Sneha Jaiswal's Blog, page 21

Mrs Dalloway Book Review: Moodboard of Regrets

Rating: 2 out of 5.

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

What in the pass-the-protagonists-like-parcels was this? In some measure, ‘Mrs Dalloway‘ is brilliant, Virginia Woolf manages to wrap up a lifetime of stories, memories, and inner thoughts in just one pleasant London day. But it’s also annoying, because just as you get familiar with one character, the narrative jumps to someone else.

Most literary critics seem to be in awe of the “stream of consciousness” technique used in ‘Mrs Dalloway‘, a novel literary device for 1925, the book’s year of publication. However, Fyodor Dostoevsky did it better in ‘Crime & Punishment‘, which came out in 1866. And yes, some readers might find both books absolutely tedious, but I definitely found ‘Crime & Punishment‘ far more engrossing than ‘Mrs Dalloway‘; though I can’t say the same for Dostoevsky’s other works. ‘The Idiot‘ and ‘Notes from the Underground’ didn’t have the same impact, were dreary as hell, and now I’m too scared to try The Brothers Karamazov.

What even is this ‘Stream of Consciousness’ technique?

Well, if I had to explain it in simple terms, it’s a narrative style where the author gives readers uninterrupted, unfiltered glimpses into the mind of the principal protagonist, or in Mrs Dalloway’s case, through multiple characters.

Imagine Person A sitting in a café, waiting for friends to arrive, and thinking about multiple things at once. So the sentence might look like this (completely made up by me, sorry):

I wonder if I should get the hot Americano or the iced Americano. A hot coffee would be better for today’s weather, but this place is supposedly famous for their cold brews. Shit! I hope I locked the door right. I remember slamming it hard, but it’s not like there’s anything valuable at home—the laptop is with me. I should’ve bought that cute blue bag I saw online. Who knows if that brand will have a 60% sale again? But no, no, no, good thing I didn’t, the month is ending, and this time they better credit our salaries on time. Oh no, it looks like it might rain… the clouds are getting darker, why is the damn weather so unpredictable. I should’ve carried an umbrella. OMG, OMG, that little dog crossing the street is adorable, I wish I could get a dog….

Let’s Look At The Plot of ‘Mrs Dalloway’

The novel unfolds in a single day in London, starting off by introducing the wealthy Mrs Dalloway, who is throwing a party in the evening and wants it to be perfect. With an ex-lover unexpectedly showing up, and a few other surprising events occurring through the day, the principal point of the novel seems to be the outcome of the day. But unlike the title, the plot doesn’t follow its titular protagonist the whole day, instead, the author keeps jumping the POVs (points of view) in the novel, juggling between multiple characters.

If I had to pick three primary characters, it would be the superficially lively Mrs Clarissa Dalloway, a typical upper-class British woman in her 50s whose biggest anxiety for the day is ensuring her party is a success; but an old flame called Peter Walsh comes to visit her the same morning, so her thoughts often go back to the summer she rejected him and chose to marry her current husband, wondering if she made the right choice; Virginia Woolf also dives into the mind of Peter Walsh, returned from British Colony India, hoping to marry a much younger woman, although meeting Clarissa throws him into the throes of agony once again, making him once again the young, passionate man in love with her; and then there is Septimus Warren Smith, a British veteran of the Great War (it wasn’t called World War I yet), married to an Italian woman, a decision he makes only to keep his mind off the horrors of war, but unfortunately, he keeps wanting to die and hallucinates eerie events.

Back to my take of Mrs Dalloway

Listen, if you thought that sentence was long, Virginia Woolf writes almost one-page-long sentences in ‘Mrs Dalloway‘, which, quite frankly, made me lose the stream of narrative more often than not. The first half of the novel is certainly impressive, as the author describes a bustling London day. It starts off with Mrs Dalloway heading out to do a little shopping before her big party, and then the author jumps to different characters to show what’s going on in their minds. The inner worlds of Clarissa and Warren Smith offer a striking contrast to the reader, one obsesses over parties and past loves, while the other is caught in the psychological turmoil of warfare and its lasting effects.

But as the novel progresses, the thoughts of these characters become annoyingly repetitive, with only Virginia Woolf’s descriptions of London streets, scenes, and smells offering some refuge from their suffocatingly boring thoughts. Then the author jumps between various uninteresting characters, which include Mrs Dalloway’s beautiful young daughter Elizabeth, her history tutor Doris Kilman who despises the shallow Clarissa, Warren’s worried wife Lucrezia, and a few others. The problem is, by the time 60% of the novel was done, I was simply not interested in knowing what happened to any of them. It was absolutely difficult to read through the next, even when the end was very close by, it made me want to abandon the novel.

