#WouldYouMarryMe

 #WouldYouMarryMe mini review

After Melo Movie, Rom Com King (a title given to him by his Wooga brothers) Choi Woo Shik is back!

Two years after I have seen him in person, I believe that #WouldYouMarryMe can boast of having the handsomest Woo Shik ever. I couldn’t help but mutter “Ampogi” every time he’s on screen. For a change, he comes from a chaebol family. Thanks too to the stylist and the clothing brands he endorses (Ami Paris and Project M), his casual yet elegant outfits mostly in brown, tan, and beige complement his good looks and height, veering away from the usual black and navy formals that corporate executives in dramas wear.   

And so far, this is the only drama where I am so strongly shipping his character to the female protagonist. Or better yet, to Jung So Min herself (I like Park Bo Young as an actress, his partner in Melo Movie, but not for him). 

Initially, I found it so problematic and chaotic. You can already see that Yoo Meri (played by Jung So Min, Love Next Door, Alchemy of Souls) has financial struggles, doesn’t have the happiest relationship with her partner, the first Kim Woo Joo (Seo Bum June, Hierarchy, First Night with the Duke), who is a cheater and whose side chick, it turns out, has a real fiancé. The mother-in-law and sister-in-law are troublemakers who don’t like her because she’s not rich enough. But she has her own design company, and her family loves her.

For the other Kim Woo Joo (Choi Woo Shik, Parasite, Our Beloved Summer, A Killer Paradox, Melo Movie), his parents died in a car accident when he was young and there seems to be a hint that they were intentionally killed. He has anxiety attacks, perhaps due to his childhood trauma. His uncle is a scheming man using underhand tactics to gain control of the family business and has an affair and a son on the side. Woo Joo’s aunt and cousin seem to hate him, maybe because of inheritance issues. He has a childhood friend who is forever in love with him, with automatic approval from his grandmother whose personal physician is the father. Upon his return from the US, he was given the marketing team leader position in Myungsoondang, a popular bakery chain in South Korea, where he is a fourth-generation heir. And there’s the typical back story of him and Meri knowing each other since kids. Turns out she is his first love, the girl he met after the car accident and gave him a plushie toy for hope and strength, and the one he has been searching for all his life.

By twist of fate, Meri, dumped by her partner and left technically married, won a luxurious townhouse in a department store promo for newlyweds. So as not to lose the prize, she “proposed” to Woo Joo to pretend to be her husband as he bears the same name.  At this point, you would agree with me that everything would be chaotic, as pretense is unsustainable and you can only fake things up to a certain extent.

For the second lead couple, the childhood friend Yoon Jin Gyeong (played by Shin Seul-Ki, Pyramid Game) is a doctor who will do everything to win his heart; and Baek Sang-Hyun (played by the ever-busy Bae Na Ra, who has four dramas this year), a department store managing director who also has a back story of his own, including gratitude struggles with his employer.

There are so many subplots, and there’s so much going on that one would find it hard to track them all at once. There are annoying and unbelievable situations and characters, what can you expect from a “fake marriage”, but as a rom com, the chemistry between the leads and the second leads compensate for it, and Woo Shik’s presence and sense of humor is all over. You can tell that the director allows him to be his usual comic self, as seen from behind-the-scenes videos and photos. 

And of course, all loose ends have been neatly tied up. Napagod siguro ang writer sa dami ng subplots.

Why “Would” instead of “Will?” While "Will you marry me?" sounds confident and direct, "Would you marry me?" is generally more hypothetical or conditional, polite and indirect, and because of the fake marriage setup, the question is if Meri "would" marry Woo Joo under these unusual, artificial circumstances. "Would" introduces an element of uncertainty and choice that "will" might not capture as effectively, emphasizing the conscious decision to choose each other.

Interestingly, I read that the drama's title is actually a clever linguistic blend of the character names, Woo Joo and Meri, which creates a hidden layer often lost on international audiences.

All in all, WYMM is one of those dramas with heart and humor, na hindi perfect pero you can live with it. It can be your companion after a hard day’s work, or even in the morning when everyone else is still fast asleep, and kayong dalawa lang ang gising, having coffee, looking out the window or listening to the sounds of the falling rain. It’s a drama that you can be comfortable with, in silence or in chaos. Minsan nakakatawa. Minsan nakakaiyak. Minsan wala lang. Minsan nakakainis, madalas may conflict, merong mga cast of characters na sumisingit. Minsan ayaw mo, minsan pinipili mo, but it’s always a conscious choice. And you get by. You get by. 

Just like what being in a life partnership is all about.

All 12 episodes of Would You Marry Me are available for streaming at Disney+ PH SBS DRAMA #BuhayKPam

#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

#TheMurkyStream mini review

It took me a while before I actually let go of #TheMurkyStream.

