Oh My KDrama

Lie to Me: Episode 3 & 4

2011-05-22T14:49:00.000-07:00

Even though I wasn't too sure about the first two episodes, this drama is starting to have me hooked. So far, I've been enjoying the set-up and the love/hate between characters, Ah-Jung's desperation to prove herself, and the brothers and their love triangle (which we still only know minimal about). This drama's pace isn't very fast, so we have lingered on this lie, going through the angst over a possible law suit, etc. However, with the ending of episode four, the drama has taken a lurch forward and promises to finally move forward!

But despite the pace of the drama, there is still some character development going on. We get a better glimpse into Ki-Joon and Sang-Hee's brotherly relationship having been orphaned for twenty years and only having each other left in the world. I can definitely appreciate the the bond between brothers, especially as they seem to like the same the women...are we surprised? K-Drama Cliche #31. But the actors portray the brothers well and I find it slightly ironic that not only do they not look ANYTHING alike, but Ki-Joon has this higher-pitched voice while Sang-Hee has a deeper voice. Were they cast like this on purpose? I really can't stop giggling to myself whenever Ki-Joon talks. I really just can't take him seriously...

I love the plot twist that comes in the end as well, where Ki-Joon needs HER rather than vice versa. The mutual necessity of the fake marriage is more entertaining than having just her hook him in. I can see the stakes rising already which hopefully will mean more and more bickering, teasing, demands, and consequences.

So far so good. It's definitely one that I will watch to the end!

49 Days: Drama Review

2011-05-21T10:20:00.000-07:00

Have you ever thought of what it is like on the other side? Or those you have lost--what if they were given a second chance? What is amazing about 49 Days is how we are taken through the path of one's life and we get to re-examine it in a whole new light. We get to see love and betrayal, hope and hopelessness, laughter and tears, and in the end--we see that in every death, there is a new life. If there was ever an epic drama, this would be it.

The story follows the (after)life of Shin Ji Hyun who "accidentally" dies in a car accident right before her wedding. Since her life wasn't supposed to end this early, by grace from the powers that be, Ji Hyun is granted one last chance at life by collecting three tears from friends who truly loved her--excluding family, of course. The catch is: she has 49 Days to do it, she can't use her own body but borrow one, and no one can know who she is.

The best element of this drama is how it is written. The writer does a brilliant job weaving the past with the present so that the story line flows, but still remaining unpredictable. In each episode, there are flashbacks that we really look foward to because they give insight into each character, their motives, and relationships which changes the plot direction in every episode. This drama rarely gets boring, but warning: make sure to keep a box of tissues by you at all times!

One of my favorite characters in this drama is the Scheduler (aka: Grim Reaper/Song Yi-Soo). What fascinates me about him is the idea of someone on the other side being the greeter for souls passing from this life to the next. It doesn't help that he's also adorable and funny as he picks on Ji Hyun from time to time, but of all of the characters, he was the one I connected with the most because he could see situations for what they were and in the end, he was able to bring home the theme of the drama. But he is also a traveller, paying his sentence of five years as a scheduler for the chance to do something important before he moved on.

Some of the cons of the drama lay within some of the plot points: honestly, there were WAY too many eavesdroppers between In Jung and Min Ho. It's a little hard to believe that they can always be there at the right moment and at the right time. Doctor Noh was also a bad plot device: what kind of psychology do they teach you?? Because I am a psychology major and I can promise you that 1) multiple personality disorder should have been your FIRST thought and 2) ever heard of patient confidentiality? Someone needs to take your medical license away...

The last plot point that I felt a little weird about came in the ending and while I don't want to spoil you about what it was, I will just say that we had theorized about the possibility of it because some of the pieces could allow for it. However, the way it was executed did not make it satisfying. What this was, you'll have to watch to find out!

As for my lasting remarks, I will admit that I've never been moved to tears by a drama before. Most dramas are too exaggerated for me to connect with and while I feel pity at times, I never feel the need to cry over them. This drama did it. Twice. It is that good.

100/5 for me.

Best Love: Episode 1-4 Review

2011-05-15T18:09:00.001-07:00

I've been eagerly waiting for the next Hong Sisters' drama ever since I fell in love with You're Beautiful and My Girlfriend is a Gumiho this last fall. Both dramas were full of wit, charm, and funny moments that there was no doubt in my mind: I'm a fan! So now Best Love/Greatest Love has made it's appearance and Mother's Day has passed, I finally have a chance to review it! However, it definitely wasn't what I expected...

Honestly, the first episode bored me. I found myself pausing every five minutes to do something else like laundry, dishes, etc. which is always a bad sign. But I couldn't be pessimistic on that basis--even Secret Garden bored me and I still ended up being addicted to it. So I pressed on, and only a few minutes ago did I finish the fourth episode. While the story has gotten better, I still find myself slightly bored. Maybe my expectations were too high or maybe I really don't understand all of the humor that is going around, but I'm not exactly buying into this drama.

