tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50961971882325293562024-03-14T03:12:34.822-07:00Drama NoonaJust the random ramblings of a drama obsessed noona with the hope of finding others who cannot get enough of Korean, Taiwanese, or Japanese dramas.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07124391340670776902noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5096197188232529356.post-62773971505668440982013-12-16T15:27:00.004-08:002014-01-18T12:05:00.545-08:00Noona Has Moved!Greetings all you lovely denizens of the Asian Drama blogverse!<br />
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I've been debating moving my blog for awhile now (yes I know it isn't even a month old yet!), and finally decided to make the move last night. Why you ask? Well I've had some issues with spam comments and spam sites affecting the page and it has cause some frustration. Additionally, blogger and I at times don't see eye to eye and it takes so much longer to get a post or page to look how I want it. I'd rather spend time writing blog posts or reviews or watching dramas than struggling with blogger. Also, my story Heart Murmurs is house elsewhere already because blogger wouldn't present the story as I wanted it viewed. So with some helpful advice from Kfangurl and DDee over at The Fangirl Verdict I made the choice to move.<br />
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The new site is a copy of what I currently have here. I was expecting a battle with blogger to export my information. In actuality it was extremely easy! Which was fantastic. I won't be updating this page anymore. Please, please, please come and join me at my new home!<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://thedramanoona.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">The Drama Noona</a></span></h2>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07124391340670776902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5096197188232529356.post-79671156798135116802013-12-15T11:34:00.000-08:002013-12-15T11:34:16.280-08:00Ilyoil Dongsaeng - Park Shin HyeThis week's Dongsaeng is the absolutely gorgeous and graceful Park Shin Hye. I first saw her in You're Beautiful, she was portraying identical twins Go Mi Nam and Go Mi Nyu. That show was about her thirteenth she'd been in, but it was my first introduction to her. <br />
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I have since seen her in Heartstrings, Goong S, Running Man, and Heirs. However, she always makes me want to hug her up. I do believe that she is the queen of the pouty face, if not the queen of tears.<br />
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It is a definite talent that she is able to do sad so well and so convincingly. Whatever place she goes to mentally to portray that sadness really does the trick. I mean in nearly every episode of You're Beautiful I wanted to hug her because she was just so sad.</div>
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By the time I watched her in Heartstrings I already wanted to protect her as her Unni, but her sad face and crying just made it worse. I wanted to make everything alright for her.</div>
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Look at those tears! It broke my heart seeing her cry, which just means she is a good actress in my opinion. Then I saw her on Running Man, she is too adorable for words! Very opposite of the characters she plays, during the crazy stuff they do on Running Man she was often laughing and giggling and generally having a good time. Which just made me adore her even more.</div>
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Then I started Heirs, after having seen her be so adorable and happy on Running Man, it broke my heart all over again to see her so sad all the time! I mean like every episode she was sobbing and enduring hardships and I just wanted to dive in there and take her away from everything that made her upset. </div>
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Let's have a round of applause for the utterly adorable dongsaeng Park Shin Hye!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07124391340670776902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5096197188232529356.post-91981828272109625762013-12-14T00:31:00.002-08:002013-12-14T01:05:15.064-08:00My PrincessI both really enjoyed this show and was really frustrated with this show. It took me a really long time to complete this drama. Halfway through I just couldn't find that spark to want to watch the next episode. I kept finding myself watching Running Man instead, always telling myself that I just needed a break or I just wanted to laugh today. But, I finally did get back to finishing this one. It was a little painful there at the end. I don't think this one will be in the re-watch list.<br />
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I'll start with a few things that I really did enjoy. I felt that the chemistry between the two leads was very real. The expressions they exchanged, their playful banter, and the way they touched one another all made me believe that they were falling in love. I had a good time watching them fall in love, it was adorable and cute and well written. I also truly appreciated the chemistry of the palace cook, Geon Lee, and the maid, Shin Mi So. They were totally adorable with Lee Seol and with one another. They were fun to watch throughout the entire show.<br />
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Lee Seol's adoptive mom, Kim Da Bok, was excellent. Though I do really like the actress, Im Ye Jin. The way she reacted to all the ups and downs of what was happening to Lee Seol and what Lee Seoul was causing to happen was amazing. It really felt like a loving mother-daughter relationship. Some of my favorite scenes are with Lee Soel and Kim Da Bok. They were just great together.<br />
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Some things that confused me with the family in general was Lee Dan. I realize that the writers were attempting to show that Lee Dan and Lee Seol did not have a good relationship in the beginning of the show, but it just felt forced. Towards the end as Lee Dan tries to provide a reason for her actions to their mom Kim Da Bok it just didn't feel real to me. It didn't flow with the story, I couldn't really believe that Lee Dan was that angry and that hateful. Also, they could not talk enough about Lee Seol's real father. However, I'm pretty sure that they never once mention her mother, at all. Did the Emperor's wife die in childbirth? If not then where was she? It was obvious that Lee Seol and her biological father were alone together in all the flashbacks. I suppose I wanted something more definitive in regards to her mother.<br />
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The political intrigue with the President, Senator, and Yoon Joo at times felt like it was just too much. I understand that they were heavily opposed to reinstating the royal family, however, for this show it felt like to much. A lot of the scenes played like a romantic comedy, and then something with the political intrigue would occur and it would feel like a melodrama. It was just too heavy for me and too much for the way the show had been written in the first few episodes. I did like story of the last Emperor, his hidden son and granddaughter. I also liked the twist in how Park Dong Jae earned his wealth and built his empire, all of that was very well written and done.<br />
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I want to take a moment to talk about the clothing, costumes, and outfits of this show. On one hand you look at the men and they are all amazingly dressed. The suits were sharp, well tailored, and of high quality material. Each character had their own look and it fit him well. Their hair and accessories were excellent too. Then... oh man you look at the ladies. I mean come on, what was with Yoon Joo's hair? And even worse than that, her clothing especially hurt my eyes. Lee Seol was also a victim of terrible outfits. I have no idea what the designers were thinking, but the ladies looked terrible.<br />
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My last point is Hae Young. For the first part of the show it felt like he had a separate set of writers than the last half. In the first eleven episodes he was somewhat broody and moody and a little angry. Though he was working through these issues and trying to accept his feelings for Lee Seol. Then all of a sudden he was overly sweet and cute. The actor was the same, but it was a completely different part he was playing Hae Young became like a fifteen year old young man courting his high school crush. That made it very hard for me to enjoy the end of the show. It was such a sudden shift in the lead character.<br />
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It wasn't a bad way to spend sixteen hours, but it wasn't one of my favorites. I did enjoy the story and I liked a lot of the elements, but there were more things missing for them in the end.<br />
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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Princess_(TV_series)" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">For a full synopsis of the story click this link</span></a><br />
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Noona's Ratings<br />
Overall: 7 <span style="font-size: xx-small;">(rated this <span style="font-size: xx-small;">3 stars on DramaFever.com)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Story/Writing: 7</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Cast Actors: 8</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">OST: 7</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sets Costumes: 6</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Fee<span style="font-size: small;">ls: 7</span> </span> </span></span> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07124391340670776902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5096197188232529356.post-47628235914660372812013-12-11T13:35:00.000-08:002013-12-11T13:35:03.284-08:00Omo Oppa - Kim Jong Kook<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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I first watched Running Man after watching City Hunter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had been swept away by the utter adorableness
of Lee Kwang Soo and saw that he was a main cast member of Running Man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I rushed over to DramaFever and started
watching.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was utterly hooked after one
episode.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Though it wasn’t just because
of my dongsaeng Kwang Soo or how much the show made me laugh like I was insane.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I’m honest, I kept coming back because I
just could not get enough of watching Kim Jong Kook!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Omo… what a gorgeous man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This Oppa definitely had me squeeing like any
good fangirl should.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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The more that I watched the more I found to enjoy about
watching him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean come on look at
that man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I really, really liked just
watching him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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However, the more I saw the more I began to adore the man’s
personality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though he’s built like
Adonis, he seemed humble and shy even about his body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every time another cast member made a joke or
