[First Impression] Police University

I realized not so long ago that more and more of my so-called "reviews" are rather musings, throwing theories here and there, based rather on personal feelings than any notebook of cinematography/screenwriting/whatever craft. If I like it, then I like it and may be the only person liking it.

I am probably the only person liking this drama then.

[First Impression] On The Verge of Insanity

I understand this might not be everyone's cup of tea, because it tells the story of workers trying to survive during mass layoffs and uncertainty because of their job. As side stories, this drama adds other social issues that we usually don't like to think about.

 

[First Impression] Bossam - Steal The Fate

Since there is an unwritten rule that I need to have a sageuk among the pile of dramas I'm watching, this half of the year it's Bossam's turn to entertain. Although 'entertain' might be the wrong word for any historical that isn't explicit comedy (like Detective K).

[First Impression] Alice

 

Time travel is notoriously hard to get right and to present in a form without many plot holes and inconsistencies. There is not even one work of fiction that gets it right, and the one that was closest to it was SyFy series 12 Monkeys. And only because they invented their own mythology of time. 

[First Impression] Missing: The Other Side

 

 

From the first episode there was an eerie feeling about this series, and after 4 episodes this feeling has not subsided. And if it continues the same quality as since now, this might be the best from OCN up to date in 2020.

 

[First Impression] Train

Now, many plot devices here can be wonky as for now, even though we are in the 1/3rd of the series so far (12 episodes in total), but one thing this series has superior to every other now - the cinematography. The shots, especially at the abandoned train tracks and the station, the transitions and the colors are both eerily beautiful and unsettling.

[First Impression] The Good Detective

It's less a crime story and more a story about how monolithic, and internally stifling police organization can be. It shows the tension and lack of camaraderie among two crime divisions with every result it entangles. It's a musing over what does it mean to be a competent journalist in times of post-truth and manipulation? It also paints a bleak picture of what happens to a cog in a machine when it's deemed expendable.

[First Impression] Team Bulldog

I will be honest - once again I went into watching something blind. I watched one teaser, true, but kdrama teasers say little or purposefully mislead the viewers. The very first episode made me sure I will be sticking with this one. It has a great mixture of crime, comedy, and satire as well. Sprinkled with great chemistry between the characters, some of them we meet in the middle of a dangerous operation which proves their story goes way beyond the acquaintance with us. And some just meet and... well, annoy each other.

[First Impression] Good Casting

This is both a blessing and a curse for SBS' Monday-Tuesday drama time. It replaced Nobody Knows, so of course the expectations are high, but it's nowhere near its suffocating and dense atmosphere, but the fun and comedy here is peppered with surfacing troubles.

I, for once, am happy about that approach.

[First Impression] The King - Eternal Monarch

This series is an ode to a non-existing but much desired by the writer Museum of the Cotton Candy. This is why this post will not delve into specifics because there are none. And the story could be really interesting. Like really, I see the potential.

[First Impression] RUGAL

I have waited until I had all first four episodes to watch them in one go (two days, fine) because I feared that in this recent deluge of series that appeared to end us, I might be too distracted to watch or remember the facts.

Also, I have not read the webtoon, so I probably have no idea about many things yet.

[First Impression] Find Me In Your Memory

This time a really short impression after the first 4 episodes. I know I always say short and it grows into something more about things that barely touch the drama itself.

But in this case it's really this. I swear.

[First Impression] 365: Repeat The Year

At first traveling back in time may seem like a brilliant idea, given that humans always have regrets over past events and they would always do things differently. But we never ask for the price of it.

[Impression] Nobody Knows

SBS has seriously a streak of great dramas lately. Last year Fiery Priest smashed whatever award show it could, and during this season they have this and Hyena. I had planned to write a traditional first impression short post but then life happened and four episodes stretched into eight so here it is, I am writing an impression only, after the first half of the series.

[First Impression] Memorist

Oh, it has been a while I have seen a series with Yu Seungho, the last one being Imaginary Cat, but it was worth waiting for - judging from the first four episodes.

The fact I was on hiatus helped immensely, true.

[First Impression] Hi Bye Mama

Oh boy, now this is personal.

[First Impression] When The Weather Is Fine

This is exactly what I liked and expected nothing less from JTBC - a slow, but beautiful show about dealing with the past and the scars, with the vulnerabilities, loneliness, with our hideouts and walls we raise to protect ourselves.

It will be picture heavy because this series is just so beautiful.

[First Impression] Hyena

The four episodes are done, so I am writing a short, really short first impressions post about this SBS series. First thing first, I think SBS is still on Fiery Priest success high, so it employs similar technical tricks, albeit not up to this level of pure crazy energy as FP had. 

Before I jump into some things related to the series itself, I have to say all the actors here are doing a splendid job, there is a certain level of freedom in their acting, but that's something to be expected from the people here.

Also, I have pics, and I'm not afraid to use them.

[First Impression] Killjoys 3

Season two left us mourning with Johnny after Pawter died, and with the plot to control the Westerly unfolding even more. The green plasma - the matrix for Super 6, and basically any ability, was explained to be found by Aneela. And from the foreshadowing in the last episodes, we know she and Dutch will meet eventually. And I hope for no confused identity - I did not like that twist in BSG, I won't like it here.

Season 2 got us also few moments that made me question if there's really nothing between Johnny and Dutch, except for years-long, danger-tested, deep friendship. Even if they both do things in secret, in spite of one another, they always end up comforting each other.
And then Johnny went AWOL to respond to an SOS signal...

Let's see how this plays out.

[First Impression] Forest of Secrets/Secret Forest

For a small toad a shrub is a tree. And bushes - a whole forest. Sometimes this forest can be "une forêt de Bondy", the one having a horrible reputation, a cursed place where Childéric II, a grandson of Dagobert was assassinated, also it was frequented by the brigands and ruffians. There is also Birnam Forest in Macbeth, a nightmarish harbinger of main character's fall. And Brocéliande - which has few parallels to the drama here. In it, as in Chrétien de Troyes' version, Ywain pours the water from a well over a stone, causing a storm and suddenly a knight appears that guards the forest. Then Ywain kills the knight...