Marry My Husband – Korean vs Japanese – Episode One

/ jeana84 / Leave a comment

Welcome to my first comparison post. This will be a series of articles comparing and analyzing the drama My Marry Husband Korean and Japanese version. As this will be a one to one comparison, each article will contain spoilers, especially when we get to the later episodes. Let’s begin with an introduction to each series.

Synopsis (from MyDramaList): Kang Ji Won’s marriage to Park Min Hwan is strained due to his selfishness, unemployment, and a domineering mother. Ji Won is the family’s sole breadwinner and does all the household chores. When she is diagnosed with terminal cancer, her world shatters further as she discovers her husband’s affair with her close friend, Jung Soo Min. A confrontation leads to her tragic death at Min Hwan’s hands. However, Ji Won wakes up 10 years in the past, before she married Min Hwan. Determined to change her fate, she plots to make Soo Min marry him instead. Meanwhile, Yoo Ji Hyeok, her colleague, secretly harbors feelings for Ji Won and conceals a hidden truth.

Characters:

Kang Ji Won – Main Protaganist

Park Min Hwan – Ji Won’s Husband/Boyfriend

Jung Soo Min – Ji Won’s Best Friend

Yoo Ji Hyuk – Ji Won’s Boss

Number of episodes: 16

Synopsis (from MyDramaList): The protagonist Kanbe Misa, who has always lived a life of a “supporting character” because she is too kind and always puts others first, believes in her best friend and husband and continues to do her best, but she loses her life due to their betrayal. However, she suddenly realizes that she has traveled back in time to 10 years ago. Misa plans revenge to ruin her former best friend and husband, but her encounter with Suzuki Wataru, a department manager with whom she had no connection in her first life, brings about a new change in Misa’s heart as she seeks revenge…

Characters:

Kanbe Misa – Main Protagonist

Hirano Tomoya – Misa’s Husband/Boyfriend

Esaka Reina – Misa’s Best Friend

Suzuki Wataru – Misa’s Boss

Number of Episodes: 10

Marry My Husband Episode 1 – Korean

The first episode of the Korean version opens with Ji Won in the hospital, looking very ill. Her best friend, Soo Min comes to visit her, looking well dressed and successful. Soo Min offers words of comfort then Ji Won goes for her chemo treatment. During the treatment, Ji Won reflects on the past 10 years and how she got to where she is now. She married Min Hwan and appeared to have a good life ahead of her. Soon, the flashback turn to her mother in law berating her for not having children, Min Hwan quitting his job to trade stocks and Ji Won’s life slowly becoming a nightmare.

After the chemo treatment, Ji Won is informed that her hospital bills have no been paid and if they aren’t soon, her treatment will not continue. Unable to reach Min Hwan by phone, Ji Won leaves the hospital and catches a cab to go to her apartment. During the cab ride, the driver takes her on a different route and shows her a beautiful road lined with cherry blossom trees and the blossoms falling like snow. When they reach the destination, the driver insists upon returning her money to her as this will be his last day as a cab driver. Reluctantly, Ji Won takes the money back.

On entering the apartment, a pair of red high heels are in the entry way, the same red heels Soo Min had been wearing earlier. Voices can be heard from the bedroom. Ji Won approaches slowly, listening as her husband and best friend discuss her impending death and how an insurance policy will pay them handsomely once she dies. Ji Won confronts them in a rage and an arguement ensues. After being berated by the couple, Min Hwan pushes Ji Won and she hits her head on the coffee table, killing her.

Suddenly, Ji Won is standing up, looking remarkably healthy as Min Hwan approaches her, saying her name. She shakily puts her glasses on to see him clearly and immediately attacks him. The Director of the company they work at, Ji Hyuk, steps in to stop the fight. Ji Won continues to try to attack Min Hwan, but the Director continues to stop her, and at one point deflects a boiling hot kettle from burning her. Confused and angry, Ji Won runs from the building and outside, losing her shoes in the process. Her boss follows her, retrieves her shoes and tries to get her to explain what is going on. As Ji Hyuk is finding the shoes, Ji Won realizes that it’s 2013, 10 years in the past.

