Tag: week in review

Week in Review (Mar 13 – 19, 2022)

~ colourfulgranny ~ Leave a comment

What have I been doing this week? I’m glad you asked! Here’s what’s been on my watchlist this week:

*Note: My reviews usually contain spoilers. You have been warned. Proceed at your own risk.*

Books

The Selection by Kiera Cass

For this week, I took a deep dive into another YA series. The first book of Cass’s series sets up the universe of a war-torn, dystopian future United States, called Illea, where a complex caste system determines people’s standing in society, from the monarchy all that way down to the “untouchables”. Our protagonist, America Singer, is on the lower rungs of society, a Five who shares her rank with artists and musicians.

Life is difficult for America and her family, who have to scrape by with odd jobs they can pick up, and America in particular resents the social structure in which she grows up because it prevents her from being able to marry her secret boyfriend, Aspen, a Six. Up to this point the novel sounds very much like a lot of similar series that came out around the time, but it was from here that things started to diverge a little bit from the tropes I’ve seen.

As a form of morale booster, the monarchy holds a The Bachelor-style competition where the wife of the heir to the Illean throne is chosen from among the ranks of the ‘common people’ and the proceedings are broadcast throughout the nation. After a rather strained conversation with Aspen – in which he feels insecure about being unable to provide for her due to his lower rank – Aspen calls things off with her, and America submits her name into the draw for The Selection at her mother’s request. Naturally, her name is drawn, and from there she – and we – are thrust into the world of the elite. Even though her heart isn’t in it, America forms close relations with other girls in the competition, as well as some rivalries.

The biggest difference between this book and other similar ones, however, was that she also immediately befriends Maxon, the same heir she is supposed to be attempting to win the favor of. Maxon has also taken a liking to her, and despite the fact that they are going against the rules of the selection process, he asks her to be her spy and confide in her about the other girls, and how fit they may be to be the future queen. Little does she realize that all the time she is spending with Maxon are really his attempts at dates, and that he is trying to win her heart.

As more and more girls are sent home – or choose to go home after an attack on the palace – America wonders about her place in this world and starts to learn more about the history of Illea, as well as the nature of the war that currently wages on both its fronts. I feel that this is going to take up a significant portion of future books, and that America is going to be a key player in the imminent battles. This is also compounded by the fact that Aspen has now joined the military and has been assigned as a palace guard, which will also complicate her relationship with Maxon further.

While there isn’t anything particularly special or different about this book, there is good writing, and I’m reading it more out of curiosity to compare with the adaptation of the series that is slated to be released soon. I’m not interested in the love triangle that Cass is establishing at all, but I do want to know more of the history and social structure that make up this universe.

Week in Review (Mar 6 – 12, 2021)

~ colourfulgranny ~ Leave a comment

What have I been doing this week? I’m glad you asked! Here’s what’s been on my watchlist this week:

*Note: My reviews usually contain spoilers. You have been warned. Proceed at your own risk.*

Unfortunately life got in the way this week, and so my weekly review is on break till the 19th of March. I’ll be back with some exciting reviews of books, movies and tv shows next week.

Week in Review (Feb 27 – Mar 5, 2022)

~ colourfulgranny ~ Leave a comment

What have I been doing this week? I’m glad you asked! Here’s what’s been on my watchlist this week:

*Note: My reviews usually contain spoilers. You have been warned. Proceed at your own risk.*

Movies

The Batman (2022)

The third iteration of Batman in less than 20 years – much like the third iteration of Spider-man – seemed uncalled for. There is still a rather young generation of filmgoers that remember when Christian Bale first graced our screens, as well as when Ben Affleck cast a shadow over it. And with DC’s recent track record with films, I wasn’t keeping my hopes up for this most recent revisitation to be able to hold its own. 

However, despite my low expectations, The Batman still didn’t deliver an experience worth watching. With its strange tone and even stranger directing, I found myself taken out of the world because of poor choices on what to do with the camera. I felt like director Matt Reeves couldn’t quite decide whether he was filming a hard-boiled detective story, a Michael Bay-esque action blockbuster or a disaster movie. You’ll notice that I don’t mention comic book adaptation anywhere in there, because for all intents and purposes, Reeves just wrote the story he wanted and then shoehorned beloved comic book characters into it.

