Sneha Jaiswal's Blog, page 21

‘The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity’ Episode 2 Review

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Hypocrisy is an accidental mistake all of us can’t help but commit now and then. Which is why Rintaro Tsumugi (voiced by Yoshinori Nakayama), the protagonist of ‘The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity’, immediately assumes Kaoruku Waguri (voiced by Honoka Inoue) might not want anything to do with him when he finds out she’s a student at Kikyo, the fancy school next door. This, despite the fact that Rintaro himself hates people who judge others based on looks or other superficial markers.

Episode 1 of ‘The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity’ ended with Rintaro reaching his class early. When he looks out the window, he sees Ms. Waguri opening the curtains at the neighboring school, Kikyo. Titled Chidori and Kikyo, episode 2 of the anime focuses on Rintaro’s mixed feelings about the fact that his potential new friend is from the rival girls’ school that all his friends spiritedly hate.

The animosity between the two schools turns out to be far more serious than one might assume, with even glancing at the other side considered taboo. But can the kind, cute, cheery, and optimistic Waguri, who loves eating pastries at Rintaro’s family-run café really care about her school’s long-standing rivalry and the snobbery other Kikyo girls show toward the boys from Chidori?

For a teen romantic drama, ‘The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity’ has been entertaining so far, with the expected exaggerated flair of the manga world, of course. Rintaro is a chronic over-thinker, the classic broody tsundere hero who looks rough and tough on the outside but is a softie who deeply cares for his friends and family. Waguri, on the other hand, is comically cute, I love everything about her, except the high-pitched voice-over, which is honestly quite annoying. She is surprisingly bold, straightforward, and speaks her mind, even if some of her thoughts are painfully embarrassing.

Episode 2 of the anime ends with Rintaro and Waguri have an awkward little chat where they open up what each is thinking about the other, marking a decisive beginning of their friendship. So the romance is around the corner.

‘The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity’ is streaming on Netflix.

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‘Good Boy’ Episode 16 Review: Villains Fall, ‘Good’ Cops Rise

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

Finally, it’s time for the KO match between baddie Joo-yeong (Oh Jung-se) and ‘Good Boy’ Dong-ju (Park Bo-gum), who’s been relentless in his pursuit of justice. Each time the gold-medalist boxer turned cop takes a brutal beatdown in this action-comedy, he rises back like a demi-god out for vengeance.

Recap of ‘Good Boy’ Episode 15

Dong-ju is violently attacked by his former coach Jong-gu, who flees the scene after helping his crime boss Joo-yeong escape. Jong-hyeon rushes Dong-ju to the hospital, realizing his punch-drunk syndrome is getting serious, though they all keep it a secret from Han-na. Meanwhile, the squad continues their mission to capture Joo-yeong and track down the mole within the Insung police department leaking intel to the criminals. The team also gets a lead on Jong-gu, and Dong-ju finally defeats his former coach in a brutal showdown. The episode ends with Joo-yeong planting a bomb on a truck loaded with his candy-drugs. It dangerously blows up right when the primary cop characters are close at hand!

Episode 16 of ‘Good Boy’

Titled We Are The Champions, episode 16 focuses on Dong-ju, Han-na (Kim So-hyun), Jong-hyeon (Lee Sang-yi), Man-sik (Heo Sung-tae), and Jae-hong (Tae Won-seok) working together to figure out where Joo-yeong might be. Luckily, thanks to Dong-ju’s charm, Drug Demon (Lee Ho-jung) gives him a crucial clue that helps them understand what the villain might be planning. What follows is a tense race against time to catch the criminal mastermind who is hellbent on causing serious damage to the city of Insung, before he can make his escape.

Honestly, ‘Good Boy’ would’ve been stronger with just 10 or 12 episodes. The finale felt stretched, weighed down by an over-the-top celebration of Dong-ju’s greatness. While the other characters do get their moments of glory, they’re somewhat overshadowed by the constant glorification of Dong-ju’s character. Even Heo Sung-tae, who plays senior cop Man-sik, simply seems annoying in this episode, even though he was one of the most entertaining characters in the first few episodes, providing crucial comic relief.

