I’m going to start this post by just saying that this drama literally just made me cry a lot, and that I really like when films or dramas make me cry. In retrospect, I shouldn’t have started watching the last episode while waiting for my tea, because my food went cold and slightly soggy as I sobbed my heart out during the last 5 mins.
I don’t even think I want to do a normal review post.
It’s difficult because the first half of the series felt very different to the end - even half the cast seemed to just vanish. It starts out with Moo Young, the main guy, his brewery friends, Jin Kang, the main girl, her friend and her overpowering boyfriend, her brother, Jin Kook and all of his police buddies, one of whom becomes Jin Kang’s boyfriend. But by around half way through, we don’t really see any of them again apart from the main three, which felt a little weird. I get that we needed the start to show Moo Young’s cold and calculating side, to get unnerved by him, and to see how this changes with his relationship with Jin Kang, but it did divide the series for me a little too obviously.
Despite this, I did like this series a lot. Seo In Guk as Moo Young was worlds apart from the adorableness of Shopping King Louis. I wasn’t familiar with Park Sung Woong, who played Jin Kook, but very familiar with Jung So Mi, who played Jin Kang. Some bits were funny, some bits were sweet, some bits were shocking and some bits were sad. Viki did spoil a lot of it for me, but that didn’t stop me from getting caught up in the twists and turns. It was beautifully shot too - the cinematography was stunning, and the whole thing was presented in wide screen, which gave it a real film like feel.
Towards the end, I was thinking - you can tell this is a Japanese story. Korean writers seem to like to leave you on a happy ending, to give a glimmer of hope no matter what. Take Train to Busan. Practically everyone dies, there is a heartbreaking scene between the Dad and his daughter, but they end it with the pregnant lady and the daughter getting to safety. Not Japanese writers through. It’s like Koizora, in that the ending leaves you with nothing but a broken heart. No resolution, no indication of what happens next, just the end.
I just watched the end again because I’m a masochist.
Tl;Dr
It’s a proper drama drama
Watch it if you like being sad
I wouldn’t not watch it again
Next up I’ve decided to finally bite the bullet and watch Reply 1988. In fact, I stopped half way through the first episode to write this post. So far, Go Kyung Po is making me want to rewatch Chicago Typewriter, but other than that, it’s a bit weird.
Showing posts with label do all korean dramas have a shower scene. Show all posts
Showing posts with label do all korean dramas have a shower scene. Show all posts
Saturday, 8 December 2018
Thursday, 1 November 2018
Thirty but Seventeen
Normally, I try to write these posts immediately after completing the drama, but I finished Thirty but Seventeen a couple of days ago now, and have only just got around to actually putting together a post.
Normally, when choosing what series to watch next, I base my decision on ratings - the higher the rating, the more likely I am to watch it. This plan doesn’t necessarily always work out, but for the most part, it’s stood me in good stead. At the moment, I’m at the 9.6 sort of mark. However, I ignored this method, and jumped into a 9.4 because I had seen Thirty but Seventeen advertised and really liked the look of it. Party because of the main lead being the guy from Degree of Love, but mostly because the premise intrigued me.
There is a huge accident that leaves a girl, Seo Ri, in a long term coma and a boy, Woo Jin, blaming himself because he thinks he killed her. 13 years later, she wakes up and as luck would have it, the man now living in her old house is Woo Jin, and he reluctantly agrees to let her live there while she tries to find her family, but doesn’t realise who she is. Obviously they grow close and fall in love and live happily ever after etc etc etc.
The Rui Effect was strong with this one. The second male lead was the main guy’s nephew, and a 17 year old athlete. Chan. He and Seo Ri clicked instantly, she felt comfortable with him and he was always just a little ray of sunshine in a very confusing world for the girl who is essentially a 17 year old stuck in a 30 year old’s body. They were so well suited in so many ways, and let’s be honest, Woo Jin was a bit of a dick at the beginning, leaving an already lonely person feeling even more abandoned, so I think she really needed Chan at that time. I get that a 17 year old hooking up with a 30 year old would have been oh so wrong, but still, mentally and emotionally, it was hard not to support him in his one sided love.
It was funny, in a very not obvious sort of way. Just little throw away lines here and there. Like one of Chan’s friends randomly having a bubble bath in their house when Chan wasn’t even there. I felt sorry for the SA guy on Chan’s team who was always left out when the other three (main cast) were so close, but it did amuse me when they called themselves out on it at the end. I much preferred the main guy in Degree of Love rather than in this - I didn’t sense much chemistry and he seemed kind of awkward, and I honestly can’t tell if that was a character choice or not. Seo Ri was really good at portraying a teenager, but I struggled to ever think of her as an adult to be honest. Chan was lovely. The supporting cast were good, but I’m surprised they didn’t make more of Seo Ri’s childhood friend turned doctor - he seemed a little forgotten about and then just randomly chucked in here and there. I get that they didn’t really need him with Chan providing that corner of the love triangle, but still. It was sad in places, and I definitely had a few tears in my eyes at one point, but for the most part while it was really predictable, and kind of slow, it was actually just a nice, fun story.
TLDR
Chan was the sweetest.
Watch it if you want ... or don’t ... I don’t feel that strongly about it to care.
I like Chan.
Normally, when choosing what series to watch next, I base my decision on ratings - the higher the rating, the more likely I am to watch it. This plan doesn’t necessarily always work out, but for the most part, it’s stood me in good stead. At the moment, I’m at the 9.6 sort of mark. However, I ignored this method, and jumped into a 9.4 because I had seen Thirty but Seventeen advertised and really liked the look of it. Party because of the main lead being the guy from Degree of Love, but mostly because the premise intrigued me.
There is a huge accident that leaves a girl, Seo Ri, in a long term coma and a boy, Woo Jin, blaming himself because he thinks he killed her. 13 years later, she wakes up and as luck would have it, the man now living in her old house is Woo Jin, and he reluctantly agrees to let her live there while she tries to find her family, but doesn’t realise who she is. Obviously they grow close and fall in love and live happily ever after etc etc etc.
The Rui Effect was strong with this one. The second male lead was the main guy’s nephew, and a 17 year old athlete. Chan. He and Seo Ri clicked instantly, she felt comfortable with him and he was always just a little ray of sunshine in a very confusing world for the girl who is essentially a 17 year old stuck in a 30 year old’s body. They were so well suited in so many ways, and let’s be honest, Woo Jin was a bit of a dick at the beginning, leaving an already lonely person feeling even more abandoned, so I think she really needed Chan at that time. I get that a 17 year old hooking up with a 30 year old would have been oh so wrong, but still, mentally and emotionally, it was hard not to support him in his one sided love.