London in 1927 (Source: Wikimedia)

With Warren Smith, the most complex and intriguing character in the novel, you sense from the very beginning that there are only two possible outcomes: either the poor, tormented man will end his life, or he’ll be sent off to some kind of mental institution. Of course, I won’t spoil what actually happens in case you decide to read ‘Mrs Dalloway‘, but the point is, as the characters drift through the pages, readers like me become increasingly indifferent to their fate. In a story teeming with varied characters, not getting the reader to care for anybody? Not a good sign.

It’s hard to believe that “To The Lighthouse” by Virginia Woolf came out after ‘Mrs Dalloway‘, because I found the lighthouse novel mind-numbingly boring, at least the literary prose in Clarissa’s tale often shines, laden with vivid imagery, and rich metaphors. Here’s an example of a sentence that really caught my eye in the book – Such are the visions which proffer great cornucopias full of fruit to the solitary traveller, or murmur in his ear like sirens lolloping away on the green sea waves, or are dashed in his face like bunches of roses, or rise to the surface like pale faces which fishermen flounder through floods to embrace. (This isn’t necessarily the best sentence in the book, just one I happened to highlight early on, while I was still enjoying the story and the regret hadn’t kicked in).

What, of course, also sets ‘Mrs Dalloway‘ apart from other literary heroines of the time is Virginia Woolf’s bold declaration of Clarissa’s love for her friend Sally Seton, even if it’s something she only expresses in her mind. Clarissa is fluid in her affections, reminiscing fondly about her crush on the vivacious Sally, even though her romantic feelings are more fiercely torn between Mr Dalloway and the emotional Peter Walsh. Despite being in their 50s, there’s a youthful romantic charm in these long-lost lovers, creating a certain suspense over whether there’s a chance they might rekindle their affair. Although again, knowing Mrs Dalloway and the importance she attaches to public appearances and social status, you know nothing is going to change.

Wars might rage across the world, people might die miserably, but life is always a party for somebody, somewhere. We must live on. That’s essentially the essence of this book. My principal takeaway from reading ‘Mrs Dalloway‘ was that Virginia Woolf can definitely write to the envy of many authors, her prose has aged well, with many lines spun like gold, but does that make her a good storyteller? I really don’t know. If someone wrote this exact same novel today under the ‘historical fiction’ genre, I’d rate it even lower.

Rating: 2 on 5.

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‘Trainwreck: The Cult of American Apparel’ Review

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Okay, so the thing is, I’d never even heard of American Apparel until this edition of the Netflix documentary series Trainwreck. If you’re a non-American viewer like me, it’s a clothing retailer that became widely popular for its “sexy, cool” ad campaigns and was one of the fastest-growing companies in the U.S. in 2005. ‘Trainwreck: The Cult of American Apparel‘ focuses on how founder Dov Charney charmed new employees, got them to work overtime, and eventually turned into a boss from hell.

Featuring several interviews with former American Apparel employees, most of whom started at the bottom and rose to high positions, the documentary shows how many recall joining the company while very young. Unlike traditional firms, Dov Charney and American Apparel did not bother with résumés, interviews, or any of the other tedious hiring formalities. Instead, most employees were simply hired if they had a certain “look” or passed the “vibe check” for the company.

An ad for American Apparel

American Apparel’s USP lay in its simple, hip clothing paired with an outrageously sexy ad campaign featuring provocative photos of everyday young people rather than professional models. This was backed by the promise of ethically made, 100% American-manufactured apparel, not outsourced to exploitative sweatshops. While the media criticized the company for its near-pornographic ads and high manufacturing costs, the brand was simultaneously soaring in popularity among consumers.

On the surface, American Apparel seemed like a great success story, but when the recession hit, both the company and Dov Charney came crashing down. While the documentary doesn’t entirely justify the use of the evocative word “cult” in its title (Trainwreck: The Cult of American Apparel), former employees do admit to being swept up by Dov’s magnetic personality, describing a workplace that felt more like his personal clique of minions.

Dov Charney. (Source: Netflix)

Fifty-four minutes long, the documentary is a fast-paced look at the dark side of fashion apparel and what happens behind the scenes. What works best for this ‘Trainwreck’ edition is the fact that creators have access to several video tapes featuring an unhinged Dov Charney caught on camera screaming and swearing at his employees. There’s no dearth of photos, videos to emboss over the interviews, although, in the last few minutes, the documentary features voice-actors recalling some damning testimonies by former employees who were abused by Dov.

