Quarantine Routine: What To Watch (Kdrama)
With the extension of the Movement Control Order (MCO) in Malaysia, we are all bound in our homes for another 2 weeks. Now that going out is not an option, time to plan on your quarantine routine! During this time, a few of us may take this time to work on ourselves, to be a better version at the end of this MCO while some may just want to take the time to chill or bond over a Netflix series. Maybe it's finally time to work on your hobbies - take a brush and some paint, be a little creative with it.
Even though you are not doing anything productive, it's okay and you don't have to feel competitive over your friends who are Masterchefs (in the making). It matters that you got through each day with a grateful heart and that's good enough.
For those who are simply looking for a distraction, I would suggest coming up with a list of movies or dramas to watch. Think of it as a time to not think about work or study - just be a happy potato and binge watch all the movies or series you've missed out. Let's not judge anybody, okay?
Here's my list of what to watch sorted according to genres and have it planned into your quarantine routine. I'm also working on a few more #saraareviews - so stay tuned until then!
In a society where the Kpop industry is growing so fast, it's no surprise that everyone is a fan. Question is how big of a fan are you? Another thing is - is there an age limit to being a fangirl?
Working as a chief curator at Cheum Museum of Art, Sung Deok-Mi (Park Min Young) is also a fansite manager for "Shi-an is My Life", a dedicated fanpage for the White Ocean's Cha Shi-an (Jung Jae-Won, commonly known as ONE). Ryan Gold (Kim Jae-Wook) is an artist who retired early from his career overseas and returned to Korea as the new Art Director of Cheum. Since the spread of the rumours speculating that Deok-Mi and Si-An are dating, Ryan suggested to Deok-Mi that they pretend to date - to save Deok-Mi from all the threats from Si-An's fans. When things are starting to work out for Deok-Mi and Ryan, a new intern Sindy (Kim Bo-Ra) is trying to prove the fake relationship as Deok-Mi's rival fansite.
Not only is this is a fresh storyline, it is also relatable to fangirls on this day. To all the fangirls out there, I promise you that you will fall head over heels because Ryan Gold is literally the perfect boyfriend. Not only that, the non-toxic supportive relationship between Ryan and Deok-Mi will just melt your heart, as if it's love for each other. Can you believe that this is Kim Jae-Wook's first ever romantic comedy - what more when you get to act with the queen of rom-com?
If anything, this drama feels like it brought an alternate ending for the second leads of Goblin (Grim Reaper and Sunny).
Oh Jin-Sim (stage nameas Oh Yeon-Seo played by Yoo In-Na) is a popular actress known for her beauty but not her acting. Her acting career plummets when she gets involved in a scandal, leaving her jobless for two years. In order to prepare for a comeback in a famous writer's project, she decided to work as a lawyer's secretary for 3 months. Kwon Jung-Rok (played by Lee Dong-Wook) is a cold-hearted attorney at a law firm who eventually took her in as his secretary. He's not happy with Yoon-Seo's presence, he eventually fall for her charms.
Other than the beautiful chemistry between the two, I like how the main characters actually contradict yet complete each other - Yoo In-Na's bright character and Lee Dong-Wook's platonic attitude. It was just lovely watching their relationship develop and soon enough, you will see the adorable side of Lee Dong-Wook's character despite the acts he put up. Even the supporting characters were fun to watch as their relationship too blossom alongside them.
This is the kind of drama to go for if you're into psychological thriller because it keeps you at the edge of your seat from the beginning until the end. It tackles the subject of various types of child abuse and the impacts on children, which remains an uncomfortable topic to discuss until this very day.
What started (and seemed) a happy family of four (soon-to-be), Cha Woo-Kyung (Kim Sun-Ah) is a child psychologist who lost her child due to a tragic accident. She lost her perfect family, career since then but she constantly sees this hallucination of a little girl in green dress. With the little girl remains unknown to her, she continues to delve into her past, searching for the truth. Meanwhile Kang Ji-Hoon (Lee Yi-Kyung) and Jun Soo-Young (Nam Gyu-Ri) are detectives who are investigating homicides that involves different forms of child abuse. In each case, there are lines of poems that somehow connected to Cha Woo-Kyung.
