Showing posts with label Drama Serial. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Drama Serial. Show all posts
Drama Review: Strong Woman Do Bong Soon (大力女子都奉顺)
Melody


I loved this K-drama. With elements such as a power supergirl with a few buttkicking moves, thrown in some complicated love issues and a super evil psychopath and you will have Strong Woman Do Bong Soon. 

 I will skip the plot since the above about sums up the overall picture of this fantasy romcom. What this drama captivated me is the fantastical portrayal of Do Bong Soon (starring Park Bo-Young) and her outlook on family, friends and life in general. Generally speaking, she is a simple-minded girl with a big heart and a bigger righteousness mind who would risk dangers to protect anyone who's in need of assistance (be it a simple lift of a heavy bulky item or a life-threatening situation.) 

 Her love life, however, is a bit more complicated, though. She has been friends with rookie detective In Gook-du (Starring Ji-Soo) since they were teenagers and she's always carry a torch for him since then but that feelings is always one-sided until later, which I felt was way too late since by then she was attracted by Ahn Min-hyuk (starring Park Hyung-sik), a young CEO of a video gaming company. She and Min-Hyuk has a history way before they knew each other; and I loved to see how their feelings for each other develop from a boss-subordinate relationship to being a more-than-friends relationship. Their sense of togetherness most often brought a smile to my face be they flirting or clashing with each other's ideas. 

Credit Source


Then, there is the case of the psychopath who abducts young women to be his "brides". This thrilling plot captivated the crime thriller reader in me and it was interesting to see how this suspense involved Bong Soon and Min-Hyuk ultimately. That being said, this drama gravitate more towards the romantic aspect and I loved it all the same. And oh, that ending! *grins*



© 2017 Melody's Reading Corner (https://mel-reading-corner.blogspot.sg/), All Rights Reserved. If you are reading this post from other site(s), please take note that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.
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Drama Review: Entertainer (戏子)
Melody

Entertainer is a story revolving around music and the journey of four young lads' challenges while pursuing their dreams and most of all, an arrogant, ambitious manager who has to start his career all over again after a downfall from a prestigious entertainment company and how he has carved out a career for the four newbies in the music industry through hard work and obstacles.

 Shin Suk Ho (starring Ji Sung) is the manager who used to work as a director for KTOP but rivalries and a defamatory drove him out of the biggest entertainment company. With nowhere to go and feeling dejected, he thinks he has lost all directions and motivations until he heard a song sang by a high school student, Jo Ha Neul (starring Kang Min Hyuk) through a school speaker. Moved by the song and his voice, Suk Ho decides that this young lad might be the answer for his future. 

 Ha Neul, on the other hand, has decided not to sing anymore as he wants to honour his late parents' wish and on top of it he is falsely accused of sexual harassment by his female schoolmate and is now on probation by the court. He was on the verge of suicide until Suk Ho stopped him and told him that he would make him a star and that he would help him to clear his name. 

 Suk Ho sets up his own entertainment company, Mango. He also found another three members to form a music band. Though Mango is small and nameless, Suk Ho manages to uphold the business and bring attention to the newly formed music band through the help of a long-time female friend and a songwriter. However, their hopes are quickly shattered as someone from KTOP wouldn't want Suk Ho to succeed and would do anything to bring them all down. 

I've to confess the main reason I was attracted to watching Entertainer is because of actor Ji Sung. I was wowed by his performance on Secret and Kill Me, Heal Me and I'd had high expectations with his latest drama. Although Entertainer didn't have too many melodrama moments and might even be considered slow paced at times, what truly makes this drama stands out is the spirits and determination of Suk Ho and his band members as well as the passion of pursuing one's dreams. There isn't many romantic moments here though Suk Ho and Ha Neul's sister, Geu Rin (starring Hyeri) do have feelings for each other and their little gestures for each other did warm one's heart (I loved it that Suk Ho treasures the green umbrella which Geu Rin gave him during his depression; and the book she gave him - Daddy-Long-Legs, kind of reminds him that they are very much like Judy and Mr John Smith and that she doesn't really care much about their age difference.) 

 All in all it was quite a heart-warming, inspirational story though I wished there are more thrills and more romantic moments. Ji Sung's acting skill continues to wow viewers through Suk Ho's character; a role that reflects his zest and his remorseful feelings at the same time.
(All pic images credit to Google Images)

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Drama Review: The Girl Who Sees Smell (看见味道的少女)
Melody


Adapted from the webtoon of the same title, The Girl Who Sees Smell (aka Sensory Couple) is a romantic comedy cum mystery drama about a man (who lost his sense of smell and taste) and a woman (who has hypersensitive senses) befriended on a chance encounter and later work as a team to capture the murderer who had killed his younger sister. 

That same murderer had killed a couple years ago, leaving their only daughter as a witness to the gruesome murder. Unfortunately, the girl had an accident while escaping, thus the murderer had to abandon the chance of killing her, considering her accident had drawn a commotion but he did know her name through her school uniform's name tag and vows to take her life the next time. 

Choi Mu-gak's (starring Park Yoo-Chun) sister, Eun-seol, was slashed in the throat while recuperating in the hospital. Bearing the same name as the fleeing girl, she had lost her life due to a mistaken identity. Her death devastated him which led him in a coma for months after he'd left himself in a hunger and sleepless state. He lost his senses the day he woke up, not only that he also couldn't feel any physical pain. This whole trauma has made him closes himself up emotionally. He also left his job at the aquarium and join the police force so that he could investigate the case of his sister's death. 

