Voice 2 (Kdrama) review

Title: Voice 2

Genre: Mystery, Crime, Police, Action

Episodes: 12

Broadcast period: 2018-Aug to 2018-Sept

Cast: Lee Ha Na, Lee Jin Wook, Kwon Yool, Son Eun Seo and An Se Ha

This is the second season of Voice.

After Moo Jin Hyuk (Jang Hyuk) leaves to take care of his child, Kang Kwon Joo (Lee Ha Na) is left alone to deal with the Emergency Call Center. That changes when she encounters detective Do Kang Woo (Lee Jin Wook) who she meets when her Team Leader is found dead and allegedly responsible for murder. They both are familiar with him and both show up at the crime scene, but Kwon Joo soon realizes that Kang Woo has ulterior motives, when he tries to take something from the scene. It is revealed that Kang Woo had been suspended before and is suspected to have killed his partner. Due to his rigid personality, he doesn’t deny, but claims that he looks for the real killer.

The two, start investigating the death and after a few occurrences, the two of them end up working together as there seems to be someone pulling string from behind the scenes…

Okay, so I was a huge fan of the first season, because of the many side stories - like each episode had an individual story. There was a main one too, but it didn’t overshadow the side plots. This one did. I cannot remember the side stories - like at all. I know it is common for Korean dramas to do that, but I really felt disappointed. Its not a bad story, and the focus on the main story doesn’t ruin it, but it felt like every other kdrama, instead of the drama I fell in love with. It’s a good drama with great suspense and storytelling, and I did like it, but I kind of wanted more of the original. But its fine…

The duo was okay, I mean I like Jang Hyuk, but Lee Jin Wook is good too. So, I cannot complain.

All in all, a decent second season.

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥ / 4 out of 5 hearts

Iryu Sosa 4 Review

Title: Iryu Sosa Season 4

AKA: CSI: Crime Scene Talks Season 4

Genre: Police, Mystery, Crime

Episodes: 9

Broadcast period: 2017-Jul to 2017-Sep

Cast: Kamikawa Takaya, Kuriyama Chiaki, Toda Keiko, Nagai Masaru and Miyazaki Karen.

This is the fourth season of the drama series.

During a cruise trip in Kyoto, Itomura Satoshi (Kamikawa Takaya) is, together with the passengers and crew of the ship, hijacked by gunmen, right leaving the harbour. While threatening to blow up the ship, the gunmen blow up one of them, leaving small burnt pieces of paper behind. Using his smarts, he tries to alert the police, who have occupied the harbor, of possible on-shore accomplices. His signal is spotted by Kanzaki Rio (Kuriyama Chiaki), a detective of the Special Crime Management and Control Office (Tokutai), a team that specializes in crimes that are seen as either too wired or hard to solve. Soon enough the cruise is saved, but the hijackers are nowhere to be found. But Itomura believes otherwise, and the Tokutai are introduced to the unique man, only interested in the burnt pieces of paper, left by the hijackers….

Sorry about the summary - it’s been a while.

After four seasons, you kind of get used to the flow and storylines of this drama. It is a nice break from serious and heavy dramas, and you can enjoy it without much prior knowledge. Though I haven’t watched the special that is in between season 3 and season 4, I felt that I didn’t need it. I could follow the story, and I again, didn’t need any backstory. Season 4 is also different, in the sense that we are in a different city and with different characters (except Itomura of course), so it is very refreshing. I also feel like this season has turned up the storytelling - the individual episode stories are really well-written and good.

All in all, a good drama with good acting - and good storytelling.

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥½ / 3½ out of 5 hearts

Iryu Sosa 3 Review

Title: Iryu Sosa Season 3

AKA: CSI: Crime Scene Talks Season 3

Genre: Police, Mystery, Crime

Episodes: 9

Broadcast period:

Cast: Kamikawa Takaya, Saito Yuki, Nishimura Masahiko, Masana Bokuzo, Mashima Hidekazu and Namioka Kazuki.

This is the third season of the drama series.

The drama continues where the last season left off, and the team has been allowed to focus on big cases due to their success of solving them in the past. Even though the team is still intact, the MPD First Investigation Division sends over Morita Sosuke (Nishimura Masahiko), a serious and loyal veteran detective, who is the complete opposite of Itomura Satoshi (Kamikawa Takaya). Though the team is used to Itomura and his sudden weird antics, the headstrong Morita refuses to let Itomura trample on the ranks and structure of the Japanese Police Force. Being gentle by nature, and quite frankly uninterested in anything but the victims, Itomura doesn’t rebuff or comment on Moritas obejctions, which infuriates Morita even more.

As Morita gets more and more used to the team, his initial goal of reporting about the division becomes less and less important, and Itomuras unreasonable personality becomes a common thing…

Compared to season 2, this one seems a bit darker. Even though its better than season 1, it has some element -which I can’t put my finger on - but it gives you a different feel. I don’t know if it’s because of the colors, or if its different locations that are dark, but I felt I bit sadder watching this. The humor is also dark, which, I believe, contributes to the theme. The stories are amazing, I think my favorite of all 3 seasons. They are sad, heartbreaking, and most of all relatable.  

I didn’t like the main story though. It kind of felt repeated, and I am sick of people against Itomura, it’s boring. Same old song, even if it gradually becomes better, you just want to watch a team, not this typical story…

Anyways, cool season, with amazing side stories, but typical and recognizable main story.