This drama was totally unplanned and it started as 'Oh looks like a new drama, let's give this a try'. Also because I'm a fan of Kim Sun-Ah's work since 'My Lovely Kim Sam Soon' and 'Scent of a Woman'. I stumbled upon the first episode on TV and decided to give it a go. At the end of each episode, it gives you that eerie and creepy feeling, leaving me excited about what's to come in the next episode. Even if you're not into horror, I highly recommend this drama.
The little girl in green dress (I mean look at the poster!), the eerie 'Red Moon Blue Sun' poem that leaves clues about children - such well planned breadcrumbs.
Set in the Joseon dynasty, things grew suspicious in the palace as the rumours of the death of the king spreads. Meanwhile, the influential Haewon Cho clan exerts its power to prevent Crown Prince Lee Chang (Joo Ji Hoon) from ascending the throne. Trying to uncover the truth of what happened to his father, Lee Chang charged on with his guard Moo Young (Kim Sang-Ho) to seek Physician Lee Seung Hui who paid a visit to the king before his 'death'. Instead, they found themselves in a village plagued with a disease with Assistant Physician Seo Bi (Bae Doo-Na) and the mysterious man called Young-Shik (Kim Sung-Kyu).
After a year into waiting for the sequel, Season 2 of Kingdom is done and dusted. Season 2 definitely provide some background for some characters along with new discoveries on how to defeat the zombies. As the plot continues on to Season 3, there's more to learn about how to cure and the origin of Ressurrection Flowers - that started all the zombie apocalyse. Despite the death of a few characters, hopes for Season 3 remains high as I'm excited to see how the story goes on for the new King after Lee Chang faked his own death.
No spoilers please because I'm currently just a few episodes away from the ending. Thus far, I'm loving the plot and the issues that it has been highlighting. I love the change of pace where it revolves the topic of death and puts an emphasis on the perspectives of the dead more than the living. Here, you will also see the parents' unconditional love for their child and how deaths can actually change a person more than you think. Even the act of committing suicide, the impact to the people close to you is indescribable.
Often we wonder how it would feel like for the dead - Were they happy? Are they watching us now? Do they have any regrets? So I suppose this drama gives a closure to that and a reminder to us all that we should appreciate life as we get, because in truth - tomorrow is never a promise. All in all, I love this drama so much and I think I might just write a review about this - so that I can fondly look back at the lessons some time in the future.
What would you do if you found out that you are a character in a comic? What's worse than to know that you're an extra created just to connect the dots between the male and female lead of the story? A high school drama with a twist, this one might just be it for you. Though I will say that you will need to pay attention to every episode, because it's easy to get lost in this world.
This is the story of Eun Dan-Oh (Kim Hye-Yoon), a 17 year-old student who suffers a lifelong heart condition. Things start to change the moment she realizes that she is a character in a Korean webtoon where all her actions are already fixed by the artist. Knowing that she will never live past her teenage years, she attempts to rewrite her destiny using flashes of storyboard that she alone can see. In search for her true love in the webtoon world, her story starts to change when she met 'Number 13' later known as Haru (Rowoon).
Follow through all the stories (yes, there's more than one manhwa) written by the same webtoon artist, and soon enough you will start to fall for Dan-Oh and Haru's characters. Both started as 'nameless' extra characters that started to work together to change their 'destinies' and longing for freedom to create their own story. A 180 degrees change compared to her character in Sky Castle, Kim Hye-Yoon's bubbly personality truly shine through Dan-Oh - which is something I'm sure to cheer you up whenever she drags the ever-innocent Haru through every adventure that could possibly change her storyline.
The title itself already spells out DRAMA. From what I hear, the storyline is about the female lead discovering that her husband has been having an affair behind her back all the years. What's worse is that all her friends knew about and kept it hidden from her. I'm not exactly a fan of complicated affair drama but I had to watch it to find out what the hype is about.
Cat lovers - this one is for you and maybe for all pet lovers who secretly wished that their pet can turn into a human being. I haven't start watching this yet but I'm curious to find out how L's character turn into a cat and then a human sporadically.
That's all for my list! Let me know in the comments section if there are any other genres that you would want me to watch.
Love, Sara
Even though you are not doing anything productive, it's okay and you don't have to feel competitive over your friends who are Masterchefs (in the making). It matters that you got through each day with a grateful heart and that's good enough.
For those who are simply looking for a distraction, I would suggest coming up with a list of movies or dramas to watch. Think of it as a time to not think about work or study - just be a happy potato and binge watch all the movies or series you've missed out. Let's not judge anybody, okay?
