Boyfriend On Demand

 K-Pam’s Note: I have finished watching a lot of dramas before this, but I somehow couldn’t focus on writing my reviews. So, this is a…

Mini Review on Demand 📲

A few years back, on BLACKPINK’s #Jisoo, I liked her friendship with Snowdrop leading man Jung Hae In and I rooted for her and Ahn Bo Hyun when they admitted that they were dating. But when they broke up, I took his side and never looked back. (Because, despite his tough on-screen roles, Bo Hyun is known for being gentle and soft-spoken, and even with that toned physique, I kind of felt he was hurting.) With this bias firmly in place, I logged into BOD, ready to be unimpressed.

#BoyfriendOnDemand, also known as Monthly Boyfriend, has been a highly anticipated release, as this is Jisoo’s first major leading role since Snowdrop, marking her rom-com debut, plus parts of the series were filmed in Cebu, Philippines, which serves as one of the beautiful "virtual date" locations. But I really came for the “boyfriends”, knowing that the drama has a stacked (read: massive) lineup of cameos of A-list stars to play her virtual boyfriends.

Seo Mirae (Jisoo) is a burnt-out webtoon producer who has officially traded real-world heartbreak for a digital "happily ever after." Enter Boyfriend on Demand (BOD), a high-end VR service offering 900 versions of perfection—for the right price. As Mirae sinks deeper into her customized virtual romance, her real life is plagued by Park Kyeong Nam (Seo In Guk), her sharp-tongued office rival who seems determined to pop her digital bubble. But when the "perfect" algorithms start mimicking Kyeong Nam’s irritations, Mirae finds the line between her subscription and her heart beginning to blur. 

I almot pulled the plug before Episode 1 even finished. The next morning, I was staring at the resume button, genuinely torn. Do I give Jisoo another chance? I was telling my sister I’m not interested in the male lead. I saw him in Twelve, and I was 50-50 on this drama, so he and his role didn’t leave much impression on me. I couldn't wrap my head around the casting. Sure, he has the stature, but if Kyeong Nam's character should be an irritant initially, I was thinking we could have Kang Tae Oh or Cha Seo Won (the lawyer in Spring Fever) who can be handsome and annoying at the same time.

But then I remembered I wanted to see the other “boyfriends.”

• Lee Soo Hyuk (S Line) as Choi Si Woo, a cold but handsome third-generation chaebol who takes her on glamorous dates and showers her with luxurious gifts

• Seo Kang Joon (Undercover High School) as Seo Eun Ho, a dreamy first love archetype, a university heartthrob and athlete

• Lee Jae Wook (The Impossible Heir, Dear Hongrang) as Dr. Lee, a tough but brilliant doctor

• Ong Seong Wu (Strong Girl Nam Soon) as Bae Hyeon Woo, a secret agent

• Kim Young Dae (Sh**ting Star, Dear X) as a mysterious assassin

• Lee Sang Yi (Good Boy) as a firefighter

• Lee Hyun Wook (Mine) as a prosecutor

• Mu Jin Sung (Typhoon Family) as a bodyguard

• Jay Park as himself 

Other notable appearances include Kim Sung Cheol who plays Kim Se Jun, Mirae’s ex-boyfriend in the real world, Yoo In Na, who appears as BOD’s dating manager and guide, and even Super Junior’s Choi Si-Won.

The cameos represent the "subscription" nature of the service, featuring a different "dream guy" trope, allowing us to see Mirae explore different romantic fantasies before her real-world connection with Kyeong Nam takes center stage.

I simply lost it with Seo Kang Joon’s Seo Eun Ho and his pink jacket and honey-colored eyes. His cameo taps into the ultimate First Love and campus crush nostalgia. Later, it was revealed that he is the most popular boyfriend on the entire platform, dating more than 12,000 subscribers.

But more than the visual treat, what I loved about the virtual relationship is the parallelism shown between Mirae’s relationship with Eun Ho and with her ex-boyfriend. It served as a therapeutic mirror to her past and…a closure. Her realizations helped her heal and reconcile with the heartbreak she went through after their breakup. By allowing the trauma in the end rewrite the beauty of the beginning, all she remembered in the relationship were the pains and struggles she carried over the years, completely burying the genuine love and happiness they once shared.  

Then BOOM! Episode 7 changed everything for me. 

True, I was trying to ignore Kyeong Nam (and In Guk the actor) but by Episode 7, the chemistry between the leads didn't just flicker—it ignited. At this point, I acknowledge that I WAS WRONG. Mianhae. 

I realized why they cast In Guk. If at first, I wanted to "cancel my subscription" to Kyeong Nam, I was glad that I stayed logged in, especially when we see that he has liked her from the start. 

Episode 7 peels back the layers of his coldness and cynicism to reveal a surprising truth: this was never about competition, but concealment.  A clumsy shield as a way to stay in her orbit without risking the rejection he feared she’d give him. This revelation recontextualizes every sarcastic comment from previous episodes as a veiled attempt at connection. And I just died.

"...At first, it was only a string of coincidences. Little surprises happening out of the blue. Unexpected.

Of all the gifts in the box, you picked mine. A coincidence.

Every day, we got on the same elevator. A coincidence.

Then one day, I realized. I was trying to make those coincidences happen.

There were days when I tried a little too hard.

