Heartman: Rock & Love (2026) proved I really can watch anything for Chae Won unnie. Wow. Yikes.
Doctor on the Edge (dropped): this became a horror drama. Why is everyone horrible all of the sudden.
Kitchen Soldier (finale): legend—wait for it—dary.
What makes this show so good in my eyes is that it kept reminding us that at the end of the day no one goes home and during the day there’s nothing for them to enjoy. The show kept showing us that even if they want to improve some things, their superiors won’t give them the support. They let us know about how they’re under pressure from the first second and any mistake could be used as an excuse to play with their freedom. The drama addressed all these issues and more to make it clear that yes, maybe food is the one thing that can keep these soldiers sane. When the bully says he doesn’t like people who messes with food, it isn’t a joke or an excuse, he means it.
Every one of the character’s actions have a purpose. The funny scenes aren’t random or forced, they come from the real joy or frustration of the characters.
The homemade meal being the “special” number one winner felt so right.
Sung Jae’s passion started because of his family. He used cooking to connect with his dad, his lost home. Then, when he started to feel more united to his comrades he started cooking to connect with them and to protect them.
In the end, he knows that, just like him, everyone else is missing the warmth and comfort of their original lives.
Anyway, this was such a satisfactory journey. I really enjoyed the simplicity of the narrative. It was straightforward yet heartwarming. More shows should try that.
I’m going to miss Sung Jae and everyone at Kanglim.
Wonderfools (E5): maybe I’ll finish this, maybe not. Who knows. The flashbacks in this drama are tiring. The main trio have so little to do with the past, and yet, the whole plot is about that? Even the sabu feels more like a plot device than a member of the Fools (or the villain) squad. The story just feels forced and the pacing is slow as hell without justification.
It’s more than half the journey but the Fools have done nothing to justify why they got powers in the first place. Their powers are supposed to represent their weaknesses and yet I don’t feel the weight of it in any way.
The show does not feel like it is about the Fools. And if the story isn’t about the main characters’ journeys, then why not focus on the one thing this trio has going on for them: the comedy.
I would’ve enjoyed this way more if it was a story of three dumb friends that got powers from a dumpster and started creating a mess in their town but also started to gain confidence in themselves by helping the people around them. They could’ve go “full ridiculous but wholesome” in a Kick Ass or Doom Patrol way with the three/four of them teaming up to do… something. Anything.
Instead this has been five episodes of peeling…