It was funny, in a very not obvious sort of way. Just little throw away lines here and there. Like one of Chan’s friends randomly having a bubble bath in their house when Chan wasn’t even there. I felt sorry for the SA guy on Chan’s team who was always left out when the other three (main cast) were so close, but it did amuse me when they called themselves out on it at the end. I much preferred the main guy in Degree of Love rather than in this - I didn’t sense much chemistry and he seemed kind of awkward, and I honestly can’t tell if that was a character choice or not. Seo Ri was really good at portraying a teenager, but I struggled to ever think of her as an adult to be honest. Chan was lovely. The supporting cast were good, but I’m surprised they didn’t make more of Seo Ri’s childhood friend turned doctor - he seemed a little forgotten about and then just randomly chucked in here and there. I get that they didn’t really need him with Chan providing that corner of the love triangle, but still. It was sad in places, and I definitely had a few tears in my eyes at one point, but for the most part while it was really predictable, and kind of slow, it was actually just a nice, fun story.
TLDR
Chan was the sweetest.
Watch it if you want ... or don’t ... I don’t feel that strongly about it to care.
I like Chan.
Saturday, 29 September 2018
What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim?
I have just finished watching What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim. To be honest, I thought I’d powered through this drama, but actually, I’ve certainly watched a series quicker. I think it was just in comparison to the behemoth that was Six Flying Dragons, that watching this seemed to fly by.
Not going to lie, I had high expectations, and I’m not sure I can honestly say they were totally met. It was good fun but predictable; easy to watch but not addictive. Let’s just stay it doesn’t knock off any of my top 5. I’d very much rank it alongside the likes of Strong Woman Do Bong Soon and Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo as a lighthearted romantic drama that I enjoyed but wasn’t anything particularly special.
It’s the classic rich man falls for penniless girl plot, with some memory loss, family strife and copious amounts of very obvious product placement thrown in. Just like The Heirs. Just like Boys Over Flowers. Just like Shopping King Louis ... I could go on. There were a fair few side stories, a rather disappointing second male lead*, and literally everyone had a very predictably happy ending. I do enjoy watching Park Seo Joon, and I thought Park Min Young was beautiful (I’ve only just realised that she was the lead in Healer and City Hunter - did not recognise her at all). It’s basically just crowd pleasing fluff with big names and pretty faces. So just like 98% of Asian drama.
* they could have done so much with his character, but no, they basically wrote him off. He is listed as main cast, had a solo title card in the opening credits, the set up for a love triangle even past the big reveal - but no, I think the SA who played an intern had more screen time than him. And we all know how much I love a second male lead (it’s the Rui Effect).
It is really highly rated on Viki at a 9.8, which puts it on a level with DotS, Bong Soon, Weightlifting Fairy and Healer, but I get the impression more and more that these ratings can’t be trusted to truly represent what they are supposed to mean as opposed to popularity scores. You see series that have yet to start airing with high scores because people start rating it based on the casting. They do tend to drop down quickly, but it’s a lesson to learn, to only pay attention to ratings on older shows.
Edit: I feel like this post has come across as much more negative than I meant it to. I think I just missed the action and significance of Six Flying Dragons. This series was a classic kdrama - nothing new. I enjoyed it a lot, I really did, and it would probably be up there in my top 20 or so.
Tl;Dr
It was enjoyable.
I recommend it to girls with unrealistic expectations of men.
I probably won’t watch it again.
Thursday, 20 September 2018
Six Flying Dragons
I finally did it. I finally finished watching Six Flying Dragons, which I have been watching since April. That’s 5 months. I’m actually a little shocked by that.
You know what, I did really enjoy this series. It was really well done. It made me smile, it made me cry and it had the extraordinary ability to make me simultaneously horrified and sympathetic to the main character doing some truly horrendous things. The acting was great, the characters were interesting and the production value was amazing. Mostly, it was just fascinating to learn about such an influential period in korean history.
That being said, I have never had a series send me to sleep so quickly. I would start watching an episode wide awake, and less than 10 mins later, I would be asleep. That’s not to say I found it boring, far from, but it was heavy going and just too much to cope with at bed time. Whenever I watched it during the day, I could easily power through multiple episodes, but during the week, when I only watch drama right before I go to sleep, it would take me all week to finish one episode.
I think that pretty much sums up everything I want to say. I could write a more in-depth review but I don’t know that I see much point. It kind of feels weird not including the plot, but there were 50 episodes, each at an hour long, and a lot happened in every single episode - I’d be here all day. I’ve heard it’s a prequel to Tree with Deep Roots, so maybe I’ll watch that at some point, but at the moment, I’m more interested in What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim ... I mean, it’s Park Seo Joon, can you blame me??
Tl;dr
I’m glad I watched it
I recommend others watching it
I probably wouldn’t watch it again
You know what, I did really enjoy this series. It was really well done. It made me smile, it made me cry and it had the extraordinary ability to make me simultaneously horrified and sympathetic to the main character doing some truly horrendous things. The acting was great, the characters were interesting and the production value was amazing. Mostly, it was just fascinating to learn about such an influential period in korean history.
That being said, I have never had a series send me to sleep so quickly. I would start watching an episode wide awake, and less than 10 mins later, I would be asleep. That’s not to say I found it boring, far from, but it was heavy going and just too much to cope with at bed time. Whenever I watched it during the day, I could easily power through multiple episodes, but during the week, when I only watch drama right before I go to sleep, it would take me all week to finish one episode.
I think that pretty much sums up everything I want to say. I could write a more in-depth review but I don’t know that I see much point. It kind of feels weird not including the plot, but there were 50 episodes, each at an hour long, and a lot happened in every single episode - I’d be here all day. I’ve heard it’s a prequel to Tree with Deep Roots, so maybe I’ll watch that at some point, but at the moment, I’m more interested in What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim ... I mean, it’s Park Seo Joon, can you blame me??
Tl;dr
I’m glad I watched it
I recommend others watching it
I probably wouldn’t watch it again
Friday, 27 April 2018
Bad Guys
First up, you may remember me basically saying I have been avoiding watching this drama for years, despite its high rating. Something about it just didn’t appeal and I was convinced I wouldn’t enjoy it. Boy, was I wrong.
Oh Gu Tak is a controversial detective, suspended after the murder of his daughter for going a bit crazy and beating people up. On the suggestion of his buddy, who happens to be the Police Commissioner, Oh Gu Tak joins forces with inspector Yoo Mi Young to bring three dangerous criminals out of prison to catch other criminals with the incentive of decreasing their sentences. Think Suicide Squad and you’ve pretty much got it. Park Woong Cheol is a famous gangster who took control of the whole of Seoul within a month. Lee Jung Moon is a genius psychopath serial killer who can’t remember killing his 15 victims. Jung Tae Soo is a contract killer who turned himself in and is ridiculously hot. Together, they are the Bad Guys Who Catch Bad Guys.
