First Look: November / December K-Drama Premieres

The Guide

♥ = Love it! Watch it!

♥ = So-so start. Might get better. Might get worse.

♥ = Bleh. Hate it!

♥ Oh My Venus
Tag Line: Woman Gains Law Degree and 50 lbs, Loses Boyfriend
Thoughts: This is the RomCom that I've been waiting for to round out the newest collection of winter k-dramas. So Ji Sub makes his small screen comeback after The Master's Sun as John Kim, a personal trainer living in Hollywood. When he's caught in the middle of a scandal involving a celebrity, he flees back to his hometown - Seoul. During the flight, he connects with Kang Joo Eun, played by Shin Min A. Kang Joo Eun was once the "Venus" of her high school with hordes of adoring teenage boys flocking to her. But years later, she is an overweight lawyer that is struggling both personally and professionally. To make matters worse, her boyfriend of 15 years just broke up with her when she was expecting a proposal. I think we can all figure out what happens next when a personal trainer and an overweight lawyer hook up. They exercise. Duh! The first two episodes are solid and the pairing of So Ji Sub and Shin Min A has just enough sizzle to leave the audience curious about how their relationship will evolve. I also appreciate the subtle humor worked into the dialogue regarding body image and the means by which woman achieve the "ideal" shape. Yu In Young has a humorous scene in which she proclaims, "I don't eat food for the taste," before she consumes a single kernel of corn with great effort. Overall, I like the direction the series is going and this is one to watch. I highly recommend it.

Remember
Tag Line: Coming Soon
Thoughts: Coming Soon

♥ Reply 1988 (aka Answer Me 1988)
Tag Line: The 80s called. It wants its hair styles and clothes back.
Thoughts: This blast to the past is the third installment in the anthology series "Reply."

Sweet Savage Family (aka Sweet & Sour Family)
Tag Line: Coming Soon
Thoughts: Coming Soon

Series Alert: Six Flying Dragons

I stumbled across this one by pure accident.

Slated for an October release on SBS, it will take over the time slot currently occupied by Mrs. Cop. The only reason I felt compelled to make this into a series alert is because Kim Myung Min is tied to the project. And, I will watch anything that includes him in the cast.

This period drama will focus on six characters, hence the name, and their successes at the start of the Joseon Dynasty. The central figure of the drama is Lee Bang Won (Yoo Ah In), a son of the first king of the Joseon Dynasty that later inherits the throne. Half of the six characters are based on real historical figures from that era and the other half are works of fiction.

Shin Se Kyung (Blademan) and Byun Yo Han (Ex-Girlfriend's Club) are also set to play major characters in the series.

First Look: September / October K-Drama Premieres

The Guide

♥ = Love it! Watch it!

♥ = So-so start. Might get better. Might get worse.

♥ = Bleh. Hate it!

♥ Awl

Tag Line: Workin' 9 to 5 So Take This Job and... Don't Fire Me.

Thoughts: When faced with the moral dilemma of whether or not to unfairly fire his team of employees, Manager Lee Soo In (Ji Hyun Woo) decides that he is going to disobey management's order and protect his people. But things go particularly bad when it is discovered that he's joined the local union to protest against management's actions. This ultimately leads to a 510 day protest by the affected employees. This k-drama is, apparently, based on both a true story and a comic book. Ji Hyun Woo takes the lead with Ahn Nae Sang, who plays a labor attorney. The first two episodes are riveting and I particularly liked the dynamic between the employees and management. The flashbacks were, perhaps, a bit too frequent but well done. Lee Soo In is nicely depicted in these scenes as a deep and complex character worthy of further exploration. I also never found myself counting down the minutes until the present timeline resumes. That's always a good sign. At any rate, this is one of the more promising fall releases. Admittedly, I am a fan of both Ji Hyun Woo and Ahn Nae Sang but I can say with all honesty that my admiration for them as performers has not influenced my opinion. Definitely include this one on your fall Must-Watch-List. 

♥ Bubblegum

Tag Line: Another Men & Women Can't be Just Friends RomCom

Thoughts: TvN is generally spot on when it comes to reinventing the romantic comedy in fresh ways that are humorous and touching. But this one feels like a miss. I'll have to verify if it is an original script or based off a webtoon but either way the first episode is thoroughly underwhelming. There is nothing immediately distinct and/or catchy about the story, the characters, or the setting. It's just another BFFs become lovers plot as far as I can tell. 

♥ Cheer Up! (aka Sassy Go Go)

Tag Line: U-G-L-Y you ain't got no alibi, you ug - Yeah. Not that kind of cheerleading.

Thoughts: Put the spirit sticks away and lower your sparkle hands because Cheer Up! is not that kind of cheerleading drama. It is, however, another drama about kids trying to find themselves and figure out life within the microcosm that is called high school. This time it is specifically centered around two competing school clubs that both identify themselves as cheerleading clubs, neither of them being exactly that. Baek Ho is a club for elite students looking to bolster their specs for acceptance into ivy league universities and Real King is a club for the worst students to get away from the stress of high school and dance to their hearts' content. Baek Ho, club #1, is headed up by Kim Yeol (Lee Won Geun), the son of a wealthy household with top grades. Real Kings is headed up by Kang Yeon Doo (Jung Eun Ji), the daughter of a middle-class household with terrible grades. Admittedly, I am struggling a bit with Jung Eun Ji playing a high school student. It has nothing to do with appearances. But she exudes a certain maturity as an actress that makes me feel she'd have been better suited in this role if it were set in college. That all aside, there's nothing surprising or earth shattering with this k-drama. It's lighter fare that blends romantic comedy with a public service announcement. I'll watch it because it's a genre I naturally gravitate to but I'm not expecting to be wow'd by it.

♥ Cheo Yong 2: Ghost Seeing Detective

Tag Line: I Can See Dead People...Again

Thoughts: Technically, Cheo Young 2 is an August premiere but since the episodes just started popping up for US consumption, I'm throwing it into September. This is a sequel to the k-drama that goes by the same name and centers around police detective Yoon Cheo Yong (Oh Ji Ho). He has the special ability to see ghosts, which is immensely helpful when you are trying to solve cases involving murder. He also has his trusty ghost-sidekick Han Na Young (Jun Hyo Seong), whose story we came to know in season one. The series begins several months after Cheo Yong's former partner, who was believed to be dead but was actually possessed by a demon, nearly destroyed the wide area search team. The remaining team members have been broken up and transferred into different units around the country. But when a strange series of murders take place, the team is reassembled for "special investigations." The rest is pretty much what you'd expect from an OCN crime/thriller drama. The production value is high and the cases they solve are interesting. Oh Ji Ho makes the fight choreography look easy and his fellow detectives add a bit of humor. This one has a lot of entertainment value.

♥ D-Day
Tag Line: Gaaah! Earthquake! I need a hot doctor to save me!
Thoughts: This medical drama focuses on a team of healthcare and rescue professionals as they work through the medical, political, and social aftermath of Seoul's worst natural disaster, a 6.5 magnitude earthquake. The first two episodes are primarily an introduction to the characters and the politics of emergency medicine. In one camp, we have the doctors that feel morally bound to save a life if given the opportunity, regardless of the severity of the injury. In the other camp, we have the doctors that are only interested in tackling medical cases that have a probability of boosting profits and personal brand without the risk of medical malpractice lawsuits. Who will win? Kim Young Kwang is compelling in the role of Dr. Lee Hae Sung and Ha Seok Jin is taking a turn toward the darker side in his role as Dr. Han Woo Jin. The first handful of episodes are fast paced and deliver a nice buildup for the main event: the earthquake. The momentum doesn't stop from there as tensions rise and the scrappy band of characters must deal with aftershocks, failing infrastructure, and a lack of supplies. For me, this is the one series that leaves me excited for each new episode. This is my fall favorite for 2015.