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥½ / 3½ out of 5 hearts

Iryu Sosa 2 Review

Title: Iryu Sosa 2

AKA: Iryu Sosa Season 2/ CSI: Crime Scene Talks Season 2

Genre: Police, Mystery, Crime

Episodes: 8

Broadcast period: 2012-Jul to 2012-Sept

Cast: Kamikawa Takaya, Saito Yuki, Yashima Norito, Tanaka Tetsushi, Okada Yoshinori, Masana Bokuzo and Mashima Hidekazu.

This is the second season of the drama series.

After speaking up and undermining the ranks of the force, as he usually does, during an investigation at the First Investigation Division, Itomura Satoshi (Kamikawa Takaya) is demoted to work in a smaller station, in the outskirts of the city. This Investigation Team is led by Mizusawa Kyoko (Saito Yuki), and has few members, as well as small sections, such as traffic and guarding. Here Itomura isn’t tasked with the personal items, but he prefers to look at them, and investigate based on them. Though his team find him weird and occasionally annoying, they let him focus on the items left by the victims and have him investigate. This creates teamwork, as Itomura focuses on the families left behind, and his colleague focus on the crime…

Compared to season 1, this one I like way better. Not that it is much different: the premise and lead actor is the same. But I liked the supporting cast more in this one. Even if the characters didn’t support the lead, I felt that there was more teamwork in this season, compared to the first one. The characters are really likeable, and the side stories are good. Also, the guest stars were good actors, so an upgrade there…

This season has a bit more humor as well, and honestly, it is much more relatable, though I have to say, I am very surprised of how Itomura manages to find all those thigs out - but that is TV for you.

All in all, a good season, but better than the first one.

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥½ / 3½ out of 5 hearts

Iryu Sosa Review

Title: Iryu Sosa

AKA: CSI: Crime Scene Talks Season 1 / Iryu Sosa Season 1

Genre: Police, Mystery, Crime

Episodes: 11

Broadcast period: 2011-Apr to 2011-Jun

Cast: Kamikawa Takaya, Kanjiya Shihori, Sano Shiro and Osugi Ren.

Itomura Satoshi (Kamikawa Takaya) is the chief of the Scientific Criminal Investigation Unit, know as the Unit of Personal Effects by other cops. Ridiculed as a “timewaster”, he spends most of his time focusing on the personal effects of the victims, as he believes they can explain the behavior and thoughts, of the victims. Though undervalued, Itomura doesn’t care about the opinions of the others, and isn’t interested in the crimes - his focus is the victims and their families. He spends most time relaying the last moments to the families. Oda Miyuki (Kanjiya Shiori) is the only female detective in the First Investigation Division. Even though she is underestimated and discriminated due to her gender, she refuses to back down. But finds herself working with Itomura - who has been known to be a “promotion stopper” - even though she does not want to.

This drama focuses on the police force, but also on each crime/victim and their story…

This drama is one of those I found by accident while checking out the subtitle index update, and I kind of remember it from some time back, while watching the medical drama Iryu, as they share common name. Compared to other police dramas, this one is very different, as it focuses on the victims, and to be honest it feels incredibly weird. Instead of “rooting” for the capture of the criminals, I was shown the stories of the victims. Its very anti-climactic, but sort of refreshing, as you usually forget that the victims had fuller lives before being a victim. So that I really liked. I gotta say, the guest stars were bad at acting, I didn’t like that they seemed to “feel sad” or cry on cue… It ruins the set-up mood. Besides that, the other characters were to one track minded, which annoyed me a lot. I mean, it makes the Japanese police seem very bad.

Anyways, a decent watch, with good short stories.

☆☆☆ / 3 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥ / 3 out of 5 hearts

Aibou Season 11 Review

Title: Aibou Season 11

AKA: Partner Season 11

Genre: Action, Crime, Police

Broadcast period: 2012-Oct to 2013-Mar

Cast: Mizutani Yukata and Narimiya Hiroki.

This is the 11^th season of the popular Japanese drama “Partners”.

While staying in China with his girlfriend Kai Toru (Narimiya Hiroki) is contemplating about a visit he had made to the Japanese ambassador, where a death had occurred. He runs into Sugishita Ukyo (Mizutani Yukata), who introduces himself as a police officer, and so does Toru. Though Toru finds him annoying, his attention shifts to another man he had met at the ambassador’s house. He confronts him, much to Sugishita’s interest, and notices that there seems to be much more about the case, than your regular death.

After arriving in japan, Ukyo finds out that Toru is the son of the Deputy Commissioner, though the Deputy Commissioner refuses to acknowledge Toru and/or his position as a police officer. Due to his odd and curious nature Sugishita decides to ask Toru more about the case in China, and the two unknowingly become partners while investigating the case…

I’ve been having this drama on my computer for some time now, as I was hoping the other 10 seasons would have subs, so I could watch them before this one. Unfortunately, as many other older Japanese dramas, this will not be the case. So, I decided to start it, and I did feel as if I missed a whole lot of the backstory. I really felt there was something I did not understand, or that I was missing something that was supposed to make fans go “aha!” or something like that. But I guess I’ll never find out.

That said, this drama is really great. I found it interesting and equal to the American crime tv shows. Of course, this was very Japanese, but that did not make it bad. Unless you prefer the American version that is.

I enjoyed the comedy, and I enjoyed the contrasting partnership. But sometimes I did scratch my head, as in I wondered how and why thing happen. Also, the solving part was confusing, but you would get used to it later on.

