Hello! I'm back... after almost a year of no updates 😅. I went through a few major life changes, including moving cities and going back to school, so that's why my time for blogging and podcasting has dwindled down to basically zero 😬. BUT I still managed to watch 109 films/shows this year, and these are all ones I finished (if we also count ones I didn't finish, this number would probably be closer to 150). Since I'm on winter break and feeling inspired by Spotify Unwrapped, I thought I'd share my top 3 movies, TV shows, and K-dramas from 2022 along with some honorable mentions.
MOVIES 🎬
The Falls
Since the start of the pandemic, a number of movies have scrambled to tell stories set during COVID times. Most of them have fallen flat (think "Locked Down" with Anne Hathaway and Chiwetel Ejiofor), but the Taiwanese film "The Falls" gets it right.
Directed and written by the critically acclaimed Chung Mong-hong, "The Falls" is about a mother and daughter whose strained relationship is further tested when they must quarantine together. We initially see everything play out from the mother's perspective, but as the daughter's perspective is introduced into the story, we realize not everything is as it seems.
True to his filmmaking style, Chung infuses the movie with social issues that add relevance and weight to the story. I can't really share what those issues are without spoiling the plot (aside from the obvious pandemic issue), so you'll just have to watch it to find out. But different from his previous films, "The Falls" is not as gritty - I remember trying to watch another one of Chung's movies "A Sun," which was a huge hit with critics everywhere; however, after the opening sequence, which included a closeup shot of a severed hand in a dish, I could not continue 😅. Thankfully "The Falls" does not have any graphic imagery like that.
There are so many things I love about this movie - the acting (Alyssia Chia, who plays the mom, is phenomenal), the symbolism (there is a reason why this movie is called "The Falls"), the cinematography (the play with light and shadow results in some hauntingly beautiful scenes), and the story + character depth. But the reason I watched this movie three times is because of its hopefulness - even in the worst of times and situations, we still have the capacity to be good and love, and it is that love that brings hope and healing to us all.
*****
38 at the Garden
Shortlisted for the 2023 Oscars Best Documentary Short, "38 at the Garden" follows the rise of Linsanity and its impact on the Asian American community.
Running at 38 minutes to symbolize the historical 38 points that Jeremy Lin scored at Madison Square Garden, "38 at the Garden" examines Lin's journey to the NBA, the challenges he faced, and the breakout performances that started Linsanity. But what distinguishes this documentary from others on the same topic is that it also dives deep into the cultural significance of Linsanity. For many people, it was cool to see an Asian break stereotypes and become a top NBA star, but not many people could fully understand why this meant so much to the Asian community. Featuring interviews with prominent Asian figures like Lisa Ling and Hasan Minhaj, "38 at the Garden" focuses not only on Lin's story, but also articulates its significance, especially in light of the increasing racism and hate crimes against Asians since the pandemic.
I'm not a huge sports person, so I only vaguely remember hearing about Linsanity on the news, but I do remember the excitement buzzing throughout my high school classroom as my Asian classmates chattered about the games and replayed key highlights with awe. After watching this documentary, I now not only know what exactly happened 🤪, but I also have a newfound appreciation and deep respect for Lin and what he stands for. I don't want to spoil anything, but my most favorite part of the entire documentary was Hasan Minhaj's takeaway from Lin's game against the Toronto Raptors. His commentary was actually a wake-up call for me and made me realize some of the traps I had fallen into as an Asian; now I'm inspired to make a change.
*****
Pinocchio
Apparently there were multiple Pinocchio remakes this year, but the only one I watched and loved was Guillermo del Toro's version for Netflix.
The storyline for del Toro's version is more or less the same as every other Pinocchio film: a carpenter creates a wooden boy Pinocchio who magically comes to life and whose nose grows longer whenever he lies. But what makes del Toro's version unique is its cinematic style and a few plot changes that make the father-son relationship all the more touching and memorable.
Stylistically, "Pinocchio" is a bit scary - nothing freaked me out more than the spirits that had eyes but no pupils 😳. In interviews, del Toro mentioned what fascinated him about "Pinocchio" is that the original fairytale read like a horror story, so he wanted to bring some of those elements into the film. He definitely did that, so if you have younger kids, this may not be the right Pinocchio version to watch with them. He also decided to keep Pinocchio wooden, whereas other adaptation have portrayed him as having human flesh. This was an interesting artistic choice that helped further the theme of "being different" in this film.
