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[tastebreaker review] Law School (no spoilers)

Sometimes, I wish I could have a shrine for all the cerebral media that I consumed, because it definitely is my favourite archetype. Death Note was a masterpiece that I hungrily binged in one day - similarly with Psycho Pass (though I haven't watched the second season due to most of the reviews I have read). This extend well into non-anime media for me - State of Play (with Russell Crowe, Ben Affleck and Rachel McAdams) remains one of my favourite movies, Inception and, well, honestly anything by Christopher Nolan, and I have recently began watching The Matrix as well.

And so, the thirst for real mystery and brain games was quenched when I started watching Law School, with Kim Myung-min, Kim Beom and Ryu Hye-young, directed by Kim Suk-yoon. Needless to say, throughout the whole trip, I was hooked, counting down days until the next episode came... but towards the end - an unpopular opinion - I was actually quite disappointed.

And so, before you start your cross-examination, allow me to present my findings first.

- How did I start watching this?

My friend and I were looking around for something to binge on Netflix and forget about COVID-19. This series popped up, and the moment I read the title, my sapiosexual senses were tingled.

- And how was it?

Very good!... until the ending came. ;w;

- Genres & overarching themes?

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Psychological

Overarching themes: murder mystery, law vs justice, intelligence (as in, the characters are all really smart hahah)

- Plot: 4/5

It could have been a high four, near five if it wasn't for the ending, frankly. The first episode started out with Professor Seo Byung-ju of Hankuk Law School dead, and the spotlight shines on Professor Yang Jong-hoon (the man in the poster above), the first suspect. But was it really him? From then, the mystery unfolds as our favourite study group (who shall be very well elaborated on later in this review) launches itself into investigation for true justice.

The series started out extremely strong in my opinion, with its first few episodes filled with twists and sub-plots that were waiting to get wrapped up. Every episode just leaves you gripping on the sides of your seat in suspense. It really makes you doubt every single person that appeared on-screen and watch out for anything that happens - the show uses the Chekhov's Gun trope really well. As the knots become unravelled, we gain more depth into the characters. However, as we near the end - about two-three episodes for me - the show started to lose its thrust, falling into a comfortable stereotype that made things rather frustrating.

One of the major advantages of Law School, in my opinion, is its ability to twist and turn everything. It prompts the viewers to realize that when the case is really examined in a whole different angle, with more and more evidence coming to light, everything changes. The use of different suspects' stories being told in each episode is a pleasure to watch - the viewers feel like an omniscient judge, overseeing the motives and evidence to draw out a conclusion for themselves on who might be the murderer. The series prompts the viewers to think, which is a trend I really like. It's also interesting to question why characters do certain things they do. Professor Yang Jong-hoon (my favourite character!), for example, is a very... chaotic (haha) character, who keeps on surprising people with his actions - yet, his actions are all elaborate executions of his strategy, a whole plan that he has concocted which accounted for multiple steps ahead, thanks to his extremely sharp vision of what could happen. Thus, it is extremely satisfying when everything falls into place as Yangcrates (a nickname he earned due to his Socratic teaching) explains everything that led up to a particular tense moment where the truth was unveiled.

Yet... this very trope had its downfall near the end. The murderer was so heavily shadowed on in the beginning that the viewers would have expected the murderer to be someone else completely unexpected, a mastermind that pulled the strings behind all the proceedings. Yet, the murderer and the mastermind behind the murder were someone so... I dare say, unimpressive. I mean, this particular 'mastermind' behind the murder fell into so many traps! The murderer was definitely my major disappointment - the villain was a weak character, an unsatisfying antagonist that the intelligent heroes, once having figured who he/she is, didn't even break a sweat to bring to light. The last, final twist that was supposed to be the most glamorous of them all, completely knocking the viewers off their feet, fell completely flat.

