Category: Countryside Romance

Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha

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hometown cha cha cha kdramaSummary:  Yoon Hye Jin is a dentist who lost her job in Seoul. She visits a coastal town, Gongjin, and decides to put up her own dental clinic. There,  she meets handyman, Hong Doo Sik, who does all sorts of job, and is known in the entire town as Chief Hong.

Trailer: Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha

Genre: Romantic Comedy, Countryside Romance
Episodes: 16
Stars:  Shin Min Ah as Yoon Hye Jin
Kim Sun Ho as Hong Doo Sik
Lee Sang Yi as Ji Sung Hyun



Likes: Such a heartwarming little drama set in a laid-back coastal town, showcasing the townspeople’s daily life; their livelihood, community, camaraderie and a closer look into their personal happiness and struggles. I come from such town so I could totally relate to a lot of situations, especially the gossiping part :-)!

Beautiful Gongjin. Shooting outside Seoul seems a trend these days. Not complaining at all, on the opposite! Love how kdrama promotes local places, especially the coastal areas, which are undoubtedly full of charm. I just fell in love with Gongjin… but wait, oh Gongjin is a fictional town, lol! The place is actually Pohang, South Korea. It does exist, that’s good news! So, we can still check out that prominent, red lighthouse. It really does stand out. I just love the seaside set. I could almost smell the salty and seaweed-smelling air.

The Love Story. How cute is that when our little Hye Jin and Doo Sik already met at the same town long time ago. Those two souls were simply destined to be together, but not without trials and challenges. The characters, in the beginning, were clashing! Hye Jin and Doo Sik were two opposing personalities. One couldn’t let go of her city lifestyle and ambition, while the other one was just happy with what he has around him in the town. I love how the two got together in the end without giving up what matters to them. It’s called compromise! When you love, you compromise and if every relationship has this as its base, then we’ll end up like our Hye Jin and Doo Sik too!



Character-rich Drama. I’m not just talking about the top characters, Hye Jin and Doo Sik, but the supporting as well. Everyone’s character was well-crafted and all had a story to tell. Behind the happy, normal facade of everyone’s life has the struggle and pain that lie within. Hye Jin – the dentist, Doo Sik – the handyman, Gam Ri – the caring grandmother, Cheo Jae – the singer, Hwa Jung – the desperate ex-wife, Nam Suk – the queen of gossip and more. I love all of them and I feel for everyone who’s having a hard time right now saying goodbye to all these remarkable characters.

The Cast. Very well chosen! I love Shin Min Ah, since a very long time, like My Girlfriend is a Gumiho, kind of time. She’s just lovable. Kim Sun Ho captured my heart since Start-Up. I just really hope he gets through this scandal he’s facing right now. We have a lot of veterans in the show like Kim Young-ok who played as Kim Gam-ri and Jo Han-cheol as Oh Cheon-jae, making this drama so solid and worth-watching.

The Catchy Intro. Noticed the animated intro in the beginning of every episode? Love it! Very well done! And of course, it’s accompanied by that La La La Song (Romantic Sunday). Made me always sit back and relax and watch the new episode.

Daebak Confession. How could I forget our girl finally confessing her feelings… Hye Jin to Du Sik: “My feelings keep inflating my heart and it could burst at any second.” Oh la la! And followed by a kisssss! Yay!



The Proposal. Omo, the shoe idea was genius! Just poor Doo Sik, Hye Jin beat him to it, lol!

The Ending. A lovely balance between sad and happy, and the future would remain the same. But at least our couple was facing it with a positive attitude.

Hye Jin: “I’ll be at the front of the boat making sure you have a clear path.”

Doo Sik: “The sea won’t always be this gentle though. We will be met with wind and waves. And even typhoons will come our way.”

Hye Jin: “So what if we get wet soaked in the rain? Who cares if the wind blows a bit, when we’re in the same boat.”

Dislikes: I’m really trying to get used to ad placement, because, you know, everyone has to earn a living and I really want kdrama to live on for a long time but I can’t help getting agitated if it gets too much. On the final episode, they had to create special segments just so they could run ads one last time. Shameless!

