netflix Archives | Zoomers Corner

QUIZ: We’ll Tell You What to Watch Next on Netflix Based on Your Personality

Jeriah — Sun, 12 Jul 2020 10:20:46 +0000

The post QUIZ: We’ll Tell You What to Watch Next on Netflix Based on Your Personality appeared first on Zoomers Corner.

7 of the Best K-Dramas on Netflix for Gen Z’ers

Jeriah — Sun, 21 Jun 2020 11:14:39 +0000

Contrary to popular belief, Korean dramas (or k-dramas) are not all sappy romantic affairs. TV shows in South Korea are rich with entertaining content spanning different genres. If you lowkey want to get into the craze but don’t know where to start, here is a quick list of the best k-dramas on Netflix.

1. Itaewon Class

IMDB

Genre: Drama

What It’s About: This is a show that revolves around the incomparable duo of revenge and friendship. Good-willed Park Sae-ro-yi opens a bar-restaurant in Itaewon with his outcast friends and tries to make it successful. Only problem? He’s trying to compete with the CEO and son of a huge restaurant group whom he has a lot of history with. By history, we mean they were the reason why he was thrown in prison when he was younger. Yikes.

Why Watch It: The characters, oh my god! In real life, Itaewon is actually one of the most colorful neighborhoods in South Korea. The show gives this justice by writing diverse characters whom we don’t usually see in k-dramas. For starters, some of the main characters in the series feature Hyeon-yi, a transwoman chef, and Kim To-ni, a part-timer from Guinea. I guarantee that you’re going to fall in love with the story of each character in this ensemble of social outcasts. Because of this very reason, this is perhaps one of the best k-dramas on Netflix, period.

2. The K2

IMDB

Genre: Political Drama

What It’s About: An action and political drama, The K2 revolves around ex-soldier Kim Je-ha, who was framed for the murder of his lover. He then becomes a bodyguard for a family tied up in politics to exact revenge on the real murderer. In particular, he keeps an eye on the illegitimate daughter, Go An-na, and naturally, romance ensues. However, Go An-na’s stepmother will do whatever it takes to be the First Lady even if it comes at the cost of the main characters’ happiness.

Why Watch It: While the love story here gives us butterflies in our stomach, it plays second fiddle to a bigger plot about political ambition and deceit. Even with its share of soapy moments, The K2 is able to share with us some insight into how Korean politics operates. It also has a fair amount of action scenes which makes it one of the best Netflix k-dramas to watch for those who can’t help but roll their eyes at cheesy, romantic scenes. But also kinda like them.

3. Something in the Rain

IMDB

Genre: Romantic Drama

What It’s About: A woman in her thirties, Jin-ah, falls in love with her best friend’s twentysomething younger brother, Joon-hee. Given their age gap and the complexity of the whole situation (it’s her best friend’s younger brother!), a lot of drama ensues among their circle of families and friends. And in between all that crazy melodrama, there is an arc that deals with sexual harassment in Jin-ah’s workplace and how she and her friends deal with it.

Why Watch It: While this is a show that older audiences will appreciate more, zoomers will also be able to learn a lot from this show if they really take it in. It serves some hot commentary on certain societal expectations when it comes to a lot of things… like relationships. For example, the “taboos” of dating someone way younger and marrying someone from a family with a good background are tackled in this romantic drama. Also, the harshly realistic subplot about women having to go along with men’s sexual advances in the workplace is eye-opening, especially for someone who has just graduated from college. Even if you won’t agree with the characters’ choices at times, you know that it is how someone in the real world would react.

Some of my friends and I found it to be slow at times, but the pacing will be something you appreciate when you look back at it. If you want something character-driven with an atmospheric setting and soundtrack, this is the show for you!

4. Moment of Eighteen

IMDB

Genre: Coming of Age

What It’s About: This understated k-drama follows eighteen year-old loner Choi Joon-woo as he moves to another school where he meets Yoo Soo-Bin and Ma Whi-Young. Together, the three of them experience just how difficult life can be. They all try to find their sense of independence and self, as they confront their own respective demons that hold them back.

Why Watch It: As I wrote down the summary for this show, I realize just how generic Moment of Eighteen may seem. While it does sound like just another coming of age, it’s one of those things that you just have to watch to understand. Unlike its Western teen drama counterparts, the show is able to capture how a teenager actually talks and feels. If you’re a bit older than the rest of the other Gen Z’ers like me, then this show will hit you with a big wave of nostalgia. From the presentation and the soundtrack, you’ll be transported back to the time when you were just discovering the world and standing up for yourself.

