I was initially interested when the teasers of this series came out as it contains themes which I like in dramas. Paranormal? Check! Mythical beings? Check! Blood and gore? Check!
I was prepared to see more of those thunderous and fearful beings that beat the life out of people before condemning them to hell, but the story focused more on their effect on society. The writer/director, Yeon Sang-Ho also directed Train to Busan which had underlying themes on societal problems. This series is no different.
However, I was a bit disappointed as I was expecting more focus on how these beings came about or some reason why they suddenly appeared. Maybe some other paranormal appearances? I don't know but the ending hinted of another season.
Gist of the story was that a person would receive a message or a "decree" from an angel giving them their exact time of death and in the next breath, condemning them to hell. If that damning prophecy was not enough, a trio of monsters would appear on the day of their death, beat the crap out of them and then burn them to hell.
This supernatural occurrence birthed a religion, a cult so to speak, where people were taught to follow the tenets of their belief lest they be condemned to hell. Maybe this what makes the series interesting. It's a study of human behavior and how we react when we are faced with something that is beyond explanation.
Would I recommend? It's not for everyone but it's a definitely fascinating watch.
This drama just proved that Jung Hae-in is more effective in action/comedies rather than romcoms. Out of his 3 other romance dramas, I only managed to forcefully finish one. Maybe the nearest thing that I liked was his movie with Kim Go-eun Tune in for Love, but that wasn't even happy-happy. It had a sad vibe to it but it's better than Something in the Rain or One Spring Night.
However, I loved him in While You Were Sleeping and Prison Playbook. It's probably coincidence or maybe it's fate that in both series, he played a figure in authority--a policeman and soldier respectively.
D.P. stands for Deserter Pursuit which is a team that chases after military deserters--or soldiers who abandons their military posts without permission. Their military code considers this a major offense and can be punishable by incarceration.
The drama shows the stories of these soldiers who chose to be deserters and the reasons for their decision. The story is so gripping and gritty and based on what I read, is true-to-life. It pains me to know that these might be the same scenarios that my idols and oppas are going through during their enlistment. Am not saying that they all have the same experience but it can happen--even here in our country. That's why even if it's banned, we would still hear stories of hazing and even death due to this barbarous activity.
Am grateful for Koo Kyo-hwan's character which gave the show a bit of comedy as a respite from all the doom and gloom.
One of the episodes that I liked was the one which involved a soldier's halmeonni--the reason why he deserted. I found myself shedding tears when he was eventually captured and he requested that he say goodbye to his grandmother who was sick with Alzheimer's. He bowed to her even when she could not recognize him.
WHAT I LIKE ABOUT IT
Jung Hae In
He was the main reason why I watched this drama. I was initially enthralled by him at While You Were Sleeping (the abs helped) and then continued on with Prison Playbook. I even went out of my way to see him during his fanmeet here in Manila and even had the opportunity for high-touch. Unfortunately, I had no pictures except for the blurry ones during the actual FM. Unlike the other FM's, I only got balcony tickets for this one much to my chagrin. I wish I splurged for a VIP ticket so I could see him up close. After not liking his previous works, I'm hoping that this would be some sort of redemption and I was proven right. He really excels in action or maybe he has not found the right romcom for him yet. I'm missing his nakakakilig na smiles!
I also read that he and Jun-young trained in boxing before they shot the drama. It certainly helped as their fight scenes were beautiful to watch. Their moves were so graceful--not in a gentle sort of way--but you can see the training.
The Mini-Stories
Each episode has a story of a deserter. I was surprised with some of the cameos (I forgot they were in the cast!) especially that of Go Kyung Pyo and Lee Jun Young. I was taken aback by their characters as they were opposite from their usual portrayals. They're still very much pogi even if they were all beaten up and bruised--especially Jun (I should binge-watch his either dramas. Got interested in him after Imitation).
The Lessons
One of the lessons learned here is violence breeds violence. Like the story of Cho Suk-bong, he was beaten up because his seniors were beaten up by their seniors. It's a never-ending vicious cycle which can never be stopped.
In the last episode, the recurring theme was, "Why didn't you do anything?" They knew that their comrade was being beaten but whey did they not do anything? The sister of one of the deserters also echoed this--even one of the mothers. It's a rude awakening for all of us. We witness all of these injustices but are we doing anything about it? Why do we turn a blind eye?
WHAT I DON'T LIKE ABOUT IT
The Violence
I know it's part of the story but I still cringed during the beatings. The first few minutes were stressful to watch and I had to close my eyes so many times. The justification for the brutality still escapes me sometimes. They claim that they do this to toughen their men up but it's difficult or me to accept their reality. My heart would break if I knew my own son would go through such hell.
RATING:
Thank goodness that all 6 episodes were dropped by Netflix all on the same day. That's why I love Netflix produced dramas as I don't have to wait every week for new episodes. Giving this FIVE tissue boxes and highly recommending this!
I had a difficult time writing this review. It's a major consensus that a lot of people disliked this drama and so did I. Of course, I had to break down why.
POSSIBLE SPOILERS
The story is about a college art student, Nabi, who got involved with a fellow student, Jae-eon, a guy with multiple red flags. And by red flags, we mean a person who based on his behavior, can hurt the other person if they enter into a relationship. We saw this when Na-bi caught Jae-eon flirting and kissing someone else when she was falling for him. Moreover, he would suddenly leave Na-bi so he could see his ex. But she still liked him and hated him and this was basically the theme of most of the drama.
