TV Drama Review #310 - Queen of Reversals 逆转女王

No.of Eps: 31
Year/TV Stn: 2010/MBC
Cast:
Kim Nam Joo ~ Hwang Tae Hee
Jung Joon Ho ~ Bong Jun Soo
Chae Jung Ahn ~ Baek Yeo Jin
Park Shi Hoo ~ Goo Yong Shik
Ha Yoo Mi ~ Han Song Yi
Synopsis: (from Dramawiki)
Hwang Tae Hee is the daughter of a chaebol and team leader at her workplace. She married Bong Joon Soo, who works at the same company. When Bong Joon Soo's ex-girlfriend, Baek Yeo Jin, who happens to be Hwang Tae Hee's rival as well, begins to work in her team, troubles start to surface. Tae Hee has to juggle her challenges in love with those in work, helping shape her boss and department director, Goo Yong Shik, from an insensitive and uninterested second generation chaebol to a true leader. Tae Hee's seeming success in love, however, presents her with another problem as she begins to realize that marriage involves just as many obstacles to overcome.
Slacker's review:
I was nt too impressed with Kim Nam Joo's previous drama "Queen of Housewives", but I'm glad I stayed through out for this drama. Perhaps the biggest reason is nt for KNJ but for Park Shi Hoo. Hahaha!  I gave up watching this drama when it aired in Korea last yr, but picked up again when it was aired via SCV. I know this drama deserves a chance...lolz! Plot was standard - a married woman divorced her husband; tried to get her work back and her boss happened to like her; things got worse when her ex-boss tried to sabotage her and her husband trying to get back with her. There might be many cliche storyline, but Kim Nam Joo did not disappoint us. She made Tae Hee a woman whom we cld have seen in real life.
Honestly, both Jung Joon Ho & Park Shi Hoo are male leads here. In fact, PSH stole the show. Why? Coz' Yong Shik's romance with Tae Hee is the biggest highlight in the drama! (I know PSH wld nt be the 2nd fiddle given his status in K dramaland now).
JJH's performance was not bad, but not outstanding. Maybe Jun Soo was nt a strong character, and he seemed to be controlled by women ard him. Finally he proved us wrong as he made impt decisions and protect the people he treasured. Romance plot with Chae Jung Ahn was more down to earth, maybe it's because they are not "new" lovers...
Mr Park is such an eye candy here! Pardon me for being bias. Yong Shik might be rich, but he did not enjoy any family warmth, and people tried to get rid of him. It's not easy for him to get Tae Hee's love as well. There are too many obstacles b/w them, but he did not give up. I really liked his devotion. Hehe!
Chae Jung Ahn is not an actress well known for acting, but her performance here cld be one of her best. No stiff acting, no more flower vase. Yeo Jin is quite an independent and strong-willed woman. I liked her bickering scenes with Tae Hee. Their "friendship" is indeed very different from norm.

TV Drama Review #282- The Birth of the Rich 富翁的诞生

No.of Eps: 20
Yr/TV Stn: 2010/KBS
Cast:
Ji Hyun Woo ~ Choi Suk Bong
Lee Bo Young ~ Lee Shin Mi
Lee Si Young ~ Boo Tae Hee
Nam Goong Min ~ Choo Woon Suk
Synopsis: (edited from Dramawiki)
The drama follows the story of a man, Choi Suk Bong, who believes that he is actually the son of a rich father and heir to a chaebol group. He meets Lee Shin Mi, who is actually a chaebol heir but acts nothing like one, with her scrimping and frugal ways. Although they get off to a rocky start, with her help, he struggles towards his goal of attaining wealth.
Slacker's review:
This is an interesting drama - in its own way. I thought I wld say goodbye to it after a few eps as the plot did nt seem interesting to me. However, I began to look forward to every ep as I like to see Suk Bong & Shin Mi. The plot was kinda unrealistic sometimes, but it managed to catch your attention somehow. Overall, I enjoyed this drama and even the supporting cast was great with their own storyline.
I guessed this is my first time watching Ji Hyun Woo, and he got this unique charisma which I did not find in other actors. He's not handsome, but tall and boyish. He's very talented as well, and u got to see him sing and strum his guitar quite often in the drama. He might tend to overact sometimes, but overall he's quite natural and expressive in his acting. Very nice chemistry with Lee Bo Young, and his scenes with Lee Si Young were funny too. I became a Bong-Mi shipper while watching the drama.
Lee Bo Young returned with a role which was very different from the norm. A rich lady who's so giam...haha! She's probably the only oddball I've ever seen in Kdrama. LBY looked younger and cheerful with her short hair, and she did not seem to look too old when she's with JHW (yeah the guy is younger ne~).
As much as I like LBY, it's Lee Si Young who stole the show. Tae Hee is the most super exaggerating fella I've ever seen! She's really hysterical, annoying, kinda bitchy etc....but deep down she's actually nt a bad girl la. I've never liked LSY's previous role, but her acting was really good here. Tae Hee is nt an easy role to act, and you've to be natural while being exaggerating. Expressions, behaviour, actions, blah blah...everything was exaggerated. Not easy at all. So, good job LSY! You deserved the best newcomer award!
The most woody award gotta go to Mr Nam. I did not like his acting, neither do I like his character. Woon Suk was a down right pathetic fella!
The support cast like Shin Mi's secretary, the curly hair father and son, Shin Mi's butler and Tae Hee's secretary made this drama light-hearted and they got endless of hilarious moments.
I'm glad that I give this drama a chance. No regrets!

TV Drama Review #277 - Secret Garden 秘密花园

No.of Eps: 20
Yr/TV Stn: 2010/SBS
Cast:
Hyun Bin ~ Kim Joo Won
Ha Ji Won ~ Gil Ra Im
Yoon Sang Hyun ~ Choi Woo Young (Oska)
Kim Sa Rang ~ Yoon Seul
Lee Philip ~ Im Jong Soo
Lee Jong Suk ~ Han Tae Ssun
Synopsis: (edited from Dramawiki)
Kim Joo Won, an arrogant and eccentric CEO maintains an image of seeming perfection, while Gil Ra Im is a poor and humble stuntwoman whose beauty and body are the object of envy amongst top actresses. They accidentally meet when Joo Won mistakes Ra Im for actress Park Chae Rin, and this marks the beginning of a tense, bickering relationship as Joo Won tries to hide a growing attraction to Ra Im that both confuses and disturbs him. To complicate matters further, a strange sequence of events results in them swapping bodies.
Slacker's review:
Secret Garden is probably the best drama I've ever seen last year. The storyline was interesting (though development was somehow predictable), and the characters' developments gripped me. I simply loved Ra Im & Joo Won's story. Oska & Seul's story was rather plain in comparison, but I liked the funny r/s b/w Oska & Joo Won. Ending was probably the lousiest episode to me. Yeah it's a happy ending, butta somehow that episode was "too happy". I wished it ended it a more sophisticated manner.
Nice to see Ha Ji Won again, and her performance was terrific. Ra Im was so handsome! Haha! I loved her coolness, and she's kinda sassy at times. On the other hand, she had her sorrow moments - her dad's death, how Joo Won's mum tried to separate them for n times etc. I enjoyed how she gotta behaved like a guy when their souls swop, and speaking of this, I have to say Hyun Bin totally steal the show!
Man! Hyun Bin was a lot thinner than I last saw him on screen. However, this guy was getting so hot la! Hahaha! I loved Joo Won's intense stares, and his naughty moves made Ra Im's heart beat like crazy. (Oh..the sit ups scene was so hot!!!) Haha! There were too many memorable moments b/w this couple. What made me think that HB owned this show was how he behaved like a woman. Damn...he was so niang la! I laughed like mad when Ra Im (in Joo Won's body) saw Oska. Simply hilarious! Oh ya...do rmb to watch the guys' kissing scene. Lolz!!
I think Yoon Sang Hyun's last drama did not do him justice. That character was not suitable for him. However, Oska was perfect! Mr Yoon was so suitable for such comedic roles. Ok la...Oska got his serious moments, and that's his r/s with Seul. But sad to say, his scenes with Seul was probably the most boring segment in the drama. There's another bromance scene b/w Oska & Tae Ssun. This was so much interesting! Lolz~
Kim Sa Rang & Lee Philip's performance was alright. The lady performed better than the guy. Sorry to say, Philip's acting was kinda stiff to me. Quite boring ne. As for Seul, she's quite irritating initially, but she's not those typical rich & evil woman.
OST was nice! My fav song is probably Hyun Bin's version of "That Man". Baek Ji Young's female version was equally nice. Oska also had a few songs, but sound ordinary to me.
Last but not least, there were quite a few cameos from Song Yun Ah, Lee Joon Hyuk, Baek Ji Young, Han Ye Won & Son Ye Jin. (Son Ye Jin was so pretty!!!)

