In Your Radiant Season (10/12) – This has been a difficult one for me to judge, because while I really like the ensemble (actors and characters alike), so much of the plot has been dependent on two of my least favourite Kdrama tropes – secret-keeping and noble idiocy. It might have been okay if it was limited to one storyline, but practically every main character’s arc has relied on keeping something important from the person they love, which has made it a very frustrating watch for me. Would we even have a drama if everyone had just been honest about everything from the start? Maybe not. Or maybe with a few tweaks, the show could have achieved what it wanted to be without sacrificing its characters to the altar of plot convenience. It’s a shame, because I do think the performances in this are very good, but the story has felt bogged down by the tired (sometimes lazy) writing. I’m at the point where everything is blowing up in everyone’s faces, and while I’m sure this ends on a happy note, the journey there has been a bit arduous.
Also, hot take, but I’m not a big fan of Ha-young’s love story. I know they’re going for the ‘opposites attract’ thing with her and the COO, but she deserves someone fun and gregarious like her! (His guilt about her parents’ death, and the subsequent pushing her away thing is the exact thing I don’t like about the noble idiocy trope.)
Absolute Value of Romance (2/14) – BL is not my thing, and I’m just as wary as everyone else about the dangerous waters this show is treading with the teacher/student premise, but ever since those very fun character posters came out, I’ve been curious to see what kind of show it will be, and two episodes in, I have to say I’m quite enjoying it. It is fully self-aware in its humour, and that makes it less creepy than it might be if it was played straight. I laughed right from the opening scene (including the part where our FL imagined her characters getting mad at her for her ludicrous plotting, and that she was being arrested for being a boring writer), and the dynamic between her and the teachers has also been silly and fun. There are two more episodes still available to catch up on, but I hope it’s able to maintain its light-heartedness and not veer into more dicey territory, but for now, I’m enjoying the ride!
I’m waiting to hear more about Perfect Crown before deciding whether to dip in; not being particularly attached to either actor, I need the plot to carry its weight, and for now, the reviews seem more mixed than good. I watched the first episode of Season 1 of Yumi’s Cells a while back, but didn’t feel compelled to continue. Not sure if I should give it another shot. Excited to start The Scarecrow next week!