I guess I don't have a format for these posts.
Let's just get to it! I have been unemployed for several months and this has provided me with a significant increase in free time to binge watch dramas. I certainly prefer k-dramas but I'm not exclusive. Taiwan, China, Japan, and several other countries all produce really great programs so I do venture out.
This time around I made a trip to C-Dramaland (China!) and I watched Scarlet Heart. The series is focused on a young woman that gets into an accident in the modern world and then wakes up to find herself transported hundreds of years into the past. She quickly realizes that has landed right in the middle of a story with which she is very familiar because she studied it in history class. Knowing the fates of all the major players, she has to carefully navigate around any situations in which her choices might change the past and, consequently, the future. Most of these situations revolve around the emperor's sons , 14 princes to be exact, and their fight to succeed their father as emperor of the nation. But as the story progresses and the years pass by, she begins to realize that her presence may have already been accounted for in the history books.
It is a long and epic journey that can be beautiful and heartbreaking. I really enjoyed it. Cecilia Liu, Nicky Wu, Kevin Cheng and all the other actors developed a phenomenal rapport with one another and depicted the politics between the brothers as something that could be savage and compassionate.
Needless to say, I was really startled when I stumbled across the news that Lee Joon Gi and IU would be staring in a k-drama re-make of this series - set to be broadcast on SBS at the end of August. I have confidence in Lee Joon Gi to capture the quiet brooding of the 4th Prince. But IU will have to work hard to meet the quality of Cecilia Lui's portrayal of the young time traveler.
It is difficult work adapting a series that has previously found success. As an audience member, I want all the great qualities of the original to be present but something that is just different enough to keep my attention. I'm excited!!
Let the countdown to August begin and I'll keep my fingers crossed that I am employed by then!
Share your thoughts!
Sunday, May 22, 2016
Tuesday, May 17, 2016
First Look: May / June K-Drama Premieres
The Guide
♥ = Love it! Watch it!
♥ = Eh. Wait and see.
♥ = Ugh! Hated it. =(
Another Oh Hae Young
38 Task Force
Tag Line: The "Bad Guys" are not "all surrounded." They are helping the good guys.
Thoughts: Did you like that? Eh? It was my silly play on words related to prior k-dramas Bad Guys and You're All Surrounded. Plot wise, it certainly feels like it lands somewhere right in between the two. Seo In Guk takes a leading role in this comedic k-drama about a team of con-men that go to work for the Tax Evasion Department (Division Three) in city hall. Baek Sung Il (Ma Dong Seok) is the team leader for a group of city workers that track down tax evaders and collect the money. But after experiencing the corruption in city hall first hand, he teams up with con-man Yang Jung Do (Seo In Guk) in order to get the millions of dollars in back taxes owed by a wealthy businessman that knows how to game the system. The first two episodes are relatively fast paced and set the stage for a disgruntled Baek Sung Il, who has tried his hardest to ignore the inequality of the tax system. Seo In Guk is naturally charismatic on screen so playing a swindler-with-a-heart-(kind)of-gold doesn't feel like a stretch for him. But he pairs nicely with Ma Deong Seok and I am really looking forward to how their relationship evolves over the course of the series. I see a lot of potential here. The "task force" will be finalized with next week's episode and I am excited to see how it shapes up. This is all thumbs up for me.
Tag Line: Same school. Same grade. Same name. But very different lives.
Thoughts: Let's start with the important stuff. I love this drama. The first episode threw me for a bit of a loop and I wasn't too sure about it. But I was hooked by episode four. Everything starts the day before Oh Hae Young (Seo Hyun Jin) is to be married. She returns home after meeting with her fiance and informs her family that the wedding is canceled because she has doubts. Naturally, it causes problems. Park Do Kyung (Eric) is a man that was left at the altar by Oh Hae Young (Jeon Hye Bin) a year ago and still hasn't recovered from the heart break. She ran off without a word and no one has heard from her since. By chance and a strange twist of fate, the first Oh Hae Young and Park Do Kyung become inextricably intertwined when he accidentally interferes in her life - leaving her devastated and him with strange clairvoyant visions. As the pair become closer, will he come clean about how he did her wrong or let his emotions get the better of him? I tried to summarize the story without revealing some of the bigger plot twists. The crafting of this story has been rather delicate and seemingly unimportant details become very important as it progresses. Eric is phenomenal, as always, and I especially like him paired against Kim Ji Suk as his best friend. I am always down for a good bromance in k-dramaland! Initially, I had doubts about Seo Hyun Jin but she is wonderful in the role of "just" Oh Hae Young and her chemistry with Eric is right on point. This has been a great series to kick off the May / June releases and I give it two thumbs up.
