Index

Branding in Seongsu ⭐⭐ (2/5)

Country: Korea | Year: 2024 | Episode: 24 | Channel: U+mobileTV

Cast: Lomon, Kim Ji Eun, Yang Hye Ji & Kim Ho Young
Plot: So Eun Ho is a nonchalant man who unexpectedly gets hired as an intern in a marketing company. But he’s not the working type, which gets on Kang Na Eon’s nerves. She’s been working hard all her life to get the position she’s at. Both constantly clash until they share a kiss one day and exchange bodies. They now need to live in the other’s shoes.

Review: To be honest, I expected this drama to be way better than it actually was. Considering the cast (Lomon from All of Us are Dead and Kim Ji Eun from One Dollar Lawyer), I thought Branding in Seongsu would make a great drama. Unfortunately, the beginning of the story lost me. Like, it took me 4 episodes to understand that characters would switch bodies at some point. The intrigue then continued to confuse me even more, showing leads as friends, then lovers, then enemies, then back to lovers, etc… The villains popped out of nowhere to become good again without really getting an explanation for it. Apart from that, the romance was ok, but tainted by the lack of substance of the plot. The only reason that kept me going is the fact that the episodes are very short (24 minutes) and that it started to get better mid-drama. All in all, this drama ended as a disappointment.

Queen of Tears ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)

Country: Korea | Year: 2024 | Episode: 16 | Channel: tvN

Cast: Kim Soo Hyun & Kim Ji Won
Plot: Baek Hyun Woo works as the legal director of Queens Group. He comes from a poor background, but managed to climb the social ladder. He gets married to Hong Hae In who’s the arrogant heiress of Queens Group. But what seemed to be the marriage of the century turns into a crisis.

Review: If you’re wondering if the drama deserves the hype, let me give you a straight answer. Yes, it ABSOLUTELY does! The plot is really well-written, with good connections between characters and timelines. Relationships are heartwarming and touching. Whether it’d be the tumultuous love story of the leads or the middle-school romance of Hae In’s aunt, all characters have their fair share of romance and above all, spotlight. And we love that! The drama immersed me completely in its universe and the lives of these families, Yongdu-Ri village, Queens Group. There’s not a single character to throw away, even the villains do their job with perfection. As for the story itself, it perfectly combines comedy, romance, melodrama and even action. An excellent mix of genres that gives a great pace to the show. Finally, the acting performance is top-notch. Kim Ji Won and Kim Soo Hyun are more than credible as a married couple going through a crisis. My only criticism – which is not a real one – is that episode last an hour and a half. But that’s nothing when the story is that good. 100% recommended. Do not miss this drama.

Amidst a Snowstorm of Love ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)

Country: China | Year: 2024 | Episode: 30 | Channel: Tencent Video

Cast: Leo Wu Lei & Zhao Jin Mai
Plot: Amidst a snowstorm in Finland, former billiard player Lin Yi Yang meets Yin Guo, a professional nine-pool player, in a bar. He immediately falls in love with her and his entire world is turned upside down. From then on starts a slow-burnt romance between these two who can’t seem to stay apart.

Review: This drama is an extraordinary discovery of 2024! First off, I must warn you that is a slow-paced drama, so if it’s not your thing, you may not want to start it. However, if you hesitate, I absolutely recommend you give it a go and do not let the rhythm block you. The male lead is a real green flag, who only has eyes for his lover. He’s devoted, affectionate and also putting Yin Guo on a pedestal. She is also quite patient and understanding, as her presence is what makes Lin Yi Yang want to start playing billiard again. They have such good chemistry together and their romance really blooms little by little. I enjoyed every bits and pieces of their story in Finland and later on in China – by the way the drama is an amazing postcard for Finland which is a rather unexpected destination in Dramaland. Need to applaud also the wonderful OST “Love and Shine” that is full of hope and love. Finally, I have to admit that this drama made me discover a new sports (pool, snooker, billiard) of which I knew absolutely nothing. So, it feels good to also learn more about a discipline dramas almost never talk about. I 100% recommend you go watch this gem!

Flexx Cop ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)

Country: Korea | Year: 2024 | Episode: 16 | Channel: SBS

Cast: Ahn Bo Hyun & Park Ji Hyun
Plot: Jin Yi Soo is a third-generation chaebol. He becomes a detective and uses his wealth and power to catch criminals. He works with Lee Gang Hyun who’s dedicated to her job, but has low social skills. Together, they partner up to solve cases.

Review: Ahn Bo Hyun – one of my favorite actors – as a rich cop is the reason that convinced me to watch this drama. The plot is good and got better over the episodes, though some were more entertaining than others to me. Sometimes, I was super focused, while some others I found myself totally disconnected from the story. However, the last episodes and the end really got me with captivating twists. The male lead, Yi Soo, is awesome and his synergy with the rest of the detective team was absolute genius; they really made me laugh hard. Overall, this is a good action drama with good camaraderie (reminded of Taxi Driver, Partners for Justice and The First Responders in terms of genres) and I’m more than happy that there will be a second season.