♥ Glamorous Temptation
Tag Line: An Innocent Woman Fights for Justice - Maybe?
Thoughts: I am two episodes into this series and still a little confused on the premise. The accompanying description of the television show does very little to clarify it, either. The best that I can tell is that Shin Eun Soo (Choi Gang Hee) has been wrongly convicted of a crime she didn't commit, in part because of a conspiracy involving her presumed-to-be-dead husband and a well-known politician. Several years later, she is trying to rebuild her life and raise her daughter when she crosses paths with people from her past, Jin Hyung Woo (Joo Sang Wook) and Kang Il Joo (Cha Ye Ryun). At the same time, she is receiving phone calls from an anonymous person instructing her that her husband's death was not an accident and that it involves the former prime minister (Jung Jin Young). As she sets out to learn the truth, she will reconnect with her past and change the political landscape of South Korea. The first episode established Eun Soo's run-in with the law and the second was entirely a flashback establishing her relationship with Hyung Woo and Il Joo. It seems the third and fourth episodes will be a continuation of the flashback. There is potential for this drama just based on the cast but the episodes, particularly the flashbacks, are dull and predictable. Joo Sang Wook just came off the Masked Prosecutor, which for me was a dud, but he generally picks good roles so I am hoping this one is a winner, too. I'll keep my fingers crossed that things turn around when the story resumes in the present.

♥ The Merchant: Gaekju 2015
Tag Line: Money Money Money Money! Money! 
Thoughts: Jang Hyuk headlines this series about a merchant that achieves unimaginable success. The series starts with Chun Bong Sam (Jang Hyuk) as a child, who is accompanying his father and the merchant caravan to the international market. But things go terribly wrong and his father ends up dead. Chun Bong Sam swears that he will never become a merchant or the head of a merchant group and spends his days playing around until he's an adult, who ends up working as a peddler. The first handful of episodes are quick but I still found myself counting down until Jang Hyuk makes his appearance (episode 4, I believe). Merchant lacks the grandness of Slave Hunters and the pageantry of Shine or Go Crazy but our hero can always carry a scene with just his trademark laugh. I don't know if it will be enough, of course. Assuming that the ramp-up to action for our lead characters is nearly done, I fully expect things to get more interesting beyond episode 6. Consequently, this one gets the yellow light and I'll hope it improves.

♥ My Daughter, Geum Sa Wol

Tag Line: 2 Girls. 2 Boys. Who will date who?!

Thoughts: This k-drama is the brain child of the writer that brought us last year's mega-popular drama -  Jang Bo Ri is Here. So, it is no coincidence that the description of the show struck me as oddly familiar. Baby swapping? Back-stabbing siblings? Skeletons in the closet?! Yeah. You get it. Unfortunately, there's no avoiding a comparison with Jang Bo Ri. The first several episode of the series set the stage for what will come throughout the rest. The story largely revolves around a construction company and the two architects aspiring to be its next leader, Oh Min Ho (Park Sang Won) and Kang Man Hoo (Son Chang Min). Both talented, Min Ho has been earmarked as the successor and is set to wed the daughter of the owner, Shin Deuk Ye (Jeon In Hwa); and, Kang Man Hoo has been pushed aside because of critical flaws in his character. Man Hoo is desperately in love with Shin Deuk Ye and unable to accept defeat so he sabotages the company, frames Min Ho, and ultimately marries Deuk Ye. This sets the stage for the turmoil that follows and the revenge plots that develop. Ultimately, though, their children will be left to carry the burden of their parents' sins and stop the vicious cycle of revenge. Baek Jin Hee takes the lead as Geum Sa Wol, the daughter of Oh Min Ho and Shin Deuk Ye. And, Yoon Hyun Min plays her counterpart Kang Chan Bin, the son of Kang Man Hoo and his ex-wife. I have a lot of hope for this series provided the script and direction give the audience dynamic characters capable of expressing themselves. With 50 episodes, there is a lot of opportunity to go wrong, especially with the female characters. Give it a watch and I'll let you know if it takes a turn for the worse.

♥ She was Pretty
Tag Line: She was pretty. Now, she's not. But her BFF is...
Thoughts: This is tough. I have seen two episodes. It is pretty standard fare for a romantic comedy. However, it features Park Seo Joon, who is just the cutest thing ever. AND, it also stars Choi Si Won, who is one of my many not-so-secret crushes. This means that I will probably say good things about it even if it is total crap. But, I digress. She was Pretty follows Kim Hye Jin (Hwang Jung Eum), a young woman struggling to find a job and self-conscious about her appearance. Out of the blue, she receives an e-mail from her old friend and first love, Ji Sung Joon (Park Seo Joon). He wants to meet. Hye Sung remembers him as the chubby boy next store that she protected from bullies. But Sung Joon is all grown up, slimmed down, and a total hottie. She, on the other hand, has gotten less attractive with age. At the last moment, she convinces her best friend to meet him in her stead. It goes as planned until he shows up as the boss at her new job. Sound like another well known story? Probably because there have been a hundred different takes on it since Cyrano de Bergerac was first published as a play in 1897 (thank you wikipedia). Sadly, even the combined superpowers of Choi Si Won and Park Seo Joon can't turn my heart green. Hwang Jung Eum has either made some bad character choices or received bad direction because her performance is ruining what would otherwise be a decent series. The physical mannerisms of the character are so over the top that they have ceased to be comedic and have become a distraction. It's painful to watch. What are your thoughts? Let me know.

♥ Six Flying Dragons
Tag Line: Not your everyday dragons. Flying dragons. (Dragons being important people.)
Thoughts: Kim Myung Min may be influencing my decision to flag this one green. I just can't help myself. It must be the voice. That aside, Six Flying Dragons is an historical k-drama set right at the founding of the Joseon Dynasty. It follows six characters, as some of you may have already guessed, as they work to achieve their goals during the tumultuous transition of political regimes. Three of the characters are based on actual historical figures and three are works of fiction created to enhance the store. Lee Bag Won (Yoo Ah In), Jeong Do Jeon (Kim Myung Min), and Lee Seong Gye (Cheon Ho Jin) are the historical figures. Boon Yi (Shin Se Kyung), Ddang Sae (Byun Yo Han), and Moo Hyul (Yoon Gyun Sang) are the made-up characters. The first four episodes begin with many of the characters being children and the series will ultimately leap ahead to their adult years. The first three episodes move at a steady pace and the audience is introduced to a dozen or so characters that are influencing the current politics of Goryeo. 

♥ The Village: Achiara's Secret
Tag Line: I'm supposed to be dead. My sister's supposed to bead. We're alive. Or, not. What?
Thoughts: This is a pleasant and seasonally appropriate addition to the fall line-up of k-dramas that have premiered over the past month. Set in the small community of Achiara, this murder mystery focuses on death of an unknown person whose corpse is found in the woods by a newly hired middle school teacher, Han Soo Yoon (Moon Geun Young). At the same time, Han Soo Yoon is trying to solve her own mystery involving the death of her parents and her sister in a car accident when she was five years old. She has lived in Canada for as long as she can remember and there is no record of her existence in South Korea. The more she discovers the more she realizes that things aren't as they seem. Is there some link between her and the corpse in the woods? Why is everyone in the town so weird? These questions and many more will get answered across this 16 episode run. The first three episodes have been just creepy enough to be engaging and there's a feeling to the production that rings of an M. Night Shyalaman film. The dark... the foreboding.. the hint of something otherworldly at play. Moon Geun Young is excellent, as always, but I can't help feeling that the styling choices between hair and wardrobe have aged her by 10 or more years. That aside, I am really enjoying this series and I hope the build up of the mystery and the resolution are handled in the same manner as the introduction. I'm looking forward to seeing more! 