comment about his buff frame he’d laugh and look away demurely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Guh, that just made me squee all the more.</div>
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To add to that adorableness he has such a respectful nature
about him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even when they are in the
middle of a fierce competition he can always be seen taking care of Song Ji Hyo
and the other female guests.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it isn’t
about screen time or the gag, it is just to be sure they are doing alright with
all the physical and zaney stuff the show makes them do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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And then add to that his friendship with Kwang Soo!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Guh be still my heart!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the show they are often at odds, however,
in real life they are often seen attending events and weddings together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And in many interviews they’ve both stated
that they are very close friends even spending the night at one another’s
houses!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean come one how cute is
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So here’s in honor of my very first Oppa!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Three cheers for Kim Jong Kook!!!<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07124391340670776902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5096197188232529356.post-30051280322121191202013-12-10T14:40:00.000-08:002013-12-10T14:40:16.393-08:00Read All About ItIt's been awhile since I posted about the Fan Story that I was starting. I wrote the dust jacket synopsis and then the preface, but then it took me a very long time to finish chapter one. It is completed and posted on the Heart Murmurs page, so please go and read and give me feedback!<br />
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My concept is that each chapter would translate to one episode of a show. I have no idea how many chapters there will be, though I hope to keep it around twenty-five. At least similar to the number of episodes that are average for a Korean Drama. I do have a plan, though it has already changed several times with the writing of the first chapter. I hope to solidify my outline while writing chapter two. So that way I feel a bit more confident while creating the story.<br />
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This is the first story that I've written that I'm actually sharing for mass consumption. I do write a lot, but I've never shown those stories to anyone, not even my husband. I just love to write, it is like a form of stress relief. With that being said I am a horrible editor so there are bound to be grammatical and continuity mistakes. If you, my amazing and lovely readers, find these errors I beg you to please let me know so I can fix them. The only way to get better is to listen to honestly provided feedback and critiques and I most assuredly do want to get better.<br />
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Because I am also a visual person I thought it would be fun to cast the characters of my story. So there is also a cast page with the actors and actresses that I think best fit the roles. Some of them have yet to be introduced in the story, but I wanted to get them all posted there so as they appear it is easy to visualize who they are.<br />
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So without further ado... here is <a href="http://dramanoona.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Heart Murmurs</a>. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07124391340670776902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5096197188232529356.post-50578304778348740682013-12-08T01:23:00.000-08:002013-12-08T01:23:56.345-08:00Ilyoil Dongsaeng - JeremyThis week's edition will be a little different than last week's. And as I plan out the next few dongsaeng's I think it will be a lot more like this. What's the difference you ask? Well this week my dongsaeng is a character from a drama not the actual actor who plays the character. There are loads of characters that I've seen in my short time in drama-land that I just want to squeeze and cuddle because they are just beyond adorable.<br />
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Which brings us to this week's dongsaeng. Introducing Jeremy from You're Beautiful!<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-q3guwwjrprk/Up6M2d7m_AI/AAAAAAAAAEY/H2sKADyIuGs/s1600/Jeremy_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="254" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-q3guwwjrprk/Up6M2d7m_AI/AAAAAAAAAEY/H2sKADyIuGs/s1600/Jeremy_01.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
If you're seen the drama perhaps you shared my absolute adoration for him. In fact he was my favorite part of the band. I loved his fun attitude, zest for life, and innocence. He was the little brother to the band as well and I was glad to see Shin Woo take care of my dongsaeng throughout the show. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q0rBwa-7FDI/Up6N5N-uD1I/AAAAAAAAAEg/ZPiIj1MC5a0/s1600/Jeremy_02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q0rBwa-7FDI/Up6N5N-uD1I/AAAAAAAAAEg/ZPiIj1MC5a0/s1600/Jeremy_02.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
As he gets to know Mi Nam/Mi Nyu Jeremy doesn't trust the newest band member. His attempts to get Mi Nam/Mi Nyu to talk are childish and silly, but they made me love him even more. I also loved his relationship with his dog Jolie.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_gB9stbyvkA/Up6N5L6SswI/AAAAAAAAAE0/Yq7HsJ2bweI/s1600/Jeremy_03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="295" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_gB9stbyvkA/Up6N5L6SswI/AAAAAAAAAE0/Yq7HsJ2bweI/s1600/Jeremy_03.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
When I really wanted to swoop in and take care of Jeremy is when he begins to trust and like Mi Nam/Mi Nyu, but doesn't understand his feelings. The poor boy doesn't know that Mi Nam is really Mi Nyu and is afraid of how he feels for another man. I just wanted to cuddle him and tell him it was ok.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kxdz7KOgb64/Up6N5LC_1KI/AAAAAAAAAEw/oFNS0QYtGf0/s1600/Jeremy_04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kxdz7KOgb64/Up6N5LC_1KI/AAAAAAAAAEw/oFNS0QYtGf0/s1600/Jeremy_04.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
But what really kicked in my Noona sensibilities was after he found out that Mi Nyu was a girl. He realizes that he's fallen in love with her, but she's fallen in love with Tae Kyung. Holy cow my heart broke so badly here and I cried more over this moment than any other moment in the whole show. Then he has to go and cry while singing that song... yeah I was a goner.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
So this week's dongsaeng is adorable Jeremy!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07124391340670776902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5096197188232529356.post-75086362570112047112013-12-07T20:30:00.000-08:002013-12-07T21:49:22.054-08:00Heartstrings<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
After Playful Kiss I vowed not to watch a drama just because
a bias or crush was in it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I failed that
vow almost immediately with Hearstrings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My second favorite part of You’re Beautiful was the chemistry between Jung
Yong Hwa and Park Shin Hye.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My favorite
part of You’re Beautiful was Jeremy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So
once I finished You’re Beautiful I saw that Yong Hwa and Shin Hye had been
given leading roles together in Heartstrings and I really just couldn’t resist.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The first thing that I want to mention from the list of pros
for this show is the fact that the two main leads enter into a relationship
fairly early in the episodes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Which was
an oddity, at least to me when I watched this show seeing as I’d only seen four
dramas before Heartstrings. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a
breath of fresh air for me, I loved that the drama was about maintaining that
relationship instead of fighting against having a relationship at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had to overcome a whole different slew
of obstacles compared to the other dramas that I’d watched.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I enjoyed that journey and thought it was
very well done.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
However, the chemistry between Shin Hye and Yong Hwa felt
completely different than it did in You’re Beautiful. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not sure what it was, but it sure didn’t
feel as passionate as it had in the previous drama.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In You’re Beautiful they had some truly
amazing interplay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You could see the
connection between the characters and it really had me rooting for them, even
though I knew already that I would be crushed since Yong Hwa was the second
male lead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just wish that the
relationship didn’t feel as wooden in Heartstrings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For me there was definitely something
missing.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The music for this drama was amazing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had the songs stuck in my head for weeks
even after I completed watching the drama.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’m sure it helped that the band members were actually playing their
instruments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not to mention Yong Hwa and
Kang Min Hyuk are in CN Blue together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>For me the music really stood out and I even bought the OST because I
wanted to be able to listen to it whenever I wanted.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In my limited experience with drama-land the supporting cast
has to really gel and standout on their own for a drama to work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only two characters outside of the leads
that really captured my heart was Min Hyuk’s portrayal of Yeo Joon Hee and Shin
Hye’s grandfather.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I cannot even properly
convey how utterly adorable Joon Hee was throughout the entire show.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I loved him, probably more than I liked Yong
Hwa’s character.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The grandfather cracked
me up, he was hilarious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also really
enjoyed how he lived-breathed-ate traditional music and a traditional
lifestyle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I found him wonderfully
interesting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Beyond Joon Hee and the grandfather,
the rest of the cast just didn’t really shine for me and that hurt the drama
overall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wanted to be pulling for the
side stories, but more often than not I found myself plodding through all of
that to get back to Joon Hee, the grandfather, or the two leads.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Towards the end of the drama I really felt that we finally
got to see some character growth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For