As far as the caped crusader goes in this film, Robert Pattinson presents an angst-ridden version of the character, an emo kid who listened to heavy metal in a darkened basement, and never quite grew out of it as an adult. The reclusive Bruce Wayne is as much a mystery in Gotham society as his masked alter-ego. It was very hard to buy his mission to improve the city when he is so rarely willing to step out into it as Bruce, and only sees the gritty underside of it as Batman. What make it worse is how blandly Pattinson plays the character.

A similarly underdeveloped character was Catwoman (Zoë Kravitz). I can only imagine that the filmmakers meeting went something along the lines of deciding it was enough to give the character daddy issues as motivation for her robbery and vengeance. Also, she was willing to pursue a relationship with probably the first man who showed a semblance of kindness to her. Selina was objectified through the entire film, and while this is a characteristic of the Selina in the source material as well, the lack of development of the character makes it that much more glaringly obvious.

I will say that I enjoyed some of the other cast members. It was lovely to see Paul Dano in something again (for all of 5 minutes that he actually had his face uncovered that is), and he played The Riddler with a manic that fit him well. Colin Farrell’s Penguin was delightful to watch too, with his quick wit and quicker mouth. 

But the additional cast members were a rare plus point to a generally abysmal film. I personally think that the character needs to be left alone for a few decades, and that a few generations down, when people have had the time to miss him, the Dark Knight should make his return.

Week in Review (Feb 20 – 26, 2022)

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What have I been doing this week? I’m glad you asked! Here’s what’s been on my watchlist this week:

*Note: My reviews usually contain spoilers. You have been warned. Proceed at your own risk.*

Movies

Death on the Nile (2022)

Sometimes, you just want some silly fun, and that is exactly the attitude I went into Death on the Nile with. And, boy! did it deliver. Kenneth Branagh takes himself so seriously, and that usually makes his projects unexpectedly funny, and it’s delightful to see what he’s going to come up with next. As he reprises his role of the famous detective, I couldn’t help but be excited.

The film opens with a flashback to Poirot in the war as a young soldier, setting up his brilliance, his tragic backstory as well as his drive to become a detective. Personally, I felt that this sequence served very little purpose, and the people in the audience were audibly confused, wondering if they were in the right film. From there, we jump forward to see Poirot established as a famous detective, and are introduced to the cast of characters that we will eventually spend the rest of the film with.

Jackie (Emma Mackey) introduces her fiancé Simon (Armie Hammer) to her friend Linnet (Gal Gadot), and sadly for her, the two seem to hit it off. Cut to six weeks later, and Linnet has married Simon, who has left Jackie in the dust, and the couple are on their honeymoon trip in Egypt – with about 10 other people in tow. Sadly for them, Number 11 is Simon’s former fiancée-turned-stalker.

I want to stop over here for a moment to mention the casting, which could not have been less suited to the characters they were portraying. No one seemed to be on the same wavelength where the scale of their performance was concerned, with some deciding on subdued where others were camp. Branagh has always had trouble with creating a cohesive piece and this film struggles with the same issues.

Luckily for Poirot, this mishmash of people is excellent food for the brain, because when Linnet is found murdered, there are more than enough people for him to interrogate. However, it doesn’t just stop there. The film delivers a final body count of 5, truly living up to its name. And Poirot is there deducing every step of the way.

While the conclusion of the crime was a bit anti-climatic, what with the murderers killing themselves, it was fun trying to solve the crime alongside Poirot. I’ve always enjoyed a good mystery, and while I did guess the killer (or, at least, one of them), part of the thrill is in guessing and second-guessing yourself. At the end of the day, I was glad for good company and good fun while watching Death on the Nile.

Week in Review (Feb 13 – 19, 2022)

~ colourfulgranny ~ 1 Comment

What have I been doing this week? I’m glad you asked! Here’s what’s been on my watchlist this week:

*Note: My reviews usually contain spoilers. You have been warned. Proceed at your own risk.*

TV

When the Weather is Fine (2020) – Ep 3

Life has been rather busy for me, so I only got through one episode this week, but it was a rather eventful one for Mok Hae-won (Park Min-young) too. After avoiding her childhood friend-turned-enemy, she carried on with business as usual. This has become a defining feature of her character, and she seems to have an ostrich-like tendency of dealing with her problems by pretending they don’t exist. I have a feeling this is going to come to a head really soon.