Here's my list of what to watch sorted according to genres and have it planned into your quarantine routine. I'm also working on a few more #saraareviews - so stay tuned until then!
Romantic Comedy
Her Private Life (그녀의 사생활)
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| Image credits to tvN. |
Working as a chief curator at Cheum Museum of Art, Sung Deok-Mi (Park Min Young) is also a fansite manager for "Shi-an is My Life", a dedicated fanpage for the White Ocean's Cha Shi-an (Jung Jae-Won, commonly known as ONE). Ryan Gold (Kim Jae-Wook) is an artist who retired early from his career overseas and returned to Korea as the new Art Director of Cheum. Since the spread of the rumours speculating that Deok-Mi and Si-An are dating, Ryan suggested to Deok-Mi that they pretend to date - to save Deok-Mi from all the threats from Si-An's fans. When things are starting to work out for Deok-Mi and Ryan, a new intern Sindy (Kim Bo-Ra) is trying to prove the fake relationship as Deok-Mi's rival fansite.
Not only is this is a fresh storyline, it is also relatable to fangirls on this day. To all the fangirls out there, I promise you that you will fall head over heels because Ryan Gold is literally the perfect boyfriend. Not only that, the non-toxic supportive relationship between Ryan and Deok-Mi will just melt your heart, as if it's love for each other. Can you believe that this is Kim Jae-Wook's first ever romantic comedy - what more when you get to act with the queen of rom-com?
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| Image credits to tvN. |
Touch Your Heart (진심이 닿다)
![Orion's Daily Ramblings] "Touch Your Heart" Shares Holiday Mood in ...](https://www.hancinema.net/photos/fullsizephoto1025061.jpg) |
| Image credits to tvN. |
Oh Jin-Sim (stage nameas Oh Yeon-Seo played by Yoo In-Na) is a popular actress known for her beauty but not her acting. Her acting career plummets when she gets involved in a scandal, leaving her jobless for two years. In order to prepare for a comeback in a famous writer's project, she decided to work as a lawyer's secretary for 3 months. Kwon Jung-Rok (played by Lee Dong-Wook) is a cold-hearted attorney at a law firm who eventually took her in as his secretary. He's not happy with Yoon-Seo's presence, he eventually fall for her charms.
Other than the beautiful chemistry between the two, I like how the main characters actually contradict yet complete each other - Yoo In-Na's bright character and Lee Dong-Wook's platonic attitude. It was just lovely watching their relationship develop and soon enough, you will see the adorable side of Lee Dong-Wook's character despite the acts he put up. Even the supporting characters were fun to watch as their relationship too blossom alongside them.
 |
| Image credits to tvN. |
Thriller and Mystery
Children of Nobody (붉은 달 푸른 해)
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| Image credits to MBC. |
What started (and seemed) a happy family of four (soon-to-be), Cha Woo-Kyung (Kim Sun-Ah) is a child psychologist who lost her child due to a tragic accident. She lost her perfect family, career since then but she constantly sees this hallucination of a little girl in green dress. With the little girl remains unknown to her, she continues to delve into her past, searching for the truth. Meanwhile Kang Ji-Hoon (Lee Yi-Kyung) and Jun Soo-Young (Nam Gyu-Ri) are detectives who are investigating homicides that involves different forms of child abuse. In each case, there are lines of poems that somehow connected to Cha Woo-Kyung.
This drama was totally unplanned and it started as 'Oh looks like a new drama, let's give this a try'. Also because I'm a fan of Kim Sun-Ah's work since 'My Lovely Kim Sam Soon' and 'Scent of a Woman'. I stumbled upon the first episode on TV and decided to give it a go. At the end of each episode, it gives you that eerie and creepy feeling, leaving me excited about what's to come in the next episode. Even if you're not into horror, I highly recommend this drama.
The little girl in green dress (I mean look at the poster!), the eerie 'Red Moon Blue Sun' poem that leaves clues about children - such well planned breadcrumbs.
 |
| Image credits to MBC. |
Kingdom (킹덤) Season 1 and 2
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| Image credits to Netflix |
If you're into short series of drama and is OK with blood spilling around and close-up of the zombies - this is highly recommended. Packed with action and suspense, this drama will have your attention unless you're not so good with blood and zombies 'eating' each other out.