Here is why:

1) I really thought the set-up was going to be more like "We Got Married" which I thought was more interesting. Instead, it was set up more like "The Bachelor" (a show in the US that annoys me to no end), which I found less appealing.

2) The characters in the drama really aren't very interesting. I don't mean to say that I don't like the characters, but Dokko Jin is a familiar character that we've seen before (like Hwang Tae Kyung in You're Beautiful) and frankly, I don't find Gu Ae Jung's at all attractive. I know that her appearance is supposed to make her look like the "has-been" compared to all of the prettier celebrities and that's supposed to add to her charm, but her personality so plain. Yes, she's sweet and persevering in the face of criticism and I applaud her for that, but there's nothing else that makes her special.

3) For being a K-Drama fan for about 7 months, I am not up on all of the meta that goes flying. Some of it goes right over my head. I know it's supposed to be funny, but I don't get it. That also could be just me because I know that this is supposed to appeal to the Korean audience and since I don't speak Korean and I'm not totally immersed in their culture, I can't blame this "con" on them--it's simply a cultural difference.

4) Se Ri, our second female lead and always known as the evil ----- in disguise, is a very typical villain. We can smell her a mile away and already cringe when she's not on screen. Maybe the plot plans on doing something with her, but if the Hong Sisters are true to their formula, we can expect her to be the same as Yoo He Yi and Eun Hye In in the past two dramas.

Here is what I do like about the drama:

1) The second male lead is quirky. Yay! Honestly, I love that he's so oblivious and that while some might consider this his weakness, it's not a bad one to have. I also love how he's nerdy and obsessed with his work that this even pushes women away. Telling a date that her butt will be crooked if she wears high-heels? LOL!

2) While I don't necessarily love Dokko Jin, I do love what they've done with him. I love his reactions and obsessions, his mean attitude towards Ae Jung, but then turns a happy smile to any fans walking by. I love that he has such a range of characteristics and he doesn't get to be the perfect guy, but so flawed and yet so adorable that it makes you laugh. I don't see the chemistry of Dokko Jin and Ae Jung, but neither did I for Tae Kyung and Mi Nyu, so I'll keep hoping!

So, with all of that in mind, it's not a terribly impressive drama, but I will keep watching it until the end out of hope that it will turn into something I love. Right now, I'm leaning towards giving it a 2/5 stars, but this rating may go up or down in the future.

Lie to Me: Episodes 1 & 2

2011-05-15T11:40:00.000-07:00

I'm going to start reviewing episodes in two's because I work during the week and it's getting difficult to review individual episodes when I can only get to them during the weekend. So here is my two cents on Lie to Me, which aired Monday and Tuesday of this past week! I have to say that the drama is very entertaining, though a different feel from 49 Days which has been the only drama I've been following up until this week. While I missed the awesomeness that was 49 Days and was slightly critical of Lie to Me at first, this feeling didn't last long. By the end of Episode 2, I actually found myself craving more of the fun that Yoon Eun Hye and Kang Ji Hwan.

There are some cons to the drama: Yoon Eun Hye doesn't venture too far out of her spastic personality which she is well-known for. On the one hand, this is what has made her so popular in the beginning, but on the other hand, I was hoping that she would bring something new and refreshing to the table. The plot (snowballed lie about Eun Hye's character, Kong Ah Jung, being married) isn't terribly original, so we really depend on the actors to carry the drama. Ji Hwan's character is also very familiar since half of the Korean drama's I've watched have a chaebol as their male lead. So, there's nothing surprising about anything in this drama except how the plot will be executed which will be everything.

So with all of the familiarity, there is still some charm that really got me hooked which includes the bickering between the two main characters (which is cute), the rumor that is flying around (because we all known how that goes), and the conflict between Ah Jung and So Ran (haven't we all been there once in our lives?). I really felt for Ah Jung when she was being humiliated by the girl who she had considered one of her best friends and even though the white lie was wrong, I felt smug watching the frown on So Ran's face at being out-done. And ohmysoul! to the other friend who claimed to have been at their wedding! HAH!

If you look at it as a whole, it doesn't seem like the drama is anything to get excited about, but I have to say that there is still something about it that is entertaining and makes you crave more. Even though there's hardly anything new, it is still a fun watch and a welcomed change from the sadder tones of 49 Days.

