“My Name” (마이 네임)
You know how in most action series, there is that one guy who can fight a team of gangsters, get stabbed and bounce back into action in no time? In “My Name,” that guy is a kickass woman.
Year: 2021
Go Away With … Philipp Maximilian
“Being a part of a Disney blockbuster wasn’t anything I thought I could ever dream of,” said “Jungle Cruise” actor Philipp Maximilian. “Jean-Vincent Puzos built the most incredible sets for us, so filming this movie was like being a kid in a candy store for a Disneyland nerd like me. Jesse Plemons (Prince Joachim) and I had so much fun playing around with my character, Axel, and coming up with a lot of silly stuff.”
“D.P.” (디피)
The superb “D.P.” is not an easy series to watch. While not as gory as “Squid Game,” it’s more disturbing in many ways, because it deals with South Korea’s real-life mandatory military duty — which requires every able-bodied Korean man to enlist for approximately two years.
Shin Min A & Kim Seon Ho: Team Dimples!
How much do you know about Team Dimples (aka Shin Min A and Kim Seon Ho)?!
In ‘Squid Game,’ children’s games get awfully bloody
NPR asked me to share my thoughts about the Korean series, “Squid Game,” for their Pop Culture Happy Hour podcast. We discussed the controversy about the subtitles, whether the Western actors in Episodes 7 lended anything to the series and whether a Season 2 would be a good thing or not.
“Squid Game,” Yu Jae Seok and More!
Can’t get enough of the “Squid Game” stars? Then you’ll be happy to know that Ho Yeon (who played No. 067), Anupam Tripathi (No. 199) and Oh Young Su (No. 001) are set to appear on three Korean variety series!
Go Away With … Laurie Fortier
“I think I’d like to go camping with Agatha – maybe Yosemite,” said Laurie Fortier, the actress who plays the character on “The Walking Dead.” “I imagine she’d know how to pitch a tent, fish and make a fire.”
“Hospital Playlist” (슬기로운 의사생활): Season 2
“Hospital Playlist” is a good series, where the core friendship is warm and engaging. The five doctors have the kind of relationship with each other that makes me envious … even though I don’t particularly feel a need for that many close friends in my real life. (haha)
Rising “Squid Game” Stars HoYeon Jung and Wi Ha Joon
Get to know “Squid Game” stars Jung Ho Yeon (who played North Korean defector Sae Byeok) and Wi Ha Joon (who portrayed the police officer Jun Ho).
Go Away With … Joanne Lee Molinaro (the Korean Vegan)
Trial attorney by day and content creator by night, Joanne Lee Molinaro is known to her millions of social media followers as the Korean Vegan. In her social media posts, she delivers beautifully crafted videos showing her cook, while she shares personal stories about her life and that of her parents, who had escaped North Korea as children before immigrating to the United States as adults.
“Squid Game” Is a Social Allegory Informed by Korean History
“Squid Game” is not this year’s “Parasite,” so much as it is a satire in the vein of “A Modest Proposal.” Just as Jonathan Swift pointed out the abject brutality of telling the poor to satiate their hunger by eating healthy, plump babies, Hwang depicts the cruelty of lording a huge sum of money – literally – over desperate people’s heads, knowing that most will die as they lived: penniless.
Like “Squid Game”? Here are Some K-dramas to Check Out!
Want to see more K-dramas that share some of the elements that made “Squid Game” so engaging? KOCOWA has some suggestions for you!
Go Away With … Cristina Rodlo
“I’ve been very fortunate to have worked both in Mexico and the United States,” said Cristina Rodlo, star of Netflix’s horror film, “No One Gets Out Alive.” “Honestly, the biggest difference is the budget. Other than that, it’s pretty much the same.”
Why Park Seo Jun is Perfect for “The Marvels”
The popular actor Park Seo Jun is making his Marvel debut as one of the cast members of “The Marvels,” currently filming in England!
Go Away With … Justin Chon
With his latest movie, “Blue Bayou,” award-winning filmmaker Justin Chon (“Gook,” “Ms. Purple”) explores the plight of Antonio LeBlanc, a New Orleans man who was adopted as a baby and is facing deportation, due to his lack of U.S. citizenship. Based on the real-life cases of adults who literally were sent back to “where they came from,” the movie had its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, before its September 17, 2021 theatrical release.
Former “Twilight” Star Justin Chon Unpacks His New Movie “Blue Bayou”
“One of my objectives in filmmaking is to bring empathy and understanding to our community,” said “Blue Bayou” writer, director and star, Justin Chon.
Why “The Veil” is One of 2021’s Most Highly Anticipated K-dramas
If you’re not watching “The Veil” yet, you should! Why? The plot, the cast, and the blockbuster feel (thanks to a whopping $13 million budget!) are just some of the reasons.
“Bring It On, Ghost” (싸우자 귀신아)
The series parable seems to be that if you have hate in your heart, you are susceptible to being influenced to hurt others, just because you can. “Bring It On, Ghost” started off as an uneven series. But once you get past the first couple episodes, it becomes a must-see K-drama that’s filled with action and a lot of heart.
Go Away With … Jocko Sims
Jocko Sims portrays Dr. Floyd Reynolds on the NBC medical series, “New Amsterdam.” An avid traveler, Sims said before he sets out to explore a new city or country, “I absolutely look up restaurants. I want to go to the best of the best, from very cheap to most expensive. What built the town or the culture? What place is impossible to get into? That floats my boat.”
“Penthouse: War in Life (Season 3)” (펜트하우스)
What started out as a compelling makjang series ended with a bloody mess, where vengeance wasn’t sweet. Rather, it took over the main characters’ lives to the point where they could see nothing else but hate.