The Expression Hub

  • Traveling back in time…

    Published by

    Roshani Patil

    on

    Genre: Romance/Comedy

    No. of episodes:16

    Presented by: JTBC Studios

    “Time travel is like a magic door that allows us to explore the past and future.”

    Anonymous

    Its the end of the month and also the end of the new beginnings series. This week’s pick comes from the country which has had the world notice it thanks to its foot tapping music, thanks to its fair share of dramas which makes everyone fall in love with them, a skincare regime which is pretty tedious but according to a lot of people worth the effort. Also, this country’s electronics and cars seem to be a rage at least with the people of my country apart from the things I mentioned above. Did anyone guess which country I am talking about? Well, if you don’t know the answer, the answer is South Korea. This country has tried to make a mark in the world through its electronics, cars, highly impossible beauty standards, foot-tapping music which seems to make no sense (remember Psy’s Gangnam style😅)and through their dramas which are very high on the romance front. So, this week’s pick also belongs to the rom-com genre with a dash of some fantasy in it and a lot of indirect advertisements . To know more read on.

    Synopsis: 18 Again is a series which revolves around Jung Da-Jung and Hong-Dae Young , a couple who has a pair of twins, Hong-Sia and Hong-Siu . Life seems perfect for the two despite the fact that they had their children at a very early age. But years later, their so called happy life seems to crumble when Jung files for a divorce and their 18 year old twins start ignoring their father. If this was not enough to add to the woes, Dae-Young’s life becomes more miserable when he loses his job after being denied a promotion and instead being transferred to Busan.

         These series of events leave him heartbroken and wishing that he could go back in time and fix his life as he repents for all the mistakes that he has committed. His wish gets granted as he turns into a 18 year old miraculously with a mind of a 37 year old and starts living a new life as Goo Woo Young. With his new identity, he tries to become a shadow to his children and be present for his now ex-wife and learns a lot about them . What does he learn about his family? Is he able to fix his mistakes and be the man that his family wanted to be him ? Will he be able to win the love of his family again or will he fail ? Also, will he be able to revert himself to his original self physically or will he be a 18 year old forever?

    Assessment: This is a show which deals with a lot of issues with two adult people at its center. It deals with the issue of how not being communicative with your better half can lead to a lot of problems which eventually ends up in the breakdown of a marriage. Also, it shows how a breakdown in a marriage has its impact not only on the children but also on the families which are related to the people close to them. This show also deals with other issues like getting bullied at high school, how beauty always has an upper hand when it comes to certain jobs more than brains, of how coaches run admission rackets , of someone being obsessive and harassing them , how social media is quick to judge without any empathy. It also teaches us valuable lessons of being financially independent, of being able to take a stand if injustice is meted out, of being able to take care of yourself if a grave situation presents in front of you, of being resilient emotionally and not letting your naysayers bringing you down. And the most important lesson it teaches us that it is never late to fix things and that with time and efforts , one can always fix things.

       I literally ended up falling in love with the female lead(Kim Ha-neul) more than the male lead because she gave me the most important lesson no matter how difficult it is in life , you should always pursue what you love with utmost courage and let no one else bother you. After all, you can have a bad day in life but not a bad life. I also ended up loving the characters of Ae Chu Rin and Go Deok Jin because they are ultimately the type of friends whom you want in your life- people who can stand behind you like a rock no matter whatever curve balls are thrown by life.

      One thing that I just find annoying (maybe annoying is not the right term but maybe over the top is a correct way to describe it) is the obsession of K-dramas with the feeling of love and impossible beauty standards. The dramas have a nice and a fascinating story line but I guess the only thing that these people find interesting is falling in love. Love is a beautiful feeling , but you cannot survive in life just on love, right? Things need to be looked into from a realist point of view as well. I appreciate it when people depict things in a realistic manner. That actually shows a mirror of how the society functions right? Maybe this is a thing that show makers can incorporate . Also, can we have less brand promotions please? It is a great way to attract attention to your brand but it just somehow puts a viewer off. Also, it is next to impossible to have a single favorite when you do have a variety of options in your life as you are bound to experiment at some or the other time. But I guess it was a trick to promote the brand so every family meal has to be of the same brand which I literally found super funny.😂😂🤣

    The view : A good show which tries to put light on various issues , this one though a bit tedious as there are a lot of episodes for a person who is pretty short on time like me. But if you are a person who can binge watch , then this one should be on your list at least once in a life as it does have an interesting story line as well as some interesting characters which will provide you some respite from your day to day drudgery. Also, it has some important lessons which can be incorporated in life that can make us a better version of ourselves. So, do go ahead and give it a watch by ignoring the brand promotions which might tend to irritate you . And yes do not forget to share your experiences of the same. Meet you next week with another pick and another theme . Till then lots of love and care. 🤗😊

    Rating: *** and a 1/2 stars

    The lead pair in a happy moment

    Baap dialogue: “No matter how hard life gets , never regret anything that made you smile.” (Jung Da-Jung in a radio episode when she was at Serim High School)

    Que: Name the team to which Ye-Ji hoon, the famous baseball player belongs to?

    a. Haitai Tigers

    b. Sammi Superstars

    c. Seum Wolves

    d. OB Bears

    Continue reading →: Traveling back in time…

  • An interesting tale of a bookseller!