All in all, a nice time pass, and interesting cop drama.

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of stars

♥♥♥½ / 3½ out of 5 hearts

CRISIS Review

Title: CRISIS

AKA: Crisis: Public Security Mobile Investigation Unit Special Investigation Team

Genre: Police, Action

Episodes: 10

Broadcast period: 2017-Apr to 2017-Jun

Cast: Oguri Shun, Nishijima Hidetoshi, Tanaka Tetsushi, Nomaguchi Toru, Araki Yuko and Nagatsuka Kyozo.

This drama follows an elite squad focusing on the national security, the Special Security Squad (SSS)

Inami Akira (Oguri Shun) is a former SDF (Special Defense Force), but due to a traumatizing event he was discharged. His partner Tamaru Saburo (Nishijima Hidetoshi) is a stoic character, specializing in undercover work. These two are the 'legs' out of the quintet group, containing the chief Yoshinaga Mitsunari (Tanaka Tetsushi), a biochemist Kashii Yusuke (Nomaguchi Toru) and hacker Oyama Rei (Araki Yuko). The group deals with terrorists, bomb threats and other national emergencies.

Soon a terrorist group called the "Heisei Restoration Army" begin to unveil their plans of political ideal, and it is up the SSS to stop them...

I started this drama because of Oguri Shun, and I finished it because of him. When I started it, it was very exciting as I hadn't seen any Japanese dramas with such a quality fighting – but unfortunately, I felt bored towards the end. Not the fighting or even the story, but the overall progress and direction. I was a bit hopeful halfway through, but noticed very fast how it would end, and which way the narrative went. This ruined the experience for me, but it might not be like that for everyone. The action and acting is good, and the dialogues were good as well. So it might be your cup of tea.

All in all, a good drama, but not a favorite of mine.

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥ / 3 out of 5 hearts

Voice (Kdrama) Review

Title: Voice

Genre: Mystery, Crime, Police, Action

Episodes: 16

Broadcast period: 2017-Jan to 2017-Mar

Cast: Jang Hyuk, Lee Ha Na, Baek Sung Hyun, Yesung, Son Eun Seo and Kim Jae Wook.

Moo Jin Hyuk (Jang Hyuk) is a detective with a horrible temper. He works at the crime unit, and is known as the “mad dog” because of his ability to track and see through a case. But that changes when his wife is found brutally murdered in an ally. Out of grief and anger, he refuses to go home untill he finds the murderer. The team manages to find a suspect, but because of an operator called Kang Kwon Joo (Lee Ha Na), who says that the killer is the same person who killed her father, the case is dismissed and the suspect flees the country.

Three years later Jin Hyuk is now a traffic cop, working odd hours. Kwon Joo who had been out of the country for all the time, returns to the police station with the idea of starting a “Golden Team”, meaning an operator sending out a team of detectives to save a 911-caller within 10 minutes of calling. Her ideal is having Jin Hyuk working with her. At first Jin Hyuk refuses, but after hearing the plea of the victim he decided to set out. The two slowly find out that they aren’t that different, and that they have a common goal: to find the one who murdered their loved ones…

Firstly, the drama is much more exciting than my summary, so if you went “ah that’s boring”, it is not!

This drama made me anxious, excited and thrilled for next weekend, so I could watch the next episode. This os an OCN drama, but compared to many other dramas, this one is so ‘real’ (with the blood and grotesque nature of people). Of course, a bit lacking here and there, but the TABOO about “being too violent”.

The acting was okay, though I am not a fan of Jang Hyuk’s acting. And the female actress was likewise, not great – just about average. The storyline and screenplay are both well-executed, so it isn’t as important about them, but occasionally is annoys you. As a general the drama is great. Most recommendable.

☆☆☆☆½/ 4½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥ / 4 out of 5 hearts

Kamji’s Verdict

Actually this drama didn’t work out for me, it was very hard to finish it. Even though I’m a big fan of thriller and crime dramas, this one was just not my cup of tea. Maybe because I felt like Jang Hyuk’s character was really annoying. I get his back story and everything, but still I find him very hard to understand. When working with the police force, there are rules to follow. He Just did whatever he liked. The concept with her hearing the smallest sound, and with that figuring it out was not very well worked out. It dragged out in places where it should be suspenseful, but instead it became boring. What I did like, was the villain. Everything about him was pure crazy, it kinda grew on me. So the last episodes where he had more screentime where the best ones. Anyway, all in all, a failure for me.

☆☆☆   / 3 out of 5 stars

♥♥ (1/2)/ 2 (1/2) out of 5 hearts

Line Walker Review

Title: Line Walker

AKA: The Apostle

Genre: Crime, Action, Thriller, Police, Undercover

Episodes: 31

Broadcast period: 2014-Aug to 2014-Oct

Cast: Michael Miu, Charmaine Sheh, Raymond Lam, Sharon Chan, Benz Hui, Sammy Sum, Elena Kong, Oscar Leung and Toby Leung.

Cheuk Hoi (Michael Miu) is the chief inspector of CIB and a handler for undercover cops. One evening he gets a call from his friend and the superintendent Hong Sir, to meet him at a rooftop in downtown Hong Kong, only to witness Hong falling of the building. In his last breath, Hong Sir utters that there is a corrupt cop in the police force and that Cheuk Hoi must save his five undercover agents – whom he was a handler for.

