Slow and Steady

 Unconventional Friday Double-Header, Can It Cross the Swamp of Low Ratings? JTBC has attempted a quite adventurous programming strategy by launching the new Friday drama 'Love Me'. Airing two episodes back-to-back on Friday nights is, in fact, a very unusual and unconventional decision in the domestic broadcasting environment. Usually, targeting weekend nights or weekday 10 PM slots is the norm, so this "binge-watch style" scheduling seems to be conscious of OTT viewing patterns, yet it is also a risky gamble regarding TV viewership ratings. The fact that JTBC pushed ahead with this persistency, despite previous works not having much fun in this time slot, suggests a confidence underlying this specific work. For viewers, it is welcoming news to be able to breathe with a new drama for a long stretch to start the weekend. Attention is focused on whether this unconventional strategy will shine through 'Love Me'. Trusted Actor Seo Hyun-jin Returns with Heart-Wren...

The Unfortunate Drama Locked in the Warehouse Finally Comes to Light A new original series, Villains, has been released on TVING. In fact, this drama went through quite a rough process before seeing the light of day. It was a highly anticipated work that had already finished filming in 2022 and was targeting a release in 2023. However, everything went awry when one of the lead actors, Kwak Do-won, was involved in a drunk driving incident. It was a bolt from the blue for the production team, and the drama was indefinitely relegated to the warehouse. Usually, when a lead actor causes a social scandal, the work itself is often scrapped or re-filmed, but since filming was already complete, they were in a difficult situation where they couldn't do either. Now, after nearly two years have passed, TVING has cautiously unsealed it for the year-end season. Kwak Do-won's Declaration of Return, and the Subtle Timing of the Release Coincidentally, Kwak Do-won announced his return to the in...

The Shock of 2009, and the Nostalgic Return of 3D Do you remember 2009, when the 'Avatar' series was first revealed to the world? At that time, theaters were truly a crucible of revolution. The experience of images, once confined to a flat screen, pouring out right in front of your eyes the moment you put on 3D glasses was nothing short of a shock. 3D technology, which was unfamiliar until then, seemed to become the new standard for the film industry starting with Avatar. The immersion provided by the depth gave audiences an "experience" beyond simple viewing, acting as a catalyst for countless movies to be produced in 3D and 4D formats afterward. However, do trends come and go, or was it a limitation of technology? At some point, even sci-fi movies began to avoid 3D production, and stereoscopic movies felt like fading relics found only in theme parks. But I faced that forgotten sensation once again through this film, 'Avatar: Fire and Ash'.   Unexpected 3D Gl...

Return of the Trusted 'Someday or One Day' Team, This Time with deeper Sorrow The news that the production team of Someday or One Day, which is evaluated to have made a mark on the history of Taiwanese drama, returned with a new work was enough to make fans' hearts beat faster. As soon as I heard the news, I decided to watch it unconditionally without even looking at the synopsis properly. I played the first episode expecting the unique sensibility shown in Someday or One Day and the sorrowful romance transcending time. However, Had I Not Seen the Sun (literal translation) was slightly different in texture from Someday or One Day. If the previous work was a mystery and time slip hidden within the freshness of youth, this work contains a much heavier, darker, and therefore more painful sorrow. Although it wears the outer shell of romance, an unbearable tragedy and desperate love flow within it, making a corner of my heart ache throughout the viewing. The Past Viewed Through ...

Japan as a 'Reduction-Oriented Society' and the Heroes They Portray Japan is often referred to as a "reduction-oriented society." Despite being an economic powerhouse with a population of over 120 million and a strong cultural influence, the inner workings of the country reveal a surprisingly modest and static nature. In particular, as the long-term economic stagnation and low-growth trend known as the "Lost 30 Years" have continued, there seems to be a stronger tendency across society to focus on individual lives and well-being rather than grand discourses. In the past, Japanese pop culture enthusiastically embraced stories on a massive scale, such as Space Battleship Yamato or Gundam, which were set in the vast universe and involved saving the world. However, now, "my small happiness" and "trivial daily life" seem to be emerging as more important values. This social atmosphere is reflected in content like dramas and movies, creating an ...