Yes, that’s pretty much the title. Inventive.
They pretty much run around investigating murders and beating people up and stopping organised crime. There is coherence, and every story does lead to the next which all comes together for the final few episodes. It was graphic, and even borderline upsetting at times, especially the organ trafficking episode, but it was shot so beautifully. The first couple of episodes in particular, the cinematography was stunning, although it was a shame that they had to blur out so much, as it was a little distracting. Basically every time there was a knife on screen, it was blurred out, and most if the characters seemed to spend most of their time holding knives. There was a realism to the way they rendered it, like you could see every pore on their faces, where as normally, the cast look almost airbrushed into perfection. There wasn’t even a romantic sub plot, unless you count Tae Soo going a bit gooey over the widow of one of his contracts. It just felt utterly different from any Asian drama that I have ever seen before, in literally every way.
I didn’t recognise many people in this drama. Jung Moon was Yoo Jung in Cheese in the Trap, which I hated and hated him in, although I enjoyed him in this. I just feel like Park Hae Jin is so much better suited to the creepy psychopath of this than the romantic, food obsessed, overaged lead of Cheese in the Trap. I also recognised the Police Commissioner as being the high up important army guy in Decendants of the Sun, which to be honest just made me want to rewatch it even more. Other than these two though, I didn’t recognise anyone, which is rare these days. I didn’t even know Jo Dong Hyuk, who played Tae Soo, which is a shame because he was lovely.
Would I recommend it? Yes, its a great drama that actually deserves the title of ‘drama’.
Would I rewatch it? Maybe, but at least not for a long time. I’m not sure how exciting it would be when you know what’s going to happen.
What comes next is difficult again. Do I learn from this experience and go for Six Flying Dragons, being a highly rated drama that I’ve avoided, this time because it’s so freaking long? Or rewatch DotS? Or do I start on Switch, which is currently quite highly rated, but I’m unsure whether that’s solely because it’s new, still airing, and stars Jang Geun Suk? I think I might go for Six Dlying Dragons ...
Oh Gu Tak is a controversial detective, suspended after the murder of his daughter for going a bit crazy and beating people up. On the suggestion of his buddy, who happens to be the Police Commissioner, Oh Gu Tak joins forces with inspector Yoo Mi Young to bring three dangerous criminals out of prison to catch other criminals with the incentive of decreasing their sentences. Think Suicide Squad and you’ve pretty much got it. Park Woong Cheol is a famous gangster who took control of the whole of Seoul within a month. Lee Jung Moon is a genius psychopath serial killer who can’t remember killing his 15 victims. Jung Tae Soo is a contract killer who turned himself in and is ridiculously hot. Together, they are the Bad Guys Who Catch Bad Guys.
Yes, that’s pretty much the title. Inventive.
They pretty much run around investigating murders and beating people up and stopping organised crime. There is coherence, and every story does lead to the next which all comes together for the final few episodes. It was graphic, and even borderline upsetting at times, especially the organ trafficking episode, but it was shot so beautifully. The first couple of episodes in particular, the cinematography was stunning, although it was a shame that they had to blur out so much, as it was a little distracting. Basically every time there was a knife on screen, it was blurred out, and most if the characters seemed to spend most of their time holding knives. There was a realism to the way they rendered it, like you could see every pore on their faces, where as normally, the cast look almost airbrushed into perfection. There wasn’t even a romantic sub plot, unless you count Tae Soo going a bit gooey over the widow of one of his contracts. It just felt utterly different from any Asian drama that I have ever seen before, in literally every way.
I didn’t recognise many people in this drama. Jung Moon was Yoo Jung in Cheese in the Trap, which I hated and hated him in, although I enjoyed him in this. I just feel like Park Hae Jin is so much better suited to the creepy psychopath of this than the romantic, food obsessed, overaged lead of Cheese in the Trap. I also recognised the Police Commissioner as being the high up important army guy in Decendants of the Sun, which to be honest just made me want to rewatch it even more. Other than these two though, I didn’t recognise anyone, which is rare these days. I didn’t even know Jo Dong Hyuk, who played Tae Soo, which is a shame because he was lovely.
Would I recommend it? Yes, its a great drama that actually deserves the title of ‘drama’.
Would I rewatch it? Maybe, but at least not for a long time. I’m not sure how exciting it would be when you know what’s going to happen.
What comes next is difficult again. Do I learn from this experience and go for Six Flying Dragons, being a highly rated drama that I’ve avoided, this time because it’s so freaking long? Or rewatch DotS? Or do I start on Switch, which is currently quite highly rated, but I’m unsure whether that’s solely because it’s new, still airing, and stars Jang Geun Suk? I think I might go for Six Dlying Dragons ...
Thursday, 12 April 2018
Chief Kim
I haven’t written a review post in a L O N G time. How do I even start? Maybe I should go back and read some of my old reviews for inspiration.
Ok, so it’s been 5 years since my last review post. 5 years. That’s crazy.
It’s seems that I had a little formula going. First I’d explain the plot, then I’d say what I thought, and then I’d say what I was going to watch next. For the Japanese dramas I used to find links between the actors and what else I’d seen them in, which actually I might reinstate, although I don’t know how much fun it’d be without the Gokusen factor.
I realise that I’m procrastinating.
Chief Kim is about Chief Kim...
Excellent start there. Let’s try that again.
Kim Sung-Ryeong is a dodgy accountant for dodgy people in somewhere that isn’t Seoul. His life ambition is to move to Denmark, and takes on dodgy jobs to eek out as much money from the monsters and criminals as he can. He is consistently arrested for fraud, but is so skilled at covering his tracks that he is always released with lack of evidence. One day, his secretary tells him about a job opening as chief of the accounting department at TQ group where they promise not to discriminate in regards to education and experience. Kim goes for the job with the plan of embezzling a huge sum of money to get him to Denmark, and newly appointed director Seo, an ex prosecutor, convinces the chairman to hire him to act as their puppet in various fraudulent activities. However, Chief Kim isn’t as easily controlled as that, and soon comes to realise the corruption within the management of the company. He grows closer to his colleagues and develops a conscience, eventually taking on Director Seo and the Chairman to protect the rights of his colleagues.
I’m not going to lie, it look me a fair amount if time to get through this series. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed it, but it didn’t grab me too much for the most part, although the last 4 or 5 episodes I could have watched one after the other. I found Namgoong Min’s Chief Kim to be a little too over the top, and Nam Sang Mi as Deputy Yoon a little bleh. I did have a soft spot for Director Seo though, even though he was the villain, but that was probably because I have a soft spot for 2pm’s Junho. I did find the absolute lack of romance really refreshing, especially when you thought they were going to go there, but then they didn’t. A particular favourite example was when Deputy Yoon complained of the cold, and Chief Kim looked like he was about to take off his jacket, but instead said that she should have worn something warmer like he did. Having said that, I would have totally approved of Deputy Yoon and Director Seo getting it on at the end.