In the second half of the final, Dong-ju and Jong-hyeon get cornered by armed Yakuza, who are also chasing Joo-yeong, though he manages to give them the slip. Oddly, Jong-hyeon tells Dong-ju to go after Joo-yeong while he stays behind to take on a gang by himself. Considering Dong-ju’s whole “I can fight the world” vibe, shouldn’t he have been the one to stay and brawl? Or, honestly, they both should’ve just run for it. Also, like established in the previous episodic reviews for the show, Park Bo-Gum’s Dong-ju is like a Korean Wolverine Oppa, healing at a miraculous rate each time he is close to death.

The action choreography felt repetitive and lack-luster for most parts. Han-na is the only character apart from Dong-ju who gets a standout action scene in this edition: she comes to the rescue of her male colleagues just in time, which was pretty damn cool. Kim So-hyun’s romantic chemistry with Park Bo-gum isn’t sizzling, but she makes a perfect straight-faced badass as Han-na, the ace shooter who rarely misses her shot.

‘Good Boy’ Dong-ju naturally gets his well-earned victory over the nefarious Joo-yeong in the end. But it’s Oh Jung-se who truly steals the show with his chilling ‘Bad Boy’ performance, even if the menace starts to wear thin in the final episodes, thanks to the slightly overextended storyline.

Overall, the finale of Good Boy was a bit of a mixed bag, but I’ll give the creators credit for delivering a happy ending, fitting for a series that leaned heavily into comedy. A tragic climax would’ve felt jarringly out of place. And oof, Park Bo-gum in a cop uniform, flashing that million-dollar smile, does leave you with a warm, satisfied feeling in the final moments.

Watch ‘Good Boy‘ on Prime Video.

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Rachel Rising Volume 4 Review: Flashbacks, and Freakouts

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

Guess what? Guess what?! Rachel doesn’t die in this volume of ‘Rachel Rising’ by Terry Moore! Instead, she is busy with her attempts to ensure aunt Johnny can be brought back to life and evil Lilith can perhaps be sent back to hell.

Also Read: Rachel Rising Volume 3 Review

Titled ‘Winter Graves’, Volume 4 opens with a centuries-old flashback to Rachel’s past life as a young girl named Bryn Erin, raised by strict religious parents who were unhappy with Lilith’s attempts to play mentor to their daughter. Ultimately, Bryn and several other women were accused of witchcraft and murdered. In the present timeline, Rachel finally remembers some snippets of her past life too. And in a weird twist, someone she knew from back then, wakes up in her friend Jet’s body.

Like the past few issues, this volume of ‘Rachel Rising‘ also unfolds in a snowstorm, the chilly weather brought on by Lilith, not nature. The atmospheric eeriness of a deadly winter is fantastically depicted through Terry Moore’s artwork. The characters are constantly wading through thick snow, going about their strange adventures to understand their undead experience and stop Lilith from destroying their town. But one of Rachel’s offbeat missions now includes “find the dog and revive Aunt Johnny,” because she captures her aunt’s soul inside a dog when she dies.

While slightly slow in parts, at least these issues of ‘Rachel Rising’ offers some new sub-plots, courtesy of the centuries-old flashback showing what happened to Rachel in her past life. As the young Bryn Erin, she experiences hardships, heartbreak, and untold tragedy. As these memories of an old life come back to the protagonist, she also remembers where to find a mystery box full of supernatural tricks to help her.

Rachel once again crosses paths with the evil little Zoey, who’s trying to escape in a vehicle that won’t start. In possibly the most hilarious exchange in ‘Rachel Rising’, Zoey threatens to murder Rachel and her friends, but freaks out when she realizes they’re already dead and starts screaming, “Help! I’m being carjacked by zombies!” Actually, that’s easily my favorite panel in the entire comic book series so far, seeing the serial-killer brat scream in anxiety.

The last few pages of volume 4 feature a violent, supernatural face-off between Lilith and Rachel, so expect some blood, surprises, and deaths. Overall, this was definitely an entertaining edition, despite a choppy pace.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars. ‘Rachel Rising‘ is also on Kindle Unlimited.