Beautiful Gong Shim
Tag Line: Y'er smart enough. Y'er pretty enough. An' gosh darn... people like you.
Thoughts: I feel your pain, Gong Shim. I, too, have an older sister. But our relationship is more Reply 1988 than Beautiful Gong Shim. I digress... Beautiful Gong Shim has been a total surprise for me. Namgung Min is absolutely killing it in his first leading role on a major network. And, I am happy he finally gets to shed his serial killer/jealous brother/love rival image in the role of Ahn Dan Tae. He smiles. He is bubbly. He has an infectious charisma on-screen, particularly when he is opposite Minah. As the title would suggest, the story centers around Gong Shim (Minah), who is the second daughter in her family. But with an older sister that is beautiful, smart, and successful, Gong Shim is often overlooked and/or criticized by others. She unexpectedly comes into contact with Ahn Dan Tae (Namgung Min) and Suk Joon Soo (On Joo Won), who both fall for her quirky charms. Even with her sister's backstabbing machinations, Gong Shim still finds a way to pick herself up and carry on... There might even be a happy ending for her at the end of the journey. The overall story is fun. It is a great summer romance and the cast has such a great chemistry. I can't fault anyone for being a weak link. I love it and I hope this opens up more leading roles for the main cast.
Beautiful Mind
Tag Line: Hospital o' Death. Arrrgh. Frankenstein.
Thoughts: Jang Hyuk returns to the present as a gifted, albeit emotionally stunted, brain surgeon in this k-drama that is loosely based on the Frankenstein story. At this juncture, I have seen exactly one episode and I don't have a feel for where it is going or whether or not I even like it. The story begins with the return of Lee Young Oh (Jang Hyuk) to Korea after completing a fellowship in the US. He's known to be a gifted surgeon. Gye Jin Sung (Park So Dam) is a policewoman that witnesses a man hit by a minivan and she is convinced it was intentional. When the hit-and-run victim dies during a difficult operation, she questions whether someone intentionally caused his death during the surgery and suspects Lee Young Oh is the culprit. That is all I have for you folks. I can't say specifically how it may be similar to Frankenstein.... I can't even say for sure if Jang Hyuk is the Frankenstein or the doctor that creates him. The whole thing just comes off as a little bizarre. For now, I'm tagging it yellow and I'll consider upgrading next week when I have digested more of the craziness and made sense of it.
Doctors
Tag Line: A teacher changed her life. A student changed his life.
Thoughts: Doctors is perhaps one of the handful of dramas that fans have been looking forward to for months now. Park Shin Hye returns to the small screen as Yoo Hye Jung, a once troubled teen that turns her life around and becomes a doctor. Her dramatic transformation is largely due to the influence of her homeroom teacher. Hong Ji Hong (Kim Rae Won) was a once promising doctor but after a fatal slip-up in the operating room he has turned in his scalpel to teach. Young and handsome, he is a favorite among the girl's at the high school. When Yoo Hye Jung is kicked out of her home and sent to live with her grandmother, she finds herself sharing a space with Hong Ji Hong, who rents a room in the house. Their attraction is innocent and Hong Ji Hong treats her well and encourages her to turn her life around. But their friendship outside of the classroom becomes fodder for the rumor mill that is an all girl's high school. Feeling jilted by the handsome teacher, Jin Seo Woo (Lee Sung Kyung) makes a report that he is involved with Hye Jung romantically. What happens next? I don't know. But I did enjoy the first two episodes. There is a nice build up around Hye Jung's bad girl reputation and her fight scenes are no joke. Those high school girls throw punches like bad asses. Lee Sung Kyung's character is too similar to her Cheese in the Trap role so it is hard not to compare. But that is me nitpicking. Overall, I like this one and I see promise.
Mirror of the Witch
Tag Line: True Love: Conquers All. Never dies. Breaks curses.
