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.
When I started watching K-Dramas, the first few ones that I watched made me cry which me run through my tissue stash quickly--thus the basis of my rating system.
However, it has been a long time ever since I ugly-cried over a drama. The last one was Scarlet Heart (for obvious reasons). But the crying I did over this drama was so worth it. The story called for it and was truly justified.
I again went out of my chronological drama review to write this immediately as it was just so good. I need to write everything down while my memory and the feelings invoked are still fresh. I actually started watching this August 11 but was distracted with Healer.
This series, which is relatively new, aired last December 2017 to January 2018 and starred Yoo Seung-ho, Chae Soo-bin and Um Ki-joon. It introduced me to a new oppa which I'll definitely add to my list.
The story is about a girl, Jo Ji-a (Chae Soo-bin) who pretended to be a robot as a favor to her ex-boyfriend (Um Ki-joon) so she can meet the new investor of the robot project which happened to be Kim Min-kyu (Yoo Seung-ho). Min-kyu then fell in love with robot not knowing that she was human. That's the gist of it but I'll go through the story more later on in my review.
Considering how well made this drama was, I can't help but wonder why it had a low viewership rating in Korea when this was shown. Probably it went against other good dramas but this one is really well-written and the actors were superb!
WHAT I LIKE ABOUT IT The OST
I put this on the top because I believe that having a good soundtrack will enhance the emotions of a viewer while watching a drama. Having the right song playing during a pivotal moment will invoke the appropriate reaction whether that would involve lots of tears or the opposite.
During my ugly-cry in one poignant scene, Words of my Heart by Kim Yeon-ji was playing in the background. Whoever sound-edited this drama deserves an award! Refer to the video below as Exhibit 1.
The instrumental version of the song was playing throughout the confession but when Kim Min-kyu started to take off his necklace at 1:20, the vocals was edited in and the crying spree begins! Knowing the meaning behind that action added to the drama.
Here's the whole version of the song:
The rest of the songs featured in the drama were also excellent but the one above is the best ear-worm of all. The Script
Very well written! Refer again to Exhibit 1. The lines were well-delivered, significant and said at the right note.
What Aji3 said before she was rebooted, I swear, that was when I really sobbed as if my own heart was also breaking.
"Every single moment I spent with you made me happy."
It may feel like a simple line but it was said at the appropriate time which made me forget about it. The point that it made Min-kyu sob like crazy (and me as well), drove home the point how meaningful it was. Nevertheless, the scriptwriters, Kim Sun-mi and Lee Seok-joon really wrote heartbreak beautifully.
Another scene was when Jo Ji-a wanted to ask for forgiveness. Min-kyu dropped some painful, albeit, truthful lines which really stabbed to the core. I could understand the girl's reaction when she just stood there and took it in.
One concept that I liked in the story is the human allergy of Min-kyu. It started after his parents died and he was betrayed by the person who he thought was his friend. The pain of the deception manifested itself through allergic reactions that it became impossible for him to have human contact. It's interesting that the series started with Min-kyu not being able to enter the military because of his ailment and it ended with him being discharged after rendering mandatory service as he was able to overcome his allergies. It's like tying a big red bow over a package. So satisfying and pretty.
The character development in the script was also rich that you could see how the characters changed throughout the series and how well the actors portrayed those changes, especially the Santa Maria team--and Min-kyu, of course.
That Kiss!
Refer to Exhibit 2 below. 'Nuff said.
Yoo Seung-ho
Because of Exhibit 2, and of course his stupendous acting, I'm now a fan of this Oppa. He acts with a passion and I love his baritone voice. I was surprised that it was that low. I'm now lining up his other dramas and movies.
And after watching dramas with lead actors kissing their leading ladies, the kiss that Seung-ho gave Soo-bin in Exhibit 2 is one of the best. It was ardent and romantic at the same time. Though I have yet to watch his other dramas but he surely has good chemistry with his partners.
Here's his "come at me" look which made me all kilig.
The Chemistry
Ok, I'm really shipping them as a couple. Check out the BTS of their kiss below. The shy smiles after the kiss and hesitant glances and touches...eeeeeeeehhhh! Wonder if they have another drama or movie together. I'll definitely watch that.
WHAT I DON'T LIKE ABOUT IT Kang Ki-young's character
I love Kang Ki-young as he's almost in every good drama that I've watched. However, I realized that he doesn't play "meek" well. He kept on throwing stuff which supposedly showed his "anger". Though usually plays supporting roles, he's always good but this one is an exception. His character was just too one-dimensional. I didn't see depth or any development. It's somehow disappointing as he's the bestfriend and supposed to be the one who caused the "allergy" of Min-kyu. As such, his role should be more climatic.