TV Drama Review #275 - Mary Stayed Out All Night 玛丽外宿中

No.of Eps: 16
Yr/TV Stn: 2010/KBS
Cast:
Moon Geun Young ~ Wi Mae Ri
Jang Geun Suk ~ Kang Moo Kyul
Kim Jae Wook ~ Byun Jung In
Kim Hyo Jin ~ Seo Joon
Synopsis: (edited from Dramawiki)
Wi Mae Ri is a cheerful, pragmatic daughter of a failed businessman who got used to being constantly on the move to escape from debtors. She becomes fast friends with the free-spirited indie singer Kang Moo Kyul when she nearly ran him over in a car. Meanwhile, her father Wi Dae Han is saved from his debtors by his old friend, Jung Suk, who had just returned from considerable success in the Japanese entertainment industry. Jung Suk, who had harboured a secret love for Mae Ri's mother, sets up a deal with Dae Han to have Mae Ri marry his son, Jung In. In her desperate to escape this predicament, Mae Ri begs Moo Kyul to pose as her husband, and finds herself in even more trouble than before when her father proposes a 100-day period in which she has to divide her time equally between Moo Kyul and Jung In, after which she has to decide who to marry.
Slacker's review:
I did not have high expectations of this drama, because the plot did not seem to be interesting. I watched for JGS & MGY. Their acting was great, but they cld not save the drama from poor ratings & criticisms. I thought it wld be a rom-com, but it seemed more like a melodrama. Too much tears from Mae Ri, too many misunderstandings b/w the couple, contract marriages...The storyline seemed to be going round & round towards the end. In the end, what turned out to be interesting was the r/s b/w Moo Kyul & Jung In. Lolz~ Bromance rules!
Nice to see MGY returns with a younger & cheerful image. "Cinderella Sister" was too stressful for me. Haha! MGY did pretty well in the drama, but I did not feel much for Mae Ri. The character was too predictable & normal. Chemistry with JGS was good, but I thought her chemistry with KJW was much better....maybe Mr Kim was more matured than Mr Jang. Ha!
Jang Geun Suk returned with another singer role, but Moo Kyul was not the ordinary idol singer. I liked how they styled Moo Kyul and he was really cool. However, the cliche plot destroyed the drama...
I was rather impressed with Kim Jae Wook's performance. His eyes expressions were really "seductive" and I liked to see how Jung In fell for Mae Ri slowly. I think many people wld want Mae Ri to end up with Jung In instead, coz' sometimes Moo Kyul is simply a jerk. Lolz~~
Have nt seen Kim Hyo Jin for ages. I did not give Seo Joon much attention, but I thought KHJ's performance was not too bad either. I still think it's a waste of talent to ask KHJ act in this idol-ish drama. She shld be leading a drama with a more sophisticated character.
OST was alright. Do check out the songs sang by Jang Geun Suk.

TV Drama Review #274 - Dae Mul 大物

No.of Eps: 24
Yr/TV Stn: 2010/SBS
Cast:
Go Hyun Jung ~ Seo Hye Rim
Kwon Sang Woo ~ Ha Do Ya
Cha In Pyo ~ Kang Tae San
Lee Soo Kyung ~ Jang Se Jin
Synopsis: (edited from Dramatomy.com)
While protesting for her husband’s undeserved death after a political mismanagement, ex-anchorwoman Seo Hye Rim enters politics by proposal of Kang Tae San, who is a member of the ruling party and a strong candidate for the next presidential elections. With the help of Ha Do Ya, whom he had known since her childhood days, Hye Rim eyes the position of President as well & Kang Tae San, who has no thoughts of yielding to Seo Hye Rim, become rivals and clash against each other.
Slacker's review:
Rom-com lovers wld probably find Dae Mul a boring show. You need some determination to finish political dramas. Generally, the drama was about how Seo Hye Rim left her job as an anchorwoman, found herself in dirty politics, and then made her way to president of Korea. So, she became Kang Tae San's rival, and the story went on with how Kang tried to pull her down. On the other hand, the dirty politics part was played out by the guys. Romance was rather kept on surface, emotions not deep enough and I did not feel much for our main couple. Well, this is not a rom-com, so my expectations for romance was low. Chemistry b/w GHJ & KSW was not too bad, but far from sizzling.
GHJ won her 2nd Daesang last yr with her role in Dae Mul last Dec. She's a veteran and no doubt her acting was good, but I thought Seo Hye Rim was not her best role. From a normal widow to a country's President, Hye Rim went through a lot of hurdles and hardship, but somehow something's still lacking...
Nice to see Mr Kwon again. He must be happy to win his excellence award as well, but I thought Cha In Pyo deserved that award more. Do Ya was the main guy, but I thought Tae San was the more impt guy in the drama. Sorry to say, Do Ya was more like a support role beside Hye Rim. KSW's acting was much more matured and convincing, as compared to his last drama "Cinderella Man", but it's a pity that Do Ya's role was not given too much of development, except for his dad's demise.
It has been ages since I last watched Mr Cha's drama. Man, this guy still looked hot after all these years, and he got a good role. Kang Tae San was the typical politician u see on TV. He wld use every means to get rid of his opponents and attain his goals. Ending for Mr Kang was...quite crappy to me as he realised his mistakes and became a gd guy. I was like...WTH? I am fine with happy ending, but everybody turning good at the last epi was just a lousy ending.
Lee Soo Kyung was under utilised here. I think she shld nt accept this role, coz' there's really nothing much for her beside the storylines related to her dad and Kang Tae San. It's good that Se Jin was not an evil role, but she cld hardly leave me with any impression. Quite a forgettable character.
Overall, I am never a big fan of political dramas, as they always focused on parties' rivalries & somehow simplified issues. If you want a good mix of rom-com & politics, check out Kim Sun Ah's Cityhall.

