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J-drama ● Review: Last Samurai Standing
Nothing great but a solid series nonetheless. Decent writing, good performances and well-produced.
Jan 63 min read


Anime ● Review: Watari-kun’s ****** Is About to Collapse
Nothing interesting despite the premise. Looks good enough but it just drags on and on. It’s just 26 tiresome episodes of a guy who is unable to be decisive, allowing things to be more complicated than they need to be.
Jan 54 min read


K-drama Review: As You Stood By
Starts a bit slow and the villains are too simplistic. Conclusion is too rushed but is overall not a bad thriller-drama with some effective tension.
Dec 21, 20254 min read


J-drama Review: Miss King
A young woman wants revenge against her father via shogi. Characters lack complexity and some things are resolved too quickly, but it is well-produced with strongly established lead characters and the series is tight.
Nov 19, 20254 min read


Film ● Review: Black Bag
A counter-intelligence officer tries to find a mole. His wife is on the short list. Sounds boring but is a tight film with decent dramatic tension.
Nov 17, 20252 min read


Drama Review: The Consultant
If you like the novel, then don’t expect too much. Christoph Waltz carries the show but the corporate and office satire and black comedy are missing. One wonders whether the writer understands or appreciates the source material.
Nov 15, 20255 min read


Anime Review: Police in a Pod
Drama-comedy about a rookie cop learning the ropes. Has good balance between being half-realistic and being comical. Solidly produced.
Oct 28, 20254 min read


Anime ● Review: Crossing Time
A 12-episode slice-of-life series of three-minute vignettes. The writing can be better, but it’s not that bad if one doesn’t mind risking half an hour.
Oct 23, 20252 min read


Film ● Review: Mantis
Lacks plot and focus. Has elements of action, thriller and drama, but manages to be none of them.
Oct 17, 20253 min read


Anime Review: Sakamoto Days (Part 2)
Nothing spectacular but continues to be a well-produced and fun show with ridiculous action.
Oct 5, 20253 min read


Manga Review: I Had That Same Dream Again
Nice artwork. Simple and crude storytelling, but it’s not bad for what it is.
Sep 11, 20253 min read


Film ● Review: Wall to Wall
Nicely shot and edited. Despite some far-fetched elements, it is a captivating and intense thriller.
Sep 2, 20253 min read


K-drama Review: When the Phone Rings
Stereotypical cold male lead and soft female lead. Intriguing premise but the plotting and pacing need to be better. Relies too much on Chae Soo-bin to carry the show.
Aug 17, 20254 min read


Film Review: The Chinese Feast
Solid production and performances. Nicely shot. Thoroughly entertaining and funny film on cooking and the hospitality industry.
Jul 30, 20253 min read


Manga Review: My Broken Mariko by Hirako Waka
Young woman learns of best friend’s suicide from years of abuse. She then steals her ashes to give her a proper send-off. Tight, good pacing. Solid effort. Nicely drawn.
Jul 20, 20252 min read


K-drama ● Review: Our Unwritten Seoul
Twins swap places in a story about survival and finding one’s direction. Solid performances all around. Shot conventionally but nicely edited. Simple plot but the characters, relationships and themes make it more complex than it appears.
Jul 2, 20255 min read


Anime ● Review: Death Parade
Afterlife and judgement psychological thriller. Visually solid. Mildly intriguing initially but not particularly gripping. Overall, tries a bit too hard.
Jun 24, 20253 min read


Drama Review: Andor
Despite a number of minor issues, a solid series created by Tony Gilroy, the writer of the Bourne trilogy. Nicely shot and edited. Decent pacing and dramatic tension.
May 15, 20256 min read


J-drama Review: The Hot Spot
A series about a woman and her alien colleague. Takes an ordinary, almost slice-of-life approach. Well-written, deadpan and amusing.
Apr 2, 20253 min read


Anime Review: Sakamoto Days (Part 1)
Nothing spectacular but still a well-produced and fun show. It strikes the balance between having an overall arc and being episodic.
Mar 26, 20253 min read


K-drama ● Review: Melo Movie
Solid production but the plot is uneventful. Autopilot pacing. Relies on performance to carry the series.
Mar 5, 20253 min read
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