It has to sound like it’s genuine.

It has to be relatable but not ordinary.

Romantic but not too old-fashioned.

There were days when I tried to act like I didn’t care.

And convince myself to give up.

But whenever I did that, you’d give me hope…by doing something unexpected..."

I hope I didn’t spoil it too much for you. But by the end of the series, I am one with Mirae in canceling her BOD subscription, trading pixels for reality; that is, choosing an "unpredictable chaos" of a real relationship over the controllable perfection of the virtual world. 

Inasmuch as I was indifferent at first, I am definitely adding them to my Best Pairings of 2026 list (both on and off screen).

• From 'Unsubscribe' to 'Must-Watch’

• The Kyeong Nam Glitch: Why I Was Wrong About the Male Lead

• System Upgrade: Episode 7 Turned This Skeptic into a Stan

• He Had Me at Ep 7: The Seo In Guk Redemption Arc

🖥️ BOYFRIEND ON DEMAND: SYSTEM LOG 📱

• EPISODES 1-3: 💿 Initializing 'Monthly Boyfriend' v1.0. Status: 20% Loading. ⚠️ Signal Weak. Getting used to the female lead’s acting. Searching for 5G (and better chemistry).

• EPISODES 4-6: 💾 Syncing Reality with Simulation. Status: 50% Processing. Office rivalry with Kyeong-nam (Seo In-guk) is corrupting virtual files. Rivalry.exe is running in the background.

• EPISODE 7: ⚡ CRITICAL ERROR: Heart Overload. System Report: Virtual perfection crashed by real-world feelings. 🔋 Charging Soul. Auto-renewing subscription because the cliffhanger just broke the cooling system.

• EPISODES 8-10: 🚀 SYSTEM UPGRADE: COMPLETE. Status: 100%. Unsubscribing from the app to choose Genuine Connection. Reality > Simulation. 

All 10 episodes of BOD are streaming at #Netflix

The Price of Confession

So #KimGoEun's pixie hair cut was for this role.

I just hope that, like #JiChangWook and #DohKyungSoo in #TheManipulated, and #KimYooJung in #DearX, matinding debriefing ang ginawa sa kanila to shake off the role/ character.

Mother Boksoon #JeonDoYeon is so fine as ever.

All 12 episodes of #ThePriceOfConfession are available for streaming at Netflix

#RomanticsAnonymous mini review

It’s one of those dramas that kept on popping on my feed, but I never paid attention until a colleague suggested watching it, saying there’s a surprise in the end. So, I gave it a try, and despite not being a sweet tooth person myself, I bit into the chocolate and was lost, as endorphins, serotonin, and dopamine were released.

RA is an 8-episode Jdrama, a remake of the 2010 French film "Les Emotifs anonymes" with a Korean actress as female lead, played by #HanHyoJoo (#Always #Moving #Happiness #W). Male lead is Japanese actor #ShunOguri who at 42 can still give his younger peers a run for their money, with his good looks and physique.

Mentored by a brilliant chef, Kenji, who believed in her, Lee Hana is a genius chocolatier with scopophobia, an excessive and irrational fear of being watched or stared at by others, a type of specific phobia and is often linked with social anxiety disorder. Sosuke Fujiwara is the heir of a family-owned confectionery corporation, the number one in Japan, who has a fear of germs, dirt and contamination, owing to a childhood trauma where he felt guilty and has been blaming himself for the death of his older brother.

Strangely, they didn’t encounter these fears with each other. Hana and Sosuke share a comfortable intimacy: she can meet his gaze directly, and he is unfazed by her physical touch. But will they have a sweet ending?

Completing the foursome are the second leads, also Japanese actors, #YuriNakamura as Irene, a renowned psychologist and author; and #JinAkanishi as Hiro Takada, the dashing owner of the bar Brush.

As someone with an acquired mild claustrophobia, I discovered that I could no longer stay in crowded small tight spaces shortly after I was diagnosed with general anxiety disorder and MDD in 2021. I can totally relate to the two characters’ struggles, with the physical symptoms such as panic attack, difficulty in breathing, trembling, sweating, dizziness, nausea, and chest pain, among others, when triggered.  

According to research, phobias are an anxiety disorder that can cause physical and psychological distress, interfere with daily life, and increase the risk of other mental health issues like panic disorder. 

But as shown in RA, with professional help, support from family and loved ones, medication, lifestyle and home remedies, these can be managed and treated, although it takes time. We see Hana and Sosuke’s journey (individual therapy, group counseling, Kendo, supportive co-workers) to overcome their phobias as they fall in love, using chocolate as a comforting and symbolic backdrop for their healing relationship. While they are successfully confronting their respective social anxieties, they are still a work in progress, finding strength in each other.

I have previously seen Han Hyo Joo in her previous dramas, but I just found out that she speaks fluent Korean, Japanese and English. No wonder, she was chosen for this role. On the other hand, Shun Oguri is drop dead handsome and is said to have actively pursued a wide range of roles to avoid being typecasted.

I also love that the beginning of each episode features one of the 7 flavors in the Rainbow Palette, a special seven-piece chocolate assortment and the chocolate shop’s (Le Saveur) bestselling product. 

The surprise at the end? Spoiler Alert: It’s the double cameo by Korean actor Song Joong Ki and Japanese actor Kentaro Sakaguchi.