Coming Soon

Because It's the First Time

First Look: July / August K-Drama Premieres

Again... pretty pictures to follow. I'm still setting up the new computer and transferring everything post-vacation!

The Guide

♥ = Love it! Watch it!

♥ = So-so start. Might get better. Might get worse.

♥ = Bleh. Hate it! 

♥ All About My Mom
Tag Line: I Hate My Mom. I Hate My Mother-In-Law More.
Thoughts: Eugene stars in this family-themed k-drama alongside hottie Lee Sang Woo. Part comedy and part melodrama, the story centers around the Lee family and their relationships with one another. This slower paced series is one of a handful of k-dramas exploring mother-daughter and mother-in-law-daughter-in-law interactions. The first handful of episodes in this series have established a suitable foundation of family dysfunction worthy of psychiatric evaluation. But it has been a bit slow. At eight episodes, I am still waiting for the proverbial sh** to hit the fan. Our leading lady is still single and the pace of her relationship development with the leading man is slower than a snail. I think there is potential here but it will require some patience. I am still going to green light this one because the cast is more than enough compensation for the gradual build up of the plot.

♥ Assembly
Tag Line: Out-of-Work Welder Goes into Politics
Thoughts: Coming Soon

♥ I Order You
Tag Line: Divorced Man Falls in Love...Again.
Thoughts: This Monday-Thursday food drama is adequately portioned with just enough idols and models to keep things light and refreshing. U-Know Yunho headlines the series as a divorced chef that owns his own gourmet lunchbox service.

♥ Last
Tag Line: Riches to Rags. The Wolf of Seoul Goes Bust.
Thoughts: Jang Tae Ho (Yoon Kye Sang) had it all figured out. He'd play the stock market, make it big, and then run off to the US with his beautiful girlfriend and a pocket full of cash. But when he manages to lose 35 billion won in a handful of minutes, he finds himself wanted by both the police and gangsters. There's nowhere for him to go except to the streets - with nothing but the clothes on his back. Now that he's homeless, he's desperate to reclaim his old life any way that he can. And, that means defeating the seven bosses of Seoul's underworld. The first two episodes are exciting. Yoon Kye Sang is always flawless on screen and is the perfect anti-hero. Surprisingly, Lee Beom Soo takes his turn as the bad guy this time around, which I'm excited to see. The premise for the series, though, feels a bit like a video game adapted for TV. "Beat the seven bosses and you win!" Naturally, each boss is more difficult to beat than the next. But, never fear, Jang Tae Ho has a trusted teacher (Park Won Sang) showing him how to kiss a$$ and take names. Still, I feel good about this one. Give it a watch.

♥ Mrs. Cop
Tag Line: She's a mom. She's a cop. Shouldn't she be Mom Cop?
Tag Line: Coming Soon

♥ My Eccentric Wife (aka My Virtual Bride)
Tag Line: A Down-on-Her-Luck Celebrity Gets a 2nd Chance at Fame & Love
Thoughts: This is the k-drama that I needed to round out the seriousness of Assembly and Last. It is pure goofy fun wrapped up in a package of reality television and k-pop idols.  Oh In Young (Dasom) is an idol whose market value has been decreasing for years. In a last ditch effort to reclaim her former glory, she agrees to star in a reality television series where she is "married" to the eldest son of an established family in a traditional house. She must cope with all the daughter-in-law duties and navigate the politics of the family with no skills or experience to handle it. But when sparks fly between her and the eldest son (Ryu Soo Young) will her mother-in-law sit still and let her precious son fall for a k-pop idol? Chances are... no. The series strongly focuses on the relationships between the daughter-in-laws and the mother-in-laws with an emphasis on outrageous borderline crazy behavior. It's one k-drama in a series of them on the subject that have been unleashed this late summer/early fall season. I hope it isn't a trend... but it looks like it might be. Vampires out. Crazy mother's...in. That said, I like it for the laughs (fart jokes and all) and the chemistry between Oh In Young and Cha Myeong Seok. If it stays light and quirky, it's a shoo in for a bump to green.

♥ Oh My Ghostess
Tag Line: Virgin Ghost Seeking Sex... Or, so she thinks.
Thoughts: If I have to pick a hit for 2015, I think this is the one. Park Bo Young steps up her game in this suspenseful thriller about a young woman that makes a strange connection with a ghost that is trying to resolve her grudge before ascending to heaven.

♥ Scholar Who Walks the Night
Tag Line: Vampire Conspiracy in the Palace
Thoughts: This vampire k-drama follows on the heels of Orange Marmalade and Blood but adds the twist of also being an historical drama. Lee Joon Gi headlines the series as Scholar Kim Seung Yol, who has befriended Crown Prince Junghyun. When he learns that an evil vampire named Gwi (Lee Soo Hyuk) is threatening to kill the Crown Prince if he doesn't swear fealty, Seung Yol vows to help his friend rid the palace of the creature. But the plan goes wrong, the Crown Prince is killed, and he finds himself a newly made vampire. The series fast forwards 120 years and then it just gets confusing. It's like reading a Robert Jordan novel where you need a companion book just to keep track of the character names and how a person is relevant to the story. Now, some of it may be the translations. I made the mistake of watching the first two episodes when they were about 80% translated and I missed critical pieces of information that I had to pick up with a 2nd viewing. Overall, it's not a bad series but it won't blow your socks off. WARNING: There's definitely a "cheese" factor to this series with all the fangs and the fake blood. The camera is constantly zooming in to catch eyes that flash red and lips quivering at the sight of fresh blood. But, what can I do? I am a sucker (pun totally intended) for anything with Lee Joon Gi's name attached to it.

♥ The Time that I Loved You, 7000 days
Tag Line: "When Harry Met Sally" K-Drama Style
Thoughts: Coming Soon

♥ Twenty Again
Tag Line: The unplanned pregnancy...20 years later.
Thoughts: 

♥ Yong Pal
Tag Line: I work at this stinkin' hospital and I can't get a discount!
Thoughts: This is arguably one of the more anticipated series of the year with its powerhouse combo of Joo Won and Kim Tae Hee. The story is centered around a young doctor struggling under the weight of debt he acquired to pay for his sister's medical expenses. In order to pay back the loan sharks, he makes "house calls" to gangsters and other unsavory characters that need to avoid the hospital and, ultimately, avoid being arrested. He's known among that crowd as Yong Pal. By day, however, he is Kim Tae Hyun, a gifted surgeon at Hanshin Hospital. The chief physician of the exclusive 12th floor ward, which is reserved for the rich and famous, discovers Doctor Kim's secret and uses it to draft him in to help manage the ward. Doctor Kim soon finds himself at the center of a conspiracy to eliminate the comatose heiress of the Hanshin conglomerate, allowing all her assets to pass to her half-brother. This sounds riveting and there are some very flashy action scenes in the first couple episodes. But the progression of Dr. Kim's relationship with Kim Tae Hee's character, Hanshin's absentee heiress Han Yeo Jin, is inadequate. It's missing something. I don't see the sparks flying. Throw in some other corporate machinations and police investigations and things get hazy. It suffers a bit from "Doctor Stranger" syndrome - trying to do too much and losing focus of what's really important. I want to love this series but I'm feeling just okay about it. I don't want to discredit the performances of the actors, though, because they are good. But the writing and direction are pulling things down a few notches.

First Look: May / June K-Drama Premieres

Pardon My Dust - Some of the graphics are having issues and will be added later.

