Still, Marry MeViewing experience: Kim Bum in a rom-com as a noona killer? Count me in! My bias to this guy and the pseudo-Sex and the City vibe of this series made me eagerly reach out for the next episode at once.
Pros: If you’re a Kim Bum fan (which I am), especially an old Kim Bum fan (hear hear!), this show is for you. The lead pairing is as adorable and as real (despite the crazy situational setups) in terms of emotions as you can get. The friendship among the three girl leads is top notch, and you won’t be surprised that my favorite out of the three is Bu-Ki. This drama made me more appreciative of my girlfriends (as if I don’t appreciate them enough already!). One of the best and underrated rom-com for this year.
Cons: Kind of weirded out with the additional love line of Sang Woo and Sang Mi, and I don’t particularly care for their love story at all. Although this love line definitely lends its own take into the big “age issue” that this series treats very well. Anyway, I just think that having your ex-boyfriend currently going out with your current boyfriend’s mom is a bizarre setup.
Verdict: Great series to just watch while curled up in your bed surrounded with comfort food (preferably a goguma among them).
Cinderella’s Sister
Viewing experience: Wasn’t planning to watch this series, but my kdrama-loving friend told me to give it a try. I knew this series is tending on the angst territory but I was totally enthralled with the first four episodes. But then it went downhill when they all grew up and people just don’t speak what they REALLY feel. Thankfully (or not), I had enough time to finish the rest of the 16 episodes after that.
Pros: Superb acting by Moon Geun Young, Kim Gab Soo, and Lee Mi Sook (OMG she was AMAZING as the mother! I’m not worthy!!!). And I FINALLY get to see why my friend adores Chun Jung Myung (kind of slow on that one, dang, his smile KILLS me…too bad he frowns like 80% of the time). Oh, and a great OST song by Yesung of Super Junior.
Cons: After episode 7-ish there really is no major progression in terms of the plot. I mean this is the series that got me interested in tasting my first ever cup of makgeolli, but the business aspect dynamics could’ve been more intense (although the rival boss dude was HOT). And man, Chun Jung Myung’s character just STARES like 70% of the time! I preferred the time when he was less jaded (first few episodes) and that the viewer can understand why he’s the only one who can bring out that ice-encased heart of Eun Jo. Too much angst going in circles. Such a waste of what could have been.
Verdict: Watch the first five episodes just for the awesome acting skills and story potential. I can tell you what happens in the rest in less than five minutes.
Personal TasteViewing experience: Highly anticipated series for me because of Lee Min Ho and Sohn Ye Jin. I was not as manic about it as I expected. But it could’ve been worse, hehe.
Pros: The lead pair chemistry is just lovely. Sohn Ye Jin is absolutely endearing to the core, too bad her character was kind of bland towards the end (I blame the makeover, there’s something about permed hair, hehe). Lee Min Ho was great eye candy and his fashion sense is very trendy. Also love the side characters, even the crazy ones. Oh, and the skinship was great, haha. That “game over” scene totally got me floored. Ryu Seung Ryong (Doo Bin) was also the shining light in this series, playing the closet gay gallery directory with such sensitivity and empathy.
Cons: The editing was the worst, I wanted to hurl my laptop at that last scene in Episode 8 (seriously, no amount of logic can justify that part). The sound editing was also distracting. And the ending was a bit half-baked, with a lot of the loose ends tied up to hastily with no adequate justification. If I didn’t love the main pair I might’ve ditched this series. Oh, and I was expecting Lee Min Ho to act gay in order to pretend one, which sadly didn’t happen.
Verdict: Watch it if you’re a Lee Min Ho and/or a Sohn Ye Jin fan. Or if you like pretend-gay setups. Or pretty traditional Korean houses.
My Girlfriend is a Gumiho
Viewing experience: At the edge of my seat and giddy with excitement at the end of every episode. So happy that the subbing group is fast in doing this one.
Pros: I have this HUGE bias on Lee Seung Gi so I’m sold with this series from the start. The bumbling beta-male is a great fit with him. And he definitely made me cry towards the end of the drama (drat these guys who look splendid when their eyes are brimming with tears!) But the jewel in this series is definitely Shi Min Ah with her sweet portrayal of the gumiho. The main couple grabbed my attention in every scene that they are in, that I don’t care how weird some of the decisions may be or how stock characters the 2nd leads are. I really can’t get enough of the hoi-hoi couple, and I always get hungry when Mi Ho is hungry LOL. The OST too is pretty whimsical and fits the drama well. Another Hong sisters hit in my book. *finger guns*
Cons: Some tolerance may be needed when it comes to the side characters. The love line between the action school director and Dae Woong’s aunt was funny and cute at first but I grew tired of them midway.