5. Hotel del Luna

IMDB

Genre: Romantic Fantasy

What It’s About: As punishment for her actions when she was still alive, strong and moody Jang Man-wol becomes the owner of Hotel del Luna, whose visitors are exclusively ghosts. You heard that right! She hires a manager, Koo Chan-sung, to handle the hotel’s affairs. And of course, romance ensues. But unfortunately, time is running out for them as Man-wol becomes a better person because of Chan-sung.

Why Watch It: Aside from the huge production value? The quirky and stunning world that the show has built out is a blast to watch unfold. While every episode has a Monster of the Week plot, the 60+ minute episodes aren’t a chore at all. And we can thank the intense chemistry between the leads for that! Every scene that teases their romance is . The supporting cast also possesses tremendous charm that adds to the good vibes you’ll have watching this.

More than that, the show is easily one of the best k-dramas on Netflix for zoomers because of its relatability. As most of us are in a transitional stage in our lives, its themes of moving on and dealing with baggage are very much appreciated.

6. Hello, My Twenties!

IMDB

Genre: Drama Comedy

What It’s About: This favorite hidden gem of mine revolves around five girls who live together in a boarding house, Belle Epoque. We follow their lives as they confront their own traumatic experiences and skeletons in the closets. And when we say skeletons, we could either mean literally or figuratively. You’ll have to find that out for yourself.

Why Watch It: It is one of the best k-dramas on Netflix I have watched, or the best one, period. I was shocked when I first watched this show because I thought it was just going to be another romantic comedy. Little did I know that it would delve deep into relevant issues like violence against women, PTSD, and abuse in the workplace. The first season had a lot of wisdom to offer, and despite some unrealistic moments, it’s hard not to see yourself in one of the main characters. I also love seeing the friendship between the main characters grow — they fight, make up, fight some more, and then comfort each other… like sisters.

7. Reply 1994

IMDB

Genre: Coming of Age

What It’s About: Yet another “boarding house” dramedy, we follow a group of college students who go through some of the most pivotal events in their lives together. For the entirety of the series , there is also a “who’s the husband” mystery that involves quirky protagonist, Sung Na-jung.

Why Watch It: If you’re in the mood to celebrate the friendships you have made in college, then you should check this out. The main romance storyline is kinda meh, but it is more than made up for with relatable characters and life lessons you’ll pick up along the way. It may also be interesting for anyone who is interested in South Korean culture, because this show is packed with true-to-life settings, references, and events that happened in the 90s.

This may be the second installment of the Reply trilogy, but I think that it’s the first one everyone should watch. Look, I’ve watched the other ones too. But in my opinion, even if Reply 1994 is the weakest one out of them, it’s the best introduction to the series. While all three of them generally follow a similar story, Reply 1994 is the only one able to stick the landing in displaying the unbreakable bond among friends.

And that’s my personal list of the best k-dramas on Netflix which I think zoomers will enjoy. I’m no k-drama expert, so I’m sure I missed out on a lot more. Feel free to comment on my lack of taste, and your own personal recommendations. Happy watching!

If you’re not into k-dramas, then maybe you’ll enjoy the Spanish teen drama, Elite instead. See why you should watch it here. Don’t miss out on future TV show recommendations by signing up for our newsletter!

Featured Image: Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels

The post 7 of the Best K-Dramas on Netflix for Gen Z’ers appeared first on Zoomers Corner.

Your Next Guilty Pleasure is the Sexy, Smart ‘Spanish Riverdale’

Jeriah — Fri, 12 Jun 2020 09:36:31 +0000

The Spanish teen drama you’re not watching has a 97% score in Rotten Tomatoes. A murder, a beautiful cast, a killer soundtrack, shippable couples, parties for no reason, and unrealistic storylines that normal teens don’t go through. Netflix’s Elite has all the teen drama tropes to a tee, except it works.

No spoilers ahead; at least nothing you won’t read in a synopsis. If you’re looking for teen Netflix shows to binge watch, then you totally have to keep an eye on Elite. This show was sitting on my to-watch list for quite some time, but because of the quarantine, I was finally able to sit down and binge through it. So allow me to gush over this new obsession of mine and paint you a picture of what it’s about, and why you should watch it!

So what is it like?

If you are anything like a younger version of myself who could not get enough of dramas featuring teenagers, then you will absolutely love Elite. From the more romantic ones like Dawson’s Creek and Felicity, to supernatural dramas like The Vampire Diaries and Teen Wolf, I’ve gotten obsessed with watching hot grown-ass adults play teenagers who are stuck in an endless cycle of heartbreak and traumatic events.

And when we talk about traumatic events in TV shows, how could we ever forget the iconic quest of finding A (and A.D.) in Pretty Little Liars that placed the female leads in countless precarious situations… for seven years!