The reception to this show would depend on how experienced you are in relationships and life. I noticed that those who really disapproved of this drama were those who had experienced the heartache of the lead female character. At Nabi's age, we all lived the YOLO adage and wanted to experience life--including the heartaches fully. We never listened to well-meaning advice and just continued on with what we were doing--with the expected painful results. I guess this drama reminded us how we were stupid once and we all know how uncomfortable it could be. Been there done that.
On the other hand, there were those who liked it either they are in the same type of relationship and managed to reform the bad boy or they're just probably in love with Song Kang and to hell if he's an asshole in the series. Admittedly, he was the main reason why I watched this show as I fell in love with him (the actor, not his character) in "When the Devil Calls Your Name" and I almost hated him for taking on this role. I mean, coming from Navillera, this is a 180! I accepted that he would get the girl in the end as he's the main lead but from the way his character was written, he did not deserve her at all.
I wanted to nitpick the ending. Nabi just forgave him without letting him explain why he acted that way. And it took only a couple of episodes for him to change when he was basically a jerk in most of the episodes. The abrupt character development gave me a whiplash. I caustically remarked in our Kdrama review thread that he might not have been there for her but must've gotten lost while waiting for his new lover. Yes, that's how much I hated him. He should've had the balls to explain himself and in the end, Nabi just forgave him then and there because he showed up in the exhibit. And it was all too sudden for him to reveal that he fell in love with her even before she met him. It felt too forced.
And don't get me started on Potato Boy. I felt that he was written in the story to make Jae-eon jealous and make him realize how much he loves Nabi (I wanted to hurl after writing that). Like other memorable second leads, this would be the show that marked Chae Jong Hyeop's career. I hope in his next drama, he will get the girl.
WHAT I LIKE ABOUT IT
The Supporting Characters
Whenever I get pissed with the two leads, I just pay attention to the supporting cast. It was interesting that they have two female characters who got into a relationship. For a conservative country like Korea, I'm glad the PD and writer-nim mustered the courage to show this. Though I was a bit disappointed when they confessed their feelings to each other and instead of a kiss (which usually happens after a confession), they just settled for a hug. Oh well. You'll get there, Korea!
The Lesson
This can be arguable as I can sarcastically say that there's no worthy lesson to be learned here. But if you have kids and want to teach them about red flags, then this could be a show to be used as basis instead of telling them your own embarrassing story.
First Three Episodes
It's the reason why I watched this show. I wasn't able to watch the pilot when it aired. I just heard from friends that it's really good and Song Kang is so swoon-worthy. So I watched and went spastic over SK's hotness and his chemistry with Han So-hee. But it got annoying towards the middle.
WHAT I DON'T LIKE ABOUT IT
Do I Need To Say More?
I think I managed to say a lot already in the first part of this review. It's an uncomfortable watch for some especially if you've went through Nabi's experience (taas kamay ang mga marurupok diyan).
The Slow Story
I'm glad this is only at 10 episodes and better to be binge-watched. It's only 1 episode per week so it took a lot of patience to wait for the next episode. What made the experience worse was each installment left us with more irritating questions rather than resolutions. If ever there were any exciting moments, well, it depends on what kind of excitement you're looking for, but watching the two leads figure out their relationship can be quite frustrating.
RATING
Three tissue boxes for this one. I wanted to give it a two but Chae Jong Hyeop made me reconsider.
The first episode immediately hooked me in. Premise of the story is that anyone who eats the food that the witch cooks will get their wish. But each wish comes with a hefty price.
Jung Jin, played by Nam Ji-Hyun was one of the customers of the witch Hee-ra beautifully played by Song Ji-Hyo. She made a wish which she deeply regretted afterwards. Jin ended up working for the witch and even learned how to cook the dishes herself. The reason therewith was revealed towards the end of the series.
Of course, Chae Jong-Hyeop's presence made the drama even more appealing. I was growing frustrated with Nevertheless (where he is also part of the cast) so seeing him here was a treat.
WHAT I LIKE ABOUT IT
The quotable quotes and the learnings
There were quite a lot in the series. Here are a couple of my favorites:
In this scene, Jin was expressing her frustration on the wishes being made by their customers and the price that they were paying. Hee-ra mentioned this which really struck me. Sometimes, we are quick to judge people and forcing them to accept our own definition of happiness when only themselves can know what it means to be happy.
This can be difficult especially if the people involved are someone we care for. But as we say in Filipino--Kung saan ka masaya, suportahan kita.
I love this quote as I can simplify it in one word--Believe. It touched a chord in me as this has been my mantra for the past several months as I tackled a huge project at work. Believe is defined to accept something as true. Believe also involves trust and both are difficult to instill especially if you've been burned by failures and disappointments.
The Guests
Each guest had their own story to tell and why they made such a wish. Love the cameos as they were not forced. Each guest and their story appeared for a couple of episodes. Koo Hyo-shik's (superbly played by Lim Won-Hee) story was so heartbreaking that I cried with him. Happy that his mom got her wish though.
Chae Jong-hyeop
Need I say more? His smiles have become legendary.
WHAT I DON'T LIKE ABOUT IT
Too short!
This is only 8 episodes which makes it easy to binge-watch. Maybe that's why I liked this drama. The writer was forced to tell a story that will just run for 8 hours which sort of made everything fast paced. I want to see more though. Probably a season 2 where Hee-ra returns?
Noona Romance
I haven't seen a successful drama with a noona romance. I couldn't feel any chemistry between them.
RATING:
Giving this four tissue boxes!
Watched: July 18-August 13, 2021
Since Ji-Hyo is a regular cast of Running Man, the cast appeared in one of the episodes.