RATING
I give this five tissue boxes! I still can't determine why it did not rate well in Korea. It's really well made and the story took me by surprise. I really thought it's a sci-fi drama as I didn't read any reviews beforehand and had no expectations whatsoever. It's great to discover a new oppa and the soundtrack in this series was just outstanding. Really great watch!
After watching Healer, I'm now a fan of Ji Chang-wook and his cuteness. This one is his most recent drama before he entered the military for mandatory enlistment. It aired from May to July 2017. I initially panicked when I saw that it had 40 episodes but fortunately, only 30 minutes each (so technically, 20 regular episodes).
Noh Ji-wook (Ji Chang-wook) played a prosecutor who had the (mis)fortune to cross paths with lawyer, Eun Bong-hee (Nam Ji-hyun). He was then forced to make a choice that greatly impacted his life and career.
Personally, I like his pairing with Min-young more than Ji-hyun. WHAT I LIKE ABOUT IT Legal Learnings
Though I've watched Suits, this series gave me a better insight on how the justice system of Korea works. I found it interesting that the Prosecutors were left with the task to prove the guilt of the defendant. Moreover, their roles were clearly differentiated even in the court room, wherein the prosecutors also wear robes, although with more color compared to the judge.
The Lip Bite
This one I really noticed more. JCW bit his lip. A lot.
The lawyers in JCW's firm were so funny especially Mr. Byun and Mr. Bang. I found it especially entertaining when their meetings usually ended up with nothing vital being discussed much to Ji-wook's frustration as Mr. Byun would go on with his rants.
WHAT I DON'T LIKE ABOUT IT Everything
I finished this for the love of JCW. I don't know if it was because of the number of episodes or I was just biased for PMY but it took me 7 days to finish this series. That's already too much as I'm usually done in 3-4 days.
Come to think of it, I really don't know why I struggled so much to complete the drama. Though it did give me time to catch up with my blog.
Story-wise, maybe because I felt that it was stretched too much. Eun Bong-hee was falsely accused of a crime that she did not commit and Noh Ji-wook withdrew the case when the evidence that were found was tampered with. The whole series centered on Bong-hee finding the real culprit and clearing her name. Granted that there were suspenseful moments, I was still not crazy over it nor could give an objective or more lengthy review.
The second leads did a good job though. It did not take long for me to pick-up why Ji-wook despised Ji Eun-hyuk (Choi Tae-joon) so much. Apparently, Eun-hyuk stole Ji-wook's girlfriend, Cha Yoo-jung (Kwon Nara) from the former. However, I don't know if there was something lost in translation but such was not the case--or if it did happen, they wanted to seek forgiveness? I got confused for awhile. But they do they have good chemistry, not enough to save the drama for me.
RATING
I give this one tissue box. If you're going to watch it, watch it because of JCW.
I started watching this because I got curious when my friends refused to ship Park Min-young with Park Seo-joon. They said that they prefer her with Ji Chang-wook. I asked for recommendations and I was referred to this drama.
Ji Chang-wook played a "courier" or night messenger with the code name of "Healer" that get things done for a price (short of killing someone). Park Min-young was a reporter from a tabloid news website while Yoo Ji-tae was also a reporter but more well-known. An event from several decades back brought them together and they had to deal with the truths that came out from that fateful day.
WHAT I LIKE ABOUT IT The JCW-PMY Ship
I didn't believe it at first but the Behind-the-Scenes (BTS) told it all. In contrast to the BTS of What's Wrong With Secretary Kim wherein Seo-joon and Min-young would immediately jump apart after an intimate scene, Chang-wook and Min-young can't seem to keep their hands off each other after a take. No wonder so many people are shipping them!
And they look oh so good together!
Ji Chang-wook
Now I know why Jinkee Pacquiao went crazy over him. He's really cute especially when he appeared all formal when he and Min-young crashed the press conference of the mayor.
There was just something off about it. The scoring felt clunky--instead of making the scene more emotional, it did the opposite.
And I have nothing against Michael Learns to Rock but I have no idea what they made Eternal Love as the show's theme song. Whenever they played it, it doesn't seem to fit.
Like in the clip above, the couple marched out of the salon with Eternal Love playing in the background. It really didn't feel right. The Ending
I felt that it lacked resolution. Whatever happened to the parents of Chae Young-shin (Min-young's character)? And the evil assistant? It lacked closure! I want to know what happened to them.
