TYPE OF REVIEW : GOOD OL’ REVIEW
No spoilers.

The announcement of Hayao Miyazaki’s retirement surprised and saddened fans of excellent filmmaking as well as fans of Japanese animation. Many of Miyazaki’s own films and those under Studio Ghibli helped introduce the Japanese animation to the world.

But even as Miyazaki has made what is likely his final film, there is still much to look forward to as a brand new generation of filmmakers look to continue the creativity and groundbreaking filmmaking Japanese animation has come to be known for. Mamoru Hosada’s Wolf Children is an excellent example.

Wolf Children is the breathtakingly animated and genre-bending story of Hana, a young college student who falls in love with a mysterious Wolfman. She gives birth to two children, Yuki and Ame. But not long after Ame’s birth, Hana finds her husband, in his wolf form, dead and being taken away by city workers.

Hana struggles to raise her two children on her own without any knowledge of how to raise wolf children. Yuki is temperamental and changes between human and wolf when she is upset. Ame is more reserved, meek. They are almost polar opposites, Yuki who regularly embraces her wolf side and Ame who refuses to become the hunted wolf like in the picture books he reads.

When things become too difficult for them in Tokyo, Hana decides to find them a secluded home in the countryside where they encounter a small close-knit and caring group of neighbors who help them learn how to live off the land. As the children grow so does their struggle to find their own identity and Hana’s struggle to keep her promise to her husband to raise their children well enough to give them the opportunity to choose their own paths.

Wolf Children‘s breathtaking animation supports an engrossing story of love, coming of age and community. It is equal parts fantasy and slice of life as Yuki narrates her parents’ love story and her mother’s love for her and her brother as they grow.

Wolf Children is a beautiful film. It is at times emotional and poignant, at other times melancholic. At the same time, the animation is at times very atmospheric and at other times bright and vivid. There are several amazing and dynamic sequences where we fly, speed and glide through the beautiful landscape. Then there are the emotionally and visually quiet moments that evoke both warmth and tension at the film’s most poignant moments.

Wolf Children comes to an almost abrupt ending that punctuates the film’s unique story but is much in line with the realizations and turning points that conclude the film. Japanese animated films have always proven that they can tackle mature themes alongside being family friendly fare. And this film and it’s affecting conclusion is no different.

The film has an ethereal quality and Yuki, as our narrator even points that out at the end. But it is that dreamlike journey through a both fantastical and realistic story that makes the film so engaging and enthralling. Emotional and breathtaking, Wolf Children is an absolute winner and just one sign that excellent films will continue to come out of Japan for a long time to come.

Trailer:

Wolf Children is available on Amazon.com:

TYPE OF REVIEW : GOOD OL’ REVIEW
LOTS of spoilers.

So I am definitely late to the entire Reply/Answer Me hype, but finally managed to jump in last week. Instead of starting with 2012′s Answer Me 1997, I chose to watch the more recent Answer Me 1994 first.

One of my favorite things about Korean dramas is that their short, miniseries format allows for a wide variety of stories even if most fall into the same drama tropes. To find a few more original, risk taking or fresh concepts, the cable networks and the late night drama specials on the big three (or maybe just KBS?) are where to go.

tvN has been at the forefront of dramas that are both out of the box while still having mainstream appeal. And the Answer Me series certainly falls within that spectrum.

Another one of my favorite things about Korean dramas is when I stumble upon a drama that appears to be very Korean on the surface, yet ends up being very universal instead.

Answer Me 1994 is a perfect example.

While I hadn’t seen the first series when going into Answer Me 1994, I at least knew the main gimmick was to tease the identity of our heroine’s eventual husband for the entire run while also being a nostalgic look at the 90s.

For Answer Me 1994, our heroine is Na Jung, the only daughter of a couple running a Seoul homestay for college students from the countryside.

The identity of Na Jung’s husband appeared obvious halfway through even though much of the 2nd half of Answer Me 1994 tried to prolong what seemed meant to be an epic love story. By the end of the series, or really even a couple of episodes out from the finale, you started to care less about whether or not Na Jung and Trash ended up together and instead wished for more highjinks from the homestay family.

The “Who is it!?” gimmick is definitely an interesting and creative way to frame the series and may certainly be what first draws people in, along with the 90s nostalgia of course.

But for me, like many others, I stayed for the friendships. The coming of age story of a group of friends coupled with effective and fun nostalgia are the best things about Answer Me 1994. The charming and talented cast had excellent chemistry. From the very first time we meet the group of boarders and the family that hosts them to the moment they all leave the homestay for the final time; it was that journey that you cared about the most out of anything else.

Answer Me 1994 wasn’t so much about one singular story. It was about a group of characters and how they grew up together during an eventful and fast moving decade in Korea’s history and formed a bond that would last 20 years later and beyond.

And despite being set in Korea and highlighting its many historical events, celebrations and tragedies of the decade, Answer Me 1994 was still a universally relatable experience. You didn’t have to be Korean or even have grown up in the 90s to feel the effects of the time on the characters. Most, if not all of what the characters went through… the trials, the tribulations, the emotions, the feels… aren’t exclusive to Korean college students.

These are the universal experiences that makes a series like Answer Me 1994 so appealing and ultimately successful even if there are a couple of shortcomings.

And a few of those shortcomings can be best explained by going into detail and touching on each of our main characters. =]

At times Na Jung is a typical K-drama heroine; spunky and energetic, clever and smart, but when it comes to love, she loses her brain. There are times when she’s funny and charming and times when you just want to knock some sense into her. But even while the main premise of the series revolves around her, Answer Me 1994 is still an ensemble which allows you to give Na Jung a bit of a pass.

Her oppa, Trash, is pretty much the male version of a typical K-drama heroine. He can be the dashing male lead (a doctor!), but most of the time he’s an insane, hyper, strange man-child who’s in love.

Na Jung and Trash have some cute and fun back-and-forth, both before and after we learn they aren’t actually siblings. But when the path clearly starts moving toward their endgame, they start to lose their charm. Like I said earlier, especially when it became obvious what the final result would be, you wished the series would spend less time on prolonging the “Who’s it gonna be?” and instead deliver more of what made the show so engaging in the first place.

Samcheonpo and Yoon Jin’s love story ended up being much more believable and sweet while almost being as dramatic. Having a more typical couple alongside Na Jung and Trash’s roller coaster of a courtship helped keep things balanced. At the same time, having Haitai’s own misadventures in love gave Na Jung a platonic male best friend (despite more of the contrived keeping his number in the Na Jung’s husband lottery). That relationship was actually the most refreshing of all the little mini-friendships within the group.

Na Jung’s parents were the steady hands, helping to guide their pretty much adopted children along with their own flesh and blood. They are the catalyst for the entire series, being the ones who buy a large home in Seoul of course. But they use their experience to both hold the kids’ hands and steer them in the right direction, while also allowing them to learn and grow on their own.

Now let’s go. Binggeure. Oy vey. Binggeure might just be the worst developed character on the series. After seeing how his story ends, you might understand what the series was aiming to do with his character. He was confused and was trying to figure things out. Figure out a lot of things, including his sexuality.

But let’s be real here. That’s not the impression you get at all during the series before the big reveal. And thinking about that, you can’t help but think all the hinting and ambiguity with Binggeure’s affection towards Trash and his shy personality was nothing more than a way to score another Gotcha! moment. Maybe what makes the twist so disappointing is that you have him working out his feelings for 16 episodes then you introduce a random noona who is supposed to confirm he’s straight after just one night out drinking.

If anything, it seemed like he was forcing himself to fall for this female sunbae just to avoid having to be gay. Beard perhaps? That’s a great story for another drama, but not here. Instead of getting his own nice, poignant story like everyone else, Binggeure gets shortchanged. Making his endgame merely another contrived Gotcha! moment was a disservice to his character and horribly lazy.

And then there’s Chilbong, who is probably the most tortured and at the same time most invisible 2nd lead ever in a Korean drama. 2nd Lead Syndrome definitely applies here. Chilbong is the sweet guy next door. He’s a great friend. He’s a dumb jock with a heart of gold. And he’s a lovesick little puppy. You want to root for him. You want to see him happy and end up with the girl.

But as the Na Jung-Trash ship started to get further and further away from the dock, Chilbong just as quickly fell by the wayside. And in doing so, actually made him that much more rootable. For a show that relied too heavily in the How I Met My Husband gimmick to the detriment of the stories that you actually cared about, it did a poor job of making Chilbong or any of the other guys viable candidates to keep the gimmick interesting.

Chilbong endeared himself enough that you were looking for him in the middle arc of the series to shake the Na Jung-Trash lovefest up. Instead, they waited until the last couple of episodes to throw him a couple of bones which really only highlighted the missed potential for a more compelling love triangle. Those final episodes not only tortured poor Chilbong, it tortured the audience with hollow hope.

But while the characters’ stories can individually have flaws, together as a group, they provided a charming, relatable and nostalgic look at young love and friendship.

Sometimes all a drama series needs is sincerity and honesty and Answer Me 1994 was at its best when it had the friends in honest and sincere situations involving anything from school to the Asian financial crisis, from their favorite pop music to hometown pride. Sure, the husband guessing game may be a way for some to get into the series, but the real attraction lies in the performances of the excellent ensemble and the true to life and universal depiction of life in the 90s.

TYPE OF REVIEW : GOOD OL’ REVIEW
Some small spoilers.

Dramas have grown a great deal in the last year with many fresh and even big stars taking part in projects being delivered to audiences in non-traditional ways.

After School Bokbulbok (or After School Lucky or Not) is one of those experimental new dramas having premiered online and on mobile devices via SK Telecom properties like Nate last September. It was recently made available on DramaFever and Hulu which is where I discovered this hilarious little gem.