The Korean title of this drama is Racket Sonyeondan and like its sort of namesake, this drama and its young cast built up its own cult following.
Kim Sang-kyung stars as a badminton coach and Oh Na-ra as his wife who also shares the same profession--albeit with a more successful team. Tang Joon-sang, fresh from his Move to Heaven stint, plays their sports-oriented son who got into baseball and badminton.
The story is about a group of teenagers who belong to a badminton team in one of the rural towns of Korea. It's a slice of life drama showing how they handle the stress and pressures of competing and at the same time, nurturing their relationships with their peers, family and neighbors.
You learn to love all of the characters and root for them during their competitions and most of all, you cheer them on as they grow to be better versions of themselves. The character developments were spot on and it was heart warming to see them change that would enable them to do great and wonderful things.
I loved the Coach, the father of one of the protagonists. He started off as an ineffective teacher--somebody who would care first about himself rather than his players. But as he spent more time with his team, he learned to grow and even exceeded expectations--whether as a father, a husband or as a coach.
He said something which I can relate to, "You guys made an average player and below-average coach like myself feel pretty good about myself." Seeing how much his boys work inspired him to be better at his job and even made some cool calls in one of the games.
WHAT I LIKE ABOUT IT
Character Development
There were a lot in this story--from the young leads, the coach and even the supporting cast.
One particular touching moment was when the city folks realized that they have something to live for. They moved to the Haenam as they wanted to literally die. It had to take a bowl of curry to knock them off their misery. If they proceeded with their plans, they wouldn't have been blessed with their bundle of joy which they have been praying and wishing for for so long.
The Cameos
A good drama usually does not need cameos to rack up ratings but the writer managed to get cameos from some of the actors from Prison Playbook--which he also wrote. Loved the interaction of Lee Kyu-Hyung and Jung Min-Sung (they were cellmates in Prison Playbook).
Young Love, Sweet Love
Even if the leads are young, they still invoked the right amount of "kilig" and how puppy love feels like. I guess I've been used to watching dramas were love is passionate and culminated with a kiss (or for other dramas, a trip down the aisle or a bed). For this one, they just hugged it out. You can't help but say, awwwwwww!
WHAT I DON'T LIKE ABOUT IT
I really can't think of anything. If ever, this drama was considered underrated. There's no big name in the cast yet, the story managed to carry them through. Oh, and the episode delays too! This ran for almost three months. It was extended because from the two-episode a week, it became one-episode a week and then there was a week when they didn't show an episode because of the Olympics.
RATING
Giving this five tissue boxes! Such an inspirational slice of life drama.
It has been a marvelous 8 weeks with these trio. How do I move on?
It's Okay to not be Okay is one of the best dramas of 2020. If there's anything redeeming about this crappy year, it's this series (and sige na nga, pati CLOY).
I've seen my share of KDramas that tackle mental illness but this by far, is the one I like the most. With mental illness being more recognized and veering away from being taboo, it gives viewers another picture on the lives of families struggling with these realities.
Some of the scenes are romanticized but the lines are eye opening and perhaps, even heart-wrenching. It was satisfying to see the characters grow into the better versions of themselves. They managed to face all the hurts and pains and learned how to heal. Comparing their characters in the finale vs the pilot, they surely have come such a long way.
I loved how Sang Tae, the older brother "grew" up and realized that he's the hyung. The waterworks came when Sang Tae told his younger brother that Gang Tae belongs to Gang Tae and that he was not born to be the caregiver of his older brother.
I liked that each episode revolves around a certain fairy tale. My favorite, by far, is the one from the pilot as it set the tone for the whole drama. It also has one of the most poignant lines, for me:
'Hurtful, painful memories. Memories of deep regrets. Memories of hurting others and being hurt. Memories of being abandoned. Only those with such memories buried in their hearts can become stronger, more passionate, and emotionally flexible. And only those can attain happiness.'
So don't forget any of it. Remember it all and overcome it. If you don't overcome it, you'll always be a kid whose soul never grows."
The pilot episode is whimsical which caught my attention. And the female lead, Seo Ye-Ji was so unlike any other. She carried being a bitch so well and her distinctive voice put her above other Korean actresses. She has come a long way from the teeny-bopper love interest of GDragon in BigBang’s MV Let’s Not Fall In Love.
I’ve seen Kim Soo Hyun in previous dramas but this is his first post-military stint full length project (not counting his cameos in Hotel del Luna and CLOY). I knew that he’s a brilliant actor but he blew my mind again with his performance here.
Oh Jung Se is a revelation. I first saw him in Touch Your Heart but this one, is his best (next to Camellia where he won best supporting actor in the recent Baeksang awards). He made my heart ache with his thoughtful portrayal of a person with mental disabilities. And when he took time off his busy schedule to meet with a fan who has the same condition as his character, my tears started to flow. And he even came dressed as Sang Tae!
I love the story. I love the acting. I love the cinematography. I love this drama!
And that finale. It certainly wrapped everything up and allowed us to say goodbye to characters that we've invested 24 hours of our lives with. It was fulfilling to see the cameos return and their stories incorporated in KMY'S final book. I'm amazed how the writer managed to bring everything together in the end.
If I’m going to nitpick, I’m not satisfied with the explanation of Ko Moon Young’s mother. After scaring us for so many episodes, that's it?
Also, though there were some nice songs in the OST, nothing that would stick in my mind.
I've said my share of goodbyes to awesome dramas in the past two years that I've been watching. But this one will stay with me for a long, long time.
Rating: Five Tissue Boxes!
Ps
Remember that sometimes, it really is okay not to be okay.