With the Walnut House in disrepair, Aunt Myung-yeo (Moon Jeong-hee) being more and more concerning (I suspect she’s terminally ill), and her having to find a living space, it’s no wonder that she had a breakdown and realizes that she does want caring people around her. And lucky for her, she runs into the arms of someone willing to take her in.

We also got a slightly more melancholic look at Eun-seop’s (Seo Kang-joon) life. While it is still unclear what sorts of emotional scars he carries, he seems to want to shoulder the burden himself, and only let others see his cheerful side. However, Hae-won clearly picked up on it, and it seems that her finding him in the forest and realizing that he too has a place he wants to escape too made her feel closer to him.

I really enjoyed the stylistic choices of this episode, and I enjoyed how the book club tied the themes of this episode together. The retelling of legends, and their metaphorical application to our characters’ lives was wonderfully done, but I really just enjoyed them for what they were too. Tales like these are often indicative of what values those who tell them hold dear, and it was clear that our book club group are insightful, hopeful and self-reflective.

I’m sure going forward, our characters will only come to learn and grow, but even if they stumble or fall, there are those around them who are willing to help.

Week in Review (Feb 6 – 12, 2022)

~ colourfulgranny ~ Leave a comment

What have I been doing this week? I’m glad you asked! Here’s what’s been on my watchlist this week:

*Note: My reviews usually contain spoilers. You have been warned. Proceed at your own risk.*

TV

When the Weather is Fine (2020) – Ep 1-2

In what has been a rather slow week, I only managed to get through two episodes of WtWiF. However, I found that enjoying this show at a more leisurely pace suits it. There’s a quiet surrealism to the way the show is shot, and I find I need time to sit with an episode after it is done, to let it sink in.

This show has been on my watchlist since it aired, but it passed me by at the time. It recently came across my radar again, and after having a bit of a k-drama – and TV shows, in general – slump, I felt I needed something light to ease me back into it. And so far, that’s exactly what the show has delivered on. The characters are mildly shrouded in mystery, and we get to slowly peel back the layers of their past from their interactions in the present. Mok Hae-won (Park Min-young) in particular seems to have a lot to unpack, as it seems life has not been particularly kind to her, and so far she’s taking the escapist route by running away to the countryside and living with her aunt.

Aunt Myung-yeo (Moon Jeong-hee) is an eccentric character, and I have a feeling that she will be the most tragic of the lot. It seems she has very little will to live well, barely scraping by. However, she’s hiding it behind a veneer of coldness and snaps at Hae-won often when confronted. They both seem to care about one another, but haven’t yet found a way to express it. I’m curious to see how this aunt-niece relationship develops as they both learn about what happened during their time apart.

By contrast, perhaps the most open character is Lim Eun-seop (Seo Kang-joon). Because we get the most insight into his character through his narrations, he makes for a good contrast to Hae-won, and I have a feeling that he will be a driving force in getting her to be more confident in herself. Since his bookshop provides a refuge and a mental stimulus for her, she seems to be turning often towards it as a safe haven. Add to that the various townspeople that treat her with kindness and compassion, as well as allowing her to revert back to her more carefree childhood day. (Lee Jae-wook was a pleasant surprise as one of their classmates.)

The story will have its fair share of drama, but I expect it to be of the day-to-day life variety as opposed to the sweeping kind we’re used to. I’m curious to see how the show continues to pace itself, and I’m hoping it maintains this lazy meander as we get to learn more about our characters.

Week in Review (Jan 30 – Feb 5, 2022)

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What have I been doing this week? I’m glad you asked! Here’s what’s been on my watchlist this week:

*Note: My reviews usually contain spoilers. You have been warned. Proceed at your own risk.*

Books

A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas – Ch 54-82

I managed to finish the final stretch of ACOWAR with a bit more patience, perhaps because I had prepared myself for pretty much anything to happen. This last third delved into the war with Hybern, as the King’s army invades the mortal lands and starts wrecking havoc. They leave a trail of ruined villages in their wake, but since the five Courts that were allied had several winnowers among them, they managed to get a number of them to safety within Fae lands. Rhysand, of course, very generously offers his own city as refuge where others didn’t or couldn’t, and once they managed to save as many as possible, they finally get down to the fighting.

