420. Good Casting 굿캐스팅 (2020) Korean

Choi Gang Hee, Yoo In Young, Kim Ji Young, Lee Sang Yeob, Lee Jun Young, Lee Jong Hyuk

Drama Rating: 7/10     Neck Score: A+

Good Casting was a good combination of awesome spy action, comedy, and romance. It is the girl power spy show that isn't afraid to just be silly. The best part is that while all the women are off being bad-A spies and getting things done, the dudes all think they are in some kind of romantic comedy. But even though the ladies are pretty awesome, they are also pretty flawed, which I know made some people struggle at the beginning. This isn't a show about perfect, top notch spies. It's about a bunch of misfit spies who were thrown together to not get the job done, but they get it done anyway, even with all the slapstick.

Baek Chan Mi (Choi Gang Hee) is a loose cannon who lets her temper get the best of her, making huge mistakes. She lost the target and endangered a team member last time, so is determined to not to lose him this time. Hwang Mi Soon (Kim Ji Young) is basically retired and living the life of an ahjumma. She is rusty at best, but is still crazy good at undercover, in spite of her being past her prime. Im Ye Eun (Yoo In Young) is a white agent (think completely green). She's been working for the NIS for a while, but has kept out of the field and worked support and tech. This is her first field assignment. She is also a single mom. They are all put on a team to catch Michael, an elusive international technology thief/dealer. Michael managed to escape and kill Chan Mi's teammate last time, and this team is the last resort.

412. Hospital Playlist 슬기로운 의사생활 (2020) Korean

Jo Jung Seok, Yoo Yeon Seok, Jung Kyoung Ho, Kim Dae Myung, Jeon Mi Do

Drama Rating: 9/10     Neck Score: A+

I don't love doctor dramas, but I loved this one. Because it was about the people and relationships way more than dramatic operations (although there are plenty of operations). But it's more about the day to day hospital life than the crazy dramatic stuff. But most of all it's about the people who work in the hospital, and not just the main ones, the whole ensemble.

I love good ensemble dramas where we have multiple main characters to care about and not just the OTP. Hospital Playlist was great in that respect, and I am super excited for next season. Even just watching the group of five friends hanging out, eating, and band practice without their dynamic with their other coworkers would be amazing. I could even watch a drama just focused on the moms and uncles. In fact, my main ship is Rosa and Jong Su's friendship. There was enough balance through the longer episodes for all the different story lines for all the characters. I also love that there was passage of time without there being huge gaps. It just flowed well.

Korean Movie Night: On Your Wedding Day 너의 결혼식 (2018) Korean

Park Bo Young, Kim Young Kwang, Kang Ki Young, Ko Kyu Pil, Jang Sung Bum

Movie rating: 9/10     Neck score: A

So Lizabreff, Curdy and I decided to have another virtual Korean Movie Night, because the last one worked out so well. It was fun, but we opted out for a romantic comedy this time, so we went with On Your Wedding Day. It was hilarious. Just all around solid writing and acting. It's told from the perspective of present day (or wedding day) Woo Yeon (Kim Young Kwang) who is a P.E. teacher telling his students about his first love story with Seung Hee (Park Bo Young) which starts back in high school and then progresses through college, etc., to the present. It's very slice of life with just that chill and ridiculous comedy that comes from the relatable, especially when it's being told from the perspective of one of those people who is an embellisher.

It was very well written and acted. Basically this part was written for Kim Young Kwang and you can't help but fall for his grin and puppy-like energy and devotion. And of course Park Bo Young is just perfect. I love her nuanced acting, especially since the movie is told from his point of view, but we could see tell what was going on with her (even when his character couldn't), and she ugly cries like a real person, props! They had good chemistry and were just one of the cutest couples ever, even as we were laughing about their height difference. The ensemble was good too, because how can you get better than Kang Ki Young as a best friend? You cannot. The group of college boys in the boarding house were just hilarious and perfectly awkward. Best of all was the natural progression. It had excellent pacing and narration, so everything that happened made sense and I felt at peace with all the choices. I really don't think I would change a thing or complain about anything, no matter what complicated feelings I feel. It was hilarious, cute, sweet, and lovely. I recommend it.

P.S. Whoever styled Kim Young Kwang deserves a trophy. He looked so good.

