Showing posts with label Go Min Si. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Go Min Si. Show all posts

Friday, 8 August 2025

Korean Drama - The Frog

Hello

안녕하세요

(Annyeonghaseyo)

こんにちは

(Konnichiwa)

你好

(Ni Hao)

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The Frog is a 2024 South Korean mystery crime thriller series written by Son Ho Young and directed by Mo Wan Il.
The series was released on Netflix on August 23, 2024 and has 8 episodes.
Main Cast:
Kim Yoon Seok as Jeong Yeong Ha
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Yoon Kye Sang as Koo Sang Jun
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Go Min Si as Yoo Seong A
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Lee Jung Eun as Yoon Bo Min
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Ha Yoon Kyung as Young Yoon Bo Min
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Supporting Cast:
Park Ji Wan as Park Jong Du
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Park Chanyeol as Koo Gi Ho
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Ryu Hyun Kyung as Seo Eun Kyung
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Cha Mi Kyung as Kim Kyung Ok
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Hong Ki Joon as Ji Hyang Cheol
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Special Appearances:
Joo In Young as Restaurant Owner
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Kim Sung Ryung as Lee Seong Ran
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Roh Yoon Seo as Jeon Eui Seon
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Jang Seung Jo as Ha Jae Sik
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There's a song we hear throughout the series and it's Bobby "Blue" Bland's Ain't No Love In The Heart Of The City.
Owned by Bobby "Blue" Bland

During the summer in the present day, Jeon Yeong Ha runs a vacation cottage located deep in the woods. His peaceful life is shaken by the sudden appearance of a mysterious woman named Yoo Seong A.
In the early 2000's, Koo Sang Jun ran the same vacation cottage as Jeon Yeong Ha did years later. Koo Sang Jun and his family also lived there, but during the summer, something happened at his vacation cottage and Koo Sang Jun lost everything because of that. At the time Yoon Bo Min, worked as a police officer at the nearest police sub station from the vacation cottage.
20 years later, Yoon Bo Min is transferred to the same police sub station where she worked before and she begins to work there as the chief. She enjoys solving things and begins to observe Jeon Yeong Ha closely.

I saw this be teased and knew I wanted to give it a go with it being a thriller and mystery crime drama. I really enjoy this genre so I definitely had high hopes going into this drama. I mainly wanted to watch this because Go Min Si was starring, and especially because I've never seen her in a dark role, so I was looking forward to what she would bring. I loved the cast, and I thought the drama itself was really good. My only criticism was that at times it was a little confusing on how the past timeline and the present timeline connected, and whether it was supposed to connect as it was two different stories.
I thought Kim Yoon Seok did a really good job as Jeong Yeong Ha. Yeong Ha is definitely a man that is set in his ways and wants to make sure that no matter the issues he can deal with them himself without asking for any outside help. Even when it comes to something that the police would be of use with.
I think Yoon Kye Sang did a great job as Koo Sang Jun, his story shows us how wrong things can go after something tragic can affect your family and business. It shows how society let him down, when it came to his business as well as his mental health in the aftermath of someone being murdered in his establishment.
I absolutely loved Go Min Si as Yoo Seong A. She's the typical can't do no wrong because her family has power and money, so they can wipe and hide away any of her crimes. But even then they eventually come at a price when father stops trying to protect her. Even when the police become involved, she is seen as harmless because she's a woman, even when they witness her ram her car into Yeong Ha. She plays crazy so well, I would love to see her in more roles like this.
I really liked Lee Jung Eun as Yoon Bo Min. She's a police officer turned chief that has learnt from her past cases, especially after seeing the aftermath of the murder at Sang Jun's establishment. She sees how odd Yeong Ha acts, and finds Seong A to be the cause and starts looking into it more. You can tell she doesn't want what happened 20 years ago to happen again and tries to encourage Yeong Ha to open up more, while keeping a close eye and investigating on who Seong A could really be.
I loved Park Chanyeol as Koo Gi Ho. When he was younger he was a witness to Hyang Cheol bringing in his last victim into their vacation cottage. Leading him to grow in a dysfunctional family with his father ending up in a care home as he ended up mentally unstable, as well as a mother who turned to drink from finding the woman's body in one of their rooms. His main goal is revenge on Hyang Cheol, not for himself but for his parents that were ruined by what he did. While bringing his plan to life he meets Yeong Ha, who helps him get a second chance, as well as gives him the parental figure he lost so many years before.
I absolutely loved Roh Yoon Seo as Jeon Eui Seon, she really brought her character to life. Eui Seon is pretty much like her father in that she's independent and makes sure if there's any issues she can deal with them herself. She's really close with her father and even shows how badass she is when she confronts Seong A and tries to play her at her own game. I definitely held my breath at the scenes that involves the two of them.
Even though he's only in a few episodes, I feel like I have to mention Jang Seung Jo as Ha Jae Sik. He leaves his son with Yeong A, and we meet him in the first episode of the drama. We don't see him again, which hints at the fact that she murders him. Something that she holds over Yeong Ha, as he cleans up after her, and is in denial that she's done something so horrible. His main goal is putting a stop to her and her shenanigans as well as getting revenge for her murdering his son.

I definitely recommend this drama if you're a fan of a crime thriller, but also because the cast is amazing and the story is told really well. I do feel it concluded really well and you're not left feeling with unanswered questions, even when some of the things you see are questionable. I definitely think you need to get stuck into this thriller, but just remember you'll be on the edge of your seat and possibly at times holding your breath.

Have you watched The Frog?
Were you a fan of the cast?
Did you enjoy the plot?
Let me know in the comments below.

See you soon!