RATING
I'm giving this two tissue boxes because of the JCW-PMY ship. Their chemistry is so palpable that you look forward seeing them in a scene together. And that airport scene. PMY was just so lovely and JCW was so smooth!
This was supposed to be one of the first PSJ dramas that I should've watched but I couldn't get past Episode 1 because I was OC-ing over their long hair which I was itching to cut. But since Park Hyung-sik was also there, I resolved to get past my irritation and finish it pordalab.
True enough, it's an enjoyable drama in a sense of all the oppas that's in the series. Your eyes will never go tired watching all those boys traipsing around town either wearing their Hwarang robes or their "sports" attires.
The series aired on December 2016 to February 2017 but unlike the other dramas, this was shot before the premier. It starred Park Seo-joon, Go A-ra and Park Hyung-sik.
The series revolved around a group of young men who were recruited by the Queen to join the "Hwarang" during the time of the Silla Kingdom. Though the males were supposedly drafted to promote art and culture but their purpose were somehow blurred to become soldiers to protect the royal family.
WHAT I LIKE ABOUT IT The Flower Boys
Eye candy everywhere! I was smiling while watching the series. Let's go through them one by one:
Park Seo-joon - no explanation needed. I love him. Period.
Park Hyung-sik - both he and PSJ are my number one oppas. I love him. Period.
Choi Min-ho (from the Kpop group Shinee) - I liked the way he looked here compared to his look whenever he's singing with his band
Kim Tae-hyung or V(from the wildly popular group, BTS) - I can't understand why he has to change his look while he's singing. I like him better when he's not wearing make-up or coloring his hair
Do Ji-han - bad boy turned good. He was always angry but when he smiled, he's actually handsome.
Cho Yoo-woo - he's supposed to be the most beautiful among the flower boys but he's not my type but he does have a certain charm
The Shower Scenes
If I remember it right, they had a couple. This first one was right after their master threw up on them.
The other one was when they were learning the steps for their group dance.
The Group Dance Practice and Actual Group Dance
The practice was hilarious as half of them were graceful while the other half were like bumbling buffoons! A friend noticed that you would know who came from a Kpop group and who did not.
Seeing them do the actual dance made me want to stand up and giving them a round of applause!
The Soccer Match
This was very beautiful to watch. They looked so graceful and athletic (of course, most of it was with the help of wires) that you can't help but cheer for them as well.
The OST
There were several songs that I like in this series:
- Wherever You Are by Han Dong Geun
- Our Tears by Hyolyn (as well as Park Seo-joon's version)
- The Divine Move (A Move of God) by Yoseob
- I'll Be Here by Park Hyung-sik
The Korean History and Cultural Lessons
Watching this made me research on the history of Korea. After watching all the Sageuk themed dramas, I somehow had an idea that Korea used to be three kingdoms. Silla, where the drama was set, was one of those three kingdoms.
Their culture, especially the way they dress, is different from Goryo. I was used to seeing the females having their hair up wearing those elaborate pieces, but here, they had their locks down--even the men (which drove me crazy). I already had a hard time determining the men from the women and having them not put up their hair made things more difficult.
The Bromance
I love the bromance between the Hwarang boys--not only with PSJ and PHS but among the boys. Seeing how they supported for each other and grieved for those who died showed their camaraderie and closeness. I also liked how Ban-ryu (Do Ji-han) changed for the better when he realized how better it was to be with his friends.
Lee Kwang-soo
I first saw him while watching Running Man and I never realized that he was an actor. All the while, I thought he was just a crazy comedian because of his wild antics in the reality show. It was a treat seeing him in Hwarang, albeit short. Will watch his other series for sure.
WHAT I DON'T LIKE ABOUT IT The Story
It started off ok but managed to get iffy towards the end. I wish they focused more on the brotherhood of the Hwarang instead of the love story between Ah-ro (Go A-ra) and Dog-bird (Park Seo-joon). It might have solidified the decision that they made in the end. In fact, I was expecting for Dog-bird to do the opposite as he had more claim to the throne than the Crown Prince.
The Second Lead Syndrome
Like in She Was Pretty, I was not rooting for PSJ to get the girl. PHS' character, the Crown Prince, saw Kim Ah-ro (Go A-ra) first and worked hard to make her love him. But she ended up with Dog-bird instead by some weird twist of fate. Maybe that's why I didn't like the love angle in the end. RATING
Giving this four tissue boxes because I enjoyed it and received fair warning to not dwell much on the story. All those oppas and PSJ and PHS made this drama so worth it.