Secondly, whilst having a lot of sub-plots still remains a favourite trope of mine as I'd expect everything to wrap up nicely near the end... well, it didn't. Whilst most sub-plots were hastily answered, there was one particular sub-plot which was just left completely unaddressed (for those who have watched it, it's about J****s), and unless they're hinting at a second season where this would be further elaborated on, this was a dead-end sub-plot, a plot with no elaboration or continuation whatsoever.

Overall, the plot was breathtaking in the beginning. It lost momentum very near the end, and wrapped everything up with an anticlimactic last episode.

- Characters: 4.7/5

Definitely the strongest set of characters I've seen in a Korean drama, frankly. All characters were so well utilised, each having their own quirks and flaws which were delightful to watch. Everyone was so, so intelligent, that they honestly were the main fuel to the series, our main stars.

Allow me to first start off with my favourite character, Professor Yang Jong-hoon. Stoic, yet with an extremely savage side that he does not hesitate to show to anyone of any ranks or social standings, Yangcrates carefully plots everything, always thinks, questions, and then thinks even more. Intelligence-wise, this man is most definitely the smartest on-screen persona I've seen in the Korean drama franchise - able to see miles ahead and figure out all the answers down to their root, he is someone that definitely earns all the respect he has, from both his students and viewers alike. Personality-wise, this man is equally interesting as he is smart. With a cold exterior, Yangcrates does not take any bullshit (cue a particularly funny water spitting scene), and does not hold back harsh words to point it out. Yet, underneath this cold exterior is a burning desire to find the absolute truth, which would in turn bring justice to ones who have been wronged (refer to a particular lecture-like speech he made in episode 10), and a passion for teaching his students. He secretly cares for his students a lot, and expresses it in his own way.

Next, our favourite study group - a group of capable, enticing individuals. Firstly, we have Han Joon-hwi, a complex character that always pursues justice and fairness. His intelligence shines through with the way he, firstly, is able to take advantage of his sharp understanding of law into the case, and his careful processing of the evidence he gathers during investigation. Whilst he always keeps a cold head when needed, he has an equally warm heart, genuinely caring for wronged and innocent people. His expressions were all extremely raw and did not feel fake at all - really, props to his actor. More on this later.

Then, we have the two girls - Kang Sol A and Kang Sol B. Don't be fooled by their names - they are very much polar opposites. Whilst Kang Sol A is excitable and wears her heart on her sleeve (sometimes a bit too much), Kang Sol B always keeps a cool head, sometimes taking it to the extreme. I do admit that if I had to pick out of the two, though I love both of them very, very much, I'd probably lean a bit more towards Kang Sol A - even though she definitely gets on my nerves sometimes because of her overload of emotions that could be disruptive, she has her frequent bouts of creativity and "a-ha!" moments that display her underrated intelligence (I'm always soft for underdogs that are underestimated by everyone, only to turn the table on them later). She is also an extremely loyal friend and a very generous individual that isn't afraid to place herself in danger just to help others - overall, a very warm person. Kang Sol B, on the other hand - perhaps due to her family environment - does not really taking other people's emotions into consideration, though I really, really admire her for her intelligence, her ability to always keep a calm head (making her the blue counterpart to Kang Sol A's red), as well as her straightforwardness which has proven many times to be necessary to push the case forward. She does have a soft spot, though - a very adorable one at that. These two make an extremely adorable pair of friends.

My favourite student of the study group must be Seo Ji-ho. I'd say he's a less intimidating version of Kang Sol B hahah - cool and composed, Ji-ho is a reliable member who always pursues logic and reason first. He is also driven to achieve his goal and, like Joon-hwi, utilizes his deep understanding about law very well to solve his own case, his sub-plot. Though his sub-plot eventually was wrapped up as an open ending, it was a nice sub-plot to watch. Not to mention his dynamic with Joon-hwi is very adorable as well - the two really balance each other out.