My Rating: 8.5 stars! (10 as highest)


It’s Okay to Not Be Okay

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its okay to not be okay kdramaSummary: Moon Kang Tae works as a psychiatric caregiver and also takes care of his grown up brother who has special needs. He is great at his job but he doesn’t stay long in one hospital or employer. Due to a childhood trauma, he moves around with his brother a lot. Moon Kang Tae meets Ko Moon Young, a popular, successful and eccentric kids book author. Ko Moon Young takes a liking to Moon Kang Tae and starts following him around.

Trailer: It’s Okay to Not Be Okay

Genre: Romance, Psychological, Countryside Romance
Episodes: 16
Stars: Kim Soo Hyun as Moon Kang Tae
Seo Ye Ji as Ko Moon Young
Oh Jung Se as Moon Sang Tae




Likes: A beautifully-written story with much focus on details. I love the combination of  exceptional characters combined with intense psychological drama, with added series of literary masterpieces and illustrations in a much rural, coastal backdrop. It was unique in a way and such an enjoyable show to follow until the end.

The grotesque animation. I’m a huge fan of this part. It gave the whole drama a dark tone and at the same time retained some cuteness. Which was my exact whole impression of the non-animated part. A great introduction indeed.

The cursed castle. This impressive set was just perfect for the story. A princess is not a princess without a castle afterall. Eerie but perfect!

The featured books and stories. I love all the books and the amazing stories and the morals that came with it but I think The Zombie Kid left a special place in my heart. Moreoever, I also like the touching story of the two brothers who made sure the other has a sack of rice for his family.

The storytelling with its animated illustration. Illustrated stories are simply the best. There are people like me who are visual so I really enjoy illustrated books, much more animated illustrations!

The titles of each episode. Yes it was the book’s title and each episode’s story is a reflection of that in the book.

The sarcasm in Ko Moon Young’s Fairy tale Class. I enjoyed this bit. There’s so much truth in all of these…

What is a fairy tale?  It is a cruel fantasy that illustrates the brutality and violence of this world in a paradoxical manner.

Moral on Ugly Duckling – raising someone else’s child is unrewarding, so just look after your own.

Moral on The Little Mermaid – karma will bite you hard if you covet on an engaged man.

Conclusion: A fairy tale isn’t a hallucinogen that gives us hopes and dreams. It is a stimulant that makes us face reality.

The beautiful coastal, countryside. A break from the usual busy and crowded Seoul. I thought the psychiatric hospital’s location was a perfect place to those seeking emotional and psychological healing. Love the view of the ocean!

The OST. Love, love the beautiful OST: It’s Okay Not To Be Okay!

The Brilliant Cast…

Kim Soo Hyun as Moon Kang Tae – I know Kim Soo Hyun would always choose a good role and as Moon Kang Tae, his comeback role after his military, it was a sure winner for him. His downcast personality as Moon Kang Tae showed how well he could do with serious roles like this one. At first I thought he was too thin but I realized it was all part of it.



Seo Ye Ji as Ko Moon Young – no one could do this role better than Seo Yi Ji. She was hands down the best! I loved her voice, perfectly fitting her role as Ko Moon Young. I loved Ko Moon Young’s different looks: beautiful, sultry, eccentric, arrogant, intimidating – difficult with a beautiful and talented soul. She was every inch a character from a fairy tale, the one with the very tiny waist :)! Moreover, all the outfits she wore were gorgeous and suited her really well!

Oh Jung Se as Moon Sang Tae – I’ve got to give the best actor award to  Oh Jung Se for doing Moon Sang Tae soooo well! The acting was just brilliant, hands down. I loved how he mastered the mannerisms, the stutter when he talked, the way he walked and how he could portray that innocence of someone who living in his own world. Such a brilliant actor!

The Ending with a twist. I love how the brother whom everyone thought was someone everyone would take care of became the one protecting others.  I didn’t see that twist with the mum coming but what a  surprise! In the end, everyone found their peace, could move on and grow more.