49 Days: Mid-Drama Review

2011-04-16T13:46:00.000-07:00

I am definitely late on the bandwagon with this drama, but now that I've jumped aboard, I'm 100% committed to it. This drama was recommended by Edna from Dramafully and it took a little persuading (real life is a killer right now), but I gave it a try. Three days later, I am now updated on all of the excitement, adorableness, death-glares, and hot-sexy-scheduling going on. The only question remains: why didn't I pick up on this awesome drama in the beginning??

The first episode starts off with the "accidental" death of our heroine, Shin Ji Hyun, and we don't waste time hitting upon the problem: Ji Hyun wasn't supposed to die and according to the rules of the other world, she gets a chance to live again. Condition: she must collect three "pure" tears (tears from people who genuinely love her/miss her, but can't be family) and she must do it in 49 days. Hence the title.

However, the drama gets more complicated than that. People aren't what they seem and what Ji Hyun thought was a great life quickly becomes one filled with secrets and lies, starting with the people closest to her. The task of finding three non-related people in the whole world who love her seems almost impossible.

But Ji Hyun isn't left without hope. While her own body is technically in a coma, she receives help from the "Scheduler"--aka Grim Reaper--who allows Ji Hyun to use another girl's body to carry out her mission. There are a few rules, however: 1) she cannot reveal her true identity including revealing herself emotionally, 2) she can only use the girl's body while the girl is sleeping--her schedule will always be around the host, not herself. That means she must be home by midnight (girl works the graveyard shift) or else she loses a day of her 49 day allowance. 3) She has to earn her own money. Stealing is out of the question and results in an express elevator to the other side. Also, she can't cause problems for her host in any way (which I think falls under Rule #1 of revealing herself).

On board yet? Sound like a hopeless quest? Maybe, if it wasn't for the hidden affections that high school friend Han Kang has for Ji Hyun. It is those feelings for Ji Hyun that we hope will not only give her a tear, but that she can recognize the truth about and in the end, grow closer to as well.

Oh, and have I mentioned how sexy the Scheduler is? If the grim reaper really looked this good, I wouldn't mind dying:

Dream High: Finale

2011-03-02T09:48:00.000-08:00

Talk about a drama full of surprises. When I first started this drama, I had my doubts. Not only did the acting lack, but the first three episodes did not interest me at all. At the end of 16 episodes, however, I have to say that this makes my list of top 5 favorite dramas. We saw growth in our favorite characters, redemption in our enemies, heartbreak when Sam Dong started losing his hearing, and of course all of the fun stuff that made us laugh in the middle: underwear wars, lollipops & love letters, terminator impressions, flower clips, and even a flash a mob! What an awesome drama it was...

What I particularly enjoyed about this drama was that it had adorable romance, but the plot wasn't based on that relationship--it followed the dreams of six students who were trying to make it big on stage. Each character fought a different battle: Hye Mi and her emotionless personality, Sam Dong and his bumpkin-ness as well as hearing, Jin Gook's father issues, Baek Hee's mother issues and feeling overshadowed by Hye Mi, Jason and his lack of ambitiion, and Pil Sook and her physical appearance. Just as much as they fought each other, they also fought together and made their dreams possible with each other.

I also enjoyed the way the drama ended: that the group finally was able to debut together and the quote about that being their happiest moment that would make the rest of their lives shine. But I also liked how each character's dream brought them down a different path. To the question of who ended up being K? Well, who else except Song Sam Dong? But his path to the Grammy's was the bright and exciting path that we might believed a performer has. Hye Mi was left back in Korea and Sam Dong was travelling the U.S. (which if you're alone in a foreign country and can't speak the language, it has to be intimidating).

Since this drama was based on a school for future musicians, it shouldn't surprise anyone that my favorite scenes have to be the performances by the characters. From Episode 5 when we see the misfits and their rendition of "Genie" to the end with Hye Mi singing "Only Hope", the show provided so many opportunities for the cast to demonstrate their musical talent and I'm still walking through the house singing "Dream High!" I love that the music element drove the plot, but it didn't overwhelm nor lack in any way. My applause to all of the cast for all of their effort and talent that made this drama rock in the end.

My Princess: Finale

2011-02-24T22:37:00.000-08:00

I feel like the drama only just got started and suddenly ended. I can't say that it's technically the time that went by, but the pace that the story went. The ending itself was satisfying in the respect that it wasn't about tying ends, but furthered the plot development, character development, etc. This is the first time really seeing some decent conflict in the last episode to bring about a great ending. Too bad the whole drama couldn't be this way!

Episode 16 (Finale) was great in that there were consequences for Hae Young and Seol to continue their relationship and get married. If they did, it could mean scandal. If not, it would mean ~~second season~~ that they would be miserable for the rest of their lives. I loved how it played out with Hae Young trying to make the decision, but then ultimately it was Seol who pointed out it's a decision they both had to make. Though I'm not too impressed with Hae Young deciding to leave and hoping Seol would chase after him. I'm glad that he was disappointed for a little bit because (1) after disappearing for the majority of 2 years, he should have a taste of what it feels and (2) he didn't win her back that easily. I will miss that pretty face, though!

