It’s been over five years since Reply 1988 first hit the airwaves and touched the hearts of many Korean households. And thanks to Netflix, k-dramas fans around the world — new and old — were introduced to this one-of-a-kind coming-of-age family drama. The only problem they face now is that it’s so difficult to find shows like it. Well, you won’t have to worry about that because we compiled a list of six realistic k-dramas similar to Reply 1988.

And no, we are not going to be including Reply 1994 and Reply 1997 in this list. But if you haven’t watched them yet, make sure to check out our ultimate guide to the entire Reply trilogy to know which one you should watch next!

1. Hospital Playlist

Cast: Yoo Yeon-seok, Jo Jung-suk, Jeon Mi-do, Kim Dae-myung & Jung Kyung-ho

Synopsis: Hospital Playlist is a medical drama that revolves around the everyday lives of five talented doctors who work in Yulje Medical Center. While most of the show focuses on the cases and patients they handle, it’s really about the relationships among the main characters, as well as the people who work inside the hospital. There’s no “main plot” to this show, but rather, every person in the gang has their own thing going on.

How it’s similar to Reply 1988: Released in 2020, Hospital Playlist is the most recent brainchild of Reply series writer Lee Woo-jung. I feel like among all the k-dramas similar to Reply 1988, this one feels the most familiar in terms of the entire presentation: the lack of a central storyline, the focus on relationships, the strong characters among the entire ensemble, and of course, the presence of a group of friends that screams #friendshipgoals.

While I personally didn’t like this k-drama (don’t hate me) because it moved soooo slow, many Reply 1988 fans have enjoyed watching the mundanity of everyday life on their screen. It does feel like Reply if you set it in the modern-day hospital.

I am obviously in the minority with my opinion on the quality of the show, but do know that Hospital Playlist is well-loved among the k-drama community. It’s even getting a season 2 this year!

Where to watch Hospital Playlist in the Philippines: Netflix

Read more about the show on IMDB.

2. Be Melodramatic

Cast: Chun Woo-hee, Jeon Yeo-bin & Han Ji-eun

Synopsis: Also known as Melo is My Nature and Melo Suits Me, this romantic comedy follows three women in their thirties as they navigate the entertainment industry. Much like Hello, My Twenties! which made our list of top k-dramas to watch for Gen Z’ers, every character has their own unique battles entangled in messy romance and life lessons. Through it all, our characters are lucky to have a strong support system with each other!

How it’s similar to Reply 1988: You will love this k-drama because it stars Ahn Jae-hong, whom you might know better as Kim Jung-bong. But more than that, the three leads in Be Melodramatic still have a lot of growing up to do — much like the teenage characters we followed in Reply 1988 — despite being in their thirties. And they are so hilarious… imagine having a show that centers around three strong and funny Deok-sun’s in a “millennial” coming-of-age.

While short on the tears, it has more than enough romance and heart to please fans of Reply 1988.

Where to watch Be Melodramatic in the Philippines: Netflix and iflix

Read more about the show on IMDB.

3. It’s Okay to Not Be Okay

Cast: Kim Soo-hyun, Seo Yea-ji & Oh Jung-se

Synopsis: It’s Okay to Not Be Okay was one of the breakthrough k-dramas of 2020. It follows the love story between Ko Moon-young, an antisocial children book’s writer, and Moon Gang-tae, a caretaker who works in a psychiatric hospital. They fall for each other and work through a seemingly-doomed romance despite the dark pasts that cloud their family.

How it’s similar to Reply 1988: This entry will probably be the most “unrealistic” k-drama in terms of the story. There are a few outlandish situations which can land the show into soapy territory, but it’s not hard to see how it can happen IRL if you’re willing to suspend your disbelief.

We’re still putting it in this list because it does get the most important bit in realistic fashion: family. In essence, It’s Okay to Not Be Okay is really about the family you find outside your own blood. The romance is just a cute way to drive the story, but what makes it memorable up to this day is how Moon-young finds her way into the hearts of the two brothers.

It’s not so much a slice-of-life, but it did give us heavy Reply 1988 vibes with how much we cried because of the love shown among the “family” here.

Where to watch It’s Okay to Not Be Okay in the Philippines: Netflix

Read more about the show on IMDB.

4. Prison Playbook

Cast: Park Hae-soo, Jung Kyung-ho, Lee Kyu-hyung, Jung Hae-in & Jeong Woong-in

Synopsis: Prison Playbook revolves around the ensemble of lovable prison inmates, led by famous baseball player Kim Je-hyuk. He is wrongfully imprisoned after defending his sister from a sexual assault, and meets lifelong friends behind bars who have their own baggage to deal with.

Thankfully, his best friend is the prison guard who has a lot of history with Je-hyuk. The dramedy also sheds some light on Je-hyuk’s family and girlfriend, who have to deal with the fallout of his imprisonment.

How it’s similar to Reply 1988: This is another k-drama written by the same guy behind Reply 1988, so expect some hardcore tears and laughter in every episode. The show may not be groundbreaking nor exciting, but it will remind you of a special time in your life, most especially the memories you cherish with your friends and family from long ago.

It’s definitely no action k-drama; the prison setting is really just a means for the characters to grow as people. Just like the Reply series, you’re going to get attached with the ensemble cast… which is kind of weird considering how we’re talking about inmates here!

Where to watch Prison Playbook in the Philippines: Netflix

Read more about the show on IMDB.

5. My Mister

Cast: IU & Lee Sun-gyun

Synopsis: My Mister is quite the heavy k-drama as we follow two lonely people who meet in a compromising workplace situation: Lee Ji-an, a humble and hardworking woman in her twenties who is battling the pressures of surviving the real world, and Park Dong-hoon, an unhappy older man who feels a huge burden on his shoulders because of his family and work.

Dong-hoon lives with his two brothers who are struggling with their own problems in life. The oldest brother is having a tough time finding a wife and having a successful professional career, while the other one is an aspiring director.

With all these characters trying to overcome their own miseries, they soon find themselves relying on each other for hope and comfort.

How it’s similar to Reply 1988: If you’re looking for those oh-so-good heartaches that the Reply series gave us, then look no further than My Mister. The whole feel of this show is a little more grim than that of the lighthearted Reply 1988, because the characters come from more unfortunate backgrounds. But regardless, the realism of the k-drama mixed with the abundance of heartwarming family moments will make you reach for the tissues in no time!

Where to watch My Mister in the Philippines: Netflix

Read more about the show on IMDB.

6. One Spring Night

Cast: Jung Hae-in & Han Ji-min

Synopsis: One Spring Night is about a Lee Jong-in, a librarian who hits a major roadblock when she realizes that her long-term boyfriend is not really who she wants to be with forever. Amidst all this, she meets and falls in love with single dad pharmacist, Yu Ji-ho. They navigate the difficulties of their relationship together as they go against the societal standard of needing to marry someone with a high social standing.

Jong-in’s father disapproves of Ji-ho due to his status as a single parent, and her much-more-successful boyfriend isn’t making things easier for her.

How it’s similar to Reply 1988: We’ve talked about the cousin of this k-drama before, Something in the Rain. Both of them feel so grounded to reality, that it’s hard not to put yourself in the characters’ shoes.

In Reply 1988, we got a hint of how harsh South Korean society can be when the parents of Bo-ra and Sun-woo disapproved of their relationship because they had the same surname. We also see this in One Spring Night when Jong-in goes through a lot of hurdles just to start a relationship with a single dad in his thirties.

Aside from that, both k-dramas rely on character moments as opposed to spectacles and complicated plot devices to hook viewers in.

Where to watch One Spring Night in the Philippines: Netflix

Read more about the show on IMDB.

Do you have any suggestions to add to our list of realistic k-dramas similar to Reply 1988? Feel free to leave them down in the comments section below!

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If you’re looking for more feel-good K-dramas on Netflix like Reply 1988, you might want to check out our list of recommendations here. Don’t miss out on anything by following us @ZoomersCornerPH on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Featured Image: Left – tvN via Netflix, Right – MBC via Netflix

The post 6 Realistic K-Dramas Similar to ‘Reply 1988’ appeared first on Zoomers Corner.

Do you miss watching Sky Castle and shouting at your screen because it just made you unjustifiably furious? I know I do. Just seeing the sight of Coach Kim was enough to ruin my day in the best way possible! If you’re like me who’s continuously looking for that type of stress and thrill in your everyday watching, then don’t worry. I did the research for you in finding crazy, soapy k-dramas similar to Sky Castle.

1. Penthouse

Cast: Kim So-yeon, Lee Ji-ah, Eugene, Kim Young-dae, Park Eun-seok

Synopsis: Also known as The Penthouse: War in Life, this soapy k-drama revolves around wealthy families living in the 100-floor Hera Palace penthouse apartment. Everyone’s dream is to be the most successful one out of all… no matter what it takes. This means toppling the queen bee of the penthouse, Sim Su-ryeon, and making sure that their children are the best students in school.

The residents’ secrets start to come out when Oh Yoon-hee, a woman from a more humble background, causes some trouble with her aspiration to exact revenge on her longtime rival, opera-singing tutor Cheon Seo-jin. And we can’t forget, murders run rampant here! Power, lies, and deceit… what more could you ask for?

How it’s similar to Sky Castle: The question we should be asking is how it’s not similar to Sky Castle. Just reading the synopsis above gives you an idea that Penthouse explores almost exactly the same themes as the JTBC drama. From the intense pressure on the kids to perform well at school, to the problems in everyone’s marriage, and the mothers’ desires to be the best, it’s not hard to see why people compare these two k-dramas a lot.

But you know what, this isn’t a knock against Penthouse at all! Its first season still managed to be one of the most-watched k-dramas of all time and was renewed for two additional seasons despite being released over a year after Sky Castle. Well it’s not a shocker when the show has consistently provided quality drama and complex gray characters for us to root for/against.

Where to watch Penthouse in the Philippines: Viu

Read more about the show on IMDB.

2. Moment of Eighteen

Cast: Ong Seong-wu, Kim Hyang-gi & Shin Seung-ho

Synopsis: In this high school coming-of-age drama, we follow the shy and introverted Choi Joon-woo, the new student in town who has a lot of trouble fitting in with hisunfamiliar environment. He instantly takes a liking to the friendly Soo Yoo-bin, who is constantly pressured by her mother to be on top of her class. Star student Ma Hwi-young instantly takes a disliking to Joon-woo, but also has a troubled life at home thanks to his dad who is never pleased.