Funny story about discovering the series though. While finishing up Reply 1994, I noticed a drama with Kim So Eun as one of the stars. My Kim So Eun crush is still going strong, so of course I was going to check her new drama out. Looking up its DramaWiki, I saw it aired episodes at 8am which immediately made me think it was some kind of kids show.

So I thought to myself, hey, this should be fun and cute. Kind of like Thunderstruck Stationary which was a nice little family mystery drama.

Boy was I wrong!

Homoerotic sight gags, penis jokes, a molester, orgies. WHAT!?

So I went back online to find out what in the world was going on and that’s when I realized that this was definitely not a kids show. That’s when I found out about it being a “drama-toon” with short 14-minute episodes and starring the idol-actor group 5urprise which I had heard about but never really looked into.

After getting that all cleared up, I was then fully able to enjoy the madness. The series starts out as a huge trip. Insanity and randomness abound as shy loner Kim So Eun (played by Kim So Eun) gets a strange note inviting her to the Pick-A-Mission Club. Curious, she goes and that’s where she meets the five handsome characters who are the only members of this club.

Every day, they pick out missions from a box which they must complete; anything from sleeping with a college girl and dressing up like a dog for a day to getting on TV and flying to space. The guys immediately make So Eun club captain, but keep the origins and even purpose of the group a secret from her. So Eun reluctantly goes along with their craziness since she has no one else at the school.

But after plenty of hilarious, sometimes 19+ adventures, So Eun finally learns what the club is all about. And that’s when the insanity turns surprisingly sweet and emotional. Throw in some kilig romance and you’ve got an enjoyable 12 episodes.

Since each episode is anywhere from 12 to 16 minutes, the entire series spans less than three hours. And those three hours will fly by very fast.

As a “drama-toon,” the series features vivid visuals similar to manhwas or popular webtoons which have been turned into popular dramas the last few years. After School takes typical high school highjinks and mixes in some fantasy and a little bit of emotional drama. The series’ last episodes are unexpectedly sweet and poignant and they definitely leave you wanting more.

The format of the drama may contribute to it feeling a little fresher and having an anything goes attitude. But there definitely would’ve been plenty of material for a full-length primetime drama.

I’ve wished for Kim So Eun to take on a more mature, sexy drama role (with Kim Bum! SoEul 4evah!), but she is perfectly adorable and sweet here, able to help carry the series and basically express our own emotions as the audience through her. 5urprise, comprised of Seo Kang Joon, Gong Myung, Lee Tae Hwan, Kang Tae Oh and Yoo Il, are an interesting group. They are definitely hilarious, are talented actors and can sing to boot. While they’ve separately been involved in other drama projects since debuting as a group, I could definitely see them (as a group) carrying their own After School-like full-length drama in primetime.

The series features cameos by many familiar faces, but it is our main cast that really gets you hooked on the series. Being a short drama, it is easy to get into and to finish. But overall, After School Bokbulbok is hilarious, random, crazy insanity with a surprising amount of heart and sincerity. You will have a hard time not falling for the cast and the series. Just pure and unadulterated fun.

TYPE OF REVIEW : GOOD OL’ REVIEW
No spoilers.

Another KBS Drama Special, another pleasant surprise.

A Taste of Curry starring Jun Hye Bin and Hyun Woo is another great example of KBS Drama Special’s penchant to present different and engaging stories.

Yoo Mi (Jun Hye Bin) owns and runs a curry restaurant and Hongdae all by herself. She doesn’t get very many customers and she’s fine with that even though she and her mother need the money. One day, she ends up knocking out Kyung Pyo (Hyun Woo), a seemingly drunk man who has just awaken on the bench outside her restaurant.

Now with temporary amnesia, Yoo Mi has to take Kyung Pyo in until he gets his memory back and can go home. But it appears there’s more to Kyung Pyo than just being a drunk that fell asleep on the street.

As Kyung Pyo’s true identity and real intentions become clear, we get to watch Yoo Mi opening herself up to him and the neighborhood regulars she hasn’t ever made an attempt to get to know.

A cute and charming set-up turns poignant and emotional. It isn’t Kyung Pyo’s big secret that’s the main draw here, but what happens before and after it is revealed.

This is my first time watching Jun Hye Bin and while she feels like a few other Korean actresses out there, she easily handles the quick development and change of emotions her character feels in just an hour.

Hyun Woo is very charming. From his days of hosting KBS’ Music Bank to supporting roles in Pasta, I Live in Cheongdamdong (with Smile Donghae‘s Oh Ji Eun) and most recently Ugly Alert, he is a naturally charming and talented actor who proves here that he definitely deserves a lead role of his own. It’s his performance that carries this hour and makes you interested and feel for the eventual emotional pay-off in the end.

Watch the entire Drama Special here:

And much kudos to KBS World for continuing to post full episodes online.

TYPE OF REVIEW : GOOD OL’ REVIEW
Basic first week set-up spoilers.

TV5 continues its quest to gain ground on the two Philippine television behemoths. A couple of months into its “vertical programming” primetime scheduling format, TV5 still has a ways to go. But in the process of introducing its radical (for Philippine television) programming strategy, the network has been able to also introduce some creative and fresh programs.

The latest is the network’s charming and fun series Beki Boxer.

Described as a comedy with heart, Beki Boxer tells the story of Rocky, a young closeted gay man who is determined to win back his family’s honor and reputation by becoming a champion boxer.

While Rocky has always been more interested in the Miss Universe pageant and Barbies than GI Joes, he’s also always looked up to his father who was once a champion boxer himself. But one fight changed that all. Suspected of throwing the fight, Rocky’s father went from local hero to laughing stock overnight. And since then, their family’s been looked down upon and insulted.

Rocky can’t take the ridicule any longer and decides to fight for a championship belt rather than a beauty pageant crown to return honor to the family.

In its first week, we meet Rocky, his family, friends and the handsome guy that becomes another extra bit of inspiration for his dreams.

Alwyn Uytingco should have no trouble in the title role as Rocky. Already an experienced actor who’s been in the business for at least 15 years, Alwyn has shown great versatility in a wide variety of roles. But maybe his most well-known role is that of the gay, flamboyant and often scene stealing Pip in the blockbuster Ang Tanging Ina movie series which earned him a Supporting Actor nomination at the Metro Manila Film Festival.

Alwyn is definitely no stranger to gay roles, so that experience helps him comfortably carry his first title role with ease. It’s been a long time coming for him and Beki Boxer provides a showcase for both his comedic and dramatic chops.

Beki Boxer may be a comedy at its core, but it’s still a distinctly Filipino drama. Sure there are plenty of laughs, but Rocky’s desire to restore his family’s honor is sincere. That’s where the heart comes in. The series is a good ol’ family drama that can make you laugh and cry at the same time. Throw in some boxing training and fight scenes and you’ve got something for everyone.

My Husband’s Lover definitely made waves last year by unflinchingly portraying a gay relationship. And there are some petty network loyalists trying to compare it with Beki Boxer. But they are completely different animals.

Rocky’s secretly in love with Atong (Vin Abrenica), another aspiring boxer who’s hunky and macho, but who is maybe hiding in the closet too. (He does say his ideal type is someone who can “accept me for who I really am.” *wink*wink*)

Rocky having to keep his fabulous side on the down-low, even from his mother who is merely waiting for him to officially confirm he has a “soft heart,” while also pining for and imagining romantic adventures with his training buddy and new friend is a much different, yet still effective way of portraying a gay character on Philippine TV.

Like My Husband’s Lover showed that gay men aren’t only flamboyant cross-dressing club performers, Beki Boxer has an opportunity to show that even a “softer,” cross-dressing gay man can excel in the very macho and tough world of a sport like boxing. We already see Rocky has great potential and may have just inherited his father’s championship skill.

So the possibility of him training for and winning that championship belt while still practicing Miss Universe poses at home or dancing fiercely at the local comedy bar is an incredibly refreshing and interesting proposition.

Alwyn is supported by a well-rounded cast. Vin Abrenica has come a long way from his Artista Academy win. His acting breakthrough in last year’s solid Misibis Bay shows he’s on the right track. And if he really is locked in for the upcoming Baker King adaptation, his growth as an actor is very welcome news. He and Alwyn have a great chemistry that helps push that romantic angle. And with the help of a solid script, Vin is able to maintain Atong’s interesting ambiguity.

Christian Vasquez and Candy Pangilinan as Rocky’s parents are more than experienced. And here, they are actually able to tackle different roles than they are used to being cast in; Crazed maniac for Christian Vasquez and loud, annoying sidekick for Candy Pangilinan. And it’s great to see Joross Gamboa absolutely play up Rocky’s fab out and proud “bes” friend Madonna.

Beki Boxer has an opportunity to be many things. In a highbrow sort of way, it can continue the strides made in bringing better portrayals of the LGBT community in Philippine entertainment. But more likely and reasonable, it can continue the strides TV5 has made in presenting fresh and different stories that set themselves apart from anything the other networks are offering.

Beki Boxer has shown to be a fun and hilariously charming little series that really does aim to have plenty of heart to go along with the abundant laughs.

TYPE OF REVIEW : GOOD OL’ REVIEW
No spoilers.

The film Ang Kwento ni Mabuti starts with an ethereal and almost supernatural teaser and cold open as we see clouds and fog seemingly engulfing veteran and multi-awarded actress Nora Aunor as she walks up a mountain, terrified and clutching a large bag.

Smash cut to the title card and then to three girls having fun chasing each other with small bamboo blowguns speaking Ilocano while Nora Aunor sets up a series of hoses that will bring water from the creek to their home down the mountain.