The Guide

♥ = Love it! Watch it!

♥ = So-so start. Might get better. Might get worse.

♥ = Bleh. Hate it! 

♥ My Beautiful Bride

Tag Line: His bride went missing. He went crazy.

Thoughts: I am a little behind the eight ball on this one. I just sat down and watched the first handful of episodes this weekend because it was a series that didn't particularly appeal to me. But I am happy to report that this one is a winner. It bears the hallmark traits of an OCN drama - flawed characters trying to survive and do the right thing in a scary world. Kim Moo Yul leads the series as Kim Do Hyeong. He's a quiet and serious man that works as a manager at a bank. The one purpose of his life is the woman he loves, Yoon Joo Young (Ko Sung Hee). Shortly after he proposes, she disappears and his world collapses. Now, he is hell bent on finding the woman he loves and bringing her home, regardless of who he has to go through to get her back. This isn't an original idea as far as stories go but the writer and director have seamlessly crafted each episode in a way the builds on the concept and leaves the audience with more questions than answers. It's quite the cliffhanger. That doesn't make it immune to certain comparisons. It struck me as oddly similar to The Man from Nowhere, which I also enjoyed. This is a good summer action flick and I highly recommend it.

♥ Ex-Girlfriend's Club

Tag Line:  Lioness, Cat, and Fox - Oh My!

Thoughts: Running Man fans can cheer for this one as Song Ji Hyo takes the lead in this humorous, and sometimes emotional, drama about relationships past and present. Bong Myeong Soo (Byun Yo Han) is a successful webtoon author/artist whose work chronicles his past relationships with three different women. When the rights to his work are purchased by a film production company, he re-connects with film producer Kim Soo Jin (Song Ji Hyo), a woman with whom he once shared a close friendship. The ex-girlfriends are informed of the impending film and each makes a dramatic return into Myeong Soo's life complicating both the film and his relationship with Soo Jin. This is a fun series full of great lighthearted comedy and moments of heartfelt emotion. Byun Yo Han makes a complete transformation into the cool-kid artist leaving behind the nosy not-so-cool co-worker persona we saw in Misaeng. And, Song Ji Hyo is delightful, as always. It's a thumbs up and a favorite amid the summer line-up of k-dramas.

♥ Hidden Identity

Tag Line:  Undercover agency? No such agency exists.

Thoughts: This action heavy k-drama about an undercover investigation group is a fast paced adventure through the underbelly of Korean society. After the death of his partner, police officer Cha Gun Woo (Kim Beom) is suspended from the force for killing his partner's assailant. He's always been known as a quiet man with a difficult personality but that is just a cover for the emotional scars left by the death of his first love. When he learns that his friend's identity as an undercover agent has been compromised, Gun Woo must step in to save the mission and find his friend before it's too late. The pressure to succeed is even greater because the friend is the elder brother of his dead girlfriend. If you are a fan of police and crime dramas this is the one for you. Kim Beom sheds his flower boy looks for a gritty police officer and sports a goatee that is surprisingly flattering on the actor. Like abs? It has some of that, too. This one is a keeper.

♥ High Society

What would you do if you were the daughter of a wealthy family? If you are Uee, you would get a part-time job and plot your exit from the household. That is High Society. This k-drama explores the differences in social class through the relationships of two couples. One is a wealthy daughter (Uee) of a large multi-national company and she is dating an aspiring businessman (Sang Joon)  that wants to climb the social/corporate ladder by dating her. The other is a chaebol (Park Hyung Shik) looking to beat his brother in the family business while dating a young woman (Lim Ji Yeon) of no fame or fortune on the side. There's a couple reasons why I won't green light this production. The first is the dialogue. It might be the translations but it often seems circular and contradicting. The other is the speed at which the relationships have developed, which can only be described as super sonic. That's not to say it won't play out just fine in the end but it's hard to call any of it "love" when they have all known each other for about...a week, maybe two. The only character with whom I empathized is now presumed to be dead and I am wondering if this is worth continuing. I guess I can take one of the team if Sang Joon is involved.

♥ Jeju Island Gatsby (aka Warm & Cozy)

Lee Jung Soo (Kim So Ra) and Baek Gun Woo (Yoo Yeon Seok) connect by chance when she shows up at his 18th birthday party believing they are twins, sharing the same mother. But when her claims are proven false, they part on good terms with a promise to reunite as adults. Years later, they reconnect by chance when circumstances send both of them down to Jeju Island to resolve family issues. When Baek Gun Woo is mistakenly lead to believe that Lee Jung Soo is dying of cancer, he feels he must personally ensure her final days are good ones. During a drunken conversation, the two strike up an agreement. He signs over the ownership of his Jeju Island restaurant to her until she dies for a small deposit. This Hong Sisters rom-com is a pleaser with a cast full of unique characters that keep the story fast paced and interesting. Yoo Yeon Seok has been given a tall order to portray Baek Gun Woo as something other than a self-centered womanizer, the script doesn't leave a lot of room for error. More often than not, I am rooting for the town mayor played by Kim Sung Oh. This is also proving to be a fantastic role for Kang So Ra, who looks amazing against the scenic backdrop of the island. Watch it and have fun!

♥ Mask

This k-drama opens with one of the most spectacular scenes that I have ever seen in a drama. Needless to say, the first episode is a whirlwind of action and melodrama that leaves the audience with many more questions than answers. Soo Ae leads this thriller with two roles as Byun Ji Sook and Seo Eun Ha, two women that are exact opposites in everything except their appearance. They look like identical twins. But as the series foreshadows - whoever sees her doppelganger first will die. Just as Seo Eun Ha is set to wed Choi Min Woo (Ju Ji Hoon) to solidify a political and corporate alliance, she has an accident. Naturally, Byun Ji Sook is the only one that can stand in her place to ensure the plan moves forward. This mesmerizing story is grand on a number of scales and supported by a cast that knows how to command the screen - particularly, Yeon Jung Hun and Yu In Young. It's worth watching and will keep you on the edge of your seat.

♥ Masked Prosecutor (aka The Man in the Mask)

Admittedly, I was super excited about this k-drama because it stars two my favorite actors: Joo Sang Wook and Kim Sun A. The premise is interesting albeit not original. A young man, Ha Dae Cheol (Joo Sang Wook), is tasked with becoming a prosecutor by his father in order to get revenge on the people that ruined their lives. He successfully completes college and finds himself as a prosecutor but has neither the wealth nor background to rise through the ranks quickly. So, he dons a mask in order to find the leads he needs to ensure his cases are wins. Just as he's promoted and close to his goal... things start to go wrong. Now, there have been countless movies and television shows about men donning a mask in order to promote justice and seek revenge when the system fails. This one doesn't stray too far from the mold, either. I'm several episodes into it and just a little bored. It's predictable and only saved by the chemistry between the members of the cast. If a less charismatic actor than Joo Sang Wook had been cast in the role of Ha Dae Cheol this would have been a total  bust. Give it a shot, though. You might like it more than I do.

♥ My Love, Eun Dong

Tag Line: Boy loses girl. Boy finds girl. Boy loses girl, again. And, so on...

Thoughts: I'll start off by saying that I enjoyed the first few episodes even if there were some cringe worthy moments. The story starts with a press conference for Ji Eun Ho (Joo Jin Mo), a popular actor, who is announcing his plans to write an auto-biography. His goal by writing the book is to find his first and only love, Eun Dong (Kim Sa Rang). The episode then segues into a series of flashbacks showing how he first met her and how they parted ways. He was a freshman in high school and she was... not in high school. I'll be generous and describe her as a middle school student. They form a connection that is something more than friendship but not quite mature enough to be called attraction. The direction in these scenes is awkward and occasionally feels a little inappropriate. But once the story moves on to the college and military years that hurdle is jumped and all is right with the world again. Joo Jin Mo has a strong presence on screen and strikes an impressive figure. Kim Sa Rang is a much less commanding presence with some room to grow. The story moves fast, is engaging, and the characters are interesting. This k-drama is probably not for everyone but if you need a daily dose of melo-d, this will do it.