Ji Hyuk gets a cab and takes Ji Won to her apartment where he gives her some money, knowing that she left her purse and cell phone at work. A bit later, he brings her some food and drinks, but only leaves it at the door for her. Min Hwan shoes up a bit later with her stuff and convinces her to go out for a drink with him. While out, he admonishes her when she tries to have a drink because he thinks she’s pregnant. Ji Won says that she isn’t and tells Min Hwan she wants to break up. He chases after her when she leaves and loses his temper, slamming her against a wall and yelling in her face. The two end up at the police station but the officer they’re speaking to dismisses the incident as a “lover’s quarrel” and says that since she wasn’t hit or has any broken bones, to go home.

At some point, Ji Won looks at the money the cab driver returned to her and notices a heart drawn on the money. She remembers her father doing that on money he gave her when she was a teenager and she believes it was her father’s spirit in the cab.

Later, Ji Won runs into Ji Hyuk at a bookstore and the two share a meal. Remembering the stocks that Min Hwan had previously purchased that did well, Ji Won buys the same stocks. She plans to use her knowledge of the future and what did well to make money in the stock market.

The next day at work, Ji Won changes an incident she remembers where she injured her knee. Not long after, she gets the same injury just in a different way. At this point she realizes that she can’t change the future completely, that certain things have to happen but that she can change how they happen. This is when she decided to transfer her fate to Soo Min, wanting her to marry Ji Won’s husband instead.

Marry My Husband Episode 1 – Japan

The Japanese version of Marry My Husband beings with Misa in hospital, writing letters, presumably to her friends and family. Her best friend Reina comes to visit her, telling Misa how much she means to Reina. Misa is given permission from the hospital to go out for a day. She goes to a grocery store and while there she gets a call from her life insurance company, informing her that the beneficiary on her policy has been changed from her grandmother to her husband. Confused, Misa leaves the stores and tries to get a cab. The first two pass her by and then a third stops, the door opening on it’s own to let her in. The cab driver takes her down a road that shows her the 4 seasons. When he drops her off he refuses her money, saying this is his last day as a driver. He also gives her a handful of candy.

In her apartment, Misa notices a pair of red heels in the entry way. The same red heels Reina had been wearing earlier. From the bedroom Misa can hear her husband and her best friend talking about her impending death, wishing she would just die already. Misa confronts them and an argument ensues. Leaving the apartment, Misa threatens to tell the insurance company the truth, that Tomoya’s mother changed the beneficiary on her policy illegally. Desperate for that not to happen, Tomoya follows Misa, trying to get her phone. In the struggle, Misa falls to her death over the balcony.

Suddenly, Misa wakes up in an office, a colleague asking her about a presentation. Misa is, of course, confused, flees from the building. She realizes that she is young and healthy and not in pain. She runs around and stops to eat, glorying that she actually has an appetite. While eating, she gets a call from her colleague. She’s supposed to be giving a presentation for work. Panicked, she leaves and runs out to catch a cab. Upon arriving at what she believes is the correct location, Reina calls her, apologetic, saying that she gave Misa the wrong address. Misa rushes to the new location, tripping and hurting her knee along the way. During this, Misa is remembering how this all happened the first and is able to switch a security card that didn’t work for one that days, She flies into the elevator and runs directly into the CEO of her company, not knowing at first who he is. He makes a somewhat rude remark about the scarf she is wearing and offers her his business card.

In the boardroom, Misa begins her presentation. Though she is not as flustered at the first time she did the presentation, she tries to shift the focus of the products she’s talking about and ends up saying odd things that make no sense to people who haven’t lived in 2025. Her supervisor berates her for the poor presentation, just like the first time she lived through this.

That evening, she goes to a bar with Tomoya, Reina and Reina’s boyfriend to watch a Rugby game. While there, Misa accidentally runs into a waiter and gets beer spilled all over her. When the game is won, Tomoya tries to kiss her but she dodges and Tomoya ends up kissing Reina’s boyfriend instead. At this point, Misa is starting to realize that she can’t change her past so easily.

The next day at work, Misa is daydreaming while waiting for a kettle to boil when the CEO, Suzuki suddenly appears and knocks the kettle away. He ends up with the same scar that Misa had previously had from the kettle. While trying to help him with the burn, Suzuki says some rude things to Misa.