All in all, RA may not be perfect (I read that many found it disappointing), but for me, it is light, heartwarming, comforting, and delightful that I finished all episodes in one sitting. Sometimes we just forget the basics of human connection. Romantics Anonymous is a sweet reminder that kindness is everything and that real joy comes from life's small and simple moments.

Available for streaming at #Netflix

#BuhayKPam

#Mantis mini review

As a fan of #KillBoksoon, I was excited to see its spin-off, #Mantis (not to be confused with the ongoing drama #QueenMantis, also in Netflix). What, with #ImSiwan in the lead 🥰🥰🥰although I wasn’t looking forward to see the female lead. So far, wala ako nagugustuhan sa mga portrayals nya hahaha. O baka nga kasi effective 😂 Sorry na.

Just like its predecessor, Mantis is an action thriller film about a contract killer industry, and Mantis, his nickname, played by Siwan, is an ace assassin who comes back from a hiatus only to find a chaotic hitman world after its leader, Cha Min Kyu, dies. 

I’m not sure if it’s me but I found the spin-off kind of tamer, or milder. Or was I getting immune to seeing violence and killings? Anyway, kahit anong gawin ko, hindi ko ma-feel si Park Gyu Young who plays Jae Yi (Celebrity, A Good Day To Be A Dog, Sweet Home, Squid Game, Nine Puzzles), I’m sure though she is a good and popular actress and I admit I was impressed how she could speak English fluently, having studied the language when she was in high school. 

Jae Yi has been harboring ill feelings against Mantis, or Han-ul, because no matter how hard she tried, she would always be 2nd place to him. Mantis, on the other hand, has been in love with her for ages, and this same love seems to be his downfall, as he will always prioritize her and do favors for her. Up to the end. We didn’t see much though bakit ganito ka-special si Jae Yi sa kanya. Kulang yung build up? And I will never understand why mas kinampihan niya itong si girl over his mentor. Nakakabulag talaga ang pag-ibig ano ha.

What I like about Mantis:

1. Siwan, as always, is charming on screen. Obvious bang Oppa ko siya? 🥰 LOL He is not as bad as the role may seem. In fact, Han-ul is portrayed as "a warm-hearted, human killer who hides his gentle nature." Despite what seems to be a limited material, very evident naman talaga ang ability niya to play a variety of characters, mapa-kawawa (Misaeng, Boyhood), mapa-villain (Unlocked, Emergency Declaration), mapa-weird (Strangers from Hell), mapa-rich kid (Run On), mapa-pogi (Summer Strike). 

2. Cast is awesome. And before you ask yourself, saan ko nga ba sila napanuod, o eto na: Jo Woo Jin (Narco-Saints, Harbin, Happiness, Gangnam B Side) as Dok Go, Choi Hyun Wook (Twinkling Watermelon, Weak Hero Class, Twenty-Five Twenty-One, My Dearest Nemesis) as Benjamin, and Sul Kyung Gu (Kill Boksoon, Hyper Knife) as Cha Min Kyu.

3. Ok naman ang action hahaha a genre na I didn’t know I could enjoy as much as rom-coms. Yung paggamit ng “sickles (or blades)” as his weapon, sayang, parang kulang pa yung pag-highlight. Kaya nga siya Mantis eh. How he looks wielding those twin sickles, the character's visual signature or fighting style, resembles the way a mantis uses its forelegs daw. It was said that in preparation for this, Siwan underwent extensive training at an action school to get accustomed to handling the dual sickles.

4. And another trivia, namention na si Mantis sa Kill Boksoon, a role which, they said, was destined for Siwan.

5. Boksoon, played by the phenomenal Jeon Do Yeon, does a cameo. I literally gasped nung eksena niya, nagulat ako talaga. Although maraming references talaga sa kanya and sa original film.

So eto na lang muna. Nabitin ako kay Mantis hahaha it leaves me “praying” for more. 

Catch #Mantis if you can Netflix

#BuhayKPam

#BeyondTheBar: Law and Love at Its best Bar None

‼️May contain spoilers‼️

Synopsis: A young intelligent rookie lawyer joins a top law firm, navigating the complex legal world under a stern but talented mentor; aka Esquire.

Cast:

• #LeeJinWook as Yoon Seok Hoon– Squid Game, Sweet Home, Doona

• #JungChaeYeon as Kang Hyo Min – Golden Spoon, The King's Affection

• #LeeHakJoo as Lee Jin Woo - The Potato Lab, My Dearest

• #JeonHyeBin as Heo Min Jeong - Revolutionary Sisters

While many were disappointed because they were shipping the leads, hoping that the two would end up together in the finale, I was happy with the ending. 

This is a legal drama after all (please, we have enough rom-coms and love dramas), and for me, any romantic angle between them was just a side dish, pang-kilig factor seeing that there is chemistry between the actors, despite their age gap - both in the story and in real life. 

In an interview, LJW said the original script’s romantic line had been “softened”, and they thought if there was future relationship between the mentor and the younger colleague, it would be subtle and mature and didn’t have to be rushed, and that love is a process of growth, commitment, and mutual support.

Unlike typical dramas, the highlights of #BeyondTheBar were more on understated gestures of care and support, showing how love can be shown through action and shared experiences rather than grand or loud declarations. Case in point, when Jin Woo was proposing marriage to Min Jeong, he ended up not reading what he wrote and rehearsed but spoke of his love from the heart.