As for plot changes, "Pinocchio" is set in WWII as opposed to the fairytale setting in the original story, and Pinocchio is immortal. While he can die, he always comes back to life, which is why one of the villains wants to recruit him for the army since he would be an invincible soldier. These plot changes do make the story darker (which is why I wouldn't recommend for very young children), but it also makes the finale all the more poignant.
What I loved most about "Pinocchio" was how Pinocchio and Geppetto's father-son relationship evolves throughout the film. What does it mean to love someone? How do I love someone? Those are two central questions that both Pinocchio and Geppetto grapple with as they learn to accept and truly love one another. While the learning process is messy and sometimes spark emotions that run contrary to love, the end result is beautiful.
Honorable Mentions:
The Redeem Team - Not a huge sports person, but I guess basketball docs are my thing this year... "The Redeem Team" is about the US men's basketball team's gold medal win at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and its significance. I actually remember watching that match in real-time, and it's fascinating now to learn the story behind just how much that win meant.
Seeing Allred - Gloria Allred is the name you hear most in high-profile legal cases involving sexual harassment and assault. Allred has made a name for herself as a lawyer representing women in cases against powerful men like Bill Cosby and Donald Trump. This documentary provides an intimate look into who she is and the legacy she leaves through her work.
20th Century Girl - If you're in the mood for a pure, youthful love story that evokes nostalgia for the late 90's, this is the movie to watch. While the ending was a bit abrupt and needed an explanation to feel more plausible, the journey was lovely. Kim Yoo Jung was also very charming as the female lead.
TV 📺
The Flight Attendant (Season 2)
I absolutely LOVED the first season of "The Flight Attendant," so I was very excited for the second season, and it did not disappoint! (Spoilers for season 1 are mentioned below, so stop reading if you want to enjoy season 1 spoiler-free!)
If season 1 was wild, season 2 is madness. After clearing her name of murder and being recruited as a part-time CIA agent in season 1, Cassie Bowden resumes being a flight attendant in season 2 while taking on CIA missions in her spare time. However, things go haywire when one mission leads her to witness a murder involving someone... who looks just like her 😱. Despite being warned to leave the case alone, Cassie's curiosity gets the best of her, so she goes rogue to investigate, putting herself and everyone around her in VERY grave danger.
Similar to season 1, season 2 retains much of the show's signature dark humor, and the "mind palace" also returns with bigger twists and new guests. Also like season 1, season 2 is part-thriller and part-character study on Cassie and her struggles. Although season 1 provided an explanation and some closure to Cassie's alcoholism, season 2 shows that Cassie's traumas are still haunting her and that she may need more help than ever. While watching season 1 isn't necessary to follow what happens in season 2, some of the lingering subplots from the previous season do continue on and reach a satisfying conclusion in this season.
"The Flight Attendant" season 2 was very fun to watch, but each episode was packed with so much craziness that it was not a light, mindless watch. Some of the episodes were intense, and watching them felt like I was riding in a speeding car with no brakes and only acceleration. It felt as if the show wanted to take everything in season 1 and put it on steroids for season 2, which resulted in everything being more ambitious, dramatic, and bizarre. While there are certain parts that felt a bit far-fetched, overall, season 2 sticks the landing. Also huge kudos to Kaley Cuoco, who plays Cassie - she definitely deserved that Emmy nomination. It's incredible how she stayed sane with the performance she had to give.
*****
Partner Track
Let's just get this out of the way: I'm so sad Netflix cancelled this show!!! 😭 Even though the production value was not great, the characters and story deserved another season (and a higher budget).
Adapted from Helen Kwan's novel of the same name, "Partner Track" is about Ingrid Yun, an Asian American woman who is trying to make partner at her law firm. Given her gender and ethnicity, Ingrid faces an uphill battle that becomes even more challenging when an old romantic flame becomes her newest colleague and potential competitor for partner status.
Although "Partner Track" was mostly marketed as a romantic series, what made the show compelling was actually its commentary on being a minority in a field dominated by white men. What the show does well is perfectly capturing both the obvious and subtle challenges minorities face at work. From the person who uses humor as a cover to get away with insulting racial remarks to the Asian woman who has "made it" but refuses to help other Asian women do the same, the show presents various scenarios that working people in minority groups will resonate with.