Back at the CIB Cheuk Hoi notices that the computers had been hacked, but fortunately the information of the undercover agents had been deleted by Hong Sir. Unfortunately, this makes Cheuk Hoi’s job even harder.

By luck he manages to find one: Ting Siu Ka “Ding Jie” (Charmaine Sheh), an undercover cop working as masseuse. She collects intel from the customers: some of them are the girlfriends of goons.

After noticing that she has weird friendship with a lowly goon, Sit Ka Keung “Bao Seed” (Raymond Lam), he puts her on the task to become his underling as Hong Sirs agenda for his five undercover cops is to catch the famous Chum Foon Fei ”Foon Hei Gor” (Benz Hui): a mafia boss owning most of underground Hong Kong.

Now Ding Jie must find out where her fellow UCs are, and together with Cheuk Sir keep her and the UCS from being exposed…

It’s been a while since I’ve watched Cantonese dramas. Generally, it is because I have low expectations in terms of quality, which in my experience I have seen several of. This drama however is so good and intriguing that I didn’t care. In the first 20 episodes, I really didn’t care if things were badly made, everything else was so good! The characters were well written, the storyline was thrilling and the entire screenplay was believable. Yes. there was bad acting here and there, weird “coincidences” and there were some stupid things I couldn’t get my head around, but that didn’t ruin the overall drama. After episode 20, the drama gets confusing a bit, yet you want to continues – kind of a charm if you will. So, it doesn’t necessarily get bad, just unnecessarily long or ‘extended'.

I think I will always remember Line Walker as a drama I really enjoyed, so yes, I think I would recommend it.

☆☆☆½ / 3½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥½ / 4½ out of 5 hearts

Ghost-seeing Detective Cheo Yong 2 Review

Title: Ghost-seeing Detective Cheo Yong 2

AKA: Cheo Yong 2 / Cheo Yong Season 2

Genre: Police, Fantasy, Mystery, Crime

Episodes: 10

Broadcast period: 2015-Aug to 2015-Oct

Cast: Oh Ji Ho, Jun Hyo Sung and Ha Yoon Joo.

After the team was split last time, the chief director decides to put the old team back together again: this time with Jung Ha Yeon (Ha Yeon Joo) an ambitious and potent female detective. Being aware of his abilities everyone looks at Cheo Yong (Oh Ji Ho) to solve most of the cases, but they are all unaware that Na Young (Jun Hyo Sung) is still there – and occasionally possesses Ha Yeon’s body.

They are given the hardest cases – the ones that are hard to crack – but there seems to be a bigger case underneath, which only the chief director and Ha Yeon seem to know. That appears to be the main reason for the reuniting the team. What is really going on?

I apologize for the short summary, but the entire drama is not that exciting. I don’t remember much of the first one, but I do remember I liked it; the stories at least. This season (season 2) really left me without much impression. No that it was bad, but I have no idea why they spent so much time and money on this one. They stories are getting a bit typical, and I really dislike when the main actor/actress is perfect (like Code Blue). It ruins the entire idea of teamwork and team as a general. Though I liked the new characters, and I sort of found the climax good, I have to admit it felt a bit long.

I wouldn’t say I recommend it, but if you liked season 1, this one is a little upgrade from that – but not much.

☆☆☆ / 3 out of 5 stars

♥♥½ / 2½ out of 5 hearts

ST: Scientific Taskforce Review

Title: ST Keishichou Kagaku Tokusou-han

Genre: Police

Episodes: 10

Broadcast date: 2014-Jul to 2014-Sep

Cast: Fujiwara Tatsuya, Okada Masaki, Shida Mirai, Kubota Masataka, Miyake Hiroki and Ashima Sei.

Back as a team under the name ST (Scientific Taskforce) where Yurine Tomohisa (Okada Masaki) still is the Captain of the group of ‘outsider’ police officers. When the director of the police force leaves, the only support for the ST team disappears, and a new director arrives and she does not like the team.

Besides the fact that the ST team is rude and arrogant, the team leader Akagi Samon (Fujiwara Tatsuya) takes the cake by being the most ill-mannered and offensive of the bunch, and it’s the Captains job to keep him decent - which Yurine exceeds in more than anyone. And surprisingly the Yurine seems to fit in the group well, which creates a well-functioning duo and a harmony to the team.

But not everyone agrees with the ways of ST, especially the new director…

This is actually the first drama, of the year, in which I couldn’t wait till next week’s release. Not that the drama was THAT exciting, but I really looked forward to every single episode. And about the storyline, it’s great, nothing boring at all. The cast was brilliant on the other hand, might be the real reason for me to watch it, especially the confusing yet bromantic duo: Akagi and Yurine (Fujiwara Tatsuya and Okada Masaki). Talk about great acting! The two really are great actors, and they really are good at acting opposite each other!

I rather not spoil this, because I really think it’s a worthy watch, and recommendable!

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥½ / 4½ out of 5 hearts

Kamji’s Verdict:
Eh? What? Why? Was that the ending? I’m so confused right now. I have been watching this for quite a while now, maybe half an episode everyday, but I managed to finish it. It’s not boring, nor bad, I’m just the stressed out student with all my exams. This drama was good, a typical genius-detective-solving-crimes Japanese drama with a little sprinkle of bromance, very cute! Captain and kurosaki are eye candys, it’s an interesting show to learn about psychology and murder mysteries. Ten episodes only and no romance but great show.

Ps. Just found out there is movie coming up, the grand finale, maybe that’s why it ended like that.