In Episode 7, the metaphor "Love is a rainbow" was used to describe how love evolves through a spectrum of emotions, with each color representing different feelings or stages in a relationship: Red for passion, Orange for warmth, Yellow for happiness, Green for peace, Blue for trust, Indigo for depth, and Violet for mystique.  That even if we move from one color (or stage) to another, it doesn't mean our love is lost, or has disappeared.

Even Seok Hoon, having gone through a divorce, has his version: “I think marriage is based on love. Over time, that love just changes shape. Love between a couple starts with passion, goes through reality, and ends in solidarity. Losing passion doesn’t mean losing love.” Solidarity. Loyalty. Belonging. These are all different forms of love.

The drama series was popular, that not even the old scandal  that resurfaced involving the male lead could affect the high ratings. The cases were all interesting and I loved how they were tied up and connected to each episode’s theme. 

For Hyo Min, from their cases, she was able to learn about love – love between a man and a woman; love of parents for their children; love of children for their parents; and the love between spouses. Even the love we show to others. Love takes many forms, and that wounds that come with it can be healed. 

While she was enumerating these, this wrapping up brought me to tears - with all their clients being shown how they are now, how it’s going, how they’re living their lives in the present – after their legal entanglements. 

This ending wrapped things up nicely and in a heartwarming way, leaving us with a conclusion that Beyond the Bar is one of the better K-dramas this year.

Law and Love – are they mutually interdependent? 

Love should not be blind to the Law, and Law is the guide for love…love should not disregard defined standards; in the same way that such standards are designed to establish the norm for appropriate conduct, and demonstrates how love ought to manifest itself in tangible ways.

All 12 episodes of Beyond the Bar is streaming Netflix 

#BuhayKPam

#Trigger

 #TRIGGER WAS A BLAST 💥

I like them individually. But what do you do, how will you feel if there’s two of them?

Hands down, Kim Nam Gil (The Fiery Priest, Island, Karma) will always own the show. Even if he’s out there all alone, he will own it and his presence, strong as ever, is all over. 

But with Kim Young Kwang (Somebody, Call it Love, On Your Wedding Day)? This is pure riot. This is intensity on the highest level.

💥 And I am not bullet-proof.

#Trigger is NOT for you if you prefer light, slow burn healing dramas, relaxing or kilig rom coms. But if you like a fast-paced, gripping, action series, and blood does little to scare you, PLEASE DO NOT MISS THIS.

"Trigger" is an action thriller series set in a dystopian South Korea, where illegal firearms are suddenly being made available and accessible to ordinary citizens via parcels. We see Lee Do, a police officer and former military sniper, and Moon Baek, a two-faced Joker-like arms dealer, being entangled in a web of gun violence. Sort of a nonchalant and OA duo. 

Is it troubling? Of course. How can it not be? The series show what these weapons could do when people are triggered, and the chaos and crimes that these could bring to an unsuspecting gun-free country.

For me, we know that crimes and violence, especially with firearms, may never be completely gone in this world, so I wasn’t expecting issues to be resolved in the end, but we can hope. The two gentlemen together are enough for me, though. I will forever watch Nam Gil and Young Kwang wherever, whatever. 

Some complained of too many characters and multiple subplots just so they can extend up to ten episodes. It could have been a two-hour movie, too. But I didn’t mind, I was squealing with excitement each time a new episode comes. To those who have not watched k-dramas or are not familiar that South Korea has a strict gun control, you must explain to them why the police officers were not shooting those trigger-happy men who were deliberately violently killing people. "Bakit hindi barilin, bakit hindi pa barilin?"

Trigger is obviously because of the guns. But it could also refer to the trigger point one will reach, and how it will transform an otherwise meek person to a murderer once given the opportunity to hold a gun (except for the sex offender who had no excuse, he just wanted his probation officers out of his miserable life. He was plain evil). "A gun was the only option they had left. All those pent-up resentment and frustration had to have an outlet."

It could also be a cry for help, especially those whom we fail to listen to or constantly ignore. People with mental health issues, people whose feelings and thoughts are invalidated. People who are bullied but are not heard. People who are exhausted and pushed to their limits. Let’s all try to listen, to be kind, because we don’t know up to what extent they can hold on.

💥Trigger ends with a bang, and I am shot to the heart. 

Other members of the cast:  

• Park Hoon (Descendants of the Sun, Memories of Alhambra, The Nice Guy) as Gu Jeong-man

• Gil Hae Yeon (The Silent Sea, In Her Place) as Oh Kyung-sook

• Kim Won Hae (Revenant, Strong Girl: Bong-soon) as Cho Hyun-sik

• Kim Joong Hee (Marry My Husband, Squid Game) as Reporter Wang

• Lee Suk (Love to Hate You, Squid Game) as Jeon Won-Seong

All 10 episodes of Trigger are available for streaming Netflix

#BuhayKPam

#OhMyGhostClients mini review

 👻#OhMyGhostClients mini review 👻

Watched this first and foremost because of the cast. I like #JungKyungHo (Crash Course in Romance), #SeolInAh (Twinkling Watermelon), and #ChaHakYeon (Castaway Diva).

