Witch's Court Review

Title: Witch’s Court

AKA: Witch at Court

Genre: Legal, Crime,

Episodes: 16

Broadcast period: 2017-Oct to 2017-Nov

Cast: Jung Ryu Won, Yoon Hyun Min, Jun Kwang Ryul, Kim Yeo Jin and Lee Il Hwa.

In 1986, four factory workers were victims of sexual torture during a strike, by the officer Jo Gab Soo (Jun Kwang Ryul). 10 years later Jo Gab Soo, now a political nominee, was trialed for the offences. Kwak Yong Sil (Lee Il Hwa) is a noodle restaurant owner, living with her teenage daughter, Ma Yi Deum. When the trial goes public, Young Sil was reluctant to come forward, but thinking about the other women, she decided to stop hiding and come forward, only to be found by Jo Gab Soo, and mysteriously disappear. Yi Deum, unaware of the situation, tried to find her mother, but was unsuccessful.

20 years pass and Yi Deum (Jung Ryeo Won) is now a prosecutor aiming for the top. Known to use dirty tricks, and cheat during trial, she has gotten herself a bad reputation with co-workers. And when her team leader is accused of sexual harassment, she tries her best to keep it buried. Things go haywire, and she is demoted to the Crimes Against Girls Unit dealing only with sex crimes, together with the prosecutor of the case she tried to bury, Yeo Jin Wook (Yoon Hyun Min).

While dealing with these cases, Prosecutor Yi Deum, with the help of Prosecutor Jin Wook, soon starts to understand the victim’s perspective, but also starts to find links to her mother’s past and disappearance…

To start up, I was ecstatic when I found out that there was going to be a Korean drama revolving around sexual abuse/misconduct, because it is so rare and underplayed. Unfortunately, this drama missed the mark of actually doing what was supposed to be an eye opener. Even though the manage to show the true world of these situations and crimes, the fact that they managed to undertone it once again with just the wort type of character that could be the lead for this type of story. I get that the drama was about her “witch” personality but I felt so uncomfortable most of the time, that I started to dislike the lead more and more, instead of feeling any form of sympathy for her. They tried to show her backstory and make her likeable in situations, being all ‘badass’ but it honestly just infuriated me even more. At the end I didn’t even care for her.

Putting all that aside, as said the stories of the victims are amazingly and brutally honest, and I like that. Making stories that make you realize things, instead of wanting to avoid them, is good storytelling - which this drama does. It just needed a different lead actress/main character. I think I would have enjoyed it with just the main lead actor… and he was such a dull character too.

All in all, I wouldn’t recommend. My ratings are both based on the acting and story, but the heart rating is my experience of it.

☆☆☆ / 3 out of 5 stars

♥♥½ / 2½ out of 5 hearts

Reply 1988 Review

Title: Reply 1988
AKA: Answer me 1988
Genre: Family, Comedy, Romance
Episodes: 20
Broadcast Period: Nov-2015 to Jan-2016
Cast: Lee Hyeri, Ryu Jun Yeol, Go Kyung Pyo, Park Bo Gum, Lee Dong Hwi, Sung Dong Il, Lee Il Hwa, Ryu Hye Jung,

The drama centers on the families of these 18-year-olds, as well as the friends themselves. Dong Ryong (Lee Dong Hwi) is the neighborhood "counselor," living in the house across the street. He showers the group with shrimp chips when the bag pops during a movie. Jung Hwan (Ryu Jun Yeol), this boy lives upstairs our heroine Deok Seon (Lee Hyeri), she calls him "Dog," and explains "he's not exactly a human yet”. Deok Seon is direct and extreme, in the only way a teen can be with her feelings and thoughts. Taek (Park Bo Gum) is a genius Baduk player but an idiot, when it comes to anything else. Sun Woo (Go Kyung Pyo) is the most normal person of the group. He's not only normal, he's the prototypical good son, the guy who looks after his little sister and mother.

I’m pretty sure I’m in the same boat as everyone else who watched Reply 1988. The boat floating on desperate feelings over why this drama didn’t have 20 more episodes! I seriously am in love with this serie, I even thought of it as a first placer in all the Reply series, with 1997 as a 2nd and 1994 for 3rd. I’m still hungover from this series, so don’t take that seriously. What I like about this drama, were the 200% realness. The raw emotions portrayed by each character, and how it’s not always by mere “fate” and circumstances most dramas show these days. All the characters were different from one another, and that’s a huge achievement giving how big the cast is. The overall plot were so damn (sorry) good! The Reply series is always touching and relatable, but 1988 just killed it with the dynamics between characters. I won’t go into details about the actors and characters, beause I’m pretty sure im gonna spill the beans soon, so I’ll stop here. No, just one more thing, I don’t think they could have casted better actors and actresses than what they did. Bravo! Even though it ended in 2016, I’m gonna put this into my favorite dramas of 2015! I’m looking forward to a Reply 19XX.