If Ha Seok Jin was not my number one oppa, I would've dropped this drama halfway. I was so annoyed with his character and it really dragged on. I do understand that he's "high class trash" but it was too much. The plot was also predictable and a bit cliche-ish.
The underlying theme of the drama shows why people drink solo. I like that little introduction at the start of the episode and how they end an episode with more drinking. It made me want to drink as well.
Ha Seok Jin plays Jin Jung-Suk, a first-class instructor at a Civil Service Exam review school and one who likes to drink alcohol by himself and with a ceremony to boot. While Park Ha-Sun plays Park Ha-Na, also another instructor but with less stellar credentials compared to Teacher Jin. The story revolves around their relationship as well as that with the other teachers and students.
The supporting cast were entertaining to watch. Kim Won-hae as the CEO of the academy was hilarious as usual and my favorite would be Key of Shinee. I have low expectations for idols who transition to drama but his portrayal as one of the friends of Teacher Ha-na's student was just amusing. I won't easily forget his "tiriri" catchphrase.
The cameos were also something to watch out for. Having Key's Shinee co-member Minho appear as an old classmate was just so funny! I was surprised that it was early on in the series but it was enough for me. There were other guests towards the end like 2AM's Jo Kwon and Ha Seok Jin's BFF, Kim Ji-Suk.
WHAT I LIKE ABOUT IT
The cameos
Not only actors guested in this drama but some scenes from other dramas as well. There was one professor who spoofed drama/movie characters and used them in his lectures. I laughed when he parodied Park Bo Gum's prince character in Love in the Moonlight even showing a scene on his phone.
Character Development
Am not sure if there was even one. Let's just say I liked it when Ha Seok Jin's character showed his non-asshole side. I relished seeing him display a different emotion when he and his brother fought outside his house, and of course, when he cried after breaking up with Teacher Ha-na. He's so effective because I cried with him as well.
WHAT I DON'T LIKE ABOUT IT
Predictable Plot
I actually was able to predict most of what happened. When Prof. Jun-suk learned that his brother liked Prof. Ha-na, he broke up with her for his brother's happiness. My eyes couldn't stop rolling up to the back of my head. There were several scenes of him afterwards crying and drinking by himself while thinking of the woman he loves. I couldn't stop laughing at that one.
Ha Seok Jin's Character
I felt that his character was poorly written. He was crass half of the drama and for him to suddenly do a 180 just because he fell in love was a major suspension of disbelief. Also, the reason for his boorish behavior felt rather shallow. It could be possible but I was not satisfied with the explanation.
RATING
Giving this three and a half tissue boxes because of Ha Seok-jin and Key. Also, there's this song that I like.
Would I recommend? Depends. It's one of the last dramas that I would recommend for Ha Seok-jin fans but seeing Key here would be a treat.
Back in 2018, our very own Morissette Amon represented our country at the Asia Song Festival in Busan. She sang the english translation of a Korean song, Resignation, originally sung by Lee Young Hyun.
What made her performance remarkable was when she sung the last verse in Hangul. I've watched the reaction videos and people--especially Koreans--were just blown away as according to them, she sounded just like a local.
I just had to watch this again as the characters in Drinking Solo sung this during their drinking spree. Haha.
I initially chose to watch this because my #1 oppa, Ha Seok Jin, appeared in a cameo. Moreover, the male lead is one of his good friends. I found myself enjoying the drama and even liked the chemistry of the leads.
Jung So-Min plays a "homeless" editor who was hired to write for a magazine that features homes. The paper was bought by a real estate mogul played by Kim Ji-Suk who planned to use it to market his investments.
Their first meeting was hilarious and KJS managed to come up with catchphrases that really gave his character life. (Stop!) Moreover, even if I've watched JSM in other dramas before, but she became my girl crush in this drama. She's so pretty!
There were so many learnings from this drama especially if you're seriously thinking of buying your own home. Though it may come out as hilarious but the Youtube videos that our male lead churned out were actually very informative. Bottom line is, if you really want a house, you have to save up for it and that would mean sacrifices.
Make sure you're not in the mood to buy anything when you watch this as you'll end up not buying it instead. :)
There's a quotable quote at the end of the drama that I liked.
Before this, Editor Na (JSM's character) narrated what would be considered a a good home. It can be a place that is clean and cozy. It can also be a place where you would want to invite close friends to. But she concluded, that a good home is a place where a good person lives.
In the end, she was able to find the place where she really felt at home.
WHAT I LIKE ABOUT IT
The cast
I was on the fence on Kim Ji Suk as the only drama of his that I've watched was When the Camellia Blooms and I wanted to hit him there. I tried Top Star Yoo-Baek but am stuck at Ep 3 though a lot have recommended that to me. He's growing on me now especially knowing that he's the BFF of my number one oppa.
I also watched Jung So Min in Because This is my First Life but I fell in love with her here. There's a freshness in her that I really liked. Will watch definitely her drama with HSJ and see who she has more chemistry with.
Loved that Kim Won Hae is here. He's one of my favorite character actors. Funny though that I was watching this together with Drinking Solo where he's also one of the supporting casts. I almost interchanged his characters as he's also animated there.
The houses
I was blown away when they featured the houses and the corresponding prices. I had to google the KRW to PHP exchange rate to understand the cost. Not surprising considering how beautiful and large the houses were. It made me think if I would really want to live in such a luxurious spread even if I could afford it. Again, we all go back to what is considered our own definition of a "home".