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥ / 4 out of 5 hearts

ATARU Review

Title: ATARU

Genre: Comedy, Mystery, Police

Episodes: 11 + 2 SP

Broadcast period: 2012-Apr to 2012-Jun

Cast: Nakai Masahiro, Kitamura Kazuki, Kuriyama Chiaki and Tamamori Yuta.

Arriving from America a Japanese guy (Nakai Masahiro) with autism gets lost from his guardian, overhears the news on TV of a man dying in a blast seen as a suicide, and decides to go visit the murder scene. There he encounters police woman Ebina Maiko (Kuriyama Chiaki) who is pretty famous as the ‘face of the police’ since she is doing add for the police. Wanting to be recognized as a real police woman she wants to solve the case believes it was a murder, and not a suicide case. Her friend and superior Sawa Shunichi (Kitamura Kazuki) keeps telling her not, since she might get fired, and he with her because he had recommended her for that position.

The guy and Ebina meet and somehow he keeps giving her hints of how to deal with the case, by telling her hints, ending up solving cases that even the police were unable to figure out. At the same time his guardian is desperately trying to find him since he is more than just a man with autism…

I really found this quite interesting even though the main story was a bit boring, each side story was kind of fun. The main cast was hilarious and the humor was awesome, and not to mention well-acted. Playing an autistic is not easy, and I was kind of blown away by him at the beginning, because I remember him as a tough guy, but then I remembered that there is no other actor able to pull that role off except for Nakai. I don’t really like the characters, but that is a person-to-person kind of feel, since I felt they were too ridiculous, kind of reminded me of MR. BRAIN drama few years back. Then again, I think they tried to make it a bit more light hearted than it usually is, and just add more light/heart to the side stories.

To sum up: a good fun drama, with quite the interesting story.

☆☆☆½ / 3½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥½ / 3½ out of 5 hearts

Ghost-seeing Detective Cheo Yong Review

Title: Ghost Seeing Detective Cheo Yong

AKA: Ghost Seeing Detective / Cheo Yong

Genre: Police, Fantasy, Mystery, Crime

Episodes: 10

Broadcast period: 2014-Feb to 2014-Apr

Cast: Oh Ji Ho, Oh Ji Eun and Jun Hyo Sung.

Yoon Cheo Yong (Oh Ji Ho) was born with the ability to see ghosts from when he was a little boy. When he grew up he decided to use that ability and become a police officer. Even though he became an ace of the station he made a mess out of the entire place, leaving all the paper work to his colleges and not really cooperating with them. While running after a murder suspect also a possessed person, his partner finds him there, but ends up being killed on duty due to Cheo Yongs mistake. This makes Cheo Yong leave the Special Crimes Team, and become a patrol officer.

8 years later he is involved in a case where Ha Sun Woo (Oh Ji Eun) a former victim who became a police officer, is searching for the murderer. In that station a high school ghost Han Na Young (Jun Hyo Sung) is residing and she is keen on keeping Cheo Yong there so she can become the officer she wants to be. But somehow Cheo Yong, Sun Woo and Na Young are connected in the past, and for some reason Na Young is only able to possess Sun Woo. Do they have a history?

When I read about the drama and watched the trailer I wasn’t really expecting this type of drama. Yes I knew there would be ghosts, and a police officer that is able to see them, but it kind of is weird having it being a dramatic story. It is interesting and I am pretty sure you have to make it dramatic to make it on TV, but having it as 10 episodes and focusing on a murderer, which by the way is not human, is a bit uninteresting. Some might disagree, but I was much more interested in his ability as a ghost whisperer than him being a cop. The two do go well like we saw in Who Are You, but WAY is kind of focused on the main love story, which this one is not even interested in. And fair enough no love stories, but then at least make me more interesting in their interaction - kind of has a boring feel.

BUT, the side stories are great, and you really enjoy them, or at least I do. And they touch the important stoires, not just the typical ones. So that is what made me go through all 10 episodes.

All in all interesting; maybe more for others than me.

☆☆☆½ / 3½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥½ / 3½ out of 5 hearts

Who Are You Review

Title: Who are you?

Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Horror, Melodrama, Mystery, Thriller, Action

Episodes: 16

Broadcast period: 2013-Jul to 2013-Sept

Cast: So Yi Hyun, Ok Taecyeon and Kim Jae Wook.

While on an undercover mission Yang Si Ohn (So Yi Hyun) hears gunshots and runs to aid her partner and boyfriend Lee Hyung Joon (Kim Jae Wook), whom she in horror sees being shot. When she is seen she is hit and becomes unconscious.

After spending 6 years in a coma Si Ohn wakes up, not remembering a single thing of that event, nor her boyfriend. Even after spending several months in recovery she still isn’t able to feel comfortable with herself. But she noticed one thing: she is able to see people no one else sees. Not only is she the only one able to see them, but she sees them in the state they died in which most of the time makes her scream out in horror. When she is assigned to the lost and found unit, she is assigned the role as the team leader, much to Cha Gun Woo’s (Ok Taecyeon) annoyance.

While working she is visited by ghosts who want her help, and as time goes on Gun Woo gets more and more curious about how she is able to know thing without any form of evidence…

I had a hard time watching this drama because of the way the story was going, but luckily it didn’t as I expected. The drama is okay, kind of interesting in sorts, and also kind of confusing, but I wouldn’t say that it was all that thrilling. I sort of knew where the ‘twist’ was going to come and was rather bored with it. Besides that I expected it to be draggy, but it was pretty okay, even though I yelled “Come on!” most of the time. Also, this is my very first time actually liking the lead actress with both supporting actor and lead actor.