Leaving you with the guest appearance of the Hwarang Boys (PSJ, PHS and Choi Min-ho) in 2 Days 1 Night (I never realized that one person could be so unlucky!) as well as the Behind the Story of Hwarang. Both are enjoyable to watch!
This drama is a South Korean adaptation of a US television series with the same name by Aaron Korsh.
This series starred Jang Dong-gun and Park Hyung-sik. The former is the reason why I watched this as I was enamored by him after seeing him in Strong Woman Bong Soon. It ran just this year from April to June 2018.
The story revolves around a distinguished lawyer, who after getting tired of all the graduates from the known universities, decided to hire a young inexperienced man who has no law degree but has a retentive memory. The plot line somehow follows that from the US TV series with a few local adjustments.
WHAT I LIKE ABOUT IT Park Hyung-sik
He was just awesome here. Though there's something might be lost in translation, but I'm at awe on how he was able to memorize complicated law jargon and was able to deliver them with ease. I have often admired people with amazing memories because mine sucks. I remember failing my law subjects because I can't memorize the texts and flubbed the recitations. A direct contrast of my former fangirling life where I can quote the the episodes where my beloved love team appeared and what they were wearing in that specific episode.
I loved PHS's haircut here and his over-all look. Sharing a few screen-caps that I took with my iPad while watching the series.
The Bromance
I especially liked the interaction between PHS's character, Go Yeon-woo and Jang Dong-gun's, Choi Kang-seok. The latter never considered Mike Ross, errr..Yeon-woo as his weakness, even though he should be.
I particularly liked this scene where they eventually did a fist bump--which Yeon-woo has been wanting to do for the longest time.
The OST
Probably the only drama I've watched so far, with an English language song that I like.
WHAT I DON'T LIKE ABOUT IT Suspension of Disbelief
This was difficult to do considering the numbers of times that I should do it. I know that in watching movies or tv series, this is a given but some of the scenes were just too much.
One is that Yeon-woo was able to freely see the payslip of one of his colleagues. In my experience, a payslip is very confidential. We were always cautioned by our Human Resources to never show it to anyone (except when applying for loans). So to be able to just request to see it seems odd. But then, maybe they have a different culture in Korea that it's a norm.
Another is anyone not catching on that Yeon-woo is not a law graduate. It is HR's policy to do a background check and request for documentation as proof of one's degree. Though there were some that caught on but considering the amount of time that he has been working with the firm, it should've been caught early on.
The Comparison
I haven't watched that much episodes of the US version so there should be not much to compare on. But I can't help but compare Choi Kang-seok with Harvey Specter and I prefer the character portrayal of Gabriel Macht. He's smoother and more dashing. But then, maybe there's just something that's lost in translation
The Lack of Chemistry
I'm disappointed in the supporting female lead that served as the love interest of Yeon-woo. They lack chemistry and I told my friends that the PHS' kiss is wasted on her. Still shipping PHS with PBY.
RATING
Nevertheless, I'm hoping for a Season 2 to see where else they can bring this drama. Pordalab of Park Hyung-sik, I'm giving this a 2 tissue box rating.
I'm deviating from my format of posting reviews of series that I've watched chronologically to write this. I just finished this and I'm in awe of this beautifully crafted and written show.
I'm excited to have seen a lot of familiar faces in the drama as its an attestation of how much dramas I've already watched:
First of, the two leads appeared in cameos as the parents of a young Kim Mi-so in What's Wrong with Secretary Kim (After finishing this, I immediately watched Episode 10 of WWWSK).
The boss of the male lead also appeared in What's Wrong with Secretary Kim as a blind date of Kim Mi-so.
The boyfriend of one of the female lead's bestfriends also appeared as a soldier in Descendants of the Sun.
One of the senior co-writers of the female lead was the flamboyant boss in She Was Pretty.
The director of the drama that the female lead was writing for appeared as a defendant in Suspicious Partner.
WHAT I LIKE ABOUT IT The Story
I thought that the plot was something that I've read in my romance novels--both parties entered into a marriage of convenience only to fall in love with each other along the way. However, I liked the way the writer, Yoon Nan-joong, tackled that angle.
You would think that if two people of the opposite sex lived together and suddenly developed a sexual attraction, there would be a lot of sexual innuendos. That was not the case here. There are however, a lot of life learnings and different perspectives.
Nam Se-hee (Lee Min-ki) is an eccentric computer programmer who contracted Yoon Ji-ho (Jung So-min) as a tenant. They married soon after when they realized the advantages that it would bring them. Ji-ho figured later on that she loved him and ended their contract.