WHAT I DON'T LIKE ABOUT IT
The finale
I was really looking forward to the finale as I breezed through the 15 episodes. I wanted to find out what would happen to our leads. The writer had to insert that uncomfortable conflict at the end when there's not much build up to it. It took me by surprise and it did not invoke the right emotion from me. I should've cried but I'm my reaction was a "WTF just happened?"
RATING
Giving this four tissue boxes. Even if I didn't like the finale, I enjoyed the whole drama.
An OST can make or break a drama. It provides the appropriate atmosphere especially during a poignant moment.
These are the OSTs that are currently listening to:
Hospital Playlist Season 2 - Superstar. This is such a catchy tune and the message is so encouraging. Makes you really want to say, "Fighting!"
Imitation - Constellation / Your Sign. I was sobbing so hard at the end of this song. I initially thought I would not like this drama but I was hooked..
My friends have mentioned that I'm the ultimate fangirl. I've done some pretty wild things in the name of fangirling for the simple reason that it makes me happy--the people I stan make me happy.
One way for me to stan is I follow my idols in socmed. I "like" their posts or sometimes, I strive to leave a well-thought off message. In one of Ha Seok Jin's vlogs, I left a comment and was happily surprised to see that it was liked.
Of course, since this is sort of a give-away contest, my comment might've been liked for tallying purposes. Nevertheless, the point that it was noticed was enough for me.
I collect oppas and for the longest time, I never picked a number 1.
Every year, I'd be forced to pick a top oppa for our oppa survey in an online Kdrama group that I belong to. I'd choose depending on who was my current "flavor-of-the-month".
In my first year, I remember choosing Park Seo Joon. Then in the succeeding year, I picked T.O.P. Last year, I recall picking T.O.P. again (for consistency's sake). But this time around, I can proudly say that Ha Seok Jin is my top pick. It's the first time that I found myself "obsessing" over a korean actor. I turned on my Google alerts for him as well as Instagram and Youtube notifications.
I'm trying to figure out what made me fall for him this hard. He has angles that are not flattering but I find him really handsome. I don't know if its because of his sexy brain which added to his charisma.
I don't usually review variety/reality shows as the main purpose of these programs is to entertain and there's not much of a storyline or a script and the stars just play themselves. However, this deserves a special mention.
I've also seen Cha Tae Hyun and Jo In Sung in dramas (though I know CTH used to do a lot of variety but I haven't seen them yet) so it was a treat seeing them in a situation that is out of their comfort zone.
It was interesting how they handled the 10 days that they were temporary owners of a country store. They adapted quickly to their environment and even became one with the townspeople. CTH was so charismatic and JIS managed to charm his way into the hearts of the ahjummas. I love their alba (part-time workers/guests) and their dinner conversations. It's a different kind of reality show.
I cried with the two when they met with the owner at the last episode. They weren't able to meet with her when the series started so it was sort of a surprise for the cast. It was very emotional and touching.
It was also interesting to see the different personalities in their small village that appeared as guests. It was amusing to see their starstruck expressions when they saw the actors but they managed to get over that and treated them as one of their own.
I wish they would have another season. I will truly miss this show as it's so chill and relaxing to watch. Something to make me unwind on a Friday night.
This drama made me realize how difficult it is to be Lawful Good. We have always been educated and even reiterated in other dramas that criminals, though how evil and despicable they are, should be dealt with in accordance of the law. Moreover, with their human rights protected. But there will always be a part in us that will yearn for biblical justice--an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. And suffice to say, this drama successfully wooed my bloodthirsty side.
Throughout the whole series, we've seen how the people of Babel group lead by Chairman Jang, superbly played by Ok Taecyeon (and I say that without prejudice), kill people ruthlessly without blinking an eye. We grieved with the victims and even cheered them on when they were able to get justice at the end. And that justice, oh wow, it was so satisfyingly delivered. I should feel pity on how our hero, Vincenzo, dealt with their punishment but it was so so SOOOO deserved.
There were those who only saw Ok Taecyeon for the first time. He was actually the main reason (yes, Song Joong ki was the second) why I watched this drama. OTY is a member of the kpop group, 2PM, before he ventured into acting (he's still a member of the group and still promotes with them. In fact, they have a scheduled comeback later this year). This is actually his 6th drama that I've watched not counting his reality show appearances (3 Meals a Day and 2PM Wild Six!). Amongst all his shows, Vincenzo is where he managed to show more depth and improvement in his acting. I'm SO proud of him!
A lot of viewers were also not happy with the death of Jang Han Seo. I felt ok with that as it made me despise Chairman Jang Han Seok more. If ever I felt pity for that psychotic chairman, it disappeared when he killed his own brother.
Kwak Dong Yeon, the actor who played Jang Han Seo, again showed his notable acting chops (I can still remember his memorable appearance, albeit a cameo, in It's Okay Not to be Okay). If it's character development that we're looking for then his is the one that deserves an applause. After being physically beaten by his own brother for years, he found the "brotherhood" that he was looking for in his former arch-nemesis. It made his death more bittersweet and touching.
I should also mention the awesome cinematography of the series and the OST too! I love the instrumental violins (?) that were played at the end when Vincenzo was walking away. Makes you really want to give it a standing ovation.
Am glad they did not go too heavy on the romantic scenes. I liked his chemistry with the female lead but am more focused with Vincenzo's relationship with the other characters--the Geumga Squad for one. They're my favorites here, most of all, the president of Vincenzo's fanclub (Oh My Consiglieri). Gosh! That was a riot! Hahaha!
