DryedMangoez recaps, reviews and commentary of Korean drama series.
Star Struck (스타스트럭) is an interesting and multi-faceted Korean BL drama that is, of course, held back by its format. Another story that may be better suited for a film-length feature rather than eight episodes of roughly 20 minutes each. Solid performances and good chemistry from its lead stars can only do so much to help carry the series’ stop and start narrative flow. But a good helping of complex angst still make it a worthy watch.
Not many Korean web series are able to properly manage the short time they have. Tinted With You (물들여) manages to be one of the few series that does. A great cast brings to life endearing characters in a simple, though engaging story of love, friendship and the power of art across time.
The title A Breeze of Love (일기예보적연애) couldn’t be any more perfect for this series. This Korean BL drama is indeed a breezy, wistful and warm series about a love, friendship and self-discovery. A charming cast, relatable story and welcome sincerity make for a very worthy watch and ultimately satisfying experience.
Bon Appetit (본아페티) is a perfect example of both what makes Korean BL web series so engaging and so frustrating. First, it’s frustrating because these is a very thin line on which web series must balance their stories due to the format and time they are given to tell those stories. Plenty of great ideas suffer under those limitations. But these series also offer up some refreshing and truly engaging stories that you won’t see anywhere else. And sometimes, other aspects and details of the series are just so good that even those hurdles and missteps are able to be made up for. Bon Appetit manages to find that balance.
When the show’s theme song that plays during the opening credits in the first episode’s first minute already delivers an inexplicably warm feeling and good vibes, you know you’re in for something special. And that’s exactly what Jazz For Two (재즈처럼) endss up being. This romantic, coming of age series manages to pack a lot of heart and emotion into its eight episodes. Tackling serious and sometimes difficult topics while telling a humble story of young love and friendship, Jazz For Two is a compelling and thought-provoking watch with a talented and charming cast to boot.
Season 3’s first two episodes certainly give me great hope that the positive trend for His Man will continue. These were a strong two episodes, reminding me of what I enjoyed about the first two seasons and seeing nice possibilities to keep the format fresh.
TYPE OF REVIEW : GOOD OL’ REVIEW Very basic set-up spoilers. It is absolutely wonderful when you come across a Korean drama that just brings you so much joy and…
Hierarchy is just a contrived mess that tries too hard to be something it can never be.
Jun & Jun (준과 준) is a refreshing entry in the Korean BL genre. With an appealing balance between fluffy and mature, the romantic drama draws upon a tried and true formula while touching upon realistic and relatable situations that other series normally will not go near. A strong cast elevates a relatively simple and straightforward story. And while it is another case of a web series deserving much more time to flesh out all the great potential it presents, Jun & Jun is nonetheless a sweet (sometimes sexy!) and enjoyable time.
Goodbye Earth (종말의 바보 /The Fool at the End of the World) is definitely not the kind of series I expected coming into it. And I don’t mean that in a good way. This big budget, star-studded Netflix series falls far short of its ambitious target. And for a big chunk of the series, you end up wishing the asteroid would mercifully make its target as fast as possible.