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It was more than the hilarious plot of a free-spirited modern age chef trapped in Queen Cheorin’s body wreaking havoc in the Joseon era, that earned “Mr Queen” its position as the 5th highest rated drama in TVN history.

The rom-com factor that made us chuckle, cast’s endearing & stellar performance, awesome teamwork & chemistry, cliffhangers at end of each episode, fusion of modern thinking in the olden days, infusion of KPOP, K-Beauty, KFood, giving new meaning to modern day phrases like “No Touch” & “Anti-Fan”, improvising food cuisines in Joseon Dynasty, scheming and plotting against one another, a King with a Hyde & Jekyll personality, & the struggle between a homosexual vs heterosexual love line, were the many reasons that whisked me through the 20 episodes.

Mr Queen’s theme boils down to freedom.

The freedom to break away from the shackles of society norms & standards, be who we really are, do what we have always wanted, love whoever we want and to express how we truly feel.

Bong Hwan’s adventure allowed us to experience life in Joseon with a modern filter. His quick wits, great survival instincts and adaptability allowed him to pull through the biggest ordeals.

“Mr Queen” broaches on a bold but taboo topic on homosexuality, bisexuality & gender identity crisis. While this pushes the boundaries in South Korea’s conservative society, it did not deter the ratings from escalating steadily.

What we learnt:
– Love transcends time & gender
– 在宫里，没有任何人是真正的好人或坏人，只有立场和利益的不同
– The “truth” is based on what people choose to believe in
– Never lose the most important person – yourself

Director Yoon strikes a balance where Shin Hye Sun’s responsible for the wackier, light-hearted moments while Kim Jung Hyun on the serious & melodramatic parts.

Was it Bong Hwan in So Yong’s body or was So Yong hiding in the subconscious state all along?

When she’s Bong Hwan, she’s a spitfire and pompous with a total disregard regarding palace protocols. So Yong’s more composed, graceful & shy around Cheoljong, while So Bong’s a contradicting embodiment of good vs evil, rough vs gentle, rash vs composed.

Kim Jung Hyun’s lauded for portraying his multi-faceted character with much depth. The intricate portrayal of his facial and eye expressions, vocal tone, body language, aids in delivering Cheoljong’s complicated & intense emotions. On the surface, he’s a lazy, timid, lecherous puppet king , while the real CJ’s ambitious, capable, prudent, witty, has plans for the greater good.

It was gratifying to watch them 同台飙戏。Their ad lib improvisations made scenes more enjoyable for the viewers. Tension building up in the initial episodes when both were double guessing , wary of each others’ intentions, pitting against each other were served like a bowl of piping hot jjamppong.

The right person will love you for being you.

From his 中殿词典, abiding by his queen’s “No Touch” rule and the crossed eye portrait, Cheoljong never failed to show his affection in the most subtle ways.

Kim Hyun Jung & Shin Hye Sun made this “No Touch” couple much more endearing.

Na In Woo’s supporting role created ripples in viewers’ hearts. Byeong In’s the tall, handsome, 深情专一 堂哥, who’s a skilled swordsman & shrewd strategist with a never give up attitude. He’s a sorrowful character with a twisted love obsession. Only Byeong In noticed the change in So Yong. He’s the only one who truly understood her.

The penned up emotions, rage, jealousy, unwavering devotion and sheer possessiveness were so well executed. Not to mention the several breathtaking fighting scenes with Cheoljong were impressive.

We often regret what we didn’t fight for, but he put up a good fight for the love of his life.

The pretty, intelligent, composed Hwa Jin is definitely Queen material. When So Bong usurped her “throne” in Cheoljong’s heart, that’s when she turned to the dark side. Love, hate and jealousy can drive people to behave in irrational and destructive ways. The palace can turn someone into a monster as they lose themselves in the pursuit for more wants.

The supporting roles instilled so much vibrancy, fun and laughter. They are proof that friendship exists in the palace.

It’s more than an “employer-employee” relationship between So Bong, Court Lady Choi & Hong Yeon. They are her best friends and support.

Court Lady Choi & Royal Chef’s budding romance, Hong Byeolgam & Kim Hwan’s friendship, love triangle between Kim Hwan, Hong Byeolgam & Hong Yeon were some of our favourite “ships”.

From the scheming & merciless Kim Jae Geun, domineering Grand Empress Dowager who had a weakness for good food & beauty products, superstitious Queen Dowager Jo who plotted her revenge by preying on the weak minds, to the corrupted officials, you wished you could grind them all.

Does Cheoljong only lovesBong Hwan or both Bong Hwan & So Yong?

This is an open-ended question that’s up to viewers’ discretion.Read More →

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Everyone has their secrets.

We only allow others to see what we want them to see. Similarly, we choose to believe in what we want to see.

How far would you go to keep your darkest secrets under wraps?

When your seemingly “perfect” world crumbles, how would you embrace your whole new world?

“Flower of Evil” isn’t just any other ordinary, intriguing crime-thriller. The suspense, exciting goose-chase, mind games & hints dropped along every episode, gave us a chance to ignite our inner detective traits in unraveling the mystery behind the series of murders.