Later, Misa is out for dinner with Tomoya and she remembers how that night went previously, the way she acted so meekly. Tomoya proposes and she agrees. As they are leaving the restaurant, Reina appears with flowers and gives them to Misa. Walking along the street, Misa watches Tomoya and Reina and thinks to herself “Reina, marry my husband.”

Episode Comparison

The protagonists in each version have both had difficult lives and been pushovers, however, Misa is certainly more meek than Ji Won. Min Hwan is more aggressive than Tomoya, while Reina seems more passively aggressive then Soo Min. The Japanese version focuses a little more on Misa individually while the Korean version begins to build the relationship between the main character and her boss right away. Ji Won has multiple interactions with Ji Hyuk, while Misa only speaks to Suzuki twice in this episode. Both times he is very standoffish and rude.

I feel like Jo Won catches on to what is happening to her faster than Misa. She certainly tries to break away from Min Hwan right away, while Misa does not try to break up with Tomoya.

My Name – Review

/ jeana84 / Leave a comment

Title: My Name

Language: Korean

Genres: Action, Thriller, Mystery, Crime

Objectional Content: Violence, Sexual Assault

Synopsis (from MyDramaList): After her father’s murder, Yoon Ji Woo seeks revenge by infiltrating the police under the direction of Choi Moo Jin, the head of a powerful drug ring. As she goes undercover, she partners with rule-abiding detective Jeon Pil Do, while Cha Gi Ho, the head of the Drug Investigation Unit, targets Choi Moo Jin. Meanwhile, Choi Moo Jin’s loyal subordinate, Jung Tae Joo, and former gang member Do Gang Jae, who seeks revenge, add to the complex web of crime and betrayal.

My Review

My Name is a fairly typical revenge story. Yoon Ji-Woo witnesses her father’s murder, and after the police do nothing to investigate and find the killer, she turns to a crime boss to help her get revenge. She trains to become an amazing fighter and join the police force so she can find the person who murdered her father. It’s the type of show where nothing is really as it seems and there’s a twist around every corner. Unfortunately, those twists have become predictable and I was pretty sure from the beginning how it would all go.

That’s not to say that the show isn’t good, it is. Han So-Hee, who plays Yoon Ji-Woo, did all of the physical stuff herself to the point that she collapsed from exhaustion during filming and had to be hospitalized. I think he doing that really connected her with the character, who basically went through hell to get where she wanted to be. This woman endures constant harassment from the male members of the crime ring, to the point where she is almost raped. She constantly has to prove herself and stay on her toes because no matter how much she trains, she can’t gain the same physical strength as male opponents.

I thought I knew how it would all go and how it would end but then the last episode happened. I try to keep my reviews as spoiler free as possible but in this case, I just need to vent. So.

****Spoilers for final episode ahead****

By the final episode, Ji-Woo has made some choices that are going to land her in a lot of trouble, but she also connects with her police partner Pil-Do in a romantic way. He convinces her not to take out revenge by killing Choi Moo-Jin and instead allow the law to punish him. Then, Pil-Do is murdered right in front of her by Choi Moo-Jin. Just dead, shot in the head, no chance of recovery. This of course motivates her to go after Choi Moo-Jin directly and kill him herself. Yes, she achieved her goal, got her revenge and survived, but for what? She finally had a slight chance to find some semblance of happiness and then that happiness was torn from her. This honestly made me so mad and I wish she had just died from her injuries at the end. At least things would have had a sense of closure that way. Instead, she survives and the ending is left open for a possible sequel.

****Spoilers end here****

My rating for My Name is 4 out of 5 stars and I would recommend it to anyone who likes a good action show with twists and turns, even if those twists and turns are kind of predictable.

As always, thanks for reading!

GyeongSeong Creature Season 2 – Kdrama Review

/ jeana84 / Leave a comment

Title: GyeongSeong Creature Season 2

Language: Korean

Genres: Romance, Horror, Action

Objectional Content: Graphic Violence, Language, Death

Synopsis (from MyDramaList): “Gyeongseong Creature” returns, extending its narrative from the tumultuous spring of 1945 to the bustling streets of 2024 Seoul. This continuation, set against the backdrop of monstrous creations born from human greed, further entwines the fates of Jang Tae Sang and Yoon Chae Ok.

