Latest news with #KDrama
UAE Moments
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- UAE Moments
Love K-Pop Demon Hunters? Try These K-Dramas Next
Why 'K‑Pop Demon Hunters' Fans Will Love These K-Dramas Netflix's animated hit 'K-Pop Demon Hunters' captivated audiences by blending idol culture with supernatural action. With fans obsessed over its voice cast and plot twists, it's the perfect time to dive into live-action K-dramas that peel back the colorful veneer of K-pop life. You're Beautiful (2009) Where to Watch: Netflix, Viki This classic follows the fictional pop-rock band When actress Park Shin-hye goes undercover as her twin brother, she navigates love, secrets, and fame. Though ratings were modest on broadcast, it later earned a loyal cult following—complete with sold-out soundtracks and fan festivals. Dream High (2011) Where to Watch: Netflix, Viki Set in an elite arts school, 'Dream High' follows six aspiring idols finding their voices and selves. Featuring stars like Suzy, Taecyeon (2PM), IU, and Kim Soo‑hyun, it offers an insider's view of the idol-making process. The show's huge impact includes a Japanese stage adaptation and sequel. Top Management (2018) Where to Watch: YouTube (1theK) A fresh take combining fantasy and idol drama. Follows Seo Eun-soo, a former trainee with psychic powers, who steps in as manager for rookie group S.O.U.L. A deep dive into industry politics, featuring Ahn Hyo‑seop and ASTRO's Cha Eun‑woo. Reply 1997 (2012) Where to Watch: Viki Step into the golden age of K-pop with this nostalgic look at first-gen fandom. Centered on teenage fangirls and their favorite boy band, the show stars H.O.T. and a cast including Jung Eun‑ji, Seo In‑guk, and Hoya —a perfect cultural time capsule. Idol: The Coup (2021) Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video Not all idol stories end with fame. This gritty drama follows struggling girl group Cotton Candy fighting for one last shot. With EXID's Hani leading, this series shines a light on the sacrifices of idols outside the spotlight. The Big Picture Fans of 'K‑Pop Demon Hunters' love the bold mix of flashy idol life and unexpected drama. These K-dramas deliver that same thrill—minus the demons—and offer a deeper, more emotional look at the K-pop grind: If you're hooked on the idol-drama tension of 'K-Pop Demon Hunters', these K-dramas are your next binge. They bring charisma, ambition, heartbreak, and fierce shine straight from the K-pop machine—no demon slaying required.
Telegraph
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Squid Game is back to being dark, bloody and brilliant
As it at last wriggles across the finish line, Squid Game (Netflix) finds itself in a sticky spot. The tricky task confronting the final series of Netflix's ultra-violent thriller about a group of desperate, destitute citizens competing in a series of bloody contests is to recapture the zany, almost comedic energy of its sensational first season from 2021 – a challenge it never quite accomplishes, though not for lack of effort. Action-heavy, packed with twists – and the occasional sprinkling of Hollywood stardust – it's a well-intentioned and on-the-whole successful conclusion to a brutal South Korean blockbuster that has captured the world's imagination. Fans will be generally satisfied, even allowing for several well-signposted 'shocks' yanked like a reluctant rabbit from a blood-drenched hat. Squid Game has also, of course, added a reported $900 million to Netflix's bottom line. Which is presumably why executives went to such lengths to coax the show's initially reluctant creator, Hwang Dong-hyuk, into turning what was supposed to be a one-off drama into a franchise. He said yes, but there was always a sense of an auteur shackled to a production line. These six concluding episodes are an improvement on last Christmas's dour second season, which replaced the satirical edge of the original with an onslaught of gunplay seemingly aimed at fans of Keanu Reeves's John Wick. Taking care not to waste viewers' time, Hwang sensibly gets straight into the fray. As we catch up with seemingly unkillable Contestant 456 (Lee Jung-jae), his short-lived uprising against the evil billionaires behind the show's brutal survival puzzles has been suppressed, his friends shot dead in front of him. Rather than send 456 to meet his maker, the game's masked 'Front Man' In-ho (Lee Byung-hun) has decided the upstart (real name, Seong Gi-hun) must continue to participate in the trials, alongside fellow competitors such as pregnant Kim Jun-hee and the mother-son duo of Geum-ja (Kang Ae-shim) and Yong-sik (Yang Dong-geun). Awaiting them is another sequence of brutally absurdist contests. These have the now-familiar sinister, childlike names, such