Other students also have their own quirks and flaws, but for the sake of this review's length, I won't elaborate them as much - but I will say they are all a delight to watch, adding their own personal elements to the overall study group. I will definitely miss this set of characters so, so much. ;-;

- Acting: 4.4/5

Frankly, perhaps because of some K-drama series I have watched, I had a problem with acting in some K-drama series - the actors and actresses did not feel genuine, and they either overacted, pushing their expressions to the extreme, or underacted, simply being way too... stiff (some of my personal favourite actors and actresses so far are Kim Seon-ho, whose theatrical experiences probably really helped with his very natural acting, Jo Jung-seok, and Kim Hye-yoon, an actress who impressed me with both of her most popular series - hope to see her versatility shine through with more diverse roles though). This series, however, is a definite favourite of mine in terms of acting. Firstly, Kim Myung-min is a veteran actor that deserves so much respect - he basically morphed into Yangcrates. I absolutely loved the way he delivered his dialogues - very long ones! - without even so much as taking a breath in between - it was smooth and the flow was excellent.

Kim Beom also became one of my favourite actors after this series - the way he handled his role was so good, his expressions, actions, everything. I noticed that he's very good with his eyes, if that's the right way to put it - he is very good at displaying emotions with them, all emotions ranging from sadness to adoration (towards a particular someone *wink*). It's a top-notch skill, really, and I'm glad to have seen him on-screen. Similarly, Ryu Hye-young impressed me so, so much that I shall add her to my list of favourite actresses as well - I can't spoil, but she is really able at... altering her vibes, yes. She seems to have studied her character really carefully too, being able to bring all Sol A's quirks to real life. Other actors and actresses were amazing, but for me, these three definitely shone.

- Doki moments?

Ah. Definitely some between Sol A and Joon-hwi, as a lot of other people have commented. From the way they tease each other to the way he cares about her every little thing, the way he stares at her, the way his whole demeanor just changes around her and the way she unknowingly influences him so much - they do balance each other out really well, Joonhwi being the cool to Sol A's warm. I do find myself thinking Sol B and Ji-ho would be rather compatible as well (also, them being study rivals in high school? My rivals-to-lovers side is ready).

- Enjoyment: 4/5

Again, could have been higher if it wasn't for the ending! But yes, overall, a whole trip worth embarking on.

- Overall: 4.2/5

Really, could have been higher... but yes, still an excellent show. I just hope they could have had more episodes to really wrap everything up nicely and maybe throw us one final, absolutely ground-breaking twist.

- Watch it or neh?

Yes, please do watch it! And let me know how it goes, too. ;3

[wheredemdokis]

[doki review #2] The Story Between a Dumb Prefect and a High School Girl with an Inappropriate Skirt Length (ongoing)

After having binged quite a few shoujo manga series, I'd say most shoujo male characters would fall into certain "templates" of personalities: aggressive tsundere type, cold tsundere type (that sometimes bullies the heck out of our girl), gentle soft type, extroverted friendly type. Seeing all these personalities being recycled again and again without much alteration can get, well, rather mundane (though I do admit there is the comfortable familiarity when you dive into those series at times). Female shoujo characters have even less background for quirky personalities - frankly speaking, most of them usually have the, well, what I'd call a "fluffy personality" - warm, emotional, usually acts before thinking. Sprinkle it with some obliviousness and doormat tendencies. That formula pretty much works for any combination with the categories of the male characters, and that's how you get about, well, 75% of shoujo manga I have read (as I have said, I can't assert for all shoujo manga series). I'm pretty sure looking at my list of templates, you probably already have some titles popping up in your minds.

Now, don't get me wrong. The fluffy personality, if written well, can be very endearing to read. However, same for male characters, if it is the same recycled formula with not much room for quirks... honestly, to me at least, it gets really boring.

As I was about to give up this venture into shoujo manga after having read titles of the almost identical structure of characters, I stumble across the masterpiece of them all.