Oh Cho-rim's (starring Shin Se-kyung) dream is to be a comedienne. She has no memory of her past but she has a hypersensitive senses and she can "see" smell after waking up from a coma when she was nineteen. She can easily trace things or people through their lingering smells. Mu-gak thinks her special capability could help him solve his sister's death, but what he hasn't count on is falling in love with her in the end. 


I have to confess it is Park Yoo-Chun that had me drawn to this drama, though I also have to admit I was intrigued by the premise, and not to mention a character who can see smell. I have been following all dramas casting Park Yoo-Chun; and I was especially thrilled to see his debut movie, Haemoo, released last year. From his debut role as a quiet scholar (Sungkyunkwan Scandal), a humble businessman (Miss Ripley), a time-travelled Prince (Rooftop Prince), an elite agent (3 Days) to his role as a cop (also a cop in Missing You) in this latest drama, Mr. Park once again demonstrates his versatile acting skills and this time around showing us his comedian side pairing up with Ms. Shin. 


Although there is suspense and murder cases involved in this drama, I felt the suspense element wasn't as intense as I had expected, partly because the killer's identity was revealed halfway of the drama and well, it's a romantic comedy. That said, I enjoyed watching this drama - funny, intense (OK, some parts of it) and romantic. And I loved its soundtrack, too. 


(All photo credits go to Google Images)
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Drama Review: Road No. 1 (一号国道)
Melody


This is one of the older K-dramas (2010) I watched a while back. Road No. 1 is a war story which was based on real events between Seoul and Pyongyang. 

Since a boy, Lee Jang Woo (starring So Ji Sub) and his father worked as servants in a family. Jang Woo and Soo Yeon (starring Kim Ha Neul), the eldest daughter of the family, are childhood sweethearts. Soo Yeon's ambition is to be a doctor, but life becomes tough for them and Jang Woo decides to join the army in order to earn money to pay for her tuition. 

During the time when Jang Woo is out fighting, Soo Yeon spends her time studying and in the end fulfills her wish of becoming a doctor and treats injured soldiers. She is still awaiting for Jang Woo's return, until one day she receives news that he had died in combat. 

Soo Yeon eventually moves on with her life and knew an army officer, Shin Tae Ho (starring Yoon Kye Sang) through her work. Tae Ho falls in love with her on first sight, but deep down Soo Yeon still couldn't forget Jang Woo and is still hoping that he'd be back safe and sound. 

Tae Ho wants to marry Soo Yeon, and at that point Soo Yeon realises that Jang Woo wouldn't be back and she agrees to his proposal. Alas, on the eve of their wedding, Jang Woo returns home. He claimed that the news of his death had been a mistake. Soo Yeon is now torn between two men. 

However, her worries are nothing as compared to the war that befalls their country. The following morning, North Korea invades South Korea, marking the beginning of the Korean War. Both men, Jang Woo and Tae Ho are sent to the battlefield, without getting an answer from Soo Yeon whom she'd choose. 

Jang Woo and Tae Ho become rivalries, but both of them knew that if they bring their personal feelings to the battlefields, they'd get themselves killed. Gradually under those tough circumstances, they'd learned to work as a team and watch out for one another. But as we all know, war changes everything and fate does play a part when one's life is concerned. 

Road No. 1 is one unforgettable war dramas to me, alongside with movies Saving Private Ryan, Pearl Harbor and Atonement. I don't specially seek out books and movies on wars, but their stories are usually knowledgeable and inspiring in some ways. Movies, on the other end, have made the images more vivid and thus most often stayed in one's mind long after a book is closed. 

Like many war stories, Road No. 1 is emotional and pull on your heartstrings. Wars are cruel, for sure, and they make it even harder to watch especially when one has to leave for battle while others scramble for their lives. In this case, Jang Woo and Tae Ho have to fight against their enemies, while deep down they are also fighting against each other over a woman they love. When one finally admits defeat, it is war that claims the winner. Not wanting to disclose spoilers, I just want to say the ending had me in tears. 

Actors So Ji Sub and Yoon Kye Sang have both brought their roles to life through their excellent acting skills. I've to say So Ji Sub left a deep impression on me due to his manly physique and not to mention the role he portrayed. He is never conceited and always spare a thought for his peers in the role he portrayed; he is most often calm under critical situations and most of all, he has a kind heart. I've to say I rooted for him all the way through the drama; and although my heart goes out to Soo Yeon too, it was always Jang Woo who caught my attention and had me hoping that he would win all the battles.

If you are a fan of historical and a good romance story, this drama is for you. 

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Drama Review: You Who Came from the Stars (来自星星的你)
Melody

