In case you haven't watched it yet (and you really should if you haven't yet - you have time before Season 2!!!), 'Love Alarm' is based on the popular webtoon of the same name. In the show, there is a mobile app that alerts people when someone within a 10-meter radius likes them... can you imagine the chaos that would ensue if that existed in real life? :p
Starring Kim So-hyun, Jung Ga-ram, and Song Kang, there’s no better time than now to watch (or re-watch) the first season as you wait for Season 2.
The new stills show Kim Jo-jo (Kim So-hyun) meeting Lee Hye-yeong (Jung Ga-ram) and Hwang Sun-oh (Song Kang) individually. While they have graduated from high school and have become adults, they still have unresolved worries and conflicts.
The second season takes place 4 years after the creation of the app which has recently released Love Alarm 2.0. The update comes with a new feature that shows users a list of people who are likely to like them in the future.
Kim Jo-jo, who still hides her feelings, will come across a variety of small and large changes in society influenced by the app. Most importantly, we'll get to see more tension between the main characters. Who are you rooting for?
Are you a fan of 'The Umbrella Academy'? I've been a fan of the comics since I was in college. I had soft copies, a hardbound version, and even a figurine of The White Violin. I loved her so much - as much as I loved Death in 'The Sandman'. Add to that the fact that I loved Gerard Way, and absolutely everything about 'The Umbrella Academy' simply fit so nicely into my college life. Fast forward to 2019. I was given the opportunity to watch the very first episode of 'The Umbrella Academy' on Netflix before anyone else. It was the un-finalized version, but I already found myself falling in love with the action, the music, and the cast that when I got to meet, interview, and hang out with Robert Sheehan and David Castañeda in Singapore; it was the highlight of my year.
Channeling my inner Numbers 1, 7, and 4.
Photo by Mimai Cabugnason.
When I finally watched the entire Season 1, though, I was a little disappointed... Granted, I was comparing it to the comics far too much. Rumor didn't look the way I had imagined and wanted her to look. Number 7, when she finally became the White Violin, was nothing like the figurine I had had on display for more than a decade. And there were moments in the show that I was unsure how to feel. But I have learned to separate the comics from the series since then. And with that mindset, having been given the opportunity to watch Season 2 before anyone else, I finished it on an ultra high note. IT WAS AMAZING. (That's all I can say for now, but wait for my review when we're finally given permission to publish it. :p) For now, here's a throwback to a Netflix event I attended last year for the launch of Season 1. The event gave us the chance to delve into the rooms of The Umbrella Academy and what those rooms might look like:
The Common Room
Special thanks to Netflix, PLDT, and Smart for this awesome experience!
I got to take home one of these masks from the Singapore press con.
Pick a door. Any door.
Number 1
As you might know, Number 1 spent a lot of time on the moon. As such, the entire room is pretty much space-related with some workout equipment lying around. Number 1 is ripped for a reason, after all.
Gear for moon living.
I'm not entirely sure why everything was kind of... tiny. Was it to make us feel as big as Number 1? :p
Number 2
I have a special place in my heart for Dave, but for his character in the show... not so much. :p
Being the bitter justice-seeking guy that he is, the room has cut-out cardboards of people for target practice.
Photos of Hazel and Cha Cha can be found in the room, too - also for target practice?
Number 3
The main character I was a bit disappointed by in Season 1, Number 3 is a famous star.
Records adorn the walls for this reason.
She also has a beauty corner for all of her prettifying needs.
My face pretty much shows how I felt when I saw her in the show.
Me, still unsure about how I feel about Allison. :p
Number 4
This is probably MY FAVORITE ROOM OF ALL TIME. Hahaha. In true Klaus fashion, the entire room looks like a bar.
With the ability to talk to the dead, it really isn't no wonder why his room is a bar, though.
The poor guy needs this.
Add to that everything he went through during the war, and it really isn't no wonder why he needs booze so much.
I feel you, Klaus. I really do.
I also feel the need to point out that Robert is the nicest and most humble celebrity I have ever met and hung out with so far. Love. Him.
Number 5
My general love for baby boys aside, Aidan Gallagher is my favorite actor in 'The Umbrella Academy' series. He is such a great actor. His character is amazing (especially in Season 2). And if you follow him on social media, you'll see all of the causes he supports and speaks out about. I love people with values.