Just like ‘Trainwreck: The Astroworld Tragedy’, this coverage of American Apparel misses the opportunity to take a more investigative approach, opting instead for an emotionally driven narrative. Regardless, it’s an interesting look at the power dynamics, manipulation, and abuse of authority by the founder of a once hugely successful company.

Watch ‘Trainwreck: The Cult of American Apparel‘ on Netflix.

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Dan Da Dan Season 2 Episode 1 Review: Of Spooks, Snakes, Screams

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Remember the criminal cliffhanger ‘Dan Da Dan‘ Season One ended with? Momo and Okarun are at her friend Jin Enjoji’s hometown after he asks them for help dealing with his supposedly haunted house. Momo heads out alone to explore the town, finding herself surrounded by frightening predatory men when she goes to take a dip at a hot spring. As the men menacingly circle closer towards Momo, episode 12 of the anime series ends!

Well, thankfully, season 2 of ‘Dan Da Dan’ dives straight into the tense hot springs scene, where Momo fights off the sleazy old men trying to harass her. Titled “Like, This is the Legend of the Giant Snake,” episode 1 of the new season then follows Momo visiting a popular shrine in town, where she learns of a horrifying mythical snake which is both feared and revered by the locals. Meanwhile, some weird old ladies knock on Jin’s door, instantly creeping out Okarun, and their intentions are clearly sinister.

So the opening episode of ‘Dan Da Dan‘ Season 2 is all about legendary snakes, town folklore, and creepy old locals who seem more formidable than vile ghosts. As usual, Momo teams up with Okarun to fight new villains, this time with Jin on their side. Turns out, Turbo Granny also snuck into Momo’s bag to have herself a little vacation, so we get to see her usual amusing antics in her cute cat form while still being a pain in the ass.

While the crazy-wicked humor and psychedelic-level colorful animation styles are noticeably missing from this ‘Dan Da Dan’ episode, the art style is still engaging and the story entertaining. Instead of far-out alien antagonists, Jin’s haunted house introduces spine-tingling, eerie human character the teenagers must fight, if they don’t want to die in the sad little town. And despite being humans, these characters are drawn like exaggerated grey ghouls that serve as an entertaining contrast to the teens.

This might not be a killer opening for the new season of ‘Dan Da Dan’, but it promises a wild ride in the next few chapters, and there’s some Dune-inspired terrors awaiting the protagonists. Keeping it spoiler-free and cryptic you see. Besides, if the first season is to go by, nothing strengthens teen bonds like fighting crazy people, demons, and aliens together. So this might just turn out to be a great ‘bonding’ exercise for potential love-rivals Okarun and Jin too. In case you forgot: Momo used to have a huge crush on Jin, which Okarun is aware of, just as he is aware of his own romantic feelings for her.

“Like, This is the Legend of the Giant Snake” ends with teens literally falling into deep deadly trouble and they must strategize how to save themselves from what would’ve been certain death for ordinary teens. But well, Momo and Okarun have their supernatural spiritual powers to aide them, although, the ending scene suggests Okarun is going to cause more problems than solutions in his supernatural form!

If you’re a patient viewer, I’d suggest waiting for a few more episodes of ‘Dan Da Dan’ Season 2 to release before you start streaming. But if not, go ahead and enjoy it one week at a time, this way is fun too. And if you’re reading this much later, congratulations, you don’t have to wait like the rest of us did for all the episodes to drop.

Stream Dan Da Dan on Netflix and CrunchyRoll.

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‘Heads of State’ Review: John Cena, Idris Elba Lead Politically Wild Action-Bromance

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

What if action star Arnold Schwarzenegger’s dreams of becoming U.S. President came true? Well, John Cena gets to live out the “action star turned President” fantasy in the action-comedy ‘Heads of State‘, while Carla Gugino gets to break the glass ceiling and Hillary Clinton’s dreams for a few seconds. Oh, and Priyanka Chopra plays another version of her character from ‘Citadel‘, and Idris Elba gets to be Britain’s first Black Prime Minister.

So basically, ‘Heads of State‘ is simply a wild action ‘fantasy’ comedy, imaginative only in giving us fictional ground-breaking political characters, while the rest of the plot is just a rehash of all the big-budget action movies we’ve been served in the past. Think Gal Gadot-Alia Bhatt starrer ‘Heart of Stone‘, or Mark Wahlberg and Halle Berry’s ‘The Union‘, or even the Bollywood spinoff of ‘Citadel‘, but with lots of political satire.