This is where I really didn't get it. If she did love him, why did she not just continue the contract and lived as a real husband and wife? Later on, I concluded that she must've wanted to start anew without the complications of marriage (e.g. expectations of in-laws and friends) and that she wanted to "force" Se-hee out of his shell. He has always contained his emotions and she does not want to have a marriage based on that.
There were a lot of references to fiction and non-fiction literature all throughout the series--not surprising considering that Ji-ho is a literature major. My favorite one is pertaining to the book To Room 19 by Doris Lessing. It's about a seemingly perfect married couple with the wife wanting to have space for herself. Initially, the husband put aside a room in the second floor for her but the kids still entered the place. She eventually rented a small motel room and went there several hours a day just to do nothing. She kept this a secret from her husband and family as she treasured her space as it's only there that she can be herself.
Ji ho used Room 19 as an analogy describing their secret space which neither partner can enter. She wanted to find out what was inside Se-hee's Room 19. She ended their marriage because she's scared of what she will find in that room and how it will affect their relationship.
The Two Leads
Lee Min-ki's character needed some getting used to. He was literally a blank slate--like Kim Soo-hyun's character in My Love from the Star. I'm used to watching dramas with me falling in love with the Oppa male lead. But when Se-hee he started to show emotion, he slowly changed to being human and oppa-ble.
I found Jung So-min so beautiful here. She's my other girl crush next to Park Min-young. You would think that she's meek and quiet but she belied that by the strength she showed when she left her job.
I loved their sensitive portrayals and how they gave life to the written characters.
The Lessons and Quotable Quotes
Whenever I watch a Korean drama, I usually pick up something new. This show was no exception.
There was this touching moment between Se-hee and Ji-ho's mother before the wedding ceremony. Ji-ho's mom asked Se-hee to let her daughter continue writing after they get married and not let her live like her mother. Se-hee said that his wife's heart is really strong and she doesn't do anything that will make her unhappy. He will not stand in the way of her happiness and that is all that he will promise her. The mother then said something very poignant--"Just because you're married, it doesn't mean you have to make her happy. What can make anyone else happy?"
People think that marriage is the one-all and be-all of happiness; that getting married means that they can live happily ever after. It's not usually the case. Marriage is a journey and a relationship that involves numerous complicated elements. It takes years to master these aspects and involves a lot of trial and error.
I initially thought that I will not get married, that I will live my life in the state of single blessedness. I already started making plans on how to live my life with that scenario in mind and decided to be happy about it. Happiness should only come from yourself and not be dependent on anything or anyone.
"But I don't think marriage is sacred. Love is a sacred thing."
This is a different perspective that I managed to gather from this drama. I come from a culture and religion that considers marriage as holy--what God has joined together let no man put asunder. (Mark 10:9) Up to now, we are the only country left in the world that considers divorce unlawful. We were taught to save the marriage at all costs and to fight for our husbands and family.
This aspect looks at marriage that should have love in it--and not just something "fortunate". In the olden times, marriage was used for political and monetary reasons. Only a few are lucky enough to be in love with each other when they were joined in matrimony. This has changed over the times with love being the reason for marriage. Throughout the relationship, love then changes over time depending on how each partner handles it. Sometimes it turns to hate but for others, it turns to respect and a deep sense of commitment.
Personally, I'm a believer of divorce as it gives spouses who are victims of abuse a way out. Moreover, if your marriage is healthy and solid, divorce shouldn't scare you. I guess it just takes political will for it to happen.
"What matters is spending time with the person next to you, right this moment, no matter what. That's why even today we focus on loving each other and to those living this moment with all my sincerity, I wish you the best of luck. Because this is everyone's first life."
Ji-ho narrated this towards the end of the final episode. It somehow espouses the idea of "You Only Live Once" which I'm not comfortable with but I do agree that we only have one life to live so we should make the most out of it. The Supporting Characters
The story of the supporting characters are also interesting to follow, especially the story of Ji-hee's bestfriends, as they are relatable and familiar.
Yang Ho-rang (Kim Ga-eun) has been in a relationship with her boyfriend, Kim Min-seok (Sim Won-seok) for seven years and has been dropping hints of getting married. Being busy on making his start-up app a success, he did not get the hints which led to them arguing and eventually breaking up.
