WARNING: Spoilers ahead
Monstar – this series is cute, the type that you shouldn’t take seriously (because hello, the cool kids are the ones playing in the orchestra? So against the grain, but you didn’t convince me, dear writer). The story has a lot of mass appeal, being an underdog story, with the group of misfits banding together because of their varied musical styles. The lead pairing is, again, cute. Our lead heroine (Min Seyi, played by Ha Yeonsoo) is kinda cooky and doesn’t know her own appeal while our lead hero (Yoon Seolchan, played by idol Yong Junhyung from Beast, who I had to admit is tolerable. Sorry, can’t help the judgment, it’s my blog anyway) is your typical stoic and spoiled idol. You also have your smattering of side characters to round up the gang.
I view this series much like how I perceived Glee before (before dropping it altogether) – the story hook was entertaining at first but strangely not enough to bring me deep enough, and by the end of it, I just watch to catch the musical performances. The student issues are your typical coming-of-age problems, and with School 2013 a few months before, I’m up to my quota of high school woes. Hehe, seriously the latter half of this series I caught myself investing in just to see how the Student Body President (Jung Sunwoo, played by Kang Haneul) and the rebel (Nana, played by Dahee of girl group Glam) would hook up – which didn’t happen, by the way. It was all weird and open-ended I want to tear my hair out. No, seriously, Nana should’ve headlined this drama. Or maybe I’m just more drawn to the misunderstood cool chicks.
But I have to say, the performances are memorable in my book. Most especially "Person, Love" by Kang Haneul and Dahee. The original is by Lena Park and Kim Bumsoo.
Verdict: Mostly a ball of fluff, even if it takes on a serious tone once in a while. Still, an entertaining watch.
I Hear Your Voice – yowza, I wasn’t planning to watch IHYV but it’s been getting a lot of raves so I couldn’t resist. This series was HIGHLY gripping, I’m almost at the edge of my seat every time, good thing I don’t have a heart problem. Hell, if you have a hero who can hear the thoughts of people, you have no time to dwell on the mediocre. Even with the extreme situations, I find myself drawn to the characters, especially our lovely, spunky, and highly-flawed heroine who had to navigate her way through her own sense of justice versus what she has to do as a lawyer.
And holy hell, I love you IHYV for giving us an unexpected noona romance! And establishing it almost at the start and sustaining it all throughout! I couldn’t believe it at first that the romantic bent would turn out that way. I was skeptical because it’s a bit left field given the story, but I was totally on board the moment the series was definite that Lee Boyoung and Lee Jongsuk would be the romantic pair. Honestly, the characters are so well-written and untypical that the underlying suspense (the crazy maniac killer gave me nightmares, I kid you not) just about amps this series all the more.
OST Pick: Jung Yup - Why Did You Come Now?
Verdict: Recommended. Tune in for the fast-paced plot with lots of feels for the main characters.
Master’s Sun – thank you kdrama gods, the Hong Sisters haven’t lost their touch (still annoyed at the hours I spent with Big). This series more or less like your trademark Hong Sisters drama (although MGIAG and Best Love are still high on my list), high on the metaphors, the cliffhangers, and the lovely quirkiness, although a bit darker given the ghost-seeing premise.
I haven’t seen any So Jisub drama (I know, you can crucify me. But seriously, that face has all the traces of a melodrama weeper *shudders*) so who knew that he can be underhandedly funny and endearing acting as the “stoic” chaebol? Props to you So Jisub, and you’re hot. Too bad we don’t have a lot of shirtless scenes (and no, that operating room scene does not count. There’s blood.), yes I’m shallow. Gong Hyojin is endearing as usual, and has a lot of chemistry with anyone she gets paired up with. And since your series largely hinges on the skinship factor (she had to touch him to ward off the ghosts), you got to have a decent amount of chemistry to pull that off.
The ghost appearances vary from the scary to the pitiful types. While the ghost cases were entertaining (oh god, I cried at the ghost army dog the most), I was a bit relieved that the romance took up most of the screen time on the latter half of the drama.
OST Pick: Hyorin - Crazy of You
Verdict: If you’re up for solid romance with a bit of supernatural bent, then this one’s for you.
Heirs – oh, Heirs. Well I guess if I slugged through Faith just because of Lee Min Ho then OBVIOUSLY I will watch you. The triad Lee Min Ho – Kim Woo Bin – Choi Jin Hyuk hotness got me hook-line-and-sinker on board with this series. But ugh, the plot is so cliché and not even entertaining at that. Seriously, until now it’s not clear to me why Lee Min Ho’s character got shipped to the US three years ago. Or maybe I was not paying attention? IDK.
That’s not to say that it wasn’t watchable. You get your classic Cinderella story (but a Cinderella who is so poor she has a Samsung Note 3) with the poor girl and rich boy and all the baggage that comes with it. The cast was solid, they acted pretty well despite the lack of movement that the writing afforded to them (some of the side stories were choppy, especially that bit with hyung and his love affair with the scholar girl, her big eyes kind of freak me out). Lee Min Ho and Kim Woo Bin are intense on screen that you can’t take your eyes off of them, and their interaction with Park Shin Hye is believable (I love PSH but why do I feel she always has this wall that goes in the way of full-on lead chemistry? And I’m just not talking about her on-screen kissing skills). Anyway, the writing is a bit haphazard, 20 episodes is too long I think for such a series that does not even spice up an overused theme.
