2013 kdrama half time report

And…it’s time for another round-up of kdramas! Sad to say not a lot kdramas have caught my attention for the first half of the year, so there are certainly periods of that I don’t have a kdrama on my plate (the horror!) and resorted to picking randomly whatever’s on air just to say that I’m watching something (which kind of backfired, no awesome surprises unlike Queen In Hyun’s Man). Nonetheless, there are a few enjoyable bunch in the list so on to my reviews!

WARNING: Spoilers ahead

Alice in Cheongdamdong – okay, I watched the first few episodes last year so my memory may be faulty. Anyway, I downloaded this because my mom is was a Park Si Hoo fan (given his sex scandal shortly thereafter may have made that to past tense) and Moon Geun Young can always be relied on to deliver empathy to her characters (yes, even in Cinderella's Sister). Hmmm, I’m not sure what to think of it, the premise is interesting especially with the fact that the lead girl did pursue the guy on purpose when she learned that he was rich. That however also clouded the mood of the drama, all I was waiting for is for her to be caught. And somehow given how MGY looks, it’s hard to imagine her being somewhat of the scheming sort. And somehow I can’t see the chemistry between her and PSH (main reason is her baby-face look). This is a pretty straightforward drama, had its heart-tugging moments but not enough to really engage me as a whole.

Verdict: Just okay. Maybe watch it if you’re a fan of any of the actors. 

School 2013 – awww, School 2013…I was ready to love you but you didn’t turn out quite what I was expecting. I’m not sure if the writers did it on purpose but honestly almost everyone in that classroom was just plain annoying. And I was expecting (well, at the start) that there would be some love lines forming but yeah, some hints at the start and then nothing. I was excited about it in the beginning, since it’s a bit raw and we always want a good coming-of-age story. But I don’t know, I think it’s more of the pacing / distribution of the lives of the students throughout the series, and seriously some of the students made me want to tear my hair out. Sometimes you just want to root for them and turn that new leaf, but most of the time I just want them to take the fall ‘cause most of them are really the bratty sort. Obviously I’m not cut out to be a teacher, heh.

This is not to say that there are no stellar moments in this show. I think the whole Go Nam Soon – Park Heung Soo bromance arc was the obvious highlight of the series, although it’s a bit too long, made me think that it’s about those two boys than an ensemble endeavour. It was well-acted though and I have newfound love for Lee Jong Suk after the series. The teachers’ arc was also pretty interesting, and while I was disappointed that we don’t have a definitive Daniel Choi-Jang Nara love line out of it, the growth of these characters left me satisfied. Still, how I wish that all the stories/aspects in the school were more cleverly laid out and the side characters less annoying.

OST Pick: 4Minute - Welcome to the School

Verdict: Could’ve been a better drama but still watchable. 

Flower Boy Next Door – what a cute series, which was what I was expecting in the first place since it’s under the Oh Boy! category (see: Flower Boy Ramyun Shop, Shut Up Flower Boy Band) This is a zippy and fun drama, although the plot somewhat dragged towards the end. Dok Go Mi (Park Shin Hye) was a relatable character (oh, if only I can get away with her style of living and getting paid at the same time), and isn’t it just a wish come true for a girl’s condo unit to be flanked by totally cute boys? Once the whole i-am-a-recluse plot point got resolved I think there isn’t much that made me addicted to it unlike in the first half. The boys are adorable though and acting was convincing all around. Yoon Shi Yoon was dead on for Enrique, and it’s refreshing to see Kim Ji Hoon take on an adorkable character (yes, it’s time to move on from the stoic chaebol roles!). YSY and PSH are crazy cute together, and they rank high in the “expressive eyes” category. Seriously, I was crying every time they cry. That first fight they had was just, ugh, can’t get enough of all the tearing-up of their eyes as the dialogue progressed. It all ends well (as it’s should be) and the last episode was just too sweet I can’t even, with some awesome lines to boot.

What I love about the drama most of all is the style and look of it, which is very cinematic and almost jdorama-ish that’s increasingly becoming the look-and-feel of TVN dramas. The interspersing with the manhwa drawings with the actual characters was a classy touch, I wished they used it more. This is one of those series that you would watch for that feel-good vibe and avante garde feel.

OST Picks:
Park Shin Hye - Pitch Black (acoustic ver.)
Lee Jung - Wish it was You

Verdict: Watch it especially if you need a mood lift.