TV Drama Review #269 - The Fugitive: Plan B 逃亡者

No.of Eps: 20
Yr/TV Stn: 2010/KBS
Cast:
Bi ~ Ji Woo
Lee Na Young ~ Jin Yi
Lee Jung Jin ~ Do Soo
Yoon Jin Seo ~ Yoon So Ran
Daniel Henney ~ Kai
Synopsis: (edited from Wikipedia)
In Korea, one is not allowed to work on a secret investigation or be a private detective. This is why Ji-woo’s official job title is “P.I.A (Private Investigation Administrator)”. Many years ago, Ji-woo handled a case of Asian couple who died at a casino in Las Vegas. As a result, Ji-woo received astronomical amount of money as the reward and also became one of the top detectives. Ji-woo didn’t know this incident would rebound upon him at that time. He loses his best friend Gyu-dong and meets a lady named Jin-yi. Jin-yi requests Ji-woo to find a person calls Melchidec. Jin-yi believes that Melchidec is the one who killed her foster parents and she will also get killed by him. She thinks Ji-woo drew the conclusion that her adoptive parents committed suicide, even though he knows all these facts. As Ji-woo and Jin-yi come closer to getting the full story of the case, they notice that they have fallen in love with each other.
Slacker's review:
This drama turned out to be quite a comedy initially. We got a cheeky detective who went gaga over ladies, but reacted quickly when he's on mission. The drama got more serious as we went deeper into the plot, and things get more interesting as twists & turns unfolded. Overall, the drama was not boring & it's not a typical detective drama. There's a good mix of action, romance & comedy.
I am not sure if this is Rain's best performance in his acting career, but it's definitely something new from him. Ji Woo is not a simple guy. He might looked very playful on the outside, but deep down you just cld not figure what he is up to. Rain might have overacted when he did his cheeky scenes, but he was quite good in his action scenes. Chemistry with Lee Na Young was not too bad, though I thought there's not much sparks b/w them. Ji Woo's scenes with Do Soo were quite interesting too. They were police & thief r/s initially, but later they became partners later on. Ji Woo & Kai's scenes were more straightforward - they were not friendly towards each other because of Jin Yi.
Lee Na Young hardly appears on the small screen, and her performance was okay. I thought Jin Yi was a rather cold person who controlled her emotions quite well. Thus, LNY was not too expressive. Jin Yi is not a typical Korean drama female lead character. She was independent and at the same time, constantly living in fear. I thought it was a pity that Jin Yi and Kai were nt meant to be together, as Kai really loved her & willing to sacrifice himself (though he appeared to betray Jin Yi).
Nice comeback from Lee Jung Jin. Did not like & focus on Do Soo. Do Soo is the typical Korean detective who screamed his lungs out, and fought bravely with the baddies. The only part I liked was his romance with So Ran. But, the scriptwriter did not give the couple a good ending, and I thought they shld end up together!!! Damn sad ok...
Daniel is finally back with a meaty role. We still get to see him speaking in English most of the time, and I wondered why they did not make him speak Korean throughout the show. It's not like he can't speak the language. I cld only say Kai is a sad fella. He was just a pawn but he definitely did not resign to his fate. I think he's the only person who valued love as the most impt thing...more than his own life.
Btw, there are many Asian stars who cameo-ed in this drama. Check'em out!
Theme song "Running & running" from MBLAQ. Cld not rmb other songs from the OST though....

TV Drama Review #267 - Dr.Champ 冠军医生

No.of Epis: 16
Year/TV Stn: 2010/SBS
Cast:
Kim So Yeon ~ Kim Yeon Woo
Uhm Tae Woong ~ Lee Do Wook
Jung Gyu Woon ~ Park Ji Heon
Cha Ye Ryun ~ Kang Hee Young
Synopsis: (edited from Dramawiki)
Kim Yeon Woo is an orthopedic doctor who takes up a new post at Taereung National Village, the training center for national Olympic athletes, after she is fired from her previous job. She becomes romantically involved with Park Ji Heon, a young judo athlete, and Lee Do Wook, the short-tempered, crippled director of the facility who is still haunted by the injury that had cut short his speed-skating career. This is further complicated by the presence of the swimming coach, Hee Young, who becomes her rival for the attentions of Do Wook. Oh! I loved the last 2 episodes!!! Simply sweet for Woo-Heon couple!!
Slacker's review:
I did not have high expectations of Dr.Champ, as sports theme is generally not so interesting. However, I got addicted to it! Maybe it's because I am too eager to watch Ji Heon and Yeon Woo. Haha! There is a good mixture of sports and romance storyline. The other side plot is between Ji Heon and Sang Bong, who are best friends and rivals at the same time. Do Wook and Hee Young's storyline is kinda boring to me. I thought it may be more interesting if Do Wook showed more interest for Yeon Woo. Ha!
Nice to see Kim So Yeon again. Her character & image in Dr. Champ were very different from her previous drama "Prosecutor Princess". I think Yeon Woo suited her more. Anyway, the actress performed well and I liked her sizzling chemistry with Jung Gyu Woon!! Just cld nt get enough of time. Scenes with Uhm Tae Woong were great as well, and I liked how Yeon Woo decided to stick to her belief and worked against Do Wook. At least the young doctor did not lose her mind and commit a big mistake. I think Do Wook also learnt from her as well.
Jung Gyu Woon has this big boy image, and so is his character. One might find Ji Heon childish and kinda irritating at times, but I liked how he persisted with his beliefs and worked hard for Yeon Woo's love. You just can't dislike this big boy. Jung's acting got better after Sang Bong was injured. Basically, it was too painful for Ji Heon to continue his Judo career, as he cld not forgive himself. Jung controlled his emotional scenes well, and somehow u cld feel the big boy grew up. Luckily, he got back his fighting spirit and did not disappoint us!
Uhm Tae Woong's character was rather fresh to me. A crippled ex-athlete who got back on his feet and found a new direction in life. One might pity Do Wook as his love for Hee Young has never changed all this time. I liked Uhm's acting, and Do Wook was a far more complex person...if you want to compare with ppl like Ji Heon. Hahaha!
Cha Ye Ryun is perhaps the weakest link in the drama. Her acting was quite emotionless and her expressions were stiff too. I had seen 2 of her older dramas and she cld do way better than this.
Some nice tracks from the OST include "Perfect Your Love" by M to M, "Fall in love with you" by Bobby Kim and "My All" by Bae Da Hae.

TV Drama Review #264 - Mischievous Kiss 恶作剧之吻

No.of Epis: 16
Year/TV Stn: 2010/MBC
Cast:
Kim Hyun Joong ~ Baek Seung Jo
Jung So Min ~ Oh Ha Ni
Lee Tae Sung ~ Bong Joon Gu
Lee Si Young ~ Yoon He Ra
Synopsis: (from dramawiki)
Based on the popular manga, Oh Ha Ni is a clumsy student who falls for the perfectionist, Baek Seung Jo. However, Seung Jo is indifferent towards her and rejects her love. When Ha Ni's house collapses, she and her father moves into his long-time friend's house. It turns out that Seung Jo is the friend's son and Ha Ni is given the opportunity to be near the guy she loves. Will she be able to move Seung Jo's heart?
Slacker's review:
You shld realised that I did not bother to rewrite the synopsis as most people wld be quite familiar with the story by now. I had watched the Japanese & Taiwanese version, so I guessed comparing them with MK is fair enough. MK's plot covered all the way till the couple got married, had their honeymoon, and worked towards their common goal (Seung Jo to become a doc & Ha Ni to become a nurse). Among the 3 versions, TW's ISWAK was the most detailed in terms of plot, and the main leads had the best chemistry. However, I used to be a die-hard fan of the Japanese version, so somehow MK did not appeal to me too much. I thought MK's plot development was kinda disconnected somehow. The story did not flow too well, but it got better later on. There were Korean elements in the drama, but MK still stood out from the traditional Korean plot. (well, it's from a Jap manga...lol!) Each episode ends with teddy bears which are similar to Goong. I thought they shld have tried something new instead of repeating the same stuff.
The drama was shortened to 16 eps due to poor ratings, and it's really bad. Thus, they have to shorten the story and dropped some characters in order to squeeze everything in 16 eps . There were only a few kissing scenes in the drama, and that's kinda boring! Lolz!!! Koreans are so conservative meh?? Haha!
The cast was not the most ideal. I am skeptical about Kim Hyun Joong's acting, and though he has improved quite a bit, he failed to capture the coolness of Naoki. The Korean Seung Jo was not that cool & nonchalant, and his temper was not very good. Seung Jo was quite expressive in his feelings somehow, as jealousy & concern for Ha Ni were obvious from the start of the drama. KHJ looked quite tired throughout the drama, and his curly hair in the later part of the drama did not make him look better. Joe Cheng is not a very gd actor as well, but he was so much better in TKA, while my all time fav is still Kashiwabara Takashi. Lol!
Jung So Min is very new in the K drama world. MK is her 2nd drama, and I initially wondered why the chose her. Surprisingly, I enjoyed her performance, and she's rather good. Ha Ni is the smartest Kotoko among the 3 versions. She's not so dumb & silly in the Korean version, and I kinda like it. However, Ha Ni tends to dream too much. Haha! I always find Sato Aiko's Kotoko too loud, while Ariel looked kinda dumb (though her acting was quite gd).
Lee Tae Sung's Joon Gu was so...old sch. Lolz! I cld not stand his Busan accent plus image! He was just too retro~! Thank goodness they decided to change his hairstyle and dressing. Ha!
As for Lee Si Young, she's not too bad, but my impression of her acting was still the same.
OST was alright. There are songs from G.NA, Kim Hyun Joong & SISTAR.