Set in the Joseon dynasty, things grew suspicious in the palace as the rumours of the death of the king spreads. Meanwhile, the influential Haewon Cho clan exerts its power to prevent Crown Prince Lee Chang (Joo Ji Hoon) from ascending the throne. Trying to uncover the truth of what happened to his father, Lee Chang charged on with his guard Moo Young (Kim Sang-Ho) to seek Physician Lee Seung Hui who paid a visit to the king before his 'death'. Instead, they found themselves in a village plagued with a disease with Assistant Physician Seo Bi (Bae Doo-Na) and the mysterious man called Young-Shik (Kim Sung-Kyu).
After a year into waiting for the sequel, Season 2 of Kingdom is done and dusted. Season 2 definitely provide some background for some characters along with new discoveries on how to defeat the zombies. As the plot continues on to Season 3, there's more to learn about how to cure and the origin of Ressurrection Flowers - that started all the zombie apocalyse. Despite the death of a few characters, hopes for Season 3 remains high as I'm excited to see how the story goes on for the new King after Lee Chang faked his own death.
Fantasy
Hi Bye Mama (하이바이, 마마!)
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| Image credits to tvN |
Since her fateful death five years ago, Cha Yu-Ri (Kim Tae-Hee) has been a ghost who still follows around her husband Cho Gang-Hwa (Lee Kyu-Hyung) and daughter (Seo Woo-Jin). One day, she was given a chance at life in carrying out a reincarnation project for 49 days. In order to stay alive after 49 days, she has to regain her place but her husband is now remarried to his junior, Oh Min-Jung (Ko Bo-Gyeol).
No spoilers please because I'm currently just a few episodes away from the ending. Thus far, I'm loving the plot and the issues that it has been highlighting. I love the change of pace where it revolves the topic of death and puts an emphasis on the perspectives of the dead more than the living. Here, you will also see the parents' unconditional love for their child and how deaths can actually change a person more than you think. Even the act of committing suicide, the impact to the people close to you is indescribable.
Often we wonder how it would feel like for the dead - Were they happy? Are they watching us now? Do they have any regrets? So I suppose this drama gives a closure to that and a reminder to us all that we should appreciate life as we get, because in truth - tomorrow is never a promise. All in all, I love this drama so much and I think I might just write a review about this - so that I can fondly look back at the lessons some time in the future.
Extraordinary You (어쩌다 발견한 하루)
This is the story of Eun Dan-Oh (Kim Hye-Yoon), a 17 year-old student who suffers a lifelong heart condition. Things start to change the moment she realizes that she is a character in a Korean webtoon where all her actions are already fixed by the artist. Knowing that she will never live past her teenage years, she attempts to rewrite her destiny using flashes of storyboard that she alone can see. In search for her true love in the webtoon world, her story starts to change when she met 'Number 13' later known as Haru (Rowoon).
Follow through all the stories (yes, there's more than one manhwa) written by the same webtoon artist, and soon enough you will start to fall for Dan-Oh and Haru's characters. Both started as 'nameless' extra characters that started to work together to change their 'destinies' and longing for freedom to create their own story. A 180 degrees change compared to her character in Sky Castle, Kim Hye-Yoon's bubbly personality truly shine through Dan-Oh - which is something I'm sure to cheer you up whenever she drags the ever-innocent Haru through every adventure that could possibly change her storyline.
On My To Watch List
If you're looking for something new instead, here's what I have on my to-watch list.
The King: Eternal Monarch (더킹: 영원의 군주)
The long-awaited Lee Min Ho's comeback and with a Goblin-like storyline. What's more is that Kim Go-Eun (also from Goblin) is the female lead. I'm excited to see how this fantasy or parallel universe concept plays out between this king and a modern day detective.
The World of the Married (부부의 세계)
The title itself already spells out DRAMA. From what I hear, the storyline is about the female lead discovering that her husband has been having an affair behind her back all the years. What's worse is that all her friends knew about and kept it hidden from her. I'm not exactly a fan of complicated affair drama but I had to watch it to find out what the hype is about.
Meow: The Secret Boy / Welcome (어서와)
Cat lovers - this one is for you and maybe for all pet lovers who secretly wished that their pet can turn into a human being. I haven't start watching this yet but I'm curious to find out how L's character turn into a cat and then a human sporadically.
That's all for my list! Let me know in the comments section if there are any other genres that you would want me to watch.
Love, Sara
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