KDrama to Watch: Oh My Venus (2015)

Oh My Venus (2015)

Grade: A-

16 Episodes

Overweight, overworked lawyer Kang Joo-eun suddenly experiences terrible stomach pains while on a flight back to Korea. A handsome, mysterious man trained as an EMT is on board as well and comes to her aid, cutting off a corset in the process, embarrassing Joo-eun to no end. Soon she discovers his real identity: trainer to the stars John Kim. In exchange for keeping his secret, Kim Young-ho (John Kim) agrees to become Joo-eun's personal trainer so she can regain her “Venus” figure. What will happen between coach and trainee once Joo-eun's boyfriend of 15 years dumps her for an old friend turned nemesis? Will Young-ho's half-brother sit on the sidelines when their grandmother tries to make Young-ho the new hospital director?

*The best part of this show is the emphasis placed on “healthy” and “strong” as beautiful, not simply skinny. I did not love the music, as it sounded too American (with a hearty nod to the swing and early rock and roll music of the 1940s and 50s), but it kept this a relatively light-feeling drama. There is a point in the drama where the two main characters are separated for a year, which I dislike – when two people who love each other are struggling with some burden, they should lean on each other, not isolate themselves. I liked the sidekicks in this show as well. The show did slow down a bit near the last few episodes, as all the major complications had been resolved, but it wasn't boring, just low-key. I was concerned at first with Shin Min-a as the female lead opposite So Ji-sub, as he has such a dominating presence on screen, but it struck me how well she really held her own with him. I'd watch this again, if for no other reason than to watch So Ji-sub being sexy, haha! *

KDrama to Miss: Nine: Nine Time Travels (2013)

Nine: Nine Time Travels (2013)

Grade: C

20 Episodes

Park Sun Woo is a television reporter who is called to the Himalayas to collect the belongings of his deceased older brother – a troubled man who had died mysteriously while in Annapurna. Sun Woo finds among his brother's things a slim canister of 20 incense sticks. When he lights one up, he discovers he can actually travel 20 years in the past, and Sun Woo decides to try and change his family's sad fate. But what happens when his decision turns his girlfriend into his step-niece? And what will happen when he learns of his brother's involvement in their father's death?

*This is an intriguing idea for a story – a means of time travel that only allows the user to go back 20 years from their current position in time. However, this was not a fun show to watch. The characters' lives are all so sad, full of misfortune, and I didn't even like the main character and his girl until the last two episodes. It just felt long and drawn out, since each time line was explored, which meant there was quite a bit of repetition. Most dramas have at least some flashbacks, which can help explain a character's development, but since they weren't that endearing to begin with, I didn't like those repetitious journeys. Too sad overall, and while parts of the show were mysterious, it took me a long time to sit through this show. I won't watch it again, but others who enjoy a good mystery and an ambiguous ending might like it.*

InFilm to Miss: Queen (2014)

Queen (2014) 

 Rani is devastated the day before her wedding when fiance Vijay decides to cancel their engagement, with no real explanation. Rani decides to go on their honeymoon to Paris anyway, by herself, because she has always wanted to go, and a change of pace would be good for her. Along the way she meets a half-Indian single working mom, a pole-dancing Indian prostitute, a friendly Italian cook, a lonely young man from Japan and his friend, a Russian street artist. Will the timid, conservative Rani “find” herself and enjoy life as a single young adult or return to a repentant Vijay?

*This film had a lot of foul language, drinking and smoking, talk of recreational drugs, as well as promiscuous behavior that was sold as perfectly normal and acceptable, even celebrated. It had a”coming of age” feel to it as the demure, quiet girl met people from all walks of life, helping change her world view, which I appreciate. While it was good for Rani to see during moments of reflection that her husband-to-be was actually a misogynist who constantly belittled her, it wasn't worth watching all the smut in between. The music wasn't the typical Bollywood type music either, with very little presence in the film. I did like the guys she met at the hostel in Amsterdam, they were cute, but I wouldn't watch this again, and I don't recommend it.*