30 Day Korean Drama Challenge: Day 30

A Kdrama Which Made You So Sad

The Princess' Man

     I have cried while watching dramas before but The Princess' Man completely ruined me. Episode 22 transformed me into a sobbing, screaming, hysterical mess. Watching this drama reminded me why I need to watch them alone-if people were watching with me they would think that I suffer from disturbing emotional issues. There have been few movies that have made me cry as much as this drama did. Even the ending wasn't a completely happy one, making me even more sad. This is an amazing drama and everyone should watch it but make sure that you have a box of tissues on hand.

Honorable Mentions:

Secret Garden

Rooftop Prince

49 Days

Shining Inheritance

Beautiful Days

Image from kpop.com

30 Day Korean Drama Challenge: Day 29

A Kdrama That Made You So Happy

My Girlfriend is a Gumiho

     MGIAG is the custest drama that I have ever seen. Although there were some sad moments, I found myself smiling throughout most of the drama. Mi Ho is such an adorable character and I became an instant Shin Min Ah fan after watching the first episode.
 

Honorable Mentions:

Secret Garden

You're Beautiful

Coffee Prince

Image from davuthdv.blogspot.com

30 Day Korean Drama Challenge: Day 28

A Kdrama Not Loved By Many But You Seem To Like

Wild Romance

     This drama had poor ratings and mixed reviews but I love it. Baseball star Mu Yeol is caught on film being thrown by Eun Jae and in order to salvage his reputation has to hire her as his bodyguard. I really liked Eun Jae, she was really funny and didn't undergo any drastic transformation in order for the male lead to fall for her. I absolutely love Dong Ah, she is such a unique character and her relationship with Director Kim was one of my favorite parts of the drama. Although I love this drama it is definitely flawed-Jessica's acting, the psycho stalker plotline, the extremely violent and unnecessary fight scene between Eun Jae and Mu Yeol, etc. Overall it is an interesting and unique drama that deserves more love.

Me Too, Flower!

     Another drama that I never hear about and also received low ratings. A depressed police officer and a rich man masquerading as a parking attendant fall in love and help each other deal with their painful pasts. I thought it was really beautiful how two broken and damaged people came together and made each other whole again. Yoon Shi Yoon was a last minute replacement because the original actor was injured before filming and he is much younger than what the part called for which was problematic in a few instances throughout the drama such as the women hilariously referring to him as "oppa" when they are clearly much older than him. Thankfully he had amazing chemistry with Lee Ji Ah so everything else could be overlooked.




Images from couchkimchi.wordpress.com, thetalkingcupboard.wordpress.com

30 Day Korean Drama Challenge: Day 27

A Kdrama Love By Many But You Don't Seem To Like

Delightful Girl Choon Hyang

     If you have read my other posts than this choice should come as no surprise. I was really disappointed with this drama and I'm still struggling to understand why so many people like it.



Image from kpopislandrocks.wordpress.com

30 Day Korean Drama Challenge: Day 26

Your Recently Finished Kdrama

The Princess' Man

     The kdrama to rule them all. This show was so hyped that I was afraid to watch it-more often than not something that has a lot of hype usually fail to live up to it's glowing accolades. I'm pleased to say that this is not the case with The Princess' Man. I loved everything about this drama from beginning to end. One of my only complaints is that I wished we could have seen how more of the characters ended up but that doesn't detract much from the overall greatness of  this drama. Moon Chae Won and Park Shi Hoo were amazing in this and they had fantastic chemistry. The transformation of these two characters over the course of the series was truly captivating. I loved all the secondary characters especially Princess Kyung Hye and Ah Kang-who is the cutest little girl I have ever seen in my entire life. I can't praise this drama enough, it is now my favorite drama-pushing Secret Garden to second place. Just watch it.