I’m singling out PLL because as a former die-hard fan of that show, I think that show manages to encapsulate what Elite is: a high school drama about romance, family, friendship, and finding oneself, all tied up in a huge central murder mystery. Of course, I think there are a lot of things Elite does better than PLL especially when it comes to the plot and technical aspects, but in essence, they both keep you at the edge of your seat while maintaining a lot of melodramatic elements.

Many people also have compared Elite to shows like Riverdale, calling it the “Spanish Riverdale”. But honestly, I only watched the first season before shit hit the fan and all the major WTF moments in that show happened, so I’m not really sure how well that comparison stands. I do see why people say that though, especially when the show delves into the more soapy and unrealistic moments. Both of them are glamorous in their own way and will make you say, “so that just happened”. I will say that Riverdale has a grittier and darker presentation that may turn off some fans to Elite.

So the answer to the question: Elite is what happens when Pretty Little Liars has hot steamy sex with Riverdale, but with better cinematography.

What’s the story about?

IMDB

Every season starts with a central mystery that gets tied up neatly by the end of the eight episodes. I won’t be delving too much into them to avoid spoilers, but as you can guess, there is a substantial amount of thrill and suspense in the show that will make you want to finish it all in one go. Although I believe that the mystery isn’t really what the show is about, it drives the other storylines forward, making the mystery feel even more important. Also, enough clues are laid out in every episode leading up to the reveals, that the puzzle can be pieced together by the average viewer.

If there’s one thing that Elite does better than its American counterparts (looking at you PLL), it’s that the mysteries actually feel like they’ve been planned out from beginning to end. Not once did I feel cheated, nor that the writers were just throwing a twist for the sake of it. It makes sense!

IMDB

With that, let’s talk about the other storylines in play because honestly, they are pretty farfetched and require major suspension of disbelief from viewers. But it’s pretty easy to go along with them, because you love to believe that the problems they have are what extravagantly rich people face every day. If you embrace that this is just a primetime teen soap, then you should have no issue with whatever they’re putting out. Rotten Tomatoes did not call it “strong trash TV for anyone with a guilty pleasure palate” for nothing!

Despite how unrealistic it can get at times, the storylines take us to provocative and never-been-explored places in the land of Western teen dramas. It also explores and normalizes things that would be issues in the real world like homosexuality, religious beliefs, polygamy, and many more. The fact that the show fearlessly tackles these topics, and in a teen setting nonetheless, speaks to how progressive it is.

What are the characters like?

Variety

First of all, there is not one ugly person in this cast. Dare I say, The CW casts have nothing on them!

Elite has an almost-perfect ensemble who has strong chemistry with each other. The actors do a tremendous job translating their characters on screen, and they all add a little charm to the show. Watching cast interviews and interactions gives me a giddy feeling even if I don’t understand Spanish. There were a few miscasts in the third season, but it’s okay because they don’t take up a lot of screen time.

Now I must warn you, as how these teen shows usually go, the characters make a lot of stupid decisions. But all of them are ridiculously likable that it’s hard to hate them. The fact that they make questionable choices all the time, but are all universally loved is a testament to how well-written they are. The characters are pretty diverse, and not all of them are stuck-up snobs as the promotional posters would lead you to believe. Everyone whom I’ve talked to about this show has at least one favorite character, but many fans like myself have a lot of favorites!

You have Carla, the femme fatale marchioness who will sneak up on you and steal your heart. There’s Nadia, the conservative but ambitious girl who tries to navigate being a Muslim in the world of the rich. Her rival Lu screams bad bitch, but is bogged down by her own insecurities and desire to be loved. Polo is the often misunderstood one who would give everything to the woman he loves. Finally, you have Ander and Omar, the cutest couple in the show who come across a lot of problems in their relationship mostly because of forces they can’t control.

There are a lot more characters whom I didn’t even mention, but are just as interesting as them. I’m gonna come out and say that the characters are the ones who make this show, and the actors bring it to top-tier status. I mean from their photos alone, wouldn’t you want to follow them on Instagram?

The Verdict

Elite is a dangerous threat, with a nail-biting fast-paced plot, incredible cast, great technicals, and shockingly, a lot of heart. The fact that it is unapologetic about its wackiness while being an intelligently-written show is rare for a teen soap. With only 24 episodes right now, it is also a bingeworthy Netflix show that will get you through the weekend. Next thing you know, you’ll be on Youtube watching behind-the-scene footage, just like all of us. Besos!

Featured Image: The Nerd Daily

The post Your Next Guilty Pleasure is the Sexy, Smart ‘Spanish Riverdale’ appeared first on Zoomers Corner.