Hong Gil Dong

Summary: Hong Gil Dong is a 2008 period drama written by the Hong sisters for the television network KBS. It explores the origins of the anti-hero Hong Gil Dong (Kang Ji Hwan), the righteous thief, as he attempts to rise above his birth status to change the world. The series also features Jang Geun Suk as Prince Chang Hee and Sung Yu Ri as Heo Yi Nok. This is an adaptation of the famous Korean novel The Tale of Hong Gil Dong.

-1/2 heart for JGS whispering ALL the time

Hong Gil Dong Disco Style

Recommendation: Watch it! This is a great production that showcases the breadth of Kang Ji Hawn's talents and the genius of the Hong sisters. It's a very stylized production that doesn't get boxed into the historical category but does manage to retain the essence of the period. Despite some serious moments, this k-drama is a lot of fun and I found myself laughing out loud more than once. The ending is, at first glance, tragic. But it was filmed so beautifully and so well executed that I was left in awe. This k-drama is not without flaws but they aren't large enough to impact the overall experience. Even if you don't like historical dramas, I think this one has something to offer everyone.

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.

Pretty Man

3 out of 5 - I coulda' been a contenda'.

Pretty Man is a drama that follows the journey of Dok Go Ma Te (Jang Geun Suk) as he works to solve the mystery of his birth and claim his place as the son of a wealthy businessman. Dok Go Ma Te is established as a gold digger at the beginning of the drama. He uses his good looks to attract wealthy women, who then foot the bill for his lifestyle. He has a trusted sidekick in the form of Kim Bo Tong (IU). She has been in love with him since high school. With the help of Hong Yoo Ra (Han Chae Young), Ma Te sets out to "conquer" powerful woman and learn their secrets to success in order to prepare for his eventual reunion with his father - ultimately growing as a person and casting off his playboy ways.

Rating: 3 out  5
Recommendation:  It's not perfect but it is entertaining even as it fails to deliver a satisfying end. It's worth a watch.

I believe that this was a good and interesting concept for a drama but the execution left a little something to be desired - especially toward the end when the conclusion felt rushed. The relationship between Ma Te and Bo Tong also never felt quite genuine and it needed to in order for the characters to evolve. I chalk it up to poor chemistry between the actors. Their kiss in the last scene was as exciting as my train ride to work. Want to know what I do on the train? I sleep.

But it wasn't all bad! Jang Geun Suk held his own as Ma Te and added some complexity to a character that could have easily been a caricature. He took the role just seriously enough to make it interesting without losing the fun. Lee Jang Woo also stood out as the quirky and troubled Choi David. This is the second drama that I've seen with Lee Jang Woo and I continue to be impressed with him. Altogether, the drama was solid up until the last 3-4 episodes.

Most importantly, I want to applaud a silent star of this drama for putting in a strong performance week after week........Wait for it........ Jang Geun Suk's hair!! I have put together a photo montage of the hair in action. There's long and wavy, short and wavy, combed back, combed forward, swept to the side, and tousled. This is the hardest working hair on television. Do you have a favorite?

Shown in order of appearance....