On Episode 57 of the Daebak K-Rambles Podcast, Jess and Rico continue the mini Spooky SZN with a not-so-scary-but-very-violent review of Moving, starring Ryoo Seung-Ryong, Han Hyo-Joo, Jo In-Sung, Kim Sung-Kyun, Ko Yoon-Jung, and Lee Jeong-Ha. Jess and Rico discuss this Disney+ original, talking through its stacked cast (the return of Jo In-Sung!), interesting and mysterious plot, the amazing character development (everyone gets a backstory!), the fitting musical score (reminded us of Hans...

On Episode 56 of the Daebak K-Rambles Podcast, Jess and Rico continue the mini Spooky SZN with another ATC crossover episode to review of Ballerina, starring Jun Jong-Seo and Kim Ji-Hoon. Jess and Rico discuss this Netflix original film from writer-director Lee Chung-Hyun, talking through its derivative nature, the revenge plot and the performances, the action scene editing à la Christopher Nolan, the cinematography and bisexual lighting, Kim Ji-hoon’s thirst trap scenes, what’s missing from...

On Episode 55 of the Daebak K-Rambles Podcast, Jess and guest Sarah from Kdrama This and the Afternoona Asks Podcast kick off this mini Spooky SZN with a review of D.P., starring Jung Hae-In, Koo Gyo-Hwan, Kim Sung-Kyun, and Son Suk-Ku. Jess and Sarah discuss both seasons 1 and 2 of this dark military drama, talking through the amazing performances from Hae-in and Gyo-hwan, Sarah’s experience at the Jung Hae-in fanmeet, the haunting and unflinching look at the South Korean military, the...

On the season 4 finale Episode 54 of the Daebak K-Rambles Podcast, Jess and guest Robyn from The Kdrama Playbook review Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo, starring Lee Joon-gi, IU, Kang Ha-Neul, and so many more. Jess and Robyn discuss this widely lauded 2016 sageuk drama, talking through the toxic love stories and hard tonal shift, how the show seems to want us to blame the FL for the royal bad behavior, comparisons to the original Scarlet Heart C-drama, the memorable scenes that stick out...

On Episode 53 of the Daebak K-Rambles Podcast, Jess and guest Liliana from the Tea & Soju Podcast review The Untamed, starring Xiao Zhan and Wang Yi Bo. Jess and Liliana discuss this well-regarded 2019 historical drama, talking through the BL danmei bones of the story and how China prohibits such stories, the innuendo and hidden meaning throughout, the acting from the leads, the confusing parts of the plot, the themes of the show, such as mob justice and toxic groupthink, swoonworthy...

On Episode 52 of the Daebak K-Rambles Podcast, Jess and guest Sarah from Kdrama This and the Afternoona Asks Podcast review Do You Like Brahms?, starring Park Eun-Bin and Kim Min-Jae. Jess and Sarah discuss this underrated 2020 musical drama, talking through the slow-burn romance between two introverts, comparisons to other musical K-dramas, the Asian stereotype that the show seems to tackle, the impossible-to-love SFL, the inside baseball of the classical music scene, clichéd and overplayed...

On Episode 51 of the Daebak K-Rambles Podcast, Jess and Rico rage against the monsters on a review of Sweet Home (season 1), starring Song Kang, Lee Jin-Uk, Lee Si-Young, Lee Do-Hyun, and more. Jess and Rico talk through this 2020 action-horror drama, discussing the SAG-AFRA and WGA strikes and how they relate to Netflix and K-dramas, the famous director and the all-star cast, how Rico is not a zombie OR monster person, the Hollywood special effects (shout-out to Baby Yoda!), Song Kang as a...

On Episode 50 of the Daebak K-Rambles Podcast, Jess and guest Carol from Kdramas Musings are back again to review Love Like the Galaxy, starring Zhao Lusi and Wu Lei (aka Leo Wu). Jess and Carol (influenced in large part by Caitlin from @nosleep4dramas) discuss this beautiful 2022 historical drama, talking through the insane cinematography and musical score, the acting from the leads, the best scenes and moments (post-breakup Ling Buyi PLEASE), the many impressive themes of the show, such as...