안녕
(Annyeong)
さようなら
(Sayonara)
再见
(ZaiJian)
Bye

Friday, 28 May 2021

Korean Drama - Love Alarm 2

Hello

안녕하세요

(Annyeonghaseyo)

こんにちは

(Konnichiwa)

你好

(Ni Hao)

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If you haven't seen my previous post on Love Alarm, then here is a little recap, Love Alarm is a South Korean and Netflix Original drama series, based on the webtoon of the same name by Chon Kye Young.
Love Alarm 2 is the 2nd season of the Netflix Original and is written by Ryu Bo Ra, Cha Yeon Su, Kim Seo Yi and Kwon Ji Young, and directed by Kim Jin Woo.
The 2nd season was released globally onto Netflix on the 12th of March 2021.

Main Cast:
Kim So Hyun as Kim Jo Jo
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Jung Ga Ram as Lee Hye Young
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Song Kang as Hwang Sun Oh
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Supporting Cast:
Go Min Si as Park Gul Mi
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Kim Si Eun as Lee Yuk Jo
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Park Sung Yeon as Jo Jo's Aunt & Gul Mi's Mother
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Shim Yi Young as Baek Kyung Hee, Hye Young's Mother
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Song Seon Mi as Jeon Mi Mi, Sun Oh's Mother
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Ki Do Hoon as Brian Cheon
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Bae Da Bin as Mon Soon
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Yoon Dong Hwan as Lee Gang Rae, Hye Young's Father
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Lee Jae Eung as Cheong Duk Gu
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Season 1 of Love Alarm premiered on Netflix on the 22nd of August 2019, it was ranked as one of Netflix's top releases and was renewed for a 2nd season in October 2019.
The first script reading for season 2 took place on the 21st of February 2020, almost a year later on the 14th of February 2021, Netflix announced the 2nd season would be released on the 12th of March 2021.

I love the fact that they kept the soundtrack the same for the 2nd season.
Tearliner - In My Dreams (Feat. Love X Stere0)

Tearliner - Blooming Story (Feat. Jo Hae Jin)

Love Alarm revolves around the story of a disruptive technology, that enables users to discover love through an application that notifies whether someone within the vicinity of a 10-meter radius has romantic feelings for them.
Longing for resounding proof of her feelings, Kim Jo Jo sets out to uninstall the shield and make the app ring for her one true love.
Love Alarm 2 Trailer

I saw there was a lot of mixed reviews for the 2nd season of Love Alarm, mainly because Jo Jo didn't end up with who they wanted her to end up with, even when it was following the webtoon. I on the other hand loved it, I binged watched it all on release day, and I was left feeling a little heartbroken that it was now finished.
The cast again were amazing yet again, we got to see different sides to them this season, and for me opinions changed. I think season 2 is all about change, closure, acceptance and choices, I have a week off soon, so may even sit and binge watch both season all over again.
Yet again Kim So Hyun brought Kim Jo Jo to life, I really felt she was in her characters shoes and helped the viewer to feel exactly the way she felt, this is definitely my favourite roll of hers. Jo Jo's main growth this season is learning to forgive and accept herself, as well as deciding whether she listens to the Love Alarm app, or listens to her own heart and feelings.
Through season 2, I was totally on team Lee Hye Young, there was something about Jung Ga Ram that helped you fall in love with him, not only as an actor but also his character. We got to see more of a vulnerability to Hye Young this time and got to peek more into his past with his father, and how his mother said he was just like him. We also get to see his fight or flight mode, he finally realises he's who he is and is willing to fight back for what he loves and wants, even when it's against his best friend Sun Oh.
I made so many Sweet Home jokes because of Hwang Sun Oh being depressed a majority of this season, I won't deny that while I adored his character in season 1 and wanted Jo Jo to end up with him, my opinion changed in season 2. While I may have applauded when Hye Young punched him, I could understand why he was acting the way he was. Jo Jo left him in the lurch when she ended their relationship, the main thing he needed was closure, he needed to hear the reason it all came to an end, but because he hadn't he didn't seem to care who he hurt, even if it was someone close to him.
Back in season 1, I really disliked Go Min Si's character Park Gul Mi, she was selfish and treated Jo Jo like crap, this season why she was still the same way, in that she wants to be the best and will do anything to get it, but we see a more vulnerable side to her, she also seems to care a bit more towards Jo Jo, this time round she made me laugh rather than mad.
My heart broke for Kim Si Eun as Lee Yuk Jo this season, you could tell she was totally in love with Sun Oh but he was stringing her along because he couldn't move past his feelings for Jo Jo, she even moves away for work for a while to try and get over him, only to come back to a little surprise.
This season we were introduced to Ki Do Hoon as Brian Cheon, the Love Alarms "developer", as the series moves along and concludes we find out more about his past and how he seems to know Duk Gu and came into possession of the Love Alarm app.
I'm so glad we got to see Lee Jae Eung as Cheong Duk Gu, he's always helping Jo Jo from the side lines, and helping her to understand her own heart, my predictions for him with Gul Mi were also correct, I think even though she's still not attracted to him, you can see she is thankful towards him and I personally could see a friendship forming between the 2 of them.

 I not only recommend the 2nd season of Love Alarm, but I highly recommend the whole Love Alarm series, from start to finish it kept me on my toes and kept me hooked.
The cast really pulled off an amazing series, you believed every word they said and did, everyone involved in the show should be applauded it was spot on.
I would love there to be a 3rd season, but I think, for me, it ended perfectly, there wasn't any incomplete storylines.

Have you watched Love Alarm 2?
Were you a fan of the cast?
Did you enjoy the script and plot?
Let me know in the comments below.

See you soon!


안녕
(Annyeong)
さようなら
(Sayonara)
再见
(ZaiJian)
Bye