It’s a series of small pyrrhic victories for the Prythian forces, and as their forces dwindle and their army’s morale deteriorates, Feyre manages to pull yet another trick out of her hat. She’d already managed to ensure that the mysterious creature in the library joined their forces, but was convinced that this would not be enough to win them the war, she finally decides to face the infamous Ouroboros that the Bone Carver asked her to get as payment to join her cause.

This is the kind of thing I find astounding: not only did she manage to overcome something that legend claimed had driven greater people than her to madness, but she managed to do it in the space of one night. It’s one thing to have convenient plot devices; it’s another altogether to write completely counter to what’s been previously established.

And perhaps that’s where I was most let down by this series. We had Tamlin set up as our lead, only to have his personality take a 180º turn. We had Feyre go from being a level-headed young girl to master manipulator, yet never reprimanded for her decisions. Rhysand was also conveniently excused for his behaviour, which was always explained away in some way by his inner circle as being for the greater good.

While I was pulled in by the universe of the series, I felt that the second and third book let me down in many ways because of how enthralled I was by the first one. Maas never truly followed through on a lot of the threads that she set up, which ultimately left me with a bitter aftertaste. From what I know of the direction of future books in the series, I’m not particularly inclined to read further than this book. I feel like this is a good ending point, with a characters in a place where their story feels like it has been completed.

Week in Review (Jan 23 – 29, 2022)

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What have I been doing this week? I’m glad you asked! Here’s what’s been on my watchlist this week:

*Note: My reviews usually contain spoilers. You have been warned. Proceed at your own risk.*

TV

The Red Sleeve Cuff (2021) – Ep 13-17

I spent a large part of these final few episodes going back and forth between being sad for Deok-im (Lee Se-young) and angry at Yi San (Lee Junho), to being angry with Deok-im and sad for Yi San.

Yi San’s continued obsession with having Deok-im become a consort, and her continued refusal became the central plot for the last leg of the show, and despite knowing how things turned out historically, it was still incredibly heartbreaking to see the show’s interpretation of these events.

San’s part seemed largely confined to bullying Deok-im into reciprocating his affections for her, and while I strongly agree to her unwillingness to give in, the reasoning the writers give her felt incredibly weak. It made it seem largely like she doesn’t wish to share him with the nation, so she’d rather not have him at all. Once she does finally submit, she seems to resign herself to living like an object rather than a person, waiting to be called upon. Where did all the fire of the young Deok-im we knew go? Where is the woman who was willing to speak her mind and demand what she wants even if she knows she may not have it? Why is the Royal Consort experiencing so much existential angst?

By far some of the most difficult scenes to watch were those involving the death of their son, followed by a pregnant Deok-im’s own death. After striving so long to be with the woman he loved, to lose the children born of that love, and then to only get a short decade with her breaks San in ways beyond his capacity. To add insult to injury, Deok-im never truly told him how she felt for him, and he lived not knowing if she truly loved him or not. That he should pass her by should they meet in their next lives and that would have rather had her friends by her side than him on her deathbed. It’s no wonder the man threw himself into his work so violently that it drove him to an early grave. Though a beloved and well-regarded king, remained rather distant from most relationships in his later life, it seems.

I was rather disappointed with the “it was all a dream” ending that the show pulled. I’m not sure what the intention was in showing their final moments that way, but perhaps it was to spare us from even more death. To give us this final hopeful message that perhaps San did meet Deok-im in death, and got to spend the afterlife with her by his side.

While I may have had my issues with the plot, I will say, I was rather impressed with both Lee Se-young and Lee Junho’s performances throughout the run of the show. Both delivered extremely nuanced and well-balanced insights into the workings of their characters’ minds, and I was laughing, crying and raging alongside them the whole way. I’m looking forward to what these two have in store for us with their future projects.

Week in Review (Jan 16 – 22, 2022)

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What have I been doing this week? I’m glad you asked! Here’s what’s been on my watchlist this week:

*Note: My reviews usually contain spoilers. You have been warned. Proceed at your own risk.*

TV

The Red Sleeve Cuff (2021) – Ep 3-12

I’ve finally had the chance to return to The Red Sleeve Cuff after an extended hiatus (handling two sageuks at once proved to be a bit much for me), and I’m ready to give my full attention to Seong Deok-im (Lee Se-young) and her life as a palace court maid. Life has been particularly challenging for her since her assignment as Yi San’s (Lee Junho) personal handmaiden.