For those readers who'd watched this drama, please pardon me for posting this at this time. This most watched K-drama was aired last December and had many viewers addicted to it that fans around the world would sweep every products off the shelves that are endorsed by the two leading characters. I watched this drama two months back but didn't get around to reviewing it until now. I know it'd be an outdated review, but I thought I'd offer some of my perspective especially to readers who have yet to watch it.
Basically, this is a romantic comedy between an alien and a human being. I have to admit I'm not a sci-fi fan, not as a reader or a viewer, but I'd heard and read so many reviews about this drama that it had me curious. 
Anyway, this fantasy romance revolves around an alien, Do Min-joon (starring Kim Soo Hyun), who has landed on Earth 400 years ago during the Joseon Dynasty. During his days on Earth, he helped a young girl from plunging to her death. As he continued to help the girl escape from her in-laws, he missed his chance of returning to his planet. Thus, he is stranded on Earth for the next four centuries and he has to wait for the time to arrive before he could return back to his planet. 
During this period, he has had many identities, after all his appearance never change and neither does he age like an ordinary human. Fortunately, he has a friend in an elderly lawyer, whom he had saved many years ago. He is the only human who had known about his true identity. As of present, Min-joon is a college professor and lives in a luxurious apartment, thanks to his savings all the years when he is on Earth. 
Life is peaceful, and Do Min-joo is waiting for the day to return to his planet when he meets the nation superstar, Cheon Song-yi (starring Jun Ji Hyun). She is his new neighbour but Min-joon didn't know of her identity. Song-yi, on the other end, thinks he is her biggest fan after they had stepped off from the lift together and thinks he is stalking her. They had several comical exchanges initially, and slowly that path leads to a hot romance thereafter. 
My thoughts? I find it highly entertaining and amusing. I've to confess I was quite irritated by Song-yi initially, who seems to be whining most of the times. However, her characteristic changes as the show progresses and her role has became more sympathetic. 
Min-joon, on the other hand, is a quiet and charismatic man (ahem, alien). I've to say most of my attention was focused on him; after all he is young and good-looking, and he has special powers to boot (though not my type in reality). 
Anyways, it is not all about romance (which would be boring). It has a tinge of a thriller though it is not the kind that would make you bite your nails or hold your breath (maybe a little), but at least it brings a little depth to the story and convince the viewers why it is crucial for Min-joon to act as protector to Song-yi. 
I didn't let myself think too much while watching this drama, simply because the characters are eye candies to boot, and it is a fantasy after all. Did I enjoy it? Yes. Most importantly, what did I find about the ending? Not perfect but it works. And to me, that fits me well. 
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Drama Review: Emergency Couple (急诊男女)
Melody

It's been a while since I'd watched a romantic comedy. What I like about rom com is they are sweet, entertaining and they allow my mind to wander away from realism, even if it is only for a short while.

Emergency Couple is a story about a young couple who fell in love and married early, despite the opposition of the groom's family, in particularly the groom's mother. 

Oh Chang-min (starring Choi Jin-hyuk) is a medical school student, and he comes from a family of wealthy, successful doctors. Oh Jin-hee (starring Song Ji-hyo), on the other end, is a dietitian. After they married, Chang-min's family cut him off without a cent. Without financial support, he has to quit medical school and becomes a pharmaceutical salesman. Jin-hee gets depressed as life began to be a toil for her, and Chang-min doesn't seem to be understanding as he too is miserable in his job. They realised they've been fighting too frequently and thought it'd be better if they get a divorce. 

Six years later, Chang-min completed his studies at the medical school. Jin-hee has also put herself through med school. Coincidentally their path cross again when they end up as interns at the same hospital; and both of them are to work together with three other interns in the emergency ward. 

Just when they thought they'd be miserable and argue with each other all over again, the challenges in working as a team in the emergency ward make them realise that a perfect life doesn't exist, and that unexpected accidents happen and irreversible mistakes are made. It is through life's experiences they see each day that make them discover the confidence to change; allow them to grow and challenge themselves whenever a situation calls for it. 

Secondary characters Chun-soo (starring Lee Pil-mo), the attending physician of Emergency Medicine and Ji-hye, assistant professor of surgery (starring Choi Yeo-jin) also play an important role in the drama and not to mention they are mentors to the couple. Chun-soo and Ji-hye had had a past but the latter still harbours feelings for the other all these years. Chun-soo thought his feelings for love was dead, until working with Jin-hee made him open up his heart again. 

What can I say? Emergency Couple is another sweet rom com about rekindle love and hope. Do I find it cliché or cheesy? A little of both. Expected ending? No surprise there. But, what I liked about this drama is not only the leading characters (they looked cute together) but the journey they've been through together, no matter it is happiness or sadness, and how the things they'd gone through have made them mature and look at things in a different angle. 

Divorce has become a common issue in today's society, and though it is rare that a divorced couple to fall in love and be together again, this drama has shown us that this is not impossible, and that a couple should respect and accept each other. After all, the person you married must have some good points that makes you fall in love with him/her, isn't it? Overall, I enjoyed this drama and I'd love to see the leading characters together in another drama again. If possible, I hope there is a sequel to Emergency Couple. 
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Drama Review: God's Gift - 14 Days (神的礼物 - 14天)
Melody


If you are given a chance to turn back the time, what would you do? In God's Gift - 14 Days, it is a harrowing experience for mother Kim Soo-hyun (starring Lee Bo-young) as well as a former cop turned private investigator, Ki Dong-chan (starring Jo Seung-woo), as both of them have to race against time in the allotted 14 days to unveil a mystery involving their loved ones.

Kim Soo-hyun's young daughter Han Saet-byul was kidnapped and murdered, and Soo-hyun is determined to expose the killer and save her daughter before she dies all over again. As for Ki Dong-chan, he has to prove the innocence of his mentally challenged older brother who is falsely accused of murdering Dong-chan's ex-girlfriend. Now Soo-hyun and Dong-chan do not know each other, but fate throws into their ways and they have to trust each other and work together to solve the mystery before they have to face the cruel fate of losing their loved ones once again. 

