The Crowned Clown (2019): started watching 22 November 2023 (7/16 episodes)
Currently watching four shows simultaneously. I don't know why I'm not binging The Crowned Clown, having started in November last year. It has every making of a great K-drama. Good performances, appealing leading couple, nice romance, compelling story premise, and beautiful costumes, cinematography and music. With the recent new development of the real king reclaiming his position, it's even more compelling but somehow other shows keep interfering and I'm wondering whether I'm not prioritising this because it's a historical drama (it's my first show set entirely in the Joseon period) and I'm more into contemporary shows. Anyway, I will get on with it very soon.
I started this series with my sister but she already quit after episode one. I'm still not totally into this lighthearted romantic thriller either but I'm staying for handsome So Ji-sub, and I like his rapport with the two cute children. I also like Jung In-sun, an actress I've never seen before and who reminds me a bit of Han Ji-min. I don't like her character all the time and her chemistry with Ji-sub could have been better but I'm still eager to see how their relationship/romance will develop. The conspiracy story is not the most exciting, and the CEO of the bag firm played by Son Ho-jun (I saw him also in The Light in Your Eyes) is such an obnoxious character, to the point of ridiculous, that it makes it hard to take him seriously or see him as a dangerous person. I like Jung In-sun's support group, the network of ajummas, they provide the humour and I find them often hilarious. Will definitely continue this series. (I'm watching the show in 16 eps. of an hour each on VIKI.)
Through the Darkness (2022): started watching 4 April 2024 (6/12 episodes)
If I would have to choose which show is my favourite among the four simultaneously watched titles, I'd name this dark crime series without a hesitation. Lauded for a reason, this drama shows what makes a great crime series. The male lead Kim Nam-gil as the profiler is fantastic. He communicates a lot with his eyes only and I love his empathic character and his quiet demeanour. It doesn't hurt that he looks very good too. I also love his bromance with Jin Sun-kyu, whose sunny disposition makes Kim Nam-gil smile now and then. The crime cases are gruesome but I love to see the detectives and the behavioural analysts at work. There is no romance here, not even a hint at, but I like female characters and I'm happy with Kim So-jin playing the detective in charge of the investigation. Cannot wait to continue this!
IRIS (2009): started watching 7 April 2024 (2/20 episodes)
I prioritised this series since it's leaving Netflix on the first of May. Not very high on my watchlist but still eager enough to see this in a crisp HD print (the show is also on Dramacool but not in a clear upload). I like a good action thriller and this one holds promise. The leads Lee Byung-hun and Kim Tae-hee are very attractive and have great chemistry. I didn't like how quickly they fell for each other, though. In episode 2 Kim Tae-hee (she reminds me a bit of Kim Ji-won) says she abhors macho behaviour and Lee Byung-hun's reaction is to kiss her. At first she resists but then succumbs. Total bummer! But it's some kiss, not just a lip press here! So things went too swiftly for me where the romance is concerned (I like slow-burn romances) and it makes me momentarily less interested in the love story. I'm more curious to find out about Lee Byung-hun's traumatic past. By the way, I love the location shooting in Budapest in the first episode (been there myself before the fall of the Berlin wall). Have to finish the 20 episodes this April but I know I can manage that. Unless it becomes boring and a chore to get through.