Big Man

Title:	Big Man
Alternate Title(s):	N/A
Genre(s):	Crime & Mystery
Episodes	16
Network:	KBS2
Year Produced:	2014
Available to Watch On:	DramaFever, viki, Hulu, dramafans.org

Summary: Big Man is a South Korean drama directed by Ji Yeong Su. A tale of lies and betryal, this k-drama follows Kim Ji Hyeok (Kang Ji Hwan) as he is intentionally misled by the wealthy Kang family, owners of the Hyunsung conglomerate, to believe he is their missing son. The reason for their manipulation is that they botched the attempt to steal Kim Ji Hyeok's heart for their sick son, Kang Dong Seok (Daniel Choi). When the family's evil intentions are revealed, Kim Ji Hyeok must go head to head with Kang Dong Seok in a high stakes battle of corporate espionage and black market dealings where the winner takes it all.

RATING:
♥♥

Big Man = Big Disappointment

Recommendation: There's no denying that I'm a fan of Kang Ji Hwan. The more of his work that I see the more I like him. But... Big Man is a disappointment. As one of the series that I was most anticipating in 2014, I hate giving it the proverbial thumb down. Kang Ji Hwan and Daniel Choi are each power house actors in their own right. And, together, they should have been a big win for this k-drama. But the characters are unlikable and most of them have few to no redeeming qualities. Even Kim Ji Hyeok, our hero, is loud, obnoxious, and just plain over-the-top, making him hard to love. It's either bad acting, bad direction, or bad writing - take your pick because all of them are suspects. That's not to say there aren't "moments" in the series that are genuine and strike the right balance between entertainment and suspended reality. The overall experience, though, is like being in a bad relationship. You think it will get better if you stick around just a little bit longer. Here's my warning: It doesn't.

Golden Rainbow

Summary: Golden Rainbow is a 41-episode South Korean drama produced for the network MBC. It's a complicated story set in the backdrop of the fishing industry that follows a group of orphans adopted by Kim Han Joo (Kim Sang Joong), who was raised as an orphan himself. The show spans a period of 18 years and there are multiple plots intertwined with one another ranging from corporate fraud, star-crossed love, family dysfunction, and the slippery slope of power and wealth. It's a mixed bag of everything. Prominent stars in the series include Uee and Jung Il Woo.

+1/2 heart for the children

Recommendation: This is another series that has me feeling particularly conflicted and that makes it difficult to recommend it wholeheartedly. The show starts out really strong and I enjoyed the performances of all the children. In particular, I thought the young Baek Won (Kim You Jung) and the young Seo Do Young (Oh Jae Moo) were wonderful. The cast of veteran actors all had flawless performances and laid out a great foundation for the remainder of the series. Then.... it fast forwards 14 years and it all falls apart. The transition to the adult cast wasn't as smooth as I'd have liked and a lot of the drama became boring, repetitive, and exhausting. How many times did the audience have to watch Uee and Jung Il Woo cry and pine for one another? Too many to count. Then, after sticking with it for 41 episodes, it all wraps up with a terrible ending. It very well may rival Bride of the Century for the worst ending...ever.

Can We Love?

Summary: Can We Love? is a 2014 South Korean drama that follows the lives of three women as they approach their 40th birthdays. Yoon Jung Wan (Eugene) is a divorced mother of one looking to reignite her career as a script writer. Kim Sun Mi (Kim Yu Mi) is a successful interior designer that has sacrificed romance to build her career. And, Kwon Ji Hyun (Choi Jung Yoon) is the wife of a wealthy businessman with a dark secret in her past and a mother-in-law that abuses her because of her poor background. Their friendship is tested as each woman struggles with personal dilemmas and they come to terms with their changing lives.

Recommendation: This drama had a cast of superstars that, when put together, should have produced a great television experience. But the sum of its parts didn't add up to anything special. There are some shining moments but, overall, I didn't care for this drama. The treatment of the female characters, particularly their interactions with one another, left me feeling disappointed. The male cast makes this drama salvageable but only just barely. You should only consider watching this if you have absolutely nothing better to do.