Image from http://mi3l-asiaclub.blogspot.com

30 Day Korean Drama Challenge: Day 25

Your First Kdrama

Boys Over Flowers

     Yes, like so many other Kdrama fans my first drama was Boys Over Flowers. I had watched the anime years before and I had read the manga online when I discovered this gem on netflix. I was instantly hooked from the first episode and quickly finished the series in a week. I then watched Secret Garden, You're Beautiful and My Girlfriend is a Gumiho-I was addicted. I love BOF but I readily admit that it's not a great drama-the acting is questionable (I'm looking at you Jan Di), the music choices are comical and most of the plot is ridiculous. But it's completely entertaining and I've rewatched it numerous times.



Image from hancinema.net

30 Day Korean Drama Challenge: Day 24

Your Worst Couple

Se Na & Tae Mu-Rooftop Prince

     These two were a match made in hell. Se Na and Tae Mu were completely selfish characters who were perfect together.  If they had produced offspring, he/she most certainly would have been the Antichrist.

Choon Hyang & Mong Ryong

     Of course my least-liked drama would contain my least favorite couple. Mong Ryong was the main reason that I could never get behind this couple. He was selfish and stupid-a really terrible combination. He got better in the last few episodes but his actions and personality for most of the show were intolerable. This was the first time I shipped the female lead staying single.

   


Images from raine0211.wordpress.com, dramascreencaps.altervista.org

30 Day Korean Drama Challenge: Day 23-Part 2

Your Best Couple-Secondary Characters

Dong Ah & Director Kim aka The Robot Couple-Wild Romance

     This is one of my favorite couples ever. Dong Ah and Director Kim are really unique characters and polar opposites. Their pairing was the best part of Wild Romance-I would love to watch a drama centered around the two of them.

Honorable Mentions:

Yoon Seul & Oska-Secret Garden

Princess Kyung Hye & Jung Jong-The Princess' Man

Yoo Joo & Han Sung-Coffee Prince

Images from seoulbeats.com, sunflowerbunss.wordpress.com, loveparkhs.blogspot.com, episode-guide.blogspot.com

30 Day Korean Drama Challenge: Day 23-Part 1

Your Best Couple-Main Characters

Se Ryung &  Seung Yoo-The Princess' Man

     This was a hard choice to make because there are so many great drama couples. I decided on Se Ryung and Seung Yoo because of all the hardships and trials that they had to endure to be together. They both suffered extreme emotional and physical pain. They were betrayed by those they trusted and lost loved ones. Se Ryung's feelings for Seung Yoo never faltered, no matter how hard he tried to erase her from his heart.

Honorable Mentions:

Ra Im & Joo Won-Secret Garden

Eun Chan & Han Kyul-Coffee Prince

Bong Sun & Jae Hee-Me Too, Flower!

Images from koreandrama.org, fanpop.com, thevastworldofkpop.blogspot.com, soompi.com, withhyunbin.com

30 Day Korean Drama Challenge: Day 22

Your Worst Actress

Ku Hye Sun

 
      I love  Boys Over  Flowers but the show would have been a million times better if Jan Di had been played by a better actress. I know that the actors have to perform according to the script and director but the actor themselves aren't totally faultless. Hye Sun made Jan Di into a real life cartoon character-her facial expressions made her so unattractive that it was more than a stretch of the imagination to believe that all these good looking rich guys wanted her. She toned down the craziness as the show went on but it was too little too late.

Jessica Jung

     Wild Romance was definitely not a perfect drama-it had several problems but I still ended up loving it. Jessica's performance was up there with the nonsensical stalker plot. I know that it is very common for singers to go into acting in Korea but Jessica is a prime example of why some singers need to stick to their day jobs.






Images from fanpop.com, ic-girl.blogspot.com

30 Day Korean Drama Challenge: Day 21

Your Worst Actor

Jae Hee

Delightful Girl Choon Hyang

     My dislike for this show is pretty obvious but his character was the biggest flaw. He was like a male Jan Di, constantly making extremely unattractive facial expressions.