How it’s similar to Sky Castle: The reason why I put Moment of Eighteen in this list is not because of the cute romance between the two leads, or the main coming-of-age plot which has landed it in our list of best k-dramas on Netflix for Gen Z’ers.

But there are two subplots here that really scream Sky Castle for me: the first one involves the shaky relationship between Yoo-bin and her mother, who seems to only like the former when she’s doing well at school.

The second one involves Hwi-young, whose troublesome attitude is a direct effect of his parents constantly pressuring him to live up to his successful brother. His status as a top student can also be credit to some “assistance” from his mother, who constantly pulls some strings in the school system for him. Do I hear Han Seo-jin and Kang Ye-seo in this storyline?

Where to watch Moment of Eighteen in the Philippines: Netflix and Viu

Read more about the show on IMDB.

3. Flower of Evil

Cast: Lee Joon-gi & Moon Chae-won

Synopsis: This thriller is about a homicide detective, Cha Ji-won, whose world is turned upside down when she discovers that her so-called perfect husband, Baek Hee-sung is not who she thought he was. In fact, he may be a psychotic serial killer with a long history of murdering innocent people. We follow Ji-won on her quest to find out the truth behind her husband that may very well put her entire life at risk.

How it’s similar to Sky Castle: Flower of Evil is all about uncovering dark secrets hiding beneath the “perfect life”. We saw this in Sky Castle when the families’ lives start to crumble as soon as Lee Soo-im starts to dig further into what’s really going on in that community.

If you enjoyed the “who killed Hae-na” or “who really is Coach Kim” storyline, then you might enjoy this k-drama that delves a bit more into the hardcore mystery side of things. And much like Sky Castle, the whole plot is led by a strong woman who’s not afraid to put herself in danger to get what she wants!

Where to watch Flower of Evil in the Philippines: Netflix and Viu

Read more about the show on IMDB.

4. Beautiful World

Cast: Park Hee-soon, Choo Ja-hyun & Nam Da-reum

Synopsis: This underrated k-drama follows a family’s investigation into the events leading up to an incident that had left the son, Park Sun-ho, in a coma. They said he had attempted to commit suicide, but as they learn later on, the darker truth lies somewhere in the heartless environment that is the entire South Korean high school system: a breeding ground for bullying, violence, hypercompetitiveness, and cover-ups.

How it’s similar to Sky Castle: Beautiful World is more of a family drama with elements of deceit rather than a “deceit drama” with elements of family like Sky Castle. Nonetheless, both shows are one big commentary on high school education vis-a-vis the “rich vs. poor” dichotomy that places students in harm’s way. The central mystery about what happened to Park Sun-ho can lead to some thrilling moments for viewers akin to the entirety of Sky Castle.

If you thought Lee Soo-im was a sweet parent because she always looked out for the children’s best interest, then you’re gonna fall in love with the entire Park family in Beautiful World, whose love for the son is just beyond.

Where to watch Beautiful World in the Philippines: Netflix

Read more about the show on IMDB.

5. The World of the Married

Cast: Park Hae-joon, Han So-hee & Kim Hee-ae

Synopsis: This is a dark and melodramatic k-drama that can be encapsulated in one word: betrayal. We follow the story of the marriage between doctor Ji Sun-woo and her husband, film director Lee Tae-oh. And as you may have already suspected with the title, it all goes down the drain when Sun-woo discovers that Tae-oh has been having an affair with the younger and more conventionally attractive Yeo Da-kyung… who is with child. The kicker? Everyone seems to have been hiding this affair from Sun-woo!

You best believe she’s not gonna let everyone off the hook that easily; she goes on a quest of revenge where only plot twists and bloody encounters await.

How it’s similar to Sky Castle: It’s pretty fitting that this k-drama was able to overtake Sky Castle as the highest-rated show in the history of Korean cable networks. It’s what you get when you remove all the tiger mom parts and make it all about the scandalous family and couple drama.

We saw how Kang Seo-jin and Dr. Joon-sang’s marriage was tested when they discovered that Hae-na was actually the latter’s daughter. Imagine that kind of marriage drama happening over a span of an entire series among a multitude of characters. Well you don’t have to, because that’s exactly what The World of the Married is.

Where to watch The World of the Married in the Philippines: Netflix and Viu

Read more about the show on IMDB.

6. Something in the Rain

Cast: Son Ye-jin & Jung Hae-in

Synopsis: Yoon Jin-ah is 35 years old and still single after her relationship with a well-to-do lawyer fell through. Enter Seo Joon-hee, the younger brother of Jin-ah’s best friend. The two reconnect and fall in love, despite the fact that a woman being older than the man in a relationship is considered taboo in South Korea. They are put through the wringer as certain people and situations make their relationship impossible to exist.

How it’s similar to Sky Castle: The stress. The freaking stress! Something in the Rain may just be up there in one of the most aggravating shows that I’ve ever had the pleasure of experiencing.

If watching the parents in Sky Castle shout at their children was enough to make you pull out your own hair, then wait ’til you meet Jin-ah’s mother. She gives pre-finale Han Seo-jin a run for her money when it comes to being Worst Mom of the Century. As an Asian, it’s uncomfortable watching the 35-year old Jin-ah be borderline harassed by her own mother because we all know how these things can happen to us in real life.

But alas, this k-drama still holds a lot of life lessons (like Sky Castle) which is why it made our list of best k-dramas to watch on Netflix for zoomers.

Where to watch Something in the Rain in the Philippines: Netflix

Read more about the show on IMDB.

Any thoughts on our list of k-dramas similar to Sky Castle? Maybe you’ve watched some of these shows and have some thoughts on them, or want to recommend your own. Either way, feel free to leave your comments below this article!

Get more k-drama recommendations and content straight to your inbox by signing up for our newsletter. Just place your e-mail address below, it’s that easy!

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Featured Image: Left – SBS via Viu, Right – JTBC via Netflix

The post 6 K-Dramas Similar to ‘Sky Castle’ That Will Stress You Out appeared first on Zoomers Corner.

It’s been almost a year since the third season of Elite came out on Netflix and shook us to our quarantined cores. If you haven’t jumped on the bandwagon yet, then you’re in luck! We still have a few months to go before the next season rolls out so here’s your chance to learn more about the soapy trashy teen drama that swept the world.

This guide is relatively spoiler-free, so don’t worry about learning too much about what happens.

What is Elite about?

Elite is a Spanish-language drama about friendship, love, murder, and being young. The title pretty much encapsulates what it’s all about: a group of rich and privileged teenagers in the “inner circle” living their not-so-glamorous melodramatic lives.

We are first introduced to Samuel, a teenager from humble beginnings who transfers to Las Encinas, the school where only pretty people can apparently enroll in. He is joined by the social climber Christian and the conservative Nadia who are also not as well off as the other students. Obviously, the popular kids are not too thrilled with the new people in town.

And if there’s anything the past decade of teenage dramas have taught us, rich jealous kids always end up in murder.

While the murder mystery and its consequences drive the narrative forward throughout the series, it’s really a show about teenagers who all have baggage of their own and confront. In between are lots of steamy hot scenes that will make you go “that’s not PG”, and lots of moments that go there.

You can read more about the Elite plot in our initial review of the show.

Where and how to watch Elite

Elite is available for streaming on Netflix worldwide. While there are plenty language options, we recommend watching the series in Spanish audio to feel the whole vibe.

At the time of writing, it only consists of three seasons with eight episodes each. Most episodes clock in the 40-minute range. If you’re really committed, you can finish the whole thing in three days sitting through one season every day! And there’s more to look out for because they actually renewed Elite for two additional seasons.

While we still don’t know when season 4 of Elite is coming out because of production delays caused by COVID-19, you better start now just in case it drops anytime soon. Trust us when we say you won’t be able to escape spoilers in the internet once Netflix releases it.

Is Elite a good show?

While our definition of “good” may be different from yours, Elite is definitely must-see TV. It’s one of the shows that borders on trash television, but manages to overcome all the odds with its tight storytelling and irresistible drama. You can ironically love it, but most people wouldn’t judge you if you’re unironically a fan as well!

The tropes we see in teen drama are all here, but Elite manages to turn them all up to eleven and incorporates some twists to make things interesting. As I look back at my time watching it, the murder mystery takes a backseat to the character development I watched unfold throughout the three seasons.

I honestly wouldn’t say the show is relatable, because how many of us can actually say we attended parties every week when we were in high school? But we sympathize a lot with the characters who are dealt crappy hands, being born rich notwithstanding. Seeing how certain relationships change from hatred to brotherhood and rivalry to friendship is where the magic lies in the show.

By the end of the third season, you’ll find yourself rooting for every single on them even if you despised them at the start. Every episode is action-picked thanks to the seasons only having eight episodes apiece. That means no filler and we get to the resolution faster! And if you know me, I love it when shows make use of quick pacing to their advantage.

All in all, Elite is just a visual and audial treat from start to finish. I would like to particularly give a shoutout to the wardrobe/costume department in the show because all of these characters serve looks.

And the music? Ugh, muy bien! Consisting of modern bops in Spanish and English, make sure you have your Shazam ready when watching Elite. I honestly believe that it has the best TV show soundtrack that I’ve encountered in a long while.

If you’re still not yet convinced, you can read more about why you should watch Elite here.

Shows similar to Elite

Elite is a teen mystery making it similar to shows like Riverdale and Pretty Little Liars, but its more dramatic aspects is reminiscent of Money Heist. It might not make a lot of sense if you’ve watched all three of them, but hear us out.

In our initial review linked above, we tell you how Elite is basically a sexy and smart Riverdale. Of course, we’re talking about the first season when it wasn’t falling off the rails yet.

Both shows are high school dramas that dare to take the insanity levels to unexpected heights. It’s tough to say which of the two is more relatable, but I would definitely say that the things that happen in Elite and the characters’ reactions are more grounded in reality. I mean there are no musical episodes and gang wars in Elite.

Fans of Riverdale will also love the cast and characters in this show. Just like Archie and the gang, the reason we keep watching is because we’ve become so attached to the teenagers whose stupid decisions both entertain and frustrate us. Before we know it, we’ve actually grown fond of them.

