“Sisyphus: The Myth” (시지프스)
“Sisyphus: The Myth” has an intriguing premise, in which an inventor creates a time machine. And as with many time travel stories, you have to suspend your belief in reality to enjoy this production.
Tag: 2.5 stars
“The Silent Sea” (고요의 바다)
“The Silent Sea” is based on director Choi Hang-Yong’s short film of the same name. Starring Bae Doona and Gong Yoo, the eight-part series is set on the moon, where the astronauts have been tasked with recovering research from the previous mission.
“Nevertheless” (알고있지만)
In many ways, “Nevertheless” is a primer for how women are manipulated into diminishing their own wants and desires for a man.
“You Are My Spring” (너는 나의 봄)
“You Are My Spring” stresses the importance of mental health care and normalizing treatment for everyone, rather than as something that’s just for the clinically insane. And … There’s also a serial killer element.
“Dr. Brain” (Dr. 브레인)
If you could tap into the brain of a dead person (or a cat, yes, a cat) in order to save a life, would you? That’s the premise behind “Dr. Brain,” the first original Korean series to make its debut on Apple TV+.
“Hit-and-Run Squad” (뺑반)
I’m so used to seeing Jo Jung-Suk play the good guy (“Hospital Playlist,” “Oh My Ghost”) that it was fun to watch him chew up the scenery as a bad-boy rich guy who is brutal, immoral and nasty.
“Kingdom: Ashin of the North” (킹덤: 아신전)
“Ashin of the North” is screenwriter Kim Eun-Hee’s concession to “Kingdom” fans, who are eagerly awaiting the third season of the popular Netflix series. This stand-alone episode — or film, depending on how you view it — is entertaining, but not nearly of the same caliber of storytelling as the first two seasons of this zombie period piece.
“Oh My Ghost” (오 나의 귀신님)
The first half of “Oh My Ghost” is what I refer to as a laundry series. I was so disinterested in the plot that it took me months to finish, and most of it was while I was sorting and folding laundry. But all that changed in the second half when the series veered from the repetitive plot of a horny ghost wanting to bed a handsome chef, and turned into a thrilling murder mystery.
“Space Sweepers” (승리호)
“Space Sweepers” has a lot of things going for it — great acting, cinematography, special effects. But once you’re done oohing and ahhing at the visual onslaught, it’ll sink in that what the film lacks is a cohesive storyline.
“Beyond Evil” (괴물)
“Beyond Evil” is one weird (in an interesting way) Korean series that centers on the search for a serial killer, who murdered multiple women — including the protagonist’s younger sister. Virtually all the major characters are suspects at one point or another, with damning evidence that has been carefully weaved into the storyline.
“Man to Man” (맨투맨)
An espionage thriller with comedy and romance, “Man to Man” is a fun action thriller with great action scenes and a warm bromance. Park Hae-Jin is charming as the handsome ghost agent to whom everyone is attracted to.,
“Tomorrow, With You” (내일 그대와)
“Tomorrow, With You” has so many wonderful elements — especially the adorable chemistry between the two leads. But the frustrating part was watching just about everyone in the series keep integral secrets from each other in an attempt to change — and protect — their future.
“Run On” (런 온)
There are several subplots percolating in “Run On,” but the most interesting was the bullying, especially in light of the accusations of real-life bullying scandals surrounding idols and actors. This K-drama offers a perspective that bullying is a part of Korean hierarchy, and those with wealthy and powerful parents won’t be punished. Those who are poor and powerless won’t get justice.
“To All the Boys: Always and Forever” Review: A Beautiful Vacation
While “To All the Boys” author Jenny Han may have no desire to write a fourth book in this series, wouldn’t it be fun if Kitty got a spinoff? She could move to Seoul to become a K-pop trainee, learn Korean, and reunite with her crush Dae (Jeon Ho-Young). TATB doesn’t have to end with Lara Jean and Peter. With a little bit of tweaking, it can go on always and forever.
“Kairos” (카이로스)
“Kairos” starts off promising and is reminiscent of the best elements of “Signal.” But where the latter kept the suspense going until the end, “Kairos” fizzles out midway, with redundant story arcs and some characters that are not only irredeemable, but highly unlikeable. And I’m not talking just about the villains.
“Train to Busan Presents: Peninsula” (반도)
What “Peninsula” lacks in humanity is made up with spectacular car chases and firearms. Is it as good as “Train to Busan”? No, but it’s good enough, in a Hollywood shoot-em-up kind of way.
“Voice” (보이스): Season 1
“Voice” is a gory police procedural revolving around a police officer who can solve cases with her astute hearing and the “mad dog” detective who learns to trust her instincts. Their goal is to find the serial killer responsible for killing her father and his wife.
“Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol” (도도솔솔라라솔)
“Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol” had a promising start that was spoiled by an ending that came out of nowhere.
“Seoul Searching”
Once “Seoul Searching” gets past the caricatures, the story delves into the deeper meaning of what it means to be Korean in societies that view you as a perpetual foreigner. Though the film concentrates on Korean Americans, two of the more memorable characters are Korean teens raised in Germany (Klaus, played by Teo Yoo) and Mexico (Esteban Ahn’s Sergio).
“Save Me” (구해줘)
“Save Me” depicts how a cult ensnares members to join them. Are these people stupid? No. But they do want to believe in something so badly that they are wiling to overlook all the signs that something is amiss.