i wasn’t able to watch a lot of kdramas during this period because I was preoccupied and busy with work. plus my hard drive crashed so lost a huge files of dramas. but some of the dramas i watched during this period were:
Miss Korea
- Title: 미스코리아 / Miseu Koria
- Genre: Drama, romance, comedy, family
- Episodes: 20
- Broadcast network: MBC
- Broadcast period: 2013-Dec-18 to 2014-Feb-26
- Air time: Wednesday & Thursday 22:00
Synopsis A drama set in 1997, depicts a story of office men who try to make Oh Ji Young Miss Korea, in order to save their cosmetic company from bankruptcy. Oh Ji Young is elevator girl who was the most popular girl back in high school also the best looking girl in the neighborhood.
Main Cast: Lee Yun Hee, Lee Sun Kyun, Lee Ki Woo, Lee Mi Sook, Go Sung Hee, Song Sun Mi, Lee Sung Min
Short review: Most of the time the episodes are sad but i loved the whole culture about beauty pageants! first time to watch Lee Yeon Hee- wow she’s so tall and pretty! Lee Sun Kyun is still Mr Chep to me (lol) and why does Lee Ki Woo always play the second lead that’s semi-nice and semi-ass? the guy from Misaeng (who is the gangster) – i hate him for being so bad to Sunhyun but i could understand where he’s coming from. if he didn’t get his money he gets beaten up by his boss. i didn’t really like his relationship with the short haired girl, coz it’s too brutal and i was distracted by her face. Lee Mi Sook is so beautiful! overall i liked everyone even the villains (except for Lee Ki Woo) because they were able to show their backgrounds and why they act that way so you can’t really hate them and instead hope each got their own happy ending.
Birth of A Beauty
- Title: 미녀의 탄생 / Minyeoui Tansaeng
- Genre: Romance, comedy
- Episodes: 21
- Broadcast network: SBS
- Broadcast period: 2014-Nov-01 to 2015-Jan-11
- Air time: Saturday & Sunday 21:55
Synopsis A romantic comedy about the revenge, love, and success of beautiful woman with the personality of an ajumma. It will tell the story of a woman who is transformed after plastic surgery and diets, and the man, who made her that way. Han Tae Hee is the heir of a large company. He is suffering from a broken heart syndrome due to a psychological shock. To get the woman he loves back, he completely changes an unattractive and overweight ajumma Sa Geum Ran to beautiful Sa Ra. In the process, Han Tae Hee falls in love with Sa Ra.
Main Cast: Joo Sang Wook, Han Ye Seul, Jung Gyu Woon, Wang Ji Hye
Short review: I loved Han Ye Seul in her old drama with Oh Ji Ho (Fantasy Couple). It’s nice to see her onscreen again. Most of the time she’s crazy coz she is half nice half vengeful – i really wanted her to get her revenge but sometimes get annoyed at her trying to be sweet attitude. the guy is handsome like a more manlier version of Song Seung Hun – i love his character – so sweet and supportive and resourceful. but at the end of the day, did he really love her as her or because she’s pretty? i guess we will never know. the point is he never left her and proved to her he loves her. i first watched Jung Gyu Won in Dr. Champ opposite Kim So Yeon – it also one of those nice feel good romances. Unfortunately i watched Birth of a Beauty right after Oh My Venus so now everytime i see Jung Gyu Woo i want to smash his smug face (lol i’m sorry). but seriously he must be good if he is able to portray really awful characters (though most of the time the writers dont give enough storyline to elicit empathy for his stupid actions). so he married a fat ugly but super nice lady to get her money then dumped her a “pretty” but evil girl. that’s what you call karma. they really deserved each other! Wang Ji Hye is pretty when she smiles but looks so bitchy in most of the dramas i’ve watched her.
Cinderella and the Four Knights
- Title: 신데렐라와 네 명의 기사 / Sinderellawa Ne Myeongui Gisa
- Genre: Romance, comedy
- Episodes: 16
- Broadcast network: tvN
- Broadcast period: 2016-Aug-12 to 2016-Oct-01
- Air time: Friday & Saturday 23:00
Synopsis The story about Eun Ha Won, a bright but lonely girl abused by her stepmother and stepsister who, in order to pursue her dream, left home and ends up living in a big mansion together with three Kang cousins and their bodyguard.
Main Cast: Jung Il Woo, Ahn Jae Hyun, Park So Dam, Lee Jung Shin, Choi Min, Son Na EunShort review: What a waste of talent! it started really well until Eun Ha Won moved to the house and the story got stuck. Park So Dam was hella cute and Jung Il Woo is still as cute and hot kisser as he was in Flower Boy Ramyun Shop – thought i wish he starts picking meatier roles because he is being left out by Kim Soohyun, Lee Jongsuk, even Song Joongki and Park Bo gum! Kang Hyun Min started as a fun character when he was all arrogant but then got depressed and angsty in the middle to the last part – and we dont really understand why he is so cold to Hyeji. On the other hand, Hyeji is such an awful person! i dont know if it’s because Naeun is a terrible actress or there really wasn’t much she could do with the awful script they gave her. she kept pushing herself to Hyunmin and kept using Jiwoon and hurting Hawon in the process. The show also felt pretty similar to Park Shinhye’s old drama with Jang Geun Suk (back when he was still hot and manly) called “You’re beautiful”, where all the guys in the band had a crush on the lead. Kinda like Lee Jung shin as the shy singer vs Lee Hongki’s character except You’re beautiful was a better drama.