Namgoong Min was the lead in Beautiful Kong Shim, and I must say I preferred him in that, although the characters were actually quite similar. Obviously I already knew Junho from 2pm, but he was also the lead in the last drama I watched, Just Between Lovers, along with Kim Kang Hyun’s Clerk Lee. To be honest, I loved their friendship so much in Just Between Lovers that I was kind of disappointed with their lack of contact in this. I also recognised Accounting Director Choo as the investigator from While You Were Sleeping, and the Chairman’s son was also someone suspicious in Suspicious Partner.
Would I recommend it? Sure, why not. It’s good fun.
Would I watch it again? Probably not. I really enjoyed seeing where this drama ended up, but I don’t know that I’d be overly bothered about goimg through it all again.
Next up is a tricky one. Technically it should probably be something like Replay 1988 or The Good Doctor, older dramas that have high ratings*, but I find myself tempted by Jang Geun Suk’s Switch, currently still airing, or rewatching Dots.
To be honest, Dots will probably win, because I want to see Onew. Seeing Song Joong Ki doesn’t hurt either.
* I’m trying to go by rating on Viki, which is hard when they don’t actually list the series in order. I’m on the 9.6’s now, except for Six Flying Dragons and Jewel in the Palace as they’re both 50 episodes long. There is also Bad Guys, which hasn’t appealed, but maybe I should give it a chance.
Ok that’s my first review in 5 years done. I don’t have a photo because blogger has made that difficult, but if you really want one you can just google ‘Chief Kim Junho’ and that should see you right.
Would I recommend it? Sure, why not. It’s good fun.
Would I watch it again? Probably not. I really enjoyed seeing where this drama ended up, but I don’t know that I’d be overly bothered about goimg through it all again.
Next up is a tricky one. Technically it should probably be something like Replay 1988 or The Good Doctor, older dramas that have high ratings*, but I find myself tempted by Jang Geun Suk’s Switch, currently still airing, or rewatching Dots.
To be honest, Dots will probably win, because I want to see Onew. Seeing Song Joong Ki doesn’t hurt either.
* I’m trying to go by rating on Viki, which is hard when they don’t actually list the series in order. I’m on the 9.6’s now, except for Six Flying Dragons and Jewel in the Palace as they’re both 50 episodes long. There is also Bad Guys, which hasn’t appealed, but maybe I should give it a chance.
Ok that’s my first review in 5 years done. I don’t have a photo because blogger has made that difficult, but if you really want one you can just google ‘Chief Kim Junho’ and that should see you right.
Saturday, 10 March 2018
Rewatchable
I used to write review posts every time I finished a series. These posts documented my transition from anime to Japanese drama to Korean drama, which is pretty much what I stick with now. There seems to have been a drastic rise in Chinese dramas lately, but I haven’t yet felt the desire to explore them. To be honest, I used to really enjoy writing review posts, but slowly it turned into a chore and eventually I just couldn’t be bothered anymore. I’m fairly certain I stopped writing reviews when I started using Viki, so the first drama that I didn’t write a review for must have been “The Heirs”.
Wow. So long ago. I wish I had dates of when I started and finished watching each series. Mydramalist only tells me alphabetical list.
I have been thinking for a while about writing a post about the Asian dramas I have enjoyed since stopping my review posts, but I figured that would take me ages. So, instead, here are 5 dramas I would rewatch and recommend to anyone for a first time viewing.
Chicago Typewriter
Three resistance fighters from Japanese occupied Korea in the 1930’s are reincarnated in modern day Seoul. The series follows a writer, his ghostwriter and a book lover as they start to remember their past lives and solve the mystery of what happened. It’s a really interesting story that keeps you on the edge of your seat, and I found the history of it so fascinating.
Descendants of the Sun
The captain of a Special Forces Unit has a chance meeting with an old girlfriend when she volunteers in a war torn country with her team of doctors and they are stationed together. Various things happen, and every episode is the perfect mix of danger, romance and hot guys running around topless. Also, Onew is in it.
Healer
A second rate reporter discovers ‘Healer’, a mysterious illegal errand boy run foul of dangerous people, and through various chance meetings, strives to discover his true identity. Again, it’s a lot of action, blindfolded kisses and general addictiveness.
Secret Garden
Classic romantic body swap. I did actually review this one, and wasn’t too impressed at the time, but it’s a story that has really stuck with me and I often think about watching it again. The sit up scene *sighs wistfully*.
W - Two Worlds
The daughter of a missing famous webtoonist is sucked into the world her father created, and the only way out is to make the chapter end. Over time, she finds herself being pulled into the cartoon more and more as she struggles to find her father and the identity of a mysterious character who keeps trying to kill the main character. Lots of action, lots of laughs, a huge amount of chemistry and one that keeps you hooked episode after episode.
I actually started this post with no idea if I had 5 dramas or 3 or 20, but somehow it magically worked out at 5. Score.
Wow. So long ago. I wish I had dates of when I started and finished watching each series. Mydramalist only tells me alphabetical list.
I have been thinking for a while about writing a post about the Asian dramas I have enjoyed since stopping my review posts, but I figured that would take me ages. So, instead, here are 5 dramas I would rewatch and recommend to anyone for a first time viewing.
Chicago Typewriter
Three resistance fighters from Japanese occupied Korea in the 1930’s are reincarnated in modern day Seoul. The series follows a writer, his ghostwriter and a book lover as they start to remember their past lives and solve the mystery of what happened. It’s a really interesting story that keeps you on the edge of your seat, and I found the history of it so fascinating.
Descendants of the Sun
The captain of a Special Forces Unit has a chance meeting with an old girlfriend when she volunteers in a war torn country with her team of doctors and they are stationed together. Various things happen, and every episode is the perfect mix of danger, romance and hot guys running around topless. Also, Onew is in it.
Healer
A second rate reporter discovers ‘Healer’, a mysterious illegal errand boy run foul of dangerous people, and through various chance meetings, strives to discover his true identity. Again, it’s a lot of action, blindfolded kisses and general addictiveness.
Secret Garden
Classic romantic body swap. I did actually review this one, and wasn’t too impressed at the time, but it’s a story that has really stuck with me and I often think about watching it again. The sit up scene *sighs wistfully*.
W - Two Worlds
The daughter of a missing famous webtoonist is sucked into the world her father created, and the only way out is to make the chapter end. Over time, she finds herself being pulled into the cartoon more and more as she struggles to find her father and the identity of a mysterious character who keeps trying to kill the main character. Lots of action, lots of laughs, a huge amount of chemistry and one that keeps you hooked episode after episode.