Thoughts: Mirror of the Witch has certainly been a hot topic of debate among k-drama fans, who disapprove of the age difference between the leads. All that aside, this series has been a spooky drama full of witches, curses, and handsome heroes making it perfect for summer viewing. The story begins with the conception of twins using black magic to overcome the Queen's (Jang Hee Jin) infertility. But when the babies are born with a curse upon them, the wicked shamaness (Yum Jong Ah) informs the queen that one of the babies must die in order for one to live. The curse is transferred entirely to the Princess and she is put to death, or so it seems. Years later, a young woman by the name of Yeon Hui (Kim Sae Ron) is discovered to be living deep in the forest behind a wall of protective spells and talismans. Her fate becomes entangled with the life of Heo Joon (Yoon Shi Yoon), who suffers from a curse of his own. He is the illegitimate son of a nobleman and a slave. He happens upon her by chance and is immediately smitten with her innocence and beauty. But there are obstacles to overcome if both Heo Joon and Yeon Hui want to each defy the circumstances of their births and find a happily ever after. I understand why k-fans were all up in arms over the pairing of a 15 year old actress with a 29 year old actor but the "characters" are written to be similarly aged and the romance isn't physical. It's more akin to the romance found in a Jane Austen novel or a Disney film. It is intellectual, spiritual, and emotional - innocent. It is the true love counter-spell to the black magic curse. Needless to say, I am enjoying the series. It suffers a bit from a timing issue with most of the major characters traveling separate paths through the first handful of episodes. The audience has to trust that it will come together and it does.
Wanted
Tag Line: Extreme Reality Television
Thoughts: The premise of Wanted isn't exactly new. I've seen a similar concept in the series Black Mirror and Liar Game. Like its predecessors, Wanted uses the format of reality television to force its participants to act in a way that fulfills the desires of the proverbial wizard-behind-the-curtain. Jung Hye Jin (Kim A Joong) is a famous actress with plans to retire so that she can be better mom to her son. But on the day she makes the announcement, her son is kidnapped and she is forced to do the bidding of the kidnapper if she wants her son returned safely. The kidnapper demands that she air a reality television program that captures her completing missions that s/he provides. She enlists the help of Shin Dong Wook (Uhm Tae Woong) and Choi Joon Goo (Lee Moon Shik) to help produce the show. And, Detective Cha Seung In (Ji Hyun Woo) gets involved when this case connects with another kidnapping he is investigating. Overall, the first two episodes are fast moving and build up nicely to the first mission. There's already a handful of suspicious characters, too. I'm a fan of Uhm Tae Woong and Ji Hyun Woo so this is a win for me regardless of the production's quality. Thankfully, that doesn't seem to be an issue. I like what I've seen so far and I'm curious about what is coming next.
Tag Line: Y'er smart enough. Y'er pretty enough. An' gosh darn... people like you.
Thoughts: I feel your pain, Gong Shim. I, too, have an older sister. But our relationship is more Reply 1988 than Beautiful Gong Shim. I digress... Beautiful Gong Shim has been a total surprise for me. Namgung Min is absolutely killing it in his first leading role on a major network. And, I am happy he finally gets to shed his serial killer/jealous brother/love rival image in the role of Ahn Dan Tae. He smiles. He is bubbly. He has an infectious charisma on-screen, particularly when he is opposite Minah. As the title would suggest, the story centers around Gong Shim (Minah), who is the second daughter in her family. But with an older sister that is beautiful, smart, and successful, Gong Shim is often overlooked and/or criticized by others. She unexpectedly comes into contact with Ahn Dan Tae (Namgung Min) and Suk Joon Soo (On Joo Won), who both fall for her quirky charms. Even with her sister's backstabbing machinations, Gong Shim still finds a way to pick herself up and carry on... There might even be a happy ending for her at the end of the journey. The overall story is fun. It is a great summer romance and the cast has such a great chemistry. I can't fault anyone for being a weak link. I love it and I hope this opens up more leading roles for the main cast.
Tag Line: Hospital o' Death. Arrrgh. Frankenstein.
Thoughts: Jang Hyuk returns to the present as a gifted, albeit emotionally stunted, brain surgeon in this k-drama that is loosely based on the Frankenstein story. At this juncture, I have seen exactly one episode and I don't have a feel for where it is going or whether or not I even like it. The story begins with the return of Lee Young Oh (Jang Hyuk) to Korea after completing a fellowship in the US. He's known to be a gifted surgeon. Gye Jin Sung (Park So Dam) is a policewoman that witnesses a man hit by a minivan and she is convinced it was intentional. When the hit-and-run victim dies during a difficult operation, she questions whether someone intentionally caused his death during the surgery and suspects Lee Young Oh is the culprit. That is all I have for you folks. I can't say specifically how it may be similar to Frankenstein.... I can't even say for sure if Jang Hyuk is the Frankenstein or the doctor that creates him. The whole thing just comes off as a little bizarre. For now, I'm tagging it yellow and I'll consider upgrading next week when I have digested more of the craziness and made sense of it.