If you liked making up theories about who A was, the mystery aspect of Elite is extremely addicting that will have you guessing every time. But unlike Pretty Little Liars, Elite doesn’t draw out the mysteries longer than it should.

You read that right: the show moves on from one mystery to the next pretty quickly making it a perfect binge for more impatient viewers.

If I’m being honest, the mystery in PLL is a lot more captivating because the show drops many clues to keep you guessing. In Elite, the writers give you no idea until the big reveal unless you’re extremely observant and actively looking for the killer.

And if you’re a fan of the chic fashion and big glamorous parties in Pretty Little Liars, there’s no shortage of that here!

Despite their huge differences in plot, Elite and Money Heist have a lot of similarities when it comes to the dramatic aspects. We are referring to the moments between the “action” — for Elite, it’s the mystery, and for Money Heist, it’s the actual robbery.

In times when the curtains are pulled back and the characters are away from the action, we see how everyone is just trying to do what they can to become happy.

The personal battles both sets of characters face have a lot of parallels. Perhaps the biggest one is how a doomed romance can mess up your life, and how far you are willing to sacrifice yourself for the people you consider family.

While many fans of Money Heist are addicted to the mastermind plan behind the heist, they will undoubtedly have a similar level of affection for the characters in Elite along with all the craziness that the show has to offer.

And bonus: three of the cast members in Money Heist are also part of the main cast in Elite: Miguel Herrán, María Pedraza, and Jaime Lorente. Despite their casting similarities though, Elite and Money Heist do not have the same creators.

Elite cast and characters

This show features a stellar cast with the most talented and beautiful actors, rivaling our favorites from The CW. There’s just no way to avoid discussing the actors in this show because you’ll end up falling hard for at least one or two of them. Maybe all of them!

Our watch guide for Elite wouldn’t be complete without discussing its cast.

Trust us: you’re going to find yourself stalking these people’s Instagram profiles by the end of your binge. We even linked them here to get you started.

Every one of them has their own unique charm that will make you root for them no matter how terrible their life decisions may be. Head on down to find your new celebrity crush!

From left to right, we have Samuel Domínguez played by Itzan Escamilla. While he may seem like a gentle and boring protagonist at first, he learns to grow a backbone as certain events force him to be. Christian Expósito (played by Miguel Herrán) is an outgoing student who knows what to do to get what he wants. Nadia Shanaa (played by Mina El Hammani) is an overachieving student raised in a traditional Muslim family but learns to break out of her shell in Las Encinas.

And next up we have the breakout star of the show with Ester Expósito playing the role of the wealthy and cold-hearted Carla Caleruega. Her boyfriend is lost puppy and hopeless romantic Polo Villada (played by Álvaro Rico).

Another star who found worlwide fame because of Elite is Arón Piper who plays troubled and loyal friend Ander Muñoz. His love interest is the brother of Nadia, Omar Shanaa (played by Omar Ayuso). His carefree demeanor and sexuality places him in a sticky situation with his father.

Guzman Osuna (played by Miguel Bernardeau) is the alpha male of the school who is not a fan of the new kids until Nadia worms her way into his heart.

The next two cast members may be familiar to fans of another Spanish-language show: Money Heist. Jaime Lorente plays the brother of Samuel, Nano Domínguez. Fresh from prison, he finds himself in precarious situations all the time. Marina Osuna (played by María Pedraza) is one of the most interesting characters of the show: a seemingly nice girl who hides a lot of secrets. She is similar to Laura Palmer in Twin Peaks and Alison DiLaurentis in Pretty Little Liars.

To push the star power of the cast to a whole new level, Mexican superstar Danna Paola plays the polarizing sassy character of Lu Hendrich.

In season 2, we see the departure of a few cast members from the first season. But fret not, the new main characters introduced in this season are just as iconic.

On the left is Cayetana Pando (played by Georgina Amorós), another polarizing figure in the series. While she is the queen of questionable choices, we love her because she puts the DRAMA in team drama. Valerio Rojas (played by Jorge López) is the stepbrother of Lu and is a bit of a wildcard. There’s only one thing he loves more than parties: drugs.

And last is the no-nonsense girl Rebeca Ávalos or Rebe for short. She is played by Claudia Salas and is honestly the an unremarkable presence in the show. However, that’s more the writers’ fault than anything else.

The third season places the spotlight on the graduating students of the bunch, so we only get two new characters this time around. They are probably the most boring and unlikable additions to the show, but thankfully, both guys are written off by the last episode.

Leïti Sène plays Malick, who was simply introduced to cause chaos. So much chaos. I can’t say much without spoiling what happens, but watch out for this guy. Yeray (played by Sergio Momo) is the more likable of the two — a rich self-starter who falls for Carla.

The third season places the spotlight on the graduating students of the bunch, so we only get two new characters this time around. They are probably the most boring and unlikable additions to the show, but thankfully, both guys are written off by the last episode of the season.

Elite Season 4 Cast and New Characters

The new cast members who will be joining Elite Season 4 are Manu Rios, Pol Granch, Martina Cariddi, Carla Díaz, and Diego Martín. This is the biggest shake-up to the series so far as Season 3 concludes the arcs of many of the OG characters. With their departure and the new arrivals, we expect Season 4 to be a soft reset for the teen soap much like in Skins.

Not much is known about the new characters at the moment but we expect them to be just as wild as the previous ones. Most noticeably, the character of Diego Martín is the first time any adult was treated as a member of the main cast. We speculate that he might be running into a scandalous affair with one of the new students.

Singer and model Manu Rios is probably the biggest star out of the new bunch with over five million Instagram followers. He was discovered in a popular Spanish talent show called Tú sí que vales that launched him into fame.

What is the best season of Elite?

While all seasons are great, there’s no doubt in my mind that the third season of Elite is the best one yet. You can tell how they were still trying to figure out who the characters truly were in the first season which led to some ho-hum storylines.

The mystery was the main driver of the series at the beginning, but once the writers became more confident about who the characters were, they started to create more compelling stories that made every storyline matter in the following season.

Then everything builds up to the tumultuous third season which puts an exclamation point to many long-standing storylines. All the drama from the previous seasons come crashing, and stakes have never been higher knowing that graduation is just around the corner. By all means, it wasn’t perfect and featured some questionable storylines that involved the new characters introduced into the show, but not once does the show bore us nor jump the shark. There is no shortage of drama to be found in this season; it features the most heartbreaking storyline that features a beloved character and couple.

In the middle of watching it, you realize how much the characters has actually become one big family despite their rough patches. It’s difficult having to say goodbye to a lot of the characters we fell in love with in the span of only 24 episodes, but each and every one of them got a beautiful farewell.

Having the bar set higher and higher every season, we’re actually a bit nervous how Season 4 of Elite will pan out. But even if the greatness of the show stops in the third season, it is a worthwhile enjoyable ride that you have to get on.

Have more questions about Elite? Leave a comment down below and I’ll get back to you with what I know.

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Don’t know what lighthearted sitcom to watch this weekend? Look no further than the greatest workplace comedy streaming on Prime Video right now: Superstore. Full of comedic moments, witty characters, and just the right amount of social commentary, this NBC sitcom is the next hot thing you should be adding on your Watch List.

Whether or not you already knew about Superstore before, or just need that extra push to get you started, we have all the answers you need in our spoiler-free guide!

What is Superstore about?

Superstore is a sitcom set in Cloud 9, a fictional big-box store. We follow the story of the store’s floor supervisor Amy (played by Ugly Betty star America Ferrera) and the team of oddball employees as they go through the day-to-day challenges in the workplace. Don’t get me wrong lumping all of them into one team: everyone in the show is a strongly-written character.

We have Jonah (played by Ben Feldman), the new kid on the block and main love interest, who embodies a “typical millennial” in the workplace. Dina (played by Lauren Ash) is the take-no-bullshit Iron Fist of the group with a bird obsession. Teen mom Cheyenne (played by Nichole Sakura) and ultra-competitive-slash-overachiever Mateo (played by Nico Santos) are the wholesome duo who always end up in sticky situations together.

And finally, we have the polar opposites between the unwaveringly optimistic manager Glenn (played by Mark McKinney) and too-cool-for-school customer service worker, Garrett (played by Colton Dunn).

Like other workplace sitcoms, the fun in Superstore is in the crazy things that the characters cause themselves. But the backdrop of a superstore lends itself to a lot of unique shenanigans that other sitcoms before it can’t replicate.

Where to watch Superstore (2021)

Thankfully, no matter where you are in the world, you’ll probably be able to access this comedy whenever you want to! In the US, you can catch new episodes as they air on NBC. But if you have some subscriptions to these streaming services, then you can dive into the older episodes ASAP: Prime Video, Hulu, Peacock, Sling TV & fuboTV.

In Canada, Superstore airs on Global and can be streamed on Netflix. And we have some great news if you’re from the UK: they also just rolled out the first five seasons of Superstore in Netflix last month!

If you’re wondering where to watch Superstore in the Philippines, you can do so through Amazon Prime Video where you can sign up for a free 30-day trial. Unlike our northern neighbors though, Superstore is currently not available in Netflix Philippines.

For Indian viewers, you can also watch Superstore in Prime Video.

How many seasons does Superstore have?

As announced by NBC, the sixth season of Superstore which is currently on-air, will be its last. Most streaming platforms like Netflix and Prime Video have the first five seasons of Superstore, so international viewers can catch up before it’s too late!

Plus, each episode runs for only 20 to 22 minutes which makes it an easy binge. By the end of the series this year, the episode count will total to just above 100.

Should I watch Superstore?

If somehow you didn’t get our message earlier, then here it is in big bold letters: yes, you should totally watch Superstore! Fans of yesteryear’s sitcoms will enjoy how much it relies on witty dialogue among the characters rather than trying too hard to be different from all other sitcoms.

It’s just good ol’ fun that doesn’t take itself too seriously which you might be looking for in your comedies. But somehow, most 2010s sitcoms can’t help but sprinkle too much melodrama or come up with crazy concepts that disrupt a show’s potential.

No matter how unique their story is, sitcoms are only as good as how much they make the audience laugh. And in that department, Superstore doesn’t fail.

Don’t get us wrong: there is some drama here, but they are basically footnotes or are just a means to a feel-good resolution. The rarity of dramatic moments just makes them a little more special.

And we do believe that all the best shows have to address the real world, too.