Doctors
- Title: 닥터스 / Dakteoseu
- Also known as: Doctor Crush
- Genre: Romance, comedy, drama, medical
- Episodes: 20
- Broadcast network: SBS
- Broadcast period: 2016-Jun-20 to 2016-Aug-23
- Air time: Monday & Tuesday 22:00
Synopsis Yoo Hye Jung was a tough bully in school with a prickly personality and always goes wayward. She had many scars from her childhood and through self-preservation, Hye Jung keeps her heart shut away from other people. However, she changes after meeting her mentor Hong Ji Hong who plays a key role in transforming her life from a helpless gangster to a compassionate doctor.
Main Cast: Kim Rae Won, Park Shin Hye, Yoon Kyun Sang, Lee Sung KyungShort review: While Park Shin Hye has never been one of those amazing actress, i love watching her (except for her juvenile roles). I chose this one since it’s a big step for her to choose a more mature character (she’s not in high school and she’s a doctor!) and she is paired with Kim Raewon (woohoo.. one of the old time korean drama stars that i liked aside from Ji sung and Jang Hyuk). i was skeptical on their pairing because he is obviously older than her but somehow they made it work (well, barely since it still felt a little like brother-sister to me sometimes as the guy was more affectionate than the girl). i was ready to hate Yun Kyunsang’s character but ended up liking him for being nice and pure (and with a sweet smile). Gahh hated Lee Sungkyung’s character here because she kept blaming other people for her own problems, but i’m glad she became a better person in the end. There wasn’t much “doctor thing” happening in this show, just some old revenge plot which didn’t really go down well.
Let’s Fight Ghost
- Title: 싸우자 귀신아 / Ssauja Gwisina
- Also known as: Bring It On, Ghost
- Genre: Fantasy, comedy, romance
- Episodes: 16
- Broadcast network: tvN
- Broadcast period: 2016-Jul-11 to 2016-Aug-30
- Air time: Monday & Tuesday 23:00
Synopsis: Hyun Ji is a wandering ghost who died when she was 19-year-old. One day she meets an exorcist named Bong Pal. They team up to listen and solve the problems of various ghosts so that they can rest peacefully.
Main Cast: Ok Taecyeon, Kim So Hyun, Kwon Yool
Short review: Somehow i feel like the plot was done before (i just can’t remember which show or film – spoiler – that she wasn’t dead, just in a coma), but this show was still (juvenile) fun to watch (well, sometimes a little scary and dark). i’m not a fan of Taecyeon (ever since he fought with Jay Park after the 2pm scandal) and he is a bad actor but i watched the show because i thought it looked scary and cute (with the loveable and pretty Kim So Hyun). There were some episodes that were scary and I loved the whole mystery about who So Hyun’s character was and why she’s a ghost. Taecyeon wasnt that bad here though he still needs more practice when the scene is a drama. the two ghostbusters were annoying (well mostly the leader is annoying, but the other guy was so cute, esp his crush on So Hyun). I feel bad for the Uncle because he seems to only have one pair of clothes (lol and always dirty) and he seems to have lost his touch, but I like that he doted on Taecyeon like his own son. Kwon Yool looked so angelic but gahhh when he stares, it’s really so evil.
Ghost Seeing Detective Cheoyong Season 1
- Title: 귀신보는 형사, 처용 / Gwishinboneun Hyungsa, Cheo Yong
- Also known as: Ghost-Seeing Detective Cheo Yong / Detective Cheo Yong Who Sees Ghosts
- Genre: Horror, mystery, crime, thriller, action
- Broadcast network: OCN
- Episodes: 10
- Broadcast period: 2014-Feb-09 to 2014-Apr-06
- Air time: Sunday 23:00
Synopsis Yoon Cheo Yong is a detective who can see and hear ghosts from the day he was born. He solves mysteries and cases along with tough female detective Ha Sun Woo and a high school student ghost Han Na Young.
Main Cast: Oh Ji Ho, Oh Ji Eun, Jun Hyo Sung
Short review: Oh Ji Ho is always fun to watch! the show didn’t really explain how he got his special ability and i thought while he is a loner, he could have told his partner what was happening early on (like why she keeps getting black outs and her friend ghost). The story about the villain/evil spirit was really scary – i didnt watch the second season yet – so not sure if there’s a continuation or this is a whole new story with new characters. Oh and I love Hyosung! she’s so cute (though sometimes annoying whenever she just go and take over the detective’s body.
Other series I started but did not finish:
Angry Mom – i started watching the first 2 episodes but stopped since i thought it was too dark. and while i’m not a mother and i know how fierce a mother’s love can be, i just thought the acting of Kim Hee Sun was too much and too over the top. she so does not look like a high schooler! not sure if i’ll continue watching this.
Twenty Again – i didn’t finish this drama because it was boring and i’m sorry but everytime i look at Choi Ji Woo’s face, she always looks so pitiful and her character was as pitiful as her face. i also didn’t like the lead guy, thought he was too arrogant when Choi Ji Woo’s character was so nice to him.
There! i think i’m almost up to date. i also started watching Discovery of Romance but stopped at 3 episodes, it’s a nice show but i started watching Laurel Tree Tailors and got hooked (at 54 episodes! lol!) i’m on episode 20 so i may try writing my thoughts starting episode 20 until the end.
KDrama Dreaming 