Since Number Five is actually much older in age, the room is a mixture of his intelligence and his young looks.
Gamer and movie posters are on the walls alongside skateboards. Different time zones are on the clocks, as well, to signify his time-traveling abilities.
The blackboard is filled with scientific calculations (for space-time manipulation, perhaps?)
Shoes on the bed. Oops!
Of course, Dolores is here, too!
Number 6
I don't think this is really a spoiler, but Ben is dead in the show, so I guess that's why the room looks like this. I wish they had put more of Ben's actual personality into it instead. :(
Number 7
And now for my dream room! Vanya is a bit of a loner, having been isolated from the rest of her siblings. Thus the very loner, very me vibes.
Books everywhere! And spot the violin!
A typewriter! (I swear this room feels like it was built for me.)
I love how Netflix reused their set for their 'You' event for this. :p
I also spotted a photo of her siblings, which made me tear up a bit.
In my element.
Mimai and I walked up a very dark, very sketchy set of stairs to get this photo. :p
But we also got to drink unlimited wine, which I took complete advantage of. :p
Which room is your favorite? :)
'The Umbrella Academy' Season 2 starts streaming on Netflix on July 31, 2020. And trust me when I say that it's even better than Season 1.
And if you haven't read the comics yet, PLEASE DO IT NOW AND THEN GEEK OUT WITH ME. :D
I haven't watched a mindless reality show in the longest ass time - clips of Rosemarie and Ed not included, anyway. And I didn't really expect to like 'Too Hot to Handle' as much as I did when I first saw the preview on Netflix. But when Sean told me to check it out (and I do believe this is the first time he recommended something that wasn't an anime lol), I knew there must be something to it. So now here I am... sleepless and hyped up on coffee because I binge-watched the entire thing in one sitting. 'Too Hot to Handle' is REALITY TV GOLD. I decided this while watching the first episode. I was literally laughing out loud every few minutes because of how incredibly vain and incredibly dumb the participants all seemed. It was exactly the kind of laughter I needed on an extra lonely night.
The premise of 'Too Hot to Handle' is pretty simple. They basically searched for fuckboys and fuckgirls, brought them all together into one resort (where they all assumed they'd be getting it on 'Temptation Island'-style), and then revealed the plot twist: no kissing, no sex of any kind, and no masturbation throughout their stay there. No joke: I. Would. Have. Died. Seeing sex-addicted people being told they can't have sex and then seeing how they respond to it is the best thing ever. Mostly because it's hilarious, but also because it's relatable... especially in our current state of quarantine.
But it's not just mindless TV. Maybe it's because I consider myself someone who sees sex as a major priority in life, but there are many lessons to be learned from this show. Be warned! If sex is important to you, you might find yourself re-evaluating your priorities after watching it. ...Or not. Lana, their Alexa-like guide, wasn't able to get through to everyone in the show, either. :p It helps that they're all really hot, of course. Hot in the conventional sense, anyway. None of them were really my type, to be honest, though I thought David was kinda cute coz he was like an older version of Tom Holland. :p They all had AMAZING bodies, though, serving us fitspiration to men and women alike. The major fitspiration aside, I also love how you see some of the fuckboys change throughout the show... though this might cause some women to think that the fuckboys they know in real life will change for them in the same way. LADIES: THEY MOST LIKELY WON'T. ...Just kidding. Never give up hope. ;p If you're looking for something entertaining to watch, I HIGHLY recommend this. I PROMISE you won't regret it.
After three whole years of not seeing one of our OG oppas, Lee Min-ho is finally making a comeback on Netflix with 'The King: Eternal Monarch'.