Dislikes: I’m less a fan of psychological drama. Sometimes it’s too sad. It’s just that this one was too good to let it slip.

My Rating: 9 stars! (10 as highest)

Continue reading “It’s Okay to Not Be Okay” →

I’ll Find You on a Beautiful Day

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i'll find you on a beautiful daySummary: After a failed teaching career in Seoul, Mok Hae Won goes back to the countryside where she grew up and studied. She meets again her former classmate Im Eun Sub who now owns a bookshop and is quite content with his life in the village. Little did she know that Im Eun Sub liked her a lot even when they were still young but opted to admire her from the far.

Trailer: I’ll Find You on a Beautiful Day

Genre: Romance, Countryside Romance, Snow Romance, Books
Episodes: 16
Stars: Park Min Young as Mok Hae Won
Seo Kang Joon as Im Eun Sub



Likes: I would normally go for the romantic comedy but I won’t say no to a wonderfully made romance drama complete with all the necessary spices.

A beautifully written script. Such a great storytelling with focus on details. It didn’t give me an impression of being lost while following every episode. There was always a sense of cohesiveness. It was of course focus on the present but with important flashbacks of the past. It was going back and forth like that but it was just so well done.

The small town set. Some kdramas seem to be parting away from the usual Seoul scenes these days which is a breath of fresh air. Something new, something we don’t normally connect with Korea. I love the small town feel in this one. A place with very few people who mostly know each other and gather on special occasions to connect with everyone further. That very close ties between people in this town was also very well emphasize in this drama.

The focus on values. I love how the characters had emphasis on their values. It didn’t matter if one had a similar value to another, the important thing is how a character stood by his or her own values. For example, when there was this discussion during the book club meeting and someone said, you go around trying to find your happiness somewhere only to end up going back to where you come from and realize that happiness lies there. Then someone else contradicted, what if the case is you’re trying to find happiness somewhere but could not find it so you just decided that the simple happiness you find at home is actually the happiness you’ve been looking for.

It gave us a lot of thoughts. What is really important to each one of us?

The unique characters. This was something that really impressed me about this drama. The characters are very well thought of. I could appreciate it already if the main characters are very well defined but in this case everyone’s character was equally important. The aunt and mum of Mok Hae Won surprised me in the later episodes, they had their own interesting story. I also like the way how Mok Hae Won’s family appeared cold towards each other. They didn’t like to talk about feelings which is okay because in reality some people are just like that.

The top leads. There’s no denying that our top leads are both good looking. Not just that, they’re brilliant actors as well. But what I enjoyed most is the strong chemistry between Park Min Young and Seo Kang Joon. When this is ticked, then the kissing scenes are awesome.

Perfectly conveyed feelings. Another amazing job done was conveying those sometimes unimaginable feelings. How could you show it on TV? This was thanks to a combination of good acting and I would say directing.

Consistent mood. The picturisque scenes (a combination of beautiful countryside and dramatic seasons), the warm atmosphere of the bookstore despite the thick snow of the outside word, the cold feel of the Hodu house where people as cold as ice live, the simple and somewhat happy lifestyle in a small town, the camaraderie between people, and so on. It was somehow very appealing to me.

The focus on books. I love how this drama promoted reading books and even just the existence of books in general. We live in a digital time when we can get information easily online. Books are somewhat no longer a thing. Well, think again, there’s something in books than just the information it gives. They bring people together. We sometimes forget that, don’t we?

I also love that every episode is a title of a book in the drama (if you’ve noticed). I particularly like The Maze of Sisterfield! That episode unfolded a lot of secrets.



The OST. It brings back memories of old dramas which had songs sounding like these… Like A Winter’s Dream and All day Long.

Favorite Quote. “You would rather not see the sunshine with the fear of losing it”.

The Ending. One word, beautiful!

Dislikes: Can’t think of one.