On Episode 49 of the Daebak K-Rambles Podcast, Jess is joined by repeat guest Carol from Kdramas Musings to review Coffee Prince, starring Gong Yoo and Yoon Eun-Hye. Jess and Carol return to this iconic gender-bender from 2007, talking through the groundbreaking, ahead-of-its-time nature of the show, how formative and meaningful the project is to the cast, Gong Yoo (I mean…), the best scenes and moments, dated or questionable aspects of the show, an assessment of relationships, trust,...

On Episode 48 of the Daebak K-Rambles Podcast, Jess is joined by repeat guests Nas and Ori from the Seoul Sistahs Podcast to review Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-Joo, starring Nam Joo-Hyuk and Lee Sung-Kyung. Jess, Nas, and Ori lift heavy as they swim their way through this beloved 2016 show, discussing the renaissance era of 2016 K-dramas, the careers and chemistry of former lovers Joo-Hyuk and Sung-Kyung, how the drama stacks up against other sports dramas, the questionable casting of model...

On Episode 47 of the Daebak K-Rambles Podcast, Jess is joined by repeat guest Mina from the Kpop Bookshelf Podcast to review Full House, starring Rain and Song Hye-Kyo. Jess and Mina talk through this pioneer 2004 K-drama hit, discussing Rain and Hye-Kyo’s performances and chemistry, the premise that made the cohabitation and contract marriage tropes K-drama staples, the “best friends” from hell, the worst portrayal of a pregnancy in K-drama(?), the dated 2000s tech and fashion and...

On a special Episode 46 of the Daebak K-Rambles Podcast, Jess and Rico are back on an ATC crossover episode to review the very first movie for the podcast, Past Lives, starring Greta Lee, Teo Yoo, and John Magaro. Jess and Rico discuss this A24 film from first-time writer-director Celine Song, talking through the themes and messages of the movie, including In-Yun and destiny, the tropes that might be familiar to K-drama fans, the strength of the dialogue and acting, the scenes that had us...

On Episode 45 of the Daebak K-Rambles Podcast, Jess and guest hosts Caitlin from @nosleep4dramas and Liliana from the Tea & Soju Podcast finish up their review of Till the End of the Moon, starring Luo Yun Xi and Bai Lu. Continuing with spoiler talk, Part 2 kicks off discussing the theme of nature vs. nurture for Tantai Jin’s character, each era of the show and the best moments from each (like the crow wedding or the boat dance scene), some audience complaints about Susu’s character, more...

On Episode 44 of the Daebak K-Rambles Podcast, Jess is joined by repeat guest Caitlin from @nosleep4dramas and friend of the pod Liliana from the Tea & Soju Podcast to review Till the End of the Moon, starring Luo Yun Xi and Bai Lu. Jumping straight into spoiler talk, Part 1 sees Jess, Caitlin, and Liliana gush and fangirl over this 2023 C-drama hit, discussing the performances from Yun Xi and Bai Lu, the well-written plot and character arcs from FIRST TIME screenwriters, how Yun Xi’s...

On Episode 43 of the Daebak K-Rambles Podcast, Jess is joined by repeat guest Jenny from the Pocha Playlist Podcast to review You’re Beautiful, starring Park Shin-Hye and Jang Keun-Suk. Jess and Jenny laugh through a discussion of this iconic Hong Sisters gender-bender from 2009, talking through the ludicrous (but still Shakespearean) plot, how Park Shin-Hye and Jang Keun-Suk’s characters are written and played, the second lead love lines in the A.N.JELL group, the live concert footage and...

On Episode 42 of the Daebak K-Rambles Podcast, Jess is joined by special guest comedian Grace Jung from the K-Drama School Podcast to review Go Back Couple, starring Jang Na-Ra and Son Ho-Jun. Jess and Grace talk through this 2017 time-traveling melo-comedy, discussing the powerhouse that is Jang Na-Ra, the second-chance romance and if we agreed with it, how the drama could have been way different had it not been broadcast on KBS, Jang Ki-Yong’s second male lead, the sanctity of motherhood,...

On Episode 41 of the Daebak K-Rambles Podcast, Jess is joined by special guest Samantha from the Korean From Context and the BL Buddies Podcast to review The Heirs, starring Lee Min-Ho and Park Shin-Hye. Jess and Sammie talk through this painfully 2013 high school love story, discussing the male leads and their old-school red flag toxicity, the novelty of filming the early episodes in California (plus the bean powder, crack house, balcony stares nonsense), the lacking plot from renowned...