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Revenged Love Episodes 11-12 Review: Panic at the Clinic

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After an unexpected one-week hiatus of Revenged Love (逆爱) that left fans upset, the production team made up for it by announcing they’ll release four chapters almost back-to-back. The original plan was to review episodes 11–14 together, but episodes 11 and 12 deserve their own space, the romance and comedy is peaking. Wu Suo Wei (Zi Yu) and Chi Cheng (Tian Xu Ning) crank up the romance, and yep, it’s official… these two are fully in couple mode now.

Quick Recap of Episode 9-10 of ‘Revenged Love’: Chi Cheng and Yue Yue (Sun Qian Yu) are a thing of the past. Chi Cheng kills one of his favorite snakes to save Suo Wei from its deathly grip, proving his love for the scheming protagonist is stronger than his affection for the pets. Suo Wei moves on from denial mode and admits his feelings for Chi Cheng to his mentor Jiang Xiao Shuai (Liu Xuan Cheng), but he also struggles to come to terms with his sexuality and thinks it would be best if he calls things off with Chi Cheng.

Chi Cheng, fully aware of Suo Wei’s emotional confusion, throws a classic chaotic threat at Xiao Shuai, either get Suo Wei to sleep with him, or he’s going back to his old hobby of chasing the same guys Guo Cheng Yu (Zhan Xuan) wants… starting with Xiao Shuai himself. Chi Cheng of course isn’t serious about the threat, but Xiao Shuai takes his word, panics, and begins his scheming.

Episode 11-12 of ‘Revenged Love’

Titled ‘Let’s Go Home and Get Registered‘, Episode 11 kicks off with chaos at Xiao Shuai’s clinic, where future boyfriend Cheng Yu comes to visit. This secondary couple’s romance is progressing at a leisurely pace, which is fine, since lead pair Suo Wei and Chi Cheng get all the screen time they need.

The real drama unfolds when jealousy enters the chat. With Xiao Shuai stirring the pot and Suo Wei spiraling, the episode delivers a hilarious and heartfelt turning point in the lead couple’s relationship. Zi Yu is adorable as the jealous, insecure, and teary Suo Wei, so much so, you don’t know whether to laugh or cry at his plight. Tian Xu Ning’s cool, grounded Chi Cheng balances out the storm, their chemistry keeps everything glued together.

Episode 12 of ‘Revenged Love’, Why Doesn’t He Play By the Rules?, opens on a steamy note. While the editing choices may be questionable (yes, the lighting and transitions are weird), the emotional beats land well, thanks to strong performances and a swoon-worthy background score. If you weren’t already invested in these two, you definitely will be now. Just when Suo Wei starts enjoying his romantic bubble with Chi Cheng, Guo Cheng Yu cooks up a plan to stir trouble, payback for the way his buddy rattled poor Xiao Shuai.

The way the primary love story keeps going hot-and-cold in ‘Revenged Love‘ is super fun, and apart from all the scheming leads, this chapter sees new conflict. Suo Wei, now head-over-heels for his snake-dad-boyfriend, debates whether to confess that Yue Yue was once his ex-girlfriend, before it comes back to bite him in the back. But with Chi Cheng’s intense, intimidating personality, coming clean won’t be easy.

Unlike the last few episodes, where the dubbing was occasionally distracting, these new chapters didn’t have the same problem. Now that ‘Revenged Love‘ has reached its halfway mark, I expected things to slow down or get heavy with angst, but Chi Cheng’s intense passion for Suo Wei continues to be balanced with a great dose of humor and laughs.

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

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‘The Summer Hikaru Died’ Episode 3 Review: Memories and Tears

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

‘The Summer Hikaru Died’ is just getting better and better! I mean, I’d rate the first episode a 5 out of 5, but Episode 3 is where the show overflows with memories, confusion, frustration, and a piercing grief that spreads from Yoshiki, to Hikaru, to the viewers.

Quick recap of ‘The Summer Hikaru Died’ Episode 2

Yoshiki and the not-quite-Hikaru on a tense forest hike with their classmates where they encounter something spooky, while a hunter named Tanaka arrives in Kubitachi Village to investigate a strange death. Flashbacks reveal a chilling family belief about forest entities claiming loved ones, deepening the eerie atmosphere. As unsettling intimacy builds between the boys, a mysterious woman named Rie warns Yoshiki he’s getting too close to danger. Grief, longing, and supernatural dread continue to blur together, leaving Yoshiki torn between holding on and letting go.