My Rating: 8.5 stars! (10 as highest)

Forest

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forest kdramaSummary: Kang Sun Hyuk does everything to acquire important business deals even if that would mean joining a special rescue team in order to get a good glimpse of Miryeong forest, which has a potential to be turned into a resort. He gets to share a house in Miryeong village with a surgical resident, Jung Young Jae, who got kicked out from a top hospital in Seoul because of an incident.

Trailer: Forest

Genre: Crime, Mystery, Romantic Comedy, Countryside Romance, Psychological, Medical
Episodes: 32
Stars: Park Hae Jin as Kang Sun Hyuk
Jo Bo Ah as Jung Young Jae
Jung Yun Joo as Oh Bo Mi
Noh Kwang Shik as Choi Chang



Likes: The main set which was Miryeong Forest was lush and green. It was beautiful and it set a very calming atmosphere which was perfect for the healing of two lost souls who were bound to work in the place. I love how the camera captured fantastic angles that made the forest looked enchanting, calming, relaxing, a breath of fresh air, a shelter, and since it’s a kdrama, a place to fall in love. Added to that, the drone shots were fantastic! A birds eyeview of the vast forest was just mesmerizing.

I love how they focused on bicycles as the main transport going in and out of the forest. I admit, there was something romantic about bikes but it wasn’t just a Korean drama thing,  I thought it was perfectly matching with the main nature theme. Something that doesn’t contribute pollution whether it’s air or noise.

The two main characters were interesting. Both had trauma in the past that despite what they have achieved in the present, the past remains haunting them. The character development was definitely there but how it was achieved I would put it under dislikes.

The Cast:

Park Hae Jin was looking so good in this! He looked tall and handsome in suits. And how can I forget those naked scenes, what an eye candy! But wait, he wasn’t all looks, he did well in acting too. His tears were so convincing!

Jo Bo Ah was pretty and bubbly and there was definitely a good amount of chemistry between her and Park Hae Jin.

Jung Yun Joo & Noh Kwang Shik were such a cute couple that sometimes I like watching these two than the top leads, hm, sometimes. Excellent acting as well even for just supporting roles.

My favourite quotes from this drama:

  • No matter how much time has passed, your mind dwells on the moments when you were hurt.
  • That’s called wisdom, not cowardice. Because you acknowledge your limits.

Pretty deep but they make a lot of sense, agree?

The Kiss. I still can’t decide which one is my favourite, the stethoscope kiss or the kiss under the trees!

The Ending. I love endings that involves healing. I love it when nature heals after a storm or a fire. I love it more when mankind heals after trauma, loss and pain.



Dislikes: Although the character development was there, how it was achieved was messy. The storytelling in general was all over the place. There was a big effort to integrate their top sponsor which is Okada in the Philippines so they have to find a way how they could make scenes that include Okada – which wasn’t really that necessary for the main story.

Jo Bo Ah, although she’s quite pretty, I wasn’t really warming up to her acting. When she cries, tears running down her cheeks and all but she still looks like she’s smiling. I don’t know if it’s just me.

I mentioned above how I like the bicycles in the drama and how they promoted clean air. I find it unnecessary that our main guy was driving a sports car in the countryside. Not matching at all.

The ending. Yes, I love the healing part but it got so cheesy in some closures.

My Rating: 7.5 stars! (10 as highest)

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Crash Landing On You

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crash landing on you kdramaSummary: A South Korean heiress lands in North Korea by accident when she was paragliding. She is captured by a North Korean soldier who treats her well and helps her get out of the country safely. But the more time she spends longer with her captor, the more she is falling for him.

Trailer: Crash Landing on You

Genre: Romantic Comedy, Chaebol, Countryside Romance, Military
Episodes: 16
Stars: Hyun Bin as Ri Jung Hyuk
Son Ye Jin as Yoon Se Ri
Seo Ji Hye as Seo Dan (Jung Hyuk’s fiancée)
Kim Jung Hyun as Koo Seung Joon



Likes: A different impression. There are so many reasons to love this drama but for me the most important is how this drama gave a different impression of North Korea. Finally, we have something popular in the south which is humanizing the people of the north. It was good to see all sides even if they’re only possibilities.