If I were to have a peeve it would be the product placements (PP). South Korean dramas are notorious for their PPs especially if the lead is a hallyu wave star. However, if the PP is smoothly done, it doesn't bother me and I just laugh it off. In this case, it's effective as I want some Maxim and Kopiko.
I originally thought that this drama was a tad too long at 20 episodes and 1.5 hours each! But at its conclusion, there were still so many things that I wanted to see--a reunion with the Geumga squad, the destruction of the building, Vincenzo's new "family island" etc. But I rest easy knowing that this drama entertained me enough for the past 3 months.
I'm a late bloomer when it comes to Kpop. I only discovered it because of KDrama.
I started off with the relatively new ones like Super Junior, 2PM and Big Bang and gradually adding them to my Kpop playlist. I watched their Youtube videos and MVs and even memorized their songs (at least for Big Bang).
I only knew of Sechskies because they were a point of contention in Reply 1997 and Reply 1994 (that and H.O.T.. I stumbled on their new single when it was shown at the end of a Youn's Stay. Apparently, PD Na (the PD of Youn's Stay) was involved in their new song with Yoo Hee Yeol being roped into in composing the song (which he's apparently good at even during his TOY days).
My husband and I went on a JUNK trip to Seoul, South Korea in 2018. I'll make another post about our trip but I need to tell the story first about this picture as I'm currently watching Record of Youth.
We were walking around out of the malls around Dongdaemun when we decided to ride one of the elevators at Doota Mall. When the doors opened, this life-sized picture of Park Bo-gum greeted me.
I just grabbed onto my husband and held back a scream. I really thought it was him! Apparently, it was just a life-sized image of his that was stuck on the elevator windows as a form of advertising.
Suffice to say, I didn't want to get off the elevator.
I should change the title of this blog to When Sunshine Embraced Korea. Apparently, other than Korean Drama, there are other aspects to this fangirling--there's KFood, KBeauty and Kpop.
I thought my obsession will only be around KDrama but because of BTS' speech at the UN, I became curious about these groups.
Based on the recommendation of my Twitter Noona friends, I decided to start with the 2nd Gen ones -- Super Junior, Big Bang et al. Since I'm already familiar with Siwon, I went with Super Junior.
Super Junior was formed way bank November 2005 by one of the largest entertainment companies in Korea, SM Entertainment. Auditions and several recruitment events happened across Korea, China and even the US until the initial group comprising of the following Hankyung, Leeteuk, Yesung, Eunhyuk, Sungmin, Donghae, Heechul, Kangin, Kibum, Siwon, Shindong and Ryewook were launched. A year after, Kyuhyun joined the group after winning third place in a local festival.
The concept of the group was something like the Puerto Rican boy band group, Menudo, where the line-up changes to keep the members perpetually young and relate-able. However, this concept was later dropped with the introduction of Kyuhyun. They did form sub-groups to target certain markets and audiences.
At first, I only recognized Siwon as I saw him in She Was Pretty. It helped that Siwon is always in the middle so it's easy for me to find him. I watched more of their videos and found Donghae cute as well. I've also seen the other members in I Can See Your Voice (If I'm not mistaken, Leeteuk is one of the hosts while Shindong is one of the judges). I also watched their guesting/s in Running Man and their hilarious "Would You Rather" episode below.
The song below was composed by Donghae resonated in my brain and became my LSS. I'm learning the lyrics as I'm looking forward to singing this while driving.
Again, I'm sore that I missed their concert here last June. When they return, I'll see if I can bring myself to brave the throngs of other ELF fans to see them.
Another interesting song is Lo Siento, with the lyrics being tri-lingual (Korean, English and Spanish). The upbeat rhythm helps too.
My last LSS is Rockstar, specifically, this live version from their Japan concert. I was surprised with the amount of skin that I saw and can't help but wonder how they can stay so fit with their busy schedules.
I still have a lot to learn with regards to this group. Thankfully, my Noona ELF friends shared this very informative Twitter thread:
This drama was recommended to me previously and I watched it because of Nam Joo-hyuk. However, it was not that much of a hit for me. Will explain later on.
Shown in November 2016 - January 2017, it starred Lee Sung-kyung and Nam Joo-hyuk. The show is loosely based on the life of one of Korea's gold-medal weightlifting athletes, Jang Mi-ran. Though it did not rate much in Korea, apparently, it gained a cult following here in the Philippines which lead to the recommendation.
I first saw NJH as the 13th prince in the much lambasted Scarlet Heart series. It was a treat seeing him again here. It was sad that his recent visit here was marred with reports of him being "maltreated" by fans. Unfortunately, it's a common thing across all fandoms. In my previous fangirling life, we would be incensed when our LT would be pinched, prodded and poked by over-eager fans. Though I would want to understand where they are coming from (they claim "nanggigigil lang sila" or they just can't control their excitement), there is such a thing a personal space. I remember the first time I saw my idols, I just stood there and cried. I had to ask permission if I could hug and kiss them which they gladly obliged.
WHAT I LIKE ABOUT IT Moral of the Story
In a society that's obsessed with physical looks, this drama exerted effort to break the stereotype.
In the story, Kim Bok-joo (Lee Sung-kyung) fell in love with a doctor, Jung Jae-yi (Lee Jae-yoon). Being a weightlifter, she didn't care much about her looks and scoffed upon those who were always on a diet. Thus, they were always at "war" with the ballerinas. However, she suddenly felt self-conscious about her looks. She discovered that the doctor was actually an obesity doctor and wanting to be closer to him, lied about who she was and even enrolled in the clinic where the doctor works.
