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Reviews
Deo Eiteu Syo (2024)
Predictable Plot / Flat Characters / Waste of Time Knockoff of Squid Games
Honestly the review title says it all.
Korea Netflix has decided now is the time to give a less violent version of Kaiji and Squid Games (which is a knock off of Kaiji). The premise is that a corporation lures poor people to undertake inhumane games for the sake of entertainment. Fake environment with stairs. Yawn. That's already been done.
The characters are not real people but caricatures of "rough buff guy", "nerdy smart guy", "dumb but likable protagonist", "motherly middle aged woman", "edgy woman with a chip on her shoulder", "kiss the feet of whoever in on top girl", "person with a disability whose entire personality is based on their disability (seems ableist actually) rather showcasing them as a complex human", and "quirky cute girl who turns out to be mean". These paper characters are unfortunately common tropes you see in K-dramas, but you get the idea.
Instead of interesting human-led drama you just get these cardboard facades playing into their personalities to give you plot twists that can be predicted from episode 1, and an ending that not only dis-serves the disabled character and refuses him to contribute to the story in a meaningful way other than using his disability and ending as a way to gain emotional sympathy. In a way it's infantilizing.
This was marked as a dark comedy by Netflix and I don't think my mouth moved except when yawning or coughing. Yes, seriously.
Instead of investing in good shows, Netflix continues to put out 90% barely watchable content in hopes it tides you over until they release the shows they actually invest their money and good writers in.
This show is not worth your time.
1899 (2022)
The writers tried too hard to make it a "Gotchya" Show that never wraps up the plot
The entire show, including its characters, subplots, plot, and dialogue can be summarized by "not everything is real" to the point the show has no other themes. I think this was the only thing on the writers' mind, and it gets really tiring, really quickly...
The show has an interesting start. A cast of diverse individuals all together in one place in an atmospheric late 19th century nautical boat that gives an eerie feeling of the Titantic. This sets up the show to have a good set of mystery, but it is quickly taken over by subplots that really don't need to fleshed out, and the subcharacters that get taken to the end never get their stories finished. We don't need the backstory of every single character there. It was just boring filler.. a syndrome found all too often in modern media to make people more "relatable" and "have depth".
There hasn't been a blockbuster "mind twist" movie out lately, so that's probably why it's getting so much attention and good ratings. But truthfully it wasn't very clever. The writers made sure every character had a "not what you think it is" element. Plot twists should be used creatively, but sparsely. In 1899, however, the writers use plot twists every 5 minutes to the point you stop caring because you know the whole plot will change soon anyways. The show in the last two minutes ends on a concept that is entirely different from any part of the show, making me wonder "why did I just waste all that time watching Concept A in a Historical Fantasy, when the writers really wanted you to know it's Concept X in Sci-Fi". As much as I love sci-fi, the ending was an overused trope. They could have landed on something original, or at least kept the sci-fi in the same century, but instead went way off course to make people think "wow i never saw that coming, my mind is blown." Sigh.
If this show got one achievement it was the ability to have so many languages spoken fluidly without being choppy or awkward (and many times characters acknowledge this by saying they don't understand what others are saying), so well done there.
The acting, hair-makeup, costume, and set was excellent all around. At times the cinematography had a Game of Thrones syndrome. Some scenes were too dark to see anything. It's supposed to be dark when the lights are out, but if we can't see anything then how are we supposed to know what they are gasping at, and why should we care.
Would have given it 5/10 stars, but that ending was the cherry on top that further validated my frustrations with the inconsistency of the show's themes, so 4 stars. If they nixed the "is she imagining it" and kept it within the show's original time frame, I think it would have delivered a more compelling narrative. Sometimes mysteries are better left unexplained, and they failed to take the opportunity here to embrace that side of storytelling.
Single's Inferno (2021)
Overly Scripted Rich Kids Glamping Disguised As "Hardship"
This show was pitifully terrible, sorry. The concept doesn't live up to its name.
"Inferno" -- The contestants didn't undergo any hardships besides cooking, i.e. An everyday task. They didn't even have to harvest/hunt for their food.
They took some footage at the beginning of them getting water at a pump in Episode 1, but beyond that you never saw a single drop of sweat on any of them, or their hair out of place, despite them complaining how hot it was. Quite suspicious.
"Paradise" and Matchmaking - This show's premise is: you have to find a partner to be successful, otherwise you're stuck in inferno. However, there is no real consequence of staying on the island. Moreover, this format forces contestants to date each other not because they want to, but because they need to in order to go to Paradise. That's the opposite of growing love organically.
Rich Kids - It's laughable to think these are your average Korean youth. They're all rich kids. They all own their own brick-and-mortar stores in a city where youth are struggling with debt. Wearing Chanel and other designer items on a "deserted inferno" further underwhelms the concept of the show.
Producers/panelists also encouraged toxic masculinity. The guy who kept getting rejected exhibited behavior that concerned me. He was a guy who didn't know how to handle being "rejected" and he gaslit one of the girls in response to her telling him the truth about his behavior. His unpredictable and unstable reactions made me honestly believe we was going to make a physical altercation. It was unsettling to watch.