The humour. I’ve got to say this is the funniest kdrama so far this year! Every episode always left me giggling. It’s good to see something that could have left so much tension to be sooo funny (especially that it involves the military). So many funny moments in this drama but my favourite would be when the North Korean soldiers under Capt. Ri Jung Hyuk went to the south to bring back their captain in one piece. Oh gosh, I couldn’t stop laughing from all those naive experiences in the south! Of course, it had a good share of crying moments but I would highly recommend it for something that will really make you laugh.

The contrasting sets. I’ve seen over a hundred kdramas so I’m used to how the sets taken in South Korea would look like. But to have two contrasting sets, first the North Korean sets then the South, I found that very interesting. How different these two countries are – pointing out the lacking and good in one and same with the other. The very basic lifestyle in a North Korean village stroke me as primitive but on the other hand, there was emphasis on camaraderie among each other. The advanced, stylish lifestyle of the South brought out estrangement but on the other hand, there was freedom.

Lessons about the North. What did I learn from this drama about the North? Ah, the accent! It must have been Hyun Bin’s doing but suddenly North Korean accent just became so sexy! Agree or disagree? How about those surprise house inspections. I thought, no way, but it actually made sense. The tapping was funny if you’re just watching it but if you’re actually there, that could be quite scary. How about power and connection? Serve and follow the powerful otherwise you’re dead meat. The traffic in Pyongyang is not at all bad, and that’s even the capital! And yes before it gets forgotten, bring some blankets and food in case trains get stranded for 12 hours!

The cast. Undoubtedly, we had an awesome cast, I love them all but will focus on the leads. Let’s start with…

Hyun Bin as Ri Jung Hyuk – so handsome in North Korean military uniform and he also did so well with the northern accent. No reason not to fall in love with Ri Jung Hyuk’s character,  he might be stiff but a good and true person. I think Hyun Bin carried it so well.

Son Ye Jin as Yoon Se Ri – I love her in this drama – fierce, pretty, powerful and smart. She was awesome here. Her chemistry with Hyun Bin was top. Son Ye Jin, didn’t leave a good impression with me in Personal Taste (with Lee Min Ho). I had to drop that drama a long time ago, never finished it. It’s good to see her awesome in this one.

Seo Ji Hye as Seo Dan – oh my gosh, I love Seo Dan! I should have taken notes when Koo Seung Jun told her what he liked about her. That fierce, stylish North Korean lady. Love her stares! They were like lasers, lol! And isn’t she looking like Chanyeol of EXO? She could be his sister!

Kim Jung Hyun as Koo Seung Joon – First, I found him just good looking but when his character developed, I couldn’t help liking this guy. I bet this supporting role will bring Kim Jung Hyun to the top.

The kissing scenes. Ha! How I like a good one! But wait, I didn’t just get one but several and they were all great! Which one was my favourite, let me think… no, not the last one but the one outside the hospital! I thought that was so romantic!

Romanticising the demarcation lines. Well, after watching this drama, everyone will think romantic about those lines. Am I wrong? Oh, it’s already happening!

Important reference. I love the reference to Hyun Bin’s previous drama, Memories of the Alhambra! It was funny when the famous music of Memories of the Alhambra played when Hyun Bin’s character here, Ri Jung Hyuk was playing a computer game.



Cameo. Was that really Kim So Hyun? This just tells us that a new drama from him is dawning. Please, make it happen soon!

The ending. How would I say it. It pleased me and I guess most of you too. I’m glad they found a way to make it work despite the Romeo and Juliet kind of situation. And I love how they ended it where it all started, at the picturesque Switzerland.

Dislikes: It’s obvious how desperate they were to make that sudden paragliding scene. I know it looks cool and it justified that Yoon Se Ri was still alive, but it just didn’t make sense. How did  she manage to get the parachute fixed suddenly, same with her paragliding outfit?

I was hoping and crossing fingers for the supporting love team but sadly someone had to be sacrificed.