Back to Episode 3

Titled ‘Denial’, this episode of ‘The Summer Hikaru Died’ opens with a sweet summer memory of best friends Yoshiki and Hikaru as little boys, eating watermelon together and hilariously crying over accidentally swallowing a seed, scared they’d turn into the fruit themselves. It reminded me of how adults used to spook us as kids, saying we’d turn into a tree if we swallowed seeds or chewing gum.

As the title suggests, this chapter focuses on Yoshiki’s conflicted feelings about the entity that has taken over Hikaru’s body. He is torn between seeking help from Rie and leaving things as they are. Set on an oppressive, sweaty summer day, the first half of the episode sees Yoshiki visit Hikaru’s house with a watermelon, triggering painful flashes of the past, when the boys were happy and carefree. What makes Yoshiki’s ordeal even more heartbreaking is the entity’s eerie ability to imitate Hikaru with haunting precision, drawing from the boy’s own memories.

In an unexpected turn of events, Hikaru displays a chilling ‘human’ side for the first time, one capable of emotional intelligence and feelings like the need for validation, love, affection, friendship, and companionship. He picks up on the subtlest changes in Yoshiki’s behavior toward him, devastated to realize that ‘his version’ of the human boy might not be enough.

Who would’ve thought a grotesque, otherworldly entity could make you tear up? Because wow, this episode of ‘The Summer Hikaru Died’ hit hard, and I didn’t want it to end. One standout moment is a supernatural horror sequence in the second half, where the animation shifts to gloomy, grey tones, perfectly capturing the storm of emotions brewing inside the protagonist.

While watching the episode, I couldn’t help but think that maybe I should’ve waited for the full season, because there’s no way I’m emotionally equipped to wait a whole week for the next one!

Watch ‘The Summer Hikaru Died’ on Netflix.

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‘Good Boy’ Episode 15 Review: Explosions, Emotions, and One Last Escape

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

Okay, it’s time to give some due to actor Jeong Man-Sik who plays minor antagonist Oh Jong-gu, the former coach of ‘Good Boy’ protagonist Dong-ju (Park Bo-gum) and current lackey to primary villain Joo-yeong (Oh Jung-se). Arrogant, corrupt, and scheming, Jong-gu is one of the few characters in this action K-drama who can take on the gold-medalist boxer. His punches are brutal, and actor Man-sik makes them seem deadly as hell.

Recap of ‘Good Boy’ Episode 14

After Han-na (Kim So-hyun) storms Joo-yeong’s hideout guns blazing, Jong-hyeon (Lee Sang-yi), Man-sik (Heo Sung-tae), and Jae-hong (Tae Won-seok) join the fight against the bad guys. Dong-ju, miraculously recovering from his near-fatal injuries, rushes in to back up his team. Together, the small squad takes down a building full of armed goons. Han-na’s live stream of Joo-yeong confessing to his crimes goes viral, forcing both the media and the police to take action and round up the criminals, though, as usual, Joo-yeong manages to slip away.

The rest of the episode follows the team’s renewed attempt to track him down, eventually discovering he’s hiding out at the police commissioner’s office. They hatch a plan to catch him, but unsurprisingly, Joo-yeong outsmarts them again. The episode ends with Oh Jong-gu ambushing Dong-ju and beating him to a pulp.

Episode 15 of ‘Good Boy’

Titled ‘On The Ropes’, the episode opens with a bloodied and disoriented Dong-ju, as his former coach Jong-gu taunts him about his punch-drunk syndrome, giving him a brutal beating and fleeing the scene. Dong-ju is nearly blinded by the injuries and taken to the hospital by Jong-hyeon, who’s already figured out something is wrong with the boxer.

‘Good Boy’ Dong-ju once again recovers in hours (can we just call him ‘Wolverine Oppa’ now?), requesting Jong-hyeon and everyone else to keep his worsening health a secret from his girlfriend Han-na. At this point, the bromance between love rivals Dong-ju and fencer Jong-hyeon is far stronger than his actual romance with Han-na, though the couple does get a few cutesy romantic moments at her apartment.

The primary focus of the episode remains on the team’s effort to track down Joo-yeong and put an end to the ever-escalating saga of violence and crime. Convinced there’s another mole within the Insung police department, the special squad devises a new plan to uncover who’s leaking intel from the inside.