My Review

**Note: this review will contain spoilers for season 1.**

Geyeongseong Creature season 2 takes place nearly 80 years after the conclusion of season 1. We are introduced to Jang Ho-Jae, who looks suspiciously like Jang Tae-Sang. He lost all of his memories in an accident around a year ago. Since then he has lived and worked in the building that used to be the Pawnshop in 1945. While investigating a missing person, Ho-Jae runs into Chae-Ok, though he doesn’t recognize her.

Chae-Ok has survived all this time thanks to the najin that he mother gave her. She has worked finding missing people, the same as she did before the events of the first season. Once she crosses paths with Ho-Jae, everything starts to go awry.

The human experiments have continued underground and we see what became of the baby Akiko had after being infected by a najin. There are new, human looking creatures that are insanely fast as well as ones like the original. I’m not entirely sure if Chae-Ok’s mother is supposed to be one of those, or if she actually died at the end of season one.

Although I really enjoyed this show, I felt like the pacing was off. It felt rushed and didn’t really explain a lot of things. I have a lot of questions still. There was nearly 80 years in between seasons. What happened during those years? How did the two main characters not cross paths sooner? I feel like Chae-Ok would have kept an eye on Tae-Sang throughout his life, even if she never spoke to him.

I’m not sure how I feel about the ending. I wouldn’t call it a cliff hanger but it was open to interpretation. Then there’s the after credits scene. The implications of this scene are devastating and just get even more horrifying the more I think about it. This scene alone would suggest a third season was planned. However, as of the time of this writing, a third season has not been confirmed and with how Netflix can be about renewing their shows, it seems unlikely at this point that there will be a third season. The main actress, Han So-Hee, also seems to be in demand for very physical roles, which may contribute to the delay of the third season.

My rating for Gyeongseong Creature season 2 is 4 out of 5 stars and I would recommend it to those who watched season one. Definitely watch season one first.

Thanks for reading!

Cafe Minamdang – Review

/ jeana84 / Leave a comment

Title: Cafe Minamdong

Language: Korean

Genres: Mystery, Comedy, Romance

Objectional Content: Mild Violence, Death

Synopsis (from MyDramaList): Nam Han Jun is a former criminal profiler now working as a conman. To run his scams, he disguises himself as a fortune teller with his shop called Minamdang. Clients are drawn to his attractive appearance and smooth-talking manner. While he cheats his customers out of money, he works to solve their issues, all the while providing excellent customer service. He’s partnered up with Kong Su Cheol, who runs a private detective agency, and his younger sister, Hye Jun, an elite hacker. For the last three years, detective Han Jae Hui performed her job with enthusiasm and integrity. Will her involvement with Nam Han Jun jeopardize all of that?

My Review

My honest first impression of this show was “Wow, this is ridiculous!” But, I had recently finished Boyfriend on Demand and wanted more of Seo In-Guk, who plays the lead Nam Han-Jun in this series. So, I stuck with it and I’m not sorry that I did. Although the type of comedy in this show isn’t really to my taste, it was so obvious that the actors were having a blast in their roles that I couldn’t help but enjoy that.

Thankfully, the show does get more serious, as Nam Han-Jun is trying to find the person who killed his best friend. From the beginning I had an idea who the real culprit behind everything was. I second guessed myself a couple of times, but I still kept thinking it was him. When the reveal came I was so happy to be right but there was no one around me for me to brag to so I just sort of carried on with the show.

I didn’t really like the character of Kong Su-Cheol. His mannerisms and way of speaking was odd and kind of got on my nerves. Nam Han-Jun’s younger sister, Nam Hye-Jun also wasn’t my favorite. The relationship the two of them end of up in didn’t really feel like it had substance. I also didn’t really like the stylization around Han Jae-Hui, like she was some kind of super hero with crazy powers.

Seo In-Guk as Nam Han-Jun is the absolute highlight of this show and really shows his acting ability here. Looking at other shows he’s been in, this a very different and entertaining character for him.

My rating for Cafe Minamdang is 3 out of 5 stars and I’d recommendation to those who enjoy a good dose of comedy in their murder mysteries.

Thanks for reading!