If you ask me, I love the combination of a time travel and a mystery theme. I would love to see the victims are given another chance to unveil the truth and even stop the crime from happening, and that the murderers are caught and punished should they attempted and succeeded in escaping the law in the first place. 

I liked the plot of God's Gift - 14 Days. It especially touched my heart because of the plot involving a young child, and to see the mother has gone through various hardships to search and save her daughter. I also find it heart-wrenching to see two brothers for taking the blame wrongfully all these years (especially for Dong-chan because he has assumed his older brother had committed a murder and was even testified as a witness, thus leading to the hanging of his older brother). 

Although I find the plot intense and riveting, and full of twists and turns, however I wasn't satisfied with the ending. You see, it was left with an open ending and you have to use your imagination to judge the fate of Dong-chan. I liked the characterisation of Dong-chan; he is righteous and full of charge - he is not a person who would be intimidated by death. However, the ending is totally anticlimactic. It lacks clarity and instead leave the viewers with more questions instead of answers. Despite this flaw, I have to say the performance by Lee Bo-young and Jo Seung-woo is marvellous. As an individual or as a duo, the characterisations they have portrayed have convinced the viewers about the hardship and dilemma a mother and a frustrating, desperate man have to face under certain circumstances. 

Before ending this post, I would like to ask you this question: Do you believe in fate? I do. But can we change fate? I don't know, but I think our fate wouldn't be that bad if we harbour good thoughts and live truthfully. 
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Drama Review: 3 Days
Melody


There have been a lot of hype surrounding 3 Days way before it was filmed and aired. After all, the screen writer is none other than Kim Eun-Hee (the female screen writer who wrote Phantom and Sign and were received with good reviews). The other reason is Park Yoo-chun, a singer turned actor (who's still with pop group JYJ) whose success is witnessed by many since his debut drama Sungkyunkwan Scandal to his latest drama, 3 Days. Many fans/viewers were captivated by his role in Rooftop Prince, in which he played a Crown Prince from Joseon era and was transported to the modern day to solve a mystery involving his past and his future. His next drama, I Miss You aka Missing You, is another hit which he played a detective who believed his high school sweetheart is still alive after a kidnapping case 14 years ago involving his family.

Onto 3 Days, the plot is about the disappearance of the South Korean President during his vacation at a villa after three gunshots are heard. A team of the Presidential guards are alerted and given the task to find the President and to escort him safely back to the Blue House within three days. However, it was a complicated task as it involves political issue as well. On top of that, there are staff who would betray the President under the influence of money and power and one couldn't know who to trust anymore.

I liked the characterisations of Han Tae-Kyung (Park Yoo-chun), the President's elite bodyguard and Yoon Bo-Won (Park Ha-Sun), a female police officer who fought their way to save the President. They crossed each other's path by chance, and it is their righteous attitude that binds them together. Through their encouragement for each other, they find the courage and strength to overcome all obstacles which are thrown towards their way, even if it means their lives are at stake. 

Like many viewers, I waited with anticipation for the airing of this drama and I was glad it delivered and that Yoo-chun's acting skill is getting better and better. Aside from his action performance (I was wowed by the fighting scene in a train and falling off from a storey against a glass window to fight the bad guy, etc), he also did well through his facial expression (oh, his eyes sure can 'talk'!) as he was given the challenge to act both as a loyal, protective bodyguard as well as a grieving son who had lost his father. In other words, he oozes charisma and once again he has captivated the viewers and proved to us all that he could really act, and he is not just any other pop idol turned actor who impressed with his looks. Another issue which makes me admire him more is his professionalism in his work as he injured his shoulder while filming this drama but he gritted his teeth and continued filming despite the pain it had caused him. 

 I still have a lot to say about the plot and the charming Han Tae-Kyung but it would be spoilers and also to avoid this post as a fan raving post, I think I had said enough and I shall leave it to you to judge for yourself if you haven't watched 3 Days. 
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The Innocent Man Meets the Queen of Ambition
Melody
I had watched two Korean dramas lately and they had left me a deep impression. Aside from the intense plots, what has really made the dramas stand out is the leading actresses who portrayed as bad women who would do anything to climb to the top.

The Innocent Man (aka Nice Guy), the first drama I watched, is a story of a young man taking revenge on a woman who had betrayed him after leaving him in jail for a crime he didn't commit. The woman, Jae-Hee, is a television reporter and while trying to unravel a case she has accidentally killed a man while trying to defend herself. Kang Ma-ru, who is Jae-Hee's boyfriend then, attempts to counsel her to turn herself in to the police but Jae-Hee appears to be too shaken to do anything. It is then that Ma-ru decides to take the blame and turn himself in to the police, despite he is a promising medical student and he has a bright future ahead of him. He believes that Jae-Hee will appreciate what he has done for her and that she will wait for him until the day he is released from jail.

Jae-Hee (starring Park Si-yeon)
However, Jae-Hee wants to change her life and to escape poverty, she married a rich man who owns the Taesan Corporation. Her brutal betrayal leaves Ma-ru not only angry but a changed man. Without finishing his studies, he works as a bartender and he later meets Seo Eun-gi, who is the young heiress of the Taesan Corporation. Eun-gi is a cold and calculating young woman, but she is intrigued with Ma-ru and she later falls in love with him, not knowing that he is using her to get back at his ex-girlfriend, who is now her stepmother. Just when Ma-ru finds himself genuinely care for Eun-gi, she met in a car accident and loses her memory.