That Winter, the Wind Blows – Ah *sigh* okay, the Jo In Sung and Kim Bum presence lessened the pain in picking up this drama. The whole premise of pretending to be the brother to the blind girl lead is just so reminiscent of those makjang of yore and should’ve clued me to stay clear of this drama. Alas, maybe I’m a sadist, or maybe because my mom wanted me to continue downloading this series, so I stuck to watching the whole thing. Honestly, what’s with Song Hye Gyo and all her oppa-but-not-actually-THAT­-type-of-oppa roles?

Well at least it’s a beautifully-shot series, although the close-ups are just too much (good think they have awesome skin, or, err, make-up). Sad to say, Jo In Sung’s acting skills are still the same? Hihihi. Anyway, somehow I can’t get into the swing of his emotions of loving the girl because it’s still under the pretense that he is her brother. So yeah, can’t get behind all of that and empathize with all the angst and crying. It’s pretty though. Made me want to go to a random winter-laden hill and experience a good back hug, haha.

OST Pick: Yesung - Gray Paper

Verdict: Melo, but not even the kind that would make you rip your heart out so…no.

Gu Family Book – I normally don’t watch sageuks but hell, it’s Lee Seung Gi, so fine, I’ll watch it. I think it was too long for its own good, although the plot points are interesting (well, tolerable) enough. Actually the daddy-mommy arc at the start and towards the end of the series is more moving than the main arc. Now I’m wishing that this series is about them, hehe. Although I got to say, I’m more tolerant of Suzy here compared to her previous works. I don’t know why they ditched the salt-and-pepper gumiho hair of LSG, I think it looks good along with the green eyes hehehe. I think this would’ve worked well if it was less than 20 episodes, and more stuff about looking for that damn book. That’s the title of the series right?

And c’mon that last episode just about killed the entire thing for me. Fine, let’s kill Yeo Wool, which is just about one of the better characters of this series. Let’s just prove that you can’t escape from your fate *sarcasm*. The villain just about became a dud in the end, I wished there was a more satisfying finale for him, although I do like that Chung Jo gave the last blow. The setup at the start was already grand, with the young generation almost mimicking the struggles experienced by the older generation, all because of this one evil guy. So yeah, I was expecting a higher fall for him, I don’t even know what those Japanese men are good for, stirring the pot then just bailing out in the end. Too squeaky clean and convenient on how the writer put a lid on things. And the time jump at the end was just, ugh, so left field. So Kang Chi meets this supposed reincarnation of Yeo Wool, so he’s going to start looking for the Gu Family Book in 2013? Should he start looking for the reincarnation of the good ol’ monk? *sigh*

So let’s just concentrate on the Wol Ryung – Seo Hwa (daddy-mommy) arc:


Verdict: Hmmm, can we just go back to My Girlfriend is a Gumiho? Although we have some top-baring from LSG (and some hot eye candy with Choi Jin Hyuk) so I guess that’s enough to tide us easy to please fangirls over.

Cyrano Dating Agency – more than half of the series already aired so might as well clock in my review. Another instalment of the Oh Boy! umbrella, this trendy TVN drama has the same indie and warm feel just like its predecessors. I do love their matchmaking cases of the week, and the cameos are just plain awesome (hello… Ji Jin Hee! Taemin! Lee Yoon Ji! Gong Yoo! Although Gong Yoo was tooo short! rawr) The cases are just too sweet, and I love how each case also brings out the relationship dynamics among the members of the Dating Agency. I think Lee Jong Hyuk was a tad too old for Sooyoung, but he nonetheless has that appeal (and could work a pair of tight pastel pants). I was expecting to not like Sooyoung, or her character, but I’m actually digging her open, heart-over-mind, and even ditzy responses to situations. Since there are still a lot of ground to cover (six more episodes) I’m expecting that we get more steam from the main romantic arc (based on the end of ep10, things are starting to heat up, so I’m happy). This is another light drama, no high stakes, just that fuzzy feeling you get when you see relationships work out.

Oh, and what a pleasant surprise to see Kim Jung Hwa in this series, brings back all that Nonstop3 obsession I had in college. And Hong Jong Hyun is just ADORABLE being the frozen robot that falls in love with the bubbly girl. And I'm in love with the song below, really brings out the flutters:

OST Pick: Ra.D - Something Flutters

Verdict: Watch it. Lots of cute feels.

That’s it! I hope a lot of good dramas are in store for the second half. I’m currently watching Monstar (another TVN series) which is also a cool series. The only drama I dropped in the first half is Level 7 Civil Servant. Yes, no need to justify that choice. Even Gaksital can’t save that one.