So, what are we all watching this week?
What kept you reaching for more (or agonizing when there was no more), and what made you want to throw your remote through the screen? Time to weigh in…
javabeans
Lovely Runner: Aw, this is a delightful surprise. I’m a little mad at myself for starting it right away because I’d have preferred to marathon this in a single weekend and I don’t look forward to the next seven weeks of waiting for my next dose of sunshine. This setup (of traveling back in one’s lifetime and attempting to fix something that went awry while delivering a hit of nostalgia and romance) has been a bit of a trend in recent years, but it’s all about the execution — I’m reminded of how I stuck with the lackluster A Time Called You more for what I wished it could be rather than what it was. I have more hope for Lovely Runner, which is bright and sweet and well-acted — they hit that balance of youthful awkwardness and melancholy in just the right way. I appreciate the building up of the background story (in the future timeline) that gives Sol’s antics an edge of desperation that keeps the comedy from veering over-the-top, and I’m rooting hard for Sun-jae to find his way to the light. We all deserve a Sol in our lives doing her damnedest to make us feel our lives are worth living.
Taxi Driver: I was in the mood for more lip-smackingly satisfying revenge plots after Reborn Rich, and Taxi Driver generally fits that bill. It’s very watchable, delivering its snazzy revenge schemes in bite-sized episodic chunks with upbeat caper vibes. I do think its strength is also its weakness, in that what makes the plots satisfying also makes them feel a bit simplistic, and procedural to the point that I can’t feel invested in the characters. The villains are excessively evil because they must merit our team’s elaborate payback, but then they just feel like cartoon bad guys. Our vigilante team’s operations are twisty, the disguises are fun, and the quick resolution of each villain-of-the-week arc keep the show zipping by — but it also starts to feel same-y at a point, and I’ve stalled two-thirds of the way into the season because I don’t feel a driving reason to keep going.
Knight Flower: Thoroughly enjoyed this as an easy-going romp with a bit of a message. I’ve been digging the streak of feminist commentary in some of the recent sageuks I’ve seen, which take the time to note how hard society was on women and highlight how remarkable they are for persevering in light of that. But the commentary wasn’t overpowering; the glib tone and antics of our intrepid nighttime vigilante widow kept the plot moving briskly, and although the drama didn’t quite grab its hooks into me emotionally (not that I think it was aiming for that), I did quite enjoy the light dusting of romantic angst — plenty of yearning looks and feels, but in small, manageable doses. I didn’t necessarily feel romantic chemistry between the widow and the captain out to catch her (and then protect her from being caught), but I did feel the pang of their frustrated attachment and the drama made the right choice in not forcing the romance, I think. (Although I could’ve used a bit more resolution on that front. Would it have killed you to deliver a bit more skinship??)
missvictrix
Lovely Runner: Two episodes and this drama has captured my heart! I went in with fingers crossed, hoping to love it, and it only took the first few minutes for that to happen. The story, the leads, the heart of the thing! I love when a drama has a firm grasp of what it’s doing, and knows how to make all the right feelings happen, seamlessly switching between making me giggle, squee, and then clutch my heart in those heavier moments (seeing her youthful mom, hugging her grandma, the tear that dropped on her foot). This drama also has the best art direction vibe around it — this was something I adored about True Beauty and I’m so happy to see here too. There’s something about the color palette, the retro vibe, and the lived-in detail of each set that builds this maximalist, hyper-curated, and delightful world of the story that just makes it so easy to inhabit. This is hands-down one of my favorite things K-dramas do, and a drama like this always renews my fervor and appreciation for it.
mistyisles
Currently covering: The Midnight Studio
Lovely Runner: Let’s be real, you had me at “time-slip idol drama.” But even aside from that, this show is an absolute delight, and I’m loving every second of it! Something about it feels very “classic K-Drama” to me in all the best ways, but there’s a freshness to it as well. The way she literally isn’t allowed to tell the future is a neat twist to the time travel rules, and now I’m curious what *other* rules might pop up as we go along. As for the big twist in Episode 2 — if I weren’t already sold on this pairing, I sure am now! Also, I’m going to need the entire OST immediately.