30 Day Korean Drama Challenge: Day 20

Your Best Actress

Shin Min Ah

My Girlfriend is a Gumiho

Arang and the Magistrate

Beautiful Days

The Beast & the Beauty

My Mighty Princess

Sad Movie

A Love to Kill

Te Devil

Punch

A Million

The Naked Kitchen

Sisters on the Road

Go Go 70's

Yoon Eun Hye

I Miss You

Coffee Prince

Goong

The Vineyard Man

Legend of the Seven Cutter (This is not a good movie, she was the only enjoyable thing in it.)

Moon Chae Won

The Princess' Man

Innocent Man

Shining Inheritance

Kim Sun Ah

My Lovely Sam Soon

She's On Duty

Scent of a Woman

I Do, I Do

Images from star.koreandrama.org, dramashoo.com, koreanmovie.com, thekoreancorner.blogspot.com

30 Day Korean Challenge: Day 19

Your Best Actor

Lee Byung Hun

I Saw the Devil

Addicted

A Bittersweet Life

Beautiful Days

Hyun Bin

Secret Garden

The Snow Queen

A Millionaire's First Love

Gong Yoo

Coffee Prince

The Crucible

My Tutor Friend

Finding Mr. Destiny

She's On Duty

Biscuit Teacher and Star Candy/ Hello My Teacher

Big

Spy Girl

Park Shi Hoo

The Princess' Man

Prosecutor Princess

Cheongdamdong Alice

Delightful Girl Choon Hyang (a little side note about this, he was only in this show for a few minutes-he broke up with Chae-Rin on her birthday. At first I thought he was a big douche but after having to endure Chae-Rin for the remainder of the show acting like a huge selfish witch and never once getting her just rewards, I loved him for being such a jerk to her and dodging such a crazy bullet.)

Lee Dong Wook

The Perfect Couple

Wild Romance

Scent of Woman

Images are not mine

30 Day Korean Drama Challenge: Day 18

The Worst Kdrama That You've Watched Until the End

Delightful Girl Choon-Hyung

     Until recently I haven't watched a drama that I didn't like. I have definitely watched some that are extremely flawed but they were still enjoyable for the most part. That was until I watch DGCH. I had been planning on watching DGCH for awhile because I have seen it so many times on best drama lists. It was also a drama written by the Hong sisters who did You're Beautiful which I love. The show started out fine but then just got worse and worse and worse. The drama focuses on two high school students, Choon Hyang and Mong Ryong. Choon Hyang is very smart but poor and takes odd jobs to earn money. She has been raised by her mother, who works as a lounge singer and is usually irresponsible when it comes to finances. Mong Ryung isn't that smart and he gets into countless fights. His father makes good money as the chief of police and his mother is overbearing. Due to a series of misunderstandings, Choon Hyang and Mong Ryong are forced to marry in order to evade a scandal. If the show had stuck with this story line then this drama might have been decent. Cohabitation dramas are usually fun. 

      As soon as the two graduate high school the show takes a giant downturn in enjoyment.  It picked up again in the last 3 episodes but it didn't make up for the amount of frustration I was put through during most of the show. I think the biggest flaw with this drama aside from the messy plot is the characters-I don't like any of them except for Mong Ryong's dad and best friend Ji Hyuk. Mong Ryong is such a stupid and annoying character. He spends way too much time with Chae Rin and then he gets angry when Choon Hyang acts cold towards him. If the second male lead was even the least bit likable I would have shipped him like there's no tomorrow but he turns out to be an obsessive, controlling jerk who blackmails Choon Hyang to be with him. And completely off topic but if they showed one more scene of him looking at that stupid necklace I would have smashed my laptop. I totally shipped her staying single. Speaking of Choon Hyang, she wasn't that great either. In the beginning of the show you are lead to believe that she's strong, smart and independent but that turns out to not be the case. She spends the majority of the show telling Myon Ryong that she doesn't like him and to go away. Instead of confronting Chae Rin for being a backstabbing whore she usually apologizes to her or thanks her for taking Myon Ryang off her hands.

