Triangle

Title:	Triangle
Alternate Title(s):	N/A
Genre(s):	Melodrama, Crime
Episodes	26
Network:	MBC
Year Produced:	2014
Available to Watch On:	DramaFever, viki, dramafans.org

Summary: As children, the Jang brothers are separated after the tragic death of their father. Despite the eldest brother's efforts to care for and protect his siblings, they are torn apart and each set down a path that takes them in very different directions. Jang Dong Soo (Lee Beom Soo), the eldest, becomes a police detective while continuing to look for his missing brothers. Jang Dong Chul (Kim Jae Joong), the middle brother, finds himself homeless and begging on the streets, losing all his childhood memories in the process. He ultimately becomes a street thug. Jang Dong Woo (Im Siwan), the youngest brother, is adopted as a baby and raised by a wealthy CEO to be his heir. The three brothers cross paths as adults when they are drawn into the corporate and social politics surrounding the Dae Jung Casino and its relationship to the death of their father.

RATING:

♥♥♥½

"Look, Dong Woo, we need to have a talk ....."

Recommendation: Triangle is a thoughtfully produced k-drama with an excellent cast and clear path from start to finish. There isn't anything that can be called out as a major flaw in the series but it does lack that special something that might have bumped up its rating just a little higher. Kim Jae Joong shines in the role of Jang Dong Chul / Heo Young Dal and it feels like he found the sweet-spot with this character, having to be neither too good nor too bad. Likewise, Im Siwan is believable as the spoiled rich boy that has everything except his adopted father's love. There's not much to say about Lee Beom Soo - he's a pro and it shows in every role that he touches. It would have been nice for all three brothers to be together in more than just a few scenes but it rarely materializes. Onecould theorize it is a foreshadowing of things to come at the end. Overall, this is solid k-drama that is worth the investment of time. You won't regret it, particularly for fans of crime, melodrama, and Kim Jae Joong's abs.

You're All Surrounded

Title:	You're All Surrounded
Alternate Title(s):	N/A
Genre(s):	Crime, Mystery, Suspense, Romantic Comedy
Episodes	20
Network:	SBS
Year Produced:	2014
Available to Watch On:	DramaFever, viki, Netflix, dramafans.org

Summary: This hard to define police drama follows Kim Ji Young (Lee Seung Gi), whose mother was murdered when we was a child. Twelve years later, he has returned as Eun Dae Koo and become a police detective secretly trying to unroot Seo Pan Seok (Cha Seung Won) as the corrupt detective responsible for his mother's death.  When he joins the Gagnam Police force to get close to Seo Pan Seok, he is inadvertently reunited with Eo Soo Sun (Go Ara), a childhood acquaintance from his hometown that has also become a detective. He must tread carefully in he presence lest his real identity be exposed. This wild adventure is a little bit NYPD Blue, 21 Jump Street, and Police Academy.

4 = Pretty darn good

Recommendation: You're All Surrounded is a surprisingly good k-drama. It may have initially given the impression that it was more akin to Police Academy than a hardcore police drama but it strikes a nice balance somewhere in between the two.While the primary story surrounds Lee Seung Gi's character, the drama really felt like an ensemble piece that gave every actor an opportunity to tell his or her story and find a resolution. The pace is quick, every episode is exciting, and twenty episodes was the perfect number to wrap-up all the loose ends. There aren't many k-dramas that leave me wondering what the future holds for its characters but this one is an exception. A second season that explores their lives as veteran police detectives with a new set of challenges would make for an interesting tale.

Three Days

Title:	Three Days
Alternate Title(s):	3 Days
Network:	SBS
Year Produced:	2014

Summary: Three Days is a 2014 South Korean drama produced for SBS. This dark political thriller follows Secret Service Agent Han Tae Kyung (Park Yoo Chun) as he races against the clock to prevent the financial ruin of South Korea and the deaths of innocent civilians. The story begins with the mysterious death of his father and quickly escalates into an assassination attempt of the S. Korean president. But as Agent Han discovers, those events are just the tip of the iceberg. Now, he must unravel a decades old conspiracy in search of clues to prevent another tragedy. The series also stars well-known actors Park Ha Sun, Choi Won Young, and So E Hyun.

2.5 = I really wanted to like this one...

Recommendation: Here's the thing: I feel absolutely nothing about this k-drama. I don't love it and I don't hate it. It's just kind of... there. It was difficult to empathize with any of the characters' plights and I was indifferent to the outcome right up until the end of episode 13. Sure, there were some exciting action sequences and staring at Park Yoo Chun for 16 hours isn't a bad way to spend my free time. But I want to cry, laugh, and feel emotionally invested in the fates of the characters when I watch a movie, television show, play, etc... So, I'm sorry to report that this k-drama is a no-go for me. If you like political-conspiracy-action k-dramas, it might be worth your time.