The plot is about Russian terrorists (obviously) stealing big tech to target U.S. President Will Derringer (John Cena) and UK PM Sam Clarke (Idris Elba), to destabilize NATO and world peace (how can it be less than world peace?). Priyanka Chopra plays Noel Bisset, a senior MI6 agent who ends up with the task of protecting Clarke and Derringer from the crazy Russians. Chopper crashes, car explosions, train chases, and lots of guns, grenades, and deaths follow. All the lead actors get some really cool action moves through the runtime, although, ironically, John Cena gets the least combat-ready character in the film.

You know within the first few minutes of ‘Heads of State’ that you need to let your brain take a break and enjoy this action mayhem. Which, by the way, begins with a stunningly shot La Tomatina fest in Spain, where Noel Bisset’s team of spies are brutally ambushed by notorious global arms dealer Viktor Gradov (Paddy Considine) and his team. The story then shifts focus to the turbulent political relationship between actor-turned-President Will Derringer and UK PM Sam Clarke, who meet for a summit and end up spending a lot more time together than they’d like when they are nearly killed by the Russian antagonists.

It’s the unlikely, comedic bromance between John Cena’s Will and Idris Elba’s Sam that makes ‘Heads of State’ quite entertaining in parts. Besides, if Donald Trump can be U.S. President twice, so can John Cena’s fictional, brawny Hollywood action star version. As an action fan, my favorite part in the film was Jack Quaid’s cameo as Marty Comer, an American agent who briefly protects Will and Sam from armed terrorists. Quaid, known for playing Hughie in hit show ‘The Boys’, delivers a line – “They say never meet your heroes” – which only fans of the show will recognize as a darkly fun easter egg. In The Boys, Hughie is scarred for life after doing exactly that.

In fact, there are plenty of easter eggs, movie references, and meta humor in ‘Heads of State’, which is an over-the-top action fluff that’s slowed down in the second half by a completely unnecessary romantic sub-plot. One of the funnier moments comes when Carla Gugino’s character tells John Cena she’s always known he’s jealous of her superior acting skills, a line that feels both personal and hilarious, because let’s face it, it’s probably true.

The climax for ‘Heads of States’ is dragged out, the action sequences more chaotic than exciting, and the editors could’ve easily cut out at least ten minutes of this film. If not more. I had more fun watching John Cena’s nonsensical action-comedy ‘Jackpot!’ than this. But again, if you’re looking for a low-stakes, no-brainer flick for the weekend, this isn’t a bad option.

Rating: 2.5 stars on 5. Watch ‘Heads of State’ on Prime Video.

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Outer Banks Season 2 Review: Doubles the Drama, Halves the Sense

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Sunita (Twitter | Instagram)

Season 2 picks up right where Season 1 of ‘Outer Banks’ ended, diving deeper into the high-stakes treasure hunt that ties the Pogues (a tight-knit group of teens from the Outer Banks) to a centuries-old mystery. With danger chasing them across borders and waters, the Pogues face ruthless enemies, impossible odds, and emotional crosswinds, all while sticking to their motto: “nothing to lose.”

Spoiler-Free Summary

Created by Shannon Burke, Jonas Pate, and Josh Pate, Season 2 of ‘Outer Banks’ kicks off with with John B (Chase Stokes) and Sarah Cameron (Madelyn Cline) on the run in the Bahamas, trying to recover the $400 million in gold that Sarah’s father, Ward Cameron, stole and shipped out of Outer Banks. Meanwhile, back home, their friends (Pope, Kiara, and JJ) work to clear John B’s name, as he’s been framed for murder.

As the gold slips through their fingers, a new mystery surfaces: the hunt for the Cross of Santo Domingo, a valuable religious artifact connected to Pope’s ancestry. This brings in a new villain, Carla Limbrey, and sets up deeper roots to the story.

The season is packed with chases, betrayals, fake deaths, and narrow escapes. Ward fakes his death, Rafe becomes increasingly violent, and the Pogues face defeat after defeat, until they end up stranded on a deserted island, which they jokingly name “Poguelandia.”

What to Expect

More action: Car chases, boat battles, shootouts, everything gets dialed up. Global expansion: The story moves beyond the Outer Banks to new international locations.

New characters: Fresh faces add both help and danger to the group’s journey.

Emotional growth: Friendships and relationships are tested in ways fans haven’t seen before.

Higher stakes: It’s not just about treasure anymore, legacies, justice, and survival come into play.