The intensity of the evoked contradictory feelings threatens to mess with your cognitive resonance and brings you on an oddly satisfying emotional roller-coaster ride.

We probably have some “psychopathic” traits in us too, since we are all embodiment of good and evil. It’s how we allow that “seed of evil” to grow in us, that determines if it eventually flourishes into a flower of evil or good.

Kudos to the well-paced, not-too-predictable storyline & superb cast performance.

Lee Joon Gi never fails to throw surprises with his versatile & exemplary acting, while Moon Chae Won exceeds expectations with her portrayal of the struggles of facing a whole new reality. Kim Ji Hoon will shook you with his awesome acting too.

“Flower of Evil” is undeniably one of the best KDramas in 2020. A successful drama isn’t just one that possesses the above attributes, but also the ability to keep viewers pondering if they can make a difference.

The essence of love, trust, perception, how our personal experiences make us prejudiced or even discriminate others, justice, truth, parents’ influence on kids, peer pressure, societal influence, etc are some of the topics that viewers would reflect on.

Everyone deserves a 2nd chance in life.

We are all guilty of having preconceptions. We exercise our judgement based on hearsay. Sometimes, we already condemn someone without even giving them a chance. We should all learn to 放下成见，多用心和理智去感受. There can never be a clear distinction between good and evil.

This drama has brought to light that the society still lacks empathy for people with mental illnesses and victims of bullying.

Has it ever occurred to you that sometimes what people want is not the truth, but what they assume to be the “truth” or whether it has 话题性?

You can instantaneously imagine the intensity of the confusion, excitement, when a suspected serial killer on the run & a detective is a married couple.

Opposite forces attract, yet repel when one tries to mask his past while the other desires to unearth everything he has hidden. It’s a compelling force that pulls viewers into the lead couple’s turmoil and biggest challenges in life.

JG & MCW’s chemistry as a married couple in “Flower of Evil” is convincing. Their acting isn’t overboard or under whelming, especially when it comes to their individual struggles when the trust fell apart.

It’s easy to stereotype the children of a murderer to be the same as he is, on the basis that they have the same blood running in them. We repeatedly condemn someone as “incorrigible” because we refused to give them a chance, but there are also times when we would “readily forgive” another and find excuses for all the wrongs they did.

Children are not shadows of their parents. We can be who we want to be.

Joon Gi deserves a Best Actor Award for his impressive multi-faceted role! He’s worth the 3-year wait on screen. His broad acting spectrum is never limited by his pretty boy looks.

JG is like an ever peeling onion, always having something more to showcase & for viewers to discover. His eyes are so expressive that you can feel his emotions with every look or slight twitch. The unfeeling, nonchalant look in his eyes would creep you out at times.

It’s at a level whereby he could incorporate his character within himself. Be it emotional or action scenes, Joon Gi did all that almost flawlessly.

As much as she is a righteous cop, Ji Won was pulled into “irrational” thinking in order to protect the man she loves. MCW has portrayed her role with just the right temperament, striking a balance being an outstanding detective, yet doesn’t seem too gullible even when she has a pure heart.

Kim Ji Hoon’s a great looker who’s so competent in his role that it sends chills down your spines despite his limited screen time. The deranged looks, sinister smiles, big eyes staring into space & hysterical laughter, contemplating his next steps in setting traps to lure his prey, were so innately displayed.

The Baek Parents are an excellent example of how 盲目的宠溺会毁了孩子的一生。

This drama has given me much reflection moments about love, kinship & how we should learn to cast our preconceptions aside.

Spend more time and effort to understand the people you love. What we should do is not to change them but embrace them for who they are.

That said, I simply cannot wait for Lee Joon Gi’s next project!
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This review is dedicated to actor Ahn Bo Hyun who has made such a remarkable transformation to the multi-faceted villain in Itaewon Class.

It is impossible to hate the abhorrent yet pitiable Jang Geun Won. He reminded me of “The Joker”, who’s feared & loathed by many, but was never loved or needed by anyone. It isn’t just the body language or tone, but the most captivating is how he used his eyes to accentuate his acting. His preparation work and conscientious effort in perfecting every scene, has left the viewers in awe of the final product.

Indeed, opportunities belong to those who are well-prepared. This is definitely the turning point in Ahn Bo Hyun’s acting career.

We’ll analyze his character in greater depth and discuss some of our most memorable scenes! We hope this would reach out to more readers who would like to discover more about this underrated actor.

And yes, this article is especially dedicated to Ahn Bo Hyun as a birthday gift!
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“Itaewon Class” is lauded for being “more than just an ordinary revenge drama”. It denotes an inspiring story of the underdogs’ uphill climb to success and takes us on a self-exploration journey to work through limitless possibilities in life. The theme fuels motivation to conquer obstacles and striving harder to achieve your dreams. It surfaces ingrained societal problems and also “golden” quotes for us to reflect on.