Yoon Joo's own ending disappointed because with all of her evil and twisted antics, she managed to keep Jung Woo whom should have dropped her at the first sign of her eccentricities. I hope she gets a sunburn in Egypt....But in the meantime, I'm pretty happy to see how Lee Dan developed. Her resolution to not return until she became as successful or more than Seol seemed very realistic and in character. I like that even in the end, the two sisters were sisters and Lee Dan still as stubborn as ever.

Overall:

What I'm going to miss most are our three favorite characters: Lee Seol, Park Hae Young, and Nam Jung Woo. What a great performance from these actors, making us buy into their characters, falling in love when they do, laugh when they're being ridiculous, and stomping our feet whenever Yoon Joo got the upper hand. I'm sad that Professor Dreamy wasn't more in love with Seol--that he only admired her, but saw her more as an artifact to be awed of than a real person. Not that I minded that Seol ended up with Hae Young, but the competition between the two boys would have been enjoyable. Oh, so full of themselves!

But unfortunately, I think that this drama lagged quite a bit. If it wasn't for the three great characters mentioned above, this drama would have had nothing to it. I didn't see/understand any motivation for Yoon Joo to be the witch that she was. Her character was so shallow and her logic so twisted...was she doing this for her family? We don't have much history of her in the first place, so how do we buy into this? Or was she doing this for Hae Young? And if so, why are you continuining with this when Hae Young has given up, dumped you, and everyone hates you? But you are forced to continue because once you disappear, the drama has no plot anymore...or at least that's what I think the writer/director felt. But what really happens when the plot loses motivation, so does the audience.

I think some improvements could have been made. Instead of focusing on the small things like the overwhelming, over-the-top, meaning-of-life press conference, the drama could have focusedon REAL conflicts. So many of the little conflicts--satchel, fortune, etc--were very shallow and you could spot them a mile away to the point that when the conflict does arise, you aren't that surprised and I even did a double take, thinking, "Wait, didn't we solve this/know this already? Wait, she didn't know? I thought everyone knew!" In the beginning, I like the conflict of money--one or the other, Seol or Hae Young Wcouldn't have it all. And I love that they fought about it. But then, I wanted to see the vote, to see if this could happen, and what are the consequences of falling in love with the princess? Not, if she became the princess.

*sigh* This drama has so much potential and the ratings were on its side. If only it would have kept that momentum, threw out Yoon Joo (because she wasn't even a real enemy), and had a took hold of the conflict from the beginning and built on it. Luckily, all of those adorable moments really made up for it (and there were a lot) and I ate them up all the way to Episode 16.

My Princess: Episode 15

2011-02-23T23:29:00.000-08:00

Hurrah for the return of Hae Young and all adorableness! While I loved the transition going on in Episode 14-15, I'm happy that we're finally getting to the meat of the drama and what we've all been waiting for: the vote! To be the Princess or not to be the Princess? That is the question and it's finally up to the voters to discern through all the political drama what to do. I'm pretty sure if I was a voter in this election, I would have thrown my hands up in the air by now. This has dragged on long enough.

Now with Hae Young back in the picture after his long, yet short trip to the U.S., we have a whole episode dedicated to trying to persuade the public to vote to reestablish the monarchy. Which I find ridiculous because it took 3 episodes just to get the darn press conference underway. Really? One episode? Hae Young does a great job of pretending to be Public Enemy #1 and making it seem like the public would be taking away his money. Even though he intended to give it over anyways, he enjoyed holding over Seol's head as we saw throughout out the episode.

The conflict came about later on when news reports suggested a scandal between Hae Young and the Royal Foundation, something about tax evasion, and ultimately how horrible Seol is at interviews still. But at least it's a probable conflict because who wouldn't wonder that? If this was any other person in the world, we would all come to the conclusion that the two are together for monetary reasons. Our world is just like that. So, will that cost the election for Seol? Unfortunately, we won't get to find out until Episode 16 as we are left with a cruel cliff-hanger and a clip of Seol riding her bike down a hill.

As for our Enemy #1, we really don't care much about her this episode. No one should care about her. But Jung Woo does (gag), if only to stay around these last two episodes because her contract states that she has to be. A waste of air time if you ask me. I want to see more cute Hae Young/Seol moments!