Yawang (aka Queen of Ambition), is another South Korean drama which featured a love betrayed man, Ha Ryu, and what he would do to bring his childhood love down no matter at what price he has to pay.

Ha Ryu and Da Hae are both orphans and they came from the same orphanage, however Da Hae is adopted by a family but she is unhappy as her stepfather often harassed her. She still fears for her stepfather even she is now a grown woman and has left the family, but that doesn't stop him from pursuing her. When her stepfather manages to find her one day, she kills him with a sharp tool out of fear and desperation. Ha Ryu decides to take the blame and buries the dead man after they have decided not to report to the police.

Life seems to be back to normal to Ha Ryu and Da Hae and it is at this time that Da Hae wants to further her studies in an University. Ha Ryu becomes a gigolo to pay for Da Hae's studies but he keeps this from her, thinking that this is best for everyone. Da Hae manages to get her degree in the end, and they had a lovely daughter thereafter although they haven't married. Da Hae later got a job in Baekhak Group, one of the leading companies in Korea and acquainted with the heir of Baekhak Group. She becomes distant with Ha Ryu, and though he tries to understand her ambitiousness, he eventually snaps when he loses their daughter to a car accident due to her negligence. Da Hae by then has decided to ditch Ha Ryu for good and this is when they began their games of conspiracy as each wants to bring the other down. 

Da Hae (starring Soo Ae)

While there is a slight similarity between The Innocent Man and Yawang as both dramas have the same plot of the good men taking revenge on their women, I felt the highlights of the dramas are not only their intense plots but how the leading actresses portrayed their roles seamlessly. You couldn't help but to swear and grit your teeth while watching them performing their bad deeds over and over again, and despite this you couldn't tear your eyes away from them. They may be the villains, but these intelligent and evil women stand out from the rest and usually score more coverage as compared to other kind and innocent female roles. They always put themselves first and most of the times, they make use of men and woman power to change their past life and to get what they want. They are the 'new' women villains who have their good reasons to be bad, and we being the audience can do nothing but to keep watching and hope for their crumble. 
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Korean Drama: I Miss You (aka Missing You)
Melody
Starring: Park Yoo Chun, Yoon Eun Hye, Yoo Seung Ho, Jang Mi In Nae, Yeo Jin Goo, Kim So Hyun
Language: Korean (with Chinese subtitles)

First of all, I'd like to apologise to all my readers and friends for not posting a book review lately. As you can tell, I've been watching too many Korean dramas and though I still read, my progress is slow. I'm currently reading Keigo Higashino's Salvation of a Saint; he is the author of the phenomenon The Devotion of Suspect X and I really enjoyed that book. I can't wait to find out what is in store for Salvation of a Saint.

Anyways, back to this Korean drama I Miss You. This is a highly emotional drama about the love and life journey between a couple, Soo Yeon and Jung Woo. 15-year-old Soo Yeon often gets bullied in school because everyone thinks her father was a murderer. Everyone has been avoiding her like a plague, except Jung Woo who thinks she is special after she has shared her umbrella with him on a rainy day. 


Jung Woo comes from a wealthy family and he doesn't really get along well with his father. All his father thinks about is money and how to make more of them; and he has committed a few bad deeds that made him an enemy to a few people. Jung Woo became the target and is kidnapped one day, Soo Yeon saw what happened and wanted to help him, but ended up being a victim herself. Eventually, Jung Woo managed to escape but not Soo Yeon. This tragic incident has forced them apart and fourteen years passed then. 

Jung Woo is now a homicide detective and that kidnapping incident which happened so many years ago still remains in his mind but what most matters is, he is still in love with Soo Yeon and he is hoping to find her one day. Soo Yeon, on the other end, is a fashion designer and she has found her new love with a charismatic fund manager, Hyung Joon. Although Soo Yeon appears to be happy with her life, but deep in her heart she is bleeding in pain for the suffering she had endured and Jung Woo's betrayal for leaving her. Alas, fate decreed that they would meet again and this time around, Jung Woo vows to protect Soo Yeon no matter the circumstances after knowing that Hyung Joon would take revenge due to his past relationship with his family. 


Well the plot may sound old and cliché to some, but what I liked about this drama is the characterisations and the intense feeling of love between Jung Woo and Soo Yeon, no matter if they are teenagers or adults. I have to say the two actors and two actresses in portraying the teen-aged and adult Jung Woo and Soo Yeon had all done a great job, because they made me believe that their love is inseparable and oh so moving. The dialogues, and the little movements they shared especially just captured that precious feeling and you couldn't help but to be entranced by their emotions too. These days it is hard to find such love like Jung Woo and Soo Yeon and that is why I find this drama especially romantic. I have to confess I like Park Yoo Chun (the adult Jung Woo) after watching a few other dramas like Rooftop Prince, Sungkyunkwan Scandal (his debut) and Miss Ripley, which I reviewed on 5th February. He simply has the charisma no matter if he is a lovestruck hotelier in Miss Ripley, the shy and quiet student in Sungkyunkwan Scandal or the devoted and determined detective in his latest I Miss You. I really look forward to his upcoming dramas, and I hope the wait won't be too long.     

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Korean Drama: Miss Ripley
Melody
Starring: Lee Da Hae, Park Yoo Chun of JYJ, Kim Seung Woo and Kang Hye Jung
Language: Korean (with Chinese, English subtitles)

I have been watching a few Korean drama series lately; and I have to admit I am addicted to watching them. 

