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.

God's Gift - 14 Days

Summary: God's Gift - 14 Days is a 2014 k-drama produced for SBS starring Lee Bo Young and Cho Seung Woo. In this complicated tale of betrayal and murder, Kim Soo Hyun (Lee Bo Young) and Ki Dong Chan (Cho Seung Woo) are sent back 14 days prior to the death of her young daughter, Han Saet Byeol (Kim Yoo Bin), and the execution of his brother, Ki Dong Ho (Jung Eun Pyo). As the two race against the clock to uncover the truth and prevent these deaths, they discover that their fates are more closely connected than they could have ever imagined.

-1/2 heart for making me cry too much

Recommendation: This is a drama series that is on my "must watch" list for 2014. It's a nearly flawless production and the story is complicated without getting clumsy. God's Gift moves at a fairly quick pace starting with episode three and the audience quickly realizes that the characters are very different from how they are initially presented. It is interesting to watch how their masks get stripped away. Now, this isn't my favorite genre and I don't particularly like watching dramas that involve violence against children. But the script writer and director did a wonderful job of implying action without being graphic. The ending is apparently controversial among fans and I don't know if I necessarily love it. But I do think it was appropriate and fit with the theme of the series. It's not a bad thing to leave the audience with a few unanswered questions.