What I love a bout Superstore is they do have some commentary on many political and social issues, but it doesn’t come off preachy at all. They’ve gone over worker exploitation, unionization, immigration, and climate change just to name a few. Hell, they even address the atrocities committed in the Philippines.

As we all know, frontliners which include grocery workers have been the heroes of the coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic. The sixth season of Superstore has not shied away from tackling this (and honestly, they couldn’t afford to) as we see how the pandemic takes a toll on the characters.

While it hasn’t really been the best in showcasing proper mask etiquette, the message to its viewers is pretty clear. What does actor Ben Feldman have to say to anti-maskers? “Fuck ’em.”

Comedies nowadays run into trouble of becoming “too PG” and evangelical like Brooklyn Nine-Nine when mirroring the difficulties of real life, but Superstore shows you how you do it without being so in your face.

All of the characters whom we follow in the show are well-developed and unique from each other. While they may not be the nicest of people, it is in their individuality and lovability where Superstore thrives. Seriously, they are a goldmine!

Take for example, how the show heavily subverts the typical “hard boss” role with the manager Glenn. He is actually a goody-two-shoes Christian with an extremely high voice, and the biggest pushover in sitcom history. And when you see him be (metaphorically) whipped by assistant manager Dina or how no one takes his morning meetings seriously, it’s always a laugh.

Speaking of “morning meetings”, the highlight of many Superstore episodes is when everyone in the store huddles up to discuss something important, only for it to branch out to multiple mini-conversations that make no sense. It is also in these scenes where we see how well the cast plays off each other, and is a testament to how well their chemistry is.

While the main cast gives justice to the strong writing of their characters, we also have to give major props to the supporting cast who round out the show beautifully. As the seasons progress, they start to take more of the limelight without feeling intrusive to the natural state of things.

They may not all like each other nor do they like to express it, but the employees of Cloud 9 do feel like one big loving family!

Shows similar to Superstore

The Office and Brooklyn Nine-Nine are the most similar shows to Superstore. Neither choices should be a surprise because the creator of Superstore is Justin Spitzer, who was a writer for The Office for seven years. And who created The Office? Michael Schur, who is also the creator of B99. Mind. Blown!

 The Office and Superstore similarities 

The Office is the standard when it comes to American workplace comedies. Many of its laugh-out-loud moments arise from mundane events in the workplace that snowball into pure insanity because of its goofy, offbeat employees. While we don’t think the characters of the two shows are alike at all, it wouldn’t be hard to picture either cast getting themselves into the situations from the other show.

The Office struggles in its last few seasons, but it is held up because of the shift in focus from the core cast to the entire staff. The group dynamic is thankfully highlighted in Superstore as early as the second season to the point where the supporting cast has felt like part of “the family” since the very beginning.

And like we said earlier, the meetings in Superstore get pretty wild… just like in The Office!

 Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Superstore similarities 

Brooklyn Nine-Nine is a procedural comedy that follows a team of police officers in their (surprise!) day-to-day life in the workplace. I would say that if you’re into shows that place characters front-and-center like B99, then you’re going to love Superstore as well. They benefit from having a lovable cast who play with each other well no matter who’s paired up with whom.

The shows both pack a similar brand of humor which is to be expected from creators who are cut from the same cloth. It helps that both of them were only released two years apart, so fans of one show will have an easier time jumping to the other seamlessly.

They are also both great in addressing real life issues, although their attack on it is a bit different as we mentioned before.

Unlike The Office and Brooklyn Nine-Nine though, Superstore has been great all throughout its run so far, and never suffered from a terrible first season.

What is the best season of Superstore?

We’ll try to answer this without giving away too much, but Season 3 is the best season of Superstore. Just like all great shows, it peaks around this time as viewers become used to the characters, and the writers have built up the main plot enough to finally give it a big bang of a resolution by the end of the third season. In this case, it’s the conclusion of the longstanding will-they-or-won’t-they storyline.

This is also the season where we truly start to see the supporting cast shine and take on bigger roles. Some of the more memorable storylines throughout the series are in this season, which includes a failure of a Golden Globes party, the introduction of Kelly, employees getting poached by Target, the district manager drama, and an employee video going viral on the internet.

While all seasons are packed with their own big moments, Superstore season 3 is where we get to see the series on a hot streak, coming out with banger after banger. On the other hand, I would say the “worst season” of Superstore doesn’t exist since all five seasons have been fairly consistent in quality.

It’s either that, or our standard in comedy has always been low. Take your pick

Mateo Liwanag: the Filipino character in Superstore

You may have seen some clips of Superstore‘s Mateo making rounds in the internet, and thought is he Filipino? Well you assumed correctly: the undocumented citizen from the Philippines is played by Filipino-American Nico Santos, whom you might know as Oliver T’sien in Crazy Rich Asians.

Filipino characters in American TV shows and movies are already scarce in the first place — much more in sitcoms. Thankfully, Superstore does not only feature a Fil-Am in its main cast, but his being Filipino is always referenced in the show in a neutral or positive light.

One of the realest storylines that the show touches on is Mateo’s undocumented status, fear of being deported, and how his daily life is crippled by this situation. If you’re a young and active Filipino user in the Twitterverse, you have probably seen this clip make the rounds where Mateo realizes his green card was fake.

While we won’t spoil how things turn out, it is written in such a way that sheds light to the realities of many Filipino immigrants in the US. Superstore does not use the Filipino culture solely for humor or to attract a certain demographic, but to “give back” to it too.

You can tell how there is a Filipino influencing the show behind the scenes, because I have personally not seen any Western mainstream media pay tribute to our culture in an inoffensive, non-pandering way. So if you’re curious how international TV shows should be portraying Filipino characters, then by all means, give Superstore a shot.

That covers everything you need to know about Superstore before watching! If you have any questions about the show, leave a comment down below and I will get to you as soon as I can.

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We all need a little escape from the brutal reality of this world, so no one can blame us for choosing to watch mindless shows to get our mind off things. And there’s nothing like diving into the world of lighthearted and feel-good K-dramas on Netflix to do that!

There is an endless list of high-quality shows produced in South Korea that have left us smiling, laughing, and of course, desiring a perfect whirlwind romance. The best part is K-dramas usually last only one season with only sixteen to twenty episodes, making it the perfect choice for when you’re asking yourself what to watch on Netflix.

Here’s our list of top eight feel-good K-dramas to jumpstart 2021 and make you forget all your worries for a bit.

1. Romance is a Bonus Book

Cast: Lee Jong Suk & Lee Na Young

Synopsis: Romance is a Bonus Book is a rom-com K-drama done right. It plays around with the classic trope of “CEO and underling fall in love”, but in this case, it’s an editor-in-chief played by Lee Jong Suk, falling for the temp-slash-single-mother played by Na Young Lee. Did we mention they were childhood friends?

Why we recommend it: While you won’t be able to stop watching because of the main romantic storyline between the two leads, you’ll stick around for Na Young Lee as her character comes full circle by the end of the show. A divorced, career-struggling mother is not really something we often see as a main character in these romantic K-dramas, but we’re glad that her struggles reflect certain realities of being a woman in this day and age.

Read more about the show on IMDB.

2. Two Cops

Cast: Jo Jong Suk, Lee Hye Ri & Kim Seon Ho

Synopsis: Two Cops is an action-packed romantic comedy with a huge emphasis on the “comedy”. Jo Jong Suk plays the role of detective Cha Dong Tak, whose body is inhabited by the spirit of a con artist named Gong Su Chang (played by Kim Seon Ho). Together with Song Ji An (played by Lee Hyeri), they solve crimes together.

Why we recommend it: The most popular K-dramas aren’t really known for their action and crime-driven plot, but Two Cops packs enough punch without taking itself too seriously. While the main mystery is nothing to write home about, it’s still an enjoyable ride with lots of laughs to go along with it. It’s also interesting watching the three leads who all went on to become mainstream-popular recently. Hello, Ji Pyeong!

Read more about the show on IMDB.

3. Lovestruck in the City

Cast: Ji Chang Wook, Kim Ji Won, Kim Min Seok, So Joo Yeon, Ryu Kyung Soo & Han Ji Eun

Synopsis: Lovestruck in the City is a mini-series that revolves around the romantic lives of six young people. Mainly, it centers around the doomed summer fling between Park Jae Won (played by Ji Chang Wook) and Lee Eun Oh (played by Kim Ji Won) in Yangyang Beach. Will they be able to rekindle the flame when they return to Seoul?

Why we recommend it: In our initial review of this series, we noted how this feel-good K-drama that ends in 2021 is a fresh take on the genre. If you’re looking for something short and sweet while simultaneously falling in love with how gorgeous South Korea can be, then Lovestruck in the City is for you.

4. Welcome to Waikiki

Cast: Kim Jung Hyun, Lee Yi Kyung, Son Seung Won, Jung In Sun, Ko Won Hee & Lee Joo Woo

Synopsis: Welcome to Waikiki is about a group of young people living together in a guesthouse and trying to make ends meet. While there is an overarching plot of the three main guys hoping to create their own film, it’s really all about watching wackiness and hilarity ensue in their daily lives. It operates like a typical sitcom where the characters go through different and outlandishly crazy situations in every episode.

Why we recommend it: If you want less “rom” and more “com” in your rom-com, you can’t go wrong with Waikiki. While it doesn’t really do “intelligent” humor like The Good Place, it’s a feel-good K-drama with a lot of heart and laughs to go with it.

Read more about the show on IMDB.

5. Reply 1997

Cast: Jung Eun Ji, Seo In Guk, Song Jong Ho, Eun Ji Won & Hoya

Synopsis: Reply 1997 is good ol’ coming-of-age filled with nostalgia, friendship, and romance. Shi Won (played by Jung Eun Ji) is a boyband-obsessed high school girl who becomes stuck in a love triangle between the mysterious Yoon Je (played by Seo In Guk) and teacher Tae Woong (played by Song Jong Hoo). She goes through first love and all the other things any high school student would experience that would shape her to be the woman she is fifteen years later.

Why we recommend it: This feel-good K-drama was so good, it actually spawned two unrelated prequels which are just as great as this one. You can read more about our thoughts on this show and the whole trilogy in our guide here.