What Works In S2 of Outer Banks:

Action-packed storytelling.

Ample car chases, ambushes, and treasure hunts. High-stakes treasure twist (Cross of Santo Domingo, Big John’s return) kept suspense high.

Strong cast chemistry: Chase Stokes, Madelyn Cline, Madison Bailey, Jonathan Daviss, Rudy Pankow consistently deliver believable friendship dynamics through the episodes. Their camaraderie remains entertaining.

New characters & stakes: Cleo’s introduction and Pope’s ancestral storyline adds depth to the proceedings.

What Does Not Work As Well:

Overloaded plot! There are multiple storylines and unbelievable coincidences peppered through the season, which makes ‘Outer Banks’ Season 2 feel less thrilling than the first edition. Some parts tend to test both viewer patience and logic.

Cheap dramatic devices makes things worse. The creators resurrecting major characters, which felt like contrived shock-value twists from the early 2000s.

Inconsistent writing: Many characters are degraded to absolute stereotypes… you kind of want to continue watching just to find out who comes back from the dead this time.

Final Verdict

While not nearly exciting as ‘Outer Banks’ Season one, this follow-up remains bingeable for teen‑drama fans: It’s fun, ride-or-die sequel that ramps up thrills, if you’re in for escapist action and dramatic cliffhangers, it’s a guilty pleasure worth watching.

Rating: 3 on 5 stars. Watch ‘Outer Banks’ on Netflix.

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The Monkey Review: Seriously Un-Serious

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

After twins Hal and Bill find a creepy wind-up monkey toy while looking through their father’s stuff, people close to them start dying in crazy-gruesome ways. Whenever somebody winds the monkey, it raises its hands to play the drums, and someone dies. The brothers eventually realize the monkey is evil and get rid of the hairy abomination to end its carnage. Twenty-five years later, when the brothers are older and completely estranged, they learn the monkey is somehow back and killing people once again.

Based on a short story by Stephen King, the 2025 movie version of ‘The Monkey’ is a wicked, slowburn, dark horror comedy, which follows the dysfunctional relationship between its twin protagonists, bloodily complicated by the satanic monkey. Christian Convery (‘Sweet Tooth’, ‘Cocaine Bear’) plays the young versions of Hal and Bil, while Theo James (‘The Gentlemen’, ‘The White Lotus’) takes on the older versions.

Director Osgood Perkins and team deliver some ridiculously gory deaths in the film, some of which are hilariously gross and evidently fake, but it adds to the dark, exaggerated, comedic tone of the story. The first 30 minutes of ‘The Monkey’ is pretty solid, narrated from Hal’s POV (point of view), who tells the viewer how twin Bill bullies him incessantly. And the tragic happenings around the brothers only drive them further apart.

After having no contact with each other for almost a decade, Bill calls Hal, informing him about their aunt’s “freak death” and how the monkey is likely back in action (murdering people), so he must find it before it kills anyone else in the family. Hal is a divorced dad who gets to see his son Petey (Colin O’Brien) only once a year, so he reluctantly drives back to his childhood home to find the devious toy and ensure his son’s safety. “Don’t call it a toy!” I can almost hear the characters scream at me. Once the father and son visit the town where the twins grew up, multiple freaky deaths suggest the demon monkey is indeed at work.

The pace gets challenging and tediously slow at times; however, just before you might nod off, someone explodes into bloody bits. Those with a weak heart may be freaked out by the over-the-top violence, others who enjoy it might be thrilled. Also, despite the macabre nature of the killings, quite a few of them are low-key hilarious. There’s no rhyme and reason to the monkey’s actions, it’s pure murderous mischief wrapped in a box.

Overall, The Monkey is a horror flick that, despite being set between the 1990s and 2010s, exists in its own retro-nostalgic timeline. If you liked the trailer, you’re likely to enjoy the film too.

Rating: 6.5 on 10. Watch ‘The Monkey’ on Prime Video.

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Revenged Love Episodes 7-8 Review: Suo Wei’s a Goner For Snake-Dad Chi Cheng

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‘Will you stop your scheming and tricks? Even if you do nothing all day, I’d still like you’

Bad boy snake fanatic Chi Cheng (Tian Xu Ning) is turning into a total softie for Suo Wei (Zi Yu) in ‘Revenged Love‘, while the latter is busy running bizarre snake-farm businesses, fake-reading literature, sleeping through classical concerts, and unknowingly falling for his love rival.