     There were a few things that I liked, and I stress the word "few." I loved the pink and grey school uniforms that Choon Hyang and Mong Ryong wore, they were the coolest school uniforms that I've ever seen in any drama or movie. I liked the fusion of the Chunhyangga tale throughout the show. I liked the fact that Choon Hyang made jewelry. As I mentioned earlier, I really liked the dad in this show. I have seen Ahn Suk Hwan in father roles before but this is by far my favorite performance of his. I also really liked the music, it got a little repetitive but I still enjoyed the songs overall. And that's it, those are the only things that I liked in this drama. I honestly don't know how anyone could recommend this much less love it. If this had been the first asian drama that I had watched then I might not have watched another one.   5.5/10

30 Day Korean Drama Challenge: Day 17

A Kdrama That You've Watched More Than Once

  

Boys Over Flowers

Secret Garden

My Girlfriend is a Gumiho

You Are Beautiful

Coffee Prince

Playful Kiss

30 Day Korean Drama Challenge: Day 16

A Kdrama You Started But Can't Finish

     This is the only question that I don't have an answer for. I am currently jumping around and watching numerous dramas but I will eventually finish them. I have this belief that I can't properly rate something, be it a movie or tv show, unless I finish it. I always finish watching something no matter how bad it is. Trust me, I have watched some pretty terrible movies that have made me want to end my life. Some dramas have taken me longer to finish than others but that may have more to do with my crazy skipping around habit.

30 Day Korean Drama Challenge: Day 15

Your Favorite Ending 

     Secret Garden had my favorite ending because it was completely satisfying. The show skipped ahead 5 years and you were able to see how all the main characters ended up. I think one of the reasons that I love this show so much is because it was a complete story with a beginning, a middle and an end. Nothing frustrates me more than movies and shows that don't have a real ending.

Honorable Mentions:

Sweet 18

Coffee Prince

30 Day Korean Drama Challenge: Day 14

Your Favorite Kissing Scene

Coffee Prince

     I love the kissing scenes in Coffee Prince not only because of the amazing chemistry from both actors but because of how natural the kissing appears. The kissing scenes in Coffee Prince look real and authentic, in some dramas the kissing scenes can look super fake and staged.

Honorable Mentions:

The Princess' Man

Flower Boy Ramyun Shop

Beautiful Days

Me Too, Flower!

30 Day Korean Drama Challenge: Day 13

Your Favorite "I Love You"

“It’s not because I love you, but because I only love you. If I don’t have you, then I won’t have any other choices.” – Joo Won (Secret Garden)

     This is a really popular choice and because of that I really wanted to find something else but I can't lie to myself-this is my favorite "I love you."  

“How much… how much pain have you endured? I cannot imagine how you could bear such a terrible pain. If by taking my life away, your pain can be healed… even a thousand, a million times I am willing to die.” – Se Ryung (The Princess' Man)

     Se Ryung expresses the depth of her love and devotion to Seung Yoo far better than just saying "I love you" ever could. 

Honorable Mentions:

“Every single morning I will give you a kiss as revenge. Every single day, I will follow you like a stalker and buy you everything you want. I am never going to cheat on you. You’ll be the only one in my eyes. From now on, I’ll never let you cry even one tear. I’m going to make you the happiest queen in the world. Until the day I die to the point of disgust, I’m only going to love you as revenge. Can you handle it, your highness? I’m officially proposing to you right now.” -Jae Ha (The King 2 Hearts)


“There’s already someone I love. She’s the first in my life and for the rest of my life, she’ll be the only one. You still want to marry me?” – Jun Pyo


“I’m going to keep telling you, so listen good every day. I love you.” – Tae Kyung


“I… like you, Kim Yoon-shik. I, who only walked where there was a road, who only acted according to the rules… who thought propriety was everything — have come to like you… a man. This is why I can’t keep you as a friend or even as a roommate, because I no longer have the confidence to lie to myself and act like I’m ok when you’re with me.” – Sun-joon


“I like you. Whether you’re a man or an alien, I don’t care anymore.” – Han Kyul


“I want to live with you. For the rest of my life, I want to eat together, talk together, sleep together, be together. Do I need any other reason?” – Han Kyul

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.