"Partner Track" ends with a cliffhanger and plot twist, so it really pains me that I will not know how the story continues. Not sure if show cancellations can be reversed, but here's to hoping that happens for this show!
*****
The Bear
Since I moved to Chicago for school, one of my friends recommended that I check out "The Bear," which is set in Chicago.
"The Bear" is about Carmy, a rising chef in New York's fine dining scene who, after his brother's suicide, returns home to Chicago to run the family's sandwich shop. However, his transition is riddled with challenges - the shop's staff do not approve of him, so they sabotage his efforts to turn around the business; the shop's finances are in bad shape; and on top of all that, he is also grieving over his brother's death.
Chaos is how the series begin, which is evident in the loudness of the early episodes (I mean literal loudness - there was so much banging, clanging, and shouting that my mom popped by the family room to ask me what was going on). But as the series goes on, chaos gives way to an ordered, upbeat rhythm as Carmy finds his footing and finds an unexpected second family in the kitchen. Equal parts delicious and heartwarming, "The Bear" is an entertaining, memorable watch, and I'm excited to see how season 2 will pan out.
Honorable Mention:
Severance - I was hesitant to watch this at first because it felt too dystopian for my liking, but after multiple recommendations, I gave in. The show starts as a slow-burn, but escalates at the midway mark, and ends with an explosive finale that makes me eager for season 2. What if people could have perfect work-life balance? That's the question this series explores, and the answer is unsettling.
K-DRAMAS 🇰🇷
There were sooo many good K-dramas this year that I had to create a separate section for it; otherwise, my top TV shows would have all just been K-dramas. Below are my top three:
Twenty Five, Twenty One
"Twenty Five, Twenty One" is not only my most favorite K-drama of the year, but it's also in my top 3 of all time. It was so good that I watched it at least 5 times through and couldn't watch anything else for a month because ***dramatic pause*** nothing could compare.
Starring Nam Joo Hyuk and Kim Tae Ri, "Twenty Five, Twenty One" is about a boy and a girl who meet during the late 90's when the IMF financial crisis strikes Korea. The boy - Bak Yijin - is in college, but drops out to work part-time jobs when his wealthy family goes bankrupt; the girl - Na Hee Do - is a high schooler who dreams of becoming a global fencing champion. The two of them meet at their lowest points and become a source of strength and hope for each other as they pursue their dreams against a backdrop of tumultuous times.
The reason I love "Twenty Five, Twenty One" is because it beautifully captures the essence of youth: the time when relationships were true, dreams felt possible, and life was summer. Watching this drama felt like taking a vitamin of positivity. However, just as we all have to grow up, so do the characters, and the drama also poignantly portrays the growing pains and wistfulness we all have for youth. While some may describe "Twenty Five, Twenty One" as a romantic melodrama, for me, that's too limiting of a descriptor. To me, it was a love letter to youth, in all its aspects. Each of the protagonists and supporting characters had a unique story arc that brought up memories of my own youth, and the lessons they learned reminded me of my own growing pains and joys.
Usually when I really like a movie or show, I'm hesitant to blog about it because I don't know if I can do it justice (that's why to this day my post about "La La Land" is still in draft mode). But with "Twenty Five, Twenty One," I loved it so much that I felt like I had to say something; otherwise, I'd be doing everyone a disservice without letting them know about this amazing drama (it was so good that my mom stopped watching those 7-minute YouTube recaps and watched each episode with me). That also means I'm going to stop talking about this drama in case I accidentally say something that deters you from watching it 😁 Oh, but one quick note - the first episode is a bit slow, and the female lead's shouting may be hard on the ears, but after the conclusion of episode 2, you'll fall in love with the show. Also, trailer below does not do the show justice. Just watch it!!!
*****
Big Mouth
You know you're really invested in a K-drama when you start reading and writing theories about it on Reddit. That was the case with "Big Mouth," an exciting thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat until the end.