    Published by

    Roshani Patil

    on

    Author:Gabrielle Zevin

    Genre: Contemporary/Drama

    “No matter how hard the past is, you can always begin again.”

    Buddha

    I am glad to announce that we turned five! Yes, you read it right. The Expression Hub is 5 years old. I am super grateful and super thankful to everyone who has been a part of this journey. This is because without you, this would not have been possible. It is your love, your motivation and your kind words which makes this journey worth the grind and effort. It is okay that maybe we are not as big as a family but you know what each one of you is valuable and inspiring in your own manner. It is your faith and belief in me which maybe keeps me on my toes and makes me put my best foot forward. So, yes cheers to even more milestones as I personally feel we have more milestones to achieve and keep the journey going no matter how drudging it might seem . The reason is simple- accountability to you readers and subscribers should always be a topmost priority because it is you who makes or breaks a person. So, with this thought always in the back of my mind, I do try my best not to compromise on the quality of my work and will never do so. I might be a little tardy on meeting the deadlines which I do feel guilty about thanks to my schedule but with my opinion and picks you will never have to face such an issue.

      Time truly flies and when your blog turns a year older, you do feel proud somewhere of the work you are putting in . You do have a feeling as if the thing which you gave birth to (though inanimate in this manner) is growing and you are like a proud mother watching your kid grow and reach new milestones and heights in life. And though I might not be a mother yet to a real kid, but this is my baby and it does feel good when you see your baby take strides.

    Well, coming to the point -just like every year, this year and the year after and after (hope you get the vibe😝) I will be having one pick which is supposed to be an anniversary pick because after all shouldn’t we have something to celebrate with ? And mind you, the anniversary picks are generally very special because they teach a lot and are a classic in their own ways. And I personally feel anniversaries are the best way to highlight that one pick which touched you or gave you great insight. So, though this might look like a normal post but it is not. Read on to find out what has been this year’s pick. If you do have any picks which you think are awesome as well or want to be reviewed, feel free to tell me about the same in the comments section. Who knows it might get featured as the next blog post?

    About the book: The Storied Life of A.J. Fikrey is this year’s anniversary pick. It revolves around a man who runs a bookstore on a fictional island named Alice Island. He is a 39 year old man who has turned nasty as he has lost his wife, his bookstore is experiencing the worst sales in its history. As if this was not enough to add to his woes, he has lost his what was his most prized possession- a rare collection of Poe poems, Tamerlane. These all lead him to being less social and more withdrawn as he does not seem to enjoy anyone’s company except that of his drink and some frozen food.This however does not seem to deter Amelia, a Knightley Press representative who keeps on visiting the Island to make recommendations for the bookstore.

       This all continues to take place routinely until and unless a mysterious package appears at his bookstore. This package shakes something in A.J and makes him to live his life afresh and start seeing things in a new light.What does that package contain as such that it brings a transformation in A.J? How does the package change his life? This unforgettable tale of transformation and second chances reveals the answers as we dig deeper.

    Analysis: This is a book which explores the life of a bookseller who was once passionate about books that he dedicated his entire life to the world of literature. However, as tragedy struck him, it seemed that he had become so demotivated, depressed and withdrawn that the books which were a lifeline to him seemed nothing. This book tries to explore the human emotion of grief and its impact on human life. This book also tries to highlight that with time you can heal if not close the deep wounds which have been inside your heart. This is highlighted when A.J receives that unexpected package and how that package transforms his life completely.

       The interesting aspect was that the story seems to be a normal one but it has been written from the point of a bookseller as well as that of a person whose life revolved around literature as the chapters are named after books. This book also tries to understand the dynamics of human relationships through the characters. After all, what are humans if they do not have people who add meaning to their lives? Isn’t it?

    Verdict : This is a book which is supposed to be in the category of a warm, bookish and cozy read which has sad elements with a dash of humor. For a person who loves his or her literature, this book is supposed to be a surprise treat as it has many literary titles suggested in it. Do read it if you are a fan of literature and love your stories with a dash of human emotions. Do read it if you love stories which contain the element of second chances and transformations. So, I do hope that you do enjoy reading this piece just like I did. Waiting to hear from you all about your experiences about the same. Will meet you next week with another pick which concludes our month . Till then lots of love and care. 🤗

    P.S. – If you do love the content, don’t forget to share your love and care by giving a like and a follow to either of the following-

    On Instagram– @theexpressivemind

    On Facebook- The Expression Hub

    On Word Press– through the subscription button.

    Your love and care helps us a lot as well as motivates us to put our best foot forward.

    Rating: *** stars

    Cite Bite: “We are not quite novels.
    We are not quite short stories.
    In the end, we are collected works.”