This is my third drama (I think?) with Taecyeon, and compared to the one I do remember this was pretty great. I actually found myself thinking he had improved. I didn’t mind the main actress before, kind of do now. I think it has to do with her facial expressions so very often, but I can’t really put my finger on it.

All in all the drama is okay, little better than your usual melodrama, even though it comes pretty close.

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥½ / 3½ out of 5 hearts

Heartless City Review

Title: Heartless City
AKA: Cruel City / Undercover
Genre: thriller, romance, action, crime
Episodes: 20
Broadcast period: 2013-May-27 to 2013-Aug-30
Cast: Jung Kyung Ho, Nam Gyu Ri, Lee Jae Yoon, Son Chang Min, Kim Yoo Mi, Choi Moo Sung, Yoon Hyun Min, Go Na Eun, Kim Hyo Sun, Jung Soo Young, Jung Ji Soon, Kim Byung Ok, Jung Moon Sung ...

The police infiltrates the mob, the mob infiltrates the police, people take advantage of people, they kill and betray for money, while a few others try to fight them all in hope of truth and justice. Ji Hyung Min (Lee Jae Yoon) and Lee Kyung Mi (Go Na Eun) are two police officers, a couple, in midst of all chaos revolving drugs and killing. They try to hunt down the head of the mob, thinking it is Docter's son, Jung Shi Hyun (Jung Kyung Ho) and old friend of Lee Kyung Mi. Yoon Soo Min (Nam Gyu Ri) is the younger sister of Lee Kyung Mi and ends up falling in love with Shi Hyun, not knowing his real identity. Will she choose love or revenge? Or will she even have the choice . . .

This drama is so crazy, first of all, all those undercover agents, its like the police consists of the mob and the mob consists of the police, okay exaggeration but yeah that's the feeling. And oooooh my God, Jung Kyung Ho (Smile, you) I had not expected this role to fit him like this, he did a great job, though he did have the same face expression a lot, this role suits him. The story was good, nice, and I like the way it turned out, but I wished for a tiiiiiiny bit of more romance, it stayed a bit in the background, but it was still there. There was friendships and such as well (me like) and a lot of times there were some huge twists that would make your jaw drop. And so many times I would say about the characters "I hate this guy" then later "ok nevermind I like him" hahah.. also all those people working with drugs, we didnt really see a whole bunch of people take drugs but we did see consecuenses of drugs, which was actually cool, but I'm guessing it's because of the broadcast station. Anyway, I recommend this drama! I enjoyed it! it's a cool police-mob drama.

☆☆☆☆½ / 4½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥½ / 4½ out of 5 hearts

ST Keishichou Kagaku Tokusou-han SP Review

Title: ST Keishichou Kagaku Tokusou-han

Genre: Police

Broadcast date: 2013-Apr-10

Cast: Okada Masaki, Fujiwara Tatsuya, Shida Mirai, Kubota Masataka, Miyake Hiroki and Ashima Sei

“To cope with diversifying of crimes, the Metropolitan Police Department gathered the top 5 investigators from the National Research Institute of Police Science.  Then they were granted with a special investigation privilege. It is called “Scientific Taskforce”. ST” for short. This is a special unit to fight against crime and destroy the wicked by the use of science as their weapons.” (Intro)

Becoming the captain of his very first team, Yurine Tomohisa (Okada Masaki) is surprised to find out that his team seems very cold. The so-called ST is a team of 5 people: the leader, Akagi Samon (Fujiwara Tatsuya) who is a forensic medicine expert, Aoyama Sho (Shida Mirai) a profiler with a master degree in psychology from US, Kurosaki Yuji (Kubota Masataka) a chemistry expert, Yamabuki Saizo (Miyake Hiroki) another chemistry expert and Yuuki Midori (Ashima Sei) a physics expert.

When a, what seems to be a random shooting occurs, the ST are called out, but are met with dislike by the rest of the police force, mainly due to the ST teams attitudes. Yurine soon finds out that all members suffer from medical condition such as insomnia, obsessive-compulsive behavior, severe claustrophobia, aichmophobia (fear of sharp object) and the leader himself is a hermit, basically is a hermit with face to face situations. He himself is a perfectionist, and soon realized why he is put in the group as the captain..

I like it, a lot actually. Weird people, a great cast, and on top of that a good storyline, makes me happy. I actually hope they would make a drama out of this, because I really had a good time watching this. Even though I sort of knew who the killer was, I have to admit, I really did like the way the story progressed. Instead of saying it was about figuring out the killer, it is more about these people and how they persuade everyone else to believe them, which makes this kind of like a rapid talk drama (they speak fast when they explain stuff, expecially the leader, phew!)

Anyways, a good 1½h spent on this, NO REGRETS!

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥ / 4 out of 5 hearts

MONSTERS Review

Title: MONSTERS
Genre: Mystery, comedy
Episodes: 8
Broadcast period:  2012-Oct-21 to 2012-Dec-09
Cast: Katori Shingo, Yamashita Tomohisa, Yanagihara Kanako, Warabino Tomoya, Kikuta Daisuke, Hino Tatsuya, Shiroishi Tomoya, Hinaka Yasukage, Otake Makoto, Endo Kenichi . . .

