Tuesday, July 10, 2012

30 Day Korean Drama Challenge: Day 12


Your Favorite Story



    Here's a shocker for you-it isn't Secret Garden.





     The Princess' Man isn't an entirely original or unique story but it's presentation and execution are what sets it apart from the rest. It starts simply enough-Lee Se Ryung discovers that her soon to be husband is going to be her cousin's (Princess Kyung Hye) new teacher. Princess Hye wants to take a trip outside the palace so she agrees to let Se Ryung pretend to be her and attend her lectures in her place. Se Ryung meets Kim Seung Yoo (the teacher) and the two gradual develop feelings for one another. All is going well until Seung Yoo is chosen as a candidate to be the Prince Consort and the marriage plans for him and Se Ryung are cancelled. What follows is a story filled with murder, political intrigue, revenge, betrayal, and of course romance.




Honorable Mentions:






Secret Garden-Yeah, it didn't make the top spot but you must have suffered a recent head trauma to think that I wouldn't even mention it. It's nothing new, rich guy falls for poor girl who abuses him with a little fantasy element thrown in. I love it though, I love it so so much. Yes, Joo Won is basically a rich, hot, domineering stalker but he becomes so much more as the story progresses. I also love how The Little Mermaid story is used throughout the drama  to represent their relationship-it's my favorite fairy tale so I may be a bit biased. I loved that Gil Ra Im was stunt woman and had so many awesome action scenes. I love Oska and Yoon Seul and the added bonus that their relationship brought to the story.






Boys Over Flowers-I have long been obsessed with the Hana Yori Dango manga and anime. I now know that the whole rich guy falls for poor girl who insults him/abuses him scenario is standard in most dramas but I still love this particular story. I love the F4 and I like the fact that Jan Di doesn't even like Jun Pyo at first, she loves Ji Hoo. One of the things I like the best about the Korean version is how much larger of a role that Ji Hoo had in the overall story as opposed to Rui in Hana Yori Dango.







Beautiful Days-This is the earliest kdrama that I have watched thus far but yet it has quickly become a favorite. I have gotten so invested in the characters and each of their individual stories. It can be a bit predictable at times but I still enjoy every moment of it. Basically it follows the lives of two sisters, Kim Yon Soo and Kim Se Na, who grew up in an orphanage. Yon Soo leaves the orphanage to work and promises to meet Se Na on their birthday. Yon Soo gets into an accident and is unable to meet Se Na so they stay separated for five more years. When they finally find each other again Se Na has grown cold and angry because she is unaware of the reasons why Yon Soo never came. Yon Soo and Se Na also become entangled in the lives of two brothers, both of whom fall in love with Yon Soo. 






49 Days-This was a really good drama with a horrible ending but I still loved the overall story. Shin Ji Hyun gets in a car accident and goes into a coma. She has 49 days to find 3 people that truly loved her. Although she originally thinks that this would be an easy task she soon finds out that she didn't know all the people she loved a well as she thought. I really loved the concept behind this drama, do you ever really know how people truly feel about you? Ji Hyun is allowed to use the body of Song Yi Kyung while she sleeps to complete her task because she is limited in her abilities while in spirit form. Yi Kyung's present life and her tragic past are such great elements in this story-it brings up the issues of depression, suicide and mental illness.





Coffee Prince-Again, this drama doesn't break ground with the girl pretending to be a guy/rich guy falling for poor girl plot line but it still manages to feel fresh and new. Eun Chan is probably the most convincing male impersonator that I have ever seen in dramaland.




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