Jung Jae-yi turned out to be the older brother of Jung Joon-hyung (Nam Joo-hyuk), a swimmer in the same sports university where Bok-joo studies. The two athletes became close when they found out that they went to the same kindergarten together. It is there that Bok-joo first "saved" Joon-hyung when the latter fell off the second floor and the former caught him in her arms. Back then, she had shown innate physical strength which lead her to take up weightlifting.
For the longest time, Bok-joo pretended to be a simple student and not a athlete. All hell broke loose when Bok-joo's roommate tattled on her and "reported" her to her coaches. Her team thought that she was trying to lose weight so she can be thin and thus be considered attractive to other men. They could not accept that she's just a teenager who fell in love. She could not tell the doctor who she was because she was ashamed of her calluses and the big figures that seemed to define weightlifters.
Throughout her confusion, Joon-hyung was there to save her from the embarrassment and even offered a shoulder to cry on. During one of their talks, he said this to Bok-joo, "Who will love you when you're that ashamed of yourself?"
There is so much truth in that simple one line. Though it is important to love other people, you can never do this until you learn to love yourself. It's so apt that this series has teenagers/students as lead characters as this is the age where they are impressionable and finding their way in the world. Even if this drama did not do well commercially, the lessons imparted are very much appropriate for the age demographic.
WHAT I DON'T LIKE ABOUT IT I Could Not Relate
I realized that I like dramas that has character leads who are already working or at least out of school. I can relate to them more compared to this where the characters are still in university. At my age, I tend to gravitate more to mature themes thus it took time for me to really get through this series. I do however, appreciate the theme and the story. If I have a teenage daughter, I will definitely watch this with her.
RATING
Giving this three tissue boxes. It's not that bad but at the same time, nothing that I would rave about.
Here I am again, deviating from my usual order of posting to write my review of this drama while my brain is still buzzing from the high after binge-watching this for 3 days.
This series is relatively old. Not the "oldest" Korean drama that I've watched (that honor goes to Moon Embracing the Sun), but this was shown on October to December 2013. It starred Lee Min-ho, Park Shin-hye, and Kim Woo-bin and written by Kim Eun-sook (yep, same writer of Goblin and Descendants of the Sun).
The story follows a group of rich, privileged kids who are trained to take over the businesses of their parents (thus, the title) and their daily struggles to become what their parents want to be and what at the same time, be what they want to be.
WHAT I LIKE ABOUT IT
Lee Min-ho
He was 26 years old when this series was shot and he played an 18-year old. If there's one thing I can say about the Korean race (actually, even the Chinese and Japanese people), they truly have good skin.
His character, Kim Tan, was exiled to the US (I laughed when I realized this as apparently, it's a shared "best practice" among dramas. The shows here in the Philippines send their erring children to the US too. Hehe) by his brother, Kim Won. It took time for me to figure out why but Won wanted to avoid fighting with his brother over the ownership of the family company.
Tan struggled while he was in California as he missed his family and friends. It was refreshing for him to meet Eun-sang and he fell in love with her (and this was when he already has a fiancee *eye-roll*). I liked how he pursued Eun-sang even when she pushed him away because of the disparity of their respective backgrounds. Never did his love waver even when they broke up.
Let's not forget the kissing scene!
This is his second drama that I've watched and I have yet to tackle Boys Over Flowers where he really became well-known. But I prefer a mature LMH so it might take time before I will watch that.
He is indeed so charming. He even sang a song which was included in the drama's OST. Here's a video of him singing the song during one of his fan meets in Beijing. And looks like he sang it live. Heart! Heart! Heart!
Kim Woo-bin
Kim Woo-bin (Pic from DramaFever)
I've heard of friends rave over him and watching this, I now understand why. He really grows on you. It's sad though that he's currently on hiatus due to his illness. Last I heard, he's currently on the mend so I hope he does recuperate soon.
I like his bad boy look in The Heirs before he took down his bangs to make it look that he changed. I still can't get the hang out of the bangs hairstyle that is favored among oppas. What is wrong with your foreheads?
But truthfully, I liked how his character developed and changed throughout the series. He started off as a bad boy but there was still goodness in him as evidenced by him falling in love with Eun-sang. I even found their first meeting touching. Eun-sang left the house where they were staying and was still half-sleep. She sleep-walked her way to the nearby convenience store when she drank something and went out to sit outside and sleep. Young-do sat with her and watched over her as she slept. A couple of rowdy boys passed by and he even scolded them as Eun-sang was sleeping.
I'm actually shipping him more with Park Shin-hye. They look better more together. Check out the BTS below that I found in Youtube.
The Story--sort off
As noted above, the series was written by Kim Eun-sook and she's known to have written quality and good dramas. So far, this is the third drama of hers that I've watched. One thing I noticed about her work is that she likes writing settings outside of Korea. Goblin started off in Canada. Descendants of the Sun, most of the story was set in a fictional town of Uruk--which was actually filmed in Greece (somewhere in the Middle East). As for this one, the series started off in California with a very tanned Lee Min-ho.
Kim Tan (Lee Min-ho) and Cha Eun-sang (Park Shin-hye) played star-crossed lovers where the former is a chaebol heir while the latter is the daughter of a housemaid. With the hierarchical system in Korean society, calling their relationship "stormy" is an understatement to the nth degree.
Eun-sang went to California to visit her sister who was supposed to get married to her American boyfriend. However, when she got there, she discovered that her sister has been lying to them all along. After getting her passport confiscated due to a misunderstanding, she was left in the mercies of Tan who has been living in the Orange State for the past 3 years in exile.