Since this is the penultimate episode of ‘Good Boy’, it packs in a little bit of everything: intense action sequences, car chases, comedic moments, emotional exchanges, and some great teamwork among the cop protagonists. Park Bo-gum as Dong-ju stands out with his ‘never say die’ cheery attitude, melting even the cynical Jong-hyeon.

While Park Bo-gum’s ‘Good Boy’ persona as Dong-ju starts to feel a bit overplayed in the latter half of the series, it’s Lee Sang-yi’s Jong-hyeon who truly wins viewers over with his composed, selfless professionalism. Despite his lingering feelings for ex-girlfriend Han-na, he respectfully accepts her choice to be with Dong-ju and goes out of his way to support the boxer without hesitation. “Don’t smile, I don’t want to get attached to you,” Jong-hyeon tells his rival in one of the softest moments of the show, highlighting their reluctant friendship and brotherhood.

The episode ends with a bang, literally, but no casualties. With Joo-yeong low on cash, cronies, and luck, his empire’s crumbling fast. Honestly, they could’ve ended the show right here, but hey, let’s see what kind of chaos the finale brings.

Watch ‘Good Boy‘ on Prime Video.

Find the writer on Twitter and Instagram for more pop culture chatter.

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Heretic Review: Hugh Grant Is a Cult-Level Creep in Tense Horror Tale

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

This film made me anxious, made me scream, made me jump in my seat, even made me want to pause out of fear (I was watching it alone at 12 am, okay?), and really root for one of the primary characters toward the climax. And even though I didn’t like the ending, ‘Heretic‘ is undoubtedly an entertaining psychological horror-thriller for fans of the genre.

Directed by Scott Beck and Ryan Woods, the film follows two young Mormon missionaries, Sister Barnes (Sophie Thatcher) and Sister Paxton (Chloe East), whose visit to influence an old man, Mr. Reed (Hugh Grant), to join their church turns into a terrifying, nightmarish ordeal.

‘Heretic’ opens with an entertaining conversation between the young missionaries about false and manipulative marketing, a subtly clever way of setting the tone for the primary theme of the story. Sisters Barnes and Paxton then start going door to door to do their work of spreading ‘the lord’s word’. Unfazed by a patter of rain, they knock on Mr. Reed’s door, and the old man invites them in for some blueberry pie, assuring them his wife is at home. He begins an uncomfortable theological debate with the women, and with no sign of a “wife,” the sisters begin to worry about his motives.

Mr Reed attempts to make the sisters question the authenticity of their religion, although, ironically, the more he speaks, the more their doubts grows, but only over his intentions. He tries to demonstrate through pop-culture references how Christianity is a mere rip-off of other religions, lore, cults that pre-dated it. This is re-inforced through a comedic exchange, where at one point Mr Reed says says “With great power comes great responsibility” to which Sister Paxton says ‘Spider-Man’, while Mr. Reed says ‘Voltaire’. Although, perhaps the most entertaining reference in ‘Heretic’ is to Radiohead’s ‘Creep,’ which Mr. Reed claims is actually a plagiarized version of an older hit.

Hugh Grant is Psycho-level iconic as the creepy Mr. Reed in ‘Heretic’, confident in his oratory skills and theological knowledge. He plays the classic wolf in sheep’s clothing, seeming friendly at first and baring his fangs only after he traps the prey. Questioning the sisters’ faith, Mr. Reed sets a simple yet twisted challenge for the women: there are two back doors, one of which will lead them to freedom, but they must choose wisely.

Sophie Thatcher’s Sister Barnes is the more eloquent, bold, argumentative, and perhaps even smarter of the two women, while Chloe East’s Sister Paxton is a lot more timid and malleable. How these women play a dark battle of wits and grit against the scheming, terrifying Mr. Reed forms the primary conflict in the tale. Despite their different personalities, the women are united in their beliefs and support for each other, putting up a brave front against a clearly dangerous man.

While the first half of ‘Heretic’ makes you wonder if the young women are perhaps being overtly paranoid, things take a frighteningly violent turn in the second half. If you’re someone who gets squeamish at the sight of blood, this definitely isn’t the film for you. Like I said at the start, I was screaming in discomfort., despite usually having a high tolerance for gore. What makes ‘Heretic’ especially unsettling is the disturbing power dynamic between the much older Mr. Reed and the younger women, which adds an extra layer of dread to their experience.

