Korean Drama - Connect

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안녕하세요

(Annyeonghaseyo)

こんにちは

(Konnichiwa)

你好

(Ni Hao)

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Connect is a 2022, South Korean sci-fi psychological thriller drama. The series was written by Masaru Nakamura and Ha dam, and directed y Takashi Mike.

It was released in Disney+ on the 7th of December 2022, and contains 6 episodes.

Main Cast:

Jung Hae In as Ha Dong Soo

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Go Kyung Pyo as Oh Jin Seop

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Kim Hye Jun as Choi I Rang

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Supporting Cast:

Kim Roi Ha as Detective Choi

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Lee Tae Hyeong as Detective Park

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Han Tae Hee as Detective Yeom

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Jang Gwang as Doctor

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Jo Bok Rae as Mr. Kim

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Sung Hyuk as Min Sook

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Yang Dong Geun as Musician Z

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Oh Ha Nee as Song Ha Young

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The series is based on the webtoon of the same name , the series depicts a mysterious story that occurs when a man who has been deprived of a part of his body by organ hunters, connects with a person who has received an organ transplant.

In June 2021, Studio Dragon announced that they were preparing to produce a new drama titled connect with Japanese director Takashi Mike. The series is the first South Korean drama to be produced by a Japanese director.

In January 2022, it was reported that filming of the series was in progress, with filming reportedly ending in March 2022.

A new human being, Connect, who has an immortal body, was kidnapped by an organ trafficking organisation. Part way through the surgery, he suddenly wakes up on an operating table and manages to escape with his one remaining eye.

Then he finds out that he can still see out of his missing eye, which has now been transplanted to a serial killer who killed and turned his victims into artistic sculptures.

Determined to get back what was taken, Dong Soo pursues the killer to make himself whole again.

Hulu

I was searching Korean drama's on Disney+ when I came across Connect, I knew nothing about it and decided to watch it based on the synopsis on the streaming service, Skye also seemed interested so I pressed play.

Skye didn't get through the first episode, she seemed creeped out straight away, but she does tend to get bored quickly when it comes to watching drama's. While I was confused during the first episode as I was clueless at what was going off, it wasn't long till I was sucked into the drama and found myself watching the next episode. I was so engrossed in the series that I didn't even realise I'd watched the final episode, when going to start the next episode.

It's definitely on the darker side of the K-drama scene, which I love as it gives me a break from my usual BL's and romantic, happy drama's.

The casting was amazing, there was no one that I could fault, and I was often left on the edge of my seat holding my breath, for me some of it was predictable, but only because I'm familiar with this style of genre and shows, while I wasn't expecting the happenings during for one of the characters, I definitely knew what they outcome would be for them.

I enjoyed watching Jung Hae In as Ha Dong Soo, he has a naivity to his character, and it was intriguing to watch not only his pursuit for the serial killer, but also how he would grow and react to things that happened to him, as well as discovering what he really, his whole life he'd been treated as a monster not knowing why he was different to everyone else. I hope we get a 2nd season as I look forward to seeing how he grows as well as accepting himself more.

I absolutely loved Go Kyung Pyo as Oh Jin Seop, I would love to see him more darker roles because he played his character so well, he really showed how easy it is to hide who you really are from everyone around you, allowing him to continue with his everyday life while hiding his scarier, dangerous side, even at one point having a work colleague to defend him from accusations.

I know Kim Hye Jun from KINGDOM where she played Queen Consort Cho, so I was intrigued to see her as Choi I Rang. The difference between her character and Jung Hae In's character is pretty big, she already knows who she is and has accepted it, what we don't really know is if she is there to help or hinder, is she there to live normally or make the normal humans be the monsters rather than her.

There was definitely scenes that I wasn't expecting, especially towards in the final episodes, so it was nice to have a drama that wasn't all the typical clichés, I'd happily watch this again to see if there was anything I missed the first time round, and to see if it makes more sense that it did on the first watch. I'm also interested in finding the webtoon to see how the story plays out.

I can only hope a 2nd season gets announced as it seemed to get left on a cliffhanger, and I would love to know and see how they will play that out in a 2nd season.

Have you watched Connect?

Were you a fan of the cast?

Did you enjoy the plot and script?

Have you read the webtoon?

Let me know in the comments below.

See you soon!