I've known people who are like Ho-rang and I was almost like that once. I was already past 30 and though my boyfriend and I have only been together for 2 years, I knew that he was the One. But unlike Min-seok and Ho-rang, I've always been transparent and knew of my partner's plans (finish his MBA). My patience paid off and he proposed (albeit unromantically) on July 12 years ago.
There was also the relationship of Woo Su-ji (Esom) and Ma Sang-goo (Park Byung-eun). Su-ji worked for a corporate office and has always maintained casual relationships because she does not want to lose sight of her goal. Sang-goo, the boss of Se-hee, fell in love with Su-ji and fervently did everything to win her affections.
Su-ji's character is interesting because as a person working in the corporate world, I've met people like her--though I'm not saying that they also maintain casual affairs, but females with strong personalities and with a goal in mind. I admire their drive to reach their goals and how they manage their life without a partner.
By the final episode, I was excitedly curious on what their choices will be. The OST
This song is currently on repeat in my Spotify Kdrama playlist. Definitely my new LSS.
WHAT I DON'T LIKE ABOUT IT
Really depends on other watchers but it's mostly a "talkies" drama meaning not much happening on screen. You have to really pay attention to the subtitles as there are a lot of narrations. But I guess that's part of the technique.
RATING
I give this drama, 5 tissue boxes! So worth the watch!
I started this at the same time that I watched Kill Me Heal Me because the former, I can only watch online while this one, I can watch downloaded episodes from Viu. Starring Park Bo-young, Park Hyung-sik and Ji Soo, this is one of my highly recommended dramas which I will explain later.
This was shown from February to April 2017 and became one of the highest rated Korean dramas in cable television history. If you watched it, you'll find out way.
Do Bong-soon (Park Bo-young) was born with superhuman strength. Because of this, she was able to get a job as a bodyguard of Ahn Min-hyuk (Park Hyung-sik) who fell in love with her. But she still has unresolved feelings for her childhood crush, In Guk-doo (Ji Soo). This all happens while she tries to catch a neighborhood killer/kidnapper.
WHAT I LIKE ABOUT IT
This is the only series, by far, that I've rewatched more than two times and there are a lot of things to like about it. Sharing my Twitter thread about this series:
STRONG WOMAN DO BONG SOON
At finally, nakilala ko na si Paek Hyung sik! Kasama pa si 14th prince! pic.twitter.com/hcqZULtgKB
He was just so cute here and the reason why he made it to my #1 list of oppas which he currently shares with Park Seo-joon. I'm sore that I only discovered him now when he was just here late last year for a meet and greet. I would've been one of the thousands of fans swooning over him. I've been watching some of the clips during his M&G and I was giggling the whole time.
I love him here because it felt like watching the real PHS. Moreover, it's refreshing to see a guy be all kilig over a girl.
Because of PHS, I visited the nearby Bench store and bought this:
The Story
It's a simple story but it's so light and fluffy that it will leave you with a happy heart afterwards. The chemistry of the two leads PBY and PHS will make you smile. I was a bit lost when the reason why Bong-soon was hired was immediately resolved but the writers managed to pick that up.
Moreover, I was very satisfied with how the whole series ended. If all dramas could end like that then I won't have any problems with closure. But this one and What's Wrong With Secretary Kim, ended perfectly. That's why both of them are my most recommended K Dramas.
The OST
Park Hyung-sik's, Because of You, is on repeat on Spotify as I wanted to memorize it (which I already did). I'm not sure if this is really the official music video.
Other than Because of You, there are other songs from the drama which I love.
One of the songs, Super Power Girl is played everytime Bong-soon does something super-heroey. The melody is perfect as it's so catchy--if I could understand the lyrics.
Other songs from the OST can be found in the playlist from Warner Korea.
Park Bo-young
I belatedly realized that I already watched one of her movies before--A Wolf Boy--where she starred with Song Joong-ki. I didn't recognize her as I had my eyes then on SJK but I do remember her sensitive performance.
In this drama, she's delicate and fragile and she certainly looked the part especially when her 5'1" frame is standing beside the 6' PHS. Describing her as cute is an understatement. It's amusing that while PHS is all over the place expressing his kilig over her, she's just standing there as cool as she can be with a serene smile on her face while watching him.
Ji Soo
Ever since I saw him and his emotional scenes in Scarlet Heart, I wanted him to have his own drama. Though he's not the main lead, I was still happy to see him here. He's the anti-thesis of PHS' character. I enjoyed their bromance though.
The Supporting Cast
The people around the main characters were hilarious as well. There was a character there whose purpose I could not see the importance of (the fake Indian monk), but otherwise, they were really funny. Kim Won-hae was especially entertaining as he had to play two different characters.