the majority of the show the characters were static in their maturity and
personalities as they dealt with the obstacles which were put in their
way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, the last fifth of the
series I enjoyed the way the story moved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Shin Hye’s character showed amazing maturity with how she handled the
play and the drama surrounding being the lead actress.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both Yong Hwa and Shin Hye’s characters moved
towards a natural progression of fulfilling their dreams.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even the supporting cast seemed to finally
bloom and I enjoyed seeing how they evolved towards the end.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
However, the ending of the show felt rushed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not sure if it was cut down in the number
of episodes, or that was how it was originally planned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, things just felt a little choppy in the last
two episodes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It made the character
growth that had been occurring seem as if it weren’t important.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wish that they would have taken more time
with the ending, perhaps another episode to have made it feel a little smoother.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Overall, I enjoyed the show.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was a feel good journey with some nice happy messages within it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am glad that I watched it, but it just
never quite captured me in the feels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Still it is a cute watch and a pretty story. </div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heartstrings_%28TV_series%29" target="_blank">For a full synopsis of the story check out this link.</a></span><br />
<br />
Noona's Rating<br />
Overall: 7.6 <span style="font-size: xx-small;">(I<span style="font-size: xx-small;"> rated this 4 stars on DramaFever.com)</span></span><br />
Story/Writing: 8<br />
Cast/Actors: 8<br />
OST: 9<br />
Sets/Costumes: 6<br />
Feels: 7 Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07124391340670776902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5096197188232529356.post-71362830011118017562013-12-05T19:26:00.001-08:002013-12-05T19:26:23.740-08:00First Love?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Recently my <a href="http://thefangirlverdict.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Sunbae</a> showed me a post that she wrote a little
while ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were discussing my review
of You’re Beautiful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her article is
called <a href="http://thefangirlverdict.wordpress.com/2013/02/20/what-makes-drama-crack-stay-fresh-turn-stale/" target="_blank">What Makes Drama Crack Stay Fresh / Turn Stale?</a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It really hit home for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Especially since I just went back and watched
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Boys Over Flowers last weekend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ouch…</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In that article she talks about how you can get sucked into
a show and need to watch it like its crack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Then when you go back at a later time to re-watch the same show it falls
short.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Though she also discusses the
reverse effect, and she used You’re Beautiful as her primary example.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first time she watched it she felt it
didn’t measure up, which is how I felt about it as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, her second (and third) time through
she absolutely loved it.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you’ve gone over to read her article (you
really-really-really should if you haven’t) then this might seem like a
rehashing of everything that Sunbae’s already said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, it is very true and I feel that I
need to get it off my chest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The very
first Korean drama I ever watched was Boys Over Flowers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I wrote my review I still had my rose
colored glasses on and my heart still fluttered at the thought of that
show.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was seriously my first love and
I could hardly accept that there was anything wrong with it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was having a bad day and wanted something to lift my
spirits, so of course I immediately thought of Boys Over Flowers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Turning it on I sat down with coffee and a
brownie and prepared to be relieved of my stress and feel that heart-pounding
love I’d known seven months ago when I watched it the first time… oh boy was I disappointed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No, it was way more than disappointed, I was
in pain!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I watched the first four
episodes in a row and just couldn’t get back that feeling that I’d known, the
pedestal upon which I’d placed the show was cracking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But I wasn’t willing to believe that it wasn’t as magical
and perfect as I had thought just a few weeks ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I skipped ahead to the beginning of the
contest to win Jan Di… and the pedestal was even worse off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I spent the rest of the day skimming
through episodes trying to qualify the exemplary review that I’d written.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And sadly it just didn’t live up to my
dream.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But… I still love the show, I mean
a lot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, that love has less to do
with the story and more to do with the fact that because of Boys Over Flowers I
found Korean Dramas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And for that I will
always love it, always.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sadly though, I’ll probably go back and adjust my rating and
review of Boys Over Flowers to reflect a more objective view.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But not today, I want to preserve at least a
little bit of the pedestal that is still standing.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07124391340670776902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5096197188232529356.post-86335423192798291422013-12-03T15:34:00.001-08:002013-12-07T19:58:13.625-08:00You're Beautiful<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
The
gender bender genre hasn't really ever interested me. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>So how did I end up watching You’re
Beautiful, a gender bender drama? <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Funny
story that. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>My husband and
I were building a computer, neither of us are overly tech-savvy, but we’re
competent. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>We’d dismantled
our old computer and started building the new one from scratch. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Unfortunately we did not complete it
in a day, which meant that I had no way to watch my dramas. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Fortunately, I have a Kindle Fire and
Amazon Prime so I jumped on there and started searching out Korean
dramas. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>I now know that
there is an app for DramaFever (where I watch all my dramas) for the Kindle and
we also have a Roku so if this happens in the future I’m covered. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>There were only about five shows that
I could find on Amazon Prime to stream through my Kindle, and of those five
You’re Beautiful caught my interest more than the rest. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>So I sat down to watch a gender-bender
drama.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
My
biggest turn off was how they dressed/styled Park Shin Hye. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Since watching You’re Beautiful I have
watched Coffee Prince and Yoon Eun Hye was such a more convincing boy. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Even back when I had watched this
drama, before having seen Coffee Prince, I was disappointed with the effort
they put into Park Shin Hye as a boy. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Shin
Hye is definitely feminine and beautiful even with neutral makeup and the short
hair, it wasn't enough to disguise her. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>I
wanted more effort in the styles they dressed her in, though I couldn't
honestly pinpoint any specific ideas. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>It
just fell flat for me. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Also,
her actions and mannerisms weren't masculine. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>I know it is a TV show and I should
suspend my disbelief and just accept that the members of the band would look at
her with her short hair and accept that she was a boy. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>But I can’t, she was still just too
pretty for me. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Anyway, even
though I can’t really give meaningful ideas on how this could be improved, it
was what made me not emotionally invest in the show as much as I could have.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
The thing
I liked the most was the Bromance between the band members. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>I thought they cast the band
perfectly. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Each one
represented a different quality/personality. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Their interactions with one another
were very enjoyable. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>They
were like brothers and best friends throughout the whole of the show.
Jeremy was so adorable and innocent. His fun loving attitude made
him my favorite of the band members themselves. Though I think my most
favorite thing about him was the fact that he read the fan-fiction about him and
the other band members, that was just an absolute hoot. I like that Kim
Shin Woo was the calm one, the voice of reason. He balanced out Jeremy's
eccentricities and Hwang Tae Kyung's diva/narcissistic personality. Then
Hwang Tae Kyung was the perfect leader role, he was pushy and needy but also really
did have a desire for the band to succeed. The writers did a great job
with the band as a whole.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
Kim Shin
Woo also gave me yet another seriously heartbreakingly painful case of second
male lead syndrome. I wanted him to get
the girl so badly. However, it
frustrated me how he went about getting the girl. His plan of attack had so much to do with why
he didn't end up with Go Mi Nyu. I
wanted him to get the courage to talk to her long before he confronted her in
the chapel. If he had been more open
with her and let her know that he was in on the secret, well it could have been
a totally different story. So I both
loved his character’s story and disliked it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
I also
appreciated Uee in this drama. She did a
fantastic job with portraying her role.