I took my sweet time to finish the remaining 2 episodes last Oct 17 because one) I know I would miss #Rowoon after this, 2) I couldn’t bear to see the bloody scenes and him getting hurt every time, and 3) I didn’t want to say goodbye just yet to one of the most moving and unforgettable historical dramas I’ve ever seen.

TMS is not your usual good vibes-feel good k-drama. No usual elaborate opulent royal palace set and costume design, this is a gritty portrayal of the lower classes and how they lived during that time. This is so raw, so real, so murky. I knew from the start that we may not get a happy ending, as the drama shows that dark lawless side of the Joseon era (1392–1910) along the Gyeong-gang River (now the Han River), specifically focusing on the area around the Mapo port. This location was the economic hub of the kingdom, where merchants, outlaws, and officials converged, creating a backdrop of wealth, power, and corruption.

Rowoon reportedly turned down multiple other acting projects to dedicate his time and energy to prepare for this drama before his military enlistment. He is said to have performed a significant portion of the action sequences himself, demonstrating his commitment to the physicality of the role; and underwent a  demanding transformation, studying his character's lines to show a different side of himself. He lost 8kg and adopted a "stray cat physique" with a beard and ragged clothes to match his character, Si-yul. While his Calvin Klein ads showed a pretty Rowoon with visible 6-pack abs, Si-yul was dirty, wild and unpolished.

Who doesn’t dream of a beautiful world? Here, three individuals dared to dream differently to brighten up a murky world and live like humans at a time when the poor and common people struggled to survive.

• Jang Si-Yul, played by Rowoon (#DestinedWithYou #ExtraordinaryYou #TheKingsAffection), a decent man who hides his past and becomes a bandit / ruffian.

• Choi Eun, played by Shin Ye Eun (#TheGlory #RevengeofOthers), a smart merchant and a lady of principle and righteousness, and 

• Jung Chun, played by Park Seo Ham (#SemanticError), an educated man who dreams of becoming an honest government official.  

• If this is Rowoon’s last drama before he entered the military last Oct 27, this is Seo Ham’s first since his discharge in 2023. 

But how can you win, how can one try to stand up for what is right when everyone else does not follow law and order, and at every opportunity would kill, steal, cheat, hurt others?  Where the norm is to deceive, betray, take advantage of the ones who can’t fight back. Where greed, abuse of power, and unfair practices are rampant. 

Even so, TMS doesn’t tell us to remain silent and let evil and darkness prevail. TMS doesn’t stop us from thinking good, doing good even if everyone else does otherwise. 

Instead, in its subtle nuances, even if it hurts, even if it kills, TMS upholds the human dignity, that no matter what, deep inside every single person, there's a spark of undeniable worth—a human soul with its own story. It doesn't matter where they're from, what they look like, or what they've done. That value is built in. This means we all deserve to be treated fairly, like equals, and to be respected for who we are, not judged by things like our background or gender.

Every person also has the right to steer their own life and make their own choices. No one should have that control taken away from them. And we all deserve to be treated with kindness and care, with the security of knowing we won't be mistreated or abused. Ultimately, our shared humanity connects us all, and it's our job to honor that connection in our everyday interactions.

‼️Spoiler Alert: one of the three protagonists didn’t make it to the end.  😭

TMS may not be a drama that everybody would enjoy watching, but it is sincere, and strong, and beautiful. And tears will fall, I tell you. No matter how murky this stream called life can be, and everything that we hope for and dream of may not always be possible, we just have to keep on rowing harder for a good world, and never stop.

All nine episodes of TMS are streaming #Disney+PH 

#BuhayKPam

Tempest

 Yung sa #BonAppetitYourMajesty ako nagprepare masyado

Andito pala ang k-trauma 😭😭😭

What the f 😭😭😭

#Tempest #tempestfinale  #tempestondisneyplusph 

#JunJiHyun #KangDongWon

#BonAppetitYourMajesty mini review Part 2

Aside from Chae Min, another strength of the drama is the food preparation for each meal and in the cooking competition, showing the contrast between tradition and innovation; modern culinary knowledge meeting ancient ingredients and practices; the lavish palace banquets, the elaborate arrangements - all these are reflections of how food was used to project power, authority and status during the Joseon dynasty.  Not a popular opinion, but for me, even if there was no romantic plot line, if they gave more emphasis on the culinary theme and the skills of Ji Yeong, BAYM would still end up as a feast, highlighting food as a powerful catalyst for change, with the king and his chief royal cook collaborating to challenge the court politics and corruption. 

But of course, we cannot deny that the royal romance has more appeal, and to satiate that deep human hunger for love, we needed a more acceptable or believable way to soften a tyrant’s heart (on top of his stomach), providing a sweeter, more palatable ending.