The contrast between the two scenes, one dark and mysterious, the other quiet and simple, will be repeated many times through the film.

Nora Aunor is Mabuti, a woman who lives with her mother and four grandchildren in the mountainous countryside of Nueva Vizcaya. When she isn’t using natural methods to heal neighbors’ dog bites to the leg, she’s tending to the small crops and livestock they have while raising her grandchildren left in her care by her unmarried son and daughter who are both trying to make a living in the city. Her mother isn’t 100% healthy either.

After being introduced to their family’s simple and relatively happy daily lives, we learn Mabuti mortgaged their family’s land to help pay for her son’s going abroad to work. That job in Dubai eventually didn’t pan out and now the bank wants its money.

Mabuti decides to travel to the big city to see what she can do about keeping the land that’s been in her family for generations. On this hours-long journey, she has a chance encounter that presents her with a chance that could change her family’s life either for better or for worse.

Ang Kwento ni Mabuti begins as a slice of life drama. It is lighthearted and simple; a quiet story that follows the everyday lives of a family living off the land in the Northern Philippines. But everything takes a turn when Mabuti realizes what’s just been entrusted to her by a woman she had only met the day before.

Suddenly, a simple life in the countryside is turned upside down and we see Mabuti, who has always been positive and happy, now confused and worried.

It is an engaging story even when it is so quiet. Being set and filmed in Nueva Vizcaya, specifically the mountains where it can be lush and green as well as arid and barren contribute to the characters’ sense of being secluded. The closest town is a ways away, while your closest neighbor is a couple of minutes walk up the road. That Mabuti’s simple life is rocked as soon as she leaves the confines of the hills and mountains is an intriguing contrast that gives the story a realistic and grounded depth.

This film uses atmospheric perspective in the best way a film could possibly do. A simple, uneventful life in the mountains, “the end of the world” as they describe it themselves, rocked by Mabuti’s shocking discovery. The film’s excellent cinematography enhances the simplicity of the story while also presenting some stunningly artsy and meaningful shots.

With my family being from the provinces of Cagayan and Kalinga, I loved watching a film with 100% Ilocano dialogue. The Ilocano spoken in the film gives the film an authenticity and sincerity even if the accents of experienced actors like Nora Aunor and Arnold Reyes (as her son Ompong) could have used a little work. Mara Lopez, who plays her daughter, was the most convincing of the non-native Ilocano speakers in the film.

The rest of the cast felt and sounded more natural, but I guess me being from an Ilocano-speaking family allows me to notice those kinds of nuances a lot more. I’m not sure, but most of the roles probably went to locals from Nueva Vizcaya and they certainly more than carried their own weight against someone like Nora Aunor.

Nora Aunor, considered one of the best Filipino actors of all-time, has given excellent performances time and time again. And her performance in this film is no different. That she is understated throughout the film, even if the screenplay does not call on her to give scenery chewing/overdramatic deliveries, is a testament to her versatility.

That the film does not need to be over-the-top or loud itself; that it is just as, if not more intriguing than mainstream films about adultery, young love, adultery or nonsensical product placement comedies is an accomplishment in and of itself.

Ang Kwento ni Mabuti is a beautifully stunning and emotional journey through a few weeks in one woman’s, one family’s simple life. Even when an unexpected curveball is thrown at them, they and especially Mabuti, never forget what’s most important to them. That such a simple and quiet story can provoke so much thought as the credits roll and can provide a wholly fulfilling experience is something to be applauded and enjoyed.

TYPE OF REVIEW : GOOD OL’ REVIEW
No spoilers.

It’s always great to visit with old friends. And that’s just how I felt after finally watching Kamen Rider Wizard in Magic Land.

While I’ve been thoroughly enjoying the mindfrak that is Kamen Rider Gaim, it almost makes me appreciate the simplicity of Wizard. I enjoyed the season and getting to visit with them again with the movie reminded me why.

Kamen Rider Wizard‘s biggest strength was the friendship and bond Haruto, Koyomi, Rinko, Shunpei, Wajima and Kosuke had. The final episodes, the 2 specials and now this movie would mean absolutely nothing without having established that bond over 45 episodes.

in Magic Land tells the story of Haruto and Koyomi going all Dorothy when they get caught up in a rainbow tornado and dropped in an alternate world that runs on magic. Everyone, including their friends (who do not recognize them) Rinko, Shunpei, Wajima and even Donut Owner and Worker, all have Wizardrivers.

But not everything is as it seems of course and Haruto and Koyomi must both save this world while finding a way to get home.

The movie is fun before it gets serious and emotional. Just like the series itself, I guess. The final act brings everything together very nicely and again, reminded me of just why I enjoyed Haruto-tachi in the first place.

Gaim has been all about the dark angst and juicy betrayals. Wizard (and Fourze before it) was about a tight group of friends who had to go through crap together while saving the world. Such contrasting themes make me appreciate both.

Up next for me will be the Fourze-Wizard vs. movie. So that’ll be two groups of friends I’ll be visiting with again. And I’m all for catching up with old friends.

TYPE OF REVIEW : GOOD OL’ REVIEW
SPOILERS EVERYWHERE!!!

After finally watching Kamen Rider Wizard in Magic Land last week, I was looking forward to finally watching the Wizard-Fourze team-up movie.

Now this was my very first Kamen Rider Movie War. And damn, did I get lost.

I read about the film being divided into different parts, but I guess I didn’t really understand what that meant. Especially with me being used to the Sentai vs. movies or simple Power Rangers team-ups.

It was definitely a different feeling watching this film from watching the separate Fourze or Wizard movies, or even the Super Hero Taisens.

Maybe it was the interesting format, but big chunks of the story itself felt very hollow to me which in turn lessened my enjoyment of it.

First of all, once I got used to how the movie worked, I was able to slowly appreciate the overall premise of it. The time traveling aspect was used pretty well, both to connect both series and to provide a basis for the main conflict.

But I think my biggest problem with the movie was that the biggest parts of it included a character I didn’t care about at all. That is, Nadeshiko was a character I never even met before, let alone one I didn’t grow to love over 50 episodes and a movie.

She meant absolutely nothing to me. And I guess that’s on me since I didn’t see the OOO-Fourze movie. But still, her having such a big part in the movie really lessened my emotional connection to what was happening on screen.

Like, “Who is this interloper and why am I supposed to be as happy as Gentaro seems to be?”

At least with Poitrine and Yu Kamimura, it was someone Haruto was meeting for the first time. And it all comes together at the end when she’s revealed to be Donut Shop Owner and it makes sense.

I had no such feeling for Nadeshiko or her apparent love story with Gentaro. Never mind that I’m a Yuki-Gen-chan shipper. But I felt everything Nadeshiko did in the film could’ve just as well been given to Yuki.

And that made the lack of Yuki in the movie even more upsetting. This new girl basically took Yuki’s entire possible story. And in turn, the Kamen Rider Club was never actually fully reunited. All through Fourze, I was wishing Yuki would get to be a Rider, even for a little bit. And now this ball of galactic light energy is not only a Rider, but a more important character in the grand scheme of things? No thank you.

This movie has probably already sullied my opinion of her going into the OOO-Fourze movie. But it’s okay, she’s inconsequential to my enjoyment of Kamen Rider Fourze as a whole anyway.

It’s interesting because while it definitely helps to be familiar with all the characters and seasons these team-ups and crossovers include, it’s not always necessary. I enjoyed Super Hero Taisen Z more than Super Hero Taisen because the main characters (Yoko, Gai, Haruto) were from seasons I actually watched and enjoyed or loved. While I was familiar with Kamen Rider Decade, I hadn’t really watched the season yet or knew of the relationship between Tsukasa and Kaito. But I still enjoyed the first Super Hero Taisen.

In Movie War Ultimatum, I absolutely did not enjoy Nadeshiko, but I was thoroughly amused and interested in both Poitrine and Sanagiman/Inazuman. Even though I know nothing about either classic property.

The revelation that the four kids in Wizard would grow up to be the Monster Alliance in Fourze was good, but if I wasn’t so wrapped up in things I didn’t understand or cared about, that moment of realization and thinking about how Gentaro’s old picture came to be that way, it would’ve totally been a MaGMCM, but it unfortunately wasn’t.

There was definitely still lots to enjoy though, for me.

It was great to see the REAL Kamen Rider Club together and checking in with them five years into the future, each of them happy and successful in their respective careers.

Gentaro meeting Gen-chan played out exactly how you’d expect that strange meeting to play out. Ryusei and Tomoko’s reunion was absolutely sugary sweet.

That final CGI battle was pretty much a huge insane clusterfrak of both awesomeness and randomness. I didn’t know who directed the film before watching, but it wasn’t hard to guess it was the Koichi Sakamoto himself.

This film may have been the most Koichi I’ve seen Koichi Sakamoto ever be in a toku production.

The other action was really good though. The standouts were definitely Rinko getting to be the kick-ass cop she only showed glimpses of in the series. There was the Kamen Rider Club reuniting and being their badass selves like they showed in the Foourze movie. (Though, minus Yuki. Hmph.) And the kickboxing Haruka-sensei getting to show off her skills was awesome too. Ryusei and Inga Blink’s opening fight scene was an exciting way to start the Fourze portion of the movie.

Now, I’m writing this after only one viewing, but I think it probably needs several for me, or maybe I should go watch OOO-Fourze first. I really was thrown for a loop with the way the move is set-up. But at least now, I’ve found out that’s the format for all the Movie Wars.

So while this movie pushed things I absolutely don’t care about or skimped on the things that I do care about, overall it was fun. For crossovers and team-ups and reunion movies, if the story doesn’t necessarily cut it, at the very least you can enjoy seeing some of your favorites one more (or last) time. I guess that’s my overall feeling for Movie War Ultimatum.