TV Drama Review #262 - My Girlfriend is a Nine-Tailed Fox 我的女友是九尾狐

No.of Epis: 16
Year/TV Stn: 2010/SBS
Cast:
Lee Seung Gi ~ Cha Dae Woong
Shin Min Ah ~ Gumiho
No Min Woo ~ Park Dong Joo
Park Soo Jin ~ Eun Hye In
Synopsis: (edited from Dramawiki)
Cha Dae Woong accidentally releases a gumiho, a legendary fox with nine tails that eats the livers of humans. When he finds out that she is a gumiho, he ends up doing crazy things to prevent the girl from eating his liver. On the other hand, a mysterious man, Park Dong Joo, follows Gumiho & Dae Woong closely...
Slacker's review:
This is a classic romance-comedy. The drama is light-hearted, though as the drama progressed, the mood became more serious & sad. Nonetheless, it's a drama which you don't have to crack you brain to think about. I liked the little twist towards the end....don't worry, it's a nice one.
I am neither a big fan of LSG & SMA, but this combo was good enough to draw eyeballs. Their interactions were very refreshing, and I had a good laugh watching them.
Previously watched LSG in his classic hit "Brilliant Legacy", and though Dae Woong was not as snobbish as Hwan, I preferred his portrayal of Hwan more. Lolz~~(we love bad boys huh?) Dae Woong was not someone whom one will like instantly, but his gradual change in character wld made us like him more. From naive, gutless and a little snobbish boy to a responsibile, sensible and willing to sacrifice man. I liked the progress nature of the character.
But but, Shin Min Ah totally stole the show. Her "miho" was just so different from the typical 9 tailed fox portrayal, and I've never seen such a bubbly SMA! (Yeah, most of her characters were pretty serious & dark) I bet everyone who loved miho ok?! There were so many lol scenes of miho looking for meat, and how she tried to behave like a human. Haha! Nice performance from the actress.
I cld not believed No Min Woo was in "Pasta"! He just looked so diff here! (like those idol singers) Ha! Anyway, it seemed like he's getting more attention than before (from those unknown support cast to supporting male lead). Dong Joo was quite mysterious, and he was made a bad guy most of the time. However, he also learnt from the human-fox couple and finally learnt to let go. NMW's acting was average though, as he's pretty expressionless.
Park Soo Jin's character was just plain annoying. Can't stand her!
Another interesting side plot was the romance b/w the director and Dae Woong's aunt. They were quite funny too, though I did not pay too much attention to them.
Do check out the OST. Nice songs from Lee Sun Hee, Shin Min Ah, Lee Seung Gi, No Min Woo etc.

TV Drama Review #261 - I Am Legend 我是传说

No.of Epis: 16
Yr/TV Stn: 2010/SBS
Cast:
Kim Jung Eun ~ Jun Seol Hee
Lee Joon Hyuk ~ Jang Tae Hyun
Kim Seung Soo ~ Cha Ji Wook
Jang Young Nam ~ Oh Seung Hye
Jang Shin Young ~ Kang Soo In
Hong Ji Min ~ Lee Hwa Ja
Hyun Jyu Ni ~ Yang Ah Reum
Synopsis: (edited from Dramawiki)
Jun Seol Hee recently files for a divorce after realizing that she deserved to be treated better by her high-flying lawyer husband, Cha Ji Wook, and his arrogant family. Determined to get her life back on track, she returns to her rock band roots, and become the leader of the Comeback Madonna Band. Her band mates are fellow 'ahjummas' who have personal problems of their own, and together they search for happiness and personal fulfillment through music.
Slacker's review:
I'm Legend is not just a simple story of 4 'ahjummas' who form a rock band and became famous. It's a mix of the rock band story plus Seol Hee's personal feud against Ji Wook & his family. The plot seemed to be interesting initially, but a lot of time was wasted on the divorce issue. I wished they cld have focused more on Comeback Madonna Band. Even after Seol Hee got a divorce, she still need to face her ex-husband and mistress at work (Seol Hee became an assistant in a small law firm, and she was involved in a court case, which Ji Wook & Seung Hye were the defense lawyers). Seol Hee really seemed to be pitiful, and my initial thought of this character was she shld be a strong woman. Well, after the court case, the drama was back on Comeback Madonna band, but well, the band did not last long. Ending was nicely done, and Seol Hee did not end up with anyone, though I think she wld end up with Tae Hyun.....haha!
Kim Jung Eun was nt the 1st choice for Seol Hee, but I thought she's more suitable than Kim Sun Ah. After finishing the drama, I was a little disappointed, as the plot did not turn out like what I expected. It's like a story of how 4 aunties chased their dreams and finally decide to return to their own lives, and keep their interest as a hobby. (I was expecting a little more~~lolz!) KJE's acting has not changed very much, but you cld not fault her much for her portrayal of Seol Hee. I liked how the woman enjoyed herself when she's singing & performing in front of the audience. I liked how she heal herself when she's sad by strumming a guitar and sang a song to herself. I liked how she persisted in her work and willing to sacrifice herself to help her clients.
I think Lee Joon Hyuk is the male lead, but it seems like Kim Seung Soo got more scenes than him, and the bond b/w Ji Wook & Seol Hee was much stronger. I thought this drama did not do LJH justice. Tae Hyun was more of a supporting character, and besides helping Comeback Madonna band, he did not do much. Romance development was not always evident b/w Tae Hyun & Seol Hee. There was something gg on b/w them, but they did not take it further. (It's normal as Seol Hee was nt someone who can start a new r/s so soon after her divorce) Scenes b/w Tae Hyun & Seung Hye were more....sad. I guessed their only topic was the custody of their son. I seriously disliked this woman...I guessed the ending for Seung Hye was a good one. She did not get her child, neither did Ji Wook stayed with her. Ho!
Kim Seung Soo is a veteran, but his previous roles did not leave me a deep impression. I was quite impressed with his character and performance in this drama. I thought Ji Wook was a downright jerk. But well, I thought he really regretted his decisions after Seol Hee's speech in the court. He was so affected by her there after, and he actually did things which he wld never do previously (like helping Seol Hee to get a crucial evidence, trying to ask her go away so that she wld not get hurt etc). In the ending epi, Ji Wook came to see Comeback Madonna's performance for the very 1st time, and his eyes were filled with tears as he watched Seol Hee. That scene was totally sad yet touching, and KSS controlled his emotions well.
The rest of the Comeback Madonna ladies were great. They too had their own problems, and thanks to them, the drama was much more light-hearted.
I guessed the OST is a must-listen. Lots of nice tracks by Comeback Madonna. I loved their version of "Genie" (by SNSD), theme song "Comeback Madonna", "You" (there are 3 versions of this song) etc.