6. Fight for My Way

Cast: Park Seo Joon, Kim Ji Won, Ahn Jae Hong & Song Ha Yoon

Synopsis: Fight for My Way is all about chasing your dreams no matter how unrealistic they may seem to everyone else. We follow Ko Dong Man (played by Park Seo Joon) who practices taekwondo and an ambitious dream: to become a UFC fighter… yes, that UFC. His best friend, Choi Ae Ra (played by Kim Ji Won), has always dreamed of becoming an announcer even if she’s stuck working the information desk at the department store.

Why we recommend it: There are two stories on earth that always scream feel-good K-drama: a Cinderella story, and a childhood friends-turned-lovers story. And luckily for us, Fight for My Way has both!

Read more about the show on IMDB.

7. A Love So Beautiful

Cast: Kim Yo Han, So Joo Yeon & Yeo Hoi Hyun

Synopsis: A Love So Beautiful is a recently-released adaptation of the Chinese coming-of-age with the same name. It’s about Shin Sol Yi (played by So Joo Yeon), a high-schooler who is obsessively in love with her neighbor, Cha Heon (played by Kim Yo Han) who can’t seem to tell her he likes her too. Would you be shocked if I said there’s another love triangle in this one? Swimmer Woo Dae Song (played by Yeo Hoi Hyun) transfers to Sol Yi’s school and falls in love with her.

We follow their lives and how their relationships develop as they enter adulthood.

Why we recommend it: At time of writing, there’s only been two episodes released by Netflix so all we can base everything off is potential. So far, it’s been a cute and delightful watching the main relationship because there’s nothing like a bubbly teenager winning over a mysterious guy’s heart. If it’s going to be like the Chinese series where it was based off, then things are going to be much more interesting as the show progresses in 2021.

Read more about the show on IMDB.

8. Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-Joo

Cast: Lee Sung Kyoung, Nam Joo Hyuk & Lee Jae Yoon

Synopsis: Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-Joo is another K-drama about chasing the dream, except this time it’s about college athletes. But since this is a romance, obviously there’s another love triangle afoot.

Our main girl is the titular strong girl Kim Bok Joo (played by Lee Sung Kyoung) who aspires to be like her weightlifting father. She also has a major crush on doctor Jung Jae Yi (played by Lee Jae Yoon) and asks swimmer Jung Jae Hyung(played by Nam Joo Hyuk) for help. While the latter does it willingly, he starts to fall for her too.

Why we recommend it: While the plot may not seem too unique, it’s an easy binge thanks largely to the charm of the main characters. Even if the show centers around good-looking college athletes, you’ll be able to relate somehow to our ambitious characters.

Read more about the show on IMDB.

You can watch all of these lighthearted and feel-good K-dramas on Netflix in 2021. Want to share your own recommendations? Leave a comment down below!

If any of these shows didn’t quite tickle your fancy, then you can also head onto our list of K-dramas to watch on Netflix for zoomers. Don’t miss out on anything by following us @ZoomersCornerPH on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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While everybody was busy binging all the holiday classics or catching up on Start-Up, Netflix released one of their most unique k-dramas that flew under the radar: Lovestruck in the City. This was one of the k-dramas that I placed in my to-watch list ever since I saw the trailer with Ji Chang-wook in it.

I found some of his projects to be great, like Healer, as well as The K2, which made our list of the best k-dramas for Gen Z. So I had some sort of expectations for this k-drama — not a lot, but some.

The first two episodes didn’t deliver a super strong impression like most k-dramas, but it looks like it’s going to head into an interesting direction soon. Now you’re probably asking: should you watch Lovestruck in the City? Read more to find out our answer.

And yes, we are keeping things spoiler-free!

The show follows six good-looking singles and their complicated love lives at the heart of South Korea’s capital… and that’s basically all there is to it. It isn’t really as complicated as other k-dramas that throw every plot twist they can to prolong the show.

At least, not yet.

Lovestruck in the City dares to be young and different with its storytelling format alone. A documentary crew follows our characters as they get interviewed about their romantic lives.

We follow the love story of 32-year old architect Park Jae-won (played by Ji Chang-wook) and 29-year old Lee Eun-oh (played by Kim Ji-won), who works in marketing. As the interviewer asks them questions related to their romantic lives, we cut to flashbacks about their summer fling in Yang Yang and the eventual fallout.

We haven’t really gotten to the other characters’ stories yet, but we do know Choi Kyung-joon (played by Kim Min-seok) and Seo Rin-yi (played by So Joo-yeon) are in a long-term relationship. No drama yet, but we’re basically just waiting for the other shoe to drop with that couple!

Rounding out the gang are author Kang-geon (played by Ryu Kyung-soo) and I-break-hearts-for-breakfast Oh Sun-young (Han Ji-eun). They’re huge question marks right now because we don’t really know how they fit into the other characters’ lives just yet.

After watching the first episode, there was one thought that I couldn’t let go of: this is such a Netflix original. Everything felt and moved like those quirky lower-budget rom-coms produced by the streaming giant.

They aren’t necessarily groundbreaking, but they all leave you with that warm fuzzy feeling after watching it. I’m talking movies like To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and The Kissing Booth — hell, it even reminded me of their reality shows like Dating Around and The Circle.

There’s something about a show’s production that reminds you of Netflix originals, like the lighthearted story, the small but cute animations, the irresistable soundtrack, and the gorgeous setting. All of which Lovestruck in the City has in spades.

Despite what the title of the show implies, we don’t actually see much of Seoul yet.

Most of the first few episodes are spent in the beautiful Yangyang Beach, which adds a lot to the young, modern & fun vibe the show is all about. It’s a lot like I’m Drunk, I Love You where the beach setting and the vibe is half the enjoyment of watching it.

It’s a joy watching Ji Chang-wook’s portrayal of Jae-won, primarily because it’s great seeing him out of the action-suspense genre and into straight romance territory. On the other hand, Kim Ji-won won me over with her portrayal of the happy-go-lucky Eun-oh. Her persona fits so perfectly with the carefree nature of Yangyang Beach.

Everything just works together to breathe life to the show. You may not remember what the story is about, but you’ll remember how it may just have been the most visually-stunning kdrama you’ve ever watched.

The documentary format also works extremely well because the show has to keep things snappy and dynamic. Ultimately, it’s a double-edged sword because the interview scenes are probably the weakest part of the show. It feels necessary though, because they’re weaving together all of these narratives in the space of thirty minutes an episode.

Yes, you heard that right: one episode only lasts thirty minutes which makes it a great show to binge-watch. Again, with that kind of bingeability, it’s a k-drama trapped in the body of a Netflix original.

Lovestruck in the City is just not like the other k-dramas I’ve watched before because the presentation is so unique and different. It’s not that at all surprising because in Korea, it is distributed by KakaoTV and does not have to play by the same rules as cable and network TV stations.

Given that, you can definitely feel the heavy Western influence throughout the show.

I literally gasped when the “Rated 16+” warning showed up in the beginning of the second episode because there was sex involved. It was interesting to see these characters openly talk about and engage in sex, only because the topic is annoyingly avoided all the time in k-dramas. These are grown characters and it’s so important for sex to be covered in a show about romance.

Unfortunately, Lovestruck in the City doesn’t really wow us with the plot in the first two episodes. While the visuals are a delight to watch, the k-drama will leave you with a resounding “that’s it?!” when the credits roll.

For the viewer with a short attention-span, the stop button would be too tempting to press halfway through the first episode.

The 30-minute running time works against the show in that regard, but at the same time, it’s not really an excuse for the underdeveloped story. Lots of shows have hooked us in from the very beginning and have given us more exposition in a smaller window of time.

And that’s the problem with having the show revolve around six characters: their stories will need some time to cook.

Even the story of Kyung-joon and Rin-yi’s first time was too short to have any kind of impact on the viewer. It felt like a free sample without any of the good stuff. For now, they’re nothing but side characters that don’t really add anything to the show.

And don’t get me started on Kang-geon and Sun-young, whose names I had to Google before writing this review because their impact in the show was close to nonexistent. I’m sure I’m going to end up loving them, but it sucks that they got lost in the shuffle in the first two episodes without as much as a set-up of their upcoming character arcs.

Obviously, patience is key for this series, but even then, I am not holding out for a groundbreaking plot with this one. Lovestruck in the City seems perfectly content with delivering us picture-perfect shots and whirlwind romance as opposed to delivering a captivating story.

Which I guess is fine because not all k-dramas have to change the game, but for the viewer who is bored with watching usual romcoms, this is not the show to start with.

Lovestruck serves you the most basic romcom plot while covered in all the glitz and glam. It’s not all bad, but it can be a bit bland.

I know that the good parts are enough to make me stick around for the next few weeks. The second episode left me with more hope for the show since we actually got to a more interesting predicament in the end; something the pilot failed to do.

Lovestruck in the City is one of the freshest k-dramas to hit Netflix because of its heavy Western millennial TV influence. If you’re not into k-dramas, either because you’ve clouded your mind with too many preconceptions about the genre, or because it’s too much of a commitment, then I would personally recommend that you give this a chance.

For the picky k-drama enthusiast, it may just be alright to skip this one because it lacks some flavor that makes it stand out from much superior titles. The first two episodes have not given us a real reason to really vouch for it. Maybe the time will come when it progresses beyond its cute presentation and gives us more conflict to chew on.

If the show manages to pick up its pace and develop the supporting characters better, then it might just end up being a memorable k-drama.

There is some potential there. But from what it’s given us, it’s nothing more than a show that’s good for a quick binge through a weekend.

Did you enjoy Lovestruck in the City? Let us know how you found it in the comments below!

Still looking for a show to watch this weekend? Take this quiz to find out which Netflix show you should be binging through based on your personality. Don’t miss out on anything by following us @ZoomersCornerPH on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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The Start-Up finale left most longtime viewers pretty satisfied as it managed to rebound from a two-week slump. It was filled with tearjerking scenes and flashes of character development that the show had long deprived us of after a three-year timeline jump almost halted its momentum to a complete stop.

But despite how decently the finale wrapped everything up, we still can’t help but feel like it needed a little more oomph.

And I’m not talking about how Seo Dal-mi should have chosen Han Ji-pyeong over Nam Do-san, because even if they are still the better pair, we knew that JiDal was going to be a long shot.

I’m talking about the loose threads and what if’s the writers left hanging that we were hoping to get some answers on, but didn’t. Here are the top moments that made us go “this should have definitely happened” after the Start-Up finale.

Warning: Spoilers for the entire show are up ahead!