TYPE OF REVIEW : GOOD OL’ REVIEW
LOTS OF FINALE SPOILERS!

KBS’ recently concluded Angel’s Revenge (천상 여자) is a fully satisfying drama series. As long as you commit to all 103 episodes.

That may seem daunting and this was a daily drama. But committing yourself to the entire series about a nun-in-training leaving the convent to seek revenge for the murder of her pregnant sister will help ensure that this won’t be a wasted experience. In fact, Angel’s Revenge ends as a completely worthwhile and dramatic cat and mouse game with some sweet romance and fun (and short!) detours.

I was never one to binge-watch anything unless I needed to catch up on a show I was already following. Now I was definitely interested in watching Angel’s Revenge, partly because of having been a fan of Yoon So Yi, but also because the story idea of a nun seeking revenge for the death of her sister was intriguing. The title card of Yoon So Yi’s Seonyu half as a nun and half a hot, red-lipsticked woman also helped.

But wanting to catch up and push through the series, I ended up starting to watch a batch of 4-6 episodes during each sitting. Huge thanks to KBS World for uploading subtitled episodes on their YouTube, making it easier and maybe more enjoyable to watch a daily drama.

(Oh those torturous days of following Smile, Donghae or My Bittersweet Life and My One and Only daily.)

If I had watched Angel’s Revenge live and an episode-a-day, I think I probably would’ve given up on the show about halfway through. The series had a great start and solid first third, but the middle part is when things almost screeched to a halt before picking back up 2/3 of the way through and then going full throttle during its last 10-15 episodes.

Still, even through that rough middle patch, the writers were able to craft a cat and mouse game that didn’t give all the brains to one person. We saw all the parties involved, whether it was Seonyu or Taejeong or Jihui or any of their accomplices and supporters, show that they indeed had brains and were able to recover from each respective bumps in the road they may have encountered together or separately.

Seonyu thinks she’s got Taejeong got, he one ups her. He thinks he’s finished Seonyu for good, she pulls out another card from her sleeve. She finds another piece of evidence that should bury Taejeong, he manages to weasel his way out of the hole. It was a legitimate back and forth between them. And usually, that would seem laborious and repetitive. But that Angel’s Reenge always found new ways to one-up each other, smash each other’s expectations and our own as viewers, is a huge accomplishment for the series.

Revenge is Korean drama’s answer to the Philippines’ obsession with adultery. If Filipinos love their soaps with cheating husbands and wives, revenge dramas will never go out of style or be tired in Korea.

Like many other revenge dramas in the past, Angel’s Revenge shows that even the most noble of missions can bring heartbreak and heartache to the one seeking justice, just as much as they intend to bring to the criminal or just plain asshole they aim to bring down.

Angel’s Revenge did a fairly good job illustrating that point. We saw Taejeong go to jail and (surprisingly) his mother Dalnyeo never recovering from the brain damage she suffered at the hands of her son, both ending up having to pay for their letting Jinyu die and their continued efforts to cover it up and maintain clear consciences.

They may have halfheartedly tried to offer Taejeong redemption in the end, but it was actually refreshing to see that he and his mother ended up reaping those evil seeds that they sowed.

We saw Grandma’s secrets and lies blow up in her face and not get neatly cleaned up in the end. We saw Jiseok’s real mother be so consumed with hate and revenge that she couldn’t see the snake or her son right in front of her face. We saw Taemi never get with her sexy “bum” after ignoring her brother and mother’s crimes the entire series. And on the other side of the spectrum, we see Wuhyeon and Bongchang enjoying a brand new pizza restaurant and a happily ever after with Bangtong.

For Seonyu, it was the struggle to be happy and to love while feeling guilty and angry about her sister’s death. Like Grandma told her, the guilt she would feel is enough punishment. But she was willing to sacrifice her true love for Jiseok to bring her sister’s killer to justice.

Some fans may have been looking for a passionate kiss between Seonyu and Jiseok in that final scene. While some Korean dramas or the actors themselves shy away from even simple kissing scenes, Seonyu and Jiseok here have had their own fair share of intense kisses. So it’s not like the show or the actors were averse to the idea.

But from a story perspective, it made sense. They had parted ways and while they both finally proclaimed their love for each other, they still needed some time to fully dive in. Both even agreed, with not so many words, to start anew the next time their paths cross. So when we see them in that final scene, meeting for the first time in a year, but still obviously in love with each other, it’s an understood ending that perfectly fits.

Trust was a big part of the series and especially for Seonyu and Jiseok’s story. Just like deep down they trusted each other even through the most difficult of times, the fans that have followed them for 103 episodes should trust that they do indeed get their happy ending.

I’m still fuming at the horrible ending to SBS’ Warrior Baek Dong Soo. Sure, it isn’t actually a fusion saeguk about an epic gay couple, but they completely rewrote history to pair the title character with the poor damsel in distress instead of the kick-ass best friend who actually shared 100x more chemistry with our hero and was Baek Dong Soo’s actual real-life wife.

Yoon So Yi was absolutely robbed as Jin Joo. She was most certainly the female lead on Warrior Baek Dong Soo. Knowing she was the lead of Angel’s Revenge definitely piqued my interest in the series. And she managed to pretty much carry the series on her own shoulders.

Yes, Park Jung Chul deserves much kudos to for playing Taejeong as sleazy and evil as he could possibly be and more.

But Yoon So Yi was excellent the entire series, taking care of a whole range of emotions from crying for her sister to vengeful fuming to sweet romantic to sly smirking. And yes, like on Warrior Baek Dong Soo, she was able to literally kick some ass.

The rest of the cast did fine work too. Moon Bo Ryung managed to keep Jihui from being a total idiot and really helped turn the character around as soon as she was clued in to what was happening around her. Jiseok was pretty much strung around and pulled along for most of the series by every other character, but Kwon Yool delivered in that last third when finally given meaty material to work with.

Kwon Yool and Yoon So Yi shared a great, innocent chemistry. Like high school sweethearts whose words can go unspoken. For them to be able to keep that chemistry going whether it was the sweet, romantic scenes or the bittersweet melodrama, is a great testament to their talents.

Overall, Angel’s Revenge is a typical daily drama. When it is good, it is real good. And when it’s bad, well… Thankfully though, there was more good than bad and even if it was my binge-watching that makes me feel this way, it was a completely satisfying 103 episodes.

You can watch the entire series on KBS World’s Official YouTube Channel!

TYPE OF REVIEW : GOOD OL’ REVIEW
No Spoilers

If revenge is the most popular go-to theme in Korean drama, then the youth experience is a close 2nd. While there have been plenty of youth/high school dramas, many cute and idol-driven stories, KBS Drama Specials have been able to present darker and maybe more realistic depictions.

And the KBS Drama Special Youth (청춘) blends both themes into one dark, gritty hour.

Youth focuses on Seokju, a high school student who resents his brother, Seokhyeon, for having seemingly abandoned a promising boxing future only for him to end up working as a fishmonger, them losing their mother and living in a run-down home in a warehouse district ready to be demolished to make way for a shiny new development.

When the past comes back to haunt Seokhyeon in the form of former friend Jeongbum, it sets off a small chain of events that also involves Seokju’s non-friendship with the regularly bullied Chanho.

Youth takes unexpected story turns, never backing down from the pain brought on by the actions of every single main character. Depicting the universal struggle of teens and everyday school life while also touching on the suffering one endures when resigned to revenge makes Youth an engaging and ultimately affecting story.

Watch the full episode here:

TYPE OF REVIEW : GOOD OL’ REVIEW
No Spoilers

Another recent teen-centric KBS Drama Special was Middle School Student A about a transfer student, Hae Joon (Kwak Dong Yun) who provokes the top student in the class after he bumps her from her #1 ranking.

The theme and unfortunate reality of young Koreans being pressured about excelling in school has been depicted in various types of stories from drama to comedy to horror. Teens feeling trapped by their parents’ expectations and the nasty competition between the students themselves, high school life in Korea appears to be pretty dramatic. And the themes are certainly not restricted to South Korea.

It is a worthy theme to explore and Middle School Student A even touches on the growing problem of suicide in Korea.

But while the drama takes a dark turn in the last third, it starts off like a typical and cliche-ridden teen romance.

Kwak Dong Yun essentially plays the same character he effortlessly played in another KBS Drama Special, Adolescence Medley; the role of the young, charming, maybe naive lovesick teen.

Here, the object of his affection is Eun Seo (Lee Yul Eum), the top ranked in the class who decides to make Hae Joon’s life a living hell for daring to snag the #1 spot. Part of that plan, for example, includes trying to seduce him into touching her boobs. Unfortunately, Eun Seo soon gets in way over her head and suddenly she goes from bitchy bully to poor victim.

There’s a bit of tonal whiplash throughout the hour that the drama never quite gets the hang of. There’s a perfectly intriguing premise in the story, but it isn’t laid out very well and it in turn dilutes both the romantic angle and the darker, more serious side.

And that is definitely sad since it appears to have the talent and a good foundation, but not everything came together well enough.

Still, attempting such a dark story on Korean broadcast television, even if late at night, is a ballsy thing to do. It’s definitely a topic that much of the Korean public and the government seems to be very squeamish about. But it is one that is important to discuss and if it takes a television drama to provoke discussion, then kudos.

But hopefully next time, it takes more than just an admirable effort that falls short.

You can watch the entire episode here:

TYPE OF REVIEW : GOOD OL’ REVIEW
Some Spoilers

“Are you a magician?” “No. I’m a Wizard!”

I’ve always said, it’s great to visit with old friends. And Kamen Rider × Kamen Rider Gaim & Wizard: The Fateful Sengoku Movie Battle was another great catch-up, but even more, an excellent conclusion to my Kamen Rider Wizard experience.