TV Drama Review #256 - Coffee House 咖啡屋

No.of Epis: 18
Year/TV Stn: 2010/SBS
Cast:
Kang Ji Hwan ~ Lee Jin Soo
Park Si Yeon ~ Seo Eun Young
Ham Eun Jung ~ Kang Seung Yeon
Jung Woong In ~ Han Ji Won
Synopsis: (from Dramawiki)
Lee Jin Soo made it big after writing several thriller novels and establishing himself as a talented novelist. He works for Seo Eun Young, the owner of the biggest publishing company in Korea, and has a long-time friendship with her. Jin Soo has lots of fans, especially female ones, and he seems to be the perfect match for any woman... but what no one knows is that he is actually a bit weird and sarcastic, has lots of strange habits, and holds a dark secret. The one who has to cope with him and his habits is his secretary, Kang Seung Yeon, who begged him for this job to become a pro instead of the below-average girl that she really is. On top of that, there is also the return of Han Ji Won, Eun Young's ex-fiance, whom she despises. Ji Won tries to win Eun Young back, but she has her eyes set on Jin Soo.
Slacker's review:
My interest for Coffee House did not grow until I saw some sparks coming from Jin Soo and Eun Young. The front part was more focused on how Seung Yeon became Jin Soo's secretary and how they worked together. I nearly thought they were letting a newbie to lead a drama! Luckily, the plot shifted towards Eun Young and Jin Soo. Coffee House's plot was quite refreshing, and the characters were quite unique as well. The scriptwriter did a good job to keep us intense, as the development was unpredictable and we gotta keep on guessing JS wld end up with who. Luckily, ending did not disappoint me. Haha!
Jin Soo is not the typical handsome guy who acts cool blah blah, and Kang Ji Hwan's acting was very convincing. To me, Jin Soo was always wearing a mask, and only some people can see his true self. As the drama moved on, we got see "peel off" Jin Soo's masks and understand why he behaved in a certain manner. KJH's chemistry with his co-stars were great as well. I loved his intense look when he saw Eun Young. Lots of emotions! With Seung Yeon, the guy was more relaxed and he really enjoyed and laughed very hard when Seung Yeon did silly things. Haha!
Park Shi Yeon has not impressed me much with her acting, but she proved that she cld act here! Her emotions were well portrayed, and perhaps due to Park Yong Ha's demise, PSY looked really languish towards the end of the drama. It must have been hard for her to cope with a good friend's sudden death and to work on a drama at the same time. I liked the storyline b/w EY & JS towards the end, their relationship cld not have a clean break, and it was very clear that they were deeply in love with each other. Lots of eye contact and you cld feel that many words were left unspoken, but they understood each other.
T-ara's leader Eun Jung gave a not-so-bad debut performance. Her acting was quite natural, though a little exaggerating at times. Seung Yeon clearly liked JS too, but she also knew where she stood. SY is a likable character and with her around, the drama's atmosphere wld loosen up.
Jung Woong In was like a mad person in the drama! I really detested Ji Won. Arrogant and horrible fella. I've never seen such a crazy character before! Don't want to remind myself about him...haha!
OST has got a few good tracks, do check them out!

TV Drama Review #248 - Cinderella's Sister 灰姑娘的姐姐

No.of Epis: 20
Year/TV Stn: 2010/KBS
Cast:
Moon Geun Young ~ Song Eun Jo
Seo Woo ~ Goo Hyo Sun
Chun Jung Myung ~ Hong Ki Hoon
Taecyeon ~ Han Jung Woo
Synopsis: (edited from KBS World)
A modern day adaptation of Cinderella with a twist as our Cinderella, Goo Hyo Sun, is loved by everyone whereas her stepsister, Eun Jo, has a dark past and struggles with the fact that her mother starts to care more for Hyo Sun than her.
Eun Jo has neither aspiration nor emotion and her smile is sarcastic. Her mother, who has been living as a single mother for 18 years, finally found the right person to marry and brought Eun Jo into the stepfather’s house.
A decent house and a decent family...Eun Jo feels that everything in this house does not fit her. The most unbearable thing she faces is her stepsister Hyo Sun, who is the apple of her father’s eyes and beloved by everyone in the house. Hyo Sun also takes away the mind of Eun Jo’s mother, just like her bright and untainted character attracted all the other people. Eun Jo cannot tolerate this situation, since she lost the only one that she completely owned.
Eun Jo meets Hong Ki Hoon, the son of their rival firm, Hong Brewery. Ki Hoon falls for Eun Jo, but Eun Jo distances herself. Finally, Ki Hoon left for his studies, and Eun Jo only knows about it later.
8 years later, both Eun Jo and Hyo Sun grow up, and Ki Hoon returns. Jung Woo, who lived with Eun Jo when he is young, appears at Dae Sung Brewery as well. He returns as a wonderful man, so that he can love Eun Jo, who cooked rice and cared for him...
The girls' father passes away suddenly, and Dae Sung Brewery begins to face a serious crisis...
Slacker's review:
I was watching "Personal Preference" & "Prosecutor Princess" alongside "CS" at the same time. "CS" was much more depressing in terms of plot and mood. I liked the storyline initially, as it was refreshing and well developed. The characters developed in depth and not one dimensional. The relationships between the characters were rather complicated, but I liked the display of emotions. Very clear cut & nothing fanciful. The drama also twisted the fairy tale and shed new light on the role of step-sister. Don't be confused. The lead was Cinderella's sister...ha! Storyline started to went downhill and hardly progressed. Ending was alright, at least we got what we wanted..haha!
Moon Geun Young ditched her teen image for something mature in the big screen. She had done so in the small screen now. I don't think I've seen a female lead character who was so negative in terms of characteristic & behaviour. I doubt most ppl wld like Eun Jo instantly. She was fierce & stubborn, and she tried too hard to suppress her feelings. However, deep down she's just a normal girl, who yearned for a complete family & a normal life. MGY's acting was really good, as she's really expressive. From intense stares; expressionless & tearful look; to being confident & happy, Eun Jo really been through a lot throughout the drama. Chemistry with Chun Jung Myung was quite good too. Why? Becuase CJM was equally intense as well. The tension b/w these 2 person was filled with lots of mixed emotions - longing for each other, betrayal, mistrust etc.
I enjoyed CJM's performance in "What's Up Fox", and after serving the nation for 2 yrs, he returned with "CS". The actor is still baby-face looking, but his character was much more mature. Lots of heartbreaking scenes b/w him and Eun Jo, and CJM portrayed his character well.
Seo Woo looked weird to me. Definitely did something to her face...haha! She's the Cinderella in the drama, but in reality, she's older than MGY! haha! I was not impressed by Seo Woo initially, and I disliked Hyo Sun. Why not impressed? Coz' her acting wasn't that convincing as compared to MGY. Why dislike Hyo Sun? She's just irritating! but then, she grew up & matured a lot. Thank goodness! Cinderella was still quite pitiful here. Dad passed away suddenly, and step-mum changed her attitude immediately. She struggled to make peace with Eun Jo, and she has to save her dad's company. She had to quickly grow up in a short time...and I was glad that Seo Woo managed to convince me with her acting.
Why they want to cast an idol in such a sad drama? I'm not anti-2PM so don't worry. Taecyeon ditched his idol look & appeared as a plain country boy. His acting was not too bad for a newbie, but I was not paying much attention to him. Haha! Jung Woo came to find Eun Jo, as she was the person who cared for him, and he was devoted to her. I rmbed a scene where he threw away his baseball bat. It meant that Jung Woo let go of his feelings for Eun Jo. Ending scene with Eun Jo was emotional, but Jung Woo ended it with a smile.
Got to mention Lee Mi Sook & Kim Gab Soo as well. Terrific performances from the 2 veterans.