On Episode 40 of the Daebak K-Rambles Podcast, Jess is joined by revenge-story cynic Miguel to review the The Glory, starring Song Hye-Kyo, Lee Do-Hyun, Lim Ji-Yeon, and so many more. Jess and Miguel team up for a revenge over a decade in the making, discussing the themes and messages of the show, how it portrays all kinds of bullying, the scandal with director Ahn Gil-Ho, the strength of the cast, zaddy Jung Sung-Il, the best scenes and lines, and SO MUCH MORE in spoilers! Rate and...

On Episode 39 of the Daebak K-Rambles Podcast, Jess is joined by special guest Paroma from the Dramas Over Flowers Podcast to review Youth of May, starring Lee Do-Hyun and Go Min-Si. Jess and Paroma talk through this star-crossed lovers story set in a historically significant time period, discussing the experience of watching, the amazing script, the director’s approach to the material, the characters and their arcs, a scene lifted from the classic Hindi movie Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge,...

On Episode 38 of the Daebak K-Rambles Podcast, Jess is joined by Laura and Kathy from the MIA2K Podcast to review Dream High, starring Kim Soo-Hyun, Bae Suzy, and Ok Taecyeon, IU, and so many more. Jess, Laura, and Kathy lovingly roast this iconic 2011 idol drama, discussing the acting from all the rookie players, the appeal of the show (despite its flaws in cinematography, writing, sound mixing, etc.), the whole JYP propaganda of it all, the heartfelt (but cheesy) themes and best character...

On Episode 37 of the Daebak K-Rambles Podcast, Jess and guests Jenn and Marisa from The KThree review Healer (2014), starring Ji Chang-Wook and Park Min-Young. Jess, Jenn, and Marisa return to this pre-2015 action-romance, talking through how Jenn and Marisa found the drama on this rewatch, how Jess has fallen madly in love with Ji Chang-Wook (finally!), the themes of identity, trust, and belonging, the amazing K-drama ahjumma Kim Mi-Kyung, the few dated aspects of the show, a laundry list...

On Episode 36 of the Daebak K-Rambles Podcast, Jess and guest Lola from Lola Pops Off About Kdramas officially kick off Season 4 with a review of My Love from the Star (2013), starring Jun Ji-Hyun and Kim Soo-Hyun. Jess and Lola deep dive on this pre-2015 Hallyu wave juggernaut, discussing the difference between their first watch of the drama and this rewatch, its chicken and beer legacy, how delightful Jun Ji-Hyun was and is as the FL, the dated aspects of the show (like Kim Soo-Hyun’s...

On a special Episode 35 of the Daebak K-Rambles Podcast, Jess is joined by the ladies from the Seoul Sistahs Podcast to wrap up a review of Alchemy of Souls Parts 1 and 2. In the part 2 spoiler section of the review, Jess, Nas, and Ori talk through the characters and their arcs (if they even had one), swoon through some of the best romantic scenes, rail against some of the worst bits of writing and plot (buzzwords include: problematic, weak, issue, bad), compare Jung So-Min versus Ko...

On a special Episode 34 of the Daebak K-Rambles Podcast, Jess is joined by the ladies from the Seoul Sistahs Podcast to review Alchemy of Souls Parts 1 and 2, a journey almost as long as the drama itself. In the part 1 non-spoiler section of the review, Jess, Nas, and Ori have a robust discussion, talking through what they generally liked and disliked about the show, the stunning cinematography and world building, a brief history of Hong Sisters dramas, a rundown of other fantasy K-dramas,...

On another special Episode 33 of the Daebak K-Rambles Podcast, Jess is joined by pen aficionado and Utada Hikaru’s #1 fan Miguel to review the very first J-drama for the podcast, First Love, starring Mitsushima Hikari and Satoh Takeru. Jess and Miguel are back for some more ‘90s nostalgia in this 2022 J-drama hit, discussing the themes and messages of the show, major criticisms of the show, the stunning cinematography and feels-inducing soundtrack, scenes that had us freaking out and having...