by excellent performances from Jeon Do Yeon and Jung Kyung Ho, Crash Course in Romance takes a refreshingly bold approach to familiar stories. And it does so in a way that is both emotionally affecting and fun to watch. Its excellent balance of tone immerses you into a fully realized world of character-driven stories.
Taxi Driver was my favorite drama series of 2021. It was such an exciting and fun television experience, mixing adrenaline-fueled action, lighthearted humor and vicarious satisfaction. Watching the Rainbow Taxi team’s unique brand of vigilante justice and their sincerity in helping the powerless was just amazing. So when a season two was confirmed, it was more than welcome news.
tvN’s fantasy romcom The Heavenly Idol (성스러운 아이돌 /Holy Idol) is an appealing mix of exciting fantasy and fun, amusing character-driven story. Kim Min Kyu and Go Bo Gyeol lead a solid cast through a familiar, yet refreshing story. And interesting twists on those familiar themes allow for the series to be a thoroughly enjoyable ride.
I love Taxi Driver. So it pains to say anything remotely negative about the series. But Episodes 11 and 12 were kinda Meh for me.
It is quite a feat for a series to be so flawed, yet so entertaining at the same. That’s exactly how TVING’s Duty After School (방과 후 전쟁활동/After School War Activites) is. Divided into two parts, these first six episodes feature a lot of dynamic action, but very little else. And that dropping of the ball holds the series back from being something more.
This week’s episodes of Taxi Driver 2 had probably the most outrageous case yet. Yes, even crazier than the cult last week!
Episodes 7 and 8 of Taxi Driver 2 were definitely much better than the last pair. We got just enough new information and detail with our sketchy new friend On Ha Joon. And the case of the week was much more engaging with a nice touch of levity as well.