I totally believed that she was a spoiled brat who had the whole nation
fooled. Additionally, I think she did a
great job as her part as a villain.
Though I think the best part was her redemption wasn't completely out of
left field, she grew as a character but didn't escape the natural boundaries
they’d set up in the beginning. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
However,
out of everything I think I loved the music the most. This is only one of four OST’s that I’ve
actually purchased. It helped that the
songs were actually performed by the actors, it gave it a very real feel
throughout the show itself. If A.N. Jell
was an actual band I would buy their music in a heartbeat.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
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<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
Though I
do really like this drama, it just never really reeled me in through the
feels. I think it had the most to do
with it being a gender-bender story. I
just couldn't completely invest myself in the story as it unfolded because I
found it so very unbelievable. But that
doesn't stop me from giving it a high rating, in the end it was an enjoyable
ride and I’m glad I watched it.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You%27re_Beautiful_(TV_series)" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">For a full synopsis of the story check out this link.</span></a><br />
<br />
Noona's Rating<br />
Overall: 7.8 <span style="font-size: xx-small;">(I<span style="font-size: xx-small;"> rated this 4 stars on DramaFever.com)</span></span><br />
Story/Writing: 8<br />
Cast/Actors: 8<br />
OST: 9<br />
Sets/Costumes: 7<br />
Feels: 7 </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07124391340670776902noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5096197188232529356.post-61715141935934887082013-12-01T18:15:00.003-08:002013-12-09T13:44:42.536-08:00Ilyoil Dongsaeng - Lee Kwang SooI first saw Kwang Soo when I watched City Hunter. That drama is in my absolute favorites list. He played Go Ki Joon; the stiff, intelligent, and awkward tech for the Blue House. He worked along side Lee Min Ho's character as he worked undercover in the same office. He was just so utterly adorable that I wanted to squish him and take him home. <br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZaIc_dtnRek/UpvpMooljAI/AAAAAAAAADo/uFWqozzc-6k/s1600/Lee-Kwang-Soo_02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZaIc_dtnRek/UpvpMooljAI/AAAAAAAAADo/uFWqozzc-6k/s1600/Lee-Kwang-Soo_02.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
After completing that drama I saw that he was a main cast member in Running Man, I must admit he's the reason I started to watch it. I'm not much for variety TV, I don't watch any American variety TV at all. However, from the first episode I was completely hooked. That show makes me laugh so much that sometimes I cry. <br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mHfV3dvsLIY/UpvqTfPyd2I/AAAAAAAAAD8/ruEhRTCU_MQ/s1600/Lee-Kwang-Soo_04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mHfV3dvsLIY/UpvqTfPyd2I/AAAAAAAAAD8/ruEhRTCU_MQ/s1600/Lee-Kwang-Soo_04.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I've only recently started watching Running Man's first episodes, I actually started somewhere in the middle. After the cast members had already formed their particular roles within the show. So Kwang Soo was already the Betrayer. Every time they play his theme and he looks sad I want to swoop in and scold the others for hurting my hyung's feelings.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bxJRulMzuSQ/UpvtGhf_rGI/AAAAAAAAAEI/p6Z1-LgRjb4/s1600/Lee-Kwang-Soo_03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="295" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bxJRulMzuSQ/UpvtGhf_rGI/AAAAAAAAAEI/p6Z1-LgRjb4/s1600/Lee-Kwang-Soo_03.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Kwang Soo is just adorable. He is my first dongsaeng and will always hold a very special place in my heart.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07124391340670776902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5096197188232529356.post-25179890212858095092013-11-30T13:39:00.000-08:002013-11-30T13:42:41.936-08:00Fan-story?I'm not new to the world of fan-fiction, I've even tried my hand at it a few times with other fan clubs that I'm a part of (i.e. Firefly, Harry Potter, Supernatural, etc). Though I'm always reticent about portraying a canon character because if I set out to write their unwritten stories I have to be sure that I am true to the character. And with a fan-fiction it can be so very easy to change the character to fit the story you want to tell. To me that defeats the purpose of the fan-fiction. If you aren't being true to the character completely then you aren't writing fan-fiction, you're writing a story based on a character that you are head over heels in love with. Which is completely fine, just don't call it fan-fiction.<br />
<br />
Currently I've been watching Heirs, though I gave up at episode 14. The show had so much potential and it felt as if the writers were just coasting through the story depending on the big stars they had on screen. So I threw my hands up in the air and walked away. I'm certain once its complete I'll go back and watch the rest, because I do want to see how it ends. So why mention Heirs? Well the character of Choi Young Do absolutely inspired me to want to try my hand at fan-fiction again. However, the same old doubts kept nagging me and I love the character so completely that I do not want to mess up in portraying him. So that got me to thinking... why not write a fan-story that is based on my love of Choi Young Do, but make something completely new. <br />
<br />
So that's what I've started to do. I've taken what I love about the character and I've created a story all my own based around that. Its a story that I've thought about and outlined previously, but once I made the choice to base the main character on Choi Young Do I made some simple changes and bam I've got a new story to tell that allows me to take all the things I love about the character and make it my own. <br />
<br />
I'll be posting the chapters on the Heart Murmurs page here on my blog. You'll see it above in the navigation bar. Every so often when I have a few chapters to show I'll make a post to let everyone know there are some words over there to take a gander at. I hope that people enjoy the story and I look forward to feedback and suggestions. So please comment to your heart's content <a href="http://dramanoona.blogspot.com/p/heart-murmurs.html" target="_blank">here</a>.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07124391340670776902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5096197188232529356.post-79939943526736814452013-11-21T20:48:00.001-08:002013-11-21T20:48:30.491-08:00So Many Shows So Little Time<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sometimes when I’m trying to decide on the next drama I want
to watch I feel like I’m drowning in choices.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Which, in essence, I am since there are hundreds of dramas out there to
choose from.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve compiled a rather
lengthy list of dramas I do want to watch, which is only a pin drop in the
ocean of dramas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I’ve talked about in
a prior post, I want that happy ending, so I often search the net for lists of
dramas that have happy endings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And then
I search out each individual title and try to discern from posts and reviews
which of them have a confirmed happy ending.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That’s at least where I start.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Though having this list of dramas that all sound good story and premise
wise with a confirmed good or at least mostly good ending is just as
overwhelming as looking at all the dramas out there which are available to
watch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I sit there for an hour,
sometimes more, and try to figure out what I want to invest my time into.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Honestly I depend a lot on reviews that I find on Dramabeans,
Drama Fever, Crunchyroll, and other various sites focused on dramas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Personally a recap review is less valuable to
me than a review that talks about the writer’s likes/dislikes about the
series.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t want to know exactly
what happened, but I do want to know if the viewer enjoyed the show.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And of course, if there was a happy
ending.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do a lot of searches that are
similar to “does Insert Drama Name Here have a happy ending”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can usually ascertain quickly from the
snippets in the google search results if the show ends happily or not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes I get mixed signals, some say it
was good and some say it was satisfactory and some say it wasn’t what they had
hoped for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I put those into a second
list that I title, “Mostly Happy Ending.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