TV Drama Review #245 - A Man Called God 被称为神的男人

No.of Epis: 24
Year/TV Stn: 2010/MBC
Cast:
Song Il Gook ~ Michael King / Choi Kang Ta
Han Chae Young ~ Jin Bo Bae
Kim Min Jong ~ Hwang Woo Hyun
Han Go Eun ~ Vivian Castle
Chu Ja Hyun ~ Seo Mi Soo
Yoo In Young ~ Jang Mi
Synopsis: (edited from Soompi)
A man named Michael King gains powers similar to a God. As a child he lost his parents and is adopted by American parents. He returns to Korea to exact revenge on the people who murdered his father. Michael learns that four people are responsible for the death of his father. To carry out his plans, he purposely get close to Jang Mi, daughter of one of the four murderers, and he also meets Jin Bo Bae, a reporter who later gets involved in his plan.
Vivian, Michael's partner, get jealous as Michael keeps protecting Bo Bae & decides to work with Hwang Woo Hyun & betrays Michael.
Woo Hyun, who's Bo Bae's senior and ex-boyfriend, is jealous of Michael and later finds out Michael's real identity. To protect his father, Woo Hyun, who's a CIA officer, get his hands dirty and vow to hunt down Michael...
Slacker's review:
I've no intentions to watch AMCG, but after watching the 1st 2 epis, I thought this drama was quite exciting. The plot was also refreshing, but then, it started to go downhill as the characters' developments were not very consistent. Ending was not very clear cut, but it's not an open ending. Many characters were killed, so we would not want to see more sad stuffs from the main characters right? Ha!
I'm not a fan of Song Il Gook, but the actor is charismatic in his own way. His image in AMCG was really cool & stayed true to the manhwa version. SIG's acting was not bad, but his character did not seem to be consistent in terms of developments & behaviour. I wld rather believed it's because Michael had more responsibilities to protect his beloved ones. Thus, he seemed to become dumb, walking into traps even though he knew it.
I am never impressed with Han Chae Young's acting, and my impression is still the same. HCY's character is too naive for a reporter. Bo Bae reminded me of HCY's previous roles. I found her boring & the worse is Bo Bae became more like a flower vase towards the end of the drama. I thought they shld have make use of Bo Bae more & developed her character more fully. HCY's chemistry with SIG was alright, but I thought Han Go Eun had more chemistry with the dude.
Han Go Eun's Vivian totally stole Bo Bae's limelight! Man, Ms Han is so sexy here! I always thought HGE cld act, just that she was not given the chance to lead. HGE is perfect for her role, and I can't think of anyone who cld replace her to act as Vivian. The lady was a sad character. She was beside Michael for so long, but cld not catch hold of his heart. She was in pain, but decided to betray Michael. Guilt caught hold of her, and she decided to redeem herself by sacrificing her life for him. I really loved this character, even though she turned bad for her unrequited love.
Nice to see Kim Min Jong's returning to the small screen. Oh I really hated Hwang to core, but KMJ was so good in it! Hwang was really a crazy fella, as hatred blinded his eyes. Imagine he used to be the one who upholds justice, but in the end, he abused his authority and did all the evil stuffs. Another pathetic character in the drama.
Long time didn't see Chu Ja Hyun, and I'm glad she returned with a good role. Mi Soo also struggled with her job, and the truth of her own background. Emotional scenes with SIG were really sad yet touching. Hope to see her in more dramas soon.
I did not think too much of Yoo In Young, but this lady did improved quite a bit as Jang Mi. She's in love with Michael, and willing to risk her life by helping him. Even though she learnt that Michael was back for revenge, she still loved him with all her heart. YIY portrayed her character with well executed emotions and expressions. I thought even she outperformed HCY. Ha!

TV Drama Review #244 - Personal Taste 个人趣向

No.of Epis: 16
Year/TV Stn: 16/MBC
Cast:
Son Ye Jin ~ Park Kae In
Lee Min Ho ~ Jeon Jin Ho
Kim Ji Suk ~ Han Chang Ryul
Wang Ji Hye ~ Kim In Hee
Synopsis: (from Dramawiki)
Jeon Jin Ho is a straight guy who pretends to be gay in order to become Park Kae In's roommate. His hobbies include organization and ironing, and he’s known for his stoic poker face. He’s a stickler for cleanliness, but he also has a talent for figuring out a woman’s feelings. Kae In is very trusting even though she has a habit of being betrayed. However, that doesn't stop her from giving people the benefit of doubt and Jin Ho is no different. How will Kae In react when she finds out that her gay roommate is not actually gay at all and that he has fallen for her?
Slacker's review:
SYJ & LMH combi is very attractive in a drama, and the drama's theme was quite interesting, though nothing new in concept. I did not find PT interesting after a few epis. In fact, I was a little disappointed with the first few epis. Disappointed in terms of plot ba. The storyline just failed to interest me. Thank goodness, PT's storyline picked up and it got so much better till the end. I loved how Jin Ho was so sure of his feelings for Kae In. He did not waver when In Hee tried to seduce him. Kae In, on the other hand, was kind-hearted but not so naive. At least, she did not let Chang Ryul return to her side after he was dumped by In Hee. Overall, PT's pace was just nice, and I loved the dialogues & interactions b/w the main couple.
Lee Min Ho finally returned with a new drama. He's so much handsome with a clean cut image. Haha! Initially, I thought LMH was too young for SYJ, but they looked great together. LMH handled his scenes quite well, and his acting has matured & improved. I thought his performance was much better than "Boys over Flowers". Chemistry with SYJ was great too.
After 2 yrs, SYJ returned with a refreshing new look & character. The actress had tried to shed her good girl image for more daring roles in the big screen, but back to the small screen, she proved her acting once again with a less complex character.
Kim Ji Suk returned with a new drama while filming "Chuno", and he became a competitor of Han Jung Soo, who was in "PP", which was shown at the same slot. Chang Ryul was not a likable character, and I thought KJS's portrayal was a little exaggerating. I hope to see KJS leading a drama soon, as I believed he cld perform better with a not-so-childish role. Lolz~
Wang Ji Hye's In Hee was just irritating, plus shameless. I just hate In Hee to core. Nonetheless, WJH's acting was quite convincing. Haha!
PT's OST is packed with nice songs from Younha, Kim Tae Woo, See Ya, 2AM etc. My personal fav is an insert song by 4minute.

TV Drama Review #243 - Prosecutor Princess 检察官公主

No.of Epis: 16
Year/TV Stn: 2010/SBS
Cast:
Kim So Yeon ~ Ma Hye Ri
Park Shi Hoo ~ Seo In Woo
Han Jung Soo ~ Yoon Se Joon
Choi Song Hyun ~ Jin Jung Sun
Synopsis: (edited from Dramawiki)
Ma Hye Ri is a woman with an excellent memory and ability to focus, which allowed her to pass the bar exam with ease. Despite her talents, she is more interested in fashion and dislikes hard work so she is far from being an ideal prosecutor and has doubts about her suitability for her job. Through her conflicts with senior colleagues and struggles with difficult cases, Hye Ri gradually matures into a brilliant prosecutor with a sense of duty and justice.
Hye Ri is in love with her colleague Se Joon, but Se Joon keeps a distance from her as she resembles...
On the other hand, Seo In Woo, a mysterious lawyer appears in Hye Ri's life & she soon discovers a dark secret b/w In Woo & her father...
Slacker's review:
PP seems to be a rom-com, but that's not the case. With In Woo's appearance in the drama, we know that the storyline wld go around the motive of In Woo. Why is he stalking Hye Ri? Is he truly in love with Hye Ri? What's the secret that Hye Ri's dad has been hiding? The storyline packaged the mysterious element in a good way as there are romance & comedy accompanying it, and as the drama progressed, the mystery to the "big secret" gradually unfolds. I gotta say there were some parts of PP which I found it boring - scenes of Hye Ri working with her colleagues etc. May be it's because I cld not wait to see the interactions b/w Hye Ri & In Woo!!
Ending was a happy one, though I felt that it cld be the other way round too.
To be honest, I'm watching PP for Park Shi Hoo. This guy isn't very handsome, but he's charismatic! I was happy that he returned with a shorter series after "Glory of Family", which I thought was his most famous drama to date. Anyway, PSH's performance was not too bad, as In Woo is just too mysterious. I gotta say the scriptwriter was really good in keeping the mystery factor of In Woo.
I'm glad that Kim So Yeon returned as a female lead after "Iris". I did not like her fashion sense in the drama though, kinda bimbo and her hairstyle was....ugly. Haha! Anyway, "Hye Ri" image was a 360 degrees change from her previous North Korean agent role in "Iris". KSY was so girly in the drama and I did not like her initially. KSY's expressions were kinda exaggerating but thank goodness she toned down quite a lot after Hye Ri started to "grow up". Haha! Chemistry with PSH was sizzling hot~! KSY's scenes with Han Jung Soo were pretty entertaining as well.
Han Jung Soo returned with a new drama while filming "Chuno" concurrently. I'm glad he got a better & bigger role in PP as his role was pretty minor in "Chuno". Anyway, HJS's Yoon Se Joon was quite a "woody" initially, and as the drama progressed we cld see Se Joon with more feelings & expressions. I was not a Se Joon-Hye Ri shipper so I was so happy that Se Joon ended up with Jung Sun. Lolz~
Choi Song Hyun is pretty new to me, and her portrayal of Jung Sun was better towards the end of the drama. I still rmbed the scenes where she removed her specs and went to view the cherry blossoms alone. Quite funny~!
Ending theme "Goodbye My Princess" was a catchy ballad sang by Monday Kiz. Opening theme "Fly High" by SHINee was average though. Insert song "Give Me ft. Seo In Young" by 9 Muses was nice too.