Verdict: Must watch for anyone who wants a cute romcom tinged with fantasy elements
Playful KissViewing experience: Struggled through this one. I liked It Started with a Kiss but didn’t watch every episode with bated breath as this coincided with a couple of good dramas. Only got to finish this one at the end of the year.
Pros: Uh, Kim Hyun Joong has improved? Hehehe, well the girl lead is more endearing and easier to empathize with compared to the Taiwanese version (Ariel Lin’s portrayal drove me nuts). Cute visuals.
Cons: As a Goong fan, I don’t get why the same PD had to replicate the bear scenes again with this one. Even the color scheme of this series is similar to Goong’s. Anyway, I just can’t shake off the similarities. The pace is kind of slow for me, as we’re as usual boggled with why stone-faced Seung Jo won’t admit to his feelings already.
Verdict: Hmmm, I guess watch this if you have nothing to watch anymore and don’t want to think about anything.
Sungkyunkwan Scandal
Viewing experience: This is my pleasant surprise series for this year, as I was not initially planning to pick this one up because of the sageuk treatment. But due to the favorable reviews and that I don’t have anything to watch (not to keen on continuing Playful Kiss during that time), I succumbed. And I’m glad I did.
Pros: The Jalgeum Quartet is the best thing that’s going on for this series. Every member of the group was amazing in his own right. Micky was surprisingly good for an idol-turned-actor. Park Min Young held her ground. Yoo Ah In was drop dead hot and brooding and has cute hiccups. Soong Joong Ki just about killed me with his twirls. The Guhro-Yeorim bromance is up there with the Frodo-Sam pairing, hehe. The setups were carefully laid and I can definitely feel the tension between the lead pairing (before it was revealed that Daemul was a girl). The stare-fest from the lead pairing was awesome.
Cons: Slightly unsatisfying ending. All the fun was actually before the “OMG he’s a she” moment in my opinion. The last few episodes were unsatisfying in terms of resolution both for the situation conflicts and the characters themselves.
Verdict: Watch this to have an unhealthy bout of fangirling for all the characters. This makes me wish for a Guhro-Yeorim bromance spinoff series. Or at least have one CF starring both characters, hehe.
Mary Stayed Out All NightViewing experience: Actual product didn’t meet up to how excited I was when I first heard about this series. Trudging along the series (not done yet) and in no rush to watch the remaining episodes.
Pros: Total eye candy from Jang Geun Suk, despite making him look like a she. The cuteness of Jang Geun Suk and Moon Geun Young knows no bounds.
Cons: Unfocused writing and weird characterizations and motivations from the side characters. Sorely underutilized talents from the main leads. So much potential wasted *sigh* and I hear that there will be bizarre situations to come.
Verdict: Maybe just watch this if you’re a fan of either of the main leads. But then again, just watch their better works.
Secret Garden
Viewing experience: I can’t get enough of this series (so far!) I wasn’t particularly excited about it during the pre-prod days, but dang, I’m addicted. This series is still ongoing so I’m holding out my final verdict.Pros: AMAZING AMAZING chemistry from Ha Ji Won and Hyun Bin. I can dedicate a whole series just about their chemistry. Interesting characterizations about the main leads which keeps you on your toes and glued to the screen on what they’re going to do next. Heartfelt OST that tugs at the heart. Stunning cinematography with a fast-paced, witty dialogue. And it’s chockfull of sizzling bickering which is my kind of dynamic.
Cons: One might get disturbed on how thin Hyun Bin looks here. Also, the not-so-veiled hints of a “sickness” or something is still keeping me wary from giving my whole heart into this series. And this is the same writer who gave us Lovers in Paris. So yeah, consider us warned.
Verdict: As long as the writer doesn’t go berserk and gives us a surprise disease from someone and he/she dies as a result, this will be a highly recommended kdrama for me.
That’s it for my kdrama rundown. I was planning to include Coffee House, Baker King Kim Tak Gu, I am Legend, and Runaway but they are all either not watched religiously on my end (just caught some episodes in KBS World) and some I abandoned after watching a few episodes. Whew! I hope 2011 may as well give us great kdramas, it will be the time of musical kdramas during the first part. Particularly excited for What’s Up. My pick for drama of the year will be My Girlfriend is a Gumiho with a possibility of giving way to Secret Garden if the latter keeps up its awesomeness for its last six episodes.
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