At least, I assume that it is. Because it certainly wrapped up Haruto-tachi’s story pretty well.

Kamen Rider × Kamen Rider Wizard & Fourze: Movie War Ultimatum, my first Kamen Rider Movie War experience, was definitely a mixed bag. But this time, I felt a lot more emotionally connected and a lot more excited while and after watching the movie.

The Wizard half, especially, was very well done. The best thing they did was draw upon all the feelings and emotional connections that were forged during Wizard, the season. The climax and culmination of Wizard was Koyomi’s death. Being the final episode, we saw everyone coming to terms with it and Haruto setting off to find a place where the Koyomi ring could rest in peace. But of course, we didn’t really see them go through the emotions.

And I think the movie did a fine job touching on that. They know Koyomi is in a better place, but if they had a choice, they would sure as hell love to have her back with them again. But most of all, Haruto’s struggle of being unable to let go. The season had really built up that bond between Haruto and Koyomi, even in the two-part post-season special. They had a connection that was incredibly deep. Friendship, love; you don’t really need to even categorize it or put it into words.

That Haruto traveled the world, merely to prolong the inevitable separation with Koyomi, was a very emotional realization to come to that played out so well in this movie. Him discovering that the best place for Koyomi would be in his Underworld, this version comprised of all the best and happy memories at Omokagedo, was absolutely beautiful.

I know Haruto pops up in Kamen Rider Taisen, but I doubt Wizard‘s story will be a big focus, if at all. So for a final conclusion to Kamen Rider Wizard, I’d say this was perfect.

For the Gaim half of the movie, it was interesting to basically go back in time. In continuity with the series, the movie is set between Episodes 9 and 10. That was back when it was all about the youths of Zawame City dancing the night away.

Boy, how far we’ve come, yeah?

The warring states and the pseudo-Sengoku period with the past Riders actually ended up not being a huge part of the story really. It actually felt Super Hero Taisen-level fanwanky instead of being integral to the story.

Yes, there was that whole Tree of Life and praying for water and all that was still exciting to watch. But you still could have had the same story, I think, with just Wizard and Gaim fighting together, even in the typical three-part Movie War format.

So in that sense, it definitely felt more like two completely separate movies. The Gaim half was exciting and the battles and explosions were pretty to look at, but it wasn’t the most fulfilling story, especially when paired with the Wizard half.

I guess that’s the same with the Fourze-Wizard since the Wizard half of last year’s movie was just a fun little adventure for them while the Fourze half of the movie attempted to apparently cement Gentarou’s love for some alien ball of light. Which again, I absolutely cared nothing about.

That’s definitely different though from here where the movie is an extension, rather, conclusion to the actual season’s story. Unlike the Fourze portion of last year’s movies that merely jumped off of the OOO-Fourze Movie War and were completely separate from the actual series.

But enough of the movie I felt a strange, hollow connection to. Back to this movie which I absolutely felt a connection to and enjoyed greatly. Overall, it was fun and exciting. The Wizard half was excellent and the Gaim half was exciting as well as interesting considering where the series itself went to after the movie.

TYPE OF REVIEW : GOOD OL’ REVIEW
Some Spoilers.

Filipino audiences have a strange and maybe unhealthy fascination with infidelity. The prevalence of soap operas and feature films featuring husbands and wives traipsing about with other men and women… and men and their continued commercial success in the Philippines is material for a long Media Studies dissertation.

Teleserye after teleserye after movie after teleserye, the same story over and over (with sometimes, even the same actors); like many Filipino stories, the cheating spouse has become overused and played out.

But also like other familiar Filipino soap opera tropes, a series or film can come along to try something different and take a fresh approach.

GMA’s Ang Dalawang Mrs. Real surprisingly did that.

When first announced, the excitement over the return of Maricel Soriano to episodic television was tempered by the idea that the series she’d be starring in would revolve around her being the victim of a philandering husband.

In the months before, ABS-CBN’s The Legal Wife and TV5’s For Love of Money already covered what seemed to be the same exact material. But as Ang Dalawang Mrs. Real trudged forward, things unexpectedly took a different turn.

Ang Dalawang Mrs. Real was surprisingly quiet and reserved. It was classy and mature. That is, as opposed to being trashy and low brow. The series didn’t exist to titillate. It didn’t glamorize the idea of getting into a hot man or woman’s pants. It wasn’t hypersexualized or even sexy at all. You could say it was quite the opposite.

And that’s a good thing.

Many recent Filipino dramas and films tend to somehow glorify the other woman or man. One teleserye proclaimed the protagonists were having A Beautiful Affair in the midst of cults (or something or other). Amazing Race Philippines host ( ;) ) Derek Ramsay has been, maybe unfairly, typecast as the hot, sexy husband women can’t resist and who himself can’t resist temptation.

But Ang Dalawang Mrs. Real wasn’t sexy in the slightest. And that’s not a bad thing.

Instead of relying on one-liners or batuhan ng linya or rolling on the floor catfights or sexified patalbugan between the wife and the kabit, Ang Dalawang Mrs. Real aimed to be a grounded, realistic portrayal of a marriage and a family in turmoil. And taking it a step further, what happens when a man goes so far as to commit bigamy and betray and lie to pretty much everyone around him.

That’s not to say the series didn’t have biting, social media-ready lines of dialogue like Maricel as Millet Real’s “Why don’t you research before spreading your legs?” Or have trending viral clips like the unprecedented slapping during #BagyongMillet.

And the unexpected back and forth between Robert Arevalo and Tommy Abuel.

But even those big, over the top confrontation scenes (which were pretty few) were still very much grounded in reality and believability. You sure as hell know that a scorned wife would act just like Millet did in that scene. And those same viral sensations were not the biggest reasons the series was good as it was.

The series effectively used longer, dialogue-heavy scenes to convey the characters’ emotions and where we were in the story at the time. It wasn’t a heavy drama, in the traditional sense. It was a tempered drama that developed naturally and had a clear beginning, middle and end.

It helped that the entire cast was full of talented veterans and promising young talents. Ang Dalawang Mrs. Real may be one of the first dramas in a long time to effectively use their entire cast to the fullest.

Coney Reyes, Robert Arevalo, Tommy Abuel, Celeste Legaspi, Jaime Fabregas and Susan Africa were never left behind, both in story and performance. That the parents in the central conflict got as much meaty material is a big accomplishment. And one that contributed greatly to the overall story.

Alessandra de Rossi has always been an actress that deserved better material than was given to her. But here, she played an unlikely supporting sidekick to Maricel’s Millet that was uniquely refreshing. Rodjun Cruz, Diva Montelaba, Dominic Roco and Marc Abaya rounded out the supporting cast as the siblings and friend witness to the turmoil. Marc Justine Alvarez as Tonton played a much bigger role in the final few weeks and maybe showed why he would’ve been able to handle more material as well.

But the lead actors did a fine job to ultimately give the show the heft it needed to rise above the pack of illicit trysts, hands up skirts and in pants and hair pulling.

After last year’s disappointing Genesis, this series was just what Dingdong Dantes needed to remind everyone of his strong acting. He carried the role in a way that made you almost sympathize with him, but most of the time made you shake your fist at the obvious idiocy of his actions.

Lovi Poe has been one of the most promising young actresses and has proven so in many a drama series in the last few years. But here, she was able to stand beside a veteran like Maricel Soriano and hold her own. Lovi Poe has been able to cover a wide range of roles from the sosyalera to small-town provincial teacher. So her strong performance here as a hardworking and caring, but maybe naive young woman should come as no surprise.

But Ang Dalawang Mrs. Real was definitely a showcase for Maricel Soriano to show that she’s still got it. Her strong, award-caliber and more than believable performance was infused with her signature mataray delivery that only she could do. It was an interesting journey for Millet. Going from scorned wife to lioness on the hunt to hurt and confused and finally a woman who was ready to give unconditional love, Maricel Soriano needed to deliver a wide array of contrasting emotions and she hit every mark by giving a strong and sometimes restrained performance.

Yes, it was a happy ending for all, but Anthony Real paid the price. While not all victims of infidelity and betrayal would be as accepting or give such unconditional love, we saw how these characters realistically responded to scandalous chaos and the pain and suffering one stupid decision can bring for a whole group of people.

They were able to put the “real” in Ang Dalawang Mrs. Real. One line may best sum up the series: “May pinagaralan ako.” Indeed, the series will be remembered as a freshly mature and classy take on what has become an overused premise in Philippine drama. Helped by strong performances and production, that they were able to make such a premise realistic and engaging without resorting to cheap sound bites or viral-ready clips makes the series one of the year’s best.

TYPE OF REVIEW : GOOD OL’ REVIEW
Ending spoiler, but not much of one since it’s definitely predictable and as expected.

I first decided to check out GMA’s Hiram na Alaala because I liked the main cast and was very happy to see Kris Bernal getting a major lead role in what appeared to be a straight drama. The concept of the series, “shared memories,” was also intriguing. But the Baguio setting, charming chemistry between Kris Bernal and Rocco Nacino and the abundance of Ilocano dialogue was what kept me interested.

The story progressed well enough and it quickly and effectively established Kris Bernal and Rocco Nacino’s Andeng and Otep as a couple you could easily root for. Naturally, if you’re watching this or any Filipino drama, you know what’s up. Rocco Nacino is 2nd lead to Dennis Trillo, so of course Andeng and Otep are not meant to be.

That would be fine and all, but the show itself as it developed over the first month or so (including a very slow few weeks) made it appear that an Andeng-Ivan (Dennis Trillo) endgame was just not possible. Andeng had absolutely no feelings for Ivan and even when Otep was presumed dead, she clung to Ivan believing he really was some reincarnation of her beloved Ilocano-speaking Otep. (Don’t ask.)