♥ Orange Marmalade

Coming Soon

♥ The Producers

Being one of the most star studded and highly anticipated dramas of the summer, The Producers started with some big expectations to live up to right out of the gate.  Baek Seung Chan (Kim Soo Hyun) is a newly minted employee at KBS working in the Variety Department. The series starts with his first day at work, which is captured by a production team making a documentary about new employees. Of course, things go horribly wrong from the moment he arrives. Producer Tak Ye Jin (Kong Hyo Jin) damages his father's car in the parking lot and is hell bent on discovering to whom the car belongs. Then, he finds himself assigned under Producer Ra Joon Mo (Cha Tae Hyun), who is dating the woman Seung Chan likes. Can his day get any worse? It does. He overhears a conversation between Tak Ye Jin and Ra Joon Mo declaring him useless and needing to be fired...quickly. The mockumentary style of storytelling is refreshing and adds the element of "reality" to a show that is about the behind-the-scene politics of reality television. But by episode three, the mockumentary has morphed into a weird hybrid of styles and loses it's focus. I want to love this series because I find the topic interesting, the concept is good, and the cast is talented. But it falls flat and leaves a lot to be desired. It's a veritable snooze fest. It could get better. Maybe.

MIA: Michelle is Around... somewhere

Go me!

For anyone that checks in semi-regularly, you will have noticed a steep decline in the number of reviews that I have posted over the last few months. This is largely due to my ancient laptop and my lack of patience to boot it up and then wait a million years for it to run properly.

The good news is that my brand new lap top will be arriving by June 8th!

The bad news is that I leave for my Caribbean vacation on the 13th. I have approximately 30+ reviews that have been started over the last several months and that I never got around to finishing.  But with a speedy new laptop it should be no problem to work through them.

I'm excited! Look for Sensory Couple, Angry Mom, My Secret Hotel, and more over the coming weeks!

Yay!!

The Legendary Witch

Title:	The Legendary Witch
Alternate Title(s):	N/A
Genre(s):	Melodrama, Romantic Comedy, Crime, Suspense
Episodes	40
Network:	MBC
Year Produced:	2014
Available to Watch On:	viki, dramafans.org

Summary: Moon Soo In (Han Ji Hye) was happily married to the eldest son of the wealthy Ma family, owners of the Shinwha Group conglomerate. When her husband unexpectedly dies, the family frames her for embezzlement of company funds and sends her to jail for two years. It is there that she meets three women (Ko Du Shim, On Hyun Kyung, and Ha Yeon Soo) that change her life for the better and the man that will help her love again (Ha Seok Jin). After the women are released from prison, they support one another and gradually build new lives and find new love. But they all have strange ties to the Ma family making it difficult to forget the past until all the wrongs have been righted and the sins exposed.

RATING

♥♥♥½

Recommendation: Let's start off this recommendation with an acknowledgment that the first four episodes of this series are painfully dull and difficult to watch. However, if you can get past that hurdle the series recovers and quickly achieves "watchable" status. So much so, that this became a weekly staple in my k-drama viewing schedule for the last few months. This underdog tale does a nice job depicting the transformation of a group of women from victims in survival mode to competent and self-assured women capable of mastering their destinies. Han Ji Hye played it safe in the role of Moon Soo In and her performance was just okay. Undoubtedly, she was cast for her star power but the real strength of the series is the chemistry between the broader ensemble cast and the overall journey of the series. While the additional 4 episodes did not necessarily serve The Legendary Witch well, it did not hurt the undeniable charm that this show cast over its audience either. This is a must watch among the end-of-year dramas that closed out 2014 and took us into 2015.

Triangle

Title:	Triangle
Alternate Title(s):	N/A
Genre(s):	Melodrama, Crime
Episodes	26
Network:	MBC
Year Produced:	2014
Available to Watch On:	DramaFever, viki, dramafans.org

Summary: As children, the Jang brothers are separated after the tragic death of their father. Despite the eldest brother's efforts to care for and protect his siblings, they are torn apart and each set down a path that takes them in very different directions. Jang Dong Soo (Lee Beom Soo), the eldest, becomes a police detective while continuing to look for his missing brothers. Jang Dong Chul (Kim Jae Joong), the middle brother, finds himself homeless and begging on the streets, losing all his childhood memories in the process. He ultimately becomes a street thug. Jang Dong Woo (Im Siwan), the youngest brother, is adopted as a baby and raised by a wealthy CEO to be his heir. The three brothers cross paths as adults when they are drawn into the corporate and social politics surrounding the Dae Jung Casino and its relationship to the death of their father.

RATING:

♥♥♥½

"Look, Dong Woo, we need to have a talk ....."

Recommendation: Triangle is a thoughtfully produced k-drama with an excellent cast and clear path from start to finish. There isn't anything that can be called out as a major flaw in the series but it does lack that special something that might have bumped up its rating just a little higher. Kim Jae Joong shines in the role of Jang Dong Chul / Heo Young Dal and it feels like he found the sweet-spot with this character, having to be neither too good nor too bad. Likewise, Im Siwan is believable as the spoiled rich boy that has everything except his adopted father's love. There's not much to say about Lee Beom Soo - he's a pro and it shows in every role that he touches. It would have been nice for all three brothers to be together in more than just a few scenes but it rarely materializes. Onecould theorize it is a foreshadowing of things to come at the end. Overall, this is solid k-drama that is worth the investment of time. You won't regret it, particularly for fans of crime, melodrama, and Kim Jae Joong's abs.

First Look: March / April K-Drama Premieres

Angry Mom
Tag Line: My Mom Kicks Butt!
Thoughts: I love this k-drama! It is fun while tackling a serious topic. Kim Hee Seon is the front woman for this series in the role of Jo Gang Ja, a woman whose daughter is being bullied at school. Unable to find a resolution through the school and police, she decides to go undercover as a high school student and find the students responsible for beating up her daughter. Remarkably, she doesn't look that much out of place among the younger cast. Ji Hyun Woo plays the part of her homeroom teacher, taking on a much different persona than we last saw in Trot Lovers. I give him credit for branching out and showing some range but he doesn't seem quite comfortable in the skin of Park No A. Some might disagree but he is a competent actor and within the next episode or two he'll most likely hit his stride and figure out to own this role. This series might seem simple at first glance but a lot of foundational plot points have been laid down and I think we'll see this story grow more complex and interesting across its 16 episode run.

Bluebird's House (aka House of Bluebird)
Tag Line: Wild Chives Re-Packaged
Thoughts: This one feels oddly similar to Wild Chives and Soybean Soup given that it involves the unique connections between three very different families as the basis of the plot. The primary story focuses on the younger generation as they work through the challenges of growing up, finding jobs, and handling romantic relationships. The elder generation will likely be the source of the younger generations heartache as sins of the past are slowly revealed (and or continue to be concealed at all costs). Lee Jun Hyuk headlines the series alongside Lee Sang Yeob as the eldest sons of the Kim and Jang families respectively. The veteran cast includes well-known names like Choi Myoung Gil, Cheon Ho Jin, and Lee Hye Sook. The start of this k-drama is a little slow but there are some immediately relatable characters and the foundation for what’s to come is strong. I’m not in love with it but I think I’ll stick around for more.