With so many shows to choose from and a large chunk with a
happy ending, how do I pick one fish out of the sea to watch?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It depends on what I just finished
watching.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If it was a lighthearted
romantic comedy with a very simple feel and youthful story then I’ll probably
focus on something a little more mature or with more serious story themes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For example after I finished Flower Boy Ramen
Shop I picked A Gentleman’s Dignity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Flower Boy Ramen Shop was cutesy and lighthearted so I wanted something
a little more mature.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The main actors in
A Gentleman’s Dignity are all in their forties and so the themes were much
different.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But sometimes I just want
more of the same so I’ll go right into another sweet romantic comedy right
after finishing one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like when I
finished You’re Beautiful and started Heartstrings right away. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve tried making lists ranking the shows I do want to watch
with the information I know about them and then just sticking to it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then my current show ends and I look at the
number one choice… and then still spend ages reading reviews looking at
suggestions, and researching any number of aspects about any number of shows to
finally choose something not even on the list.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If I could only make a plan and stick to it I’d have more time to watch
my dramas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I just can’t help but
look at other shows, read up on a show I’ve never heard of before, contemplate
re-watching one of the shows I’ve already watched but loved so much it left a
hole in my heart when it was done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
keep telling myself I’ll just follow my list no matter what.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe this will be the time that I can, maybe
after I finish My Princess I’ll be able to go right to I Need Romance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Keep your fingers crossed for me!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07124391340670776902noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5096197188232529356.post-22280409528874445362013-11-20T20:52:00.001-08:002013-12-06T01:01:55.704-08:00Playful Kiss<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
This review will go against the popular view, but I just
couldn’t get truly invested in Playful Kiss.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was the third drama I watched and after the first episode I turned it
off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was too over the top, too campy,
too much of everything, and not enough of anything to draw me in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I went back to watching something that I can’t
remember now, because through Hulu there weren’t that many Korean, Taiwanese,
or Japanese dramas to choose from that I could easily find.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Combined with the fact I hadn’t really become
fully addicted which meant I just didn’t take the time to look around I just
moved on instead of trying something else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However, after about a week or so I decided to give Playful Kiss another
shot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The second episode wasn’t as bad
and the third was alright, and so on and so forth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, I just never really felt invested in the
story or involved in the characters like I had with City Hunter and Boys Over
Flowers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I picked this drama because I
absolutely loved Kim Hyun Joong in Boys Over Flowers, that was my only
reason.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I learned my lesson about
watching a drama just for a bias and now I do my research about the story and
reviews before devoting my time.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I really liked the idea of the story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Girl has a huge crush on arrogant boy, a
series of unfortunate events has the two families living together, and slowly arrogant
boy sees the girl as his soul mate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A
totally sweet and cute idea and I was pretty excited to see it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, for me the execution of the story
was lacking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I kept wanting to like it,
kept wanting to have it move me, kept wanting more from the show.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It just never got me in the feels.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Throughout the entire shore I saw little growth in the
characters themselves, they remained as immature and aloof as they were when
the show began.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wanted to see more
development of Oh Ha Ni, there was so much they could have done to show her
growing up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet she remained perpetually
a child in actions and mentality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then
Baek Seung Jo never seemed to change, he began as a narcissistic and egotistical
character and ended exactly the same.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Once Baek Seung Jo admitted that he loved Oh Ha Ni he was as cold to her
as he had been when he hated her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There
was no warmth, no affection, and certainly no chemistry between them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For me the main couple totally fell short,
and left me cool.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Even though the lead couple didn’t really meet my
expectations, I loved the secondary couple.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Bong Joon Gu and Chris were absolutely adorable!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The moment she came into the noodle house and
stared at Bong Joon Gu with that puppy love gaze I loved them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was real emotion there and
reaction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, the bromance of the
fathers Oh Ki Dong and Baek Soo Chang was amazing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every time they had a scene together I loved
it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were just cute together and I
wanted to see more of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On top of
that Oh Ha Ni’s relationship with her father, Oh Ki Dong was lovely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their moments almost made up for the lack of
feeling between Oh Ha Ni and Baek Seung Jo.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I also really enjoyed the big reveal kiss in the rain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though I didn’t care for the series as
much as I wanted to, that kiss is in my top five best kisses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For that moment, for whatever reason, the
leads made me believe that they were in love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I just wish that passion and fire had carried through to the episodes
after the kiss.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Playful Kiss just dragged for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If it were me now as opposed to six months
ago I would have stopped watching and just moved on to something else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, back then I felt guilty for not
sticking with a show from beginning to end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But with full time work, a husband, and a rambunctious five year old I
just don’t have the free time to commit to a show that doesn’t immediately capture
my heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Playful_Kiss" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">For a full synopsis of the story check out this link.</span></a><br />
<br />
Noona's Rating<br />
Overall: 7 <span style="font-size: xx-small;">(I<span style="font-size: xx-small;"> rated this 3 stars on DramaFever.com)</span></span><br />
Story/Writing: 7<br />
Cast/Actors: 7<br />
OST: 7<br />
Sets/Costumes: 8<br />
Feels: 6Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07124391340670776902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5096197188232529356.post-68327002927710483502013-11-19T14:29:00.001-08:002013-12-06T01:00:49.512-08:00City HunterI watched City Hunter immediately after having finished Boys
Over Flowers. Since I was pretty much
clueless on K-Dramas and what to watch I only picked City Hunter because it had
Lee Min Ho in it. Also, it was the first
suggestion on Hulu after I rated Boys Over Flowers so highly. It was a lucky happenstance that I watched
this next, but I’m pretty sure that I would have gotten to it sooner rather
than later anyway. This is in my top
three best/most favorite dramas so far.