Lawyer No Mu Jin quit his job but lost his savings after entrusting it to a friend (played by Kim Dae Myung in a cameo role) who invested in cryptocurrency. He decided to become a licensed labor attorney per another friend’s suggestion, and opened a firm but struggled to sustain it with no clients coming in. He and his sister-in-law and secretary Hui Joo teamed up with content creator Gyeon Woo to promote his services. In one of their site inspections, a near-death experience caused him to start seeing ghosts whose passings are work-related and to continue to live, he signed a contract with spirit guide Bo Sal (played by Tang Soon Jang) to help these ghosts with their unfair deaths and unresolved labor issues, move on and finally rest in peace.

Because this drama has supernatural / fantasy elements, suspension of disbelief is necessary to enjoy the narrative. Reminiscent of dramas May I Help You and Light Shop which deal with life and life after death, OMGClients may seem silly, and trite in some scenes, but it hits you where it should. It’s sweet and serious and emotional and touching in more ways than one. 

We can see Mu Jin’s character development from a husband who, according to his wife Mi Joo (played by Kyung Soo Jin) is carefree, makes decisions on his own without consulting her and finds it hard to show his affections to his family as he hides what he truly feels; to someone who shows genuine care and concern to people, including those he has met only as ghosts, to the point of being physically hurt, sometimes a bit naïve or clueless on trends, but a real expert when it comes to labor law.

The plot twist with Mu Jin’s brother (played by Jin Sun Kyu) – I believe I saw it coming but I wanted to feel the ohhh moment just the same. And I did! I bet everyone who saw that scene went back to Episode 5 when he visited his parents’ house and saw his hyung. The dinner scene in the last episode really teared me up.

And then there are the real labor issues, politics and corruption, maybe not just in South Korea, but in other countries as well; and the correct use of social media to expose issues and concerns that are not being addressed.

The statue in the drama, as I have later learned, is supposed to be Jeon Tae il. Jeon Tae-il was a South Korean labor activist who, at the age of 22, died by setting himself on fire while shouting, "We are not machines!" to draw public attention to the labor conditions at that time. His death inspired a new wave of labor activism and civil rights awareness in South Korea, and it is said that his legacy continues to influence labor movements and social justice campaigns in Korea.

A Race, from the drama’s OST, was sung by In Ah and Hak Yeon whose chemistry on screen is evident. You can hear the song in the background as Mu Jin brings young friend Yoon Jae on a road trip in Episode 7, to make him realize that life is still worth living. Watch the MV here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PvcPrEGORg... Incidentally, Hak Yeon is aka N, a former idol, a member of the boy band VIXX.

Great cast, good storyline and storytelling, and a heartbreaking finale that ties up loose ends perfectly.  All episodes with the ghosts left me teary-eyed, as we are reminded once again of our temporary existence in this world. And that we should take advantage of every chance that we get to tell our loved ones that we love them, apologize to those whom we have wronged or hurt, be kind, and live life right and to the fullest as much as possible. OMGClients is “ghosting” us, but in a good way.

OMGClients is streaming Netflix and Viu Philippines

#BuhayKPam

#DearHongRang mini review

 My Dearest HongRang (Mini Review)

Synopsis (based on Tangeum: Swallowing Gold by Jang Da-hye): HongRang, the son of a wealthy merchant family in Joseon who went missing at the age of eight, returns twelve years later but with no memories of his past.

This is only my 2nd time watching both #LeeJaeWook (Impossible Heir) and #JoBoAh (Destined with You). Did you know that they have a common denominator – Rowoon, Wookie’s close friend and Bo Ah’s leading man in DWY. Incidentally, the two good-looking actors will enlist in Korea’s military service this year.

What I like about the drama:

• With only 11 episodes, #DearHongRang will be remembered for its cast’s powerful performances, beautiful cinematography, costumes and OST. 

• As always, when you watch Lee Jae Wook, you would want to comfort him and take away all his sadness. Those eyes and built (slim and tall at 1.87m). Haayyyy. Now you know whom I’ve sided with when he broke up with you-know-who. There’s also this behind-the-scenes video of the cast greeting him on his birthday while filming. I was thinking, how can they do that to him? Singing saeng-il chukha-hamnida during an intense and super emotional scene? That was so ruthless.

• It was also revealed in one of his interviews that he initially declined this role, with 2 hit seasons of Alchemy of Soul. But the writer, he said, sent a moving letter to him along with the script, describing Hongrang's character vis-à-vis his acting. According to Jae Wook, he reopened the script after that, touched with the writer's appreciation of his craft.

• #JungGaram’s portrayal of MuJin, the adopted son who was supposed to replace the missing HongRang. So far, I’ve seen him in GangNam B-Side and The Interest of Love.

• While he made me cry in Melo Movie, here in DH, he is so evil. Yes, the other Jaewook – #KimJaeWook as Prince Han Pyeong.

• The thing about k-dramas set during the Joseon Dynasty, it’s difficult to tell who’s who because of the make-up and costumes. Hahaha but there's a lot of Netflix regulars and familiar faces e.g. #UhmJiWon and Hyper Knife's Dr. Han (#ParkByungEun)

• Even with the supernatural elements in the drama, there is no way the Soul Reaper would survive the toxic chemicals placed on his body/skin, and the wounds he sustained during the final fight. His death was cruel. But not in vain. He was able to fulfill his mission and exact his revenge. And what consoles us too is knowing that after all the suffering, even for a short while, and even if it came to that point, HongRang and JaeYi found love and peace with each other. And who knows, they might be given another chance in another lifetime. 