Divorce Lawyer in Love
Tag Line: I hate you. I ...love you?
Thoughts: This romantic comedy is an exploration of love, marriage, and the lawyers that can help you bring it all to an end. The first two episodes have been an interesting clash of personalities and philosophies with Lawyer Ko Cheok Hee (Cho Yeo Jeong) ready to help anyone that wants a divorce and Lawyer So Jung Woo (Yeon Woo Jin) wanting it to be a measure of last resort. Together, they strike just the right balance as something between allies and enemies. Shim Hyung Tak is a supporting character in another role as a lawyer, though this character is less inclined to actually practice the law. But he does take his shirt off. Overall, I have high hopes for this romcom. I enjoyed Yeon Woo Jin in Marriage, Not Dating and I think this is a great follow-up project to cement his place as a leading man. Tune in! I will be.

Falling in Love with Soon Jung
Tag Line: New Heart Turns into New Love
Thoughts: This isn't exactly a new story. A man with a sick heart and sick soul receives more than be bargains for when he gets a heart transplant - some of its former owner's soul. Jung Kyoung Ho leads this series as Kang Min Ho, also known as James Kang. He's out for revenge against the Uncle that stole away his father's company but his heart is failing and time is running out. Jung Kyoung Ho is fascinating to watch on-screen because of the intensity he brings to his role. He is a nice contrast to the level headed Kim Soon Jung, played by Kim so Yeon. Jin Goo seems short changed in his role as the heart donor so I am curious how he will be incorporated after the death of his character. There is no denying this is an overdone plot that could easily feel derivative of other works. But, I found the first two episodes fast-paced and exciting. It never felt stale. I am looking forward to what is next and how this old tale receives a new heart of its own.

Heard it Through the Grapevine
Tag Line: Baby Mama & Baby Daddy & Baby Family Drama
Thoughts:  Lee Joon headlines this melodramatic look at unplanned teen pregnancies. Drunk on hormones and away from their parents, Seo Bom (Ko Ah Sung) and Han In Sang (Lee Joon) take their relationship a step further than either of them planned. They agree to separate afterwards with a promise to reunite after the college entrance exams but Han In Sang is unable to locate Seo Bom at any point after that. He eventually uncovers her current address only to discover she is 2 weeks away from giving birth to their child. Chaos ensues... The first two episodes have been somewhat standard fare for the topic and genre. No surprises. Lee Joon is convincing as an oppressed teen with depression and self-confidence issues, wilting in the shadow of his successful father. At best, this will be a comedic romp through the trials of unplanned parenthood and crossing the bridge between lower and upper class. At worst, it will be a draggy soap opera that focuses heavily on a tragic love overcoming obstacles. I'll let it pass with an "okay" ...for now.

Hwajung (Splendid Politics)
Tag Line: The king is dead. Long live the king.
Thoughts: This historical drama centers around the ascension of Prince Gwanghae (Cha Seung Won) to the throne of Joseon and Princess Jeongmyeong's (Lee Yeon Hee) desire for revenge against him. The first two episodes have been fast paced and full of political intrigue. But one of our main characters is still a child and most of us are probably waiting for the story to fast forward. If the description of the series reads true, the Princess will be fleeing from the palace and disguising herself as a man. Let's be honest, here. The disguise-yourself-as-a-man thing is a bit overdone. Most of the time, the actresses looking nothing like a man and then the audience ends up questioning the intelligence of the people around them. Still, I like Cha Seung Won and I'm willing to watch anything with his name attached to it. I'll yellow light this one until the direction of the plot becomes clearer.

Missing Noir M
Tag Line: Former FBI Agent with a Dark Past
Thoughts: I have said it before but the crime/mystery genre isn't my favorite. That being said, I have really enjoyed the series so far. The story follows former FBI Agent James Gil (Kim Kang Woo), who has returned to South Korea after resigning from his post. Being well-known for his intelligence, he's immediately called upon to help the police solve a difficult case. Kang Ha Neul guest stars as a seemingly crazy inmate in the first two episodes and it sets a nice tone. While it clearly bears all the hallmark traits of an OCN drama, there's something slick about it that I like. Park Hee Soon and Jo Bo Ah around out the Scooby gang.

My Unfortunate Boyfriend
Tag Line: No Min Woo's Abs
Thoughts: I really want to like this one because I like No Min Woo. He's a talented actor with a knack for picking interesting projects. But this one feels like a dud. This series has a similar premise as Ho Goo's Love, an innocent guy falls for a not-so-innocent girl. But the characterization of the leading man is completely different. Ho Goo is emotionally aware and chooses to be a good person. Mr. Unfortunate is an emotionally stunted adult that acts like a 10 year old boy. I find it hard to imagine how this character functions as an adult, much less falls in love with a woman. And, as much as I like seeing a toned six pack, I found all the shirtless No Min Woo moments way over the top. I know, right? The other characters are nothing special and there isn't anything that happens in the first two episodes that is intriguing. Maybe this will get better but it certainly is off to a rocky start. Thumbs down for me.

Who Are You: School 2015 
Tag Line: The Prince & The Pauper - K-Drama Style
Thoughts: I understand that the "School" series has some precedence with tackling important issues facing the school system and students in South Korea. For that, I can appreciate it.  In fact, I just finished watching School 2013 recently and I was impressed with it. This season the series is covering the topic-du-jour of school bullying. Kim So Hyun plays Kim Eun Bi, a young woman being bullied at school because of her poor background. She's also playing the role of Ko Eun Byeol, a young woman at a respected high-school that goes missing during a class trip. Despite the rather dramatic plot turns that makes this feel more like a mystery than an exploration of educational systems, I found myself engaged with the story and the characters. School 2015 might lack the star power of Kim Woo Bin, Lee Jung Suk, and Daniel Choi but I think it will still leave a memorable impression when it is all said and done.

Sensory Couple
Tag Line: He can't feel pain. She sees smells. Perfect Couple.
Thoughts: I briefly forgot that Park Yoo Chun is a great comedic actor. Sensory Couple (aka The Girl Who Sees Smells) has been a great re-introduction to his broad range of talent. Taking on the role of Choi Moo Gak, he is a young man struggling with the death of his younger sister, Choi Eun Seol, at the hands of a serial murder known as the Bar Code Killer. He quits his job and joins the police force hoping he can find the killer himself. Another young woman, also named Choi Eun Seol (Shin Se Kyung), escapes death at the hands of the same serial killer but loses her memory in the process. When she regains consciousness, she discovers that she has the ability to see smells. Their combined forces might just be the thing needed to capture a killer. I am not a big fan of Shin Se Kyung, in general, but she's tolerable opposite Park Yoo Chun. And, I've enjoyed the first two episodes. I smell success in the air - provided this series can stay the course and avoids relying the trappings of a superhuman ability as a replacement for a solid plot and good acting.

Super Daddy Yeol
Tag Line: Bachelor -> Daddy Boot Camp
Thoughts: I'll admit that I wasn't Lee Yu Ri's biggest fan coming out of Jang Bo Ri is Here (review pending). She consistently committed the crime of overacting and only seemed capable of dialing her performance down to a 1 or up to a 10 while missing all the nuances in-between. That being said, I am pleasantly surprised by her performance thus far in Super Daddy Yeol. She's showing much greater range in the role of Cha Mi Rae and has great on-screen chemistry with her leading man, Lee Dong Gun. This time around she's tackling the role of a single mother that has been diagnosed with a terminal illness and has one year left to find a suitable father to care for her daughter when she's gone. Out of options and short on time, she happens to cross paths with her first love Han Yeol, who has remained single since their painful break-up 10 years ago. Lee Dong Gun is convincing as an emotionally scarred former pro-baseball player that has been reduced to coaching for the team for whom he once played. Bonus, he dances in his underwear. This is a great series to welcome in the change of seasons with a lot of laughs, tears, and heart.