Very few of the reactions felt natural. Everything felt carefully planned and scripted. This was difficult to get past.
I hope they either drastically improve the concept of the show or scrap it entirely. Korea has a lot of great media, this just wasn't one of those for me, unfortunately.
Love Is Blind: Japan (2022)
SO much better than the American version!! No fake TV, very wholesome. Felt my time was well spent by the end.
I was really interested to see how this show would translate to a culture where people don't open up so easily, and I was really pleasantly surprised. By the end of the show I felt my time was well spent exploring the concerns about relationships between contestants and partners, and it made me reflect on my own life as well. This is a rare quality for reality tv.
Good points:
-The producers focus on the human emotions and experience, not the drama. This is what reality tv should be like!! The US version feels so drama-focused it feels like it's scripted at times, but the Japan version feels natural. Yet even though, there are still tons of surprises and tension in the Japan version. The stakes almost feel higher in the Japan version as well.
-Culturally, Japan takes match making much more serious than the US, so the contestants are on the show for love, not to become influencers like the US version. Even towards the end everyone isn't forced to wait until the altar to say "yes/no" in a performative way. This makes the show feel genuine, creates unexpected moments, and makes you even more invested in seeing the success of certain relationships.
-The budget is really high. So much higher than the US version, so it doesn't feel like any other cheap reality show. For example, they stay at Hosinoya Resort in Okinawa, one of the most luxurious resorts in Japan. They also dine in several high class restaurants. This will allow overseas viewers to see a different side of Japan.
-The aesthetic is on point. They clearly brought in designers to create pods that are creative, sophisticated, and more interactive than the US version via little doors that fit seamlessly in the design where contestants can exchange items. This makes the experience more personable for contestants. Also, the area where the contestants meet for the first time is very romantic and uniquely Japan with flowers hanging down and a bridge over water; much more magical than the US's red carpet.
-The music pairings are good.
-The producers didn't try to incite jealousy by forcing contestants to have conversations about other people they had crushes on. The US version does this too often.
-There is a lot of diversity in the cast despite being a Japan-focused show culturally, ethnically, and socio-economically. I hope this can open viewers' eyes to see Japan is a lot more complex than just 'Japanese'.
-Great title screen shots and locations to showcase Tokyo and other parts of Japan. It ties in the metropolitan feel to the cast.
-The program showcases the struggles and stigma around being a divorced woman in Japan in an empathetic and open-minded way. That is a true accomplishment by the show's producer in a country with such strict stigmas. Well done.
Things to be improved:
-The wedding officiant was a random foreigner who spoke English, and most of the contestants and their families don't speak English.. It just felt out of the blue and performative. The venues were beautiful though.
-The producers chose a few famous people, like Kaoru and Priya. I wish in the future they stick with just normal non-famous people, not people who are children of famous actors/entertainers. Even on other shows like Terrace House Japanese producers will choose already famous people, likely so their viewer ratings will be higher.
Overall, I was really impressed for a debut season. It was wholesome, fulfilling, and edge of your seat at the end. Provides a great insight to Japanese dating culture. Highly recommended, and hope they make another season.
Arcane: League of Legends (2021)
Amazing animation // Never played the game, but thoroughly enjoyed
The animation surpasses any of the current Pixar and Disney movies that have come out in the last decade. It's fluid, artistic, atmospheric, and just beautiful. Similar animations was used in some of the Love Robots + Death mini series, and I think it's the right way for media.
The story itself isn't unique or surprising, but as someone who enjoys steampunk and darker shows it was great.
Moreover it's incredibly impressive that this was done by Riot Games after major studios turned them down. Changing the industry by breaking status quo is what we need to see more of in media.
Insiders (2021)
No premise, cruelly manipulative and violent
This is the worst "reality show" Netflix has put out yet. Do not watch it. I would've given this a -1 out 10 if it was an available rating number.
There's no premise. Everyone acts like they're not yet on the show, but they're all acting like the test rounds are the show. I.e. It all feels very scripted, like you're watching a drama about a reality tv show that pretends it's not a reality tv show.
I turned it off after the middle of episode 2 when they made the contestants use a gun to kill animals. That is completely unnecessary for a reality tv show, and cruelly manipulative to contestants (if they weren't acting so well).
This should have never been allowed on Netflix, or any tv.
Kanojo (2021)
Excellent human-centered story, but the average American moviegoer might not understand it..
First of all, the fact that a female-led LGBT movie made it to Netflix Japan is huge considering Japan has very little representation.
Lots of great qualities about this movie. The acting and cinematography is different from normal Japanese films, which often show acting that is over dramatized to force humor. This film doesn't do that. Kiko and the supporting lead actress did a great job playing complex characters that take the whole movie to fully understand.
The cinematography also showcased lower class life in rural parts of Japan, which often get overlooked in Japanese films that make it abroad.