    Que: What is the name of the book that Amelia recommends to AJ?

    a. The Great Gatsby

    b. The Late Bloomer

    c. Love in the time of cholera

    d. A Little Life

    Continue reading →: An interesting tale of a bookseller!

  • A living space?

    Published by

    Roshani Patil

    on

    Starring: Brie Larson, Jacob Tremblay,Joan Allen, Sean Bridgers,Tom McCamus,William H.Macy

    Directed by: Lenny Abrahamson

    Genre: Drama

    “My room was a real way of expressing myself. It was like a little nest that I could settle into.”

    Chloe Sevigny

    Well, before I jump into the latest pick of this week, a disclaimer- the pick which has been selected by me this week is way too sensitive and can be disturbing for some people. Viewer discretion is necessary. So, if you do intend to watch the same, do watch it at your own risk. This is because though the movie has content which can be disturbing in nature but it also has a powerful message. I , as a responsible blogger always try to ensure that the viewer has an informed choice and is able to have an experience which can be memorable in the right sense and not trigger any feelings of trauma, anxiety or stress which can be triggered due to some stimuli present in the pick which I might be endorsing. After all, an experience needs to be one which is happy which is thoughtful and which gives food to your brain .Isn’t it ?

      So, keeping that in mind, I will try my level best to be as emotionally sensitive I can be because if we put ourselves in the shoes of the characters, you do find that it can be an experience which can be really disturbing to us as well after all we are supposed to have emotions and emotions can be of all sorts . It is high time that we try to accept emotions of all sorts and be human as possible though sometimes the outburst can be too intense to digest and can be really disturbing to process. And I do hope that the viewers or the readers will ensure the same while making the choices in their lives while having their picks. 

    Story line: This week’s pick revolves around a 24 year old woman and her son who live in a filthy shed which they call the ‘Room’. The room consists of all their basic needs- a kitchen, a bed, a toilet and a bath with a window on the top which is a skylight. They are captives of a man they call “Old Nick”, who is supposed to be the biological father of the woman’s son. Though the woman tries to be optimistic for her son but in reality she is suffering from malnutrition and depression. However, one day the mother decides to free her son and herself from the Room and venture out in the real world so that her son has interaction with real things. Will she be able to escape the Room and finally venture into the real world? Will she be able to face the outside world with full courage or will she falter? Also, will the man who held them captive will be free or will justice be served to the mother-son duo?

    Scrutiny: This is a movie which can be very disturbing in nature yet has a very powerful message . This is because of the portrayal of the main character who has been held as a captive for the last 7 years and is repeatedly abused physically . The impact which that has on her has led her to being malnourished and being depressed. But the only thing that is keeping her going is her son who adds color to her life by his vivid imagination and the activities which they undertake together in that small room . The movie has highlighted as well as very well portrayed the issues of mental health. The movie has also captured beautifully the essence of freedom and the cost one has to pay to obtain it. Realistic and agonizing histrionics of Brie Larson as Joy Newsome just bleeds your heart while Jacob Tremblay as Jack brightens up your day . He is shown to be a symbol of hope and optimism who despite the difficult circumstances tries to be a support to his mother. I believe what is being portrayed is that love does has that ability to protect as well as heal the people. Also, the risk which a mother takes for her son is a thing which one undertakes only in love. Or else why would she even bother to live when she considered her life meaningless?It was that ray of hope in her somewhere distant which seemed elusive but gave her the will to take life as it came.

    The Sentiment: This is a movie which I will not call a movie which entertains but a movie which gives food to your brain. This is because it is no fun but is instead an experience which is pretty draining in nature. This one can keep you thinking for hours as to what the mother would have endured. But at the same time, this is also a movie which holds a mirror to the society; and also awakens empathy for issues which are not discussed widely. Do watch it if you are into thought provoking movies and love giving some food to your brain. Else if you are someone who do find these things disturbing and always want the picks to make you feel good avoid it . After all, everyone has different choices and it is okay not to have the same choices. But on the other hand, if you are the one who is interested to understand the nitty-gritty of life then maybe you can consider this provided you don’t end up being disturbed.

    Rating: *** and a 1/2 stars

    The beautiful mother-son bond captured in a frame

    Que: What is the name of the pet dog which Joy’s mother’s partner has?

    a. Seamus

    b. Jack

    c. Peter

    d. Leo

    Quote-Unquote : “No one is strong alone. You know, you and your mom, you help each other through, don’t you?” (Joy to Jack)

    Continue reading →: A living space?

Hello,

I’m Roshani

Welcome to The Expression Hub! I’m Roshani, who loves to express herself through the medium of writing. This blog is my little corner of the internet where I dive deep into the world of movies, books, and web series—reviewing, analyzing, and sometimes just ranting about the stories that make us laugh, cry, and question everything.

Beyond reviews, you’ll also find my personal musings—random thoughts, life reflections, and the occasional deep dive into the things that inspire me. Think of this as a space where art meets emotion, and where honest opinions matter more than star ratings.

Join me as we explore incredible stories together, one post at a time. Have a recommendation? Let’s talk—I’m always up for discovering something new!

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