Saionji Kousuke (Yamashita Tomohisa) is a young man who has fighting his was up to become a detective. On his first day as a rookie detective of Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department’s First Investigative Division, he is supposed to meet the Chief, and that is what he does.. he believes. But he is tricked by Hiratsuka Heihachi (Katori Shingo), the odd detective nobody really wants to work with. Hiratsuka makes Saionji do all sorts of weird things making him believe it is all right, since he is the chief, but then when the real cheif walks into his office, Saionji has a hard time explaining himself. The cheif then gives Saionji his mission, which is to watch Hiratsuka and report back any wrongdoing of his, so they can bust Hiratsuka. Hiratsuka is a quite odd person, he is rude yet manner-ly. However compared to the investigation department he seems to be the most capable of solving the mysteries that occur. The rest of the investigation team misses a lot of details and thinks traditionally while Hiratsuka and Saionji manage to catch the small things, using which decide the outcome of most cases. We follow the two solving mystery after mystery.

I must say, this is one of those ridiculous, serious dramas. The humour is ridiculous and it makes you laugh. Bunji recommended this drama, she said she watched 20 minutes and she was still laughing, and I thought well, why not. And it really is those small ridiculous things, like the syncronisation of the police officers, the way they bow, the ridiculous way they handle the cases and such.. but yet it is still serious, when it comes to solving the mysteries, it is quite interesting. But I felt as if it wasn't one of those mystery dramas where you could be a part of solving it. Since it was solved by them being at the scene and seeing things we couldn't see, they had to walk around and look at the crime scene finding things and such. Which made me a bit.. sad? But I was compensated by the laughs lol. It is the kind of detective drama that doesn't make you all tense and completely absorbed, trying to figure it out, it's more laid back, leads you, with fun. Not that it isn't interesting, just not tense. I did enjoy it, it was fun and short. Recommend ;)

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥½ / 3½ out of 5 hearts

Bunji's Verdict

Well, the beginning was funny, and the same humor goes on throughout the entire drama. But the murders were just too obvious, especially after episode 2, like I knew who the killer was before the evidence came out. Of course it was interesting to find out HOW, but still when you know the killer, 45min seem long. I liked the last episode story, though again, obvious.
I was happy to see Yamapi in a comedy. And generally an okay drama, just the actors were as the drama, a bit silly (with silly I mean funny yet interesting).

☆☆☆ / 3 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥½ / 3½ out of 5 hearts

7th Grade Civil Servant Review

Title: 7th Grade Civil Servant
AKA: Level 7 Civil Servant / 7th Level Civil Servant / My Girlfriend is an Agent
Genre: action, romance, comedy
Episodes: 20
Broadcast period: 2013-Jan-23 to 2013-Mar-28 
Cast: Choi Kang Hee, Joo Won, Ahn Nae Sang, Hwang Chan Sung, Jang Young Nam, Son Jin Young, Choi Jong Hwan, Kim Min Seo, Lee El, Byun Seung Yoon, Uhm Tae Woong, Kim Soo Hyun, Im Yoon Ho 

Kim Seo Won (Choi Kang Hee) is the girl who moved from the country to the big city, having several part time jobs while studying for the civil servant exam. She runs around and barely finds time for all the things she needs to do. One day her friend, who has a matchmaking company, offers her to go on a match-making session for money. At first Seo Won declines but after thinking for a bit, she thinks "Why not?", sitting for 2 hours talking with somebody who will pay your dinner isn't that bad at all, and she could use the money. So she accepts. The guy she is to meet is Han Gil Ro (Joo Won), he too isn't there on free will exactly. He is there just to get over with it so he can have his car back. He is the son of a CEO, coincidently also studying for the civil servant exam. Since both of them aren't interested in the match making, they sit for two hours at the restaurant, both studying for their exam, but not knowing it. When the 2 hours are up they decide to meet for another session, since Gil Ro promised his mom that he would go to 2 sessions at least with the same woman. At the second session things go wild and Gil Ro ends up losing a bet, his car, because of Seo Won.  He tries to get Seo Won to pay up, but she doesn't have the money and just wants to get away from him. Which doesn't exactly go well, as they meet again for the civil servant exam, and end up having to go through training together.

As I was watching the drama, I was actually really wondering what the reason for the low ratings was in the last few episodes. Well then I found out. The reason is that the drama almost has two endings. There are two things going on in the drama 1. The bad guys vs. the good guys 2. The relationship between the two leads. Honestly, the fight between the good and the bad is not that interesting, and so when the relationship between the two is okay or whatever, then you don’t feel like finding out how it ends with the fight. So now I definitely understand the low ratings. And I really don’t think that this is Jo Won’s best drama, even though I haven’t watched much if his. It felt as if the last episodes were just filled with random scenes trying to fill out the time, the ending was dragged out too much. Though it was an alright ending, I honestly didnt feel interested. This drama ended up being a revenge drama, but not the exciting kind at all. The message of the drama was fine "It takes more courage to forgive than to seek revenge" but I just feel like it was all messed up. Like two stories flowing together in a bad way or one overshading the other. Anyhow, I only enjoyed the fun parts in the first half of the drama. So I honestly don't really recommend this drama. Even though Jo Won is a great actor, I would rather watch something else. But if you have the time and have watched all dramas then I wouldnt stop you haha!. 