Miss Ripley (미스 리플리), the latest drama I watched, is a story of a young woman, Jang Mi Ri, who lies to get her way and how her greedy ambition has lead to the downfall of two men who has fallen in love with her. 

Mi Ri was abandoned by her mother when she was nine. Her mother had chosen to leave the family and to marry a rich man. After the death of her father, Mi Ri was sent to an orphanage where she befriended Moon Hee Joo. 

One day a Japanese family wanted to adopt Hee Joo, but Hee Joo had a stomach ache and the orphanage decided to send Mi Ri in her place instead. Mi Ri was then sent to Japan and she had a miserable childhood living with her adopted parents. They treated her badly and worst of all, the father had a huge gambling debts to pay and Mi Ri was forced to work in a bar when she was nineteen. She worked there for a few years under a man who called himself Hirayama. Hirayama had made her as one of the top bar girls but Mi Ri had been plotting ways to leave him once she has gotten back her passport and the contract she had with him. After much efforts, she managed to leave him and returned to South Korea. 

Staying in a run down residential motel, she encountered a young man Song Yoo Hyun. Yoo Hyun also arrived from Japan recently and though he came from an affluent family, he always believed that one has to be independent and learn/earn things on his own. Yoo Hyun liked Mi Ri but the latter wasn't interested. She has bigger dreams to follow and most importantly, she needed to find a permanent job before she is deported to Japan. Unfortunately, finding a permanent job was a challenge due to Mi Ri's educational background as she only had a high school degree. 

Meanwhile, Jang Myung Hoon, a hotelier needed someone who was able to speak the Japanese Hataka dialect to serve an important customer at the hotel. There was no one to fill up the position as the spoken dialect was extremely rare in South Korea. It was during a chance encounter with Mi Ri that Myung Hoon decided that she was the best person to fill that position. He offered Mi Ri the job on a temporarily basis but time was running out for her. Mi Ri had to decline the offer and muttered that even if she was graduated from Tokyo University, it would't change much of a thing for her. Myung Hoon misunderstood her remark and then told her that there was no reason for them not to hire her based on her qualification and that was where all her lies began. 

In a nutshell, Miss Ripley is a romance story with a hint of crime. The characterisations and the plot development are great and there are several intense moments that made me watch with both anxiety and anticipation. Lee Da Hae, the actress who played Mi Ri, is magnificent for her acting skills in portraying the greedy young woman and you couldn't imagine how many times I cursed while watching her meddling between Myung Hoon and Yoo Hyun. As you can tell, Mi Ri isn't a likeable character but from another perspective, I couldn't help but to pity her too. From her point, I began to understand why she lied although what she did is absolutely wrong. 

Myung Hoon and Yoo Hyun are two men whom I feel many women will fall in love with as they are both kind-hearted people and are so selfless, despite the prestigious positions they held. 

I wouldn't say I liked the ending, though there is a twinge of bittersweet to it.  In my opinion, bittersweet can be beautiful because one can always hope; and because it is not perfect, this what makes the memories more cherishable and unforgettable. 
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Autumn's Concerto (下一站,幸福)
Melody
Well, if you are a follower of this blog, you might remember that I ever mentioned about a Taiwanese drama serial (Autumn's Concerto) which got me hooked a while back. I also mentioned before that I would try not to write a post on it as I know very well that it would be nothing but a gushing post; however I could not stop babbling about the show to Julia (one of my best blogger friends whom I knew for years) until she must have got tired of my ramblings and decided to watch it. (Julia, I had so much fun discussing some of those scenes with you!)

So after watching this drama, we came up with the idea of putting this review in a Q&A format and I hope you will enjoy reading them as much as we had fun doing them!

{Please be warned that they might contain some spoilers!}

Questions from Julia:

1) The show seems to have shown us many different kind of violence issue against women that are still happening today, e.g. abuse, harassment, stalker, hitting etc. What are your thoughts in how the show portrays the issues and did you find it realistic? Why or why not?
It always saddens me to read about violence happening not only to women but to all beings as well. In the show, I really felt sorry for Mu Cheng (the heroine) because she had endured many hardships since the death of her father. Besides the loss of her family (her mother ran off because she couldn't deal with all the pressure), she also has to endure the sexual harassment by her ‘stepmother’'s lover. Though he failed to abuse her in any other ways, the harrassment alone was enough to leave an emotional scar in her. I think the harrassment scenes in the show to be realistic as that continues to be an issue in today's society.

2) Being a single parent is no easy task. In the show, the heroine had raised her son for 6 years with some assistance from her friends. Life is tough and yet she managed to take care of her own son, bring food to the table and find home in a village. The mother strength comes from their own children. What do you think of the heroine’s role and the way she handle this kind of life?
I think Mu Cheng was amazing! She has sacrificed so much for her loved ones (first by leaving her lover but I will come to that later), yet she'd never grumble or complain to anyone about her condition. She has deep appreciation for everyone who gives her a helping hand whenever she is in need, and for this reason she always stay humble and grateful.

3) The little kid plays an important role in this show. The kid brought his parents closer together again. And he even got closer to his grandmother too (which he never knew of their relationship until towards the end). He also brings out the good in everyone who’s in his life. What is it about the kid, who seems to bring people together?
Oh I loved Mu Cheng’s son! He’s so sweet and adorable! (See above poster) I think it is great that he’s able to bring his parents together again, after all the misunderstandings and that fate has played a cruel joke on them. Despite of his young age and that he has diabetes, I really admire the strength in him because he is always so cheerful and optimistic (I think Mu Cheng played a significant role in this by showering him with lots of love and attention). His zest for life and his optimism is simply contagious.