GyeongSeong Creature – Kdrama Review

/ jeana84 / Leave a comment

Title: GyeongSeong Creature

Language: Korean

Genres: Historical, Romance, Horror, Action

Objectional Content: Graphic Violence, Language, Death

Synopsis (From MyDramaList) Jang Tae Sang, a charming and resourceful man in Bukchon, Gyeongseong, enjoys his comfortable life until he crosses paths with Yoon Chae Ok, a skilled todugun known for finding missing people. Chae Ok, hardened by a tough childhood traveling through Manchuria and Shanghai, arrives in Gyeongseong searching for her mother, who disappeared a decade ago. Together, they tackle puzzling missing person cases that reveal a chilling truth, pushing Tae Sang to question his values and Chae Ok to confront her past.

My Overview

The synopsis from MyDramaList doesn’t really begin to tell you what this drama is about. It takes place in Korea, during the Japanese Colonial era. As the first episode opens, we see Japanese soldiers preparing to abandon some kind of laboratory. Dead bodies are being piled up and doused in gasoline. Those in charge are gathering important papers and samples in test tubes. Some sort of monstrous creature can be seen before the building goes up in flames.

The narrative then moves to Gyeongseong, where Jang Tae-Sang is tasked with finding the mistress of a Japanese police official who has been missing for a week. To help with the search, Tae-Sang employs a pair of sleuths, father and daughter duo Yoon Joon-Won and Yoon Chae-Ok. The trail leads them to Onseong Hospital, which appears to be a respectable medical centre that caters to the wealthy Japanese, but below the surface lies underground dungeons filled with people being experimented on.

My Review

After watching a few more light hearted romantic comedies, Gyeongseong Creature was a bit of a shock to the senses. This drama grabbed my attention from the very first moment and didn’t let go. I hated the fact that I had to sleep and go to work instead of being able to watch this to the end.

Park Seo-Joon (Tae-Sang) and Han So-Hee (Chae-Ok) are great together. I honestly thought it was so funny how Tae-Sang is clearly infatuated with Chae-Ok from the second he sees her face while she is quite indifferent and standoffish. Jo Han-Chul as Chae-Ok’s father is also fantastic. I’ve seen him in a few other dramas where he’s mostly playing some kind of corporate yuppie, so to see him in a more down to earth and action type role was really great.

There is a fair amount of gore and graphic violence in this drama. Human experimentation, including on children, does take place, so viewer discretion is advised for that. I have seen worse in terms of gore, but I think the fact that it stems from human experimentation makes it more disturbing.

If I hadn’t known that there was already a second season I would have been pretty mad at the ending as it ends on a cliffhanger. Thankfully, season two is already out and available to watch.

My rating for Gyeongseong Creature is 5 out of 5 stars and I’d recommend it to anyone who enjoys a historical horror drama with a good amount of action and some romance and mystery thrown in.

Thanks for reading!

Tale of the Nine-Tailed: 1938 – Review

/ jeana84 / Leave a comment

Title: Tale of the Nine-Tailed: 1938

Language: Korean

Genres: Historical, Romance, Fantasy, Horror

Objectional Content: Violence, Language

Synopsis: (from MyDramaList): An unexpected case leads Lee Yeon back in time to 1938, where he reencounters Ryu Hong Ju. Once a guardian spirit of the mountain in the west, she’s now the owner of a high-end restaurant in the capital city of Gyeongseong. He also meets his younger brother, Lee Rang. Meanwhile, another former guardian spirit and ex-friend, Cheon Mu Yeong, has become hostile. Lee Yeon struggles to return to the present, to his loved one.

My Review

I’ve been trying to think how to write this review and where to start, so I think I’ll begin with the negative. To be clear, by “negative” I don’t mean “bad” necessarily. This drama deals with time travel, which is always a difficult thing to do well. It’s stated in the show that anything Lee Yeon does while in the past will not have any affect on the future. This is obviously meant to ensure that the events of the first season can’t be impacted, but honestly, if you think about it even a little, how can his presence there not have an affect? The more I think about it, the more things I think of that would have affect on the timeline.

So, my conclusion is that the best way to enjoy this show is to just not think about the consequences of time travel. If you can.