My Princess: Episode 14

2011-02-17T22:12:00.000-08:00

This has to be one of my favorite episodes so far. It really felt like the drama could have ended here at Episode 14, especially with how all of the loose ends were tied up so nicely. We finally got to witness the downfall of Yoon Joo and not a moment too soon. But it's was really interesting how the beginning of this episode hinted at some angst for our Seol and Hae Young, but that didn't last very long which I didn't mind. With all of the conflicts having been dragged out this long, I'm glad that our characters didn't dwell on the bad moments too long.

While this wasn't the funniest episode, it was the most touching by far. Everything from Hae Young inviting Seol's friends over to Professor Dreamy asking Hae Young to watch over Yoon Joo to the death and funeral of the Chairman. Then we had our separation of the two lovebirds which was tastefully represented by the flower pot as the seed grew into a flower. On the one hand, it could represent the growing love between Hae Young and Seol, but I also think it represents how much the two have matured over the last fourteen episodes. Again, beautifully done.

The most satisfying moments have to be when Yoon Joo was first forced to resign from her position in the palace and then later fired by Seol. It was a long time coming and I'm so glad they did it! If the writer had tried to make Yoon Joo "good" in the end, I think we all would have pulled our hair out. Luckily, we got to see her get her just deserts and even her father can't sympathize with her. FINALLY!

Next week ends our happiness that is My Princess. I have no idea what they have in store for us next Wednesday/Thursday--maybe the public vote? maybe some political drama?--but hopefully it will be a grand finale!

My Princess: Episode 13

2011-02-16T22:08:00.000-08:00

So many good and bad moments here. While the episode began with some very adorable flirting between Hae Young and Soel, the mood turns south very fast. What Hae Young planned to be a get-away turned into a reunion with more memories for Seol. A phone call later, and the angst begins. Declarations are made, the Chairman collapses, Yoon Joo continues to be her evil witch self, but that doesn't stop our heroes from saving the day! Mom and Hae Young especially...

Oh, little Dan! How the world was so cruel to little you because you weren't born a princess, you grew up in an orphanage, and mother loves you just as much as Seol. For shame! Oh, and you totally got paid off for your selfish against against your sister who has thought only of your well-being from Day 1. Hmm, yes yes we sympathize VERY much. Luckily, mom and Hae Young know better and swooped into save the day. First with mom telling Dan that her actions are unforgiveable and then later with Hae Young freezing Dan's fortune and putting her on the no-fly list. Poor Dan! Now you have no family, no money, and nowhere to go! I hope it was all worth it...

The conflict between Hae Young and Seol I really didn't understand at first because the "horrible" news that Hae Young's father might be responsible for this mess has been suspected for weeks. The fact that Seol had no idea about it until now really stumped me at first because wasn't this common knowledge by now? But no, it really wasn't. Here is a point where the writer placed way too much time between suspected knowledge and the revelation. This information should have been close together so that when the audience suspected it, the main character did, too...or at least soon after.

But how did you like that kiss at the end? It really made me quite jealous of Seol and yes...I swooned...a lot...*sighs*

My Princess: Episode 12

2011-02-10T22:07:00.000-08:00

My Princess: Episode 11

2011-02-09T22:06:00.000-08:00

My Princess: Episode 10

2011-02-03T22:04:00.000-08:00

My Princess: Episode 9

2011-02-02T22:02:00.000-08:00

My Princess: Episode 8

2011-01-27T11:28:00.000-08:00

I don't think I've ever been so angry with an episode before. Hae Young, how could you? After KISSING her, you threw her away and destroyed her life, crushing her little soul! Don't even pretend it was for her own good because we all know better. Thankfully, Professor Dreamy and his talk with Seol put some courage into her. We've had a lot of crying so far and it's about time our princess steps up and takes the throne. Good job, Seol!

So what does that mean for this episode and future episodes? Seol is finally standing up to Yoon Joo, challenging her and not sitting idly by while she lets ENEMY #1 destroy her life. However, we still have a weakness for Hae Young. I was really hoping she would finally get a hold of herself and slap him for all he had done...but to no avail. She only had enough strength to stand up to one person for the day and I'm satisfied with that.

The proposal by the Chairman for Hae Young and Yoon Joo to get married, which was accepted by the former and rejected by the latter, was quite interesting. I didn't see it coming, thinking that since this was what Yoon Joo wanted, she would be all for it! But like always, she's full of surprises and humiliated Hae Young in the process. I was kind of hoping the two would get married and have evil children because Seol is much better off with Professor Dreamy and his geeky history obsession. But we all know that's not where the drama is heading and it'll save us all the angst if Hae Young had to be the one to break off the engagement.

Thank you, drama writer, for saving us! But do keep adding in the porn jokes. I love how you combine the fantasy, royal feel with current technology trends. Hilarious!