I dislike very much when episodes don’t get shown on schedule. The excitement gets interrupted. It happened twice with this drama. But glad it didn’t take a month to continue.

My Rating: 9 stars! (10 as highest)

Check out fanmade  Crash Landing on You Kdrama Highlights…

When the Camellia Blooms

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when the camellia blooms kdramaSummary: Dong Baek starts a new life with her son in a small town, opening a bar called Camellia. She is being criticized and bullied by her neighbours for the kind of livelihood she is having but that doesn’t stop a few people to admire and respect her. One of them is Hwang Yong Shik, a constable. His persistent character makes Dong Baek consider falling in love again.

Trailer: When the Camellia Blooms

Genre: Romantic Comedy, Thriller, Crime, Detective, Noona Romance, Countryside Romance, Serial Killer, Food
Episodes: 40
Stars: Gong Hyo Jin as Dong Baek
Kang Ha Neul as Hwang Yong Sik
Kim Ji Suk as Kang Jong Ryul



Likes: The Set. Countryside or a small town setting always comes underrated. First impression is always, it comes quite boring, no Seoul fashion and accent. But that actually made this drama special. Set in a town where everyone knows each other and for an outsider, would be quite hard to get integrated. It was a challenging situation for our Dong Baek, a single mum, who opened a bar in the town. It was hard for her to get accepted without the constant criticism and bullying. Interesting to see such a realistic setting.

The Story. The main story about Dong Baek, her past, present and possible future was already very nicely laid. What I was more impressed of was the detailed side stories of the other characters. And what was even more impressive was these side stories had their wonderful closure as well. We’ve got for example Hyang Mi’s, the Joker’s, Dongbaek’s mum’s stories. All with justifications why they live their lives like that.

The Cast. Such an impressive group of talents. Everyone did so well. Gong Hyo Jin’s performance was a different level, she was actually the character. Dong Baek is probably the best role she ever did and I found her really beautiful in this drama. Kang Ha Neul was just wow! What a talent! Still very young yet very talented. I was impressed with his performance here. It just proved that he’s not just a pretty face. He did so well with the accent too! And I’ve got to give credit to Kim Kang Hoon, who portrayed Pilgu, the son of Dongbaek. He was just sooo good! Watch out for this boy, he might end up like the likes of Yeo Jin Goo.

Ongsan Neighbourhood. It never got boring because of the Ahjummas of the neighbourhood. Of course there was the usual gossiping and bullying but above all that, there was camaraderie. In the end, the drama was warm and heartfelt because of the mutual trust among each other. It was very nice to watch.



Solving the Crime. I’m a huge fan of crime stories so the Joker part was a big bonus for me. The twist at the end came as a great surprise. I thought it was already over but it wasn’t. Well done!

The Endings. Yes plural because there were more than one. All side stories ended well and our main Dong Baek story closed nicely as well. And it even had an epilogue!

Dislikes: Thinking hard but nothing really.

My Rating: 8 stars! (10 as highest)

Continue reading “When the Camellia Blooms” →

Sweet Stranger and Me

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sweet stranger and me kdramaSummary: Hong Na Ri, a beautiful flight stewardess goes home to her deceased mother’s house only to find out that it’s now owned by a guy Go Nan Gil, who lives there and runs the family dumpling business. She finds out that her mother married Go Nan Gil and he’s not just running the family business but also is the legal owner of the family’s house and land. 

Genre: Romantic Comedy, Noona Romance, Countryside Romance
Episodes: 16
Stars: Soo Ae as Hong Na Ri
Kim Young Kwang as Go Nan Gil
Lee Soo Hyuk as Kwon Duk Bong
Jo Bo Ah as Do Yeo Joo




Likes: It started really well. Cast looked promising. Story, a typical crazy setup but intriguing. Provincial setting is a good break from Seoul. It looked sweet and I was up to finishing all 16 episodes of it.

Soo Ae is one of my favorite Korean actresses. She’s a brilliant actress. She can be cute, she can be serious without overacting. And above all her beauty is timeless. I don’t get tired of it at all. Her character as a stewardess in this drama brings out that elegance in her. She looked really great in her stewardess outfit.