I’ve only watched fourteen dramas in the six months since I discovered
Korean Dramas, so I’m sure that as I delve further into dramas my top three
will change.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As with Boys Over Flowers it is difficult for me to look at
City Hunter with an objective eye.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
since this review is just my opinion anyway I’ll just gush over it as much as I
want.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I really enjoyed this one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Prior to K-Drama’s my usual genre of
movie/show was action and adventure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So
the fact that this is an action/spy based story line, well I fell in love even
more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The basic story is South Korean
Spec. Ops group is sent to North
Korea by politicians, once there a deal is struck
with the States and the South Korean politicians end the mission and hide any
evidence of its existence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then they
kill off their own people, only one man survives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He then steals his friend’s baby and raises
the child for one purpose, revenge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When
the baby, now a man, returns to Korea
he completes the revenge for the man who raised him.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m not even sure where to start because I loved
everything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I suppose I’ll start with
Lee Min Ho.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He did an amazing job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The character grows from a rambunctious teen
to a young man with a purpose and he truly did a fantastic job showing
that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Additionally, Lee Yoon Sung (Lee
Min Ho’s character) is being asked to do some truly despicable things by the
man who raised him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can really see
the pain Yoon Sung feels at disobeying the only man he’s ever known as
family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And that pain only intensifies
as Yoon Sung’s past comes to light.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
really pulled me in and I felt his suffering with him.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Kim Na Na is my favorite female lead in any drama so
far.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So often when a ‘tough girl’ part
is being cast the actress is not right for the part or just way over acts in
order to appear strong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It can ruin a
show when the ‘tough girl’ is trying too hard or not believable at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kim Na Na was just perfect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was an excellent mix of strong and tough
woman with vulnerable and soft.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I truly
believed that she could beat the snot out of anyone attempting to harm her
charge (the president’s daughter).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Though on the other hand when she’s home alone I believe that she just
wants someone to lean on and make her feel safe too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Park Min Young did such a phenomenal job
portraying Kim Na Na.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sometimes the chemistry between the leads falls short, but
not here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The main leads and their
secondary counterparts just had the perfect mix of tension, aggression,
attraction, and sensual interplay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Along
with that, the supporting cast was perfect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I especially enjoyed Ahjussi, he added just the right amount of comic
relief to a story that was intense.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lee Jin Pyo, who went by Steve Lee when he returned to Korea, was the
man who stole Yoon Sung and raised him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Oh I just loved to hate this man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He was so focused on his revenge and so set in his ways that he didn’t
care what it was doing to Yoon Sung.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
was an evil and horrid man who I hated with a passion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet, he’s my favorite villain to date.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I loved him, he was so broken, but had such a
strong will that he didn’t let his broken heart stop him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And then at the end he redeems himself and I
loved him even more.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Additionally I really loved Yoon Sung’s City Hunter
look.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The face mask and the clothing he
wore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was simple and easily obtained
which makes it realistic in the sense that anyone could have those items.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He wasn’t wearing anything that was
cumbersome or tacky just for the look.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was clean and simple and functional.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Also, for me this is my favorite look of Lee Min Ho’s.</div>
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The only criticisms that I have are minor and really just a
few nit-picking items.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yoon Sung is
supposed to be a genius and the Blue House is very pleased to have him
there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, he just comes and goes
whenever he wants without a word or a reason.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I would assume that the Blue House is tightly guarded, scrutinized, and
watched.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seemed a little improbable
that he would have such free reign to do some of the things he did while
there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Additionally, speaking of
improbable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Being raised on a drug farm
and then somehow managing to enter the US with valid identification to
fabricate a past and go to school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
understand that with most action flicks you need to suspend your disbelief, but
this just seemed like to much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Though I’m
not sure what they could have done to make it a little more believable.</div>
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The last thing that I could possibly say as a negative was
the fact that it felt like the characters were written to be particularly slow
in figuring out who the City Hunter was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Yoon Sung didn’t exactly cover up his actions very well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thought it would have been much better had
they discovered his identity sooner and we could see the struggle they had in
deciding what to do with the information.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They had the epiphany too late in the series for my tastes.</div>
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However, eve with those few small things this is definitely
in my top three best dramas of all times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I would absolutely recommend it to anyone and will most definitely watch
it again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_Hunter_(TV_series)" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">For a full synopsis of the story check out this link.</span></a><br />
<br />
Noona's Rating<br />
Overall: 9 <span style="font-size: xx-small;">(I<span style="font-size: xx-small;"> rated this 5 stars on DramaFever.com)</span></span><br />
Story/Writing: 9<br />
Cast/Actors: 9<br />
OST: 9<br />
Sets/Costumes: 9<br />
Feels: 9Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07124391340670776902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5096197188232529356.post-59077286768708310152013-11-14T19:16:00.002-08:002013-12-06T00:58:53.221-08:00What's Up FoxI picked this drama because I saw it in a blog article on
dramabeans about Noona Romances. Being a
Noona myself I love this story trope.
There’s something about the younger man doggedly perusing the older
woman that just pulls me in. There aren’t
as many Noon Romances as I’d like and sometimes it is the secondary story. So if you have some suggestions I’d really
appreciate it.<br />
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There were several things about What’s Up Fox that I really
loved and a few that fell short for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First,
some more mature themes were mainstays throughout the drama.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The main character, Go Byung Hee, is a
reporter for an adult man’s magazine and writes erotic stories along side
actual reports relevant to the male readers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The daydream scenes of her stories were hilarious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because sensuality was such a main theme in
the story it dealt with sex in a much more straightforward way than is typical
in a Korean drama.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was refreshing.</div>
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The humorous moments were well placed throughout the
show.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was funny without being over
the top, and added in just when it was getting too serious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Being a Rom-Com, that’s part of the formula
anyway, but I found myself enjoying the series more because of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Additionally, there were very few instances
that I felt the story progressed too slowly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The whole show moved along at a steady pace, never really very fast, but
moving things along at a rate that I wasn’t bored with it.</div>
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The main couple was great together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Park Chul Soo took a little bit of time to
admit his feelings, even after the big whoops of the first episode, but once he
committed he was dedicated to wooing her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Just the way he looked at her was adorable, puppy love all the way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Chul Soo did his best to prove to Byung Hee
that he was really in love with her, but she fought against the idea
valiantly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was great to watch her
evolution, starting out seeing him as nothing more than a little brother to
denial that she was attracted to him, and finally to accepting what her heart
had been trying to tell her all along.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Their chemistry was just right, the perfect amount of tension and
playful banter.</div>
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Doctor Bae Hee Myung just never really felt all the strong
to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I understand that the character
was written to be pretty low key and accepting, but as a part of a love
triangle he just fell short.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Doctor Bae
never fought for Byung Hee, he never made an attempt to really tell her that he
loved her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And on that note, he admitted
that he didn’t feel love or want to feel love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He just wanted someone to live with, something comfortable and
warm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not the kind of talk that sweeps a
girl off her feet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As far as a second
male lead goes he just didn’t really make me pull for him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps I’m comparing Doctor Bae to other
second male leads and that’s why he just seems lacking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But to me the other guy in the love triangle
should be like Ji Hoo (Boys Over Flowers) or Kang Shin Woo (You’re Beautiful).</div>
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<br /></div>
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The side story of Go Jun Hee and Park Byung Gak was so much
fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were just as strong as the
main couple, for me anyway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their
love-hate relationship was hilarious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They were just as horrible to one another and then would turn around and
be wonderfully sweet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As they grew
closer and closer to one another I just couldn’t help but root for them even
though they were seventeen years apart in age.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was just such a sweet love that formed between them.</div>
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As we all know I’m a sucker for a happy ending and What’s Up
Fox had a satisfyingly happy ending.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
stories were wrapped up well and the things I’d been hoping for through the
whole show came to pass.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got the
warm-fuzzies, and really that’s what I love at the end of the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The ending didn’t have as much punch or
fireworks as I wanted, and was just a little rushed I think.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But even though they didn’t show as much