However, I think American viewers who mostly watch American films might not understand this film, and many of those viewers will likely complain about the length. American films used to be long, too, but later became no longer than 90 minutes because Americans' attention spans are just too short these days. Current Hollywood films contain scene after scene of "in your face" drama and action, sacrificing artistic film for purely entertainment. Perhaps that works for super hero and comedy films, but Ride or Die isn't this type of film. American movies also stop short of explaining the ending of films, but this movie takes you to the very end.
Japanese art and TV are *masters* of displaying the subtleties of everyday life and the tenderness of human emotion and connection. That's exactly what's happening in the parts of this film that some Americans may consider "slow." If you have an understanding of Japanese culture and art, then this will make sense as you watch the film. There is also a strong culture of natsukashii/nostalgic-ness, especially pertaining to high school, in pop culture here in Japan, which explains the number of flashbacks to high school.
Those people who are complaining about Kiko's nudity don't understand who Kiko is. She is not the run-of-the-mill actress/model. She is very body-positive and lives to push the boundaries on what society deems acceptable.
That said, I think it's a fantastic piece of art if you're willing to try understanding the film through a non-American lens, but it's definitely not for suited for everyone.
Over the Garden Wall (2014)
A Masterpiece
Over the Garden Wall was phenomenal.
The beautiful scenery in a 19th century atmosphere using dark and decaying autumnal tones brightened by vibrant fall leaves, folk and classical music that *perfectly* pairs with the melancholic tones of autumn and this story, and a plot that is much deeper and darker than what it seems at first. Bravo, CN.
With exception of the Potatoes and Molasses song (which was enjoyable given the already bizarre situation of sad animals in school) I would not have thought this was produced for children. Every now and then there is a gold nugget of animation that is seemingly produced for an adult audience, and this was one.
I think the animation of the humans could have been a bit better, and I was a little disappointed to see the characters back in modern day with technology, but I can over look this as the rest of the show was so engaging. Some critics say the story writing is too thin, but considering it's a miniseries I think introducing a new story within the overall plot arch each episode created depth and expanded the world in a perfect amount of time. Would I want to see more of this world? Absolutely, but I also understand sometimes perfection is left alone.
Still, I hope we get to see more of this in the future--in animated form, that is.
Million Dollar Beach House (2020)
Selling Sunset Copycat with No Substance
I loved Selling Sunset so much that I was excited to see a similar show in a totally different market. In many ways the production cutting, filming, drama anticipation is the exact same style as SS, but this show falls flat..
The brokers have little personality. There are two vanilla high school jock bros, a woman who probably got chosen by producers to be the new 'Christine', a guy who is so pretentious it's cringe worthy, and then a guy who you never see because he's actually selling homes. The whole season's story arc follows one small incident. And that's it. It's not even exciting drama. If you watch the first two episodes, you've seen the whole season.
For the reasons mentioned above that's probably why Netflix capped this show at 6 episodes, because this group of people have nothing to show us.
Netflix should scrap it and either try New York or more SS with more exciting brokers and clients..
Cursed (2020)
Choppy editing and storyline, side plots are awkward and forced
Where you do you even begin.. The acting, writing, producing, and editing was simply not good **spoilers ahead**
The show begins with this great council of the Fey suggesting there is a powerful circle of members, but they just all die apparently and Nimwhey suddenly becomes a powerful queen without embracing any knowledge from her tribe. Some episodes she feels fine about herself, and in the next she'll feel overly anxious about having a magical sword, and then at the end she's a confident queen. Each story needs an arc for their character, but it's too fast and jagged for the protagonist in this story. (Also, Merlin being her father? Really? A bit cliche..).
The real tragedy of this show is the overwhelming number of side characters with subplots that are forced, not fully described to the audience, and have little bearing on the story.
For example, Nimwhey has two sidekicks, Anchovy (the red haired girl) and Nun-becomes-death queen. Anchovy's storyline fits alright into the story, but Nun-becomes-death queen is this awkward transition of: lover girl & best friend -> feels sick because she lets her girlfriend put a spider in her mouth -> zombie who can't speak -> suddenly kills death queen (but we don't see it), becomes death queen, and has super powers. And there was this whole drama about Nun taking the magic sword, but in the end she just gives it back to Nimwhey. Netflix, why did you waste our time with that subplot?
There's also the Short King's mother-but-not-really who has a life passion for decorating moldy food. Why? For who? Did she influence the characters? No. Was her moldy obsession tied to a theme in the story? No. Was she necessary to the story? No.
Then we have all the different tribes of people:
-Fey
-Non fey, but animal like creatures
-Red Paladins
-Gold Maskies
-Blue Royal People
-Ice King Forest People
-Vikings
The last two tribes' motives are not clear, and then suddenly at the season finale they all emerge on a beach to kill each other (why? How did they all know they were there at the exact same time?). It felt like the producers tried to force a "Let's have a grand battle at the end to show how epic this story line is" but it just felt so flat.
My one nice comment about the show is that the sets were actually pretty nice, considering the quality of the show.
There are better medieval fantasy shows on Netflix, though many fall under the same cliches.