It’s quite obvious to everyone in court that Deok-im has caught the prince’s eye, which paints a target on her back for all his enemies. However, Deok-im proves herself smart and resourceful at every turn, and when she isn’t saving her own skin she has any number of people that she’s befriended to help her out.

By far the most interesting element of the show for me was the secret society of court ladies, who referred to themselves as the Fairy Palace. I love learning about the people that make a place function like a well-oiled machine, and oftentimes the court ladies in sageuks are there as a part of the background and oftentimes expendable. I like having them take the forefront here, and seeing what their hopes and dreams are outside of just serving the masters of the palace. While Head Court Lady Jo’s (Park Ji-young) moral compass seems to have broken, I can fully understand where she might have been coming from in not wanting to have just anybody on the throne.

That being said, Yi San continues to be punished for the crimes of his father, and no one is able to stand up for him since it would mean defying the King (Lee Deok-hwa) himself. In my research, I found that Yi San was a mere 24 years old when he took the throne, and had been his grandfather’s heir since age 7. Constantly being watched to see if his father’s madness was showing in him would make anyone insecure and upset, but unable to react for fear of being branded the same. The way the show portrays his relationship with his grandfather is rather complex, and at times confusing because it shows very little of his personal opinion of the man.

With the king’s own illness taking hold of him, Yi San becomes regent to the throne, and shortly thereafter ascends the throne properly upon the king’s death. The show does a 3-year jump forward in time, and it seems that quite a bit has changed at court. However, there appears to be a stalemate in Deok-im and San’s relationship. She continues to wait on him as one of many court ladies, although it looks like palace life is wearing on her. He continues to wait for her, hoping that she will agree to becoming queen consort. When last I left them, he had just confessed to wanting to make her family, but I’m not sure if Deok-im is in a place to accept his offer just yet with her own ambitions still unfulfilled.

With most of his opposers now dead or banished, it would seem like the road ahead will be smooth for San, but I don’t think that will be the case for very long. For one, it would make for very boring television. Secondly, there still seems to be plenty of opposition to his way of thinking and his vision for Joseon.

I’m looking forward to seeing how both our leads navigate the challenges ahead of them, and I’m hoping they get to be individuals before they are together. However, I’m sure once they are together, it will be absolutely explosive (tragic historic ending aside). Let’s see how it goes.

Movies

83 (2021)

Sports films, especially underdog biopics like these are usually ripe for drama and high stakes action. 83 is no exception, but it sets up its premise very well. It helps that the events of the film don’t take place too long ago, so it is still fresh and relevant for a lot of people who were around and saw the Cricket World Cup that is depicted here. It also capitalizes on a sense of nationalism that is an essential element in stirring people’s hearts.

Where the film excels, however, is in its performances. Ranveer Singh embodies Kapil Dev’s character, and the writing here supports him really well, making an iconic historical figure a relatable and down to earth man.

While the film did have issues in its editing, and it was sometimes hard to follow who the opponents were or when a particular match was taking place, I liked the element of mixing in real footage into the film. Where a lot of films have tried and failed at this, 83 managed to pull it off smoothly by having it blended in on screens, in newspaper clipping and other unintrusive way.

I came away from the film having enjoyed it, feeling a sense of pride in this team that no one believed in and wanting to know more, despite already being quite familiar with the Indian cricket team and having a good outline of their history. And if that isn’t a sign of an engaging film, I don’t know what is.

Books

A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas – Ch 1-53

Just as I’d predicted (and secretly hoped, if I’m being honest) the third part in Maas’s Court series is absolutely bonkers, and I’ve been simultaneously reading and yelling at my copy of ACOWAR.

If that sounds dramatic, it’s nothing compared to the drama unfolding in the book, which is on an unrivaled level. Maas seems to delight in delivering one plot twist after another, and it is giving me emotional whiplash trying to keep up. When the book opened, Feyre had safely infiltrated the Spring Court and gotten almost everyone there to believe that she’d been brainwashed and held captive in the Night Court with Rhysand. She’s also apparently turned into the biggest mastermind manipulator and just with a few well-placed words and hands manages to overturn the entire court, while also simultaneously dragging the unwitting Lucien along with her. How convenient, especially considering her now Fae sister happens to be his mate.