as 'Jump Rope' – and a first prize of around £25 million. There is no second prize. Unless a gory death counts. With the games continuing, renegade guard 011/Kang No-eul (Park Gyu-young) pushes on with her plot against Front Man and his wealthy backers, motivated by her trauma over her separation from her daughter in the outside world. Back on the mainland, Front Man's brother Jun-ho (Wi Ha-joon) proceeds with his frantic search for the hidden island hosting the games. Amid the bloodshed and gunsmoke, it is often forgotten that the original Squid Game had a tongue-in-cheek energy that, at times, veered towards a sort of violent camp. Much of the fun stemmed from the borderline infantile quality of the specific games. Red light / green light (move on red, bullet to the head) and a Korean version of tag took on a surreal quality when juxtaposed with wanton death and mayhem. That magic was lost in year two as the games were elaborate and a bit too try-hard. Third time out, the challenges hark back to the cartoonish cruelty of series one. Hwang Dong-hyuk also fulfils his promise that the tone would be 'more dark and bleak'. Nothing will recapture the sheer 'what the hell am I watching?' quality of a first season that came out of nowhere. But this is a satisfying sign-off – tied up winningly with a blood-stained bow.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Lee Je-hoon Returns for ‘Taxi Driver 3,' Mirror's Edan Lui Joins Cast as Viu Expands Pan-Asian Slate
Lee Je-hoon is buckling up for another ride as the vigilante taxi driver Kim Do-gi in 'Taxi Driver 3,' with Viu and SBS announcing the third season of the global hit series will premiere in Q4 2025. The announcement was made at the ongoing APOS conference in Indonesia. The streaming platform revealed that the latest installment will debut as a Viu original worldwide, excluding South Korea and mainland China, following the record-breaking performance of Season 2. Je-hoon returns alongside fan favorites Kim Eui-sung, Pyo Ye-jin, Jang Hyuk-jin and Bae Yoo-ram for what promises to be the Rainbow Taxi team's most dangerous missions yet. More from Variety Onza Distribution Sells Hit Italian Crime Drama 'Flowers Over the Inferno' in Key Markets (EXCLUSIVE) Canal Plus Increases Stake in Asian Streamer Viu to 30% - Global Bulletin Mirror, Hong Kong Boy Band, Sets Dates for 'Feel the Passion' Tour Adding international flavor to the Korean production, Hong Kong boy band Mirror member Edan Lui will make his Korean drama debut as a character who forms an unpredictable alliance with Kim Do-gi. Writer Oh Sang-ho and director Kang Bo-seung return to helm the series, which centers on Je-hoon's brilliant yet tormented vigilante. 'We are delighted to introduce 'Taxi Driver 3' through our trusted and long-standing partnership with Viu, a platform with strong global influence and reach,' said Park Jeong-hoon, CEO of Studio S, the in-house production arm of SBS Media Group. 'Our production team is working diligently to create a high-quality drama that lives up to the legacy of Seasons 1 and 2, striving to meet and exceed the expectations of viewers.' The announcement comes as part of Viu's expanded 2025 content slate. The platform's Q3 2025 highlights include 'My Youth,' starring Song Joong-ki as a reclusive ex-child actor reunited with his first love, and 'My Girlfriend Is a Man!,' a gender-bending romantic comedy adapted from a hit webtoon featuring Astro's Yoon San-ha and Oh My Girl's Arin. Viu's slate also encompasses Chinese productions like historical fantasy 'Immortal Ascension' starring Yang Yang and contemporary romance 'Love's Ambition' with Zhao Lu Si and William Chan. Indonesian content includes psychological romance sequel 'Rintik Terakhir' and teen thriller 'Secret High School.' Malaysian productions round out the offering with 'Seadanya Kita,' an age-gap romance starring Mierul Aiman and Emma Maembong, and social media romance 'Putri & Phrince,' directed by Liyana Jasmay. Janice Lee, CEO of Viu and managing director of PCCW Media Group, said: 'Our fresh slate of titles reinforces our commitment to compelling storytelling that resonates locally and travels globally. In 2025, we are bringing new international collaborations such as 'Taxi Driver 3,' 'My Youth' and 'The Season,' delivering authentic, locally rooted productions with cross-border appeal.' Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts? 25 Hollywood Legends Who Deserve an Honorary Oscar
The Review Geek
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Review Geek
Spring of Youth – K-drama Episode 8 Recap & Review