Intriguing soapyness, no doubt. And that all came to a thrilling climax when Otep popped up alive at Ivan and Andeng’s wedding.

At that point, I thought; Now the big drama and conflict begins. I was interested in seeing where the story would go from there.

I still knew the endgame would be Dennis Trillo and Kris Bernal’s characters ending up together (it’s in the darn title card, for goodness sakes). But at that point, I saw absolutely no way that was possible without turning everyone on the show into idiotic psychopaths and throwing the goodwill the show had at the start right down the drain.

And that’s pretty much what happened.

I definitely did not expect the show would make a complete 180 and basically crawl through contrived mental insanity, random obsessive pregnant women and graphic torture porn/spousal abuse that had absolutely zero relevance to the main story.

Speaking of relevance, the main premise of “hiram na alaala” or borrowed memories ended up inconsequential, despite Andeng’s contrived narration in the final scene of the series.

Otep being diagnosed with PTSD and seeing how he and his family and girlfriend deal with it would’ve made for a very enlightening story. This isn’t something that is often, or even ever touched upon on Philippine television. Definitely not in a serious manner, at least.

What became increasingly evident was that the show pretty much used PTSD as a reason to basically throw someone you supposedly love to the side and lose your virginity to the other guy who has issues of his own, not related to any post traumatic stress.

So, the typical “turn the 2nd lead into a kidnapping/baril-toting psycho” trope was very much present here even though they appeared to be avoiding most Filipino soap opera tropes at the beginning. And so the series wrapped up this week, of course with an Ivan/Andeng ending. But without any foundation or justification to make it at all believable.

What’s even worse is that the series wasted such a solid cast in Kris Bernal, Rocco Nacino, Dennis Trillo and especially Lauren Young. All deserved better. Even Sheena Halili who was more of a lead actress than Lauren Young was given the opportunity for.

Lauren Young must have done something to piss off the writers of the series because instead of being one of the lead actors of the series (as advertised and title carded), she merely popped up from time to time as if she was some kind of guest star playing a (literal) crazy woman. Definitely one of the many inexplicable story decisions on a show that collapsed halfway through.

“Ay apo!” indeed.

Once a very promising and fresh series became a gratuitously violent and nonsensical example of what’s wrong with contemporary Filipino drama.

TYPE OF REVIEW : FIRST IMPRESSION and GOOD OL’ REVIEW
No spoilers. Good Ol’ Review of miniseries and First Impression Review should Ascension get ordered to series.

It’s been almost six years since Battlestar Galactica ended its run on Sci Fi. And in those six years, the Sci Fi channel itself has gone through big changes, as has the rest of television, especially genre television.

There would be times in the last six years when I felt a longing for another Battlestar Galactica to pop up somewhere on TV. Another epic, high concept series to sink my teeth (and my mind) into. Maybe even another space opera. While there have been some possibilities (including the aborted Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome prequel), none have really caught my attention.

Which is why I was very excited to read about Syfy developing the limited series Ascension. Even more so when Syfy said directly that Ascension was their attempt at getting back into the “space opera” business in the hopes of finding another Battlestar Galactica.

News on the limited series tapered off and in November, I wondered what happened to it only to find out its original six week run turned into a three night “event.” That certainly didn’t sound very promising. But I was still intrigued.

Finally getting around to watching the series two weeks after its premiere, I can say Ascension has incredible potential, but it is definitely not Battlestar Galactica.

But that really shouldn’t be a comparison to be made. Battlestar Galactica, though certainly flawed, is in a league of its own when it comes to critically acclaimed, genre-bending and crossing drama. Ascension certainly has similar high aspirations, but it does fall a little short. That’s not to say, however, that it couldn’t work as a series if Syfy decides to order more.

The ratings weren’t amazing enough to have Syfy chomping at the bit to order Ascension to series. But there was definitely plenty to like and enjoy.

Ascension centers on the generation ship Ascension launched in 1963 flying through space on a 100 year journey to distant planet in an effort to save humanity should the Cold War end up destroying Earth.

It is now 51 years into the journey and all of the original passengers have long gone with their children and grandchildren, all born on this very ship, now manning Ascension. In command is Captain William Denninger (Brian Van Holt) and wife Viondra (Tricia Helfer). But there are threats to the Captain’s control of the ship. Plus, being born on such a ship and essentially having been forced on this journey has begun taking a toll on some.

Intertwined with the goings on from the ship are scenes of the team back on Earth observing and monitoring Ascension’s progress. This is led by Harris Enzmann (Gil Bellows) whose father was the founder of the Ascension mission and is determined to continue his work.

The scenes on Ascension are definitely the more engaging ones as the stories and characters almost play out like a Big Brother episode (in a good way). Holed up in a large space ship with the same 600 people for years can drive anyone crazy. But it also feeds the hunger for power play and freedom.

Plus, there’s plenty of sex.

The best part of the series is definitely its scope and scale. Ascension (and Ascension, the ship itself) looks absolutely stunning with its interesting mix of 1960s costumes and decor in space side by side with modern, yet not-so-modern technology.

There are also a few legitimately great twists, including the very last cliffhanger that would certainly propel the series, should it come to exist. But most of the twists and turns do end up a little predictable, if not flat. While presented as a three night miniseries, you can definitely tell where and how Ascension was supposed to air with weekly one-hour episodes. And that maybe explains a lot of the flatness and sometimes underwhelming “reveals.” Even more for me who watched the entire 4-hours (in commercial-free runtime) in one sitting.

The characters are also a little paint-by-the-numbers with half of them purely plot-driven puzzle pieces reciting expository dialogue. That can be forgiven considering what the series is trying to set up. And maybe it’s a necessary nuisance. But the good thing is, if Ascension were to go to series, they wouldn’t need all that exposition and instead focus on the real meat of the story and characters.

Ascension has a big ensemble cast, but (and maybe it’s me being a BSG fanboy) I believe Tricia Helfer carried much of the weight of the series herself. She was given possibly the best character and material of anyone. And maybe deservedly so. Viondra Denninger had the most character development over the six episodes and that allowed Tricia Helfer to portray a whole range of emotions. That all culminated in two excellent scenes in the final hour, probably two of the best of the entire series. I literally cheered at both of those scenes. (And if you’ve seen the series, you might know which scenes I’m talking about, but I won’t spoil them here.)

Ascension impresses with its overall scale and ambition, but misses the mark on the story (but not visual) details. As a limited series or miniseries, it was just okay, at times great fun. It certainly exceeded the bare minimum and it was a little more engaging than Syfy’s recent big attempts. Moving forward, if Syfy does decide to order it to series, Ascension has a lot of potential to be something really great. And I would definitely be on board for the ride.

TYPE OF REVIEW : GOOD OL’ REVIEW
Minor spoilers

Philippine cinema suffers from a lot of the same ailments that plague Philippine television. That is, the same old formulaic stories that have been done over and over for years continue to get churned out with no signs of anything changing anytime soon.

Which is why it’s hard not to marvel at a series or film that manages to offer something even the slightest bit different or fresh from the norm.

English Only, Please is one of those refreshing outliers.

The Derek Ramsay-Jennylyn Mercado starrer debuted at the 2014 Metro Manila Film Festival to great reviews before winning several unexpected awards including Best Actor and Best Actress. Positive word of mouth helped the film become one of the top grossers, which is a major feat considering it lacked the Star Cinema brand name or big network push the usual top grossers enjoy.

And the awards it received for its lead stars as well as 2nd Best Picture signal an apparent change of the way things are done at the Film Festival. In years past, the major awards were usually showered upon the highest grossing films, regardless of actual quality. Along with awards for directing, writing and editing, for a film like English Only, Please to have garnered so much positive attention and success for it to actually get American theatre runs, also usually reserved for Star Cinema movies, is a big accomplishment.

Actually seeing the film, it is no wonder why it has been able to draw such praise. English Only, Please is a thoroughly enjoyable romantic comedy that takes the usual formula and injects fresh charm and sharp wit. It is a movie that doesn’t break any new ground, but presents a legitimately engaging story without feeling tired or derivative.

The biggest reason for its overall creative success may be Jennylyn Mercado’s performance as Tere, the feisty tutor hired by Derek Ramsay’s Julian to translate an angry letter to he hopes to deliver to his ex-girlfriend in Filipino.

Powered by a fast-paced and smart screenplay, Jennylyn manages to carry much of the movie herself with much help by the great chemistry she shares with Derek. Tere is a departure from Jennylyn’s most recent television characters including her title role in last year’s disappointing Rhodora X and currently a widow on Second Chances. Here, Jennylyn gets to be fun, bright and bubbly. She is irresistibly charming in a way she might not have been able to show recently or even ever.

Similarly, Derek Ramsay is able to stretch his wings as well. When he’s not hosting The Amazing Race Philippines and instead of his usual (both film and television) typecasting as the prized shirtless sex object being fought over by two women, here Derek gets to play a more likeable and relatively deeper character. Julian is heartbroken over his ex-girlfriend and some past issues. But seeing him (and Tere) able to move on from the past is done in a way that feels organic. That’s as opposed to the usual loveteam meet-cutes and pa-tweetums set-ups that plague most mainstream Filipino romantic comedies.

The film opens with New York-based Julian hiring Tere over Skype before flying to the Philippines to get personal one-on-one sessions to learn how to deliver his scathing letter as a speech to his ex-girlfriend who is now living in the country. While Julian is slow to reveal the details of that relationship, we learn plenty about Tere’s own life.