The last time I saw Min-ho was in the epic 'The Legend of the Blue Sea' alongside Jun Ji-hyun, and I absolutely can't wait to see him as King Lee Gon, who flits between one universe to the next. Watch the trailer here:
As short as the trailer may be, I gotta admit that the sight of Min-ho alone was enough to make me kilig to no end. I HAVE MISSED HIM (and his kissable lips) SO MUCH!!! Anyway, 'The King: Eternal Monarch' is a romantic fantasy drama that seeks to take the genre to a whole new level. The series revolves around the relationships of people from two parallel universes - definitely something up my alley. I absolutely love fantasy dramas, don't you? In the series, Min-ho as King Lee Gon seeks to seal the gateway between dimensions, while Jung Tae-eul, a police inspector, simply wants to protect other’s lives and their loves. And oh, did you know that you can get a cheaper Netflix plan if you only watch your shows on mobile and don't share your account with anyone? It only costs Php149 a month! Download the Netflix app or visit their website here for more details. :)
‘Crash Landing on You’ recently made waves on Netflix with everybody falling in love with the romance between Captain Ri and Yoon Se-ri. This year, more K-stories have made it onto the streaming app, including the zombie series ‘Kingdom'. (Read my review on 'Kingdom' here.) From reality to crime and sci-fi to romance and dramas, here are more Korean shows you can look forward to watching on Netflix this year.
Rugal (March 28, 2020)
Starring: Choi Jin-hyuk and Park Sung-woong
Kang Gi-beom, once a promising police detective in the violent crimes unit, is suspected of murdering his own wife. His eyes are slashed with a razor after he witnesses her murder at the hands of the terrorist group ARGOS. Just when he thinks he has lost everything, he is approached by Choi Geun-cheol, the chief executive director of Rugal, a special organization dedicated to the sole purpose of eradicating ARGOS. Choi requests that Gi-beom receives an artificial eye transplant and joins Rugal. After miraculously surviving the risky transplant operation, Gi-beom is born again as a human weapon. He begins to take revenge on ARGOS for everything they have done to him.
Time to Hunt (April 10, 2020)
Starring: Lee Je-hoon, Ahn Jae-hong, Choi Woo-shik, Park Jeong-min, Park Hae-soo
In a hopeless dystopian city, Jun-seok is released from prison and plans his next step in life in order to start anew with his friends Jang-ho, Ki-hoon and Sang-soo. However, their excitement for the plan is short-lived as an unknown man chases after them. Can these best friends get away from the hunt?
Extracurricular (April 29, 2020)
Starring: Kim Dong-hee, Jung Da-bin, Park Joo-hyun
Extracurricular is a story of high school students who have chosen a life of crime and extreme risk to earn money. Oh Jisoo ends up committing a serious crime because of his desire to pay for his college tuition on his own, whatever the means. Seo Minhee gets caught up in Jisoo’s crime, while Jisoo’s schoolmate Bae Gyuri also becomes involved in the same crime. Their bad choices come with irreversible consequences. There is no turning back. A life of crime and violence awaits them.
The King: Eternal Monarch (April 17, 2020)
Starring: Lee Min-ho, Kim Go-eun, Woo Do-hwan, Kim Kyung-nam, Jung Eun-chae
The King: Eternal Monarch is a romantic fantasy drama that takes the genre to a whole new level. The series revolves around the relationships of people from two parallel universes. King Lee Gon seeks to seal the gateway between dimensions, while Jung Tae-eul, a police inspector, simply wants to protect other’s lives and their loves.
It's Okay to Not Be Okay (June 2020)
Starring: Kim Soo-hyun, Seo Ye-ji
It's Okay to Not Be Okay is about an unusual romance between two people who end up healing each other’s emotional and psychological wounds. Moon Gang-tae is a caretaker working at a psychiatric ward who does not even bother to believe in love. He seems to be carrying all the weight and pain in life, and devotes himself only to looking after his disabled older brother. Go Moon-young is a children’s book writer who is clueless about love. She is popular among all age groups, yet very antisocial and indifferent to others.
Twogether (TBA)
Starring: Lee Seung-ggi, Jasper Liu
Two top celebrities from Seoul and Taipei go on a trip to several cities in Asia to meet their fans and become friends.
The School Nurse Files (TBA)
Starring: Jung Yu-mi, Nam Joo-hyuk
A newly appointed high school nurse discovers secrets and mysteries with her supernatural abilities for chasing ghosts.
Sweet Home (TBA)
Starring: Song Kang, Lee Jin-wook, Lee Si-young
Hyun-soo, a reclusive high school student, moves into an old apartment complex called Green Home after the tragic death of his entire family. Feeling unable to make a living on his own, he realizes the residents at Green Home residents, including himself, are trapped and surrounded by monsters in various forms of distorted human desires, which are about to sweep away mankind. Which one of these K-stories are you excited to watch? :)