WHAT I DON'T LIKE ABOUT IT
None! There were some minute details but it did not stop me from enjoying the whole drama.
RATING
I give this a rating of five tissue boxes even if I did not cry over it. It's just a feel good series that will leave you smiling and happy afterwards. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
I watched this as part of my PSJ marathon. Though he's second lead here, I've heard great things about the main, Ji Sung. The other main, Hwang Jung-eum starred with Park Seo-joon in She Was Pretty. Although this was the reason why they had that series together because of their chemistry in this drama. This aired from January to March 2015.
The story revolves around the idea of multiple personality disorder and how Cha Do-hyun (Ji Sung) dealt with it.
Oh Ri-jin (Hwang Jung-eum) is a psychiatrist who was hired to treat Do-hyun and in the process, encountered all his other personalities. Oh Ri-on is Ri-jin's twin bother who was actually a blockbuster fiction writer in secret. WHAT I LIKE ABOUT IT The Story
The plot and its reveals deserves a standing ovation. The last twist made my jaw drop and I had to point at the screen and shout in astonishment. It was just awesome!
When I watch something, I usually try to guess the outcome and more often than not, I'm right. But this one, I really did not get it at all that's why I was so surprised! I never expected that curve ball! Though I want to discuss it in detail, I don't want somebody reading this who haven't watched it be disappointed.
It's interesting to note that the writer of this series, Jin Soo-wan, was also the writer of my other favorite drama, Moon Embracing the Sun.
Ji Sung
He was just a revelation. Portraying 5 or 6 different characters one after the other can be difficult but he did so with flair. Other actors would opt for a costume change but in his case, it was not necessary (although I think the director did it to not confuse the viewer). He altered his pitch, his mannerisms and his voice to fit the personality of who he was portraying. I am just at awe of him.
I have a crush on one of the personalities of Cha Do-hyun, Shin Se-gi. He's sort of the "bad boy" personality and he appears whenever Do-hyun experiences violence. I used to wonder why these guys wear make-up but the eyeliners are really growing on me. It makes them look more sexy.
The Bromance
The scenes of Ji Sung and PSJ together were just hilarious especially when Oh Ri-on met the other personalities of Cha Do-hyun. They really deserve to win the Best Couple Award!
The OST
There are a lot of ear-worm songs in this drama. One of them, Auditory Hallucination is featured in the clip below:
Park Seo-joon also has a song featured in the series. It's one of my favorites:
Quotable Quotes
I found myself pausing in the middle of an episode because I wanted to take down the lines being uttered by the actors.
"My imagination decides the size of my fear. Fear is something created by oneself, and is the fruit of one's imagination. So now, confront your past. Don't waste your imagination on your past that has already been concluded. Imagination should be left over for the future. For the sake of the future what's going to happen ahead." - Mr. X, Episode 20
- The above is my favorite quote, especially the part on imagination being left for the future. There's no use in dwelling in the past because it's already done and we cannot change it. We should spend more of our energy in preparing for the future.
"There is a dark basement in everyone's hearts. If ignored and is only observed, the darkness becomes thicker. You should muster your courage and go downstairs, then turn on the light. If you're scared when alone, someone can hold your hand." Cha Do-hyun, Episode 20
"No matter how scary the nightmare, it will always end sometimes."Cha Do-hyun, Episode 13
"If it folds in one go, then it's thank you. If you open it up again, then it's lingering attachment. If you open it twice, then it's sadness. If you open it three times, it's pain. After unfolding it over and over again and it becomes ragged, that's how the heart gets ripped. And when ripped, just deal with it until you become numb. That's how it is."- Oh Ri-on (Episode 13)
- It took awhile for me to understand what the above quote meant and when I did, it sounded cool, especially the last part. A broken heart can really be painful and one would tend to wallow in that pain. But however painful it is, you really have to deal with it and later on, it will get better.
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE ABOUT IT
Hwang Jung-eum
I cannot unremember her from She Was Pretty and she was again screaming and overacting in the first episode. I had to turn down, again, the volume of my speaker as my ears were hurting. Fortunately, she was more quiet towards the middle and end of the series.
Lover's Resolution
In the dramas I've watched, I always look for the happy ending of the main leads. Though this one ended with them together, I was looking for something else--like if they're getting married or what. I'm too old to still believe in "...they got married and lived happily ever after." but I'm still a child at heart.