The Story of Between a Dumb Prefect and a High School Girl with an Inappropriate Skirt Length, by Takuma Yokota.

- How did I start reading this?

I always had a thing for well-written quirky tsundere characters, both males and females alike, and I was quickly drawn to the female character, Poemu-chan. More on that very soon.

- And how is it so far?

*joyful tears appear at the corner of my eyes* ok, maybe not. But you know what I mean.

- Genres and overarching themes?

Genres: Comedy, Romance, School life, Shoujo

Overarching themes: youth (really makes me rethink in what parallel universe would I ever have this kind of high school life...), friendships, one's blooming feelings, some denial of feelings

- Plot: 3.8/5

I'll be frank - if you're looking for a quirky plot filled with excitement, or a cerebral, reflective plot prompting you to think, this is not exactly where you'd find all those things. This manga has a rather typical school life plot - beach episode, school festival, just the typical daily school life episodes. Being a fan of slice-of-life stories, I'd say this is a rather well-executed slice-of-life story - it is a calm review of high school years that focuses on the relationships between characters, and the emotional aspects that come with it. What really pushes me to continue reading is how well the wholesome interactions are drawn, making me want to root for more romantic development between the characters, how the author seasons the daily school life episodes with fun dialogues and very well-written comedy, and the extremely adorable characters, which I'll be talking about soon. //w//

- Characters: 4.25/5

The characters, main and side, are really entertaining. Poemu Konihata, our main female character, is just adorable. A carefree girl that does what she wants, not bothering to conform to any rules (including school rules, yes, which is the main pivot of the story lol), Poemu is a quirky, fiery character with the right bit of tsundere, and a very soft side that she tries not to show, but ends up unconsciously showing to our main male character, which makes it even more wholesome to read. The just-right denial of her feelings is so... heck, it makes you want to hug the manga and the author, if he allows it, of course. OwO

Our main male character, Sakuradaimon Tougo, is probably one of the most refreshing male shoujo characters I have ever read. He's very much a dork - being a school prefect, he follows the school rules to a T, and is passionate about values such as discipline. Together with a large douse of obliviousness, Sakuradaimon is easily the exact polar opposite of beloved male shoujo characters, the one that would probably star as a comedic relief rather than a potential interest in typical shoujo mangas... but not this one hohoh. His refreshing straightforwardness - the way he easily says the things on his mind, and the utmost respect he has for our female character is so cool - reading it really makes you want to root for him. After a few chapters, his quirky personality really starts to grow on you, and he becomes an extremely endearing character, whilst at the same time being extremely badass in his own unique way. He really is a best boy. //w//

The side characters each have their own quirks - and I absolutely love how female characters have their own unique personality traits. For more information, you can go ahead and dive right into the series hehe. ;3

- Art: 4/5

As seen from the cover, you can probably realize that the art style is really different from most shoujo mangas... and it's so, so cute! You have Sakuradaimon's stiff movements that very much suit his personality, Poemu-chan's blush, all these details just further make this series an extremely fluffy read.

- Doki moments?

Oh yes... honestly, everything that Sakuradaimon says lol - his dialogue come out straight from a typical shoujo manga without him even realizing it, and the way he so honestly and earnestly says them is just... urghhhh, even I feel the dokis with Poemu //w//, that dodgeball scene ahhh, the end of the supplementary lessons episode AND Sakuradaimon visiting Poemu's house omg and dont let me get started on the real g - the volume 5 akhaksdgakjsdhg bruv it's so,,, fluffy,,,,, my kokoro bro

- Enjoyment: 4.25/5

Really great if you're looking for a very unique, light-hearted, funny, fluffy read c":

- Overall: 4 - 4.3/5

Again, I'll lower it for now because it's still ongoing, but it's definitely near a 4.3 for me. A joy to read, definitely.

- Read it or neh?

