Yonder (2022)

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Drama: Yonder (욘더)
Network: TVING
Episodes: 6
Release Date: October 14, 2022

Plot: In futuristic Korea, euthanasia has been passed into law and a mysterious company is offering people the ability to design their own death.

Main cast:
Shin Ha Kyun -Kim Jae Hyun
Han Ji Min – Cha Yi Hoo
Jung Jin Young – Dr. K
Lee Jung Eun – Seiren

Review:
Spoilers alert. The drama opened an interesting and controversial topic to discuss and debate on, which is about life after death. Or specifically, designing your own death.

From episode 1 i already knew the potential danger that may happen with the premise. By N By was exploiting people’s grief and manipulating them through religion (souls going to heaven after death) and science (creating data from memories) to follow their dead relatives. I think they should be arrested for inciting mass murder/suicide. But the story was left open in the end and didnt have proper closure.

I thought the dying people who chose Yonder were very selfish. Like the lead’s wife. She couldn’t bear that the husband will forget her when she dies. Instead of wanting their family and friends to move on, they are also encouraging them to join them in “heaven”. And a lot of them did with false hopes of happiness, which is very sad. Like the girl killing herself to be with her dad, and the father to be with his family.

I also feel bad for those who wanted to grieve, and were led on by By N By. I mean the it was created by the married scientists who were grieving for their dead daughter and wanted to create their own alternate universe by bringing everyone else into their metaverse. It’s psychotic and chilling. I was disappointed with the sudden change of Jaehyun from a non believer upto ep 4 to suddenly joining his wife in ep 5. But am glad he was able to “wake up” and let go and also have friends who were able to bring him back to life.

The visuals were gorgeous, like the drama was supposed to be a movie but got extended to 6 episodes.

I personally favor euthanasia like if I were dying, i would like to choose when I would die rather than wait until I cant handle the pain anymore. But i would rather that memories remain in my heart and not create a new life after death. I’d rather be left at peace than have my brothers mourn me forever. Like Jaehyun said, “The reason beautiful moments are precious is because that moment can never return”. And the memories were built from data that maybe real but are remade for illusions.

I did wish the drama was 1 episode longer to explain where Yonder is and what happens after and to everyone else. I’m assuming it is some form of metaverse so I’m surprised people were not able to find out where it is located (eg. Server or IP address), and raid the company.

Rating: 8.5/10

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Our Blues (2022)

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Drama: Our Blues (우리들의 블루스)
Network: tvN
Episodes: 20
Release Date: April 9 – June 12, 2022
Runtime: Sat. & Sun. 21:10
Language: Korean
Country: South Korea

Plot:
This drama tells stories about the different people living in the village.

Main Cast
Lee Byung Hun – Lee Dong Seok
Shin Min Ah – Min Seon Ah
Han Ji Min – Lee Yeong Ok
Kim Woo Bin – Park Jeong Jun
Ko Du Shim – Hyeon Chun Hui
Kim Hye Ja – Kang Ok Dong
Lee Jung Eun – Jung Eun Hui
Park Ji Hwan – Jung In Gwon
Choi Young Jun – Bang Hosik
Roh Yoon Seo – Bang Yeong Ju
Bae Hyun Sung – Jung Hyeon
Cha Seung Won – Choi Hansu
Uhm Jung Hwa – Ko Miran

Review:
It took me a while to finish this drama because every episode hurts. I would stop after a few episodes then pick it up again and binge watch then stop.

All the stories were different and touching. Everyone had their own issues and they were a big community who supported each other like family. Each story kept getting better and better as we know more about the residents. And the writer and director made them all flow naturally.

I can’t decide which one was my favorite story. Okdong and Dong Seok made me cry the most. Even when I wanted to side with Dong Seok, seeing Okdong at her most vulnerable and wanting to spend time with her son before she dies is so touching.

Chunhui made me pray hard and wish that her son survives the accident. The little girl who played Eun Gi is such an amazing young actress. That scene where they showed Eun Gi the many moons made me cry so much.

Seonah’s story and her struggle with depression made me sad. I really felt her love for his son and she really was trying her best to get better so she can live with her son again. i love that Dong Seok didn’t stop supporting her even when she was at her worst. She really needed a friend to get her through her depression. and I love that the husband wasn’t really bad, he was just concerned for their son, and in the end he let her see and play with her son and even verbally agreed that he will give Yeol to her once she is better.

Yeonok/Yeonhui made me want to hug them. I can understand how difficult it must have been for Yeongok to be responsible for her sister all through the years and having failed relationships because of Yeonghui. I love that Jeong Jun didn’t leave her when he found out the truth and even was very sweet to Yeonghui. The scene when Yeongok saw all of Yeonghui’s paintings of her made me want to console her.

Eunhui/Miran and Hosik/Ingwon made me feel grateful to have great friends. Particularly Eunhui and Miran’s friendship, when Miran slapped Eunhui for being two-faced, but I think Eunhui also deserves a bigger apology than just saying that Miran was being immature to hurt Eunhui. As for Hosik and Ingwon, i think Ingwon really tried to help him but Hosik was a gambler. They hurt each other for years but in the end, they were bound together by their friendship and their children.

Hyeon/Yeongju made me feel hope for their future, that they will be good parents. I still would have scolded them for getting pregnant while in high school, to think they were even being arrogant to their parents about it. I’m glad when they finally admitted they were wrong and they needed their parents’ support and guidance.