sensuality and love as I wanted they left it open enough I could imagine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All in all this was a good time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/What%27s_Up_Fox" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">For a full synopsis of the story check out this link.</span></a><br />
<br />
Noona's Rating<br />
Overall: 7.6 <span style="font-size: xx-small;">(I<span style="font-size: xx-small;"> rated this 4 stars on DramaFever.com)</span></span><br />
Story/Writing: 8<br />
Cast/Actors: 8<br />
OST: 6<br />
Sets/Costumes: 8<br />
Feels: 8Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07124391340670776902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5096197188232529356.post-87449984763624015012013-11-13T17:41:00.002-08:002013-12-14T00:42:16.864-08:00Why K-Dramas?<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Since becoming immersed in the world of Korean and Taiwanese (I have yet to watch a Japanese drama though I have a few on my list that I do want to watch) dramas my friends and family have often asked me a simple question, why?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No matter how many times I try and explain I just can’t seem to get them to understand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also can’t seem to get them to try and watch them with me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh but if they would only give them a chance!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because I get asked why so often I thought I’d try my hand at putting down my thoughts and defining the reasons for my addiction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not an easy task and it has become harder than I anticipated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A great deal of my reasons have to do with feels and that doesn’t translate so well to the non-fan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyway, I’m going to do my best to put some of my feels down on paper (or down in cyber-space).</div>
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I still watch American TV(only about 4 shows) and I watch a lot of British TV (dying for the new Sherlock episodes!), but they’ve lost my interest in a big way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t have that overwhelming need to see the next episode.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The cliffhangers seem less emotionally traumatizing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can guess the plot of the episode within a few minutes (Doctor Who and Sherlock don’t qualify for this one).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t get invested in the characters, even for shows that run for a long time and build up the stories and histories.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just can’t seem to invest in these characters like I used to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In essence I just don’t have much interest in Western TV.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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So what is it about Korean Dramas or Taiwanese Dramas?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Prior to six months ago I would have looked at anyone talking about Eastern Dramas with a blank expression, not getting it at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, I look at people who have never watched a Korean or Taiwanese Drama with that same look.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not really certain I can adequately explain my obsession and why it exists, but I’m going to give it a try.</div>
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These are in no particular order.</div>
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I love the actors, from the main casts to the supporting casts and even the extras.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Compared to Western TV, at least in my eyes, the actors look more like real people to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Less make up, less perfectly crafted hair styles, less plastic like bodies/faces.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They just look and feel real.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not sure how their acting training is approached, but the people feel more natural to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Granted I don’t speak the language and there are only so many subtleties that can be picked up through subtitles and body language.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But regardless I feel like the acting just flows better, as if I really have become a fly on the wall for people a few thousand miles away.</div>
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Perhaps a large part of my addiction stems from my fascination for Asian Cultures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These dramas give some valid insights into the cultures of <st1:country-region w:st="on">Korea</st1:country-region> and <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Taiwan</st1:place></st1:country-region>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Logically I know some of the social rules have been exaggerated, we do that in American and British TV too, but I love seeing how society functions there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It fascinates me that asking a persons age is polite and expected so that you can address them in the correct manner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love that there are formal ways to interact to show respect and honor and also a familial language.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are so many ways to bow, so many reasons to bow, and certain lengths of time for certain situations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could really go on and on within this section, but I think you get the idea.</div>
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I have a five year old son and there are just too many things that are ok to show on regular TV in American and British shows that I do not want my son to see.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Which means that most shows that I might have an interest in must be watched once my son is in bed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I work full time (sometimes more as I’m salaried) and I work a later shift in the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This doesn’t leave a lot of time before bed to watch these shows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But with Korean and Taiwanese dramas I can watch most of them with my son and never have to worry that he’ll be exposed to something inappropriate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, as an added bonus, he’s started to pick up on words and asks what they mean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Which, come on, that is super cool.</div>
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There is so much focus on the flash factor, effects, gross out factor, and various other visual things that a lot of story is ignore or lost in Western TV.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are of course gems out there that defy this; however, I think that Korean and Taiwanese TV dominates the story and character development market.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is a definite path, a predetermined number of episodes, a known ending…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of this helps to sharpen the focus on the story and the people of the story which lets them forget the over the top visual effects that don’t really add anything at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each episode (usually an hour) delves deeper and deeper into the relationships of the characters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Be it a sixteen episode run or fifty, you can actually see the characters grow and evolve and mature in front of your eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This might be the most important thing for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I really love the focus on people and relationships.</div>
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So far I’ve only watched a tiny number of dramas, but I am addicted to the plot twists.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of them are so outrageous and ridiculous you know it would never happen in real life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Others are so down to earth and grounded that it sends chills down your spine, because it could happen to anyone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I never know what is going to happen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not certain how the characters are going to deal with the issues thrust upon them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve no idea how they are going to handle the obstacles they encounter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And each issue or situation or obstacle pushes the characters to grow and evolve and change.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a journey that I love to be involved with.</div>
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Lastly, I wanted to mention the Variety Shows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do not watch American or British variety TV.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has just never captured my attention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, Korean Variety TV tosses their hottest stars into crazy games/places and films it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh boy what a concept!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love seeing them as people, just regular folks having to deal with silly and physically challenging situations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think I’ve watched more Running Man than actual dramas combined.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I laugh like an idiot with each episode and leave it feeling good.</div>
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I know there are so many reasons that I’ve missed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Arguments to make in favor of Korean and Taiwanese dramas that I should make.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The feels and reasons I love these dramas are endless.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I think for a first attempt at putting my feels into words I’ve done a decent job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07124391340670776902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5096197188232529356.post-14587867085259560182013-11-12T15:49:00.001-08:002013-12-13T15:48:42.499-08:00Boys Over Flowers<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>I got the urge to re-watch this drama recently. The feels will never change, I loved this drama when I watched it. It caused my addiction and I will always have fond and sweet and warm memories of those hours I spent getting to know this show. However, when I re-watched it after having not seen it for seven months... It did not live up to the memories I had. I won't change this review, because it was written like my other reviews after only one complete watch through. However, I am updating my rating numbers, because sadly it didn't live up to the pristine memory I had created.</i> </div>
<br />
Oh boy... this is the first drama that I ever watched, the one which started it all. It will always hold a special place in my heart, on a high-high pedestal, perfect in every way, the drama to which no other drama could ever compare. Well... it is really hard to think another drama might take its place in my heart. However, as I've watched more and more dramas I've found this level of love for other dramas for a whole plethora of reasons. But no matter how many dramas I watch I highly doubt that the special and honored place that Boys Over Flowers has in my heart will change.<br />
<br />
In my opinion this drama is an excellent choice to introduce the non-K Drama-believer to the world of K-Dramas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For me it made me hungry to know more about the culture of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Korea</st1:place></st1:country-region>, the language, and the story concepts used to tell this tale.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because of this drama I was introduced to some very basic concepts of the K-Drama scene.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Chaebol, Eomeoni, OTP, OST, STP, Flowerboy, Sunbae, Wae/Wae-yo, Ya!, Second Male Lead Syndrome, and Oppa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I watch more and more dramas I gather more and more terms and words to my knowledge base.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m sure there are other really phenomenal choices for a person’s first drama, but I’m biased and really believe Boys Over Flowers is in the top three best choices to bring people into the fold.<br />
<br />
I won’t summarize the story here, there are so many places and blogs which rehash and retell the store in its entirety.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead, my goal is to talk about what I liked and disliked about the story itself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hopefully help others to decide if Boys Over Flowers is for them.<br />
<br />
Let’s start off by saying if you’re watching a drama for the eye-candy then Boys Over Flowers has it in abundance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of the F4 are handsome Flowerboys.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each fulfilling a different character archetype.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Goo Jun Pyo is the cold hearted Chaebol who torments and tortures others with a smirk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yoon Ji Hoo is the tender hearted and warm second male lead with a smile that can melt your heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So Yi Jung is the suave Casanova/Plyaboy who can charm the pants off anything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And Last but certainly not least is Song Woo Bin, the enforcer and smooth talker of the group who will defend his friends no matter what.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Something for everyone that’s for sure.<br />
