2013 year-end kdrama report

I was pretty busy during the latter half of the year, so I wasn’t able to watch as many kdramas as I would have wanted to. Given the lack of time, I only prioritized the ones that I’m particularly interested in based on the premise and was able to sustain my attention. To read my comments on the first half of the year, read here.

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.

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.