Episode 8 Episode 8 of Spring of Youth begins with Bom coming across Tae-yang in a mall, surrounded by his fans. When she gets knocked down, he helps her up and even gives her some medicine. Later, Bom and the others head out for another gig. This one is at Seoul National University, where Two Sa Gye is performing as a surprise guest. When they're gone, Seung-su breaks into the house and steals the money he had given Sa Gye. Sa Gye and the others find out when they are back but Sa Gye reveals that he had set up a secret camera to record the thief — it was a trap. He's shocked to learn that it's Seung-su and goes to confront him. He then reveals that he and his mother lied to Seung-su when Sa Gye lost his sight. Seung-su was the one practising with Sa Gye when he got injured and they didn't want him to feel guilty. Now, Sa Gye tells Seung-su the truth, which crushes him. After the confrontation, Sa Gye buys some flowers and visits the columbarium where Bom's mother's remains are. Unbeknownst to him, Bom follows and watches him in secret. Meanwhile, Ji-na tells Tae-yang that he will soon be selected as the brand ambassador for H, a renowned clothing brand. She reveals that Min-cheol pulled a few strings to make it happen. Seung-su, having had a change of heart, goes to the office and adds the photograph of Min-cheol and little Tae-yang standing by the SUV to one of the news articles about Tae-yang (he had earlier removed this to hide the SUV). He then heads back to see Sa Gye and tries to atone by telling him about the car. Paired with the flashes from his dreams, Sa Gye realises Min-cheol was involved in the accident. The next morning, Sa Gye confronts Min-cheol about this as he's leaving for work. His reaction confirms the truth. Tae-yang intervenes and tells Sa Gye to leave his father alone. Min-cheol makes Tae-yang go to work, where he has received an invitation to visit Hanju University as part of his press lineup. Tae-yang asks Ji-na to organize that visit before everything else. Back home, Ja-young has an argument with Jin-gu and refuses to serve him fish. Gyu-ri takes some upstairs for him in secret and the two share a moment. When Sa Gye returns to the house, Bom tells him she knows he's hiding something but he brushes it off. At the hospital, things get worse for Min-cheol as a reporter has been looking into the death of the old woman whose surgery Min-cheol postponed. He then gets a call from the police station. Turns out, Sa Gye has given a report about witnessing a car accident from six years ago involving Min-cheol's car. Now, the detective asks Min-cheol to come in for questioning. Meanwhile, Ji-na tries to ask Tae-yang to go out for dinner with her but he is more focused on his visit to Hanju University. At university, Bom learns that Tae-yang is visiting and even planning on donating new equipment to their band. At the police station, the detective questions Seo Min-cheol. His lawyer soon gets him out and Min-cheol immediately meets with Jo Sang-heon. Sang-heon is livid when he realises Min-cheol gave the photo of the car to the reporter. They play the blame game and Min-cheol brings up his investment in Jo's company, ordering him to take care of the situation. Back at university, Bom convinces the others to be part of Tae-yang's visit to the college. Sa Gye hates the idea but ultimately caves in. As Bom walks through the town, the Christmas lights remind her of a memory with her mother. She reaches home and finds a postcard for Sa Gye from his mother, in which she mentions his loss of sight. At the end of Spring of Youth Episode 8, Bom realises that he received her mother's eyes in a transplant. Inside, Sa Gye has done up the whole place in Christmas lights. She reveals that she knows the truth and is happy that it was him. The Episode Review Spring of Youth Episode 8 keeps things moving! Seung-su's character has definitely become more fascinating in the last two episodes as he walks a moral grey area. His final confrontation with Sa Gye reveals that despite his actions, he does care about him. These events also offer a nice lead-up to Sa Gye learning that Min-cheol was involved in Bom's mother's death. Sa Gye's decision to tell the police that he witnessed the whole thing feels a tad reckless. But like with the secret camera and the suitcase, I'm hoping he has a plan up his sleeve. His relationship with Bom also takes a big step. She finally realises the truth about the organ transplant and it's done quite well. The emotional beats hit the spot, particularly with all those pretty Christmas lights around them. It is a shame we don't see the band perform more, though. It would also be nice to know if they have other songs apart from 'See You Later'. Overall, this one is a well-written, engaging episode that gears things up for the K-drama's final stretch! Previous Episode Next Episode Expect A Full Season Write-Up When This Season Concludes!
