Top Five Koreanovelas (Part 2 of 5)

 Title: Dal Ja’s Spring 
Chae Rim as Oh Dal Ja (CR)
Lee Min Ki as Kang Tae Bong (LMK)
Lee Hyun Woo as Um Gi Jeong (LHW)
Lee Hye Young as Wee Son Ju (LHY)
Gong Hyung Jin as Shin Se Do (GHJ)

Synopsis: (partly from soompi.com)
Oh Dal Ja (CR) is a 33y/o successful MD of a home shopping network…and single. She has devoted her life to building her career and has already achieved success in that regard. All that’s missing is a family of her own. Then she meets GHJ, a colleague of hers, who turned out to be a player and also flirted w/ LHY who is the host of the shopping network. Through a bizarre event in Christmas Eve, CR meets LMK, a 27y/o male escort whom she soon contracted to be her boyfriend in order to preserve her pride.

Another guy in the picture is the character of LHW who seems to be everything that CR is expecting to be her fairy tale prince. So ultimately, CR is confronted with 3 guys while figuring out for herself which one she really likes.

As expected LMK would start to like CR and pursues her even though their contract has already expired. CR also have feelings for LMK but is initially reluctant due to their age difference. The course of the series would then deal on how CR and LMK would overcome obstacles that hinder their relationship.

How I Came to Watch the Series: the ever-dependable Ica who researches and screens every new series in Korea

What I Like About the Series: ALMOST EVERYTHING!!! Still fresh in my mind, already watched the series 3x in 1 week, hahaha. Romantic and hilarious (grabe ang tinawa ko dito), one of the well-written series I came across. Maybe the bias stems from the fact that I have a sneaking suspicion that I’ll be Dal Ja in my 30s (in a relationship w/ a 27y/o guy? I won’t complain if it’s a Kang Tae Bong personified!). Hyper pa imagination niya (I’m guilty of that). I love the female empowerment the whole series exudes.

I was able to symphatize w/ every character, even the loco ex-wife of LHW hehe (I hate it in other series wherein the other parties are not anymore rational…). Every character was staying true to himself. I didn’t get pissed at any main character (which is rare in my experience). Dal Ja, despite being pressured into marriage, does not let it dictate her relationship with Tae Bong. Tae Bong is soooo mature for his age (is there such a guy?), great character.

Also love the drawings that depict each series (like the bear scenes in Goong). Great OST (as usual), favorite track is Nae Son Eul Jab Ah Jwuh by K-Jun, which sadly was not used fully in the series (mostly yung intro lang)

Major highlight is *drumroll* LMK…gosh…there’s something about him in this series that made me a bit obsessed about him (to think that I’ve watched him before and disregarded him, haha). He’s 22y/o (leche mas matanda pa ko) and able to act superbly… he has a big future ahead of him. He’s not the conventional good-looking type but I turn to putty everytime I see him. Waaah, I’m getting gaga again just thinking about him, or actually I think his character really did it in for me… also the fact that he always wears trenchcoats (reminds me of Taka in Fushigi Yuugi…waaah! Maybe that’s why I like LMK! Same hair pa sila! Haha). Love every scene wherein he’s just slouching against a post or a wall waiting for Dal Ja…okay, I’ll stop drooling now…

LMK and Taka: hahahah possible ba ung resemblance? gotta look for better pics

What I Don’t Like About It: CR’s heavy make-up? Maybe it’s intentional again to make her look older, also didn’t like the black nails (another way to indicate she’s older? Ewan). Also kinda craved for more CR-LMK scenes in the early parts of the series, hahaha. There are times when I don’t want to watch what’s happening between LHY and GHJ just to get ahead to the CR-LMK parts, haha.

Favorite Moment: haha, ang dami kong favorite parts. Meron pa ngang “The Classic” part eh (what I call scenes wherein it’s raining and the pair is running underneath the guy’s jacket…best rendition is in “The Classic” (Korean movie)---highly recommended, btw). Anyway, favorite moment is the break-up scene (haha what’s wrong w/ me, depressing mga favorite moments ko).

What I love about it is the fact that it probably is the most reasonable breakup I saw! As in I can’t blame CR for wanting the breakup or even LMK for indirectly causing her to. To think that LMK was about to propose to her just when she blurted her desire to breakup! Ouch sobra. Sakit nung part na ‘to:

LMK: What else can I do, so that you'll believe strongly in me?
CR: It's because of those reasons that I'm exhausted, you know?
LMK: What?
CR: I made you give up your dream. I made you return to the law firm you hate so much. I made you disregard your parents' oppositions. On top of that, your ex lover shows up. My mom went to see you to pressure you into marriage. And I don't even know for sure if you love me.
LMK: Those things…are that tiring?
CR: Yes, very tiring.
LMK: Even more tiring than breaking up with me?

Shet, as in nagpipigil pang umiyak si LMK, matching shot of him clutching the ring box tighter at his back! Galeng sobra!