Melania Cruz

A cast of many familiar faces from past popular Kdramas converged to entertain the audience with their realistic acting and true to life storytelling. When I first saw that the series was 36 episodes in total I anticipated that the plot will be horribly stretched and peppered with idle conversations and dull, mundane scenes. But after finally reaching the marathon-like finale, I’m glad I was proven wrong. The plot twists and turns brought my emotions up, down and sideways. I chuckled, bawled, got angry, felt fearful, regretful, as well as gushed and blushed alongside the myriad of characters as they navigated through their endless exploits and mishaps. So that I don’t give away any spoilers I will summarize this review in one word: redemption. After all that’s said and done, there is and always will be, in one way or another, redemption.

Billiards is not so much of a popular and well-patronized sport but the charming storyline and equally charming characters made this romantic drama easily relatable and tenderly entertaining. Every aspect of the production was on-point so the outcome was cohesive and effective - from the cast members, director, writer, cinematography, editing, including the very much in tune musical score. Everything blended well together so the staggering 30 episodes did not come out unnecessarily stretched-out nor contrive. Amidst A Snowstorm of Love is a “swoon fest” not only because of the pleasing visuals of the actors but also of the picturesque locations where it was filmed. A worthy watch deserving of a 5-star rating.

This romcom had the right amount of romance and comedy. Nothing was over-the-top, cringy nor unrelatable. Although there was a disparity with the age and stature between the main lead characters, I was still able to appreciate how they both surmounted the challenges and criticisms of their somewhat unusual relationship. Most of the actors have appeared in other popular drama series but you won’t have any glimpse of their past roles because they really assimilated the persona of the respective characters they were meant to portray in this drama. Throughout the 16 episodes you will laugh, cry, gush, and fall in love. There are also some elements of suspense but nothing heavy nor gory. It’s a lighthearted, easygoing, feel-good series highly recommended for viewers who are looking for enjoyable entertainment.

I’m so glad I came across this 2020 K-drama series and didn’t ignore it for not being “newly released” nor having a star-studded cast. At only 8 episodes the storyline, which centers on postpartum problems and motherhood mayhem, is not stretched and riddled with boring gaps. The events are fast-paced, dialogues are witty-type hilarious, and the characters are believably immersed in their roles. Watch “Birthcare Center” if you are in bad need of a good laugh!

Episode 16 or the finale, ruined the momentum. A very anti-climactic ending that offered no clear semblance of triumph, vindication, and success, just a hazy plot punctuated by confusion and bewilderment. In other words, a very unimpressive and lackluster conclusion. The romance angle was also sad and pathetic. Lee Sung Min’s consistently stellar acting was the show’s sole redeeming factor.

This drama came and went without the fanfare and attention it deserved which is a shameful waste of a noteworthy production. Even if the storyline revolved around terminal illness and subsequent death, the series managed to convey an uplifting and endearing sense of positivity and optimism. Most of the scenes transpired in a hospice which is a place generally considered as morbid and grim, however, the interactions among the colorful characters gave the place a lively and enchanting vibe. The “death scenes” of the sick were done in a dignified and poignant manner. After watching the drama, I didn’t feel anymore burdened and fearful of death.

The disastrous scriptwriter messed up what could have been a prolific drama with the powerful cast and the promising context of a story involving 3 close friends who are about to turn 40 - a turning point commonly referred to as the age when “life begins”. Instead of heralding the end of their 30s and embracing the onset of their 40s, the lamentable plot centered mostly on 1 major character (Son Ye Jin), when the synopsis is supposedly about the life experiences of 3 best friends. Another pitfall is the overdramatic grief towards the terminally ill character, so much so that the overall mood of the drama series became somber, dark and depressing. Heavy tears were flowing on almost every scene as if this person is the only one who will ever die in this world. Lastly, there was zero chemistry and inauthentic intimacy among the 3 couples. It made me want to rewatch “Crash Landing On You” for the convincingly heartwarming romance, and “Hospital Playlist” for the solid friendships and cheerful camaraderie that were winningly portrayed.

Stream it or skip it? Only 3 episodes have dropped and I’m already hooked. This KDrama has all the elements of an entertaining watch: * Female lead is literally leading the entire cast with her immense acting prowess. * Eyeopening and not blatantly aggressive tackling of social issues in present day Korea. * Fast paced scenarios and dialogues that will keep you glued on your screens. * No over-the-top, scene-stealing, or annoying type of acting from the supporting cast members. * Directing, editing and writing are so far, cohesive, skillful and endearing. In short, you should definitely stream it!

This 2019 movie raked in 1 Billion PHP at the box office and has since then, been recognized as the highest grossing Philippine film. However, this is not why I’m rating it 5 stars and writing a positive review. It’s because of the talented people behind the project. It will not matter whether you are a “KathNiel” nor a “MaiChard” diehard fan when you watch the intensely romantic “Hello, Love, Goodbye” because she was no longer Kathryn Bernardo and he, Alden Richards. They impressively metamorphosed into Joy and Ethan, respectively. The depth by which they internalized their fictional characters was evident from beginning to end. Role portrayals were consistent and convincing. Kathryn’s authentic acting made me believe the gravity of Joy’s personal battles, her frailties and her passion to achieve her professional aspirations. I cried together with her, felt overwhelmed when she got overwhelmed, became scared when she was scared, got angry when she was seriously angry, and fell in love with Ethan when she eventually did. Kathryn’s overall rendition of Joy was soulful and riveting. Alden was undoubtedly the perfect match for the dynamic Kathryn. He portrayed his leading man role with equal realism by executing his lines as if there was no script to follow and acted his scenes as if there were no cameras around him. His delivery was fluid, unforced and compelling. Behind the scene, one can sense the powerhouse partnership and cohesive teamwork of the filmmakers comprising of - its esteemed director, ingenious producers and witty screenplay writers. They know exactly how to affect, awaken, humor and titillate the audience. I like that the romance-drama did not have a cliche or predictable “happy ending”. The story was left somewhat hanging which gives the creators a chance to produce a sequel and leaves the viewers clamoring for more! “Hello, Love, I’m Back!” sounds like a good title for the sequel.

The listless and uninspiring female lead Im Soo-jung, who apparently has been in the entertainment industry for 20 years and has surprisingly won a Best Actress award in the past, is the reason why “Melancholia” is a melancholic flop for me. It’s baffling how, after all the many years of experience and exposure she has had, she displays this level of “lazy acting” that is really burdensome to watch. Her aura here is very much like her demeanor in “Search: WWW” - unappealing and dreary. Her face is lifeless and devoid of any expression no matter what emotion she’s going through. She is enormously outshined by junior cast members and a wrong match for the powerful acting consistently shown by the male lead Lee Do-hyeon, who is much younger and less experienced than her. This awful mismatch is a major distraction and the main reason why I’m giving this drama series a low rating.