One of the brightest spots of this show was the blooming romance between Lee Chul-san and Jeong Sa-ha. I know I speak for all of us in Team Ji-pyeong when I say that watching this relationship develop was such a stress reliever from all the pain we were feeling.

Before the Cheongmyeong Company (formerly known as Samsan Tech) submits their Tarzan bid, everyone in the team promises they’ll do something super crazy if they end up winning it. Chul-san pledged that he was going to shave his head, Do-san said he was going to propose, and Sa-ha said she was going to introduce her boyfriend to the team… who happens to be Chul-san!

It was heavily implied that Cheongmyeong Company ended up winning the Tarzan bid, which means that the two of them were finally going to make it public. And even if they didn’t, how great would it have been to see the look of disbelief and shock of the other people when they learn that the two were officially an item?

After years of Sa-ha denying her feelings for Chul-san and finally warming up to him, I would’ve loved to have seen Dal-mi’s face and the inevitable high-five and obnoxious celebration that the San friends would have done after the big reveal.

Instead, all we got to see was Sa-ha silently defending Chul-san in a dinner scene by smacking Do-san with the elastic band of a party hat. I will admit though, that was pretty satisfying to watch.

Whether or not it was a shock to you, Kim Yong-san joining Sandbox because of his grudge against Ji-pyeong was set up to be a gripping storyline. Unfortunately, it got swept under the rug pretty quickly which was one of the most questionable moves of the show.

At the point of the reveal, Start-Up seemed like it was going to conclude the main love triangle once and for all because Dal-mi was obviously going to pick Do-san regardless. That was going to leave the Ji-pyeong character with not much to do, and up to this point, Yong-san was just a comic relief who was almost always in the background.

So when the elevator scene between the two happened, I thought: finally.

But the only good thing we got from it was that intense confrontation, and an unapologetic Ji-pyeong. Hearing how he somehow caused a person’s death helped him reflect on his character for a bit, but he was back to his former self pretty soon. Then Yong-san became a nothing character afterwards.

It was just a missed opportunity that didn’t garner much favor for both characters.

Three years later, Yong-san goes back to Ji-pyeong to ask for his honest and unfiltered business advice which I’m guessing is supposed to be the conclusion of this storyline. It was a pretty underwhelming resolution to a supposedly “big reveal”.

It was so random to have Yong-san’s final big moment to have been with In-jae when his beef was with Ji-pyeong all this time.

Seeing these two try to work together despite their personal differences would have been nice to watch. Maybe the viewers could have also seen Ji-pyeong pay tribute to his brother in some way because if you’re not aware, being accused of someone’s death is a serious thing.

Behind Ji-pyeong, Won In-jae Seo In-jae was probably the supporting character that got the most screwed by the writers. While I would have hated to see her romantically involved with Ji-pyeong as a Pair the Spares decision, there were just too much unfilled blanks in her story.

While I enjoyed In-jae’s arc a lot, it was weird seeing her walk alongside the love triangle in the final scene after she was shoved aside so much throughout the entire series. She was not treated as importantly as them even if there were a lot of viewers that liked watching her scenes. Thank God the writers suddenly remembered her existence during the Start-Up finale because we were able to tie up her story in a nice little bow.

However, we needed to see more of her even after she had reconciled with the Seo family.

We never really got to see In-jae at “her worst” throughout the show. While we get that she is emotionally strong, her walls were always up and we never got to see much of her beyond the bad boss CEO persona. She was defined by her rivalry with Dal-mi, but we know that is she sooo much more than that.

We’re not saying she needs a romantic partner (although that scene with Yong-san in the finale got us pretty excited), but give us some backstory or some flashforwards — a glimpse of that protective and loving big sister that we saw when she was but a little child. Or at least let us see what she does outside work hours.

The most gaping hole for me was not knowing why she was affected so much by halmeoni‘s loss of vision. I know the both of them must have had a loving relationship way back when, but we never really got to see that.

Alex was built up to be this sneaky nasty villain that destroyed Samsan Tech… and then he fell from the face of earth. The lack of any believable villains in the final leg of the series hurt it tremendously. And no, the twins and Morning Group were never a believable threat.

The only person who successfully took a shot at Do-san and Co. was Alex. So what ever happened to him after three years?

It seemed like the team and the writers forgot how this man singlehandedly crushed the protagonists’ dream to take NoonGil worldwide together. And since the San trio seemed to enjoy their stay in 2STO a lot, are we to assume that they patched things up with Alex? Is he shaking his head in his office because he lost them to Dal-mi again?

Of all the things the timeline jump destroyed, it was the presence of a true antagonist that really brought it all down. Wouldn’t it have been nice if 2STO teamed forces with Morning Group to take down Cheongmyeong Company? Instead, we got a lame ransomware attack that amounted to virtually nothing.

Beside, it’s always a delight seeing Jasper Cho in our screen, so we definitely needed some Alex intervention in the Start-Up finale.

Oh Ji-yeong, Ji-pyeong, Ji-pyeong, I am so sorry you had to settle for scraps. There were a lot of moments involving him that I was half-expecting to see in the Start-Up finale that just never came to fruition.

Yes, he needed the scene where he was going to personally invest in that guy’s start-up to help orphans find sponsors. It was a great “pay it forward” moment that seemed like the perfect way to pay off his long-standing debt to halmeoni. But that was just one of his many, many stories that we needed some additional exposition on.

We already went over his story with Yong-san. So let’s get to the love triangle shall we?

While I will say that Ji-pyeong not ending up with Dal-mi was disappointing (like all my other “acts of service” people probably felt), it wasn’t really what pissed me off about the finale. We never got to see a true confession scene happen between the two.

There was the lunch date, but that seemed more like an FYI-type of deal. It was definitely no “pick me, choose me, love me” scene that we were hoping to get, and we were going to get until Do-san ruined it.

All three Reply series with equally intense lovelines had the “loser” confess his feelings to the girl, so I really wanted the show to have something similar. Alas, beggars can’t be choosers.

The bigger issue is that Dal-mi never really outright rejected Ji-pyeong; she never explained why he wasn’t her choice. I’m not saying she owes him an explanation, but it was just frustrating for a JiDal fan to not get a satisfying scene from the two of them. Hell, I would have settled for a monologue or just anything from Dal-mi to clear out the vagueness about her choice in the whole love triangle situation.

It was also a bit heartbreaking not to see Ji-pyeong in the picture (literally and figuratively) with the Seo family when we were given a glimpse of the future. While he probably still spends his free time with them, it’s depressing just to even think that it is not the case.

Ji-pyeong never needed to be romantically involved with Dal-mi or any woman to be happy — his arc was always about finding family and a strong support system. He might have gotten that with halmeoni but we know that deep inside, our Good Boy just wants and needs a loving family.

TL;DR: more cute dinner scenes with him and the Seo family please!

Again, the Start-Up finale actually left me satisfied. But I couldn’t help but think of the opportunities the writers had missed out on as they struggled to squeeze in ten episodes’ worth of storylines into the last four episodes. I’m telling you: that three-year timeline jump should have never happened — it almost killed the entire thing — and you’ll probably hear more about that when I give my review of the show.

I will give it to them though: watching Dal-mi and Do-san resolve their greatest personal obstacles is one of the reasons I am happy with how it all turned out. All I’m saying is I kind of wish the writers gave the supporting characters enough shine to finish out their business too.

Did you enjoy the Start-Up finale? What scenes were you hoping the show would have gotten into? Let us know in the comments below!

If you already have a Start-Up hangover, read up on list of best k-dramas on Netflix for Gen Z’ers. Never miss out on anything by following us @ZoomersCornerPH on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

The post ‘Start-Up’ Finale: 5 Moments that Should’ve Happened (But Didn’t) appeared first on Zoomers Corner.

Ever wonder why the Start-Up ship war is so crazy and we have such intense feelings about the love triangle/loveline just from watching it? Aside from the charismatic male leads, it’s because we are able to put themselves in the shoes of Seo Dal-mi.

Two beautiful people may not be fighting for our affections like her, but all of us want to be treated a certain way by a potential romantic interest. Fortunately or unfortunately, the two male leads could not be more different in expressing their love.

They are soooo distinct from one another that we can guess whether or not you’re team Ji-pyeong or team Do-san just based on the love language you like to receive. We’ve already gone over why Ji-pyeong is the better choice for Dal-mi, but maybe that’s because my love language aligns with what he gives.

If you are not familiar with the five love languages, you can learn more about what they are and what yours is by clicking here. Don’t worry, these concepts are easy to grasp and self-explanatory especially when you’ve been watching a lot of Start-Up like us.

Warning: there are minor spoilers until Episode 14!

Words of Affirmation: Team Do-san

Between the two, Nam Do-san is obviously better at all the sweet talk. It’s not even a competition. And given how shy and timid he can be, it’s actually saying a lot about how horrible Han Ji-pyeong is with the whole romance thing.

It’s easy to swoon over Do-san when he starts telling Dal-mi about how much he loves and cares for her. He suddenly becomes this cool lead when he starts saying all these nice words to her. For example, at the end of Episode 7, the both of them make an enemy out of In-jae’s stepfather when Do-san smashes his glass nameplate.

After ruining their only shot for an investment at the time, they go to the top of the building (because that’s the only natural thing to do) and Do-san says — nay, promises — that he’ll become more successful than In-jae’s stepfather and earn ten billion won for her!

Just making that promise is enough to make anyone swoon.

Meanwhile, we are fourteen episodes in and we have not really seen Ji-pyeong articulate how important Dal-mi really is in his life. And that’s what all of us in Team Ji-pyeong are dying for, right?

Being her mentor has made him say harsh things to her. However, we haven’t really gotten an idea of how much of a sweet talker Ji-pyeong can be in his interactions with the other characters either, so it’s safe to say that he is just horrible at any form of verbal communication.

But we’ll give him a pass because he was an orphan, and had no family to teach him how to tell people about his feelings.

Acts of Service: Team Ji-pyeong

This one was a tough one to determine, but I would have to give the edge to Ji-pyeong. If he were a real person, I would guess that this would be his most dominant love language. No talk, just action.

It’s answering over 400 questions for your mentee, editing her speech before she goes on stage, driving to a faraway province to fetch her, and mixing her noodles at lunch. And yes, it’s getting a stranger to act like the person in the letters because you don’t want her to flop in front of her much more successful sister.