Eunhui/Hansu made me think of first loves. Hansu will always be the handsome crush you can never be with. i wish that Eunhui will also find the right guy for her. I think she is an amazing woman and any guy will be lucky to have her.

Special mention to the little girl who played Eungi. What an amazing young actress!

The ost are so nice to listen to.

Makes me want to plan for a trip to Jeju next year!!

Rating: 9/10

Juvenile Justice (2022)

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Drama: Juvenile Justice (소년심판)
Network: Netflix
Episodes: 10
Release Date: February 25, 2022

Plot: This drama is about bringing juvenile offenders to justice.

Main Cast:
Kim Hye Soo – Shim Eun Seok
Kim Moo Yool – Cha Tae Joo
Lee Sung Min – Kang Won Jung
Lee Jung Eun – Na Geun Hee

Review: This is a heavy drama about juvenile offenders. Bullying, murder, gang rape. Should they be punished or help them reform? Can they really change? This drama will make you think and this is not just applicable to SK. It’s an issue around the world. I realized it’s very important for kids to grow up in a loving and stable family/environment since their childhood trauma remains even when they grow up as adults.

I liked each of the cases although not always how these were resolved. It also made me think how far should we do our jobs. As judges they weren’t supposed to investigate but they crossed the line. Coz if they don’t do it who will? Or maybe they need everyone or the system (prosecutors, police, workers) to effectively work together to reform the children.

On the downside, I just couldn’t connect with or care for the two main leads despite their sad background stories. Cha Tae Joo is clingy and needy, although I like that he really cares for the kids. Eun Seok is too harsh and does not even smile. I would be scared if I had a mother or even a teacher/boss like her. She is soft hearted too and fair.

Rating: 8/10

Once Again (2019-2020)

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Drama: Once Again (한 번 다녀왔습니다)
Network: KBS2
Episodes: 100
Release Date: March 28 – September 13, 2020
Runtime: Saturday & Sunday 19:55
Language: Korean
Country: South Korea

Plot
Four adult children of a married couple got divorced and went back to live with their parents.

Main Cast
Lee Min Jung – Song Nahee
Lee Sang Yeob – Yoon Gyu Jin
Lee Cho Hee – Song Dahee
Lee Sang Yi – Yoon Jae Seok
Oh Yoon Ah – Song Gahee
Ki Do Hoon – Park Hyosin
Oh Dae Hwan – Song Junseon
Lim Jung Eun – Sung Hyun Kyung
Cheon Hojin – Song Yeong Dal
Cha Hwa Yeon – Jang Ok Bun
Kim Bo Yeon – Choi Yoon Jong
Lee Jung Eun – Cho Yeon / Yeong Suk
Baek Ji Won – Jang Ok Ja
Ahn Kil Kang – Yang Chisu

Review:
What a wonderful story! I’ve watched a few weekend dramas before and this is one of those that didn’t have a lot of makjang storylines! It was just about a family where each member has their own struggles in life, they fight, they misunderstand, they hurt each other. But in the end, they are family and they continue to understand and love each other.

I love the siblings – Junseon, Gahee, Nahee and Dahee! Gyujin and Jaesook too! If i had to choose:

Dahee and Jaesook is my favorite couple. Not only do the actors look alike, they just have this sweet vibe and they match perfectly. I love Nahee and Gyujin but they keep fighting like kids, sometimes I wonder how they manage to stay together. Or maybe it’s really just opposite attract.

Jaesook is the best boyfriend. He supports Dahee 100%, he is very sweet, understanding and romantic. He sings for her!! Brings her food. Meets her after work. Hangs out with her friends. His only flaw is that he is a little bit clingy (well, I think some girls like clingy guys).

Gahee is my favorite sibling. She looks so good in everything she wears. She is a cool mom, she stands up for herself and she is smart. She is caring and sensitive too. No wonder Hyosin fell in love with her despite the age gap, her divorce status and having a child.

Choyeon/Yeongsuk is my favorite ahjumma/market owner. She is smart and tough because of her upbringing. She defends the people who are down, she helps older people. Her flaw is being too nice that she takes care of other people even when they have betrayed her. She is simple and average looking but because of her personality, two guys fell in love with here in the drama, and she eventually dates a much younger and handsome guy! Not bad Choyeon!

Dahee is the best daughter in law, the best daughter, the best sister. She is the sweetest of them all. She may look like a pushover but once she sets her mind to it, she is stubborn. Maybe because she’s the youngest so she gets babied a lot but she knows when it’s time to remind the people that she can make her own decisions. She is nice to everyone, that’s why she can even tame the strictest and scariest mother in law (yes, that’s Yoonjung!)

Jihoon is the sweetest grandchild. He was hurt when his dad kept ignoring him. I felt so bad whenever he gets stood up by his dad. I’m glad he was able to meet and be friends with Hyosin. He needed a stand up adult to mentor him or else I’m sure he would have grown up to be a bad child. Kudos to Gahee for raising a young and mature son. Even at a young age, he is sensitive to his mom’s feelings and when dad wanted to get back together with Gahee, he said no and chose to be happy with his mom. Plus, he also encouraged Hyosin and Gahee.

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Rating: 8.5/10