Sean Akizuki's East Asian Drama and Movie Blog

It's the Year of the Snake. Japan also celebrates the Lunar New Year, which lasts 15 days in China (and Taiwan). It's back to work today. Let's take a look back at memory lane for snake-themed Kamen Riders. Evil Kamen Riders have become a staple -- sometimes even being the final villains such as N-Daguva-Zeba, Evolt, and Kamen Rider Ark One (who keeps reminding me of Venjix from Power Rangers RPM ). Snakes have been a common theme for the MOTW in Kamen Rider . However, Kamen Rider these days have the more serialized storytelling akin to a telenovela. That's why I write about Kamen Rider here but only from Kamen Rider Kuuga up to the present. However, I decided not to do episode reviews and just do random drops of newer stuff and older stuff. Now, for the time when a snake-themed Kamen Rider was created. Takeshi Asakura/Kamen Rider Ouja is a truly terrifying cobra The Cobra is often a popular theme for villains. Who can remember G.I. Joe's main villain organization i...

I've been obsessing over South Korean legal dramas. This time, it's The Auditors . The plot deals with auditors and corporate corruption. It may remind some of Love Story in Harvard where legal matters were added. It doesn't have romance as a plot. Instead, it's all about investigating corporate corruption within JU Construction. It also talks about business ethics. It can make you ask the question, "Are you willing to have a quick profit at the cost of others?" The main character Shin Ah Il (Shin Ka Hyun) is a sharp loner. The other auditors are Goo Han Soo (Lee Jung Ha) as a rookie employee and Yeon Seo Jin (Jo A Ram). Fortunately, A Ram isn't used for eye candy and contributes to the plot. The team gets involved with a family feud. Jing Woo delightfully plays the main villain Hwang Dae Woong -- a man who harmed his own two older siblings just so he could slowly take over. Corporate corruption has caused many lives -- both employees and customers alike. ...