Tag: 2023

“The Uncanny Counter 2” (경이로운 소문 2)

Jae-Ha Kim

This second season of “The Uncanny Counter” is good enough. But it is also a reminder that K-dramas are traditionally made to finish after one season. With the influx of Western streaming sites that have figured out how lucrative Korean shows can be, there have been more shows going into their second (or even third seasons). And while I was one of the viewers who had hoped for a second season of this series, I acknowledge that it may have been best to just leave things as they were.

“D.P.” (디피): Season 2

Jae-Ha Kim

What both seasons of “D.P.” does so well is tell the important and uncomfortable stories that no one wants to believe are true. When soldiers are regularly humiliated, degraded and tortured, what right does anyone have to tell the victims that they must return to their abusers?

“See You in My 19th Life” (이번 생도 잘 부탁해)

Jae-Ha Kim

“See You in My 19th Life” delves into reincarnation. And as it does so, it drives home the point that even if you are assured of living more than one life, what’s important is that you live your best life, rather than muddling through and wasting time.

“The Good Bad Mother” (나쁜엄마)

Jae-Ha Kim

Like “Our Blues,” “My Liberation Notes” and “Reply 1988,” “The Good Bad Mother” is a slice-of-life series filled with quirky characters who are overly interested in each other’s business. They support each other, are jealous of each other’s children and talk smack about each other. But if an outsider dares to do the same, hell hath no fury like a neighbor scorned.

“Black Knight” (택배기사)

Jae-Ha Kim

“Black Knight” takes place 40 years after a comet crashed into Earth, nearly destroying the entire population. The Korean series is clearly a parable for what could happen to our world if we don’t take better care of the most vulnerable among us.