<br />
Geum Jan Di is the poor, working class gal who finds herself wrapped up in the world of the excessively rich.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is stubborn, cheerful, hard working, and a bright light to her friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For me she was amazing to watch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The story put her through the gamut of emotions and she still remained strong and true to her own morals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For me that was an amazing journey to witness.<br />
<br />
I keep saying what I loved about this show, so I should add a few notes about what I didn’t like.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Geum Jan Di’s family caused me no end of frustrations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The more I learn about the culture there and the image portrayed in their TV shows I can see where they were coming from.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, this poor noona just couldn’t get over the fact that they were pretty much trying to sell their daughter to a rich family for their own improvement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plus the strained/strange relationship between the parents didn’t sit well with me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because Jan Di was so hard working I really wanted to see a family that supported her and was happy at home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lastly, it bothered me that the parents left the high school daughter in charge of her middle school brother and left to make money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
The Eomeoni, Jun Pyo’s mom, yeah I hated her so much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I understand the role she played and the way she created dramatic intensity in the story, however, she was a bit much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wanted to see her part toned down a little, because then it would have been a little bit more believable.<br />
<br />
This story introduced me to Second Male Lead Syndrome, I’m sure there are a ton of other names for it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But what it boils down to is that I loved Ji Hoo so much that by the end of the story my heart was broken and bleeding for him and his unrequited love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hated that he didn’t get a happily ever after, it still bothers me to this day.<br />
<br />
Other things that I loved about this show was the secondary love story between So Yi Jung and Cha Ga Eul.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was fun to watch Yi Jung grow as a man and to see Ga Eul slowly fall in love with him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The friendship that blossomed between Ji Hoo and Jan Di makes my heart all warm and fuzzy (as long as I don’t think about his unhappy ending).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I loved how Goo Jun Hee (Goo Jun Pyo’s older sister) and Min Seo Hyun (Ji Hoo’s first love) protected and supported Jan Di.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also just loved the story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Angry, rich, spoiled, brat who slowly becomes a good man through his love for a woman he shouldn’t want.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The acting was superb and writing amazing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Best of all, for me, it had a mostly happy ending.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were a few sad things which I wish could have turned out better for the characters I adore, but even with these road bumps the ending was happy and sweet. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boys_Over_Flowers_(TV_series)" target="_blank">For a full synopsis of the story check out this link.</a></span><br />
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Noona's Rating <b>Noona's Rating After Watching a 2nd Time</b><br />
Overall: 9 <span style="font-size: xx-small;">(Rated <span style="font-size: xx-small;">at 5 Stars on DramaFever.com) <b><span style="font-size: small;">Overall: 7.4 <span style="font-size: xx-small;">(rated 3 stars on DramaFever.com)</span></span></b></span></span><br />
Story/Writing: 9 <b>Story/Writing: 6</b><br />
Cast/Actors: 10 <b>Cast/Actors: 9</b><br />
OST: 9 <b>OST: 6</b><br />
Sets/Costumes: 7 <b>Sets/Costumes: 6</b><br />
Feels: 10 <b>Feels: 10</b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07124391340670776902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5096197188232529356.post-25076002901815686742013-11-11T16:09:00.001-08:002013-11-11T16:09:06.061-08:00Happily Ever After<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
My first foray into the world of Korean Dramas turned out to have a happy ending.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was very lucky indeed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Though I have a feeling from the words of netizens that a great many people’s first K-Drama is Boys Over Flowers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Regardless, I feel pretty lucky that my first drama had a happy ending (for the most part).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Throughout the entire twenty-five episodes I was uncertain if there would be a happy ending, Jun Pyo and Jan Di kept encountering such immense obstacles that the ending was never definite.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, the last episode wrapped it up in a sweet bow and I melted away from happiness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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I am such a sucker for a happy ending.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Always have been.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This love of the feel good closure to a show/movie/book/graphic novel/etc has carried over to dramas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve experienced enough hardship and tragedy in the real world, I don’t like to end a drama on a note which rips my heart out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, that isn’t to say that I don’t appreciate the twists and turns, ups and downs, and climactic moments within the drama itself which keep you guessing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those I absolutely love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The moments where I am bawling my eyes out and unsure of the fate of the characters are some of my most favorite.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet at the end of that emotional rollercoaster I want to be left with a warm glow, a happy ending is a must.</div>
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Once I finished Boys Over Flowers I needed more, it was evident even then that I was obsessed and addicted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Admittedly I chose my next drama because it had Lee Min Ho in it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After watching him for twenty-five plus hours as Jun Pyo I really wanted to see more of him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I immediately started City Hunter, which was a completed different vibe from Boys Over Flowers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It wasn’t until about halfway through City Hunter that I started to worry that the ending would tear my heart out and stomp on it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It wasn’t enough to make me stop watching, but I found that as I closed in on the ending of the show I was terribly anxious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I needed him to succeed and desperately wanted Yoon Sung and Na Na to be together with a happily ever after ending.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the last episode I was so high strung with insecurity that it was a traumatic experience to finish the show.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It ended and I got my wish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But boy was I exhausted after that ride.</div>
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That terrifying ride didn’t stop me from diving right into another drama.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This time I followed Kim Hyun Joong (Ji Ho from Boys Over Flowers).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I needed something light and fluffy and silly after City Hunter and Playful Kiss seemed exactly perfect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, to say that I dove right in and started the show is a lie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I took some time to research.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I read review about the show, well to be more exact I literally typed into Google ‘does Playful Kiss have a happy ending’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yup, I wasn’t going to commit to a show unless I knew that no matter how insane or crazy the plots twists and obstacles were that I’d get the warm-fuzzies when the show was done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were plenty of snippets out there and it was easy to ascertain that Playful Kiss would have a satisfying ending, so at that point I did dive right in… once I was sure I’d survive the ride.</div>
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Now before I commit to any drama I spend a few minutes searching the internet for a clue as to what I’m getting myself into.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some people might say this is cheating or that I’m ruining the ending for myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t deny that, I am ruining the ending because I go into the story knowing how it’s going to end up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For me though I can’t handle the anxiety and chance that I’ll be left with this hollow pain because the characters I’ve fallen in love with end up dead or unhappy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I watch dramas to escape reality and I want my fantasy to have happiness and rainbows at the conclusion of every tale.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07124391340670776902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5096197188232529356.post-11895445966362625782013-11-10T16:32:00.000-08:002013-11-20T02:43:18.247-08:00A Spiraling ObessionI wish that I could pin-point the exact moment that I entered the world of Korean Dramas. That moment in which I became so obsessed that I stopped watching anything but dramas that were subtitled. The instance that I fell over the precipice. I know what show it was which stole my heart and captured my undying attention, but the details of how I discovered the show are a bit fuzzy. However, despite my inability to recall the exacts of my entrance to this world I am going to try and recount my spiral into obsession.<br />
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In the grand scheme of obsessed K-Drama addicts my time here has been relatively short, it has been exactly half a year since I discovered Boys Over Flowers. I was blissfully watching a TV show on Hulu.com, right now I have no idea what show that was. However, when it concluded Hulu graciously suggested other shows that were similar to the one I had finished and given four or five stars to. There were about ten suggested options, all but one were British or American shows. Then, at the end of the line, there was Boys Over Flowers. I remember finding the title humorous, the image of the four men intriguing considering the posh and somewhat effeminate clothing they were wearing, and being intrigued because I had no idea what it was. <br />
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Now, as I am a firm lover of all things of the Korean Drama world, I wish I could say that I dove head first into Boys Over Flowers with excitement and an open mind. In truth, I clicked on it to see just how ridiculous the show turned out to be. I watched the first episode and chuckled at the concept, told myself it was all very silly, and went on with watching some other show which had been in the suggested list. However, I couldn't get that first episode out of my head. I kept thinking about how strong Geum Jan Di was, how her exuberance made me wish other female leads had that attitude. Of course I was drawn to the absolutely gorgeous faces of the F4 group as well. It wasn't more than three to five days later and I was back on Hulu and watching Boys Over Flowers again. <br />
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The moment that I gave in and went back to watch the second episode I was hooked. I fell in love with the acting, the filming style, the story concepts, the character archetypes... all of it. I watched seven hours of Boys Over Flowers that day and spent every hour of my work week trying to determine when I could fit in time to watch the rest of the episodes. Once I completed all twenty-five shows I wanted more... no that isn't actually true I needed more. I was three-hundred percent addicted and there was no going back. Truthfully I didn't want to go back, I was in love.<br />
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Since then I have spent every free moment I can watching dramas from Korea and Taiwan. I have found blogs about others who share my love of these dramas, I have subscribed to Dramafever.com so I can watch my dramas without the interruption of commercials... I think about the drama I am currently watching all the time and debate which drama will fill my need next. Obsessed... absolutely obsessed and loving every moment of it. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07124391340670776902noreply@blogger.com0