I’m pretty sure this is not a love language that Dal-mi doesn’t fully appreciate, because if she did, she would be all up in Ji-pyeong’s arms.

To be fair, Do-san has some grand romantic gestures up his sleeve, too. I mean the whole concept of NoonGil was created because he wanted to do something nice for Dal-mi’s grandmother (aka halmeoni). I could also appreciate the fact that he still made sure NoonGil could recognize different medicine even when he was on a flight to San Francisco.

But it’s the little things that really make acts of service for me, and as you’ll see later, this is not really Do-san’s dominant love language.

Physical Touch: Team Do-san

This is a no-brainer. No one has had sex in the series so far (we think) but Do-san is the only one out of the two who has really shown his affection through physical means.

Obviously, he and Dal-mi have kissed, hugged & held hands more times than we can count.

Then we have Ji-pyeong who hasn’t really touched Dal-mi in any sort of friendly or intimate manner. Now that I think about it, I don’t think they’ve ever had any kind of skin-to-skin contact. And that is obviously a very conscious choice from the writers.

Because the first time they do, it’s going to be magical!

Aside from the romantic aspect of it all, Do-san is just able to express his care for people better through physical touch. The Samsan Tech guys also hug and high-five each other a lot even if it’s only because someone made a corny joke.

Ji-pyeong is just not a fan of physical touch even when he is at his most fragile state. We see this when he learns about halmeoni‘s loss of vision. He bursts into tears, but he just kind of stands there awkwardly until he is pulled into a comforting hug.

Again, it’s probably the orphan thing so we’ll give him a pass.

Receiving Gifts: Team Ji-pyeong

Think thoughtful presents and gestures, not big and grand.

Since Ji-pyeong is a loaded guy, and we’re living in the k-drama world, he naturally gravitates towards this love language to show his affection. It’s basically a rule in television that the richer guy never gets the girl because material things are supposed to be superficial or something like that.

So in true rich guy fashion, he offered to be Samsan Tech’s Plan B if they failed to get an investment at Demo Day. Some may say that it’s an act of service, but when money is involved, it’s basically a gift already.

It was supposed to be a caring gesture from him, and a move that probably divided a lot of viewers. Was he using his money to buy out Dal-mi’s love? Or was it just a genuine act of love?

As a biased member of Team Ji-pyeong, I want to believe that it was the latter.

We see another glimpse of this love language in play later on. When Ji-pyeong plans to confess his feelings for Dal-mi again, he brings an expensive box of jewelry along with him. Of course, we never really got to see what would’ve happened had he given it to her because the writers hate us.

I see Team Do-san already bringing up the RGB scrubbies he knitted for halmeoni as a counterexample, but the fact that Ji-pyeong’s character is so intertwined with money and physical wealth means that you’re probably a fan of his if receiving gifts is your love language.

Quality Time: Team Do-san or Team Ji-pyeong

Even if I don’t like him, I can’t discount the fact that Do-san expresses his love well through quality time. Whether it’s eating instant ramen at the park or going to a beach with Dal-mi’s family, his best moments with Dal-mi are when they are alone. You could leave those two alone in any place and they’d just enjoy the moment, and the insightful conversations in between.

Do-san does not only love grand gestures, but he also knows how to make use of his time with Dal-mi. Between the two of them, there is a lot of talking about feelings and dreams that makes their connection that much stronger.

It’s obvious that Dal-mi is a quality time kind of girl because she could talk with Do-san all night and fall for him even more.

On the other hand, Ji-pyeong isn’t a particularly expressive guy. But when a person he cares about is in trouble, you bet your ass he’ll be there! For example, he was quick to run to halmeoni when he learned about her loss of vision. Ji-pyeong didn’t really say anything to comfort her because he just can’t bring himself to express his worries in words.

Nonetheless, he was there!

We also saw him in a particular cute scene in Episode 13 when he spent dinner with Dal-mi’s family. There was nothing explicitly romantic about the entire scene, but staying up late house to prepare food with Dal-mi was basically third base for our dear Good Boy.

And of course, let’s not forget about that “lunch date” when he confessed his feelings to Dal-mi. It was a tumultuous time for her having learned that her first love was basically a lie, but Ji-pyeong was there to comfort her.

Sometimes, just being there is more than enough.

What’s your love language? And do you think it has to do something with you being team Ji-pyeong or team Do-san? Leave your thoughts in the comment section below!

If you’re looking for shows to watch after this weekend’s Start-Up finale, read up on our list of best k-dramas on Netflix for Gen Z’ers. Never miss out on anything by following us @ZoomersCornerPH on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

The post ‘Start-Up’: Your Love Language Reveals if You’re Team Ji-pyeong or Team Do-san appeared first on Zoomers Corner.

Start-Up is the latest Netflix k-drama to make some huge waves because of the intensely addicting love triangle at its very center. While the series is really about a woman’s quest to start her own million-dollar company, much of the episodes revolve around the budding romance and tension among our three protagonists: computer geek Nam Do-san, future millionaire Seo Dal-mi, and angel investor Ji-pyeong.

Ladies and gentlemen, this love triangle is going to be bloody. It has been a cordial one so far, but as the show progresses, I assure you there will be an extremely disappointed and hateful group of viewers crying over how the romance storyline will turn out.

It’s been a while since I saw my mutuals so intensely divided about a TV show couple which is crazy considering this is just the millionth variant of Cyrano de Bergerac that has hit our screen over the years.

But, even Start-Up was enough to wake me up from a month-long writing hiatus. So you can tell that I am extremely passionate about this topic. To be more specific, I am extremely passionate about spreading the word that Han Ji-pyeong is whom Seo Dal-mi should end up with.

So if you’re a fan of the Nam Do-san, I am already warning you that shots will be fired against him if the title of this article wasn’t a clue already. And if you missed it, read about how your love language reveals whether or not you’re #TeamJipyeong or #TeamDosan!

There are minor spoilers until Episode Ten, so proceed with caution!

1. Ji-pyeong just wants Dal-mi to be happy.

When Seo Dal-mi confronted her sister in the first episode, Ji-pyeong realized that it was the same Seo Dal-mi he exchanged letters with when he was younger. After it hit him, we saw his concern for her as he watched her go crazy at the bus stop and talk with her grandma at the corndog truck.

Since then, he has always looked out for Dal-mi and has influenced a series of events that had her genuine interest at heart… even if she has no idea of his existence. Repeat after me: actions without taking credit are acts of pure love.

He is not Nice Guy-ing his way into her life. Ji-pyeong cares about her happiness first, and her love second. Unlike all the other faux Nice Guys, he does not throw a tantrum in front of Dal-mi because she doesn’t pick him. He is not like Dawson who acts like a spoiled brat when the girl doesn’t pick him.

Instead, he lets Nam Do-san continue their charade because his girl is happy even if it has been killing him.

2. Dal-mi fell in love with the person in the letter.

By no fault of her own, Dal-mi is in a terribly confusing situation. And I’m not going to pretend that I know what she’s going through, but it’s easy to assume that she has her wires all crossed.

How easy is it to separate her feelings between the Do-san from the letters and the real Do-san? I’m guessing not at all. It’s difficult for me to believe the idea that her feelings for the real Do-san have nothing to do with the letters.

Unfortunately, Dal-mi is a grown adult with the emotional experience of an adolescent. For those of us who have gone through first love, we know that it’s pretty easy to be blinded by the idea of romance because it’s fun and new.

You choose to believe all the nice things and turn a blind eye on all the red flags.

Do you remember when Dal-mi just forgave Do-san after she realized that he wasn’t a hotshot CEO? I rest my case.

3. There’s a difference between Ji-pyeong’s lie and Do-san’s lie.

Relationships based on lies will most probably never work out. But this is TV — we’re allowed to suspend our disbelief and bend the rules. That said, wow, doesn’t Do-san jumping on the chance to get together with Dal-mi feel a bit like he’s taking advantage of this opportunity?

There’s a fine line between a white lie and a damaging lie, and Do-san is smacked dab in the middle.

I can already hear you say: “Ji-pyeong also lied to Dal-mi.“

But here’s the thing: their lies are incomparable because of where they come from. First, the original lie of impersonating Do-san in the letters was co-authored by Dal-mi’s grandmother in the wholesome pursuit of friendship.

And he continues to ride on the Lying Train precisely because he doesn’t want Dal-mi to get hurt knowing the truth.

Then there’s Do-san. I’ve entertained the idea that maybe the only reason he agreed to partake in the lie was because he cared about Dal-mi. It’s entirely possible — hell, he even said it himself — but I’m not convinced. And this is where I’ll probably get hurled insults by Camp Team Do-san since this is probably where my bias starts to cloud my judgement.

But I can’t stand by the fact that he continued pretending to be Do-san from the letters just so that he could be with his crush in the early episodes. Do it for Dal-mi’s happiness? Yes. Do it for your own? Hell no!

The fact that he continued to play the role of successful businessman until he realized Dal-mi only likes the “letter version” of him is a manipulative move. To me, deceiving someone who is virtually a stranger just because you like her is extremely problematic.

The reason why Ji-pyeong kept the charade going was because he wanted to see Dal-mi happy. Think about this: he could have revealed his true self and he would’ve gained everything from it. But he chose not to, knowing how much it would crush Dal-mi.

4. Do-san is such a boy.

I was honestly confused when I searched Start-Up after watching the first episode and realized the painfully obvious fact that Seo Dal-mi and Nam Do-san were going to be endgame. The emotional intelligence of both characters are at such a different level that it’s hard to comprehend how they could be a couple in real life.

While Dal-mi is navigating the world in her early twenties, Do-san is stuck in a high school teen drama.

Some may argue that he was immature in the beginning of the show and is starting to grow into a man. Other than developing into a better lover, I personally don’t see anything that would convince me that he has truly grown.

Shattering glass nameplates, crying loudly in front of the doctor’s office, and his affinity for “grand gestures” are so… boy-ish. Yes, he has a heart of gold and a strong sense of empathy, but so do a lot of kindergarteners.

The fact that he would allow his friends to literally cockblock Ji-pyeong in Episode 10 is probably the greatest showcase of his immaturity for me. While Ji-pyeong told Do-san of his intention to pursue Dal-mi right in front of his face, Do-san decided to play dirty.

