Hello, beautiful people!
I'm Karen and this is The Blossom Review 🌸, our little corner of Korean and Japanese media! ✨
From Goblin to Unnatural 📺,
From Parasite to Perfect Days 🎥,
From Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop to Days at the Morisaki Bookshop 📚,
the vibrant and charming universe of Korean and Japanese TV, cinema, and literature offers an endless combination of genres and stories.
Together, let's dive into the latest J- and K-dramas, talk about our favourite J- and K-books, and explore the beauty of J- and K-cinema! From discussing that dorama you've already watched about 10 times to discovering your brand-new obsession, The Blossom Review is your go-to channel for all things Korean and Japanese!
I hope to see you here every week for a new review, recommendation, and analysis! 😊
Subscribe to join this fascinating journey through Korean and Japanese media and stop by our website, The Blossom Review, for our complete reviews, lists, and recommendations!
The Blossom Review
Hello, everyone! 👋
How are you all today?
We're back to our weekly reviews with Netflix's Our Sticky Love, which came out a couple of weeks ago!
Some call it a "rom-com", but I'm not so sure I agree with that description. Call me a purist, but Our Sticky Love isn’t a proper rom-com. It’s the latest addition to the “action-thriller-romantic-comedy” genre, with its mix of kisses and explosions, adorable makeshift dates and intense fighting scenes, yellow umbrellas and torture sequences.
The thing is, what makes Our Sticky Love special isn't its fight choreography or its intense action sequences, but the compassionate community at its core.
So, we're talking about Netflix's Our Sticky Love on The Blossom Review 🌸 and on YouTube! You can find our article here (theblossomreview.com/our-sticky-love-netflix-revie… ) or our video essay here 👇
Oh, and over on Substack, we reviewed JTBC's The Apartment Job too: theblossomreview.substack.com/p/the-apartment-job-… 😉
Have a marvellous day today and a lovely weekend ahead! 😊
23 minutes ago | [YT] | 0
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The Blossom Review
Heeellooo! 👋 Yes, it's me again! 😂
Are you alright?
If you didn't see me yesterday, here's a quick recap: This week, I'm taking a break from reviews (I know: Netflix's Our Sticky Love has recently come out. Yes, I'd like to discuss it with you all. But no, I couldn't review it this week, so we'll be talking about it soon! 🥺 I'm so sorry, everyone! 🙏)
Anyway, instead of dramas, we're talking about literature this week! Yaaay! Yesterday, we talked about Japanese books, so today is the day for Korean books, of course! 🥰 The second half of 2026 has arrived with some incredible new Korean literature in translation, so shall we choose our favourites and fill up our wishlists? Yes, please!
Here are some of the titles I'm looking forward to reading the most -- but you'll find a thorough list with 10+ Korean books coming out from July to December 2026 on The Blossom Review 🌸! Here's a link for you: theblossomreview.com/new-korean-literature-in-tran… I hope you stop by! 😉
Have a marvellous weekend ahead! ❤️
1 week ago | [YT] | 8
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The Blossom Review
Hello there! 👋
Everything okay?
This week, I'm taking a break from reviews (yes, I know that Netflix's Our Sticky Love has recently come out... but I couldn't review it this week, so we'll be talking about it soon! 🥺 Forgive me, my dears! 🙏)
Anyway, instead of dramas, we're talking about books this week! Yaaay! The second half of 2026 has arrived with a toooon of new Japanese books -- and who doesn't want more Japanese literature in translation? We never say no to books; that's what I say! 🥰
Here are some of the titles I'm looking forward to reading the most -- but, on The Blossom Review 🌸, you'll find a thorough list with 30+ Japanese books coming out from July to December 2026! Here's a link for you: theblossomreview.com/new-japanese-books-in-transla… I hope you stop by! 😉
Have a lovely day (and I'll see you tomorrow)! ❤️
1 week ago | [YT] | 6
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The Blossom Review
Hello, there! 👋
How are you all this week?
I'm stopping by to share some sequels to beloved Japanese book series coming out from July to December 2026 ❤️ Some of these series are very, very special to me, so I'm looking forward to being welcomed once again into their universe. Have you read any of these series?
Oh, and that's not all! Tomorrow, I'm coming back with more Japanese books coming out in the second half of 2026. Stay tuned! 😉
1 week ago | [YT] | 8
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The Blossom Review
Hello there! 👋
How are you all today?
SBS's Agent Kim Reactivated came to a very successful close a couple of weeks ago, so I bet most -- if not all -- of you have either watched it or at least heard of it!
Starring So Ji-sub, Choi Dae-hoon, and Yoon Kyung-ho as an indomitable trio out on a dangerous mission to save Mr Kim's daughter, Agent Kim Reactivated is a breathtaking roller coaster full of kicks, punches, and high-stakes rescue missions 😆
Now, would I say it's a puuuuurfect show? Not really, but I can totally see why people loved it so much. We're talking about the strengths and weaknesses of Agent Kim Reactivated today on The Blossom Review 🌸 You can find the complete review here: theblossomreview.com/sbs-agent-kim-reactivated-net… and our video essay right here 👇
Over on Substack, we reviewed Kim Bo-young's A Plagued Sea, an upcoming sci-fi novel that you should definitely know about. You can read it here: theblossomreview.substack.com/p/kim-bo-young-a-pla…
Well, I really hope you stop by! 😉
Have a marvellous weekend ahead, and I'll see you soon!