Once she’s learnt of their enemy’s plans, planted the seed for civil unrest in Spring and made a rather perilous journey back to Night, it’s only a matter of time before their real planning begins. War with Hybern is imminent, and apparently none of the other courts seem particularly inclined to helping them. This is a particularly hard pill to swallow, considering that the war will be happening on their lands, so the people that have the most to lose – and therefore the most to gain from preventing it – are those very same High Lords of Prythian. It’s these kinds of inconsistencies in writing and character that really bother me.

Similarly inconsistent is the way in which Tamlin is written. From reading the way he interacts with Feyre and Rhysand, you would think he’s never been slighted in his 500+ years of life. He behaves like a petulant child that’s had his favorite toy taken away, that too in front of his peers, with little shame. Beron of Autumn Court is similarly shallow and immature, seeking petty revenges. His eldest son’s history, however, seems to be getting conveniently altered to give him some redemptive qualities and I suspect he will soon be replacing his father. Beron’s youngest is also having his history altered, namely in the direction of being a child of his mother’s affair with Helion of Day Court.

I will say that by far my favourite sequence of the book so far was the meeting that took place in Dawn Court. Getting introduced to all the High Lords of Prythian, getting a sense of their histories and personalities was very enlightening, and this is where Maas excels in her writing. She is incredible at universe building, which is what drew me into her first book initially. It’s only unfortunate that she goes off on these tangents at the cost of building the plot and characters.

I’m honestly not expecting much improvement in terms of the writing in the last third of the book, and now that the war is upon them, it’s very likely that there are going to be a number of shortcuts and last minute solutions that appear. I’m most likely going to see the rest of this book through and put the rest of the series aside.

Week in Review (Jan 9 – 15, 2022)

~ colourfulgranny ~ Leave a comment

What have I been doing this week? I’m glad you asked! Here’s what’s been on my watchlist this week:

*Note: My reviews usually contain spoilers. You have been warned. Proceed at your own risk.*

TV

The King’s Affection (2021) – Ep 11-20

My k-drama watching had fallen by the wayside a little bit, but there’s nothing like a sageuk to pull me back in. While The King’s Affection is pretty light on the history part of historical drama, it has only amped up the drama in its second half.

As our young Crown Prince’s (Park Eun-bin) identity is revealed to more and more people to be that of his twin sister, the scheming political struggles also increase. Park continues to be one of the strongest performers, but it seems that she is largely relegated to sitting around waiting for things to happen to her rather than taking action. That gets left largely in her court members’ hands. Whether that be her being sent into exile, her father’s demise which forces her return, or the impending war with her grandfather’s army, Lee Hwi, is forced into a passive role.

Jung Ji-un (Rowoon) also vacillates a lot, and when we last left him, he had decided to distance himself from the court and from the Crown Prince, unaware of her identity either as a woman or as his childhood love. After learning of the danger on her life, he jumps at the opportunity to protect and as a result discovers the prince to in fact be a princess. He returns to court, and they decide that they can weather any storm that comes their way, as long as they are together (cheesy, but very beautifully shot), only for him to nearly marry someone else, before he comes to his senses when he learns that Hwi is Dam-i, his childhood sweetheart.

That’s all well and good when you have only minor troubles to deal with, but with Lee Hwi’s sudden ascension to the throne, and the resulting power struggles with his uncle and cousins, it’s easier said than done. Ji-un’s father is also another force to be reckoned with, who in turn is also bound by the Left State Councillor (Yoon Je-Moon). All this means that they ultimately come down to a small team of 6 truly trustworthy people and, especially for those like Court Lady Kim (Baek Hyun-joo) and Eunuch Hong (Go Gyu-pil), their reach is particularly limited.

While all this is ripe for a large battle and major strife, I felt like the last few episodes fell a bit… flat. The promised grand war didn’t happen, there was unnecessary loss of life (why did they need to kill a child?) and in the end it came down to Lee Hwi and his grandfather sharing a poisoned pot of tea. There was no explanation whatsoever about how Hwi survived his own poisoning or the toll it took on Ji-un that she was willing to do that.

The writing was a little too convenient in the final episode, with everything wrapped up neatly and our couple getting to ride off into the sunset. While this is standard practice for most k-dramas, here it felt a bit artificial and therefore unearned. While it was very pretty to look at, the show had its fair share of issues, and I didn’t come away with the fuzzy feelings I think I was expected to.