Just under two hours long, ‘Heretic’ is tense, eerie, and violent, and keeps the viewer on the edge of their seat until the very end. The last few minutes feel slightly contrived, and deliver a resolution that will divide viewers. I don’t want to give too much away, so if you’re a psychological horror fan, just give this film a go.

Rating: 8 on 10. Watch ‘Heretic’ on Prime Video.

Find the writer on Twitter and Instagram for more pop culture chatter.

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Hishakai Shindo (Depth of Field) Review: Seaside Blues & Heartache

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

Things begin with the crash of a guitar, smashed to pieces, before we meet the protagonist of ‘Depth of Field‘ (Hishakai Shindo), teenager Hayakawa Shuichiro (Usa Takuma), a talented musician who has given up on music after a fallout with a friend. But a growing friendship with Konno Ryohei (Hirano Koshu), a quiet classmate from another section, reawakens Hayakawa’s passion for music and a long-buried ache for love. Will his new feelings remain one-sided?

Directed by Kawasaki Ryo (Zenra Meshi, 25 Ji, Akasaka de), this six-episode teen drama is based on the manga of the same name by Enjo, set against the scenic backdrop of a scenic seaside High-School. The opening episode quickly establishes Hayakawa as the popular kid in school, easygoing, flirtatious, and indulging the attention he gets from girls just to fit in. But the act soon wears him down. Feeling suffocated, he escapes to the school’s off-limits terrace for a breath of fresh air, and that’s where he meets Konno Ryohei, a serious, grounded aspiring photographer who ends up changing Hayakawa’s life.

It took me a couple of episodes of ‘Depth of Field‘ (Hishakai Shindo) to warm up to Hirano Koshu’s portrayal of Konno Ryohei. The character feels almost too perfect, which is exactly what unsettles Hayakawa at first, but along with him, the viewer begins to gravitate towards Konno. He is calm, confident, and carefree, but in a quietly assured way; focused and determined to follow in his photographer father’s footsteps.

In contrast, Hayakawa feels trapped in every part of his life: he’s unsure about his future after high school, has abandoned the music he once loved, and is wrestling with his sexuality, feeling drawn to boys rather than girls. Usa Takuma is a treat to watch as the complex Hayakawa, who can be both surprisingly impulsive and frustratingly cautious, depending on his mood. The onscreen chemistry between Konno Ryohei and Usa Takuma is interesting, although the short duration of the show doesn’t fully explore the deep bond that grows between their characters over the school year.

The cinematography in ‘Depth of Field’ (Hishakai Shindo) bathes the first half in calming rooftop views by the sea, fitting, as that’s where the bond between the protagonists quietly deepens. The soft blue hues of the sky and ocean add a gentle layer of romantic tension, set in contrast with the warmer tones of indoor scenes, where emotional turbulence brews. It’s a subtle yet striking visual metaphor: on the rooftop with Konno, Hayakawa can finally breathe, hum tunes, and be himself. Indoors, though, the walls seem to close in, reflecting his inner conflict. Childhood flashbacks help viewers understand why Hayakawa gives up music, although the child actor that plays the younger Hayakawa looks nothing like the older actor, which was slightly disappointing.

In the second half of ‘Depth of Field‘ (Hishakai Shindo), the story jumps ahead three years to follow Konno and Hayakawa as university students, each pursuing their passions, photography and music respectively, even as matters of the heart continue to slip through their fingers. A few new characters are introduced in the tale, some of whom help push the story forward. Since Konno is a straightforward, serious character, the climactic episode delivers a heartfelt resolution to the romantic conflict, without high-drama or cliches.

Anyone looking for a cinematic, nostalgic, seaside slow-burn Japanese high school romance, like Kimi to Nara Koi wo Shite Mite mo (If It’s With You) or Kimi no Koto Dake Mitai (I Only Want to Keep Looking at You) will love this series. The music theme in the story also gives it a slight Given-like feel. The series could’ve used another episode or even two, but overall, it’s a pretty great one-time watch.

Rating: 8 on 10. ‘Depth of Field’ (Hishakai Shindo) is on GagaOolala.