Gap Dong

Summary: Gap Dong is a 20 episode k-drama, loosely based on real events, produced for TvN. The central plot of the story involves the investigation into the serial killer Gap Dong, who is known to have committed 9 murders in the early 90s. Ha Moo Yeom (Yoon Sang Hyun), a child at the time, watched as his father was accused of the crimes and ultimately driven to commit suicide. 20 years later, Ha Moo Yeom has become a police detective living in the shadow of Gap Dong. When a new murder occurs that bears all the trademark characteristics of a Gap Dong killing, Ha Moo Yeom is forced to reconcile with his troubled past while searching for clues that will identify the "real" Gap Dong.

Recommendation: I am going to start off by saying that I really enjoyed this k-drama as a whole. It is a little difficult to write about it without giving away key details that will ruin the series for those that have not seen it yet. That being said, I will recommend avoiding my "Other Thoughts" as it will definitely contain spoilers. Without giving away too many details, I found the story to be complete, the acting good, and the treatment of the "catch the serial killer" genre very clever. It doesn't try to hide the identity of the villain(s) but still manages to maintain its unpredictable factor. As always, Yoon Sang Hyun is AMAZING. He is clearly the leading man and does his job well. But he is fully supported by an ensemble with a high level of talent. If not for the poorly written female characters, this k-drama might have scored better.

My Love From Another Star

Plot: My Love From Another Star is a 2014 South Korean drama produced for SBS. The main character is Do Min Joon (Kim Soo Hyun), an alien that arrived on planet Earth 400 years ago. But, after staying behind to help a young window, he lost his chance to return to his home planet. It is now the year 2014 and he has an opportunity to return home in 3 months when a meteor shower passes by Earth. All he has to do is bide his time and wrap up his affairs quietly. His plans, though, are laid to waste when he crosses paths with actress Cheon Song Yi (Jun Ji Hyun), who bears a striking resemblance to the widow he met 400 years earlier. As the pair develop feelings for each other, Do Min Joon is forced to come to terms with the meaning of life and the importance of love.

-1/2 heart because I don't like giving away all my hearts

Recommendation: This is a must watch and will probably top my list for the "best of" 2014 k-dramas. It really is the total package for a drama fanatic. There is plenty of romance, suspense, plot twists, and a very good looking cast of characters. It pushes the "supernatural" k-drama trend in a great direction with a well developed plot that doesn't rely on special effects and gimmicks. The cast as a whole is strong without any weak links. I really loved the contrast between the level headed Do Min Joon and the fiery actress Choi Song Yi - they struck a perfect balance together. The ending is also well rounded and thoughtful. The writers took it in a direction that I didn't anticipate so that was a nice surprise.

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.

Let's Eat

Summary: Let's Eat is a 2014 South Korean drama about foodies, random assaults, first love, and broken hearts. The story's central character is Lee Soo Kyung (Lee Soo Kyung), a 30 something divorcee working as a secretary in a law firm owned by Attorney Kim (Shim Hyung Tak). After the mysterious death of her next door neighbor, she connects with the other tenants on her floor played by Yoon Doo Joon and Yoon So Hee. These four main characters develop complicated relationships with one another that explore the ups and downs of friendship and falling in love.

+1/2 a heart for a shirtless Shim Hyung Tak

Recommendation: I went back and forth on whether or not I liked this drama. It's a slower paced series that sometimes feels more like a character study than a RomCom. But, the fact is, I tuned in religiously for new episodes each week when I've let others fall behind (i.e. Golden Rainbow). Lee Soo Kyung delivers a solid performance, as always, and I fell in love Shim Hyung Tak. Yes, his performance was a little hammy, but there was something endearing about it. I'm going to give this one a thumbs up and encourage other k-drama fans to give it a chance. The characters grow on you.

Off to the gun show with a six pack...

Other Thoughts: First, I want to say that I am a fan of Lee Soo Kyung. This is the 4th drama that I've seen where she has a major role and she continues to impress me. Let's Eat follows right on the heels of I Summon You, Gold and I think it was a nice transition from the super sexy and manipulative jewelry designer to the divorced secretary. To her credit, I didn't find myself contemplating if she was still playing the same role in a different setting.

I feel obligated to point out that Shim Hyung Tak has a scene in episode 7 where he takes off his shirt in a dressing room. For lack of a more eloquent way to say it, I'll just comment that the dude is ripped! Which way to the beach, Shim Hyung Tak?

It's worth noting that he was simultaneously filming the series Can We Love? with Eugene and Uhm Tae Woong.

The food. I can't write about Let's Eat without mentioning the food. I'm really curious if the cast gained a lot of weight because in each episode there were easily 2-3 scenes where they did nothing but eat. I'm not a big fan of seafood but this show made everything (except the marinated crabs) look delicious.