Series Alert: Fated to Love You

I wanted to throw this out there because I am super excited! According to the internet (and the internet is always right), a Korean re-make of the 2008 Taiwanese drama Fated to Love You is slated to air in July and it will be starring one of my favorite actors, Jang Hyuk (see: The Slave Hunters) . I'll have to keep my fingers crossed that the episodes become available in the States.

Last weekend, I started watching the Taiwanese version of this drama and I have to say that I am really impressed with it on all levels. Historically, I haven't invested much time in Taiwanese dramas because the production value isn't as high their Korean counterparts. From acting to sound issues, the few that I've tried to watch felt amateurish. But Fated to Love You had me hooked mid-way through the first episode. The script, acting, sets, etc... are all outstanding. In fact, the script is fairly clever in how people and topics are introduced into the plot and the timing of their importance. As soon as I make my way through the whole series, I'll post a review.

My sincere wish is that the 2014 re-make won't be too conservative in its approach to the topics of sex and unplanned pregnancy because I think the series will lose some of its charm if that happens. That being said, Jang Hyuk is the perfect choice for the role of the male lead. He will bring the right amount of levity and comedy to the role. Of course, he'll have some big shoes to fill as Ethan Juan played it perfectly the first time around.

July isn't that far away so this is something to look forward to!

Update: Choi Jin Hyuk (see: Emergency Couple) is currently slated to play the role of Daniel, which I assume is the equivalent role of Dylan from the Taiwanese version. If you are a Choi Jin Hyuk fan, I wouldn't get too excited, yet. There are three main arcs to Fated to Love You and this character doesn't have much to do until the last third of the series. So, there are likely to be several episodes in a row where he isn't seen much or at all.

The Slave Hunters (aka Chuno)

Summary: The Slave Hunters (aka Chuno) is a 2009 South Korean historical drama that follows the story of Lee Dae Gil (Jang Hyuk) and his band of trusty sidekicks (Hang Jung Soo & Kim Ji Sook) as they track down runaway slaves for reward money. When a politician hires the motley crew to track down a runaway general-turned-slave (Oh Ji Ho), they find themselves embroiled in a political conspiracy that might just cost them their lives. Lee Dae Gil's tragic background and the search for his first love (Lee Da Hae), a runaway slave from his household, adds additional twists and turns to the 24 episode historical melodrama.

-1 star for the weird assassin chick

Recommendation: I have watched several period dramas of late and The Slave Hunters, despite being several years old, is easily one of the best productions among them. This includes competition like: Iljimae: The Phantom Thief, Jung-Yi: Goddess of Fire, and Bridal Mask. From the cast, sets, costuming, script, and fight choreography, I found the series largely flawless and possessing a unique visual quality. It was so good that it earned a spot on my TOP TEN DRAMAS! list. There were some issues toward the end of the series with the music being overpowering in critical scenes and muffling the dialogue. But with subtitles that isn't much of an issue. I highly recommend this drama for fans of this genre and keep a box of tissue nearby because you will shed a few tears. I made the critical mistake of watching the last episode on a train... in public. It wasn't pretty.