4) The hero and heroine started out with a love/hate relationship. But what bring them close together was understanding each other background history. The kind of childhood life they were raised to be. If the hero and heroine situation was turned, do you think their life would be any different or would it stay the same? Do you like love/hate relationship type in movies?
I admit I hated Guang Xi’s (the hero) attitude from the beginning. Given his wealthy status and his unhappy childhood, it’s not surprising that he chose to be rebellious and acted as if he was the king of the school he’s in (after all his mother owns the school). When Mu Cheng first met Guang Xi, he gave her the impression that he was a playboy and that he was insensitive and arrogant, yet the more she knew him she knew that deep down in his heart he wasn’t such a bad person after all.

And Guang Xi’s opinion in Mu Cheng changed after a bet he had with his friends. He knew he had hurt her deeply despite her trust in his, and this made him feeling very remorse. That goes without saying that his attitude towards her totally changes after that incident.

As for the change of situation, I think Mu Cheng will remain the person as she was. If she’s feeling optimistic despite her difficult situation, I don’t see why there’s any changes in her if given a better condition, after all it is in her personality and not that status would change anything. As for Guang Xi, I do think that he might be a different person and be more humble if he was in Mu Cheng’s shoes.

I have no preferences when it comes to the scenarios in any romance movies and as long as they capture the essence (and transition?) of love I’m fine with it.

5) It seems that the hero and the heroine are destined to be together. So many scenes show fate play in this role. No matter where they go, they will meet again. Do you believe in fate?
Yes, I do.

6) Secondary characters play a role where they help the hero and the heroine in so many ways. What do you think of the secondary characters?
There are a wonderful cast of secondary characters in this show. For example, the woman whom Guang Xi was engaged after his brain surgery (he has no memory of his past with Mu Cheng together), as well as the guy (Hua Tuo Ye) who liked Mu Cheng all the while ever since the day she had saved him from some gangsters. I liked Hua Tuo Ye because he is always so selfless towards Mu Cheng and her son. Though Mu Cheng only treated him as her good friend, this doesn't stop Tuo Ye from helping her and I really admired him for that.

Secondary characters definitely play an important role in any shows. Come to think of it, don't you think it'd be boring and meaningless if the show focus nothing but the lead characters? Without the villians, how would the heroes shine? (Yes, there are villians in this show too.)

Questions from Melody:

1) What are your views of the hero and the hero from the beginning? Do you think there is indeed chemistry between them despite the difference of their personality and their status?
First, I’d say never judge a person by his looks. That’s how I’d describe Guang Xi because initially he didn’t leave a good impression on me. His insensitive and arrogant attitude totally put me off, but as the show progress, I found out that what made him rebellious was the fact that he had an unhappy childhood; he also blamed his mother for his parents’ separation which in fact, it was all due to his misunderstandings.

As for Mu Cheng, she gave me the impression of being weak due to her physique (and she cried a lot in the show) but in fact, I think she was way much stronger (in terms of her positive outlook on life) as compared to many characters in the show. Guang Xi was attracted to her because of her optimism, and I think it reminds him of what he should be grateful for in his life.

I absolutely think there is great chemistry between them (and personally I think they’d make a great couple in real life as well!) because I could just feel their attraction sizzle on screen. They had really done a great performance in portraying a pair of star-crossed lovers.

2) What makes you think the hero changed his opinions on the heroine thereafter?
I mentioned before that Guang Xi was attracted by Mu Cheng’s optimism, and her attitude towards the bet further made him think differently of her. I suppose he sees a little of himself in her, as both felt that life should've treated them better.

3) After the hero knew about his brain tumor, he refused to seek further medical assistance from his mother's friend, somewhat knowing he would feel obligated and be pressured to enter a relationship with his daughter. At this stage, do you think he is doing the right thing by saying no to the help he might get?
I have to admit that scene had almost moved me to tears. I think he must have struggled with the decision earlier but in the end, he had chosen not to proceed with the surgery because he loved Mu Cheng too much. He’d rather died than feeling obligated to marry another woman he doesn’t love. On the other end, Mu Cheng definitely wanted Guang Xi to go for the surgery because she’d rather have him healthy and alive than anything. Both of them have different opinions but the bottom line is, they just wanted the best for the other party.

4) So finally the heroine has somehow convinced him into getting medical assistance, but as a way of telling a white lie. If you were the hero, would you blame her for deceiving you in the first place?
Well, that’s a tough question (even I have to say so myself, haha). Yes, if I were the hero I’d feel somewhat cheated in the first place, but after considering her option and the struggle she’s gone through, I think I will have to forgive her.

5) The heroine has chosen not to rekindle her relationship with the hero after the success of his surgery, partly given the fact that he couldn't remember her after the surgery. Do you think it's fair to their young son since he has the right to know who his father is?
Based on the young son’s perspective, he definitely has the right to know who his father is, but then again I understand Mu Cheng’s decision for choosing not to disclose this information to him because she felt it wouldn’t do them any good since she thought Guang Xi has no memory of them and that he’s going to get married to another woman anyway.

6) Is it true that if you love a person, then you should let him/her go under certain circumstances?
That’s a tough decision, and not to mention a heartbreaking one. Honestly speaking, I’m not sure if I could do that but I guess it has to depend on how serious the circumstances are. If taken the same scenario as this show, I think I would probably do what Mu Cheng has done – by leaving her loved one so that he will have a chance of living.