My Princess: Episode 7

2011-01-26T10:58:00.000-08:00

Wow, who knew Yoon Joo could be such a witch? At least she finally laid down her cards. From here on out, we should be quite confident that Yoon Joo (ENEMY #1) will be the bane of Seol's existance. I still don't understand her and I REALLY don't understand why she would make Seol wear such an ugly wig! For the first time in this series, I *cringed* when I looked at Seol! Thankfully, it was a wig and only a wig. If it was permanent, I would never have finished the episode. Glad that I did, though, because we're finally getting some romance!

Yes, indeed, on our quest to find out more about Seol's real father (and to bash her adopted father in the process), we are taken out to the seashore where we finally have some confirmation that someone actually knows Seol's father. More memories are uncovered and more of the story unfolds. We see a glimpse that Hae Young's father might have had something to do with Lee Han running around Korea with his daughter which means that we will have more angst in the future when Seol realizes this.

But the best part by far is our drunk Seol who flirts with Hae Young while he gives her a piggy back (can we have this in every episode?). The scene ends with a confession--that she doesn't dislike him--and then a kiss, with the request to "forget this." With our drunk Seol, the chances of her forgetting this ever happened are high...but then again, kissing the most handsome character of the story--I'm not sure I would ever forget it, either. And that's where we are left off!

My Princess: Episode 6

2011-01-21T14:41:00.001-08:00

Ok, now I'm insanely curious. Oh Hae Young! What are your evil plans now? Just when you were starting to warm up to me, now you've decided to pull out your "I'm evil but will pretend to be good" card? At least it's consistent with your character, but why?? You know you're only going to get hurt later. Or hurt Sul. And we would rather laugh than cry, so if you make us cry then you'll be answering to me! But gah, somehow this reminds me of the Shin v. Yul drama in Goong and you all know how that went down...

Really, we're not at all surprised that Hae Young is still as bitter as ever. What's worse is that Sul doesn't seem to have any say in the situation and her only ally is an old man who could die any day now. Oh, and Professor Dreamy. With his anti-Yoon Joo meter on, he will surely come to the rescue of the desperate princess and come in between her and Hae Young. Or at least that's what I'm really hoping with happen.

Did anyone else want to cry with Sul when she was being taken off her mom's family registry? Talk about taking away her family! First they tell her that her father is dead and guess what? You can't be related to your mother anymore! And your sister? Eh, no one really cares about her--that's not much of a loss. But besides that...I have a feeling we're going to be heading into some angst, so we should hold onto the laughs while we can.

My Princess: Episode 5

2011-01-19T12:14:00.000-08:00

Oh Hae Young, what to do with you? Threatening a scandal with the princess, assaulting a mannequin, and you can't skip an episode without letting Professor Dreamy know just how great you are. Mmhmm. That's our Hae Young! But what? An affectionate side? Was that my imagination or do you actually care about Sul? I think even the princess was slightly surprised to find you in her imagination. Until she woke up to the nightmare of realizing that she might actually be falling for you. Gah! How could things happen this way?

I've pretty much thrown aside all of the discontent about reinstating the royal family because regardless of whether the people like it or not, Sul is a Princess and she now has a palace and lots of money and if the government doesn't recognize her...well, she's a Princess with a palance and lots of money. Does she really need the government? That just sounds like more work! But I guess I'll deal with it if it requires Hae Young to give her private lessons. I feel like more LOL's are on the way and I love where this drama is going. It's a far-fetched plot, but with real conflicts, though I kind of don't like the Older Sister + Yoon Joo that is brewing this episode...I'm a little uneasy at anything that Yoon Joo is doing. Seriously, I think the two boys and Sul is all this drama needs. If we could just have them bicker throughout the next 10 hours then this drama would be my favorite ^.^ And probably cease to be a drama...but we will ignore that fact...

Hurrah for Episode 6 tomorrow! Can anyone tell I have addiction issues?

Dream High: Episode 6

2011-01-18T21:10:00.000-08:00

Hmm...what to say about this episode? Well, I'm torn between my new loves--Jin Gook and Sam Dong. Oh the two underdogs battling it out over Princess Grumpy! I have no idea what they actually see in her to love her, but it is adorable that they do and that they are fighting because we want some more of those showdowns! Yes, they are petty, but come on! She smiles at me while she cries with me and OMG ARE YOU WEARING MY UNDERWEAR? Yes, more of those moments...
Because I was laughing hysterically when Jin Gook was nearly tearing off Sam Dong's jeans to get his underwear back. I mean, really? Did you want your underwear THAT badly that you would attack him like that? Or were you wanting...something else? Too bad that got interrupted. We will never get to know!

