Beetbits:These Three Netflix Series are Binge-Worthy
Did I get that correct "Binge-Worthy"? Anyway, as the COVID-19 lockdown continues all over the world, I believe this is the ultimate time to catch up on that long list of planned to watch series. Luckily, Netflix has most of the series on my planned to watch list.
This drama is a typical rom-com drama that, for once, does not overuse the concept of a pitiful, poor secretary and a rich manager. While the heroine is not the brightest or the strongest, her character development throughout this series is very solid and enjoyable to watch, especially, as she moves forward playing two characters that are not similar at all.
The series starring Kim Young-Kwang, Jin Ki-Joo, Kim Jae-Kyung and Koo Ja-Sung started with a similar vibe of a Rich Man Poor Woman series; but moved forward to grab the attention as unique character developments and events ensued. A seemingly annoying yet interesting character was used both to track and help the two protagonists come together throughout the series, the overly-perfect Victoria Park, a slightly mischievous lady who is more of a Casanova than Casanova himself. If you have not heard of Victoria Park's actress Kim Jae-Kyung before, you should keep the name in mind now. Her acting as the annoying characters plays on your nerves from the beginning; she is moody, indignant, egotistical and the list goes on. Her appearance reflects the typical stereotypical crazy witch of the upper world; however, that's not her real nature. While she does have a bit of ego, the character has more layers than what you see, and throughout the series, her charm sometimes appears even more than the leading lady. Kim Jae-Kyung gained a lot of recognition thanks to this role, and I can definitely see the reason.
Surprised? Me Too! If you are not aware of it, I was not a fan of Well-Intended Love during my last review. It was mediocre, to say the least, the drama only kept me hooked because I wanted to watch the handsome actor (Ehm..) and pretty actress. Anyway, I had not planned on watching the second season for this one as I felt it would not be good enough to watch; however, I was told it is more of a spin-off than a second season, so I decided to give it a try.
Well-Intended Love Season 2 is not really a second season of the series, while the characters maintained their names and a bit of their main background and characteristics, this series got a real reboot as a second season. It might not be the best thing to the fans of the original, who expected further development than a first meeting again; however, if you do give this a chance, you will find that it has many good points that were not in the original.
Firstly, you don't have to worry about too many cliches in this second season. Character development is more firm and well-written, so even the villains are not as cliche and unreasonable as the first season was. There is no overacting or overly emotional scenes for no reasons in this one, the protagonists both develop feelings piece by piece, except of course the male lead had feelings since the beginning. Moreover, the male lead did not use a foul trick that should not be forgiven in this one, so the development of his relationship with his fiance is very stable.
Secondly, in terms of the second lead, the development of Chu Yan's character in this one is seriously one of a cool second lead, not just a whiny, pitiful best-friend; he even gets his own love-line.
Finally, the intimacy and chemistry in this one are top-notch as both actors have quite a bit of dreamy lovey-dovey scene. Also, the secretary gets his own love-line as well.
When I first started this one I had this nostalgic feeling towards the male lead, I spent the first episode thinking " Where did I see him? Where?" then I remembered " All The Butlers!" The guy who does not feel pain?" Wow, he really can act".
Second 20s is not a typical rom-com in any type or shape; it discusses the sacrifices of a mother in a unique setting, a university campus. The heroine is a mother and a wife who did not complete her education because she got pregnant. Just like any loving mother, she supported her husband and brought up her child with all the love of the world; however, she, unlike most mother, was not rewarded for her efforts. Her husband, a university professor, constantly belittles her for her lack of education and knowledge. Fearing the collapse or her little family, she decides to enrol in a university to keep her husband with her. She experiences new stuff at university and meets an old classmate who is not that fond of her? Or is he?!
While the setting of second 20s could reflect a new introduction to yet another typical rom-com, it is not true that the drama follows a regular pattern in any way or form. Choi Won Young, the husband of the heroine, is a clear example of what a narcissist is like and how destructive they can be to their lives and others lives. While he seems to appear more proud than he should from the beginning, typical narcissistic traits show themselves as his talks with his wife entails many blame-shifting techniques. He totally convinces her she is the problem in their relationship as he can not communicate with her while in fact, he is the problem. As a husband and a dad, you can see that he is not trying to keep a healthy family around him, he is more of a general leading minions and showing them manners. His interactions with his son from the beginning are more focus on status and ego than how to be human, and he controls everything he could have his hands on. It is also hard for him to accept any actions that are not approved by him first.
You might have guessed by now, but as a person who dealt with a real narcissist once in my life, upon figuring out Choi Won Young character, I was a bit excited and even more critical than ever while watching his role. Unlike Sociopaths or Psychopaths, who you can easily recognise due to certain behavioural patterns and so on; narcissists blend in within society. Not many people get to recognise a narcissist unless they were hurt by one. Usually, people see narcissists as merely different people with different priorities; they don't show their ultimate nature unless you deal with them closely as an underling ( Not as someone with power). Anyway, figuring out when to say what and what types of expression a narcissist would have in each situation is not easy, however, I have to give it up to Choi Won Young for clearly showing all the details in such an accurate way to the point of actually giving me flashbacks of my own experience. I have watched almost all of Choi Won Young Roles as a first or second male lead in a Korean drama, you can read about them here.