Ok, time travel conundrums aside, Lee Yeon has regained his nine-tailed fox powers and has resumed working for Taluipa in exchange for Lee Rang’s soul being allowed to reincarnate. Not long after the deal is made, the guardian stone which keeps evil spirits from entering the Stream of the Dead is stolen and the thief jumps into a cabinet, traveling back to 1938. Lee Yeon follows after, on a mission to retrieve the stone. Soon after he runs into his younger brother, Lee Rang. From here, shenanigans ensue as Lee Yeon becomes involved in the current events of 1938 while he waits for the right time to be able to return to the present.

We get glimpses into Lee Yeon’s past, his childhood friends and how they grew up before becoming mountain gods. I love the relationship between the brothers. One moment they’re trying to kill one another, the next they’re trying to kill someone else for daring to harm one of them. They bicker and argue constantly but in the end, they truly love each other, even if they won’t say it.

I love when Lee Yeon goes in Fox mode. His eyes turn yellow and his tails show up. The only thing better would be if he actually turned into a fox.

I’m a bit disappointed that there was a pretty major plot point that wasn’t resolved. I’m not sure if a third season is intended or going to be made or not. I certainly hope so because, not only do I love the characters, that one point really needs to be addressed.

My rating for Tale of the Nine-Tailed:1938 is 4 out of 5 stars. It loses a star for the time travel confusion. I’d recommended this to anyone who has seen Tale of the Nine-Tailed and those you enjoy historical dramas with some supernatural flare.

Thanks for reading!

Genie, Make a Wish – Review

/ jeana84 / Leave a comment

Title: Genie, Make a Wish

Language: Korean

Genres: Comedy, Romance, Fantasy

Objectional Content: Violence, Language, Death

Synopsis: (From MyDramaList): Cold, impassive Ga Yeong has spent her life under her grandmother’s care, whose watchful eye and tough-love approach have helped keep Ga Yeong’s psychopathic tendencies in check. When Ga Yeong unexpectedly stumbles upon a magical lamp, she awakens the mysterious spirit Genie from his thousand-year slumber — and yes, he promises the young woman three life-changing wishes. Unleashed into a new millennium, Genie’s mischievous magic shakes up Ga Yeong’s quiet life, and as he navigates the unfamiliar realities of the modern world, the two find themselves in a surprising whirlwind romance. But just when things couldn’t get any less predictable, Ga Yeong learns her wish-granting sidekick is actually Iblis, better known as Satan, who is hell-bent on proving that humans are corruptible. It’s a whole new twist on the genie-in-a-lamp story, and when Ga Yeong’s intractability and tightly controlled routines meet Genie’s trickster energy and clueless charm, it sets the stage for a romance that will be anything but ordinary.

My Review

Where do I begin with this one? It showed up as a recommendation on Netflix and I saw that Kim Woo Bin was the male lead, who I have very much liked in other dramas/movies. I watched the trailer and decided this series would be worth a watch. Unfortunately, it wasn’t quite what I was expecting or hoping for. The genie, Iblis, is literally supposed to be Satan, and therefore, evil. Iblis is definitely not evil. Mischievous and kind of a dick sometimes? Yes. Evil? Not by a long shot.

I understand that seeing the modern world after spending nearly a thousand years trapped in a lamp would be very confusing and awe inspiring, but his behaviour borders more on childish than anything. He allows the female lead to literally beat him, despite the fact he can disappear at will, and gets addicted to an arcade game. There are a few times when he does become serious, and almost like an all powerful being that hates humans and wants to corrupt them so they go to hell, but those moments are few and far between.

Bae Suzy as Ki Ga-Yeoung was fantastic. She shows a great deal of range in this show. Ki Ga-Yeong is a psychopath and not once did I disbelieve that. In her past life, she was a sweet and kind person, despite being oppressed and degraded. The supporting characters were also pretty good. I quite liked Sade and Irem. I think they could have a really cute relationship.

My rating for Genie, Make a Wish is 3 out of 5 stars. I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a slightly more serious romance, though with a good amount of comedy thrown in. I think if you start knowing that Iblis isn’t nearly as evil as he should be, this drama is a good series.

Have you watched Genie, Make a Wish? What did you think?