But hey writers, I hope you gave us at least the satisfaction of giving the couple a child. For JaeYi to have someone after losing HongRang. For someone to continue the Soul Reaper’s legacy.  That would have made it more meaningful, more emotionally rewarding. 

I hate sad endings, but in this case, I can make an exception. Dear Hongrang reminds us of how things really are in this world. That we cannot always have happy or sweet endings. But this life's reality can also offer hope, comfort, and inspiration. That pain, loss, struggles, and adversities can make us stronger and help us become better persons. And that giving up personal interests and making sacrifices are sometimes needed to achieve the greater good.

Dear HongRang is streaming on Netflix.\

#BuhayKPam

When Life Gives You “When Life Gives You Tangerines”

“It’s an odd thing. Parents dwell on what they couldn’t give. And children dwell on what they couldn’t get.” – Geum Myeong

Netflix’s #WhenLifeGivesYouTangerines gives us a lot to ponder on.

As a parent, we always want to give the best to our children, offer them comfort and convenience in almost everything, even if it means working so hard that your brains and butt couldn’t tell which is which. Whether you are an employee or run your own business, there are a lot of times you want to retreat and surrender, but you don’t. In fact, you even end up giving up a lot of things for their sake, to be able to keep this up – your youth, your time, even your own dreams.  Because theirs matter more to you than yours. Because as parents, it is our role and obligation.

Not that I am complaining, we’re all in this for the long haul. I’ve been a parent since I was 23. I’m just saying that parents may not be always perfect, or we may not be able to give our children everything, but we try, and we will always do our best. We may not be the “best” parents for them, but we try to be. When you see them throw tantrums, or they seem sad or discontented or annoyed with you for some reason, when they get mad at you and they don’t seem to appreciate their life and the things you do for them, when you hear them whine or worry or look for things that they don’t have, or what you can’t give, it hurts a lot. But as a parent, would you fight back? Would you tell or show them that you’re hurt? Would they care? You just take it all in. Maybe our children will never know that side of parenthood until they become parents themselves.

Speaking for myself and my own experience, I have been working since I was 17 and battling against health issues, I decided to retire in 2022 at age 51. I have a few regrets after this humbling chapter of my life (but that’s another story), but I must live with that decision. If I were only living for myself, the retirement fund I received would be enough for my k-vices and “luxurious indulgences.” To translate in Filipino: Na kung ako lang at sarili ko lang iintindihin ko at aasikasuhin, at wala na ko ibang pagkakagastusan, ok na ko sa milyones ko.

But as my youngest son is still studying, I thought an extra income as a consultant would be nice. Leaving my comfort zone, which I thoroughly enjoyed for 2 years (no alarm clock in the morning, watching k-drama all day and all night, going out and to the mall anytime I want), I went back to work – and lost my time freedom again.

In the same year, our lives changed when my son entered college, and we had to move to QC and rent a place, again giving up the comforts of my home where I just had to set up my laptop and log out after 8 hours, nap and wake up, with my 2 helpers doing the household chores. Lunch and dinner are ready, laundry sorted and done, rooms cleaned - the works. Here, I have to multi-task – working at home is literally work and at the same time, tackle cleaning/cooking/etc. Expenses are double, too – Meralco, water, food and groceries. My helpers still get paid but I don’t hahaha Sometimes I resent being in this situation, but since I was the one who made the decision to stay with my son, I cannot grumble forever. I try not to dwell on it but sometimes it can be very challenging, especially for someone like me with mental and physical health limitations, I just pray that I will stay healthy and strong (and employed) for a long time to sustain this setup. 

But yes, if there are pains, there are gains, too. Don’t get me wrong. Parenting and parenthood involve not just challenges, but joys and rewards too. I have my share. And they outnumber the down times. In the same episode of WLGYT, the lead /mom AeSun said: “I found happiness in my own way. There was sunshine in my life too. I’ve had so many picture-perfect moments. I just want you to acknowledge that my life was worthwhile too.” 

If I have regrets, those are mine and my issues alone. I may have sacrificed a few personal wants and needs, but I will never take these against my children. 

To my two treasures: I just want you to be more understanding and patient (also me: perimenopause, anxiety and panic attacks, depression, mood swings, irritability, and other signs of aging hahaha). 

I’ll be 54 this year and even so, I am still being given tangerines, still learning every day, trying to be a better person every day, trying to guide you every day, praying for you every day – and praying to be with you as much as I can, as longer as I can, every day.

#talesofthegoodgirl

#Physical100

 Nung 1st episode ng Season 1, patingin-tingin lang ako habang nanunuod si Alex.

Tapos naging bonding time na namin 😂

#Physical100

Season 1 - although may mga oppa, I really didn't root for anyone (Team meron) pero Season 2, ayan na, may "crush" na 😂 hindi ako nagkamali ng oppa #Amotti #ForTheWin #amottivation 

#BuhayKPam

#TheBequeathed

 #TheBequeathed Signing Off

❌️may contain spoilers🪦❌️

Yung nauna ko pa itong matapos kesa sa tatlong pending dramas ko. 