I actually started this post with no idea if I had 5 dramas or 3 or 20, but somehow it magically worked out at 5. Score.
Sunday, 11 February 2018
Why I don't drink caffeine
This evening, a couple of my girl friends came round for dinner. We sat at the dining table and everything. They brought Pepsi max, and I had half a glass. Now it's one in the morning and I'm sat in bed wide awake.
I'm not used to caffeine anymore. I gave it up a few years ago (it's documented on this blog somewhere) and it was horrible. The headaches. The tiredness. The general feeling like crap. Then I started Slimmimg World, and for some reason, it being free meant that I should have cola again, and so it crept back into my life. I came back to my senses when the tunnel vision started to return, and now normally stay away. Tonight was a mixture of laziness because I couldn't be bothered to get anything else, and wanting to belong because that's what the others were drinking.
It is not worth it. I'm now wide awake but my mind is tired, and I have a headache. Urgh.
In slightly related news, I think I'm addicted to Korean skincare. I've joked before, but now I'm really starting to wonder. You know when you order something on amazon and it'll tell you "spend £* to qualify for free delivery"? I always use that as an excuse to buy something under the pretence that I'm saving money. I'm not. Delivery will normally be a couple of pounds, and the products are rarely under £15. I'm supposed to be counting the pennies, and instead I'm ordering essences all over the place. I have one due to arrive tomorrow, which was making up the total on my nieces birthday presents, but I still ordered another one this evening to make up the cost of some more Mediheal sheet masks. So I have the Mizon Watery First Essence and the Benton Snail Bee Essence on the way, both of which I'm very excited by. Now I just need CosRX on amazon ...
Ever since I finished the green Mediheal masks, I can feel my skin getting worse, bubbling up under the surface. In all fairness, it could still be the Nature Republic Snail essence, as I finished that at around the same time, but seeing as I can get the masks in the UK for about £15-17, and the essence is only from Korea and last time cost me about £25 plus a £12 customs charge (!!!), I figure I'll try the sheet masks again first. I did love the Nature Republic snail essence though ... sigh. I was trying the orange Vita lightbeam masks, but I'm not loving those as much as the green healing ones. The serum is slightly thicker and more sticky, but I think pairing them up and alternating with the healing ones might work well. Prevent and heal break outs and then fade discolouration.
Right, I should stop typing now and distract my heavily caffeinated brain with drama instead. I've just started Just Between Lovers and so far I'm loving it. It's beautifully shot. Plus 2pm's Junho is the perfect mix of kind hearted bad boy.
I just wish dramas didn't have such lovey dovey titles.
I'm not used to caffeine anymore. I gave it up a few years ago (it's documented on this blog somewhere) and it was horrible. The headaches. The tiredness. The general feeling like crap. Then I started Slimmimg World, and for some reason, it being free meant that I should have cola again, and so it crept back into my life. I came back to my senses when the tunnel vision started to return, and now normally stay away. Tonight was a mixture of laziness because I couldn't be bothered to get anything else, and wanting to belong because that's what the others were drinking.
It is not worth it. I'm now wide awake but my mind is tired, and I have a headache. Urgh.
In slightly related news, I think I'm addicted to Korean skincare. I've joked before, but now I'm really starting to wonder. You know when you order something on amazon and it'll tell you "spend £* to qualify for free delivery"? I always use that as an excuse to buy something under the pretence that I'm saving money. I'm not. Delivery will normally be a couple of pounds, and the products are rarely under £15. I'm supposed to be counting the pennies, and instead I'm ordering essences all over the place. I have one due to arrive tomorrow, which was making up the total on my nieces birthday presents, but I still ordered another one this evening to make up the cost of some more Mediheal sheet masks. So I have the Mizon Watery First Essence and the Benton Snail Bee Essence on the way, both of which I'm very excited by. Now I just need CosRX on amazon ...
Ever since I finished the green Mediheal masks, I can feel my skin getting worse, bubbling up under the surface. In all fairness, it could still be the Nature Republic Snail essence, as I finished that at around the same time, but seeing as I can get the masks in the UK for about £15-17, and the essence is only from Korea and last time cost me about £25 plus a £12 customs charge (!!!), I figure I'll try the sheet masks again first. I did love the Nature Republic snail essence though ... sigh. I was trying the orange Vita lightbeam masks, but I'm not loving those as much as the green healing ones. The serum is slightly thicker and more sticky, but I think pairing them up and alternating with the healing ones might work well. Prevent and heal break outs and then fade discolouration.
Right, I should stop typing now and distract my heavily caffeinated brain with drama instead. I've just started Just Between Lovers and so far I'm loving it. It's beautifully shot. Plus 2pm's Junho is the perfect mix of kind hearted bad boy.
I just wish dramas didn't have such lovey dovey titles.
Thursday, 11 January 2018
Product Placement
I forgot to post last night. Maybe I'll be able to catch up at some point, but I'm not worrying about it too much. This blog every day for a year thing is supposed to be for fun, not something to stress out about.
Part of me is tempted to bring back drama reviews. For one, it'll give me something to post about on the slow days, but mostly because this is a blog about my life, and dramas are a massive part of what I do in my free time. I don't know, I'll see how I feel when I finish Degree of Love.
Speaking of Degree of Love, something that always amuses me in dramas is the product placement. Sometimes it's fairly subtle, like the characters frequently eating subway or going to certain coffeee shop brands. I mean, that's not subtle at all, but it's not really distracting from the story. The funny ones are the ones that have no place in the story and are practically a sales pitch. Like in the episode I just watched, there was a really random scene in which the main character was hovering with a dyson. Some form of interaction with another character was chucked in, but for the most part, it was just a load of close ups of the vacuum cleaner. Even an extreme close up of her turning it off. They might as well have stuck one of those red star shaped price label and order number on the screen.
The industry is aware of the ridiculousness of it all, and aren't afraid to make fun of themselves for it.
The female lead in Because This Is My First Life starts the series as an assistant writer for a drama series whose whole job is to write in product placement. She has a character going around on a Segway hover board screaming in frustration. It was great.
I also really enjoyed when one drama, and I can't for the life of me remember which one, was sponsored by trip advisor, and they literally had a character book up and then leave a review for somewhere, talking the audience through the whole process. It took like 5 minutes.
Of course, I'm an absolute sucker for advertising. Series sponsored by Papa Johns or subway are a nightmare for me, and one day, I really want to drink this stuff. I don't even know what it is, but everyone drinks it and I want to drink it too.
It's probably just water.
Part of me is tempted to bring back drama reviews. For one, it'll give me something to post about on the slow days, but mostly because this is a blog about my life, and dramas are a massive part of what I do in my free time. I don't know, I'll see how I feel when I finish Degree of Love.