안녕

(Annyeong)

さようなら

(Sayonara)

再见

(ZaiJian)

Bye

The Eve Illusion - Book Review

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안녕하세요

(Annyeonghaseyo)

こんにちは

(Konnichiwa)

你好

(Ni Hao)

The Eve Illusion is the 2nd instalment in Tom & Giovanna Fletcher's Eve of Man trilogy.

The book was published by Michael Joseph, and published in hardback on the 16th of April 2020, and later published in paperback on the 21st of January 2021.

Eve is the last girl on earth.

For the last sixteen years, Eve has been a prisoner. Guarded by the mothers. Trapped by her fate. Watched by the world.

Until she took her chance, and escaped.

Eve finally has the freedom she has wanted for so long, and with Bram she has the love. But both come at a price. In this dangerous new world beyond the Tower, the regime is only ever one step behind. And together with the desperate rebel group fighting against the, Eve has found herself in more danger than she ever could have imagined.

With everything stacked against them, can Eve and Bram survive?

I was a little confused when I first started reading The Eve Illusion because my mind had gone blank from what had happened in the first book because it had been a while since I had read it, but it quickly came rushing back as I was reading the first chapter.

I really liked the journey this book took, we got to see more character development from Eve, especially when it came to making her own decisions, as she has been told what to do for most of her life. I didn't see any new character growth from Bram because, we already got to see a bit in the first book, he's already been able to slightly adjust to life on the outside.

It was nice to get another persons perspective, even though I was slightly confused as to who the hell Michael was when I started reading the first chapter, but it was nice to have someone that was still on the inside that could continue on their plans to get Eve back.

For me this book took many twists and turns that I was and wasn't expecting, I guessed who the snitch was but the main two parts that took me by surprise happen in the last few chapters of the book, even though I accidently spoilt the second one for myself when I accidently saw the last page of the final chapter.

Like the first book, I was hooked from the very first chapter and it didn't take me long to complete book 2, I found it so hard to stop when I came to the end of a chapter, which for me, shows how good a book is because it can completely pull me and make me fully absorbed within the story, wanting to know what will happen next and how they will get out of the predicaments they are in.

I can't wait to see how this series will conclude, I'm so excited for the third and final instalment, and I'm sure it will be just as captivating as the first 2.

Have you read The Eve Illusion?

What were your thoughts on the book?

Let me know in the comments below.

See you soon!

안녕

(Annyeong)

さようなら

(Sayonara)

再见

(ZaiJian)

Bye

Korean Drama - My Absolute Boyfriend

Hello

안녕하세요 

(Annyeonghaseyo)

こんにちは 

(Konnichiwa)

你好

(Ni Hao)

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My Absolute Boyfriend is a South Korean science fiction romantic comedy television series written by Yang Hyuk-Moon and directed by Jung Jung-Hwa, the series is also based on the Japanese manga series Absolute Boyfriend by Yuu Watase. 

The series aired on SBS TV from the 15th of May 2019, airing on Wednesday's and Thursday's in the 10pm kst time slot and concluding on the 11th of July 2019.

Main Cast:

Yeo Jin-Goo as Zero Nine

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Bang Minah as Um Da-Da

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Hong Jonghyun as Ma Wang Joon

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Supporting Cast:

Hong Seo-Young as Diana

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Choi Sung-Won as Nam Bo Won

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Gong Jung-Hwan as Ko Ji Seok

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Kwon Hyun-Sang as Hwang In Hyuk

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Cha Jung-Won as Bae Kyu Ri

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Kim Do-Hoon as Yoo Jin

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 Ha Jae-Sook as Yeo Woong

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Hong Seok-Cheon as Geum Eun Dong

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Choi Joo-Won as Hwa Ni

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The series was previously titled Romantic Comedy King, and was in talks to air on OCN but was later cancelled, while the lead roles of Um Da-Da and Ma Wang Joon were previously offered to Song Ji-Hyo and Chun Jung-Myung, who both respectively declined the roles.

The first script reading for the series was held on the 22nd of June 2018, with filming beginning that July. The series was also originally scheduled to air for 40 episodes, but was reduced by 4 episodes due to low ratings, the international broadcast however, remained at 40 episodes.

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There is some songs from the soundtrack that takes me right back into the drama, and here they are.

