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Reviews
D.P.: Dirty Play (2023)
Absurd nonsense
The central premise of the series, the dreadful bullying that takes place in the Korean army which forces soldiers to do desperate things, is all very plausible and disturbing. However, the ending of this episode was simply ludicrous.
I have to question the intelligence of any director who believes that when a deserter with a hand grenade is cornered, the soldiers who have been sent to shoot him will form a circle around him, effectively pointing their weapons at each other. I trust that real soldiers would also be aware that a grenade is only live when the pin has been pulled, which it never was in this case.
Gaet-na-eul cha-cha-cha (2021)
Dreadful
I have been an enthusiastic viewer of Korean dramas for 17 years starting with My Lovely Sam Soon. Hometown Cha Cha Cha is one of the very few I have abandoned midway, in this case because of the immaturity of virtually every character, the self-destructive egotism and stupidity of the principal female character, the tedious "villager" cliches (think Local Hero on steroids) and the lack of the faintest intrusion of reality in pretty much every scene.
I gave up during the singing contest in Episode 6 when I was overwhelmed by a tsunami of the very worst cliches of K-drama. My Korean wife had long since turned to her mobile phone.
I know many sing this series' praises. I can only assume they haven't seen much K-drama previously.
News of the World (2020)
Disappointing
There seem to be as many cliches as cattle in the movie and without the cliches there wouldn't be any plot. Much of the action and special effects are unconvincing. The swirling "sandstorm" where Tom Hanks doesn't even need to pretend he is holding onto his hat is hilarious. Hanks and the girl are both excellent and the scenery is generally pretty but there's little else to recommend it.
Baegabondeu (2019)
Unfinished story
Lots of reviewers rave about this series. To each his own.
I will just say that after 16 episodes you are left with a cliffhanger and a completely unresolved plot and thus far there is no sign of a second season. Don't waste your time with it as you will only feel like you have been cheated. If they ever produce a second season then consider watching it.
Deep Water (2016)
Dimwit detective story
Take one stubborn, thick-headed, sermonising lady police detective who unnecessarily gets people killed and nearly-killed in the course of an investigation she should not be pursuing anyway because of an obvious personal conflict and add a director who seems oblivious to just how irritating the lead character is. You find yourself in Deep Water. The story becomes secondary to the psychopathy of the lead and the lack of principle of the supporting characters. Don't have anything to hand which you might throw at the screen.
Ófærð (2015)
9/10 Series 1, 2/10 Series2
Series 1 was an unexpected gem, slow-moving as suited the location, but constantly intriguing and ultimately satisfying.
Series 2 was an enormous disappointment and left me wondering how those who had made such a marvellous first season could possibly inflict such rubbish on their viewers. Spoiler alert: I outed the eventual villain at almost his first appearance as he seemed to have no real role in the drama except being there, but the motive supplied by the writers for his actions is ridiculous. Anyone could understand why he would be very upset. Why this would lead to what we see is entirely unexplained. It was a very poor denouement to a badly written series of gushing political correctness.
Gran Hotel (2011)
Unintentional soap opera parody
I understand not all reviewers have the same tastes. That's a good thing. This is quite pretty to look at but anyone with a taste for a properly executed period drama with plausible characters and plots should not waste their time with this nonsense and its preposterous characters. Some of it is unintentionally hilarious but "Soap" was a lot funnier overall. My wife and I gave it almost 2 episodes before saying enough was enough although I was hoping I'd still be watching when the evil twin surely arrives. It was seemingly written by a 12 year old for her 10 year old pals based on a series of cliches and with Joey Tribbiani's Dr Drake Ramore from Friends as the template for character construction. Don't waste a moment of your life on this.
Shetland: Blue Lightning: Part 2 (2014)
No adequate denouement
Something went seriously wrong with the writing, direction or editing of this episode. Who killed Peter Latimer? Why and how? How was Anna killed? Too much focus on moody atmosphere and too little on plot. Very poor episode.