Speaking of Degree of Love, something that always amuses me in dramas is the product placement. Sometimes it's fairly subtle, like the characters frequently eating subway or going to certain coffeee shop brands. I mean, that's not subtle at all, but it's not really distracting from the story. The funny ones are the ones that have no place in the story and are practically a sales pitch. Like in the episode I just watched, there was a really random scene in which the main character was hovering with a dyson. Some form of interaction with another character was chucked in, but for the most part, it was just a load of close ups of the vacuum cleaner. Even an extreme close up of her turning it off. They might as well have stuck one of those red star shaped price label and order number on the screen.
The industry is aware of the ridiculousness of it all, and aren't afraid to make fun of themselves for it.
The female lead in Because This Is My First Life starts the series as an assistant writer for a drama series whose whole job is to write in product placement. She has a character going around on a Segway hover board screaming in frustration. It was great.
I also really enjoyed when one drama, and I can't for the life of me remember which one, was sponsored by trip advisor, and they literally had a character book up and then leave a review for somewhere, talking the audience through the whole process. It took like 5 minutes.
Of course, I'm an absolute sucker for advertising. Series sponsored by Papa Johns or subway are a nightmare for me, and one day, I really want to drink this stuff. I don't even know what it is, but everyone drinks it and I want to drink it too.
It's probably just water.
Friday, 25 May 2012
Full House
You know a drama is old when it isn't in wide screen and half of your screen is taken up by black bars of doom on either side of the picture. Of course, when I say old, I mean 2004, so at least it was in colour.
Full House is the story of a young aspiring writer, Ji Eun, who is conned out of her savings and home by her friends. To get her out of the way long enough to do this, they sent her on holiday, where she meets famous actor Young Jae. Discovering she is stranded in a foreign country without a penny to her name, she goes to Young Jae for a loan. On returning home, she finds out her house was brought by Young Jae, and after she refuses to leave, they decide to enter into a contract marriage so that Ji Eun can get her home back and for Young Jae to save face after a rejected proposal.
You know without me saying where this is going to end up. Happily ever afters for everyone involved doesn't seem like so much of a spoiler as a guarantee in popular Asian drama. Young Jae treats Ji Eun like a slave, they fight and argue pretty much all the time, and yet, they still end up falling for each other. It took the whole series, which was frustrating, especially when it was so blatantly obvious. For some reason, Young Jae was so blinded for his childhood affection for Hye Won that he couldn't even see Ji Eun as anything more than a rice bowl until the penultimate episode, which left us with literally 5 minutes of happily ever after. Not that I wanted a load of gooey happiness, but 15 episodes of the same thing got a little boring. They fought, Young Jae demanded cleaning and food, they fought, Ji Eun left and came back, they fought, people interfered, they fought. Then happily ever after.
It was good though, and I did enjoy it. Young Jae was childish and charming, Ji Eun was so unbelievably pretty, and they had great chemistry. The house was amazing, too. I laughed a lot, although I didn't cry so no plus points there, although it really wasn't the sort of story to cry for. It wasn't so much a romantic comedy as comedy with romance. I found it particularly amusing how they tried to get around the branded clothes with just sticking tape over a letter or two, and how Ji Eun's pregnant friend looked no more pregnant than I do throughout the whole plot.
Young Jae was played by Rain, a pretty big idol star in Korea as well as world wide, starring in several American films, like Ninja Assassin and Speed Racer. In fact, Full House is often credited with kick starting the Hallyu wave. I have to admit to understanding why, although I have seen other dramas that I preferred, Personal Taste for one.
Next up is Lie to Me. I know nothing about this other than there is a screen cap of a girl crying and what I can guess from the title. Something about lying, maybe?
<3 x
Full House is the story of a young aspiring writer, Ji Eun, who is conned out of her savings and home by her friends. To get her out of the way long enough to do this, they sent her on holiday, where she meets famous actor Young Jae. Discovering she is stranded in a foreign country without a penny to her name, she goes to Young Jae for a loan. On returning home, she finds out her house was brought by Young Jae, and after she refuses to leave, they decide to enter into a contract marriage so that Ji Eun can get her home back and for Young Jae to save face after a rejected proposal.
Young Jae being a gentleman and generously sharing his bed with Ji Eun.
You know without me saying where this is going to end up. Happily ever afters for everyone involved doesn't seem like so much of a spoiler as a guarantee in popular Asian drama. Young Jae treats Ji Eun like a slave, they fight and argue pretty much all the time, and yet, they still end up falling for each other. It took the whole series, which was frustrating, especially when it was so blatantly obvious. For some reason, Young Jae was so blinded for his childhood affection for Hye Won that he couldn't even see Ji Eun as anything more than a rice bowl until the penultimate episode, which left us with literally 5 minutes of happily ever after. Not that I wanted a load of gooey happiness, but 15 episodes of the same thing got a little boring. They fought, Young Jae demanded cleaning and food, they fought, Ji Eun left and came back, they fought, people interfered, they fought. Then happily ever after.
It was good though, and I did enjoy it. Young Jae was childish and charming, Ji Eun was so unbelievably pretty, and they had great chemistry. The house was amazing, too. I laughed a lot, although I didn't cry so no plus points there, although it really wasn't the sort of story to cry for. It wasn't so much a romantic comedy as comedy with romance. I found it particularly amusing how they tried to get around the branded clothes with just sticking tape over a letter or two, and how Ji Eun's pregnant friend looked no more pregnant than I do throughout the whole plot.
If I could look like anyone, it would be Ji Eun. She's so pretty, I hate her.
Young Jae was played by Rain, a pretty big idol star in Korea as well as world wide, starring in several American films, like Ninja Assassin and Speed Racer. In fact, Full House is often credited with kick starting the Hallyu wave. I have to admit to understanding why, although I have seen other dramas that I preferred, Personal Taste for one.
Next up is Lie to Me. I know nothing about this other than there is a screen cap of a girl crying and what I can guess from the title. Something about lying, maybe?
<3 x
Monday, 20 February 2012
Playful Kiss (contains mild rantage)
Normally, I try to avoid spoiling too much in these drama posts, but I am afraid that I doubt I will be able to avoid it for Playful Kiss. So consider yourself warned.
Firstly, I just want to get this out there. What a load of tosh. How is this in the top 10 most popular Asian drama? Its like the High School Musical of Asian media; a load of people apparently like it for no fully comprehensible reason. Having said that, it was amusing, and incredibly easy to watch, albeit it completely unrealistic, so these factors may have had some bearing.
Oh Ha Ni has had a crush on Baek Seung Jo for years, but he doesn't even know she exists. One day, she plucks up the courage to confess by letter, but he grades it rather than appreciates it. Soon after, Han Ni's house collapses, and she and her father move in with an estranged family friend and his family, who happens to be Baek Seung Jo's. Relentlessly, with the aid of Seung Jo's interfering mother, she pursues him, trampling all over Bong Joon Gu's heart in the process, and generally acts like a spoiled child.