Quick Recap of ‘Revenged Love‘ So Far: Dumped for being poor, Suo Wei is set on breaking up his ex-girlfriend Yu-Yue (Sun Qian Yu) and her hot new boyfriend Chi Cheng, who is known to prefer men. Suo Wei embeds himself in Chi Cheng’s life, seducing him but withholding intimacy, which only drives Chi Cheng crazier for the tease. But much to Suo Wei’s frustration, even though Chi Cheng seems seriously into him, he refuses to break up with Yue Yue.

In Episode 6, Suo Wei learns Chi Cheng is only with Yue Yue to win back his pet snakes, which his family took to control him. Realizing Chi Cheng has no idea about his past with Yue Yue, Suo Wei drops the revenge plan. But when he tries to end things, a surprisingly emotionally vulnerable Chi Cheng opens up about his ex-boyfriend Wang Shuo’s betrayal with his childhood friend Guo Cheng Yu (Zhan Xuan). The episode ends with a furious call from Yue Yue, making Suo Wei even more determined to break them up. Doctor Xiao Shuai (Liu Xuan Cheng), however, points out that Suo Wei’s real rival may no longer be Chi Cheng, but Yue Yue herself.

Titled “Anyone Can Be Mad at Me, but You”, episode 7 of Revenged Love begins with Suo Wei and Chi Cheng ending their park date with a night stroll. Episodes 7 and 8 of the series offer an engaging mix of romantic comedy, with the lead pair’s romance yet to enter the angsty, serious stage. The comedic moments come both from the hilarious flirting between Chi Cheng and Suo Wei, and from Yue Yue’s attempts to seduce Chi Cheng into taking the next step in their relationship: marriage.

Actor Sun Qian Yu as Yue Yue has so far largely played a caricature-like vamp: the greedy, gold-digging girlfriend. However, these two episodes of Revenged Love allow the actor to showcase some comedic sides of the character as well. Meanwhile, Suo Wei’s character sees interesting growth, from being purely revenge-driven and indulging in random humorous antics, he is becoming strategically manipulative, yet also more emotionally involved with Chi Cheng. So much so that Suo Wei is now genuinely interested in rescuing Chi Cheng’s pet snakes, so his parents can no longer control him. And of course, it will also speed up the break-up with Yue Yue.

‘Revenged Love‘ lead actors Tian Xu Ning and Zi Yu make their over-the-top characters hilariously entertaining, even in some of the more cringe-comedy moments, thanks to their strong chemistry and expressive performances. And is it just me, or is actor Zi Yu getting progressively prettier as Suo Wei with each episode? Either way, the pair looks great together, and Chi Cheng’s initial lust for Wei has clearly evolved into deeper love. Tian Xu Ning as Chi Cheng seems cold, calculated, thug-like in the first few episodes, but he convincingly switches to a more vulnerable ‘punch drunk love’ mode around Suo Wei.

Comically, Suo Wei keeps swinging between denial and admitting his growing romantic feelings for snake-dad Cheng, who’s been deluging him with lavish gifts. One of the funnier moments in ‘Revenged Love’ is when Cheng gifts a giant carton of branded cigarettes to Wei, because he casually remarks he likes them.

Meanwhile, the secondary romance between Doctor Xiao Shuai and Chi Cheng’s friend Cheng Yu moves at a leisurely but enjoyable pace. A master manipulator himself, Cheng Yu continues to use his knowledge of Xiao Shuai and Suo Wei plotting against Yue Yue as leverage. On the other hand, Chi Cheng’s mother is also playing her cards, eager to see her son marry the new girl as soon as possible to secure grandchildren.

Episode eight of ‘Revenged Love‘ ends with a partly funny, partly serious face-off between Suo Wei and thugs hired by Yue Yue to get rid of “Little Vinegar,” the only pet snake still in Cheng Yu’s possession, an endless source of horror for Yue Yue. The climactic moments offer some tender romance between Suo Wei and Chi Cheng, with the former clearly more than happy to find comfort in Cheng’s arms.

Episodes 7 & 8 are usually when BL series tend to end, or begin to falter if they are longer, but ‘Revenged Love’ is in ‘top form so far. It’s funny, cute, and totally worth streaming.

You can watch ‘Revenged Love’ on YouTube or Viki.

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Head Over Heels Episode 4 Review: From Ghost Hunts to Heart Flutters

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

Okay, who knew the handsome, broody Bae Gyeon-woo (Choo Young-woo) would melt so fast for teen shaman Seong-ah (Cho Yi-hyun) in the fantasy-romance “Head Over Heels”! Isn’t that too soon for a K-drama? Not that I am complaining. Although it looks like he is going to ice her out soon enough!