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‘Versace Softboi’ Short Film Review: 3 Friends and a Stalker…

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

Three friends are just chilling, getting high, and watching Yuzuru Hanyu figure skate when one of them realizes her Tinder date is watching her through the apartment window. Their fun night takes a creepy turn thanks to his eerie presence in the short film ‘Versace Softboi’.

Directed by Charlie Gillette and Sarah Metcalf, ‘Versace Sofboi‘ opens with protagonist Alex (Charlie Gillette) flirtatiously texting Sam (Christian Elán Ortiz), a former Versace model who took her out on two dates. Her close friends Em (Wesley Han) and Cleo (Becky Granger) are eager to hear more about the mysterious new fling, until things take a strange turn. Alex becomes convinced that Sam is sitting outside her building, texting her. And well, that’s just creepy, isn’t it?!

Just about 13 minutes long, ‘Versace Sofboi‘ is a quick psychological thriller exploring how the three friends react to the possibility of Alex’s tinder date stalking her. While the sassy Em thinks Alex is probably just being paranoid, Cleo is more co-operative. Although in a touching scene that highlights their close friendship, all the of them sleep huddled together in the hall, just in case the stalker situation gets out of hand. The tone of the film plays like a dark comedy, mixing dating mishaps, online flirting, and the uneasy feeling that something just isn’t right.

The climax ends with an open-ended cliffhanger, leaving the conclusion up to the viewer’s imagination. Christian Elán Ortiz strikes the right balance of charm and creepiness as the potentially psychotic date, while Charlie Gillette’s Alex is relatable to anyone who’s had a promising date spiral into a freak show. Wesley Han is entertaining as the cheeky Em, more interested in getting high and avoiding problems than confronting them. Ultimately, it’s the banter between the trio of friends that stands out as the most enjoyable part of this short film.

You can watch ‘Versace Sofboi‘ on YouTube.

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Dan Da Dan Season 2 Episode 3 Review: Evil Yokai Jiji Vs Okarun!

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

Jeez! Jiji has turned into a hulking, shiny, evil Yokai out to kill Momo and Okarun in Dan Da Dan episode 3 of the new season. And the evil Jiji is dripping with ‘hot bad boy’ energy.

Quick Recap of Dan Da Dan Season 2 Episode 2

Thrown deep into the pit of the Mongolian Death Worm’s lair by the creepy Kito family (Jiji, a.k.a. Jin’s landlords), Momo and Okarun buckle under its psychic powers, which drive people to take their own lives. However, Jiji is the only one unaffected by the worm’s influence, so he carries both his friends to safety. But in a twist, Jiji encounters a mysterious supernatural entity dwelling in the worm’s lair, a yokai with a tragic past connected to the town, that cleverly tricks him into becoming its vessel!

Dan Da Dan Season 2 Episode 3

Titled “You Won’t Get Away With This,” this episode of Dan Da Dan is packed with action and entertainment, centering on Okarun’s efforts to help Momo escape the suffocating lair of the Death Worm. The hope is that she can find a rope and come back to rescue both Okarun and Jiji. But things take a wild turn, Jiji, now fully possessed by the ‘evil eye’ yokai, starts tossing poor Okarun around like a football, hell-bent on killing the very people his human self was trying to protect just moments earlier.

Every time the hunky yokai Jiji comes on screen in this episode of ‘Dan Da Dan‘, it feels like you’re watching a different action anime altogether – the whole vibe changes. So while Okarun fights the super-powered Jiji, Momo frantically works on finding a way to save both her friends and defeat the Mongolian Death Worm that’s been devouring people in the town for decades, or maybe even centuries. And just when I was beginning to miss the impish Turbo granny in her smug cat form, she makes a brief fun funny cameo too.

Frenzied in its pacing, the episode gets over in a blink of an eye and features some hilarious moments, including a comically repetitive sequence where Okarun keeps counting loudly while punching Jiji non-stop. Meanwhile, a flashback to a conversation about earthworms between Momo and Jiji as kids gives her a brilliant clue on how to defeat the monsters.

The episode ends with an exciting twist, which hints that the teen trio’s nightmarish ordeal in the new town might be far from over!

Stream Dan Da Dan on Netflix or Crunchyroll.

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