I liked this drama, I really did. However, there are some things that I really can't forgive.
In what way is stalking an effective way to get someone to love you? Because that is what Ha Ni spends literally all of her time doing. Sure, I get that Seung Jo was only denying his feelings as he didn't want to do what was expected of him, but still.
Why do all the heroines of Asian drama go for the douches over the super nice guys that are super hot as well as super devoted to them? It's like Rui all over again. Joon Gu was lovely, so lovely, he didnt look like he'd snap in half as soon as you touched him, AND he cooked lovely food, but no, she goes for the boy that at first ignores her, and then spends the rest of the series bulling her. Stupid. Sure, Joon Gu got his happy ending (with an English tourist ^^), as does everyone in Korean dramas, and even if secretly you can't help but cheer for the douche, the Asian drama 'Nice Guy' still hurts my heart the most.
In the middle of the series, another guy shows up asking Ha Ni to go out with him. This is interesting, I thought, especially when Ha Ni was trying to make Seung Jo jealous and New Man was being super forward. One time, he tried to kiss her, and Joon Gu appeared out of nowhere (stalker) and started to fight him. Then, Seung Jo appeared and told them both that Ha Ni only liked him. We never saw nor heard of New Man again. I can only assume Joon Gu killed him in the library. Seriously though, why would you introduce a new character that has such potential and then just leave his storyline hanging? I literally spent the rest of the series waiting for him to come and stir up more trouble, but alas ... dead now.
Imagine this. Oh Ha Ni tells Seung Jo that she is going to give Joon Gu a go because she is sick of being in a one sided love.
GOOD.
Then, he tells her she is only allowed to like him, and kisses her ... in the rain.
Poor Joon Gu but GOOD.
They go home, and he tells his parents he wants to marry her.
Right ... eventually ... when they finish college, so still years away...OK, good to have a plan I guess?
THEN interfering Mother books the ceremony for a few days later.
WHAT? AND THEY GO ALONG WITH IT? THEY DIDN'T EVEN DATE. THEY ONLY KISSED TWICE (well, three times, but once Ha Ni was asleep) AND THEY GET MARRIED JUST LIKE THAT?
Then, when they go on a honeymoon. Ha Ni only starts to worry about sex on the LAST DAY ... WHAT WERE THEY DOING FOR THE REST OF THE TIME? Sure, some other couple show up and are bothersome, but really? At this point I started to wonder if Ha Ni was really Seung Jo's type, if you catch my drift.
Sorry, that got a little ranty there. I warned you about the spoilers though. Basically, it was amusing, but that was about it. A little too teenage fantasy for me, so much so that by the end of it, I was convinced the whole thing was in Ha Ni's imagination. But no, it really was that pink and fluffy.
I absolutely adored the character of the mother, some of the music I can only describe as Glee-esque, and the teddy bear re-enactments at the end of each episode were really cute, so it did have some degree of originality, just no reality. Don't get me wrong, I can see why it is popular, it just lacked substance. I really don't understand how it is that popular when there are so many other, far more worthy dramas out there. I guess the ranking system on dramacrazy.net is a little fickle, as it goes on popularity rather than ratings.
Next up, after I've sussed out if the 7 Playful Kiss Specials are worth watching, is Mary Stayed Up All Night. I've heard of this a lot, and I think it's a manga adaptation. I know it's got Jang Geun Suk in it, who is a rather famous Korean actor, and the main guy in You're Beautiful. To be honest, I'm more looking forward to the drama after this one, City Hunter. Lee Min Ho <3
<3 x
Firstly, I just want to get this out there. What a load of tosh. How is this in the top 10 most popular Asian drama? Its like the High School Musical of Asian media; a load of people apparently like it for no fully comprehensible reason. Having said that, it was amusing, and incredibly easy to watch, albeit it completely unrealistic, so these factors may have had some bearing.
Oh Ha Ni has had a crush on Baek Seung Jo for years, but he doesn't even know she exists. One day, she plucks up the courage to confess by letter, but he grades it rather than appreciates it. Soon after, Han Ni's house collapses, and she and her father move in with an estranged family friend and his family, who happens to be Baek Seung Jo's. Relentlessly, with the aid of Seung Jo's interfering mother, she pursues him, trampling all over Bong Joon Gu's heart in the process, and generally acts like a spoiled child.
I screen-capped this because it amused me so much. The guy was like 'I stole your shoe, let me flash you,' and Ha Ni was like 'Oh no my shoe. Yeah, OK then'. Idiot girl, lucky Seung Jo happened to be passing and came to the rescue (stalker). Seung Jo was Ji Hoo (Rui) in Boys Before Flowers. I liked him better in this.
I liked this drama, I really did. However, there are some things that I really can't forgive.
In what way is stalking an effective way to get someone to love you? Because that is what Ha Ni spends literally all of her time doing. Sure, I get that Seung Jo was only denying his feelings as he didn't want to do what was expected of him, but still.
Why do all the heroines of Asian drama go for the douches over the super nice guys that are super hot as well as super devoted to them? It's like Rui all over again. Joon Gu was lovely, so lovely, he didnt look like he'd snap in half as soon as you touched him, AND he cooked lovely food, but no, she goes for the boy that at first ignores her, and then spends the rest of the series bulling her. Stupid. Sure, Joon Gu got his happy ending (with an English tourist ^^), as does everyone in Korean dramas, and even if secretly you can't help but cheer for the douche, the Asian drama 'Nice Guy' still hurts my heart the most.
In the middle of the series, another guy shows up asking Ha Ni to go out with him. This is interesting, I thought, especially when Ha Ni was trying to make Seung Jo jealous and New Man was being super forward. One time, he tried to kiss her, and Joon Gu appeared out of nowhere (stalker) and started to fight him. Then, Seung Jo appeared and told them both that Ha Ni only liked him. We never saw nor heard of New Man again. I can only assume Joon Gu killed him in the library. Seriously though, why would you introduce a new character that has such potential and then just leave his storyline hanging? I literally spent the rest of the series waiting for him to come and stir up more trouble, but alas ... dead now.
Imagine this. Oh Ha Ni tells Seung Jo that she is going to give Joon Gu a go because she is sick of being in a one sided love.
GOOD.
Then, he tells her she is only allowed to like him, and kisses her ... in the rain.
Poor Joon Gu but GOOD.
They go home, and he tells his parents he wants to marry her.
Right ... eventually ... when they finish college, so still years away...OK, good to have a plan I guess?
THEN interfering Mother books the ceremony for a few days later.
WHAT? AND THEY GO ALONG WITH IT? THEY DIDN'T EVEN DATE. THEY ONLY KISSED TWICE (well, three times, but once Ha Ni was asleep) AND THEY GET MARRIED JUST LIKE THAT?