Recap of ‘Head Over Heels’ Episode 3: First off, how cute was the ending of the episode where Seong-ah asks for a high-five from Gyeon-woo, ends up holding his hand and he reciprocates with a smile? The rooftop interaction was romantic and beautifully shot. Anyway, the episode is all about Seong-ah trying to chase a sinister dark spirit hovering around Gyeon-woo, who loses his will to live after his grandmother’s death, attracting a dangerous ghost that targets people with suicidal thoughts.

Spirit mother Dongcheon (Kim Mi-kyung) advises Seong-ah to make herself a human talisman by drawing texts on her body, claiming that it is the most powerful way to ward off ghosts. All Seong-ah then has to do is ensure some sort of physical contact with Gyeon-woo to drive away the deadly shadows encircling him. Gyeon-woo is flummoxed by her stalker-like, touchy behavior, and even her friend Ji-ho (Cha Kang-yoon) nearly dies of second-hand embarrassment. However, in the end, she is able to chase the suicide ghost away, but some credit also goes to the archery teacher, as he convinces Gyeon-woo to return to the sport, giving him renewed purpose.

Episode 4 of ‘Head Over Heels‘ hilariously starts off with Seong-ah mooning over the fact that she finally held hands with her first love. She even tells all her customers about how holding hands make her heart ‘flutter’ during her shamanic sessions. Even poor Ji-ho, who is well aware of Seong-ah’s massive crush on Gyeon-woo, notices that he is warming up to her and might be reciprocating her feelings. So viewers get some cute, soft moments between the lead couple, with Choo Young-woo and Cho Yi-hyun’s onscreen chemistry working like a charm for the show. Courtesy Seong-ah’s constant efforts to win him over, the sulky, depressed Gyeon-woo sees a major transformation in personality, becoming cheery and more likable.

Cha Kang-yoon is hilariously adorable as Ji-ho, who clearly isn’t happy with the blossoming romance between the two and candidly expresses not wanting to be a third wheel. So we know a stronger love triangle is in the cards for ‘Head Over Heels‘, although at this point, he really has no chance of winning over Seong-ah against her crazy crush on Gyeon-woo. For now, she is super busy fighting minor spirits while continuing to hide her identity as a shaman and serving as a “human talisman” to protect her love.

A major subplot in this edition continues to be the haunted house that Spirit mother Dongcheon (Kim Mi-kyung) visits in the last episode of ‘Head Over Heels’. She declares the evil spirits in the house are far too strong to tackle; however, she ropes in more shamans, including Seong-ah, to help her confront the cursed place. So this episode not only sees them perform some intriguing rituals, but we also get a major twist that ties the spooky house subplot to the overall story.

Actor Chu Ja-hyeon, who is introduced as Yeom Hwa, an evil shaman, is also revealed to have a connection with Gyeon-woo’s family. So there’s some mystery, drama, and minor flashbacks to explain why the teen archer ardently despises shamans. And I say ‘teen archer’, because he has finally made up his mind to get back to the sport.

Overall, Episode 4 of ‘Head Over Heels’ is yet another entertaining edition of the teen-fantasy-romance, which ends with a ritualistic dance and the possibility of Seong-ah losing her newfound place in her sweetheart’s heart.

Watch ‘Head Over Heels’ on Prime Video.

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Maalik Trailer: Rajkummar Rao Smokes, Shoots, Screams His Way to Satta

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‘Maalik paida hua nahi toh kya, ban toh saktey hai’ (Translation: What if one isn’t born a master, one could become one.)

Rajkummar Rao isn’t ready to be typecast as the sweet small-town dude charming women out of his league (‘Stree’, ‘Bareilly Ki Barfi’, or the more recent ‘Bhool Chuk Maaf’). With Maalik, he flips the script, stepping into full-blown gangster mode. The trailer introduces us to Maalik, a man from humble beginnings who doesn’t just rise through the ranks of crime, he crashes into them with bullets blazing, eyes now firmly set on politics.

From the looks of it, “Maalik” borrows its swagger from South Indian masala blockbusters, there’s blood, guns, slo-mo walks, cigarettes, and a lot of chest-thumping machismo. Rao, smeared in blood and big guns with casual flair, commands the screen with punchy lines like, “Itna goli maaro ki jitna pradesh ke itihas mein na chala ho” (Fire so many bullets that it becomes state history). A moral counterweight comes in the form of a righteous cop, setting up the age-old gangster vs lawman clash.