Oh yes, please read it. Doki approved. UwU

[wheredemdokis]

[doki review #1] The Rain of Teardrops and Serenade (ongoing)

Being someone who'd probably be politely described as "romantically constipated", I sneered at all romance-related media, never understanding all the dokis and butterflies they evoke in other readers and viewers. With such a cynical view of love portrayed in the small screen, I ironically ventured into the world of shoujo and josei manga, ready to analyze every bits of the series to point out its illogical aspects and flaws. My readiness to mock was high.

Until I, a self-proclaimed "doki slayer", was knocked out of my high horse by this manga that remains a favourite of mine, The Rain of Teardrops and Serenade by Kawachi Haruka.

- How did I start reading this?

Ok, I'll be real with yall - it all started because I thought the character looks like Levi Ackerman. C'mon. We weebs are all, in various ways, suckers for Levi, at a certain point of time in our lives. I dub it the Levi phase(tm).

- And how is it so far?

*chef's kiss*.

- Genres and overarching themes?

Genres: Josei, Romance, Historical, Drama

Themes: time travelling, one-sided love, reciprocated feelings that cannot be expressed (or can it? hohhhhhh)

Plot: 4/5

The premise is quite refreshing - a young girl, Katagiri Hina, somehow time travelled back to 1907. Being a fan of time travelling - one of my favourite anime movies is Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo (The Girl Who Leapt Through Time) - I especially like the fact that time travelling in this manga was realistically portrayed. The upbeat and energetic girl felt lost and disoriented and took a while to adjust instead of unrealistically adapting right to her environment like some other time-travelling/ dimension-travelling manga out there. The plot accelerates after she meets our man, Hongou Takaaki, and gets involved in a plot devised against him, and when she has to find the lost necklace which could be the main lead for what happened to her (ok no spoilers from now on jsjsjsjsj) owo

Overall, a really well-executed plot about time travelling, and the pacing is enough to keep you wanting to slide to the next chapter... until you realize there are no more chapters yet so you just lie down, try not to cry, cry a lot I guess. Hah. It do be like that. It's like Spain, but with no "S" bros. ;-;

Characters: 4/5

I like the characters a lot! Katagiri Hina is a well-done character (sounds like I'm describing steak lmfao). She's energetic, tenacious and brave, and whilst she's discouraged by the circumstances she's in (I mean, travelling back to 1907 during a school nap sounds enticing and all until you can't wake up from the nap...), she pushes on. Hongou Takaaki, her romantic counterpart, is a taciturn man of few words but with a lot of intense feelings for our girl, ready to jump right into danger should it mean to save her (Chapter 11 for your reference hohoh).

- What's the dynamic between the romantic pairing like?

It's really cute! The brooding boy - energetic girl trope plays well here - Katagiri's youthful, refreshing character is a good counterpart to Hongou's more mature one. UwU

- Side characters?

Side characters have their own quirks as well, which is cool. There's a "self" of Hina in 1907, who's very amicable, but has her own secrets. Some other characters have things to hide as well, but I won't reveal them yet heh 7w7

Art: 4/5

The art is nice!! The sceneries are really well drawn - you can really feel Japan's 1907 vibes coming right from the details that the author took really good care of, and the shadows. The characters' features have been really well-drawn to complement their characters - Hongou's sharp eyes vs. Hina's rounder ones, his hairstyle which is sosmokinghotakdjadskgj---- really well designed. And the clothing is immaculate.

- Doki moments?

When he saves her without any hesitation in Chapter 11 aaaA, anytime he stares at her honestly LOL dem subtle staRES KALJH, Chapter 18 & 19 in general akdlkadgskl I can't spoil,,

Enjoyment: 4.5/5

Yep. Great for late-night binges. ;3

Overall: 4 - 4.5/5

I'll lower it for now because it's still ongoing (still waiting for the updates...), but it's most likely somewhere nearer to 4.5.

- Read it or neh?

Read it. Definitely. Doki approved. //w//