414. Welcome (Meow the Secret Boy) 어서와 (2020) Korean

Kim Myung Soo, Shin Ye Eun, Seo Ji Hoon, Yoon Ye Joo, Kang Hoon

Drama Rating: 6/10     Neck Score: A+

A drama featuring a cat? Yes! Myung Soo wearing a chunky white sweater? Yes please! The plot.... ok. There were a lot of people who were bothered by the whole cat turning into a person thing, and I get that. I just went with the it happens in fairy tales all the time vibe and went with it, but it did open itself up to a lot of awkwardness when she finally found out and was constantly wanting him to turn into a human and stuff. Honestly, I was probably 99% in it for the cat and 1% for Myung Soo acting like a cat. Well, it might be more evenly balanced. But let's just say I wasn't really in it for the plot and romance and stuff. It was ok, it didn't bother me or anything, but I just wanted to see the cat. Maybe it's social distancing talking, but I really want my cats, and this rental that doesn't allow pets is going to be the death of me. Oh well. So it's a light, fluffy drama with a lot of problems, but still cute. I do like the discussion it addresses about different types of people and how they get along, how opposites can attract, but also be a deterrent. It also discusses the issues with pet ownership and people not taking responsibility, and how cats usually take the brunt of it, being abandoned the most. All those abandoned cats also made me want to adopt a kitty too. Or a kid. I don't like hearing about abandoned kids either. Abandoned anyone/thing makes me sad. But it also talked about trust and loyalty, and actually listening and taking responsibility. I was also 100% in like with the second couple, who were another cat/dog couple. His big, dumb, loving dog personality and her meek, cute, and considerate (and sassy) cat personality were fun to watch.

Ultimately it wasn't something outstanding, but it was cute and fun, but I also love cats and Myung Soo, so I probably forgave it way more than some. But if you think too much about the cat as the romantic lead, and a real cat at that, not just personality wise, then I get it. But it is worth it just to see him do a good job being a cat. That part with the cardboard box though 😂😂😂.

416. Piece of Your Mind 반의 반 (2020) Korean

Jung Hae In, Chae Soo Bin, Lee Ha Na, Kim Sung Kyu, Park Joo Hyun

Drama Rating: 7/10     Neck Score: A+

When I started this, it was perfect for the mood I was in. I didn't know it, but melancholy sweet was the perfect mood for me. Unfortunately, it is just the general mood of all dramas currently, so I also think I'm done with it now, but I did like this drama. The breakdown of how I came to this rating is: 10/10 for the main couple's romance, 8/10 for general writing, but probably 4 or 5/10 for basic plot. I loved that it was a healing story about love, loss, and self-worth, but the dramatic causes of these people needing to be healed was quite frankly, to me, the worst. Yeah, people dying in such random and weird ways wasn't doing it for me right now. It was both too realistic and not? I don't know. Also, you have to suspend a lot of disbelief with the whole conversation AI. I can accept that the AI will develop the personality of the person, but I don't think there is anyway that it would then have all their memories or reasoning. Nope. That was too much for me. However, despite all that, and the fact that the drama was cut short and had to be rushed, it was still a cute, healing, melancholy sort of feel good drama.

417. When the Weather is Fine 날씨가 좋으면 찾아가겠어요 (2020) Korean

Park Min Young, Seo Kang Joon, Moon Jeong Hee, Lee Jae Wook

Drama Rating: 7/10     Neck Score: A+

I didn't really like the plot that much. Like the dramatic stuff. There was also a lot that if I think about it too much, I really hated too. But because all the characters were pretty likable, and the couple and their romance was super cute, I was willing to forgive a lot. Also, it was hooking enough that I kept watching it, even if I was crying all the time or rolling my eyes at how stupid some people (or just one person) was being. It fits into that trend that is currently happening with really melancholy dramas and nothing else. But honestly, I think that was what I was in the mood for anyway and that's why I kept coming back even when all I'd do was cry the whole episode. And though I say I didn't like the plot and the drama, it's probably because I just hate anything or anyone who would hurt all these wounded babies who are already hurt and sad. So basically I liked everything, but it made me sad.

Korean Movie Night: Time to Hunt 사냥의 시간 (2020) Korean

Lee Je Hoon, Ahn Jae Hong, Choi Woo Shik, Park Jung Min, Park Hae Soo

Movie rating: 7/10     Neck score: A

I didn't really read up on what the movie was about before I started it, which might have actually been a good thing for me, because I was all the more surprised when it started the twists. It's a bit dystopian, or apocalyptic, meaning it's after a big financial crash, and small time thief Jun Seok (Lee Je Hoon) gets out of prison in a completely different Korea. So what does he do? Plans a heist with his besties. Yay. Good idea boys. Well, it's more of an armed robbery. This isn't a time for fancy heist gadgets, this is bust in and shoot up times. A dystopian heist. But instead of robbing a bank or whatever, they get the gangsters who own the local gambling den mad at them. Gangsters who then hire a super deadly and crazy assassin to kill them. An assassin with a passion for hunting his prey.