Then, when they go on a honeymoon. Ha Ni only starts to worry about sex on the LAST DAY ... WHAT WERE THEY DOING FOR THE REST OF THE TIME? Sure, some other couple show up and are bothersome, but really? At this point I started to wonder if Ha Ni was really Seung Jo's type, if you catch my drift.
Sorry, that got a little ranty there. I warned you about the spoilers though. Basically, it was amusing, but that was about it. A little too teenage fantasy for me, so much so that by the end of it, I was convinced the whole thing was in Ha Ni's imagination. But no, it really was that pink and fluffy.
I absolutely adored the character of the mother, some of the music I can only describe as Glee-esque, and the teddy bear re-enactments at the end of each episode were really cute, so it did have some degree of originality, just no reality. Don't get me wrong, I can see why it is popular, it just lacked substance. I really don't understand how it is that popular when there are so many other, far more worthy dramas out there. I guess the ranking system on dramacrazy.net is a little fickle, as it goes on popularity rather than ratings.
Next up, after I've sussed out if the 7 Playful Kiss Specials are worth watching, is Mary Stayed Up All Night. I've heard of this a lot, and I think it's a manga adaptation. I know it's got Jang Geun Suk in it, who is a rather famous Korean actor, and the main guy in You're Beautiful. To be honest, I'm more looking forward to the drama after this one, City Hunter. Lee Min Ho <3
<3 x
Sunday, 22 January 2012
Personal Taste
Is it me or do I seem to be getting through new series quite quickly? Having said that, I guess I always have done. It's not like I have much of a social life. Instead, I spend most of my free time (and sleeping time) watching these things.
I feel like I should be ashamed, but I'm totally not. I guess I shouldn't complain (as I did in yesterday's post) if I'm not willing to do anything to change my situation.
For an Asian drama based on the idea that a guy pretends to be gay, I must admit that I expected this series to be more amusing. Sure it was funny in places, but it started off pretty sad, what with the main girl character being dumped, and then with all the shit that stopped the main guy and girl getting together, it was more sad and frustrating than a stereotypical romantic comedy.
GaeIn is a struggling furniture designer who recently discovered her boyfriend at the alter with her best friend. JinHo is an architect, who moves into a free room in GaeIn's unique house in order to use it for research for a highly sought after art gallery redesign. GaeIn and her friend mistakenly come to the conclusion that JinHo is gay, and deems it appropriate for him to live with her as she needs to rent money to clear her debts. Obviously, over time, they grow closer and start to fall for each other, blah blah blah.
I can't say I didn't enjoy this drama, I really did. I liked the characters, it was fun and original and some of the more romantic scenes were ... well really romantic. Remember when I said for Buzzer Beat how real kisses shock you because you get so used to barbie kisses? Well, Personal Taste did the same. I actually squee'ed at the first kiss. However, I think this is the only drama I have ever watched that I have fallen asleep mid episode multiple times. Not to say it was boring, I just seemed to fall asleep exactly in the middle whenever I watched an episode past midnight. I didn't think much of the ending either. It was too neat, everyone got a happy ending, even the people who you hated through out the whole series.
Once again, the only Kpop star in this series is from a band I have very little experience of. JinHo's colleague, TaeHoon, is a member of 2AM. i've seen a few of their music videos, but its all a bit ballad-y for me, so I go for their more upbeat counterparts, 2PM. I tend to watch them at 2am because it amuses me.
Next is Secret Garden, a story about a girl and a boy switching bodies. Not exactly original, but I haven't seen it in an Asian drama yet. Lots of girls pretending to be boys *cough*Hana Kimi*cough*Ouran*cough*evenanepisodeofPersonalTaste*cough*, but no girls actually being boys.
You know, I'm starting to think the ranking on dramacrazy is biased towards new rather than 'the best' Asian drama, as series from the last couple of years are far more common than those before, and yet its hard to believe that all the best drama is brand new. It just means I am watching the most popular shows, I think.
<3 x
PS - I put up my canvases today! From my post yesterday, that probably means I should go watch High School Musical or some other sickening attempt at western young romance .... or I may just watch Birdsong.
I feel like I should be ashamed, but I'm totally not. I guess I shouldn't complain (as I did in yesterday's post) if I'm not willing to do anything to change my situation.
For an Asian drama based on the idea that a guy pretends to be gay, I must admit that I expected this series to be more amusing. Sure it was funny in places, but it started off pretty sad, what with the main girl character being dumped, and then with all the shit that stopped the main guy and girl getting together, it was more sad and frustrating than a stereotypical romantic comedy.
From Google. JinHo and GaeIn. Jin Ho was JunPyo in Boys Before Flowers. His nose seemed bigger then.
GaeIn is a struggling furniture designer who recently discovered her boyfriend at the alter with her best friend. JinHo is an architect, who moves into a free room in GaeIn's unique house in order to use it for research for a highly sought after art gallery redesign. GaeIn and her friend mistakenly come to the conclusion that JinHo is gay, and deems it appropriate for him to live with her as she needs to rent money to clear her debts. Obviously, over time, they grow closer and start to fall for each other, blah blah blah.
I can't say I didn't enjoy this drama, I really did. I liked the characters, it was fun and original and some of the more romantic scenes were ... well really romantic. Remember when I said for Buzzer Beat how real kisses shock you because you get so used to barbie kisses? Well, Personal Taste did the same. I actually squee'ed at the first kiss. However, I think this is the only drama I have ever watched that I have fallen asleep mid episode multiple times. Not to say it was boring, I just seemed to fall asleep exactly in the middle whenever I watched an episode past midnight. I didn't think much of the ending either. It was too neat, everyone got a happy ending, even the people who you hated through out the whole series.
Once again, the only Kpop star in this series is from a band I have very little experience of. JinHo's colleague, TaeHoon, is a member of 2AM. i've seen a few of their music videos, but its all a bit ballad-y for me, so I go for their more upbeat counterparts, 2PM. I tend to watch them at 2am because it amuses me.
Next is Secret Garden, a story about a girl and a boy switching bodies. Not exactly original, but I haven't seen it in an Asian drama yet. Lots of girls pretending to be boys *cough*Hana Kimi*cough*Ouran*cough*evenanepisodeofPersonalTaste*cough*, but no girls actually being boys.
You know, I'm starting to think the ranking on dramacrazy is biased towards new rather than 'the best' Asian drama, as series from the last couple of years are far more common than those before, and yet its hard to believe that all the best drama is brand new. It just means I am watching the most popular shows, I think.
<3 x
PS - I put up my canvases today! From my post yesterday, that probably means I should go watch High School Musical or some other sickening attempt at western young romance .... or I may just watch Birdsong.
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