Malay Mail
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Malay Mail
Game on: ‘Squid Game' wraps with killer challenges and major reveals about its future
KUALA LUMPUR, June 9 — Anticipation for the final season of the popular South Korean series Squid Game continues to build, as audiences worldwide eagerly await the conclusion of this global phenomenon that began in 2021. Ahead of its worldwide release, a press conference was held where the cast talked about how their characters evolve this season. Lee Jung-jae, who plays the lead character Seong Gi-hun, also known as Player 456, spoke about how the character is deeply affected by guilt and despair after witnessing the death of his friend and failing to save many players in Season 2. 'At first, Gi-hun wants to return to the game to punish those behind it and save the players. 'But now, the question is, what is left for Gi-hun? What is he capable of, and what should he do next? He will have to make a decision that defines what he truly needs to do. 'Viewers will get to see Gi-hun's character progress from that point forward,' added Jung-jae. Lee Byung-hun, who portrays the infamous Frontman, said the showdown between his character and Gi-hun will be a major turning point. 'Gi-hun, driven by his beliefs and values, is determined to dismantle the system. 'Meanwhile, the Frontman will act according to his own plans.' Byung-hun explained that if Seasons 2 and 3 are seen as one continuous narrative, the true climax happens in Season 3. He added that it will be extremely dramatic and intense, marking the real conflict and showdown between Gi-hun and the Frontman. Wi Ha-joon, who plays Hwang Jun-ho, shared that his character will continue his search for the island where the games take place. Reflecting on the events at the end of Season 2, he hopes his character will finally be able to reunite with his older brother, the Frontman. Part of the 'Squid Game' cast at the TUDUM Netflix event. — Picture courtesy of Netflix A glimpse of this season's games As audiences have seen in previous seasons of Squid Game with iconic challenges like Red Light, Green Light, and Dalgona, director Hwang Dong-hyuk confirmed that the upcoming season will introduce several new games, and offered a glimpse of what's to come. 'In the trailer, you probably noticed the jump rope rotating high above a bridge, where some participants fall as the rope reaches them — that's one of the new games you'll see in Season 3,' he said. He also mentioned a maze-like setting where participants wear blue and red vests. 'It's similar to hide-and-seek, but with a twist. 'It combines different elements, making it an exciting and unpredictable game.' According to the director himself, the new games are inspired by childhood games many people grew up playing, but with added twists to raise the stakes. He also teased that there are more games not shown in the trailer, which will be revealed in the final season. The fate of the Squid Game franchise Hwang stated that there are currently no plans for Season 4, explaining that this was a mutual decision made with Netflix during the development of Season 3. 'I think when you watch Season 3, you might feel that we don't need another season,' he said. When asked whether he would ever return to the world of Squid Game, Hwang replied, 'I'm not saying no to that.' He revealed that if the opportunity arises, he is open to the idea of a spin-off or prequel set in the Squid Game universe. 'As the creator and writer, I get curious myself, wondering what these characters were doing over the years. 'I want to explore that,' he shared. 'Whether it's a spin-off or a prequel, I can't wait until we get to see it,' he said. Final thoughts It took about six years to make Squid Game, and the series is finally coming to an end. 'Everyone wants a successful career and to achieve their dreams, but nobody expected this level of success from one project. 'This is truly a miracle unfolding before me,' said Hwang. 'I hope all the audience will see that the untied knots from Season 2 are tied up in Season 3. As this is the finale, he hopes people will feel it is a fitting conclusion that does Squid Game justice. Only days away, you can catch the final season of Squid Game on June 27 for one last game.