TV Drama Review #241 - Oh! My Lady

No.of Epis: 16
Year/TV Stn: 2010/SBS
Cast:
Chae Rim ~ Yoon Gae Hwa
Choi Si Won ~ Sung Min Woo
Lee Hyun Woo ~ Yoo Shi Joon
Park Han Byul ~ Hong Yoo Ra
Moon Jung Hee ~ Han Jung Ah
Synopsis:
Yoon Gae Hwa is an ordinary housewife who has divorced from her husband and try to seek for a living. She is told by Yoo Shi Joon, the boss of a musical production company that if she cld get Sung Min Woo to sign a contract with them, she will be offered a job.
Just then, a child appeared in front of Sung Min Woo & to avoid scandals, Min Woo sign the contract but wants Gae Hwa to take care of the child in return.
Things get complicated when Yoo Ra, Min Woo's first love, returns from abroad.
Slacker's review:
"OML" is a typical rom-com, and I enjoyed it, despite the uncreative storyline. Any dramas focusing on super stars could not avoid stuffs like scandals & contracts. Haha! Well, thank goodness they did not make Min Woo a perfect character, or else everything wld seem so fake.
Anyway, "OML" is a light-hearted, touching & funny drama which I think nobody wld say it's boring.
Glad to see Chae Rim's comeback, but I hope she wld not stuck with the auntie image in the future. (She's not that old ok?) I really loved Gae Hwa; she's a loving mum, a hardworking employee, and a super understanding friend. Chae Rim's portrayal was good and she did not exaggerate with her auntie behaviour. Chemistry with Si Won was great, and I thought her scenes with little Ye Eun were simply great.
Choi Si Won is not new to acting, but this is his first proper drama which he's the leading man. (I wld not count "Legend of Hyang Dan" in since that drama was only 2 eps long). I cld see Si Won improving as the drama moved on, and I think he wld be a good actor in no time. Min Woo was imperfect in many ways, thus there were lots of development going on for him as well. Initially, he was arrogant & cld only think for himself. However, after much realisation & self-awareness, Min Woo finally knew how to care for others and to prove his acting ability. The drama also gave Si Won an opportunity to showcase his good vocals. Hehe! Scenes with little Ye Eun were quite entertaining soon.
The woody actor Lee Hyun Woo is back. He's somewhat still the same, though he managed to show expressions in some scenes. Chemistry with the cast was alright, and there's hardly any chemistry b/w him & Moon Jung Hee.
Moon Jung Hee's role is quite minor here, but I liked her new image. What's more? She cld dance! Cool! It's a pity that her storyline was quite a sad one, as Shi Joon was pretty much a woody person as well. For once, I thought her reason to see another man was quite justified. Ha!
Nice to see Park Han Byul's comeback as well, but her acting was average. Even her character Yoo Ra was typical and annoying. Well, you need a breakthrough, Ms Park.
Last but not least, gotta mention the little child actress who acted as Ye Eun! She's just so kawaii~~~!!
Do check out "OML" OST as well, got a couple of nice songs there.

TV Drama Review #238- The Slave Hunters 推奴

No.of Epis: 24
Year/TV Stn: 2010/KBS
Cast:
Jang Hyuk ~ Lee Dae Gil
Oh Ji Ho ~ Song Tae Ha
Lee Da Hae ~ Un Nyun / Kim Hye Won
Lee Jong Hyuk ~ Hwang Chul Woong
Han Jung Soo ~ General Choi
Kim Ji Suk ~ Wang Son
Kim Ha Eun ~ Sul Hwa
Synopsis: (from Dramawiki)
Chuno follows the story of Lee Dae Gil, a man of high birth whose family was ruined when Won Ki Yoon, a slave, burnt down his house and escaped with his sister, Un Nyun, who was in love with Dae Gil. Driven by his desire for revenge, Dae Gil survived his harsh years on the streets and made his name as a slave hunter, dedicated in his pursuit to find Un Nyun, his first and only love. Song Tae Ha is a General of the Army who became a slave after being falsely accused of a crime he did not commit, and finds himself on the run from Dae Gil's relentless pursuit. Both men become entangled in a love triangle with Un Nyun, who is no longer a runaway slave, but Kim Hye Won, a nobleman's daughter.
Slacker's review:
To be honest, I was a little bored with Chuno's plot. After all, the reason for watching was solely the cast. Chuno's plot was filled with emotions, bitter romance & bitterness in life during that time. I was bored because I did not like the scenes of people hunting & killing each other. I was more interested in the characters' development. Thus, I skipped quite a bit when the drama was showing all the pursuing and fighting scenes. Luckily, Chuno is not a drama which just focused on the hunting of slaves. A major part of the story was about the sad romance b/w Dae Gil, Hye Won & Tae Ha. I thought the drama was well-balanced in various aspects, which also includes friendship b/w the characters (e.g. Dae Gil-General Choi-Wang Son, Tae Ha & his men etc). The director also filmed the action scenes with different angles & directions.
I am a fan of Jang Hyuk, and his performance was great as usual. Dae Gil's last scene with Hwang Chul Woong & Sul Hwa was damn sad. Especially when Sul Hwa sang him a song while holding him tightly. Oh Ji Ho's acting was quite impressive as well. Perhaps it's because his acting was so much better than his previous ones. Lee Da Hae was great as well, though Hye Won became a support character towards the end. I thought Hye Won's role was underused. I bet many ppl hoped that Hye Won ends up with Dae Gil. I am fine with Hye Won ending up with either man, as both really loved & cared for her. However, I thought it wld be harder for Hye Won to be with Dae Gil. Time has passed & I felt that Hye Won's love for Dae Gil was filled with more guilt than love. On the other hand, Tae Ha was the guy who protected and stayed by her side when she's on the run with the little crown prince.
Lee Jong Hyuk was great too. His character Hwang was a bad guy and a cruel killer, but in fact, he was a pathetic fella who was sort of controlled by others as well. Hwang did not die in the end, but his ending scene was really touching. Btw, the actress who acted as Hwang's wife was terrific!
The support cast was great as well. When I thought General Choi & Wang Son were killed by Hwang, I felt so disappointed! Thank goodness, they did not die in the end~
OST was nice. Loved "달에 지다" by Beige, ending theme "Stigma" by Im Jae Bom, "바꿔" by Gloomy 30's & instrumental track "비익련리(比翼連里)" by Ccotbyel.