Directed by Pulkit (Bhakshak), the trailer hints at more than just a rise-to-power arc, this one seems to be drenched in revenge. Maalik isn’t just ambitious, he’s vengeful, and declares proudly that he’ll burn down the city if he’s wronged. There’s political ambition, personal vendetta, and plenty of blood-soaked action. The last-time Rajkummar Rao played something akin to an action hero was in Raj & DK’s Netflix series ‘Guns & Gulaabs’, where he riotously played a ruthless killer who gains notoriety for murdering people with a spanner.

The ensemble cast includes Manushi Chhillar, Saurabh Shukla, Prosenjit Chatterjee, Huma Qureshi, and Swanand Kirkire.  The film is set to release in theaters on July 11. Watch the trailer for ‘Maalik’ on YouTube, it’s also embedded below.

Head Over Heels Episode 3 Review: Seong-ah Comedically Fights For Her Crush

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

“I’d rather deal with ghosts. People are much worse”

Teen Shaman Seong-ah (Cho Yi-hyun) is still ‘Head Over Heels’ for her handsome new classmate Bae Gyeon-woo (Choo Young-woo), but can she save him from the clutches of evil spirits and ghosts constantly tying to harm him? Well, at least she has her friend Pyo Ji-ho (Cha Kang-yoon) on her side and together, maybe they can save the brooding hot new guy from what seems like certain death due to his unfortunate fate.

Recap of ‘Head Over Heels’ Episode 2: Seong-ah and Ji-ho invite themselves to Gyeon-woo’s house for food so she can slip protective talismans around the home to shield him from evil spirits. At school, rumors swirl that Gyeon-woo, a top archer, was expelled from his previous school for arson despite his excellent athletic record. In an unfortunate coincidence, a fire-based malevolent spirit is attracted to Gyeon-woo on the new campus, and the student finds himself trapped in a storeroom fire.

Seong-ah rushes to help Gyeon-woo, trying to ward the ghost away, although ultimately it’s Ji-ho who saves them from the blaze. Once again, the blame for the fire falls on Gyeon-woo, but he is fiercely defended by the duo who came to his rescue.

In an unexpected tragic twist, Episode 2 of ‘Head Over Heels’ ends with Gyeon-woo’s beloved grandmother dying. Seong-ah learns about the incident while at work, so she rushes to the funeral in her shaman attire. Gyeon-woo is furious to see the shaman (who he still doesn’t know is his chirpy, overly friendly classmate due to the veiled costume), and that’s how the edition ends.

Episode 3 of ‘Head Over Heels’ introduces a mysterious new shamanic character, an evil one who serves bad spirits, unlike Seong-ah and her spirit mother, Dongcheon (Kim Mi-kyung). For horror fans expecting more supernatural content, this chapter offers an intriguingly eerie sequence of General Dongcheon traveling to a nearby village to cleanse a creepy haunted house of a strong evil spirit.

However, the central focus of the episode remains Seong-ah’s attempts to befriend Gyeon-woo and fend off the ghosts trying to kill him. Grieving his beloved grandmother’s death, the athlete sinks deeper into depression, drawing the attention of a dangerous spirit and fast-tracking his death timeline. Luckily, Seong-ah’s spirit mom Dongcheon gives her new advice to save her “first love.”

Cho Yi-hyun is absolutely adorable as the chirpy teen protagonist, completely “Head Over Heels” in love with the good-looking Gyeon-woo. She makes her super-creepy stalking look cutesy, and poor Gyeon-woo doesn’t know how to complain when a pretty girl like her is constantly following him like a love-lorn pup. Poor Ji-ho is more embarrassed by the way Seong-ah sticks to the newbie than anybody else, although he continues to have her back through thick-and-thin. Ji-ho is serving major ‘friendship goals’ in ‘Head Over Heels’ and he also screams ‘boyfriend material’.

I am here rooting for both the romance between Gyeon-woo and Seong-ah, and the potential bromance between Gyeon-woo and Ji-ho. Although, given how graciously and selflessly Ji-ho always has his eccentric shaman friend’s back, if he is actually in love with her, I am team “Ji-ho and Seong-ah” already. Gyeon-woo can be their third-wheeling best friend, although obviously, we all know that’s not going to happen.

Overall, this episode of Head Over Heels was well-paced, entertaining, and packed with cutesy, funny moments. Sure, we’re only three episodes in, but the show is showing great potential as a teen-fantasy-romance set against the backdrop of high school, ghosts, and demons.

Watch ‘Head Over Heels’ on Prime Video.

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