The drama had the same feel like The Vineyard Man. Small town, but instead of a farmer, the guy is a dumpling chef, girl goes from city style to province, simple outfits, simple life, simple living but there was a possibility of big love.

Comical reliefs in this drama are not bad. I love Kwon Duk Shim! Though she could be really bratty, she was always cute whenever she sees the main guy, Go Nan Gil. Another one, Lee Yong Gyoo, one of the dumpling guys was also funny, chatty and a possible partner to our already cute Duk Shim!

Some beautiful scenes of the countryside we don’t normally get to see when the main set is in the city. Love the beach, the lake, the forest, the small town street scenes.

The ending was cute though kind of expected.




Dislikes: As I mentioned above, the drama started really well. I was very hopeful about it but after I think the 5th or 6th episode, there was not much improvement. It became really boring.

The chemistry of the main leads wasn’t that good. I love Soo Ae but pairing her with Kim Young Kwang just didn’t work. Young Kwang, though a promising young actor, just didn’t suit the character Go Nan Gil well. Too soft for a supposed to be tough character.

It was lacking good antagonists. It was lacking the challenge. It makes the show so dull.

Too many flashbacks! Was it because the show didn’t do well that they had to recycle a lot of previous scenes? The last episode were full of flashbacks, so bored that I had to forward a lot.

I haven’t given a low rating in a very long time but I guess I have to now…

My Rating: 6.5 stars! (10 as highest)

Descendants of the Sun

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Descendants-of-the-Sun kdramaSummary: Capt Yoo Shi Jin, a member of the Korean special force met the very pretty and talented surgeon Kang Mo Yun at the hospital where the latter was working. Trying to have a date with a soldier was almost impossible but their fate to be together got sealed when both were assigned in a far away, post-war country called Urk. Meanwhile the captain’s close comrade Sgt. Seo is having a complicated relationship with their commander’s daughter, Yoon Myung Joo.

Genre: Melodrama, Romance, Medical, Countryside Romance, Military
Episodes: 16
Stars: Song Joong Ki as Capt. Yoo Shi Jin
Song Hye Kyo as Prof. Kang Mo Yun
Jin Goo as Senior Seo Dae Young
Kim Ji Won as Surgeon Yoon Myung Joo




Likes: Okay, where do I begin?! Let’s start with our leads… all 4 pretty and handsome leads!

Song Joong Ki – this is definitely his most popular role, hallyu-star worthy! He was well-toned, pretty as usual, playful and teasing and most of all, top-looking in uniform. You add the shades and the snubbish attitude, he definitely rocked in this drama!

Song Hye Kyo – very pretty but tough and smart. This lady has got what it takes to be the girlfriend of the Alpha company’s Big Boss! Even with her pretty face, she survived an earthquake and saved many in a not-so-friendly place.

Jin Goo – new face that left a big impression. The very charismatic Sgt Seo who has a complicated relationship with the general’s daughter (Take note of the last words. That can be pretty tough in the military). Great-looking in uniform, perfect complexion, serious face – almost like a soldier.

Kim Ji Won – another pretty leading lady. The general’s daughter. Sgt Seo object of affection. A uniformed surgeon. I can’t blame Sgt Seo for falling in love with her.

We have 2 teams, Shi Jin – Mo Yun team and Dae Young – Myung Joo team! So which team are you?!

Shi Jin & Mo Yun team – these 2 started unsure. They couldn’t make it to their dates due to Shi Jin’s military duty. In fact Mo Yun got stood up twice (which wasn’t actually too bad, it just made Shi Jin more attractive). But when they started going out, it involved beautiful sceneries and even dangerous minefields :). I would rate the couple’s chemistry 8 out of 10. They’re kissing scenes were always beautiful (with beautiful backdrops). My favorite was the last one of course when they were back at the shipwreck.  Most dramatic moment was when Mo Yun found Shi Jin, covered in blood in an ambulance.

