Journalist, Author & Syndicated Columnist
The conceit of “May I Help You?” revolves around a young woman who is working as a funeral director. Dong-ju is smart with a sunny disposition, but no one believes that handling dead people is a suitable career for her. But she has been gifted with a special power to talk to the deceased and grant them their final wish.
There’s a lot going on in this second season of “Alchemy of Souls.” The spineless King from the first season returns with a greed for power; the real Queen battles her soul-shifting nemesis; the Crown Prince — who had previously been smitten with Mu-deok — is attracted to Bu-yeon (and rescues a turtle to please her); and Jin Mu — the half brother of Jinyowon’s leader, Jin Ho-gyeong, enforces a reign of terror on everyone, including his sister.
At just 21 years old, actor, singer and content creator La’Ron Hines has won a NAACP Image Award, released a music video for his latest single “Web of Lies,” and has gone viral on TikTok for his “Are You Smarter Than a Preschooler?” videos filmed at his family’s Mississippi daycare center. His latest project is a Snapchat series called “La’Ron In a Million.”
A year ago, Tablo wasn’t sure there would be another Epik High album. Now the Korean hip-hop star is ready to talk about it all — from their new EP, ‘Strawberry,’ to the trauma he faced from an online troll campaign, to his next collaboration with BTS’ RM. My exclusive interview for Rolling Stone.
“Skull Water” author Heinz Insu Fenkl recalled what it was like traveling around parts of the U.S. in the 1970s. “We weren’t allowed to enter diners in the South because we were taken for Native American,” he said. “It made my father furious that we would all have to sit in the station wagon to eat. It was also very hard for us to find motels that would allow a white man with a Korean wife and four mixed-race children to stay.”
“I am absolutely obsessed with Bermuda, which is just a short two-hour flight from the East Coast,” said HUGZ founder Lexi Hensler. “Growing up, I had heard about the Bermuda Triangle and did not think that I could ever travel there.”
“The Sense of Wonder” is a revelatory book that takes a humorous look at pop culture, while also pointing out the inherent racism that pigeonholes minorities into what they can and cannot be. Matthew Salesses’ latest novel incorporates two of his interests: basketball and K-dramas.
“Midnight” is a fast-paced thriller that hits all the jump scares: A mother and daughter who cannot hear or speak are stalked by an insatiable serial killer. The film is a testament to the strength of the powerless and their will to survive.
“If everyone decides to corroborate a lie, then it becomes the truth.” One of the characters in the K-drama “Revenge of Others” says this near the end of the series. And in many ways, it sums up the thesis of this high school revenge series, which is a murder mystery with twists and turns. And though I guessed early on who the murderer was, I didn’t anticipate the why.
Yu-mi is smart and talented. Unfortunately for the overly proud girl, she hails from a working class family. Her parents own a small tailor shop. At a young age, she learned sign language to communicate with her mother, who is unable to speak. Although none of this is shameful, the class-conscious little child does feel shame throughout her life because of her family’s difficult circumstances.
Classical violinist Ray Chen said he created the Tonic app as a way for musicians to practice together wherever they are in the world, without feeling isolated.
“I moved to London with my family when I was 10 years old and I attended middle and high school at the American School in London,” said Lauren Buglioli. “It was an incredible experience that definitely changed my life for the better, thanks to the people I met and experiences I had living there. I hope to go back to visit soon and for work one day.”
“The Glory” had so much promise — a strong leading lady (Song Hye-kyo), a skilled screenwriter (Kim Eun-sook), the backing of Netflix’s money, and the promise of a scintillating revenge thriller. And yet at the end of the eight-episode first season — stop doing this, Netflix! — I found myself underwhelmed.
“Remarriage & Desires” is a revenge drama that focuses on a woman whose husband is cheating on her. After he asks her for a divorce, he learns that his mistress embezzled money and set him up as the fall guy — and falsely accused him of sexual assault to further incriminate him.
“Alchemy of Souls” revolves around a nobleman who was born a mage, but had his powers taken away from him by his father, who may or may not actually be his father. The secret surrounding his birth runs throughout the series and is a source of contention for Uk, and rightfully so. Everyone deserves to know where they came from and these secrets that supposedly are for the child’s own good rarely are.
“Australia reminds me of home,” said tennis player Danielle Collins. “I love the warm weather, beaches and friendly spirits. There’s something incredibly special about the way Australians live. They take their leisure time very seriously and, just like Florida, are obsessive about their water and water sports. The locals are kind, welcoming and made my stay feel like I was right at home.”
Describing “Reborn Rich” is tricky without giving away the ending. Is this K-drama a time-traveling thriller? Or a revenge series with the poor battling the obscenely wealthy? Maybe it’s a tale of repentance? It’s all that and more. Smart and calculated without resorting to tired tropes, “Reborn Rich” offers powerhouse performances by Song Joong-ki (in two roles) and master actor Lee Sung-min (“Misaeng”), who at just 54, convincingly portrays the former’s grandfather.
The premise for “Bad and Crazy” had the potential to be a really good crime procedural, where almost everyone is crooked. It stars two really great actors, Lee Dong-wook and Wi Ha-joon. So what made me stop watching? My latest K-drama notes…
“Business Proposal” relies on the love contract trope, where a man hires a woman to be his pretend girlfriend. Almost all of the men are drop-dead gorgeous and would have no problem finding a real-life partner. But real relationships also come with real problems that these men don’t want to deal with.
