“Hello, My Twenties!” (청춘시대): Season 2
This second season of “Hello, My Twenties!” is entertaining, but suffers a bit from too-much-going-on syndrome, as well as the recasting of a central character.
Category: TV
“Extraordinary Attorney Woo” (이상한 변호사 우영우)
I loved “Extraordinary Attorney Woo.” The storylines were compelling and the actors did a fine job in bringing their characters to life. Park Eun-bin has been singled out for her extraordinary portrayal of a highly-functioning autistic attorney. But that’s where my conflict lies. As many autistic people have already pointed out, as good as Park was in her role, it is unsettling to watch a non-disabled actor portray a character who is on the spectrum. Most of my friends and acquaintances who have autistic children said they couldn’t force themselves to watch beyond the first episode, because her portrayal felt like a mockery of what they live through.
“Hello, My Twenties!” (청춘시대): Season 1
“Hello, My Twenties!” follows the lives of five college roommates ranging in age from 18 to 28. Eun-jae is a meek freshman who’s too shy to ask an upperclassman to return her pen and much too afraid to tell her roommates not to eat all of the homemade preserves her mother sent her off with. Ye-eun is a culinary arts student who’s more interested in her inattentive boyfriend than anything else. Ji-won is an eccentric journalism major (haha!) who says she can see a ghost in their apartment. Yi-na has a series of older, rich boyfriends and doesn’t seem to be studying much of anything other than her shoe collection. And at 28, Jin-myung’s live revolves around working three part-time jobs to pay for her tuition and pay off her family’s bills.
“Tomorrow” (내일)
“Tomorrow” tells the stories of people who are on the verge of ending their lives. This is where Ryeon and Joong-il come in. These angels of death work for Jumadeung, an elite company that employs those who’ve already died, but are revived to deal with matters of the afterlife. Some employees are given the option to reincarnate and live a normal life — after fulfilling their contracts, that is.
“Yumi’s Cells” (유미의 세포들): Season 1
Yumi is a woman in her early thirties, who had spent most of her twenties with a man who used her financially, cheated on her and then left her after seven years together. She viewed those as wasted years and, in some ways, is correct. Doting on a partner who doesn’t value you is nothing to be proud of. But there’s also something to be said for learning from negative experiences.
K-dramas are having a moment
Ayesha Rascoe speaks with journalist Jae-Ha Kim about the popularity of Korean television dramas on streaming services and her top recommendations.
“Shooting Stars” (별똥별)
I enjoyed “Shooting Stars” for what it is: a cute romance with two incredibly attractive lead actors. But I also acknowledge that there are some problematic moments that mar parts of the series for me.
“The Summer I Turned Pretty” Review: Breezy, Beautiful, But Dated
In this review, writer Jae-Ha Kim explores Prime Video’s “The Summer I Turned Pretty” and the way it approaches its Asian American lead — and her love interests.
‘Crash Landing on You’ co-stars confirm they’re expecting their first child
Son Ye-jin and Hyun Bin fell in love while filming the popular K-drama “Crash Landing on You” and were married earlier this year. “A new life has found us,” Son said on Instagram. The couple are expecting a baby!
“Money Heist: Korea” Reimagines Netflix’s Hit Series as a K-Drama — and It Works
The Spanish TV phenomenon gets remade and reset in an imagined North and South Korea, complete with charged political commentary and BTS namedropping. My latest review for Rolling Stone.
“My Liberation Notes” (나의 해방일지)
“My Liberation Notes” is very beautifully executed in presenting a slice of life that doesn’t offer a fairy-tale ending … or offer finite solutions to ease the characters’ lives. But what this K-drama does do is allow for growth. Who the characters are at the start of the series is not who they are by the finale, and that’s a good thing.
“Our Blues” (우리들의 블루스) Is One Of the Best K-Dramas in Recent Years
At first glance, “Our Blues” appears to be about a somewhat eccentric community of folks in Jeju-do — South Korea’s largest island. And it is. But it’s also about so much more. Over the course of 20 episodes, the series weaves together the complex stories of more than a dozen characters, creating a larger picture of love, forgiveness, and what it means to truly look out for one another.
“Again My Life” (어게인 마이 라이프)
“Again My Life” stars Lee Joon-Gi as a prosecutor who gets a second chance at life … literally. He is smart, charming and (of course) ridiculously handsome. This series is a lot of fun to watch, especially if you like revenge dramas.
The Best K-dramas on Netflix
Here’s where to start on your K-drama journey — including the one romance everyone seems to be talking about.
“Military Prosecutor Doberman” (군검사 도베르만)
“Military Prosecutor Doberman” explores some of the same themes as last year’s superior “D.P.” — but with more fight scenes, comedy and shirtlessness, courtesy of the series star Ahn Bo-hyun (“Itaewon Class”). It also stars Jo Bo-ah as his kickass colleague who’s as full as vengeance as he is.
“Thirty-Nine” (서른, 아홉)
“Thirty-nine” is a reminder that while we’ve all made mistakes in our lives, we can’t continue to punish ourselves forever. Life is short. There is no guarantee of a tomorrow. Be honest and live your best life.
“Pachinko”
In this review, writer Jae-Ha Kim unpacks the Apple TV+ series Pachinko, its faithfulness to the book by Min Jin Lee, and why unnecessary plot changes can serve an adverse purpose.
“Twenty-Five Twenty-One” (스물다섯 스물하나)
The burgeoning romance in “Twenty-Five Twenty-One” is based on a strong friendship. But some viewers have pointed out that the story would’ve been more effective if the female lead character hadn’t been underage when they met.
“Hello, Me!” (안녕? 나야!)
“Hello, Me!” is about Ha-Ni, a high school beauty who seemed destined for success. Instead, she grows up to become a mouse-of-a woman who has lost her drive, popularity and — seemingly most importantly — her looks. Through some miraculous force, 16-year-old Ha-Ni appears in modern day Ha-Ni’s life, causing confusion for everyone concerned.
“The King: Eternal Monarch” (더 킹: 영원의 군주)
“The King: Eternal Monarch” was Lee Min-Ho’s comeback drama after finishing his mandatory military service in 2019. Beautifully shot and well acted by the lead actors, the series nonetheless is a bit of a hot mess when it comes to the meandering plot.