Unkind Women
Tag Line: Women Only!
Thoughts: The first episode of this series, quite frankly, is underwhelming. The story centers around a family consisting of only women - three generations of them. The men have died, run off, etc... And, each member is struggling with a personal issue that is hindering her quality of life. Blah. Blah. Blah. It was hard to care. I finally sat through the second episode and it started to come together, even intriguing me. The women in the family started to feel more understandable and the story took some interesting turns. On top of that, I got to see more of two of my favorite male actors: Song Jae Rim and Kim Ji Suk. The female cast is nicely dine and features some powerhouse talent. I think I'll give this one a go.

Coming Soon:

• Let's Eat 2 (2 episodes to watch)
• As a side note, I'm struggling to bring myself to watch this one given the absence of Lee Soo Kyung. =( 
• Queen's Flower
• The Producers (May 10th)

Wild Chives & Soybean Soup

Title:	Wild Chives & Soybean Soup: 12 Year Reunion
Alternate Title(s):	N/A
Genre(s):	Melodrama, Romantic Comedy
Episodes	26
Network:	JTBC
Year Produced:	2014
Available to Watch On:	DramaFever, Hulu, dramafans.org

Summary: Wild Chives & Soybean Soup is a k-drama that has several intertwined stories that all revolve around three families: Yoo, Jang, and Joo. The primary story begins in 2002 with high school students Yoo Joon Soo (Lee Won Geun/Nam Gung Min) and Jang Gook (Yoon So Hee/Lee So Yeon), who fall in love and conceive a child after a night of drinking and celebrating a World Cup win. The families quickly object to their relationship and they are ultimately torn apart. Jang Gook, unable to cope, flees to the US to heal her broken heart. The show then fast forwards 12 years and the couple is reunited by a strange twist of fate. Other key narratives involve friendship, parent-child relationships, one-sided love, marriage, and divorce.

RATING:

♥♥♥

Sad. I wish it had more episodes.

Recommendation: It is a little difficult to review this k-drama because it was just starting to hit its stride when the series was canceled. Consequently, the ending is rushed and somewhat disappointing with many of the major plots being resolved inadequately or not at all. I think it is worth a watch but with an understanding that you'll be left with more questions than answers. While I personally feel that family themed dramas don't translate well into 50 episode arcs, I thought this one might be moderately successful. I was obviously wrong as the viewers didn't tune in for it. Still, the teen and adult cast are all strong actors and I wish them the best on their next projects.

Doctor Stranger

Title:	Doctor Stranger
Alternate Title(s):	N/A
Genre(s):	Medical Drama, Political Drama
Episodes	20
Network:	SBS
Year Produced:	2014
Available to Watch On:	DramaFever, viki, Hulu, dramafans.org

Summary: Doctor Stranger is an epic tale of true love conquering insurmountable obstacles. Park Hoon (Lee Jong Suk) is abducted as a child in order to force his father, a gifted heart surgeon, to perform surgery on the North Korean leader. The understanding is that they'd be returned to South Korea when the surgery is completed successfully. But a corrupt South Korean politician arranges for their execution instead. The North Korean government fakes the execution and the two become stranded in a foreign country without the means to return home. It is there that Park Hoon meets his first and only love, Song Jae Hee (Jin Se Yeon), and the two grow-up together with dreams of becoming doctors. But Park Hoon is placed into a brutal medical program where he is forced to experiment on living people - often taking their lives in the process. Meanwhile, Song Jae Hee is placed into a labor camp with her father. Fate plays a cruel trick on the star crossed lovers as they struggle to reunite and free themselves from the political machinations of the people that destroyed their lives.

RATING:

♥♥½
Dr. Stranger - Just Strange. 

Recommendation: The first two episodes of this k-drama are thrilling. They move fast and take the audience on a globe trotting adventure through South Korea, North Korea (at least a set that looks like it), and Hungary. It is exciting! I even believed, very briefly, that the prospects for this to be a "k-drama of 2014" were very good. Then, the show fast forwards a few years and permanently relocates to South Korea where it all falls apart. It feels a little bit like a k-drama written by committee: one person wanted it to be a medical drama, someone else wanted it to a suspenseful espionage thriller, and another person wanted an epic romance. Unable to make a decision, they added everything into the series. Perhaps if Dr. Stranger had focused heavily on one or the other the outcome might have been more satisfying. Even the relationship between Park Hoon and Song Jae Hee feels awkward and forced at times, the chemistry lacking. Eventually, I began to wonder if they knew what their characters were doing or thinking: "Am I a spy? Am I a doctor? Do I want to kill you or love you? I don't know!" At the very least, the surgeries were nicely choreographed and tense. I was reasonably sold on Lee Jong Suk and Park Hae Jin as talented surgeons. That's something, I suppose.

Big Man

Title:	Big Man
Alternate Title(s):	N/A
Genre(s):	Crime & Mystery
Episodes	16
Network:	KBS2
Year Produced:	2014
Available to Watch On:	DramaFever, viki, Hulu, dramafans.org

Summary: Big Man is a South Korean drama directed by Ji Yeong Su. A tale of lies and betryal, this k-drama follows Kim Ji Hyeok (Kang Ji Hwan) as he is intentionally misled by the wealthy Kang family, owners of the Hyunsung conglomerate, to believe he is their missing son. The reason for their manipulation is that they botched the attempt to steal Kim Ji Hyeok's heart for their sick son, Kang Dong Seok (Daniel Choi). When the family's evil intentions are revealed, Kim Ji Hyeok must go head to head with Kang Dong Seok in a high stakes battle of corporate espionage and black market dealings where the winner takes it all.

RATING:
♥♥

Big Man = Big Disappointment

Recommendation: There's no denying that I'm a fan of Kang Ji Hwan. The more of his work that I see the more I like him. But... Big Man is a disappointment. As one of the series that I was most anticipating in 2014, I hate giving it the proverbial thumb down. Kang Ji Hwan and Daniel Choi are each power house actors in their own right. And, together, they should have been a big win for this k-drama. But the characters are unlikable and most of them have few to no redeeming qualities. Even Kim Ji Hyeok, our hero, is loud, obnoxious, and just plain over-the-top, making him hard to love. It's either bad acting, bad direction, or bad writing - take your pick because all of them are suspects. That's not to say there aren't "moments" in the series that are genuine and strike the right balance between entertainment and suspended reality. The overall experience, though, is like being in a bad relationship. You think it will get better if you stick around just a little bit longer. Here's my warning: It doesn't.

First Look: January-February Premieres

Blood
Tag line: He's a vampire. He's a doctor. What's up with that?
Thoughts: The first word that comes to mind is... Twilight. I'm sorry, Mr. Director. But if you have a vampire running through the woods and killing a deer the comparison is inevitable. The good vs. bad vampires and the moody film quality aren't helping either. That being said, I confess that I enjoyed the first two episodes (and that I read the Twilight series). The premise of this k-drama is that a virus has infected people and turned them into vampires. Now, a secret battle is being waged between those looking for a cure and those that would use their supernatural powers for evil. One man stands at the center... Park Ji Sang. This role is played by Ahn Jae Hyeon and I found him believably vampirish. Ku Hye Sun, however, felt wrong for the role of Ji Sang's love interest. She's one of my least favorite actresses so I'll be watching with a critical eye.