Feeling disconnected for a while, I paused Ji Chang Wook’s #WelcomeToSamdalRi, Cha Eun Woo’s #AGoodDayToBeADog and Yim Siwan’s #Boyhood.

Maybe I was having a romcom overload (at least for the first 2 and I was kinda overwhelmed with Eun Woo’s kissing (with tongue) scenes na hindi ko na keri makita pang muli; and well, a pity festival for Siwan’s role here (lagi na lang siyang mukhang kawawa talaga, naaawa ako sa Oppa ko, hindi ko makayang tingnan). But maybe too, I was hooked on this suspense-thriller kasi ang gagaling ng mga ahjussi dito.

From the creators of Train to Busan and Peninsula, among others, The Bequeathed cast is led by #KimHyunJoo (#Hellbound #Undercover #Watcher) as Yun Seo-ha, a college instructor who inherits a family burial site (from an estranged uncle) and finds herself entangled with strange events, murders, mystery and secrets. Seo-ha’s internal conflicts include unhappy childhood memories (her father left them when she was 7 and had another family), a cheating husband and a career going nowhere (hasn’t been promoted to Professor, kahit siya ang ghost writer ng boss niya). For such an educated woman, kinda disappointing lang yung part na she agreed to have her half-brother kidnapped para mag-sign ng agreement (nagmamadali siya kasi gusto niyang bilhin yung building na inooffer sa kanya. Eh because of the ongoing investigation, matatagalan ang pagbenta nung lupa)…kasi kung tutuusin, alam naman nya no doubt na magkadugo nga sila (they have the same father) and they both have rights over the inheritance, ano ba naman na maghati sila sa lupa or sa benta nito, anyway pareho lang nilang natalisod yung mana LOL they don’t have to be close or maging sweet sa isa’t isa after mahati yun. O di ba ebribadi hapi. Pero syempre, hindi yun ang gusto ng writers natin hahaha

My favorites here are the two ahjussis #ParkHeeSoon (my crush in #MyName, at that time, siya yung may edge over #AhnBoHyun sa puso ko, as if this matters LOL) as Choi Seong-jun, a sharp detective and #ParkByungEun (#Moving #Decibel #TheHunt) as Park Sang-min, the squad captain. These two longtime colleagues have a backstory actually, kaya may clash / tension between them. And I love the part where, after a fist fight, they were able to “kiss and make up” and work in tandem like they used to in the past. I am 50-50 though dun sa minadali itong resolution for the two characters, kasi maganda yung subplot nila eh, pwede pa sanang iexplore at habaan para mas may impact sa story.

#RyuKyungSoo (#ItaewonClass #Glitch) – Young-ho, medyo creepy half-brother who believes he is entitled to the burial site.

#ParkSunghoon (the husband. Kung pano sya ka-hot and yummy sa #TheGlory, medyo downplayed although chickboy pa rin)

Ganito yung type kong genre/fiction kaya siguro sobrang smooth ng panuod ko na natapos ko siya in one day isang araw (6 episodes lang naman, anyway). Yung twists and shocking revelations, pag sanay ka na magbasa or manuod ng ganito, medyo ineexpect mo na, and hindi ka na gullible enough to make someone a suspect pag masyadong obvious. And yes, may mga wtf-wth kang moments with the lead, ganern, kasi anu ba, alam mo na ngang nanganganib buhay mo ihhhhh 

Sa bandang huli, there are family secrets, skeletons in the closet that must remain as such, and buried forever...

The Bequeathed is streaming on #Netflix 

#BuhayKPam

The Uncanny Counter Seasons 1 & 2 signing off

"You know, hope is a cruel monster. But that's what drives us to keep fighting.”

Alam ninyo yung naghahanap kayo ng mapapanuod sa Netflix, scroll scroll tapos may laging lumalabas sa feed mo, pero hindi mo pinapansin. You look at the synopsis, parang hindi mo type. Lalo na kung gusto mo lang ng light, yung rom-com, hindi ka stressed sa kontrabida, and above all, may Oppa. 

Ganyan ang love affair ko with #TheUncannyCounter. “Demon hunters pose as workers in a noodle shop in an effort to catch evil spirits hoping to find eternal life.” Yan ang description kung ano ang Counters. 

Naku, parang ma-stress yata ako dito, I thought before. Sa zombies nga, napapagod ako eh hehehe kahit eto ung mga gusto kong panuorin minsan – suspense, mystery, action-thriller, supernatural, yan ganyan. Maiba lang ba. Gusto ko rin yung walang Papa-ble na lead, para hindi na nadadagdagan mga Oppa ko, utang na loob LOL 

I actually got curious with #Season2CounterPunch kasi trending yung mga villains/kontrabida. Yung mabait na si #KangKiYoung sa #ExtraordinaryAttorneyWoo (as grrrrrr #HwangPilGwang) eh dito talagang isusumpa mo ang kasamaan) and #TheGlory’s #KimHieora as grrrrrr #GelliChoi na gusto mong ipakagat sa gabundok na langgam sa pagka-salbahe. Season 2 already ended and lumabas na nga ang bullying scandal ni Hieora.

Sabi ko, naku, paano ba ito, dalawang seasons ang kailangang bunuin, syempre you have to watch Season 1 first. Sige habulin natin. Kahit na sabay-sabay na pinapanuod ko (#Moving #BehindYourTouch #DestinedWithYou #ATimeCalledYou). 