Ok, and concerning Baek Hee--is anyone as surprised as I am how easily she turned evil? It took one audition...ok, maybe two or three encounters with Hye Mi's bad side and already she's attempting murder? It's just not realistic. I think Baek Hee's development could have been better if she actually struggled with her desire to hate Hye Mi. I can understand that after being beaten in the exams, Baek Hee wasn't too keen on hearing Miss First Class out. BUT, her nature in the beginning was being a loyal friend and good person. If the evil!teacher was responsible for pushing Baek Hee into the realm of evilness, we should see more of that. Such as Baek Hee starting to think she should forgive Hye Mi and then evil!teacher come along and give her advice persuading her to be more evil...and then in the end, if Hye Mi really does lose control of herself, her good personality is still in tact, but tainted by foul advice.

Does that make sense? Or maybe that's too complicated for a high school setting? I don't know. I just don't like how quickly Baek Hee switched sides. So much for loyalty. If she was really close to Hye Mi, she would know what a spoiled brat Hye Mi was already and could see past the facade...again, that may be too complicated for her either.

But I'm loving the drama--addicted until the end, I think. It's very cute and the characters are lovable. I do like Hye Mi's cold and distant personality because she's not the damsel in distress--she wants to pick herself up out of her own darn hole and I reckon she'll do it once she realizes that she can't do it alone. It's refreshing from all of the other female leads that I've become accustomed to in Korean dramas. Come on, Hye Mi! I'm rooting for you! And Pil Sook who is my official fav =D

Dream High: Episode 5

2011-01-18T12:45:00.001-08:00

I'm still addicted. This episode, from beginning to end, was overall very well done. We got to see development from Hye Mi, Jin Gook's nobleness, Sam Dong saving the day, and Pil Sook is becoming my favorite character over and over again. The best scene in this episode has to be the four of them dancing to Girl's Generation's "Genie." I had to watch that scene twice because it was so much fun! What a great episode! If we get more of those dancing/singing moments throughout the rest of the show, I will be satisfied ^.^

But that's not all that went on during this fifth hour. It seems like Kang Oh Hyuk and Yang Jin Man are on their way to settling their own differences while helping the poor rejects, although it will be a tough battle against Principal Shi and his vindictive daughter, Shi Kyung Jin. And omg, when Principal Shi came on screen dressed up as President Jung, I could not stop laughing! Someone is a wannabe! But he wasn't the only transformation during this episode. Pil Sook is also looking noticeable thinner as she's morphing from the ugly duckling into the beautiful swan that we all know she is.

So, I'm pretty much hooked. While the beginning didn't get me addicted, it's episodes like this one that make me want to watch more!

Secret Garden: Finale

2011-01-17T11:03:00.000-08:00

I just finished watching the final episode of Secret Garden, one of my stranger addictions. This show was definitely way better than Marry Me, Mary which both began around the same time. I started watching Secret Garden right after Episode 8 and was quite addicted afterwards. It's not a rational addiction because I didn't really like much about it. The beginning was WAY too long to set down plot and it dragged on and on...after Episode 4, I was ready to give up. If it wasn't for the body swap in Episode 5/6, I think I would have abandoned Secret Garden forever.

So now that I've said that, what did I actually get addicted to? Well, I'm a huge sucker for witty dialogue and frankly, Joo-Won's character. I don't know why, but I felt more sympathy for him the entire show than I did for Ra-Im. He just seemed like a real character to me. He was a jerk, but one with skeletons and a prince-syndrome that made him a real character. Ra-Im, however, was a good girl and the only "bad" aspect was that she was poor. She didn't have a complex and I'm really not even sure when she fell in love with Joo-Won because she spent the first half of the show telling him off. Then all of a sudden, she liked him. And I said, "Wait...that doesn't make sense! Logic, where did you GO?"

Logic: *stayed back on Jeju Island on vacation for rest of show*

But I continued to watch, if not to listen to the pretty music and laugh at the funny dialogue. I didn't fall in love with this drama only because I don't think there was a cliff for me to fall off of. There was no real stakes and sometimes I wondered why the show didn't end already. But now that I've watched the ending, seen all the bows and knots tied together, I'm at least somewhat satisfied with the ending.

It was a happy ending and one that defied logic--Joo-Won married Ra-Im, kept his job, his house, and pretty much his wealth. The only thing that he lost was his mother and her approval. Psh, no big loss there. If my mother-in-law was like that, who would want her to be around? Their kids were spoiled to death and Joo-Won and Ra-Im as immature and in love as ever. At least we got to witness that--that they did live happily ever after instead of the Little Mermaid who disappeared like bubbles.

So hurrah for that and hurrah for the ending of the show. Now what will I do with my Saturdays and Sundays??