1. The Secret Life Of My Secretary
"As a disaster befalls the manager of a big company, his secretary learns his secret by chance and love ensues "
This drama is a typical rom-com drama that, for once, does not overuse the concept of a pitiful, poor secretary and a rich manager. While the heroine is not the brightest or the strongest, her character development throughout this series is very solid and enjoyable to watch, especially, as she moves forward playing two characters that are not similar at all.
The series starring Kim Young-Kwang, Jin Ki-Joo, Kim Jae-Kyung and Koo Ja-Sung started with a similar vibe of a Rich Man Poor Woman series; but moved forward to grab the attention as unique character developments and events ensued. A seemingly annoying yet interesting character was used both to track and help the two protagonists come together throughout the series, the overly-perfect Victoria Park, a slightly mischievous lady who is more of a Casanova than Casanova himself. If you have not heard of Victoria Park's actress Kim Jae-Kyung before, you should keep the name in mind now. Her acting as the annoying characters plays on your nerves from the beginning; she is moody, indignant, egotistical and the list goes on. Her appearance reflects the typical stereotypical crazy witch of the upper world; however, that's not her real nature. While she does have a bit of ego, the character has more layers than what you see, and throughout the series, her charm sometimes appears even more than the leading lady. Kim Jae-Kyung gained a lot of recognition thanks to this role, and I can definitely see the reason.
2. Well-Intended Love Season 2
Surprised? Me Too! If you are not aware of it, I was not a fan of Well-Intended Love during my last review. It was mediocre, to say the least, the drama only kept me hooked because I wanted to watch the handsome actor (Ehm..) and pretty actress. Anyway, I had not planned on watching the second season for this one as I felt it would not be good enough to watch; however, I was told it is more of a spin-off than a second season, so I decided to give it a try.
Well-Intended Love Season 2 is not really a second season of the series, while the characters maintained their names and a bit of their main background and characteristics, this series got a real reboot as a second season. It might not be the best thing to the fans of the original, who expected further development than a first meeting again; however, if you do give this a chance, you will find that it has many good points that were not in the original.
Firstly, you don't have to worry about too many cliches in this second season. Character development is more firm and well-written, so even the villains are not as cliche and unreasonable as the first season was. There is no overacting or overly emotional scenes for no reasons in this one, the protagonists both develop feelings piece by piece, except of course the male lead had feelings since the beginning. Moreover, the male lead did not use a foul trick that should not be forgiven in this one, so the development of his relationship with his fiance is very stable.
Secondly, in terms of the second lead, the development of Chu Yan's character in this one is seriously one of a cool second lead, not just a whiny, pitiful best-friend; he even gets his own love-line.
Finally, the intimacy and chemistry in this one are top-notch as both actors have quite a bit of dreamy lovey-dovey scene. Also, the secretary gets his own love-line as well.
3. Second 20s
When I first started this one I had this nostalgic feeling towards the male lead, I spent the first episode thinking " Where did I see him? Where?" then I remembered " All The Butlers!" The guy who does not feel pain?" Wow, he really can act".
Second 20s is not a typical rom-com in any type or shape; it discusses the sacrifices of a mother in a unique setting, a university campus. The heroine is a mother and a wife who did not complete her education because she got pregnant. Just like any loving mother, she supported her husband and brought up her child with all the love of the world; however, she, unlike most mother, was not rewarded for her efforts. Her husband, a university professor, constantly belittles her for her lack of education and knowledge. Fearing the collapse or her little family, she decides to enrol in a university to keep her husband with her. She experiences new stuff at university and meets an old classmate who is not that fond of her? Or is he?!
While the setting of second 20s could reflect a new introduction to yet another typical rom-com, it is not true that the drama follows a regular pattern in any way or form. Choi Won Young, the husband of the heroine, is a clear example of what a narcissist is like and how destructive they can be to their lives and others lives. While he seems to appear more proud than he should from the beginning, typical narcissistic traits show themselves as his talks with his wife entails many blame-shifting techniques. He totally convinces her she is the problem in their relationship as he can not communicate with her while in fact, he is the problem. As a husband and a dad, you can see that he is not trying to keep a healthy family around him, he is more of a general leading minions and showing them manners. His interactions with his son from the beginning are more focus on status and ego than how to be human, and he controls everything he could have his hands on. It is also hard for him to accept any actions that are not approved by him first.
You might have guessed by now, but as a person who dealt with a real narcissist once in my life, upon figuring out Choi Won Young character, I was a bit excited and even more critical than ever while watching his role. Unlike Sociopaths or Psychopaths, who you can easily recognise due to certain behavioural patterns and so on; narcissists blend in within society. Not many people get to recognise a narcissist unless they were hurt by one. Usually, people see narcissists as merely different people with different priorities; they don't show their ultimate nature unless you deal with them closely as an underling ( Not as someone with power). Anyway, figuring out when to say what and what types of expression a narcissist would have in each situation is not easy, however, I have to give it up to Choi Won Young for clearly showing all the details in such an accurate way to the point of actually giving me flashbacks of my own experience. I have watched almost all of Choi Won Young Roles as a first or second male lead in a Korean drama, you can read about them here.
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