And to those who wanted to know how the king time-traveled to the future, konting imagination na lang mga mhie, gusto ninyo pa ipakita bawat detalye, sabi na ngang secret eh hahaha naiwan ung punit na page, tapos paulit ulit si Ji Yeong sa pag-chant nung longing words sa Mangunrok:

"My dearly beloved, if you were to read this someday, may you come back to my side…"

Lahat na lang ba dapat spoonfeeding ihhhh mag-kimchi nga kayo, kaumay. Hahaha

📌BAYM is now tvN drama 's 7th drama with the highest rating of all time.

📌All 12 episodes of BAYM are available for streaming Netflix 

#BuhayKPam

#BonAppetitYourMajesty mini review Part 1

🍲The people who give you their food give you their heart.❤️

Every once in a while*, we are served with a k-drama that feeds all four: mind, body, heart and soul. Recall how we were saved and healed by:

• #CrashLandingOnYou, the star power and on-screen chemistry of Hyun Bin and Son Ye Jin who later became a couple IRL;

• #HometownChaChaCha in 2021, starring Shin MinA and Kim Seon Ho, a feel-good story giving us hope and warmth during uncertain times;

• #LovelyRunner in 2024, offering a much-needed sense of comfort like a warm hug that resonated with many, significantly boosted Byeon Woo Seok's career, leading to his stardom, and gave Kim Hye Yoon her first ever Best Actress nomination at the 61st Baeksang Arts Awards; and 

• #WhenLifeGivesYouTangerines this year, with strong performances from leads IU and Park Bo Gum, tackling parental sacrifice, family bonds, and enduring love.

Abovementioned dramas won not just viewership ratings but also the thumbs-up of its global audience. And before 2025 could end, we were given a Chef’s Special: #BonAppetitYourMajesty.

(*Note: I am only citing dramas from 2019 to present, which I have watched. I am pretty sure there’s more.)

A drama that they didn’t expect to be such a huge hit, what with controversies from the get-go - the original male lead being replaced by a younger newbie actor, alleged historical inaccuracies, accusations / backlash from C-netz, and the 10-year age difference between the lead actors, BAYM tells the romantic story of a modern chef who time-travels to the Joseon era and becomes the chief royal cook. The series, known as The Tyrant's Chef in Korea, quickly gained international popularity, topping Netflix's Global Top Ten chart after its first two episodes were released. The plot centers on the unexpected romance between 21st-century chef Yeon Ji Yeong (Im Yoon-A #BigMouth #KingTheLand) and King Yi Heon (Lee Chae Min #Hierarchy #Crushology101  #CrashCourseinRomance), a tyrant ruler loosely based on a notoriously cruel historical figure. 

BAYM is a love story unfolding in a fictionalized version of Joseon history. While it draws on the reign of King Yeonsangun, 10th monarch of the Joseon dynasty of Korea, it takes creative liberties, interpreting historical events and characters to craft an alternate story, with food as a love language, the means through which the chef and the king - two people from completely different eras- connect.

While Yoona's performance has shown significant growth and her presence (being a member of Girls Generation, 2nd gen k-pop girl group) adding to its global popularity, it is really Chae Min's portrayal of the king that made the big difference, destroying the initial doubts on his last-minute casting and limited acting experience. This successful break-out role solidified his reputation as a rising star (reminiscent of what Lovely Runner did to Byeon Woo Seok, who incidentally is in the same agency, Varo Entertainment).  

• Emotional depth: He skillfully executed the king's violent, angry side and his deeper, vulnerable side, marked by grief, sorrow and sadness.

• Charisma and intensity: His intense gaze, strong voice, and steady tone (and loud guffaw), aside from his height and strong visuals, captured the hearts of the viewers.

• Dedication and hard work: According to reports, he was given only a month to prepare for the role, and he used that short time to learn skills such as horseback riding, archery, and traditional dance. 

I also loved how, despite the culture of venality during this era, loyalty and brotherhood can still grow and survive. 

• At first, we hated Royal Secretary Im Song Jae (Oh Eui Sik), but in the end, he and his father Im Seo-Hong (Nam Kyung Eup), along with the Chief Eunuch Chang Seon (Jang Gwang) and Chief Court Lady Choi Mal Im (Park Jun Myun), died for their loyalty to the king. 

• The friendship of Ji Yeong and Gil-geum (Yoon Seo Ah) due to shared hardships and experiences, and the transition of the royal kitchen crew into a team of innovation and harmony. 

• With appearances from Ko Chang Seok (craftsman Jang Chun Saeng). 

• And special mention goes to the hot yummy-licious court jester Gong-gil (Lee Joo Ahn) and Chief Royal Guard Shin Soo-Hyuk (Park Young Woon). 

To be continued...

#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