~*~*~*~*~*

So there you have it! I still think it's a gushing post, just that it is 'disguised' in a Q&A form, hehe.

Now go visit Julia's blog for her answers.

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Hanazakarino Kimitachihe (Final Episode)
Melody
I was so excited that I got the final volume of Hanazakarino Kimitachihe on Saturday! I was glad I made a reservation with a video shop so that they would give me a call when it was released. I wasn't surprised when I stepped into the shop and saw the shop assistant holding a long list of names and was busily calling up their customers to collect the DVDs. From this you can tell how popular this drama serial is. You may read my previous review here.

*** WARNING: SPOILERS!*** (well...except the ending)

Anyway, in this final episode, Rui Xi was thrilled to learn they were going for a vacation, especially when she learnt there will be a spa pool, but she was also vexed she couldn't enjoy it with the others since it was an open pool and that meant her identity would be exposed unless she had to do it in the middle of the night when everyone was sleeping.

So there she was, thinking she had the pool by herself when she stumbled upon Quan, who also thought there wouldn't be anyone around at that time. Both of them were equally stunned to find each other in the pool, but Quan was the first to "recover" from the surprise and not trying to embarrass her further (as well as himself), he left the pool first. Rui Xi was worried if Quan had found her behaviour unusual, but banished the thought as she was most worried about her identity being exposed, which to her relief Quan didn't appear to have known anything about it.

On the other hand, Quan was vexed and worried that Rui Xi's identity would be exposed under the scrutiny by the the famous photographer Yuan who felt they (Quan, Xiu Yi, Nan and Rui Xi) have the potential of being great models, and also commented Rui Xi have a unique feminity looks for a guy. Yuan hinted to Quan and Rui Xi that photos wouldn't lie, since any small actions/gestures would be captured on the films and his remarks further made Quan and Rui Xi uneasy. Quan didn't want to be Yuan's model initially, but Yuan promised he won't tell Rui Xi about him (Quan) knowing her true identity if he agreed to model for him. Trying to be protective of Rui Xi, Quan agreed.

When the films were developed, Yuan was positive that Quan and Rui Xi behaved like a couple more than roommates. To further prove his theory was right, he asked Rui Xi out and shared with her his 'sad' family history (which he made it all up). Being a girl, Rui Xi was sensitive to his feelings and blurted her thoughts. Yuan was very satisfied (not to mention proud) that his guess was correct; while Rui Xi was horrified to learn Yuan was testing her but what worried her most was Quan had known her identity all along and kept mum about it!

Meanwhile, Quan was comfy about his current relationship with Rui Xi although he knew his thoughts was a little selfish and unfair to Rui Xi (he wasn't sure what would happen if he confessed to Rui Xi that he knew she was a girl and worried their relationship would change). He just wanted to be with Rui Xi and protect her quietly in his own way, but he feared that has to be changed.

After that encounter with Yuan, Rui Xi decided to confess her feelings with Quan. So they met up a place to talk, but was disrupted by their classmates until they accidentally stumbled into the school's broadcasting room. At that time, the DJ was out for his toilet break and had left the door unlocked. Not knowing that they had accidentally hit the 'broadcast' button in a haste, they confessed to each other that they had things to tell to the other party. But before they had a chance to do so, the DJ walked in, followed by a bunch of school mates who were all dying to find out what they had to say to each other. Mortified that the rest of the school had overheard her conversation with Quan (although she hadn't confessed yet), Rui Xi scurried off.

Rui Xi decided to return to the States, but the mates stopped her from doing so, including Quan and Xiu Yi. So what would happen in the end? This is the only part which I won't tell...

I LOVE this drama serial! And I was sorry that it ended...Especially eye candy like Wu Zun and Jiro Wang. *sigh*
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Hanazakarino Kimitachihe
Melody
From left to right: Zuo Yi Quan (played by Wu Zun), Rui Xi (played by Ella) and Jin Xiu Yi (played by Jiro Wang)

Oh my gosh, I absolutely LOVE this Taiwanese drama serial! Hanazakarino Kimitachihe was adapted from a popular Japanese manga; starring Ella from S.H.E, Wu Zun and Jiro Wang from Taiwanese boyband Fahrenheit.

In this drama serial, Rui Xi, a young girl lives in the States, and she admires high-jump athlete Zuo Yi Quan so much that she decides to return to Taiwan and disguises as a guy so that she could get into the boys' school where he is studying.

Her plans work so well that no one in school knows about her true identity, except the school's medical teacher and surprisingly he agrees to keep this secret for her, although he thinks her behaviour is both stupid and daring. And Lady Luck seems to smile on her when she knows she will become Zuo Yi Quan's roommate, but that will mean she will have to be extra careful whenever she is around him. But an incident happens and exposes her identity but Zuo Yi Quan pretends he doesn't know of her identity. Their good buddy, Jin Xiu Yi admires Rui Xi and began to wonder if there is anything wrong with his sexuality preference.

Hanazakarino Kimitachihe is an entertaining romantic comedy, and there are several hilarious scenarios when Rui Xi tries so hard to disguise as a guy, or/and Jin Xiu Yi making those exaggerating silly faces etc.

There are a total of 3 parts in this serial and I have only Part I and II (since Part III isn't out yet!) of the DVDs; and I can't wait to find out the ending!!! ;P
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