RATING
I give this a rating of five tissue boxes. Definitely one of my favorites! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
After watching Love in the Moonlight, I looked for another sageuk drama to watch and friends recommended this. It came with numerous warnings but I took it as my baptism of fire. I won't consider myself as a serious K Drama fan if I don't get to watch this. Moreover, I was told that I'll be drowning in oppas in this series and they did not disappoint. Sharing also my real time Twitter thread about this series below.
MOON LOVERS: SCARLET HEART RYEO
I was told that this is a saksak-puso-tulo-dugo series so I set aside a whole tissue box for this. Already finished Ep2 and I'm enjoying it, so far. Was not prepared for the oppas and topless scenes though. Not complaining. Hehe. pic.twitter.com/HwP1gNW8az
This series was based on a Chinese novel by Tong Hua called Bu Bu Jing Xin. It aired from August to November 2016. Main stars are Lee Joon-gi, Lee Ji-eun, Kang Ha-nuel and Hong Jong-hyun. To summarize the confusing sea of characters:
Kim San-ho as Crown Prince Wang Mu (he usually wears red or yellow)
Hong Jong-hyun as the 3rd Prince Wang Yo (orange)
Lee Joon-gi as the 4th Prince Wang So (black)
Kang Ha-nuel as the 8th Prince Wang Wook (blue) Yoon Sun-woo as the 9th Prince Wang Won (purple) Byun Baek-hyun as the 10th Prince Wang Eun (green) Nam Joo-hyuk as the 13th Prince Baek-ah (pink) Ji Soo as the 14th Prince Wang Jung (royal blue)
I tried to get a screen cap of a complete family picture but this is the best that I can come up with.
Back row: 14th Prince, 13th Prince, 10th Prince, 9th Prince
Front row: 9th Prince, 4th Prince, 3rd Prince
They just look so cool wearing different colored hanboks and the colors is how I differentiated them from each other.
Here's also another chart that can help figure things out.
From aminoapps.com
WHAT I LIKE ABOUT IT
The Oppas
This series was raining with oppas.
Lee Joon-gi was the main character but I liked the other princes more. Hong Jong-hyun grew on me and I love his eyes. They are just so intense! As for Kang Ha-nuel, I watched him in the movie Midnight Runners with Park Seo-joon so this is the first time I'm watching him in a drama.
I love their appearance in Running Man. It gave me a insight on how they are in real life outside of the characters that they play. Here's a clip:
There are two specific scenes in the series that are my favorite. This one because it showed a time when all the princes got together and were just simply happy. There were no talks of betrayal or death. Just brothers getting together to celebrate the birthday.
The next one of course, is the bath scene and which also served as the introduction of the princes.
The OST
My husband asked me why do I listen to the songs when I don't understand the language/lyrics. I guess music will always be universal. It brings me back to what I felt when I heard the song during a poignant scene in a drama. That's why I created a playlist in Spotify which I listen to whenever I drive (or even just at home). Feel free to follow.
Next to Descendants of the Sun, this one has songs that I don't skip when it comes up randomly in my playlist.
The Female Lead - IU
I read that a lot of people didn't like her. I actually admire her. I found her really pretty especially during the birthday scene where she sang to the 10th prince. And her character made do with the situation. She did not actively sought out all the princes and it was not her fault that all the princes (well, not all) love her. The Fight Scenes
One thing I like about the period dramas are the fight scenes. There's this particular scene in Episode 2 where the princes had to do a martial arts sword dance wearing masks. That was beautiful to watch with all of them jumping and flying around.
WHAT I DON'T LIKE ABOUT IT The Fucking Ending! (SPOILERS AHEAD!)
I really really hate the ending and the episodes towards the end. It was really not making sense anymore and it felt like the writers had a fight with someone and would want to hurt people by ending it that way. They could always say that not all stories should have a happy ending but this one really bled me dry. I cried so much and it took awhile for me to get over it (Strong Woman Bong Soon helped).
For one, I don't get it why the Wang Eun had to die. WAE??! He was the 10th Prince for God's sake...10th! There were three other princes before he could claim to the throne. The reason just didn't fly with me. I swear. The writers/producers just want the viewers to be in pain!
It's odd though that even if I was already agonizing over the story, I just couldn't stop watching. Up to the last 5 seconds, I was hoping for a happy ending. But NO! It was just not meant to be. RATING
I give this four tissue boxes even with the ending because I literally finished one whole tissue box because of this. I was ugly-crying so hard that I could relate with Leo. Will I still recommend? Yes, with lots of disclaimers and will market it as a baptism of fire to be considered a real Korean drama addict. It could've been a five if not for that really wonky ending.