And I didn’t expect na maiinlove ako sa series na ito. Kahit wala akong favorite sa mga leads. Pag na-hook ako despite that, wala na, surrender na ko. Although si Ms. Chu (played by the very versatile #YumHyeRan of #TheGlory #MaskGirl, pwedeng mabait na ahjumma, pwedeng kontrabida), eh given na yan. At kung may award for the cast / ensemble, bigyan ko sila for chemistry.

Season 1 

#JoByeongKyu as #SoMun (#HotStoveLeague, 1st time ko sya mapanuod)

#YuJunSang as #GaMoTak (#AlchemyofSouls, ang abs ni ahjussi ha!)

#KimSeJeong as #DoHaNa (#BusinessProposal)

#AhnSukHwan as #ChoiJangMul (#RooftopPrince)

#LeeHongNae as #JiCheongShin (#DrRomantic, ang abs din ha! Infer)

Season 2

#YooInSoo as #NaJeokBong (siya yung hate natin sa #AllOfUsAreDead)

#JinSeonKyu as #MaJuSeok (#ConfidentialAssignment2International, hanapin nyo rin sya sa #KingTheLand and #Vincenzo)

As the series dealt with life, death and afterlife, may mga buhos-luha scenes talaga, hindi mo mapigilan. Sabi nga ni Mun, there is a thin line between life and death. “I know how it feels to lose your family in the blink of an eye. They’re here one moment. And then all of a sudden, they disappear.” Tama ba yung recall ko hehe basta parang ganun. Reminds you that life is short, na dapat you cherish every moment with your loved ones, sabihan mo sila na mahal mo sila. 

May mga “Huh” and “Hmp” moments, may dragging scenes lalo na sa Season 2, you just have to suspend your disbelief, ika nga to enjoy watching hehehe Buti na lang din hindi na nila inistretch and ginawang 12 eps lang.

And as a birthday gift to myself, I bought a cherry red track jacket like theirs. Love it!

#TheUncannyCounter streams in #Netflix, habol na!

#BuhayKPam

#TheGlory

 #THEGLORY signing off. 

1. I actually root for the other Song. BUT I find it unfair each time her name is dragged sa mga writeups. Hello, move on na pls!

2. 2nd time only to watch #SongHyeKyo (#Encounter was the 1st, and again she is paired here with a younger leading man na peborit at iniyakan ko ng bonggang bongga sa #18Again)

3. Ang hot ni #JungSungil 🔥🔥🔥

4. Nag-Tatagalog si #KimGunWoo sa #TheUltimateOppa 

5. Mga bullies at mga taong mapanakit, watch this para may katakutan naman kayo! 😤😤😤

6.There were 4 scenes na tumulo luha ko (ayan sila).

7. Underrated yung cast who played the younger versions. Galing din nila actually. Tipong pause ako nang pause sa mga eksena kasi hindi ko kinakaya 😔😔😔

8. Inuna ko Part 1 nito than Island. Pero inuna ko Part 2 ng Island kesa dito. Labo ko ba? 😁😁😁

Catch #TheGlory Netflix 

#LeeDoHyun

#LimJiYeon

#YumHyeRan

#ParkSungHoon

#JungJiSo

#BuhayKPam

Take 1

 JUST ONE TAKE. I knew from day one when I saw its poster that I will like Take One (Korean: 테이크원), a South Korean music docuseries reality show produced by Netflix starring Sumi Jo, Lena Park, Mamamoo, Jung Jihoon (Rain), AKMU, You HeeYul and Yim Jaebeom. Ang hindi ko inexpect ay yung maiinlove ako sa kanila and with their stories and songs. 

First of all, si Rain lang ang kilala ko and sabi ko sya ang aabangan ko. Akala ko it was a competition na all 7 will fight it out for the title. Hindi pala.

Each episode features an artist, and yun nga: If you are to sing one last song of yours before you die, what would it be? So lahat na ng gusto nilang gawin in performing that song, it will be care of Netflix. Venue, stage, band, director, lahat lahat na. Pero ang condition, no cuts, no repeats, no do-overs. Pag palpak, palpak.

When I found out na ganun pala format (akala ko sabay-sabay silang lalabas na tuloy-tuloy lang ang kwento) at pang4th episode pa si Rain (whom I last watched in Ghost Doctor, still so fit and hot 🔥at his age), sabi ko skip ko ba yung iba? Pero hindi. Sobrang ganda. Episode 1, ok. Episode 2, omg ang galing. By Episode 3, tindi na ng effect. Featuring #YimJaebeom who was in hiatus for 6 years, following the death of his wife, and then his father, it actually was the simplest performance among them. Pero grabe yung tama. Remember hindi ako familiar sa kanila, kaya hindi ko mawari bakit ganun na lang ang impact sa akin. 

Ang galing ng Netflix KR, galing ng producers. Napaiyak ako hanggang Episode 4, Episode 5, Episode 6. Ang pogi pa ni #YouHeeYul 😍 Tinigil ko muna kasi ayokong matapos agad. Napakaganda, napakagaling. And siguro nga, kapag may mga taong naniniwala sa talent mo, ibibigay mo talaga lahat - all in one take.

Catch Take One, 7 episodes lang but you will want more #talesofthegoodgirl