Boyfriend on Demand – Review

/ jeana84 / Leave a comment

Title: Boyfriend on Demand

Language: Korean

Genres: Comedy, Romance, Fantasy

Objectional Content: None

Synopsis: (from MyDramaList) The story follows exhausted webtoon producer Seo Mi Rae as she escapes reality through a subscription-based virtual dating simulation program, where she meets the boyfriends of her dreams. Seo Mi Rae is someone who longs for a second chance at love in virtual reality. Accustomed to a nonexistent dating life due to her hectic schedule, Mi Rae receives a ‘Monthly Boyfriend’ device by chance, allowing her to enter a virtual world. Entering this virtual reality, she encounters unrealistically perfect boyfriends, awakening her dormant desires for romance. Park Gyeong Nam is Mi Rae’s colleague and rival webtoon producer. Although he is capable and competent at work, Mi Rae feels uneasy around him. To Mi Rae, he’s the last person she wants to see, yet in the office, he’s known as one of the best. Despite his indifferent and cold demeanor, he is someone with surprising secrets, sure to stir emotions in Mi Rae.

My Review

I have to say, I loved this drama. Is it the most amazing cinematography I’ve ever seen? No. Is it entertaining, cute and funny? Yes! The leads have gorgeous chemistry, I was rooting for them the entire time and nothing really annoyed me.

Korean dramas tend to follow a formula, as anyone who has seen more than one Korean rom com will know. We have the two leads, then normally there are two secondary leads who are alternative love interests for the main leads. While I wouldn’t really say there is a prominent secondary female lead to distract Gyeong Nam from Mi Rae, in this drama the secondary male lead happens to be an AI construct.

After receiving the virtual reality “Boyfriend on Demand” as a free gift in exchange for reviews, Mi Rae discovers that she does long for romance, though she has been living single since she broke up with her long term boyfriend. However, when she realizes that literally thousands of other women are “dating” the same man she is, the illusion of a perfect relationship shatters. That’s when she’s given the opportunity to create a custom character, her perfect boyfriend. What she gets, isn’t quite what she expects.

About half way through, the perspective shifts a bit and we, the audience, gets to see things a little more from Gyeong Nam’s point of view. From Mi Rae’s perspective, Gyeong Nam is very quiet, cold and distant. So much so that she has a hard time believing that he would like her. But from his point of view, it’s kind of like, how could he not fall for her? Honestly, it’s really cute and adorable. He’s clearly shy and a bit socially awkward so his attempts to talk to her are a little cringey, but also sweet.

I also loved the cameos of different actors in the Boyfriend on Demand simulation. Particularly, Lee Soo Hyuk. I really enjoy him as an actor, so it was fun to see him in this, even if his appearance was brief.

I really liked that there wasn’t some sort of overly dramatic scenario where one of the characters gets amnesia, or someone tries to break them up with a cheating set up. Instead, the relationship felt natural and relatable.

My rating for Boyfriend on Demand is 5 out of 5 stars. There was nothing I didn’t like about this drama or anything that annoyed me. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a cute romantic comedy.

Thanks for reading!

Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model

/ jeana84 / Leave a comment

Title: Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model

Language: English

Genres: Documentary

Objectional Content: Body shaming, Sexual Assault

Synopsis: A look behind the scenes of the popular show America’s Next Top Model

My Review

I wasn’t a huge fan of America’s Next Top Model, though I did watch a couple seasons of it near the beginning. I remember some of the contestants that appear in this documentary.

The show starts out by telling how America’s Next Top Model came to be, background on Tyra Banks and why she created the show in the first place. This all seems very positive at first, as Tyra wanted to make the fashion industry more diverse and inclusive. She pushed back a great deal with other judges on the show regarding damaging beauty standards. At first. As the former contestants start to tell their stories, it becomes obvious very quickly, that this show wasn’t about being as inclusive as Tyra made it out to be.

It begins fairly lightly (which should tell you something) with the makeovers. It’s clear that the hairdressers don’t know how to work with curly textured hair and end up ruining one girl’s hair completely. When the contestant tried to speak to Tyra about it, thinking Tyra would understand as a fellow black woman, she was completely brushed off and told she was showing up “ashy.” The contestant goes on to say that was a term previously used against black women in a derogatory way.