First we see Tere as a smart English and Filipino tutor to Koreans and a Filipina hoping to impress her internet boyfriend. Then we see her as the “tanga” or foolish-for-love Tere who allows herself to be used for sex and money by her no-good boyfriend Rico (played as perfectly douchey by Kean Cipriano). That’s not as dark as it sounds, but it does help establish Tere as someone who seems desperately in need of romantic love. That helps make the eventual connection she forges with Julian all the more meaningful.

The two grow closer with every tutoring session and they finally are able to open up to each other. Their relationship develops quite naturally and with many funny lines and moments thrown in, it is a brisk journey right from the start.

The final act does focus on one big often used plot point to try and create tension and drama (the only time in the entire movie). But it does provide for a very effective final sequence of scenes that, with the greater chunk of the film, make for a fully satisfying ending. And best of all, the film doesn’t treat its audience like they are small-minded zombies.

No doubt what may have caught the audience’s attention most in the trailers and teasers were Derek’s highly accented, slang Tagalog or Jennylyn’s biting Tagalog translation of the original letter. But the movie contains many more moments just as funny and witty, including several running threads that all surprisingly come together in the end. And it is all delivered with great conviction by its cast.

While this is the only Metro Manila Film Festival entry I’ve seen, I can definitely see why Derek and (especially) Jennylyn could’ve even been considered, let alone win the Best Actor trophies for the festival. Their performances were engaging, charming and very natural. Both were able to handle both the bigger, funny moments as well as the quieter, more subdued scenes. And those qualities alone are able to propel them over performances from loud, slapstick comedies or rehashed horror films.

The film has a relatively small cast, allowing for both Derek and Jennylyn to take center stage. And both certainly rise to the occasion. The rest of the cast, especially Kean Cipriano, young Isabel Frial (as Tere’s wiser then her years goddaughter) and the talented Cai Cortez (as Tere’s best friend and also “tanga” for love Mallows), round out what is a small, but fun ensemble.

It’s easy and sad to side-eye the current low-brow offerings in Philippine entertainment. So when an appealing, fun, smart and enjoyable movie like English Only, Please presents a charming and refreshing option, it deserves to be recognized.

TYPE OF REVIEW : GOOD OL’ REVIEW
Moderately big spoilers. I suggest watching the movie first. =)

Ressha Sentai ToQger Returns: Super ToQ 7gou of Dreams is another beautiful chapter in the story of those awesome rainbow children.

We first meet the five ToQgers in 2025 where they are now adults and far removed from their Imagination-filled childhood. That is, until the Shadow Line unexpectedly shows up out of nowhere. A seemingly familiar enemy, Archduke Hei, appears, but the ToQgers are no longer able to henshin. They decide to run to safety, only to fall into a time vortex taking them all the way back to 2017.

It is the day before their elementary school graduation. The ToQgers have a feeling something important happens on this day and it isn’t until they watch their younger selves try to fight Archduke Hei that they realize what has happened. And the sight of seeing their younger selves disappear over the train tracks (really, entering the Resshas which they are no longer able to see) reminds them that they have indeed grown up.

As the story continues from there, we see the familiar themes that made the series so creatively successful. The film speaks to the young and the young at heart.

And in a sense, the film also speaks to the toku fandom, particularly of Super Sentai. When the big ToQgers regain their Imagination, they do it after reflecting on what it means to be adults. That it is never too late to remember a forgotten Imagination as long as one always remembers their childhood.

Remembering one’s past and looking back at your roots is probably one of the absolute best themes any child (and adult) could learn from a television show.

The idea of being scared to grow up, depicted through Tank Top Shadow’s wanting to protect Akira from becoming a human (thus, being able to grow old and die) is so delicately handled here in a perfect way. There is no need to be afraid to grow up and you should be able to make as many memories as you can.

Archduke Hei almost ends up as a mere plot device to the real goal of the film. That appears especially true as the end credits of the film begin just as the ToQgers enter their final battle against Hei. That battle isn’t the climax of the film. The climax is the ToQgers’ realization of that they have now remembered what they have lost or seemingly slip away. And that even as adults, their Imagination can be as strong as ever.

The poignant nostalgia in the overall story and in each of the little moments between the ToQgers highlight that ultimate lesson.

And those are themes that are in addition to the familiar and excellent focus on friendship and family that were at the heart of the series and for the ToQgers themselves.

This film is written by Aikawa Sho who has worked on such seasons as Boukenger, Gekiranger and Go-Onger. He is able to perfectly capture Kobayashi Yasuko’s vision for ToQger while crafting a pitch perfect film. Arakawa Fumie makes a successful directorial debut as she is able to bring to life exactly what made many love and enjoy ToQger and what allowed the story to be so emotionally affecting. (Plus, she gave a great shoutout to international fans.)

The film also reminds what a great cast was assembled for the series. Both the adults and the kids turned out effective, many times amazing performances that allowed the viewer to get so emotionally invested in these characters. That was true for the series and it is especially true here in this film as we get to see them all interact with one another.

Right’s two actors, Shison Jun and Mabuchi Homare, delivered especially great performances here. One of the best scenes in the film is of young Right being upset that his older self is so easily resigned to the idea that one naturally loses their Imagination as they grow older. That is the final catalyst to the ultimate realization of the big ToQgers.

Elsewhere, it was awesome to see Conductor as ToQ-7gou. And of course Wagon getting promoted to Conductor as well. (With Ticket still his non-puppet-self.) I think most fans of the series knew a purple ToQger was going to pop up sooner or later. (Last color of the rainbow!) My bet was always on either Conductor or Wagon (or Ticket) as the series made a point to establish how much of a family they all became. How can one forget that final scene of the ToQgers waving goodbye as the Resshas sped off down the tracks with Ticket yelling “Thank you!” back to them.

Also the small revelation that Akira had always been watching over them, even if they couldn’t see him anymore was just one of the many moments that sent me curling up in a ball crying my eyes out.

Seeing everyone, and I mean every single one of them, fighting side-by-side, the big ToQgers with the little ToQgers, was just a fanboy and fangirl’s dream come true. Those secenes were amazingly and perfectly executed.

And of course the excellent soundtrack was again put to good use.

One of the best qualities of Ressha Sentai ToQger is its realism and sincerity. There is no question that the series had a lot of heart. And that is true of this film. The friendship and bond that they all formed, as this film has shown, are unbreakable. Ressha Sentai ToQger Returns is realistic and relatable, regardless of age or culture. And it reminds us all that you can never be too old to have a strong Imagination.

TYPE OF REVIEW : GOOD OL’ REVIEW
No spoilers.

Being a lifelong fan, the news of the Peanuts Gang returning to the big screen was both exciting and scary.

Exciting because the timeless characters created by Charles Schulz definitely deserve a big screen adventure. But scary because you can never be too sure how “modern” versions and updates to classic stories and characters will turn out.

Fortunately, the team behind The Peanuts Movie (which includes Charles Schulz’s son and grandson) made it a top priority to remain faithful to ol’ Sparky’s original vision. And they succeeded.

The Peanuts Movie captures the essence of the original comic strips and all the various TV specials and movies while still feeling fresh and contemporary.

The film focuses on Charlie Brown trying to muster up the courage to talk to his crush, the Little Red-Haired Girl, who has just moved into the neighborhood. But his penchant for clumsiness and bad luck and the reputation that comes with it discourages him. Upon the advice of Lucy, Charlie Brown works to build up his confidence in various ways.

Meanwhile, Snoopy is his ever-imaginative self as he faces off against the Red Baron while also supporting Charlie Brown in his efforts.

Storywise, the film takes one of the main threads of the original strip and various specials and uses it to reintroduce old and new fans to the world of Peanuts. Charlie Brown’s crush of the Little Red-Haired Girl helps establish him as a character and the overall dynamics of the Gang. But it doesn’t solely define him, which is why the last act of the film is more than satisfying.

Charlie Brown has always been described as a “lovable loser.” And the film certainly does not suddenly make him some confident hero. In fact, part of the film focuses on how the idea of such a thing would feel so foreign and strange, especially to Charlie Brown himself.

But being a lovable loser is not a bad thing. And as it’s been shown in all previous Peanuts media, “You’re a good man Charlie Brown!”

Charlie Brown is indeed ultimately a good man. For what he lacks in self-confidence, he makes up for with the love and care he shows his sister Sally and Snoopy. And while he may fail many times, he can still be hopeful.

Though while the film is successful in most ways, it’s certainly not perfect. The focus on Charlie Brown and the Little Red-Haired Girl maybe took away some opportunities as well. Charlie Brown and Linus’ friendship is barely noticeable and Lucy is basically relegated to being the leader of the “mean girls.” One hopes that the Van Pelts as well as the other familiar characters get more screentime and more story in future movies.

But we do get to meet the other children. All familiar faces for anyone who’s read or watched Peanuts in the past.

Music was always a huge part of what made the TV specials and movies so enjoyable. Vince Guaraldi helped guide the memorable sound of Peanuts. And for the film, Christophe Beck has been able to add new pieces that fit perfectly side-by-side with Guaraldi’s iconic score.

But the modern pop songs by Flo Rida (used in a scene) and two originals by Meghan Trainor (including the theme which is also used throughout the movie) absolutely felt out of place and at times, clashed with the Guaraldi-inspired score. While it is unfortunately unavoidable since a catchy pop song needs to be used to promote the movie (It’s a “big commercial racket!”), one wonders if they couldn’t have found a jazz-inspired pop song that is more in the traditional vibe of Peanuts.

Still, The Peanuts Movie is that good that you can overlook these missteps.

The battle between hand-drawn animation and the now standard CGI continues in the industry and amongst audiences. So the idea of taking the iconic hand-drawn work of Charles Schulz and turning it into a 3D computer animated film was another worry and likely a daunting task. But the transition was absolutely successful and the result is stunning.