☆☆☆☆☆ / 5 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥♥ / 5 out of 5 hearts

Fashion King Movie Review

Title: Fashion King
Genre: School, Drama
Origin: South Korea
Release Date: November 6, 2014
Cast: Joo Won, Choi Sulli, Ahn Jae Hyun, Park Se Young, Kim Sung Oh, Lee Il Hwa, Han Hye Jin

Woo Ki Myung (Joo Won), a completely ordinary high school student, has a crush on Hye Jin (Park Se Young), the prettiest, most popular girl in class. So to win her heart, he decides to transform his image and become the coolest, best dressed person in the world. As his mentor Nam Jung (Kim Sung Oh) introduces him to the world of fashion, Woo Myung finds himself entering into a rivalry with Won Ho (Ahn Jae Hyun), the school's toughest fighter. Meanwhile, he doesn't notice Eun Jin (Choi Sulli), who harbors a secret crush on him.

I really liked the plot of this movie, but it didn't quite hit the right spots for me. The main reason why I watched this movie is for the casting mostly. I mean gaah Joo Won?!  As expected from Joo Won he also proves once again how good an actor he is, in a dorky and cute way this time. I'm not sure about Sulli since I haven't really seen her in much, but I thought she did OK. The universe here is fashion, school & rivalry. I must say that the combination of the three of them is rather great. I didn't laugh as much as I expected, but I felt very entertained. I definitely think this movie is worth watching, but comparatively it wasn't as great as other things I have watched.

☆☆☆☆½ / 4½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥½ / 3½ out of 5 hearts

Modern Farmer Review

Title: Modern Farmer
AKA: Modeon Pameo
Genre: Romance, Comedy, Human, Family
Episodes: 20
Broadcast period: Oct-2014 to Dec-2014
Cast: Lee Hong Ki, Park Min Woo, Lee Shi Un, Kwak Dong Yun, Lee Ha Nui, Jo Sang Gun, Lee Han Wie, Kim Boo Sun, Lee Il Hwa

Lee Min Ki (Lee Hong Ki) is the leader of a rockband called ExSo, short for Excellent Soul. It consists of 3 other members Kang Hyuk (Park Min Woo), now an intern at his father’s hospital, Yoo Han Chul (Lee Shi Un) who has been diagnosed with cancer, while Han Ki Joon (Kwak Dong Yun) is preparing for the national exam for the 5th time although he lost hope In ever passing it. Lee Min Ki himself is drowning in debt, nevertheless he hasn’t given up on his dream of becoming a rockstar, he then inherit a piece of land outside the city. He can’t put it for sale, so he decides to start a cabbage business where he grows his own cabbage. For that he needs the help from his band members, and therefore he ought’s to gather his friends once again, and promise them to release an album very soon.

Lee Hong Ki! My one and only reason for watching this drama, and wow I wasn’t let down by his acting. This is the most suitable role for him, and he did his job exceptionally good. I have not come across any quality comedy like this one, in my entire drama-life. Really hilarious, sometimes it was beyond absurd, but you would still laugh it out. I remember I couldn’t wait for the storyline to develop, it was full of surprises, can't really predict what's next. Lee Hong Ki's acting and expressions are great! Lee Si Eon is good too - he got some explosive funny scenes in the drama. Park Min Woo is cute with his beautiful dimpled smile.
I liked all the couples, they each shared the spotline EXCEPT for the main couple, they got no ‘connection’ time at all! Well, I didn’t hate it, but it’s so different from all the other Korean dramas. The main couple would at least show some chemistry, but this drama ended in a note that left you wondering if they ever were together. But that’s great for me anyway, didn’t like the main actress anyway. Honey Lee, I can’t really remember her other works, but she definitely didn’t stood out in this, so it made me wonder why she’s so popular in Korea. Enough of her, the drama itself were excessively good, and I’m satisfied, so now I’m only looking forward to Lee Hong Ki’s next drama :D

☆☆☆☆/ 4 out of 5 stars
                                          
♥♥♥♥ / 4 out of 5 hearts