Sadly, it gets worse from here. A contestant from cycle 2, Shandi, tells her story as well. Hers, I think, is the most heartbreaking. This poor girl was literally sexually assaulted while no one did anything to stop it and the entire thing was filmed. Then in editing, the entire situation was framed as Shandi cheating on her long term boyfriend. I’m sorry but no! Everyone there, including the producers and other contestants allowed Shandi to drink til she basically blacked out and not one person stepped in to say “hey, I think this is going too far.” The producers of that show should be held responsible for that.

I wish that was the worst of it, but as the show goes in, it does get worse. Another contestant, Dani, was forced to have the gap between her front teeth closed, even though she didn’t want to. She was told she would be eliminated if she didn’t go through with it. The procedure was also a quick fix, not a proper procedure that would close the gap over time like braces would. In the same cycle, Joanie, who had something called “snaggle tooth” had 4 teeth removed to fix her smile. She spent over 12 hours in the dentist chair.

Keenyah Hill was another contestant that faced constant body shaming, experienced sexual harassment from a male model during a shoot, and even had scenes edited to make it look like she was over eating. Other girls got hypothermia from a shoot in a freezing cold pool, another fainted from the heat and not eating. It was all filmed and aired for the drama.

America’s Next Top Model became more and more of a reality show centered on drama than an actual course in how to become a top model. The best pictures were no longer chosen as the end and instead the picture would be chosen strategically to get a girl eliminated.

Not once does anyone who worked on or produced this show take any kind of accountability or responsibility. Jay Manuel blames things on Tyra, Tyra blames the audience for wanting more.

Honestly, I could probably go on and on about the problems on this show and how disgusted I was by it all but I’d really just recommend watching the documentary. It is very well done and it’s very interesting to hear from the contestants themselves and their experiences. The documentary is only 3 episodes but it is packed with so much it’s a bit insane.

Give it a watch and let me know what you thought too!

The Merchant Emperor – Symphony of the Ages #7 by Elizabeth Haydon

/ jeana84 / Leave a comment

Title: The Merchant Emperor

Author: Elizabeth Haydon

Series: Symphony of Ages

Sexual Content: Minimal

Objectional Content: Violence

Synopsis (from Goodreads): The war that they had feared is now upon them. Ashe and Rhapsody, leaders of the Cymrian Alliance, are gathering their allies to combat the machinations of Talquist, who will soon be crowned emperor of Sorbold. Gwydion Navarne remains by Ashe’s side. Anborn, Lord Marshal, has taken to the field. And Rhapsody has been forced into hiding to protect the life of her infant son.

The Merchant Emperor of Sorbold has unintentionally allied himself with a pair of demons and has begun targeting the dragons that remain on the Middle Continent. Talquist will stop at nothing until the Cymrians are wiped out and the entire continent and the rest of the Known World is under his rule.

Assailed by danger from all sides, surrounded by lies and intrigue, Rhapsody is left with one undeniable truth: if their forces are to prevail, she must join the war herself, wielding the Daystar Clarion, an ancient weapon whose power is nearly unparalleled. As she struggles to reconcile her duties as a mother and ruler, a danger far more devastating than Talquist is stirring beneath the surface of the land itself.

My Review

The Merchant Emperor starts off a bit slow, with a lot of dialogue. Rhapsody and Ashe have called a secret meeting of those they trust most to share what they all know of the current situation in the world. By the end, the various members of the council part ways, each to tend to their own duties in the coming war.

The Three are united once again as it is decided that Rhapsody should return to Ylorc with Grunthor and Achmed in order to protect the newly born Meridion. While there, Rhapsody assists Achmed in testing out his Lightcatcher.

There is a fair amount going on with various characters in difference places in this book. I’m happy to see more of Grunthor as he is definitely one of my favourite characters in this series. Achmed seems even grumpier than usual, though the exact reason isn’t really revealed until later. Ashe, on his own without his family, is slowly losing his mind. Finally, it is decided the best thing for him to do is leave Highmeadow in search of what has happened to distant allies, leaving Gwydion Navarne in his stead. Thankfully, this mission snaps him out of his madness and he’s actually useful once again.

About three quarters of the way through the book, Rhapsody makes a life altering decision that will change every thing. I honestly did not see this coming. It was mentioned that she would eventually have to enter the war, as the wielder of Daystar Clarion, but I would never have guessed what she would do in order to make that happen.

My rating for The Merchant Emperor is 4 out of 5 stars.

Have you read this book? What are your thoughts?