Love Rain

Plot: Love Rain is a 2012 melodrama that follows the path of an ill fated love in the 1970s. Seo In Ha (Jang Geun Suk) falls in love with Kim Yoon Hee (Yoona) in just three seconds but circumstances work against them and just as they confess their feelings they are forced to part ways. The show fast forwards to 2012 where we discover that the young lovers never reunited but fate has brought their children together. Seo Joon (also played by Jang Geun Suk) and Jung Ha Na (also played by Yoona) meet by chance in Japan and kick off an unexpected romance. Will history repeat itself or will this couple overcome their parents' troubled pasts?

-1/2 heart for the ugly trench coats

Recommendation: This is a solid k-drama that starts off slow but builds a lot of momentum with every episode. I definitely recommend it - especially for fans of Jang Geun Suk. I've seen Jang Geun Suk in four other dramas and I think that his portrayal of Seo In Ha is one of the strongest. But we only get to enjoy it for 4 episodes. Then, he slips right back into his most familiar role as Seo Joon - emotionally troubled and arrogant but still charming with an eye for the ladies. It's a an early glimpse of many future roles including what we see in the drama Pretty Man. Yoona holds up well as Jang Guen Suk's female counterpart and love interest. I didn't always feel she was emotionally invested in some of the more dramatic moments but she did bring her A game with the on-screen chemistry and the kissing scenes felt natural, not awkward.

Did Seo Joon raid his mother's closet for that jacket?

Other Thoughts: I've mentioned before that one of the things I love most about k-dramas is the fashion. When the stylists/costume designers get it right, they contribute to the overall feel of the drama in a big way and leave lasting positive impressions - just think about the sequined track suit in Secret Garden. But when they get it wrong? It's a massive train wreck. In Love Rain, there were more than a few massive train wrecks. Jang Geun Suk seems like a pretty fashion conscious guy. So, I am shocked that he agreed to the hot pink trench coat and in a later episode the high (higher than normal) heeled boots - all of which made him look like a drag queen in training. The trench coat trend continued throughout the series in a variety of patterns and colors and nearly all of them were as equally unflattering. He looks best in simple attire (white t-shirt & jeans) as seen in Beethoven's Virus or tailored suits (with tie) like we saw in Pretty Man.

I was also disappointed with the way that Seo In Guk was incorporated into the show when it transitioned to 2012. He played Kim Chang Mo in the 1970s, one of Seo In Ha's closest friends. But he's brought back in 2012 as Kim Chang Mo's nephew - whose name I have forgotten. This character doesn't make his first appearance until fairly late in the series and then it isn't quite clear why that character is even introduced. He doesn't serve a very clear purpose, the show doesn't invest much time in him, and there isn't anything that he says or does that couldn't have been disclosed by someone else. It seemed like a waste of Seo In Guk's talents.

On a more positive note, the music throughout the series was great and showed off the musical talents of much of the cast - particularly Jang Geun Suk and Seo In Guk. I heard a little Carpenters and some Simon and Garfunkel, too. Loved it.

Full House Take 2

3 out of 5 - Full House Lite!

Recommendation: This is a fun drama that offers up more laughs than tears. There's not much that connects it to the original Full House and, if viewed solely on its own merits, it is equivalent to a drama like Pretty Man. If you need something to fill the time between currently airing dramas - this is it.

Plot:  Full House Take 2 follows the trials and tribulations of  the internationally successful pop duo Take One. Lee Tae Ik (No Min Woo) is the tall, dark, and handsome leader known for his prickly personality. Won Kang Hwi (Park Ki Woong) is the latter half of the team and best described as bubbly. By fate or coincidence, both members of the group connect with Jang Man Ok (Hwang Jung Eum), who inadvertently brings great change and success to their lives. How does it relate to the original Full House? There is a house also named "Full House" that was built by Lee Tae Ik's father.

What did I think?

Not too shabby. It was a great way to escape the polar vortex.

I was reluctant to give this drama a go because I'm such a fan of the original. But, really, Full House Take 2 could have been named Full House Lite because the sequel had all the trademark comedy of the original but without the same level of heartache and drama. I distinctly remember balling my eyes out when Han Ji Eun begged Lee Young Jae for the break-up because it was so painful for her to be in love with him. There was never a moment in Full House Take 2 where I felt that emotionally engaged.

Blondes do have more fun!

The real gem of this production, though, was Park Ki Woong. He played the second half of the pop duo, Won Kang Hwi. First, I want to say that I loved the blonde locks. I'm usually not a fan of it on Korean men but he wore the look well and it suited his character. There was just something about him that exuded charm and he stole the scene every time he smiled. His character should have come off as vapid but I found him totally lovable.

Hwang Jung Eum, as Jang Man Ok, really wasn't pushed to her full potential. If you've seen Secret, you will understand what I'm saying. She's an amazing dramatic actress and this felt like a role that only required about 50% of her full range.

The only real detractor from the drama was the music. Take One only has one song that they perform over and over again in different costumes. They save all the other songs for the second to last episode.