Team Dramabeans: What we’re watching (April 22, 2023)

“Lookout” was my favorite performance of KYK’s before “Call it Love.” I feel I can say that with authority even though I only watched a few episodes–not because it’s not a hugely entertaining drama (it totally is) but because it’s so hard to access.

TRUE TO LOVE: It certainly isn’t the masterpiece that “Call it Love” is, so I don’t look forward to Wednesdays quite as much as I used to, but I have to give this show props: it got waaaaay better from episode 1 to 4. The writers and actors didn’t shy away from depicting raw, devastating heartache, and even if I don’t quite get Bo-ra’s depth of feeling for her ex, I do see how his duplicity acted like an earthquake destroying her entire sense of personal and professional identity. I’ve also completely warmed up to the ML, now that the writers remembered to show him as a vulnerable human being, not just some robotic, cynical man whose professional attack on Deborah basically boiled down to the deeply offensive “I don’t find you attractive so you must not be good at your job.” I do hope, though, we don’t wallow in heartbreak for too long; seeing Deborah completely lose it in public and then be attacked by that public may be somewhat realistic, but I don’t want to watch weeks upon weeks of her humiliation. Yoo-In Na is killing it, though.

JOSEON ATTORNEY: This is a well crafted show with snappy dialogue, a very charming set of leads, and some interesting cases. I like it, but the addictive element is missing for me so far (I’m only at ep. 4 and progressing slowly).

SECRET ROMANTIC GUESTHOUSE: This show is delivering on its premise, and even in revealing the mystery is keeping up the dramatic tension. A lot of shows have failed to do either of those things well this year, so I applaud this one. It’s true that Ryeoun isn’t as strong of an actor as the others, which means the central romance isn’t quite as compelling as it might have been, but he’s doing well enough. And the other two male leads are really selling me on their internal struggles.

REAL HAS COME: This show is basically about a bunch of people freaking out over adult women having sex, and then endeavoring to shame, guilt, or quarantine them because of it. So it’s very hard to watch at times (the FL’s mother in particular drove me nuts this week with her bullying, whining, and manipulative behavior), even though the writer is clearly critical of societal freak-outs over female sexuality and single motherhood. That said, I do continue to like the burgeoning relationship between the leads; even though it’s very messy, there’s something about the ML falling in love with the FL’s family that got me.

Team Dramabeans: What we’re watching (April 22, 2023)
Source: Buzz Pinay Daily