There was obviously great care in recreating the warmth of the original comic strip and TV and film animations while updating the visual style to a modern template. That they were able to do it here is a major accomplishment. And the contrast between the grounded, more traditional scenes and the grander scope used for Snoopy’s flights and battles with the Red Baron is particularly breathtaking.

A work such as Peanuts carries a sense of nostalgia with it. And the use and inclusion of iconic Peanuts dialogue, locations and scenes as well as “modern” technology like rotary phones and typewriters provide that bit of sincerity and heart for both young and old fans that any film needs. And here, all of that is used to remain true and faithful to characters that millions have loved for decades.

Overall, The Peanuts Movie is a film that Charles Schulz surely would’ve been happy with and proud of. It’s a film that longtime Peanuts fans should love. And it’s a film that successfully reintroduces the colorful and thoughtful world of Charlie Brown’s neighborhood to brand new audiences.

Here’s hoping this is the beginning of a long, successful franchise return to the big screen. And to the continued timeless appeal of Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the rest of the Peanuts Gang.

Pre-order The Peanuts Movie on Blu-ray and DVD now on:

TYPE OF REVIEW : GOOD OL’ REVIEW
WARNING! Major spoilers for both movie and series!

Since seeing the trailers and that little end of episode miniseries featuring Tomari Eiji, I’ve been very excited about seeing Kamen Rider Drive: Surprise Future. Mainly, I was looking forward to seeing a story that could’ve potentially helped the series be fuller and more complete.

But just like the series, the movie dropped the ball. Kamen Rider Drive has been all about wasted potential. And that’s quite a shame.

I enjoyed and liked Kamen Rider Drive. But I wanted to love it. Unfortunately, the memory of wasted potential and missteps during the season will always come back and sadden me.

Still, I went into this movie hopeful that we’d at least get something epic and fun. The basic plot of the movie is pretty good and could’ve easily filled at least a third of the series itself. Belt-san being corrupted and used for evil by his own creations. They could’ve blended that together with Banno’s story too to actually give him purpose instead of just being an easy out as the big bad of the series.

The movie played on Krim being sketchy and secretive all the time and the plot of this movie would’ve worked to help develop and deepen his character in series.

Strangely enough, the movie had a much better balance of actual police work and the more emotional character-driven stories than the series. Those are some of the positives for me.

But the movie was very rushed. Again, the plot could’ve filled out a big chunk of the series. So cramming it all into a one-hour movie really shortchanged a lot of the potential.

Every big Kamen Rider and Super Sentai movie has the requisite decisive clusterfrak of a CGI battle. But I feel like this movie had more than usual CGI and henshined fight scenes. And in turn, we only got a small cameo form Heart, Brain and Medic while the rest of the SID (Chief Jun, Rinna, Otta and Kyu) were mere bit players who didn’t even get time to react to Shinnosuke’s “death” or being a wanted man.

One of the biggest bits of wasted potential is Tomari Eiji, played excellently by Mackenyu. Mackenyu seems to be a talented young actor (from the US!) and he definitely ran with the little material he was given here.

The movie started out with some excellent and surprisingly effective scenes between Eiji and daddy Shinnosuke. I think it had a lot to do with Mackenyu being very charismatic and having a nice little chemistry with Takeuchi Ryoma. You immediately believed they really were father and son (from the future).

Scenes of Shinnosuke and Kiriko later on were also great and were examples of scenes we should have had more of in series.

Overall, the plot resolved itself fine. And the new forms and toys were nice and pretty.

I really don’t understand why, but even while I have many criticisms and disappointments with Kamen Rider Drive (I continue to use it as a point of comparison in reviews of Ghost and even Ninninger), I still had fun watching it. And not in a “hate watch” kind of way. I legitimately enjoyed it. And that goes for this movie as well. Plenty of wasted potential, but still somehow enjoyable to watch.

TYPE OF REVIEW : GOOD OL’ REVIEW
Major spoilers for drama ending, but with warning before it begins in review.

Rich vs. poor. Revenge. The underdog. The SBS drama Remember (– War of the Sun) has a simple enough premise. But after watching the 20 episodes, the most memorable aspect of the series anyone will remember will be the outstanding performances of its stellar cast.

Still a relatively young 22 years old, Yoo Seung Ho has already proven that he is one of the most gifted actors in the business. Having started acting as a young boy, his versatility has been on display in various television dramas and films where he’s been anything from a kind-hearted high school troublemaker to romantic leading man to action star.

After just completing his military service, Remember could not have been a more perfect comeback project. Though technically, his first project after two years was lighthearted cable dramedy Imaginary Cat, Remember is a big network primetime drama with many more eyes on his comeback. And though unnecessary, Yoo Seung Ho proved once again just how gifted and talented he is.

Just another highlight of his already accomplished career, Yoo Seung Ho gave a powerful, commanding and affecting performance.

The story itself is already affecting on its own: A son (Yoo Seung Ho) wanting to clear the name of his Alzheimer’s-stricken father (played by Jun Kwang Ryul) who was framed for murder. Their humble life turned upside down by the wealthy and powerful who would and, more importantly, can do anything they want.

The series also touches on the oft-used, but unfortunately realistic concept of how money makes the world go round. As long as you have money, you have power. And that includes power over the law.

The fight of the poor and powerless against the evil and wealthy plays out even in the news every day. So any drama series that uses the concept will need to ensure they’re not just serving up something viewers have already seen before. The powerless getting stepped on every single episode until they finally win in the end. The fight to seek justice and revenge is also a common theme, especially in Korean drama.

Remember does a fine job of taking these familiar themes and crafting a thoroughly engrossing series that focuses on both the good and bad that is done because of family.

But again, what really helps Remember stand out from many similar stories are the incredible performances of its cast.

*Spoilers Ahead*

At the top is certainly Yoo Seung Ho. I haven’t watched every single drama of his. But in the ones I’ve seen (Master of Study, Operation Proposal, the most tragic love story ever told Warrior Baek Dong Soo, bits and pieces of Flames of Desire and I Miss You), he’s certainly proven that he can carry a drama on his own.

In Remember, Yoo Seung Ho does what he does best. Draw the viewer into the story with an emotionally engaging performance. You feel his emotions, whether it’s a happy moment with his father or a painful moment of sadness. He has always been effective in conveying wide ranges of emotions in his dramas. And his effortless charm and charisma help draw you in even more.

With Remember being, on the surface, a revenge drama and his character of Seo Jin Woo being an underdog, Yoo Seung Ho has no trouble getting you on his side. And you immediately connect with him from the very first (and emotionally varied) scenes.

The journey with Yoo Seung Ho as Jin Woo reaches an emotional climax at the end when the once photographic memory is now stricken with Alzheimer’s. Achieving justice for his father by clearing his name and getting the real criminals behind bars, it is a bittersweet win for Jin Woo. But the fact that you care about how bittersweet it is, is proof of Yoo Seung Ho’s affecting performance.

An almost unrecognizable Nam Goong Min delivers an equally engaging, if not upsetting performance as one of the most evil and despicable villains in recent memory. As the catalyst for the series’ events, Nam Goong Min more than effectively brings the character of rich, angry and without conscience Nam Gyu Man to terrifying life.

But an even bigger accomplishment for him is that he is able to control Gyu Man and prevent the character from becoming an over the top caricature. And that’s certainly a big reason why his scenes in the final episode where Gyu Man is really, truly alone and ultimately decides to commit suicide are still emotional and affecting. You forget for a few seconds that Gyu Man is a murdering rapist. You feel pity, but then still remember how evil he truly was. The fact that you can even feel pity is a testament to Nam Goong Min’s performance.

An accomplished actress, Park Min Young is one of the most popular stars in Korea today. But a criticism of her has been that she’s played basically the same character in all her dramas: (“…the bumbling and endearing yet smart and tough heroine who keeps finding herself or actively getting herself in trouble and needs her man to bail her out.”)

It might be true that the character of Lee In Ah fits that same mold. But she did get the chance to expand beyond her typecasting as she helped give In Ah more depth. It was a more mature and serious role that needed her to be an authoritative and commanding prosecutor as well as “big sister” to Jin Woo.

Park Min Young had definite chemistry with Yoo Seung Ho. But that Remember treated the romantic angle of their characters as a mere subplot instead of being the driving force of the series helped Park Min Young break out, a little bit, from her usual safe zone. One can only hope for her to get a truly career-defining role that allows her to show the talent that she’s obviously got, but hasn’t been given the chance to fully show. Preferably, that will be a role where she is the true lead actress in a drama that doesn’t merely tie all her story to a romantic leading man.

Park Sung Woong as attorney Park Dong Ho also has some heavy lifting in this series. A sometimes morally ambiguous character, he was able to provide a balance between the good of Jin Woo and the evil of Gyu Man and his father. In a way, the character was almost a consequential outside observer. Dong Ho could step away to watch everyone else clash while also being a cause of tension at other times too. And with Dong Ho having a backstory of his own, Park Sung Woong gave a wide ranging and controlled performance.

Fellow Baker King alum Jun Kwang Ryul did his part to provide the heart of the series. His scenes with Yoo Seung Ho with them being father and son were pitch perfect. If they hadn’t been, the rest of the series would have just fallen apart. But Jun Kwang Ryul and Yoo Seung Ho, both drama veterans, also shared an excellent chemistry that drove the entire story forward.

Overall, there is no question Remember is a fine Korean drama series. It wasn’t perfect of course. But it was successful in most ways including bringing to life an emotionally affecting story with just enough soapy touches to make things fun as well as interesting. But most especially, Remember is a fine Korean drama because of Yoo Seung Ho’s and an excellent cast’s outstanding performances.