Contrast that with Dal-mi who has gone through a lot in her life. She does exhibit childlike behavior like her obsession with the Nam Do-san from her childhood, and her constant need to one-up her sister. However, we’re actually seeing her grow out of this as she delves deeper into the start-up world.

Similarly, Ji-pyeong has anger management issues and trouble expressing gratitude towards other people, but you can tell his immature behavior comes from growing up alone. Aside from that, he generally carries himself like someone his age.

Plus, the on-screen chemistry of Dal-mi and Do-san is very much like siblings rather than lovers, but we’re not ready to get bashed for that.

5. Do-san rode Ji-pyeong’s coattails.

This is probably one of the things that bother me most about the Dal-mi and Do-san relationship. Call me a realist but everything just worked out for them like a fairytale. I get that k-dramas aren’t really known for their realistic storylines, but I can’t get behind the fact that Do-san “took the shortcut” to Dal-mi’s heart.

I’m a fan of the trope where the girl doesn’t choose her first love (Ji-pyeong) because in real life, they don’t always work out. For that to work effectively though, we’d have to witness why the “other choice” (Do-san) is the better one.

If Pacey and Joey ended up together by the second season of Dawson’s Creek, people would be angry. It wasn’t until the third season that the show gave us believable scenarios why they would end up together.

And right now, the show is at the proverbial second season. It has not given Ji-pyeong supporters any reason to believe that Do-san is the better choice, other than the fact that he is objectively the nicer person of the two. The fact that Dal-mi fell into Do-san’s lap is still salvageable in my eyes, but writers need to make the latter a bit more likable.

How is Do-san so competitive that he isn’t even the littlest bit grateful of Ji-pyeong’s role in his relationship with Dal-mi? I’m not saying that he should be on his knees worshipping Ji-pyeong, but maybe acknowledging that fact wouldn’t hurt. And can we talk about how arrogant he was in declaring that he doesn’t want Plan B in the final scene of the tenth episode? Maybe you can turn down the vitriol against Ji-pyeong just a little bit.

The show is starting to become like Reply 1994 where it’s become physically painful to watch every episode as the show keeps dragging the love triangle to sadistically make the Second Lead suffer.

And that’s my list of reasons why I’m not ready to jump on the Do-san wagon just yet, but I’m not saying that Ji-pyeong is completely faultless. I would be the first to admit that not telling Dal-mi the truth from the very beginning was stupid in his part.

While we will never know how things would’ve played out had Han Ji-pyeong actually told the truth from the start, we’re stuck in this timeline. Seo Dal-mi will undoubtedly pick Nam Do-san in the end, but maybe if she opened her eyes, she’d see that maybe he’s not the best option for her.

However, there’s still a lot more episodes to go, so we’ll see how it all shakes out.

Are you team Ji-pyeong or team Do-san? Leave your thoughts in the comment section below! For more entertaining commentary on TV shows, click here. Never miss out on anything by following us @ZoomersCornerPH on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

The post ‘Start-Up’: Why Han Ji-pyeong is the Better Choice (and Nam Do-San isn’t) appeared first on Zoomers Corner.

The latest coming-of-age K-drama on Netflix is a sure contender for series of the year that you wouldn’t want to miss. There are many reasons why you should watch Record of Youth.

But in a nutshell, if you’re looking for a heartwarming series that explores how our ambitions and dreams shape our lives, then this k-drama might just be your cup of tea.

What is it about?

When I had first seen the trailer for Record of Youth, it seemed like it was going to be a clusterfest. If there’s something I dislike about some K-dramas, it’s that they tend to throw every element they could think of at the wall to see what sticks. Some concepts are so crazy that they work, but there are those that also end up being a huge miss.

Thankfully, Record of Youth isn’t as complicated as the trailer makes it out to be. We follow the life of Sa Hye-jun (played by Park Bo-gum), a principled young man who has been struggling to make it into the modeling industry for a long time.

It doesn’t help that he is best friends with a model who is quickly on the rise, Won Hae-hyo (played by Byeon Woo-seok). Their friendship is all the more interesting given that Hae-hyo comes from an extremely wealthy family while Hye-jun has humbler beginnings. In one of the fashion shows they model in, they meet the determined make-up artist Ahn Jeong-ha (played by Park So-dam) who is Sa Hye-jun’s number one fan, because of course she is.

Hye-jun’s self-esteem is on the verge of destruction as he watches his friend achieve milestone after milestone while his career continues to stagnate. On top of that, his brother and father keep pressuring him to stop modeling and go serve in the military instead.

Basically, all the signs are telling him to give up on his dream. So now he has to figure out what makes most sense for him and his future.

Now that you’re caught up on what the show is all about, it’s time to tell you the reasons why I can’t stop gushing about the show three weeks since it has premiered, and all the tea on why you should watch Record of Youth.

(And just to get it out of the way, you may have seen Park Bo-gum in some high-profile shows. Does Reply 1988, aka best k-drama ever, ring any bells? You also know Park So-dam as Jessica from Parasite, which won Best Picture in this year’s Oscars. I mean, no big deal.)

1. It shows you the ugly side of having a job.

Don’t get me wrong. Record of Youth is a stunning and beautiful show mostly because it serves us budget in every single episode.

But it doesn’t shy away from tackling the less glamorous side of things either. From late paychecks to benefactors to abusive bosses, ugly commoners like us working in non-modeling industries will still be able to put ourselves in the characters’ shoes in these moments.

One of the lessons that the show hammers home is that you actually have to work hard to make your dream job a dream job. No industry is perfect, and you really have to crawl through the mud sometimes to get to the good side.

It’s refreshing to see these topics addressed because there’s a tendency for some TV series to glamourize life without acknowledging all the “baggage” that comes with it. If you’re into shows that do just these, you might want to check out our list of best k-dramas to watch for Gen Z’ers.

2. It inspires you to do something.

While you might be tempted to sit on your couch all day to binge-watch Record of Youth, it actually has a way to motivate you to get up and work hard. And we don’t mean working harder at your boring day job like a corporate slave. We mean the work that you actually want to do.

The k-drama gives such high regard towards working for your dream that it could easily light a fire under your belly. For instance, Hye-jun and Jeong-ha’s belief system are particularly admirable when it comes to their ambitions. While their determination is tested throughout the series, it never truly dies.

And that is the energy we want to see more of in a world where young people are continuously told that they have it easy.

Working isn’t the solution, but taking concrete actions to reach your goals is what turns them into reality.

3. It makes you believe that other people believe in you.

One of my favorite parts of this k-drama is how every character has someone else supporting their dreams. Some of the best moments in the show revolve around situations where a character gives encouragement to the other when they start to doubt themselves.

Hae-hyo has his momager who will do just about everything to see him be an A-list star… even if it means buying him followers on Instagram.

The relationship between Hye-jun and his grandfather is amazing to watch as they bond over their family’s disapproval of their life decisions. We see them pick each other up no matter how delusional they may seem to the rest of the world.

While detractors can dampen your spirits, there is always that person who will support the choices you make. And sometimes, they’re all you need to get you by times when you feel like giving up on your dreams.

Just like the wise Lady Gaga once said again and again, “there can be a hundred people in the room, and 99 don’t believe in you, but one does.”

4. It encourages you to take the high road.

Record of Youth does a great job of showing how much privilege and wealth can truly play a factor in a person’s success. We’re gonna get into a few minor spoilers here, so brace yourselves.

When you grow up with a best friend who’s way richer than you while you watch him attain all the dreams you have for yourself, it’s tempting to take the easy way out. But Hye-jun manages to stand up for his principles when life tries to hand him success through questionable means, like the time he rejected a potential benefactor who has the hots for him.

He also quits his agency when they refuse to pay him what’s his due for the nth time. Unfortunately for us young people, we are told to suck it up because that’s just how it is in the real world.

Well just like what Hye-jun demonstrated, we shouldn’t allow ourselves to be treated like that.

Do what you have to do to get successful, but not at the expense of your dignity and principles.

5. It exemplifies a non-toxic kind of love.

In TV shows, we always see someone having to give up their personal ambitions just to get together with someone. Hellooooo, Rachel and Ross. But that way of thinking is exactly why you should watch Record of Youth.

The budding relationship between the two leads is exhilarating to watch especially with their strong on-screen chemistry. However, what I love most is how even in the midst of their romance, they still manage to prioritize their own personal growth.

They’re still putting themselves first, which is perfectly okay.

This is highlighted in Jeong-ha’s story where she declines Hye-jun’s request to do his make-up despite being his number one fan. Even if it was killing her inside, she knew it was the right thing to do for her career because her manager, Jin-ju, has been aggressively jealous whenever a client requests for her services.

Life in your twenties is about finding who you are. You don’t have to give up that quest just because you fall in love with someone.

6. It shows you numerous POVs.

I love shows where characters live in shades of grey where no one is truly good, and no one is truly bad. Record of Youth somehow manages to do that because even the “villains” in the show have some reasonable motivation to act the way they do.

A lot of viewers might get turned off with Hae-hyo because “he has it easy”. However, as the series progresses, you’ll see how much his friendship with Hye-jun is always a number one priority to him.

Some may get frustrated with his mom too, but you know that she’s really just coming from a place of love when she does everything for Hae-hyo’s career to thrive. Her ambition isn’t as selfish and deadly as those of the parents in Sky Castle.

Watching the stories of Hye-jun’s parents is also pretty interesting to watch. On one hand, we have the mother who works as the help in Hae-hyo’s household. Her commentary on how different it is to raise your kids when you come from humble roots is eye-opening.

Then, we have the father who might seem like your typical unsupportive and aggressive dad. But we are able to understand where he’s coming from because he has literally broken bones to support his family.

Record of Youth tries its best to flesh out all the characters from different ages and backgrounds, which makes it stand out from the other coming-of-age dramas out there.

It’s actually difficult not to see yourself in at least one of the characters. Hell, every one of them will probably remind you of someone in your life.

It’s a show that will not only make you reflect on your relationship with your career, but also how it drives the way other people make decisions.

The relatability of the characters and situations as a zoomer and a zillennial is what makes this a one-of-a-kind show for our generation. I hope this list was enough to convince you why you should watch Record of Youth. You can watch it on Netflix with new episodes being released every Monday and Tuesday.

If you’re looking for more shows for zillennials, we recommend the guilty pleasure you’re not watching: Elite. Never miss out on anything by following us @ZoomersCornerPH on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Featured Image: Netflix Asia on Youtube

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