Starring actor Lee Jong Suk and K-pop idol Yoona, "Big Mouth" is about a lawyer who almost never wins his cases, but possesses the gift of spouting BS like a natural, hence earning him the nickname "Big Mouth." However, his life is upended when he lands in prison for being "Big Mouse," the leader of a notorious crime ring that has laundered money, sold drugs, and killed people. His only hope for clearing his name is to figure out who framed him and who the real "Big Mouse" is. As he investigates within the prison walls, he relies on his wife to find important clues and evidence in the world outside.
"Big Mouth" was Lee Jong Suk's comeback drama after being discharged from the military, and boy did he pick the right drama. Every episode is packed with mental games, surprising developments, and cliffhanger endings that make you desperate for the next episode. One caveat is that Yoona's acting was a bit awkward in the first few episodes, but it did improve as the drama continued, so don't let that stop you from watching this fun thriller. Kudos to the writers for creating such a smart, exciting drama - I was very impressed by how they artfully tied together all the seemingly separate plot threads and characters (and also how they convinced my dad to leave his man cave and watch every episode with my mom and me).
*****
Anna
In the US, major tech companies often have their own streaming platforms and produce originals (think Amazon and Apple); however, in Korea, this concept is still relatively new. Perhaps this explains why the drama "Anna," which was produced and distributed by Coupang (the Amazon of Korea), didn't receive as much fanfare as other K-dramas that aired on established streaming platforms like Netflix.
Starring K-pop idol and actress Suzy Bae in the titular role, "Anna" is about a girl who was born as Yumi, but changes her name to Anna in order to live the life she has always dreamed of. However, her new life is built on lies that threaten to unravel, especially when people who know about her past reappear in her present.
At only six episodes, "Anna" is quite easy to binge, especially with its intriguing characters and plot. Because of the drama's title and synopsis, many people assume it's similar to the Netflix's show "Inventing Anna," but the two are very different. "Anna," for one is fictional, and it's also a slow-burn psychological thriller that examines socioeconomic differences through a female lens. I watched this drama with my mom, and after we finished, we could resonate with the feelings and struggles Anna experienced, even if we didn't always agree with how she handled her situation.
I was also impressed with Suzy's acting in "Anna." Usually K-pop idols turned actors are criticized for having only a pretty face and zero acting prowess, but Suzy broke that stereotype with this drama. Her character Anna is complex on the inside but not outwardly emotional, so Suzy faced the challenge of conveying a multitude of feelings and thoughts to the audience with a poker face. In the hands of an amateur actor, this character could be too stiff, awkward, and unrelatable, but Suzy's nuanced portrayal of Anna succeeds in making her character as compelling and human as she is mysterious.
"Anna" was originally intended as an eight-episode drama, but Coupang decided to cut it down to six episodes, apparently without the writer/director's consent. As a result, the writer/director filed a lawsuit and asked for her name to be removed from the drama because it didn't reflect her best work. There were indeed some jarring transitions in the last few episodes, which I think might be because of the cut. It's a shame Coupang shortened the show because it makes me wonder what more to the drama I missed out on. From the music to the costumes and cinematography, you can tell the writer/director put a lot of thought into each detail, so I would have loved to see everything as she intended it. "Anna" is not only a drama, but a work of art, so I hope one day we'll be able to see the original version. But until then, the six-episode version is still great regardless of the hiccups in the editing.
Honorable mentions:
Juvenile Justice - A courtroom drama starring the queen Kim Hye Soo, this series taught me a lot about the legal loopholes surrounding juvenile crimes in Korea. Trigger warnings abound as this drama deals with a lot of heavy cases. Excited that this show has been renewed by Netflix for a season 2!
My Liberation Notes - If it were not for Gong Yoo's enthusiastic, persistent recommendation of this drama on his Instagram, I would have missed out on this hidden gem because of its low viewership numbers. Contemplative and brooding, this drama gets viewers pondering the meaning of life, love, and how one can break free from the mundane, suffocating nature of everyday life. If you want something that's plot-driven and exciting, this will not be the show for you; if you want something to spark introspective thought, give this show a watch.
Extraordinary Attorney Woo Young Woo - One of the most popular K-dramas this year, this heartwarming drama is about a genius autistic lawyer. While the cases are interesting, what I loved most about this drama is the lawyer's character arc and how she comes to accept and love herself for who she is.
And that wraps up my top picks for 2022! What great shows and films did you watch this year? Let me know in the comments below!