“Freedom” and “Forgiveness” are the keywords that embody the theme of “Itaewon Class”. Letting go is an art of learning how to forgive not just others, but also yourself. You need to break free from the invisible chains holding you down, so that you can move on.

Some societal issues include discrimination against ex-convicts, foreigners and transgenders, dealing with Sociopaths, how the rich and influential abuse their authority to get pass the law.

The realistically multi-faceted and imperfect characters prove that there isn’t always a distinctive line between good and evil. Ahn Bo Hyun has changed my perspective on villainous characters being one-dimensional. He added much spice to the drama by portraying the dark but also vulnerable side of a villain.

“Seeking revenge” doesn’t mean having to degrade yourself or stoop to an unscrupulous level. It can inspire you to dream bigger and strive harder, retain your principles while achieving your goals.

Sae Royi is a symbol of the “underdogs’ fight against evil”. He showed us how imperative it is to better your knowledge, experience, learn from repeated failures, press on and work your way through.

My favourite quote: “Everyone is given the same amount of time. It is how we use it that defines who and how different we are.”

We have learnt that self-love includes knowing when to put yourself before others and we do not need anyone’s affirmation to be who we are. Giving up without a fight is one of the detrimental things we can do to ourselves.

Listen to your inner voice, have faith in yourself.

Never say never.

Join us on a meaningful self-exploration journey as we delve deeper into analyzing some of our favourite characters, discuss prevalent societal issues, draw inferences from the characters’ life lessons and share with you some of our favourite quotes.Read More →

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续2017年推出大受欢迎的医疗剧<<浪漫医生金师傅>>后，台前幕后原班人马再度携手在2020年推出第二系列<<浪漫医生金师傅 2>>。

第二系列的剧情更加赚人热泪，令人感触良多，对人生有更深层的体会，可谓是令小编受益匪浅。续集的成功，取决于它透过戏里的人物，让我们探讨许多和我们息息相关的现今社会现象和问题。你会深陷其境，以戏剧人物的角度看待事情，但也会以客观的出发点，思考究竟什么才是当下最妥当的决定。

这些小故事和突发状况，让我们更能体会生命的脆弱，人性的善与恶，内心的挣扎与矛盾，和我们必须天天面临的现实和挑战。

石坛医院就是这现今社会办公室政治的反射。人际关系是非常重要。懂得如何融洽地和长辈同仁们和睦相处，互相扶持，和努力把工作完成是同等重要的。

编剧以更”人性化”，写实的方式呈现出医生和普通人没两样。剧集除了让人看到当医护人员辛苦的一面，也勾勒出了许内心世界的善良，邪恶，阴暗，贪婪，自私，矛盾，不知所措的层面。虽然医生的使命是要尽力救病患，可是每个人的企图心和目的都不同，有些人是为了往上爬，稳定的收入，或只是为了要别人肯定自己的实力。

在这道德伦理沦丧，利益为首的时代，是否金钱和权威挂帅的世界才是王道? 许多事情都不在我们能掌握的范围，但我们该如何尽我们所能，克服种种困难? 我们所谓的正义，道德伦理，究竟是对或错? 或许在观看这部剧集的时候，你可以试试寻找答案。

我们无法改变已发生过的事情/悲剧，但未来和每个决定掌握在自己的手里。只要不放弃，就或许会有达成所愿的一天。

小编比较喜欢续集，因为有许多人生哲理，很贴近我们的生活，更深入民心。虽然续集少了柳演锡和徐玄振，但很开心梁世宗回来客串一集。看见安孝燮和他在”30 but 17″之后再续戏缘，感觉很窝心。

这部剧迷人的地方，在于它给我们上了许多堂关于人生的宝贵课程，也让我们思考，什么才是对我们最重要的。

– 现今社会欺凌的现象，如家庭暴力
– 玩办公室政治，欺凌，排挤，歧视，孤立”不入流”的个体
– 良性的竞争是动力，恶性的竞争使人偏离轨道
– 哪些事情是医生分内的事情? 哪些是因为怕承担后果而不敢进行?
– 如果一直逃避，习惯了逃避，一辈子都无法逃离任何地方。
– 前途 vs 心向往的地方
– 道德观念 VS 职业操守

医生的职责是无论病患的身分或地位，他们都得尽力救活他们。医生也和我们一样，有自身的道德观念和想法。他们是否应该只遵守守则，而不顾及病患和家属的感受? 医生的任何决定可以危机到病患的生死。在分秒必争的情况下，他们应该如何抉择才是双赢局面?

1) 脑死的病患捐献器官 – 医生是否应该干涉家属决定?
2) 在翻车事故后，你会选择逃离，还是会冒生命危险留下来抢救伤者?
3) 如果选择”尊严死”的病患，是医护人员熟悉的人，他们是否能遵守”约定”，或会为了私人理由干涉?

Dr. Romantic 2 让小编对生活和人生有更多不同层次的体会，希望这部剧也能温暖你的内心，也让你有所启发，继续奋斗。

只要我们不放弃，这世界就还不会彻底毁坏。当然如果觉得累了，试试放慢自己的脚步，休息片刻，再重新出发。
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