Tag Line: A teacher changed her life. A student changed his life.
Thoughts: Doctors is perhaps one of the handful of dramas that fans have been looking forward to for months now. Park Shin Hye returns to the small screen as Yoo Hye Jung, a once troubled teen that turns her life around and becomes a doctor. Her dramatic transformation is largely due to the influence of her homeroom teacher. Hong Ji Hong (Kim Rae Won) was a once promising doctor but after a fatal slip-up in the operating room he has turned in his scalpel to teach. Young and handsome, he is a favorite among the girl's at the high school. When Yoo Hye Jung is kicked out of her home and sent to live with her grandmother, she finds herself sharing a space with Hong Ji Hong, who rents a room in the house. Their attraction is innocent and Hong Ji Hong treats her well and encourages her to turn her life around. But their friendship outside of the classroom becomes fodder for the rumor mill that is an all girl's high school. Feeling jilted by the handsome teacher, Jin Seo Woo (Lee Sung Kyung) makes a report that he is involved with Hye Jung romantically. What happens next? I don't know. But I did enjoy the first two episodes. There is a nice build up around Hye Jung's bad girl reputation and her fight scenes are no joke. Those high school girls throw punches like bad asses. Lee Sung Kyung's character is too similar to her Cheese in the Trap role so it is hard not to compare. But that is me nitpicking. Overall, I like this one and I see promise.
Tag Line: True Love: Conquers All. Never dies. Breaks curses.
Thoughts: Mirror of the Witch has certainly been a hot topic of debate among k-drama fans, who disapprove of the age difference between the leads. All that aside, this series has been a spooky drama full of witches, curses, and handsome heroes making it perfect for summer viewing. The story begins with the conception of twins using black magic to overcome the Queen's (Jang Hee Jin) infertility. But when the babies are born with a curse upon them, the wicked shamaness (Yum Jong Ah) informs the queen that one of the babies must die in order for one to live. The curse is transferred entirely to the Princess and she is put to death, or so it seems. Years later, a young woman by the name of Yeon Hui (Kim Sae Ron) is discovered to be living deep in the forest behind a wall of protective spells and talismans. Her fate becomes entangled with the life of Heo Joon (Yoon Shi Yoon), who suffers from a curse of his own. He is the illegitimate son of a nobleman and a slave. He happens upon her by chance and is immediately smitten with her innocence and beauty. But there are obstacles to overcome if both Heo Joon and Yeon Hui want to each defy the circumstances of their births and find a happily ever after. I understand why k-fans were all up in arms over the pairing of a 15 year old actress with a 29 year old actor but the "characters" are written to be similarly aged and the romance isn't physical. It's more akin to the romance found in a Jane Austen novel or a Disney film. It is intellectual, spiritual, and emotional - innocent. It is the true love counter-spell to the black magic curse. Needless to say, I am enjoying the series. It suffers a bit from a timing issue with most of the major characters traveling separate paths through the first handful of episodes. The audience has to trust that it will come together and it does.
Tag Line: Extreme Reality Television
Thoughts: The premise of Wanted isn't exactly new. I've seen a similar concept in the series Black Mirror and Liar Game. Like its predecessors, Wanted uses the format of reality television to force its participants to act in a way that fulfills the desires of the proverbial wizard-behind-the-curtain. Jung Hye Jin (Kim A Joong) is a famous actress with plans to retire so that she can be better mom to her son. But on the day she makes the announcement, her son is kidnapped and she is forced to do the bidding of the kidnapper if she wants her son returned safely. The kidnapper demands that she air a reality television program that captures her completing missions that s/he provides. She enlists the help of Shin Dong Wook (Uhm Tae Woong) and Choi Joon Goo (Lee Moon Shik) to help produce the show. And, Detective Cha Seung In (Ji Hyun Woo) gets involved when this case connects with another kidnapping he is investigating. Overall, the first two episodes are fast moving and build up nicely to the first mission. There's already a handful of suspicious characters, too. I'm a fan of Uhm Tae Woong and Ji Hyun Woo so this is a win for me regardless of the production's quality. Thankfully, that doesn't seem to be an issue. I like what I've seen so far and I'm curious about what is coming next.
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