Dae Young & Myung Joo –  hm complicated relationship. Her dad not in favor and that was a big problem but it made the two more inseparable. Friendship history as Myung Joo helped Dae Young at his ex’s wedding. Both are in uniforms which is favorable as both understand each other’s jobs well. Couple’s chemistry is 9 out of 10, a win for this couple. Their kissing scenes were always touching and dramatic (made me cry). Most dramatic moment was when Myung Joo was found to be positive with a virus and Dae Young rushed to hug her.

I have to mention how truly beautiful the sceneries were. Urk is a made-up place and it was in Greece where they shot most of the scenes. I would recommend to visit Greece as I’ve seen the place myself. Beautiful blue sky and water with fantastic lanscapes!

The most famous greeting in the military world that’s probably taking the civilian world by storm: Dankyeol! (which means unity or solidarity) It sounds very sexy now thanks to this drama :).

The OST is amazing! These are my favorites songs from the drama… enjoy!
You are my Everything by Gummy
Everytime by Chen (EXO) featuring Xpunch
Always by Yoon Mi Rae
Once Again by Mad Clown featuring Kim Na Young
Talk Love by K.Will

Great slow motion scenes like when the hospital team arrived in Urk and the Capt (who was really looking great in uniform plus sunglasses) and company showed up but Capt snubbed Mo Yun big time. Ouch!

Funniest moment is I think Yo Shi Jin who was thought to be a ghost by the lady doctor’s colleagues.

Heartbreaking moment – those goodbye letters were so cruel. Sob sob sob! Mo Yun got one and too bad she read it. Lucky for Myung Joo who insisted not to open hers.

Most patriotic moment – the flag retreat scene!

Great villain and hero awards go to Argus and our north korean warrior. Dankyeol!

Cameo by Lee Kwang Soo,  Yoo Ah In and Red Velvet. At least these the famous personalities I know.

Call signs!!! Which one is your favorite? Piccolo, Snoopy, Yellow Tiger, Wolf, Big Boss or Beauty?

Even with 16 episodes only, they were somewhat running out of good stories and the mood was getting quite serious so it was really great that they could pull off a funny last episode. It made the soldiers happy and I think it made everyone happy too! And of course, we got our Red Velvet performance in the end.




Dislikes: They should say everything in Korean. It sounds cooler than Song Joong Ki trying to sound cool in English. It’s painful everytime that I always have to close my eyes.

Kang Mo Yun nags a lot. It was becoming a turn off.

My Rating: 9 stars! (10 as highest)

Continue reading “Descendants of the Sun” →

City Hall

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city hall kdramaSummary: An average woman working in the city hall becomes the mayor out of circumstances. She falls in love with the former deputy mayor who played a big role in her taking the office.

Genre: Romance, Political, Countryside Romance
Episodes: 20
Stars: Cha Seung Won as Jo Gook
Kim Sun Ah as Shin Mi Rae
Choo Sang Mi as Min Joo Hwa
Lee Hyung Chul as Na Jung Do

Likes: Cha Seung Won oppa! Really like the guy!
Great chemistry between leads! Kim Sun Ah is a good actress but it’s always hard to watch when she’s paired with young actors, sorry.
Political but romance integrated well!

Dislikes: Hard to watch Kim Sun Ah’s character in the beginning. Almost made me stop watching the whole show but glad her makeover is dashing, perfectly fitting to the handsome deputy mayor.

My Rating: 7.5 stars! (10 as highest)

The Vineyard Man

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the vineyard man kdramaSummary: A city girl moving to the countryside to fulfill the request of her granduncle. In return she’ll inherit the vineyard. She then fell in love with the farmer working there.

Genre: Romantic Comedy, Countryside Romance
Episodes: 16
Stars: Oh Man Suk as Jang Taek Gi
Yoon Eun Hye as Lee Ji Hyun

Likes: Realistic story!
Great ending with epilogue!
Love Yeh!
Chemistry between leads!
Funny!

Dislikes: That it has to end. Oh well.

My Rating: 8.5 stars! (10 as highest)

Continue reading “The Vineyard Man” →