Long story short, Tan and Eun-sang met again in Korea wherein Eun-sang's mother happened to be a maid of the Kim family. The father of Tan discovered the relationship of the two teenagers and wanting to put the girl in her place, sponsored her scholarship to their exclusive family-owned school to make her realize the hopelessness of their relationship.
Eun-sang met Choi Young-do (Kim Woo-bin) in school (but he actually saw her previously without her knowing) and he bullied her because of her relationship with Kim Tan, his long-time enemy. In the long run, he found himself falling in love with her as well.
As it's a non-tragic drama, Eun-sang ended up with Kim Tan with all loose ends tied up.
Though I'm not comfortable with the concept of young passionate love (please see my note on what I DON'T LIKE ABOUT IT below), I appreciated the underlying theme of the drama. In the second episode, one of Tan's professors said this line:
The British council conducted a survey of 102 non-english speaking countries about what was the the most beautiful English word in the world. The word that took first place was MOTHER.
I wondered why Eun-sook included that line in the drama and I figured out later on why.
Kim Tan had the (mis)fortune of having two mothers--his biological mother, Han Ki-ae (beautifully played by Kim Sung-ryung) who was the mistress of his father; and his mother-on-paper, Jung Ji-suk (Park Joon-geum) the second (legal) wife. He was registered as the "son" of the current wife of the chairman to make Tan a "legal" heir.
Kim Sung-ryung (Pic from aminoapps)
Han Ki-ae was vain, self-centered and beautiful but her love for her son was unquestioned. She sacrificed her pride and freedom so that her child can have a good life. As she's the mistress, she was given "permission" by Jung Ji-suk to live in the family house. After all, the latter was, by all means and purposes, actually separated already from her husband but chose to remain married for business reasons.
Park Joon-geum (Pic from dramabeans)
Jung Ji-suk, on the other hand, had no children of her own and agreed to have Kim Tan registered as her son and was known throughout society as his real mother. She's the headmistress of the school where Tan and Eun-sang goes to. She's rather cold and I haven't seen her express any other expression except for disdain and anger. The exact opposite of Tan's biological mother.
Kim Mi-kyung (Pic from MyDramaList)
Then there's the mother of Eun-sang, Park Hee-nam (Kim Mi-kyung). As the housemaid of the Tan family, she's trusted by Ki-ae as she literally cannot speak thus being unable to tell any secrets of the family. Her love for her daughters was indisputable based on the sacrifices that she made. She used the deposit of their house to send the money to her eldest daughter in the US who needed it. And she agreed to have her youngest daughter go to the high-end school so she'll have a better future with the diploma that she'll earn.
Choi Ji-na (Pic from Soompi)
Another mother was Yoo Kyung-ran (Choi Ji-na), the eomma of Young-do. Though it was not clear why she left her family (I assume it was due to divorce and her husband's infidelity), but Young-do missed his chance to have a last meal with her before she disappeared from his life. When the time came for him to be reunited with her, he was immediately unable to face her and when managed to pull himself together, it was quite a tearful reunion.
My take on this is that there are different mothers in this world. We may all rear our children differently but we do so because of love. Moreover, sacrifice is something common for all mothers--giving something up to ensure that our children will have better lives.
This struck a chord in me being the mom of two boys. Ever since I got pregnant with them, it has been one sacrifice after the other and I never did regret my choices. My fervent hope is that they'll grow up to be god-fearing and contributing members of society and be the best version of themselves.
The Supporting Cast
Most of the supporting cast I've already watched in previous shows. It's interesting to see how they were before in the recent dramas.
Park Hyung-sik
Park Hyung-sik was just so lovable here. His character, Jo Myung-soo, was playful and quick-witted, which was like his character in Strong Woman. He would usually act as mediator between Young-do and Tan whenever they would get in fights.
Kang Ha-nuel (Grabbed from pinterest)
Kang Ha-nuel played Lee Hyo-shin, a senior who got caught in the unwanted dreams of his parents. He suffered from depression which made him almost end his life before if not for the intervention of Tan. His last scene with Tan was so touching when the latter bade him goodbye before he left for the military.
Kim Ji-won (Pic from Aminoapps)
Kim Ji-woo was Rachel Yoo, the school's "Paris Hilton" and fiancee of Kim Tan. They were engaged by their respective parents which doubled as a business partnership. As the daughter of a fashion giant, she certainly lived and played the part to the hilt. She was sexy and haughty and was bitchy as she can get. This is her third drama that I've watched and I prefer her in Descendants of the Sun more (even if she was second lead).
Choi Won-young (Pic from Dramabeans)
And Choi Won-young is consistent with his roles. This is also his third drama where he played a "good" supporting cast. I first saw him in Kill Me Heal Me as a secretary of the Chairman. In Hwarang, he played the surrogate father of Park Seo-joon's character. And now, he's a secretary once again.
WHAT I DON'T LIKE ABOUT IT Youthful Passionate Love
I'm a mother before a fan and I was uncomfortable with the concept of two teenagers fighting for their young passionate love. They were so in love with each other that they were really going against all odds despite of what other people say. Though I admire Tan's guts for sticking to his resolve and loving the girl up to the point of going against his father, they were just too young! When I was 18, all I wanted was to graduate from College!
Oh and when Tan and Eun-sang separated, he was so devastated that he was on a path of self-destruction. A part of me really wanted to beat him up so that he'll wake up and get his life in order. He was only 18! He still has a long life ahead of him and he's sulking over a girl. Ugh!
RATING
I give this four tissue boxes. I binge-watched this so it was really riveting. It was just when I reflected about it afterwards that I realized that I didn't like some of the lessons that the drama was imparting.