2 weeks ago | [YT] | 1
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The Blossom Review
Hello, my dear people! 👋
How are you this week?
Well, well, July is coming to an end (already?!), so it's time to talk about new Korean drama releases for August, of course!
August will surely be a quieter month than July, but it still promises to be full of compelling new -- and returning! -- universes. Which ones are you looking forward to the most?
You can find our complete calendar here with all trailers and info you need to keep yourself updated: theblossomreview.com/new-korean-dramas-out-in-augu… 😉
May August be a month full of joy for you and your loved ones! ❤️
3 weeks ago | [YT] | 7
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The Blossom Review
Hello, hello! 👋
How are you?
Have you watched Netflix's The East Palace yet? So I gathered all my courage (I know, I know. I'm a scaredy-cat!) and watched its eight thrilling episodes last week because I knew I just had to discuss it with you all.
This week, we're talking about The East Palace's incredible visuals, excellent cast, and sharp script together. Its strengths and weaknesses, its thematic goals -- all of it! So I hope you join me and share your own thoughts about it 😉
Our complete review of The East Palace is now available on The Blossom Review 🌸 (theblossomreview.com/the-east-palace-netflix-revie… ) and our video essay is now out on YouTube 👇
Oh, and over on Substack, we're talking about the Fantasia International Film Festival! We reviewed Ueda Makoto's You Are the Film, which received its North American premiere last Sunday. You can read all about it here: theblossomreview.substack.com/p/fantasia-2026-you-…
Have a wonderful weekend, and I'll see you very soon! ❤️
4 weeks ago | [YT] | 2
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The Blossom Review
Hello, everyone! 👋
How are you all today?
This week, we're talking about Netflix's Human Vapor, a reimagining of Ishiro Honda's cult classic The Human Vapor (1960).
I must confess that, even though Human Vapor isn't a particularly easy watch, I was genuinely moved by its themes, characters, and narrative. There's so much about Human Vapor that goes way beyond its (fantastic, let's all be honest) visual effects and fantastical scenarios -- and that's what we're talking about together in this week's review.
Our video essay is now out 👇 but you can also read this review over on The Blossom Review (theblossomreview.com/human-vapor-netflix-review/) 😉
Oh, and over on Substack, we talked about tvN's Guardian: The Lonely and Great God 10th Anniversary Trip Special too: theblossomreview.substack.com/p/guardian-the-lonel…
I hope you stop by! 🥰 Have a lovely weekend!
1 month ago | [YT] | 2
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The Blossom Review
Hello there! 👋
How are you?
This week, we're talking about SBS's My Royal Nemesis, a romantic comedy that came to a close a couple of weeks ago ✨
My Royal Nemesis quickly climbed the charts to become one of the year’s greatest hits. Its series finale proudly earned an average nationwide rating of 11.8 per cent domestically, while, internationally, the show comfortably spent eight weeks on Netflix Global Top 10 Non-English rankings 😮
Honestly, it’s easy to see why the series has become such a success. My Royal Nemesis starts as a romantic, funny, and engaging story about past lives, identity, and transmigration that bewitches you with its stunning locations, charming protagonists, and quirky dialogue. However (and unfortunately), the narrative inevitably loses steam with every passing episode.
If you're wondering why, I hope you stop by The Blossom Review so we can talk about the strengths and weaknesses of My Royal Nemesis together 😉 Our complete review of My Royal Nemesis is now out on The Blossom Review (theblossomreview.com/sbs-my-royal-nemesis-netflix-… ), and right here on YouTube 👇
Oh, and over on Substack, we talked about NTV's Tatsuki: Too Kind for School this week, too -- you can read it here: theblossomreview.substack.com/p/tatsuki-too-kind-f… 🥰
Have you watched My Royal Nemesis? What did you think about it?
Have a lovely weekend ahead, and I'll see you soon! ❤️
1 month ago | [YT] | 1
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The Blossom Review
Hello, everyone! 👋
How are you all today?
This week, we're talking about a show that I'd been looking forward to watching for quite some time: TV Asahi's Reborn.
Reborn certainly has a lot going on for it: led by the excellent Takahashi Issey in a dual role, it relies on an exciting blend of time slips, reincarnation, and found families. Top that off with a witty hero who helps the poor underdog win against the greedy magnate, and you’re bound to get a heartfelt tale of nature versus nurture, of tenacity and selflessness, and of identity and change.
But... did it live up to such a promising premise? That's what we're discussing in our weekly video, which is now out (it's right here 👇). If you prefer, you can read our review on The Blossom Review, too: theblossomreview.com/tv-asahi-reborn-netflix-revie… I hope you stop by! 🥰
Over on Substack, we reviewed an upcoming Korean thriller novel called Plant Lady by Minyoung Kang! You can read it here: theblossomreview.substack.com/p/plant-lady-minyoun…
Have a lovely weekend, and I'll see you very soon!
1 month ago | [YT] | 2
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