OST Pick: Changmin - Moment (no fave track in the OST, but I'm picking this one because that "love is the moment" is pure crack)
Verdict: For Lee Min Ho and Kim Woo Bin fans. Still watchable but maybe don’t marathon it for you'll see the glaring holes in the writing.
I dropped Reply 1994 early on because it’s not as addicting as its predecessor and I’m now putting Pretty Man, You from Another Star, and Prime Minister and I in my to-watch list, so I’ll weigh on them come first half of 2014.
And that’s 2013 Korean dramas for you all! There is no clear standout series for me this year, but if I had to pick one it would be Flower Boy Next Door just for the artsy and feel-good vibe. Objectively I would choose I Hear Your Voice, but in terms of making a lasting impression, I would have to pick FBND.
I view this series much like how I perceived Glee before (before dropping it altogether) – the story hook was entertaining at first but strangely not enough to bring me deep enough, and by the end of it, I just watch to catch the musical performances. The student issues are your typical coming-of-age problems, and with School 2013 a few months before, I’m up to my quota of high school woes. Hehe, seriously the latter half of this series I caught myself investing in just to see how the Student Body President (Jung Sunwoo, played by Kang Haneul) and the rebel (Nana, played by Dahee of girl group Glam) would hook up – which didn’t happen, by the way. It was all weird and open-ended I want to tear my hair out. No, seriously, Nana should’ve headlined this drama. Or maybe I’m just more drawn to the misunderstood cool chicks.
But I have to say, the performances are memorable in my book. Most especially "Person, Love" by Kang Haneul and Dahee. The original is by Lena Park and Kim Bumsoo.
Verdict: Mostly a ball of fluff, even if it takes on a serious tone once in a while. Still, an entertaining watch.
And holy hell, I love you IHYV for giving us an unexpected noona romance! And establishing it almost at the start and sustaining it all throughout! I couldn’t believe it at first that the romantic bent would turn out that way. I was skeptical because it’s a bit left field given the story, but I was totally on board the moment the series was definite that Lee Boyoung and Lee Jongsuk would be the romantic pair. Honestly, the characters are so well-written and untypical that the underlying suspense (the crazy maniac killer gave me nightmares, I kid you not) just about amps this series all the more.
OST Pick: Jung Yup - Why Did You Come Now?
Verdict: Recommended. Tune in for the fast-paced plot with lots of feels for the main characters.
I haven’t seen any So Jisub drama (I know, you can crucify me. But seriously, that face has all the traces of a melodrama weeper *shudders*) so who knew that he can be underhandedly funny and endearing acting as the “stoic” chaebol? Props to you So Jisub, and you’re hot. Too bad we don’t have a lot of shirtless scenes (and no, that operating room scene does not count. There’s blood.), yes I’m shallow. Gong Hyojin is endearing as usual, and has a lot of chemistry with anyone she gets paired up with. And since your series largely hinges on the skinship factor (she had to touch him to ward off the ghosts), you got to have a decent amount of chemistry to pull that off.
The ghost appearances vary from the scary to the pitiful types. While the ghost cases were entertaining (oh god, I cried at the ghost army dog the most), I was a bit relieved that the romance took up most of the screen time on the latter half of the drama.
OST Pick: Hyorin - Crazy of You
Verdict: If you’re up for solid romance with a bit of supernatural bent, then this one’s for you.
That’s not to say that it wasn’t watchable. You get your classic Cinderella story (but a Cinderella who is so poor she has a Samsung Note 3) with the poor girl and rich boy and all the baggage that comes with it. The cast was solid, they acted pretty well despite the lack of movement that the writing afforded to them (some of the side stories were choppy, especially that bit with hyung and his love affair with the scholar girl, her big eyes kind of freak me out). Lee Min Ho and Kim Woo Bin are intense on screen that you can’t take your eyes off of them, and their interaction with Park Shin Hye is believable (I love PSH but why do I feel she always has this wall that goes in the way of full-on lead chemistry? And I’m just not talking about her on-screen kissing skills). Anyway, the writing is a bit haphazard, 20 episodes is too long I think for such a series that does not even spice up an overused theme.
OST Pick: Changmin - Moment (no fave track in the OST, but I'm picking this one because that "love is the moment" is pure crack)
Verdict: For Lee Min Ho and Kim Woo Bin fans. Still watchable but maybe don’t marathon it for you'll see the glaring holes in the writing.
I dropped Reply 1994 early on because it’s not as addicting as its predecessor and I’m now putting Pretty Man, You from Another Star, and Prime Minister and I in my to-watch list, so I’ll weigh on them come first half of 2014.
And that’s 2013 Korean dramas for you all! There is no clear standout series for me this year, but if I had to pick one it would be Flower Boy Next Door just for the artsy and feel-good vibe. Objectively I would choose I Hear Your Voice, but in terms of making a lasting impression, I would have to pick FBND.
2 comments:
I've been waiting for this!!!
Hahaha dude! I barely watched anything this latter half TT Hoping to rectify that this 2014, hopefully there will be a lot of good dramas for us.
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