My Princess: Episode 4

2011-01-13T19:06:00.000-08:00

Finally, after four episodes, the plot is going to move on and it looks like it's going to be one fun ride. So far, we've spent four hours introducing the plot, the background, the characters, and where they stand. And of course, snickering to ourselves the entire time. Honestly, if this show only had Hae Young and Seul bickering the entire time and nothing else, I think I would still be addicted. It's that entertaining.

However, what was different about this episode is the shift from "introduction conflict" to real plot which I'm very excited about. I love how the drama is going so far, but now we're finally going full steam ahead. The paparazzi have harassed us all, shooting pictures, and some ridiculous headlines. A few showdowns from our favorite men, Hae Young and Jung Woo (and don't we all swoon when we do? Btw, does anyone else notice that it's kind of weird for two guys to fight over the same two girls? I mean, you can't have both, guys!). And some LOL's with Seul's mom and her congregation. Of course, we won't forget the more sweet moments with Seul remembering her dad and the times they had spent together.

It wasn't the best episode so far, but in the end Seul made her decision to be a princess, Hae Young will lose everything, and I can see Jung Woo, Yoon-Ju fighting over our OTP until the end, and I am counting down the days until the next episode. I just hope the quality and humor keep it up because I can tell it's going to be a fun 6 more weeks =D

My Princess: Episode 3

2011-01-12T23:12:00.000-08:00

Can you say "super cute"? I can officially say, this is my new favorite fluffy drama currently. Being the third episode that I've watched, we still have another episode to go before the week is over (SQUEE!). But anyways, coming back down to Earth, this drama has kept a good momentum with both touching moments for Seul, hilarious bickering between Seul and Hae-Young, or all of the misunderstandings for Yoon-Ju that make you snicker. Whichever it is (and there is a lot of it), the right moments are there and there are a lot of it.

I'm also very pleased with the pace of the show. It's not showing too many flashbacks--enough that it makes you crave to know more about the past and more about where the story is going. The plot, one that I hear is not very original, is used well to hold the show together and really works. The plot and characters move together, but they also have their own identities that make them both enjoyable and fun. I'm still digging this drama. It's a lot of fun to watch and keeps me laughing--something I've been needing after a day of stress.

So far, I give 5/5. It's a must watch!

Dream High: Episode 4

2011-01-11T22:20:00.000-08:00

Wow, all of a sudden this drama hit the ground running. Where was this energy before? We finally got past the introduction which is great because honestly, I was waiting for President Jung to finally disappear. Honestly, he just made no sense. Now we leave the plot in the hands of the three special admission students who are stuck in the lower classes where they cannot study music or dancing and there only hope is maybe get into a college...how sad is that? But at least the plot has finally decided to give us some direction. I can tell from now on, we'll be following these underdogs whom the new Principal will refuse to let succeed. Ok, now I'm on board!

I feel like I've been waiting for this episode forever. As tensions got higher and higher with yelling and screaming, cat fights, dog fights, and battles over weight...we are now getting to what this drama is really about: music competition between the higher class students and lower class. I can tell this is going to be a rough battle, especially if Oh Hyuk is involved, but one that will be worth watching. It's obvious that Sam Dong, Jin Gook, and Hye Mi are talented and just need the opportunity to prove it to the world. How this will happen with a under-qualified teacher is beyond me, but I think it'll still be fun. At least we're going somewhere.

Good luck, Hye Mi! If you don't beat Baek Hee at your exams, be prepared to eat your words. Though if she does win, will that mean the end of the conflict between them? I hope not--I do look forward to the competition between you two because at least that is one consistent conflict that has been apparent since episode one.

Dream High: Episode 3

2011-01-10T22:06:00.000-08:00

We are delving deeper into the characters that are Hye Mi, Baek Hee, and Jin Gook. After this episode, it's kind of clear where the line has been drawn. Obviously the three specially admitted students aren't exactly welcome and President Jung left WHO in charge and put his trust in WHO? I question his character and his reasons. Does anyone else feel that this drama has started to get random? Where did Sam Dong come from, anyways?? How does President Jung even know about him? Well, that's where we are this episode.

I love seeing Hye Mi's cold personality start to crack, thanks to Jin Gook. It's nice to see her protective shield be let down once in a while and I can tell Jin Gook is falling in love with her just as Sam Dong claimed love at first sight. So here is the love triangle! I was wondering who all of the characters were. I'm glad we are all here and accounted for. But this plot is going slow and to be honest, I have no idea where it's going. Is there a reason it's taking this long to get the show set up? Can we get to the singing and dancing parts faster?

And I'm surprised at Baek Hee's antics, not only embarrassing her best friend (because honestly...you know her better than that to pull something like that...) and then sabotaging the other girl's audition so she could perform on stage. What? I thought you were a sweet, innocent little thing! When did you get so aggressive?? It just doesn't make sense, although we are aware of teacher influence and all, they still can't perform personality changes.