Lena Park - 별빛처럼 (Like A Starlight)

1theK (원더케이)

Kisum & Eunha(G Friend) - Mr. Stranger

1theK (원더케이)

Minah(Girls Day) and Ilhoon(BTOB) - 사랑이었다 (It Was Love)

1theK (원더케이)

Um Da-Da is a special effects makeup artist. She is secretly dating the popular actor Ma Wang Joon who is on the rise. As Wang Joon gets busy because of work and tired of their relationship, their seven-year-long relationship ends. And that is when Zero Nine, a humanoid robot who is programmed to be in love with his one and only girlfriend, appears in his life. An accidental kiss activates Zero Nine and he takes Da-Da as his girlfriend. As Da-Da and Zero Nine get closer and fall for each other, a mystery man tries to hard Da-Da by threatening her to break up with Ma Wang Joon, who secretly wants her back. Meanwhile, Diana, the original owner of Zero Nine, comes after them to take him back.

In the end, My Absolute Boyfriend is about the love with a robot who is humane and unstinting. Throughout the series, Zero Nine shows what true love is as he learns about love and becomes the absolute boyfriend.

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I felt myself getting conflicted non-stop with this drama, one minute I wanted it to work out with Ma Wang Joon and the next I wanted it to end with Zero Nine. I loved that the drama completed with an open ending so the watcher could make their own decision on who the mystery man was that we saw Da-Da smiling at in the closing scene. I know who I want to believe it is but I don't want to take away from that final scene.

This is my first drama with everyone within the cast, I kept seeing clips from Viki on their social media so decided to give it a try, I was left feeling pleasantly surprised, I really didn't think this would be a drama that I would enjoy. I did have a few moments where the emotions got the better of me and had me crying but other than that what I loved the most was the comedy.

From this drama I have become a huge fan of Yeo Jin Goo, I knew of him as I heard and seen the good reviews for him for his drama The Crowned Clown, I was in love with him and his character from the moment he was introduced. I love the innocence he brought to the series, he was also the main reason that I was often laughing, if I could have a humanoid robot as a companion, I would definitely pick Zero Nine. I honestly couldn't imagine anyone other than Yeo Jin Goo playing our friendly loving robot.

I spent a lot of the drama wondering why Hong Jonghyun's face was familiar as I hadn't seen any of his drama's or films, it wasn't till I restarted watching Busted, that I realised he's one of the special guest's in episode 2. With Ma Wang Joon, I don't think he was really tired of his relationship with Da-Da, I just think his heart was in the wrong place and his priority and number 1 love was himself, his career and how he's viewed by others. It's definitely a you don't know what you've lost till it's gone plot when it comes to him and Da-Da, I think once Da-Da realises she needs to put herself as priority and ends things with Ma Wang Joon he realises that the downfall of their relationship was himself and that he really needs and wants her part of his life as he owes all he has to her. I think Jonghyun did an amazing job as Ma Wang Joon, he really brought the character to life.

I have to give credit to Bang Minah, I thought she did really well, but at times I found Um Da-Da a little irritating, especially at the end, to me it seemed that everything Zero Nine taught her. Throughout the series you saw Um Da-Da telling others that when you love someone you share both the good and bad times together to help get each other through them, and I think this should stand whether they be a lover, friend or family. This I noticed in the last episode went out the window, instead of turning to those who love her to help her through the hard times she holds it all in, meaning she just plods along never actually dealing with the emotional things that she should. I think on a whole Um Da-Da struggles when it comes to her emotions, she believes she knows how to cope and deal with things, which Zero Nine shows there are more ways to share how she feels and cares for others.

After seeing Hong Seo-Young in Her Private Life, I was blown away by how versatile her acting can be, Diana is the stereotypical rich girl, thinks because she has the money she should get whatever she wants and desires no matter how poorly she treats others, at times even I felt scared of her which shows just how good of an actress Seo-Young is.

I absolutely loved Choi Sung-Won as Nam Bo Won, he added to the comedy as things got more serious with Zero Nine, he was definitely one of my favourite characters from the series, I loved how the series ended for him and I was even happier that he fell for another of my favourite characters.

I think overall the casts chemistry was amazing, I think that's why for me the series worked and was enjoyable. I would love to see a 2nd series to see how Da-Da overcomes her new path and how Zero Nine really affected Da-Da's outlook on love and life.

I would recommend this drama to others to watch, I think to really understand and enjoy this drama you have to take the time to sit and watch it and maybe it will also change the way you think about love and caring for others.

Have you watched My Absolute Boyfriend?

Did you like the casting and plot?

Would you recommend it to others?

Let me know in the comments below.

See you soon!

안녕

(Annyeong)

さようなら

(Sayonara)

再见

(ZaiJian)

Bye