TV Drama Review #232 - The Woman Who Still Wants to Marry 仍想要结婚的女人

No.of Epis: 16
Year/TV Stn: 2010/MBC
Cast:
Park Jin Hee ~ Lee Shin Young
Uhm Ji Won ~ Jung Da Jung
Wang Bit Na ~ Kim Boo Ki
Kim Bum ~ Ha Min Jae
Choi Chul Ho ~ Na Ban Suk
Lee Pil Mo ~ Yoon Sang Woo
Park Ji Young ~ Choi Sang Mi
Synopsis:
Lee Shin Young is a 34 yr old woman who's still single & has yet to have a successful career. She stays with her good friends Da Jung & Boo Ki, who are also single. Shin Young cld have succeeded in love with her ex-boyfriend Sang Woo, but she left overseas for her training. When she returns, she receives news of his marriage. Shin Young suffers from a stroke later on, and her mouth is twisted. She meets doctor Na Ban Suk, who begin to fall for her later on. However, due to a misunderstanding, their short-lived attraction for each other ends. Shin Young cuts off Ha Min Jae's guitar strings when he interrupted her interview. Both of them disliked each other, but soon Min Jae falls for Shin Young. There's only one problem for Shin Young....Min Jae is 10 yrs younger than her. On the other hand, fireworks sparkle b/w Da Jung & Ban Suk, while Sang Woo falls for his landlord lady, who's married & is older than him...
Slacker's review:
Storyline about women who are still single after 30 yrs old is nothing new in drama world. This drama is the sequel of "The Woman Who Wants to Marry", which was shown in 2004 with a different cast. (and I did not watched) Don't worry, as the stories were not linked. Only the leading character shared the same name i.e Shin Young. The drama was pretty predictable. The usual issues revolved around age gaps (Shin Young-Min Jae), marriage life (Da Jung-Ban Suk), and forbidden love of a married woman (Sang Mi-Sang Woo). To make things more complicated, Sang Mi was Min Jae's mum. So you cld expect Sang Mi's strong objections against Young-Jae couple, as Young was older than Jae, and Young's Sang Woo's ex. The drama has a well mixed of comedic & serious scenes. Jung-Suk couple was the damn funny one, while Mi-Woo couple was much more matured, yet somehow I was attracted to their storyline.
I'm glad to see the return of Park Jin Hee. Shin Young is not a refreshing role, so even if PJH's portrayal was great, I cld not find anything fresh from her. Why? Maybe such characters are too common and the developments ard them were kinda same. Chemistry with Kim Bum was not too bad. They looked great together and I gotta say Ms Park looked younger than her age. Haha!
I'm glad to see Kim Bum's improvement in acting. It's good that he's always trying different roles, rather than acting handsome all the time. I did not feel too much for Min Jae, not that there's any problem with the character or the actor. It's just that the whole storyline was too recycled. This drama also gave Kim Bum chances to showoff his vocal skills. Reminded me of Jang Geun Suk suddenly. Haha!
I think I consider myself to be a fan of Choi Chul Ho? Haha! I've been watching his dramas quite frequently these days. CCH has not got a lead role yet, but with his presence, the drama seemed to be entertaining somehow. Though I liked to see a serious CCH, this guy was good in his comedic roles! I had so much fun watching Jung-Suk couple, because Ban Suk was kinda dumb. Lolz~He always looked kinda silly & cld nt figure out women's heart.
And I must touch on Uhm Ji Won. Seriously, I did not like Da Jung...she's kinda self-centred. Even after she got married, she only thought of herself, and her mindset was different from Ban Suk. However, it's because of the character's imperfection, so we got to see the changes in them.
First time watching Lee Pil Mo....and I only started to like Sang Woo after he got to know Sang Mi. Seriously, this couple attracted me most. Sang Mi tried to leave the guy a few times, but thank goodness the guy persisted! I thought this couple was more romantic than others, and they got this sizzling chemistry.
Wang Bit Na's character was least appealing to me, and I hardly followed her character.
OST was alright, do check out the songs sang by Kim Bum.

TV Drama Review #231 - Pasta

No.of Epis: 20
Year/TV Stn: 2010/MBC
Cast:
Gong Hyo Jin ~ Seo Yoo Kyung
Lee Sun Gyun ~ Choi Hyun Wook
Lee Ha Nui ~ Oh Sae Young
Alex ~ Kim San
Synopsis: (edited from Dramawiki)
Seo Yoo Kyung started her career as a kitchen assistant at La Sfera restaurant. She happens to meet a guy who helped her with her goldfishes when she is crossing the road. The guy turns out to be the new chief chef of La Sfera! Choi Hyun Wook studied the culinary arts in Italy and started out as a chef assistant at a hotel in Sicily. Hyun Wook eventually worked his way up to become the most widely recognized Italian chef in Korea. Yoo Kyung's dreams of holding the frying pan is dashed when Hyun Wook says that there's no woman in his kitchen.
Oh Sae Young is a popular hostess for a cooking programme & the author of a best-selling cook book. She is Hyun Wook's ex girlfriend when they were studying in Italy. In order to graduate as a Valedictorian, Sae Young sabotaged Hyun Wook in their final exam. After gaining all the fame & wealth, Sae Young decides to accomplish one last thing...and enters La Sfera as another chief chef, with the help of her good friend Kim San.
Kim San is a regular customer of La Sfera, and he likes to fool around with Yoo Kyung. Unknown to Yoo Kyung, he's the "cactus guy" who supported & encouraged her throughout her 3 yrs stay in the restaurant.
Slacker's review:
"Pasta" has definitely make it to my must-watch dramas list for my final entry of the yr. The storyline is simple but refreshing. Interactions & dialogues b/w the characters were simply great. I just could not wait for the next episode to come asap! Haha! (That shows how I loved this drama...) For ppl who likes to see very dramatic developments in the storyline, "Pasta" may disappoint them in this aspect, because the developments seemed to be a little plain. Well, the storyline is actually character-driven la. The first part of the drama showed how Yoo Kyung struggled to stay in Hyun Wook's kitchen, and the guy was definitely impressed by her persistence. Haha! So, this led to the 2nd part of the drama, which was the romance b/w the 2! The romance plot was exciting in its own way, and I could not help smiling when I saw the couple bickering & supporting each other. Hehe!
Gong Hyo Jin....is a very gd actress. I was very impressed with her role in "Thank You", and the lady delivers again in "Pasta". Seriously, I nv know that Ms Gong cld looked so cute when she was acting shy etc. I loved her smile~! It has been a long time since I last seen an on-screen couple with superb chemistry. Lee Sun Gyun & Ms Gong just rocks!
Mr Lee surprised me a little more, because I nv expected his character to be so entertaining. To be honest, I was nv interested in LSG's roles, not even in "Coffee Prince". Well, "Pasta" is the turning-point. Hyun Wook was really one "da nan ren" in his kitchen, and I cld nt stand him shouting at the top of his lungs...and that happened practically in all kitchen scenes! Well, thanks to the challenger "goldfish" (Yoo Kyung's nickname), chef had a 180 degrees changed in personality and most imptly, the guy was in love. Lolz~ The couple scenes were really sweet most of the time, and it's still sweet when they bickered. There were also many funny scenes la, like how Hyun Wook handled Yoo Kyung's dad.
Honey Lee's debut perf in "Partner" was not bad, but she did not performed too well here. I guessed the character was not interesting enough. Sae Young was not exactly a bad woman, but she wld sacrificed something for another thing. Hyun Wook was the unfortunate "something", and that's why the 2 cld never become a couple again. I thought Sae Young did achieved something in the end, and that's to get Hyun Wook to recognise her cooking abilities.
Alex is better known for his singing, as one of the main vocals of "Clazziquai". (one of my fav Kpop group) His perf was not too bad, though a little expressionless at times. What's the prob then? His character San. This guy was really slow....he shld have let his feelings known instead of playing mysterious in front of Yoo Kyung. When he started to react, chief chef already gotten the girl. Haiz~
The drama got quite a few OSTs, and the songs were not too bad. At least, they left me quite a deep impression. Hehe!

p.s: Started to miss hearing Yoo Kyung calling her beau "Chef~~~~"....keke!