Family is Coming
Tag Line: A Battle Royale for Billions ($$$)
Thoughts: I had put off watching this one despite the presence of Park Won Sook, arguably one of the most diverse character actors in k-dramaland, and Jin Yi Han (Empress Ki, My Secret Hotel). Frankly speaking, the premise sounded a bit cheesy and uninspired. It goes like this: A wealthy woman returns to the family she abandoned 50 years earlier in order to select the person that will inherit all the money she has earned while living abroad. Naturally, there are schemes-a-plenty as family members vie to inherit billions of won. After working my way through the first four episodes, I was mildly surprised. The series is lighthearted and enjoyable. It's more comedy than drama with the right amount of goofiness. Jin Yi Han takes on the role of the family's eldest son, who is something of a disappointment to them all. He's chosen to put the pursuit of his dream before financial security. Throw in a fake lawyer and an adopted son and the madhouse is complete. Happy viewing.

Fool's Love (aka Ho Goo's Love)
Tag Line: We kissed. She had a baby.
Thoughts: This is one of the more fun romantic comedies to hit the scene as we work our way through the winter season. Choi Woo Sik is adorable as Kang Ho Goo, a shy and lonely young man that is struggling to find success in his life. Thus far, he's failed at nearly everything including his love life. He randomly comes across a young woman he knows from high school (Uee), who also happens to be a national celebrity because of her status on the national swimming team, and they spend a fateful night together. As they part, they agree to meet several months later on Christmas day. Coming off the travesty that is Golden Rainbow, I am glad to see Uee take on a project like this. She felt like a completely different person as Do Do Hee and I enjoyed the on-screen chemistry with Choi Woo Sik. I am really excited to see how this series progresses!

Healer
Tag Line: Hottie in a Hoodie
Thoughts: While technically, the first broadcast was in December, I've decided to list it in January. This k-drama is fun and just a little bit addicting - in large part because of its leading man, Ji Chang Wook. There's no denying that he oozes charisma and has great presence on the screen. But the story is good and he's surrounded by a cast of talented actors that includes Park Min Young and Yoo Ji Tae. The basic premise of this action/thriller is that a young man works as a night courier called "Healer" - a person that will take any job spying, stealing, etc... as long as no one is physically hurt. When a job goes bad, he is framed for murder. The circumstances grow more bizarre as he investigates those responsible for the false charges and realizes they may have been involved in the death of his father. There's a little romance, mystery, and abs. Something for everyone.

Heart to Heart
Tag Line: Psychiatrist goes Psycho, Treats Patients Anyway
Thoughts: This particular k-drama is undeniably the product of TvN, following in the footsteps of similar romantic comedies such as Marriage, Not Dating and Flower Boy Next Door. The first episode starts with a bang and introduces us to a band of quirky characters: the shut-in, the police officer, and psychiatrist. Through a twist of fate, they all come together when the psychiatrist, played by Chung Jung Myung, is accused of stabbing his patient with a pen. The shut-in, portrayed by Choi Gong Hee, happens to witness the tail end of the event when she goes to his office seeking treatment - hoping to overcome her psychological issues to pursue a relationship with the police officer, played by Lee Jae Yoon. While this k-drama is...interesting..., I have trouble finding other words to describe it. It's lacking the cute factor of other TvN RomComs and the characters aren't immediately likeable - just weird. But I'm not giving up...yet. I think there is potential here.

Kill Me, Heal Me
Tag Line: WTF?!
Thoughts: This must be the season of weird in k-dramaland. My tag line summarizes my initial impression of the first two episodes. This series is so over-the-top-ridiculous that I have no idea if it is intentional or just bad directing/writing. The story, thus far, is about a young man that has developed multiple personalities after several traumatic events in his childhood. The strongest of these personalities is attempting to stage a coup and take charge permanently. This isn't a serious look at mental illness and when there is a shift from one personality to the other it is accompanied by silly special affects - such as a colorful flash in the eyes or the sudden appearance of tattoos that weren't there previously. Despite all this, the cast is fairly seasoned and talented with people like Hwang Jung Eum and Park Seo Joon. I'll keep watching if only because this is a bit like passing by a major accident and not being able to look away.

Maids
Tag Line: Riches to Rags
Thoughts:  After the first two episodes, I am intrigued by the premise. A woman of nobility during the Joseon era finds herself forced into slavery after her father is convicted of treason. She must learn to accept her new position in life while letting go of a love from her past. Starring Jung Yoo Mi and Oh Ji Ho, I have a lot of high hopes for the production. 
 

My Heart Twinkle Twinkle
Tag Line: Modern Re-telling of Beauty & the Beast
Thoughts: I could be entirely wrong about this series as only the first two episodes have aired. But it bears a lot of similarity to the fairy tale Beauty & The Beast. Let's recap the series to date: A cold and heartless young man is ruthlessly running his kingdom of chicken restaurants. He's surrounded by luxury but takes no joy in it. A father in town is struggling to support his family while his eldest daughter has taken on the burden of managing her sisters in the absence of a mother. When disaster strikes, the father seeks out the beastly young man to strike a bargain. I'm right, aren't I? Either way, Bae Soo Bin headlines this series with other popular actors such as Jang Shin Young, Lee Pil Mo, and Nam Bo Ra. So far, I'm hopeful for this series and I expect good things. But 50 episode runs are difficult to navigate. I'll know by episode 20 if this is a winner or loser. Still, I recommend this as a watch.

Seonam Girl's High School Investigators
Tag Line: Move over Babysitters Club. Hello, Detectives!
Thoughts: Surprisingly good. This k-drama only airs one episode a week so it requires a bit of patience if you are used to a weekly dose of two episodes. But its refreshingly funny and just quirky enough to make the wait worthwhile. Jin Jee Hee headlines this drama as An Chae Yool, a smart high school student with mommy issues. An Chae Yool has just transferred into Seonam Girl's High School at the urging of her grade-obsessed mother in hopes of boosting her GPA. But on her very first day she's attacked by the "biting man" and consequently wooed by the High School Investigators club to help them solve the mystery. From test-stealing to  bullying, the amateur detectives solve it all. This cast of off-the-wall characters will keep you guessing and laughing at the same time. It's a must watch for the winter season of new releases.

Shine or Go Crazy
Tag Line: Bad-Luck-Guy seeking Good-Luck-Girl
Thoughts: Loosely based on history, this k-drama is a mix of fact and fiction. Starring Jang Hyuk, the series explores the life of Prince Wang So, who is prophesied to bring bloodshed to the royal family at the time of his birth. When the prediction proves true, he is cast out of the palace as a young boy. He grows up in isolation on a mountain until he is eventually called back by his father, the emperor, to help him lead the country into the future. Wang So is reluctant to accept the offer but after a botched assassination attempt on his father he finds himself on the hunt for the attackers. It eventually leads him to a woman named Shin Yool (Oh Yeon So), who is one of two women destined to reverse his unlucky fate. The first two episodes have been fun with a lot of action. It certainly leaves the audience wanting to know more. Jang Hyuk adds the necessary flare to this drama with his big laugh but the rest of the cast is equally solid. This is a series that I'm looking forward to watching.

Spy
Tag Line: Son Spy vs. Mom Spy vs. Girlfriend Spy?
Thoughts: This k-drama headlines, the always handsome, Kim Jae Joong as a covert agent for the South Korean intelligence agency. By day, he's a special agent and by night he's the eldest son of a perfectly normal family - or so he thinks. But, as it turns out, his mother is a former spy for North Korea living under an assumed identity. Doh! Thus far, my instincts tell me that his girlfriend is a spy for North Korea, as well. But it is still TBD. Considering this is an action/suspense genre k-drama, I found myself just a little bored and checking the timer for how many minutes were left in the episode. Again, my gut instinct tells me that once we get through the plot set-up and character expositions that it will be non-stop action from episode to episode. It just isn't there...yet.