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.

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.

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.

K-Dramafication

Last year, I stumbled upon the k-drama Fantasy Couple, a series adapted from the American film Overboard. I really enjoyed it and the plot remained fairly true to the original film. This got me thinking, "What other American films would I love to see adapted into a k-drama?"

Keeping with the trend of adapting late 80s Rom-Coms, I've narrowed down the list to three films that are worthy of k-dramafication.

#1 - Pretty in Pink

This is a film by John Hughes that originally starred Molly Ringwald, Jon Cryer, Andrew McCarthy, and James Spader. This movie is my all time personal favorite and I think it would transition well into the k-drama format. Let's explore:

• High school romance. Check.
• Girl from the wrong side of the tracks. Check.
• Best friend with a crush. Check.
• Boy from a wealthy family. Check.
• A budding fashion designer. Check.
• Rich vs. Poor school rivalry. Check.
• Dysfunctional family. Check.
• Music. Check.
• Betrayal. Check.
• Happy Ending. Check.
• A kiss. check.

I am at a loss for a possible female lead in this but I'd love to see Kim Woo Bin and Lee Jong Hyun from Gentleman's Dignity reunited.

#2 - Better off Dead

This classic 80s comedy stars John Cusack and it has the same quirky vibe that we saw in The Master's Sun - but without any ghosts. What makes it perfect for adaptation?

1. First, it would involve taking a normally handsome actor and making him look unattractive for the first quarter of the series. Then, he gets to have an amazing transformation into the new "hot" guy in town.
2. A lot of the action is focused on the male lead and his equally dorky close group of friends.
3. Popular vs. Not Popular
4. It isn't your typical love triangle.
5. The family unit is critical to the story and a great source of comedy.
6. It's a story about finding your inner confidence and realizing what is important.

I think the setting is flexible and an adaptation could just as easily be a college or office comedy. That being said, I'd like to see Park Ki Woong as the lead.

#3 - Can't Buy Me Love 

 

Before Patrick Dempsey became McSteamy, he starred in this comedy about a nerdy high school boy trying to fit in with the "cool" crowd.

There have been a lot of k-dramas in recent history that involve contract marriages and fake girlfriends so this one is a perfect candidate for k-dramafication. Our leading guy just wants to belong so when he sees an opportunity to help out the most popular girl in school, he jumps at the chance. In return for his help, she has to pretend to date him until he's accepted as part of the popular crowd. Naturally, just as he reaches the height of high school fame, he is exposed as a nerd in popular kid clothes.

I think that if there was to be an adaptation of this film into a Korean drama that Shim Chang Min is a great candidate to fill Patrick Dempsey's shoes. He looks young enough to pass as a high school student and he's got the acting skills.

Did I miss anything? Let me know.

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.

Miss Korea

Plot:  Miss Korea is a period production set during the IMF crisis in 1997. It follows the trials and tribulations of Oh Ji Young (Lee Yeon Hee) as she vies for the title (and tiara) of Miss Korea at the national beauty pageant. The story is made more complex with the introduction of an old flame (Lee Sun Kyun) that has his own agenda for persuading Oh Ji Young to pursue her dream of being crowned the winner of the pageant.

Good but slow.

Recommendation:  This series starts off strong but runs into some pacing issues after the first several episodes. Viewers with the patience to get through the less exciting episodes in the middle will be rewarded with a very satisfying conclusion at the end. This is a great dramatization of the pageant world and the lengths women will go to wear the crown. It won't make my top 10 list but I still recommend it for RomCom enthusiasts and fans of  Lee Sun Kyun, Lee Ki Woo, and Lee Yeon Hee.

Disturbing or cute?

Other Thoughts: I really wanted to like this one a lot. It had all the right ingredients for a great k-drama: wonderful casting, an interesting setting, and creative plot twists. But the show crept along so slowly that by the time the winner of the pageant was announced I was more interested in the romance between two of the supporting characters - Teacher Jung (Lee Sung Min) and Ko Hwa Jung (Song Seon Mi). I can't find any specific flaws with the acting or the story. It has more to do with the delivery.

My first introduction to Lee Yeon Hee, who played Oh Ji Young, was in the drama Paradise Ranch. I'll be honest and admit that I never finished watching that series because I found most of the characters inane and boring. It really wasn't a great display of her talent. Miss Korea, on the other hand, was a much better vehicle for her to show some range and I liked the sass that she brought to the character Oh Ji Young. The stylists also did a great job of making her look effortlessly gorgeous.

On a side note, Lee Ki Woo was once again cast as the guy that doesn't get the girl. He's got the acting chops to pull off a leading role and he is plenty good looking. So, why?! WHY?!! This is my earnest plea to Lee Ki Woo: Do not accept another role where your character is relegated to being the jerky a-hole that has no chance of winning the leading lady's heart!

I don't know why but I kept waiting for Kim Hyung Joon (Lee Sun Kyun) to stand outside Oh Ji Young's window with a boom box held up over his head ala Say Anything. Is it just me?