☆☆☆½ / 3½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥  / 3 out of 5 hearts

Bunji's Verdict

This drama started out very good honestly, but somewhere along the line it became halfhearted. The climax wasn’t that climatic, and instead of saying that it was too much about the revenge, I have to admit, I didn’t really care nor notice much of it after J.J’s (Uhm Tae Woong) death. I know it’s a love / police drama, but the romance took too much of the drama, and the entire thing became dull. Though I have to admit, it was great fun, really funny, humor was tip top! And the supporting couple grew on me, even if they didn’t have that much screen time.

I must say I am pretty tired of the female character - just too typical, and annoying, like I remember her being exactly alike in Protect The Boss. But I was happy about Joo Won’s new kind of character (haven’t watched Ojakgyo Family, but compared to all the others) - kind of his real personality.

To explain this in other dramas, I would say the closest is City Hunter and Fugitive Plan B - you feel me? So if that is your type of drama, watch it.

☆☆☆½ / 3½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥½ / 3½ out of 5 hearts

Time Between Dog and Wolf Review

Title: Time between Dog and Wolf

Genre: Action, Romance, police

Episodes: 16

Broadcast period: 2007-Jul to 2007-Sep

Cast:  Lee Jun Ki, Nam Sang Mi and Jung Kyung Ho

Kay lives with his mother in Thailand who works as a prosecutor, and deals with the Thai-Korean mob. She made a promise with Kay that when she finally is able to deal with it completely they’ll return to Korea together. He lost his father at a very young age: he was an agent in the Korean force, but due to a secret assignment he lost his life, and is nowhere to be found, so Kay has never really gotten to know about him from his mother.  He meets Ari, a rich girl whose father is a gangster, but the daughter has never been involved in that business, but Ari’s mother is fed up with it so she seeks comfort in her house bends friend, and the two start an affair. Ari and Kay become close friends, but when Ari’s father finds out about the affair, he is keen on killing the lover, so Ari and her mother are forced to leave Thailand. At the same time Kay’s mother’s arrest goes wrong, and they are unable to arrest anyone useful, but leave’s a mark on Kay’s mothers back. That same evening Kay’s mother finally decides to tell Kay about his father, only to be killed in front of Kay, by a masked gangster who happens to be Ari’s father.

10 years pass, Kay, now Lee Soo Hyun (Lee Jun Ki) lives with his mother’s friend and the family with their son Kang Min Gi (Jung Kyung Ho), both with a good relationship. The two became trainees at the Korean National Force, like their father.  Even though Soo Hyun is a better police officer than Min Gi, the two’s relationship never had a stain, until Min Gi falls for a girl, who happens to be Ari, now Seo Ji Woo (Nam Sang Mi), whom Soo Hyun reconnects with…

I sort a feel bad for the rating, but I really am having a hard time with rating this drama. I have had the toughest time watching it. I actually found every episode long, and stuffy, not to mention draggy. Started watching it because of Lee Jun Ki, and was disappointed honestly. The Lee Jun Ki in this drama is over acting, way too much, and the chemistry with the lead actress is depressingly non-existent. I really didn’t like her character, tried, but unsuccessful. The one I like was Jung Kyung Ho, even though I don’t like the actor (or didn’t, now I do) - and that is because of his character, and decent acting.

The story is well thought, but just becomes… not boring but not catchy…  Some people might like it, I really think they would, loads of action and the entire revenge idea (reminds me a bit of City Hunter - just more messed up).

☆☆½/ 2½ out of 5 stars

♥♥½ / 2½ out of 5 hearts

DOG x Police Movie Review

Title: Dog x Police
AKA: The K-9 Force
Genre: Action, Police
Origin: Japan
Release date: October 01, 2011
Cast: Ichihara Hayato, Toda Erika, Murakami Jun, Takeyama Takanori, Abe Shinnosuke and Tokito Saburo.

Hayakawa Yusaku (Ichihara Hayato) is an aspiring police officer with the dream of becoming a detective. When a serial bomber racks the streets of Tokyo, he is dreaming of becoming like one of those detectives that solve cases, and actually happens to spot a suspicious man. While running after him and catching him, a man is involved needing to help birth somewhere. Doing his duty, he helps the man, only to find out he is a veterinarian, and delivers puppies. Yusaku witnesses the delivery, and when the last puppy comes out, he is surprised to see it is an albino - and not breathing. The veterinarian says that it is a lost case, but shocked by that Yusaku tries desperately to revive it, and succeeds.
Several months later Yusaku is transferred to a different unit, but is disappointed to find out that it isn’t the detective unit but the K-9 Force. That unit is a dog patrol unit, which teaches dogs to search and to attack criminals. There he meets his instructor Mizuno Natsuki (Toda Erika), a harsh woman, with love for her job. Yusaku on the other hand is annoyed and disappointed in his transfer, so his chief decides to get him a ‘buddy’, a dog. By coincidence he gets buddied up with Shiro, a white dog who happens to be the albino he saved. Slowly he starts to get close to the dog, and they form a bond, but the when the bomber strikes again, it becomes the K-9 Force’s job to help…

Two plusses, Hayato and Erika, and one for the dog Shiro, being super cute, but that’s it. The story is good, but just a bit to newbie’sh for me. I feel good acting, but weak storyline, and screenplay. It almost feels halfhearted, but trying sometimes though, actually getting me teary at the end. So should you watch it? Hmm, it’s not bad, nor is it boring, just yeah, healfhearted…

☆☆☆½ / 3½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥ / 3 out of 5 hearts