KDrama to Watch: Greatest Love (2011)

Greatest Love (2011)

Grade: A+

16 Episodes

Superstar Dok Ko Jin crosses paths with disgraced former pop star Gu Ae-jung, causing him great embarrassment as he tries to cover for the both of them. While he attempts to work out the misunderstandings, he learns more about the hardworking actress, and suddenly his heart starts to race whenever he thinks of her. The mighty Dok Ko Jin has never experienced feelings like this for anyone before – will he chase her out of his life, let his feelings run their course and get over her, or does Gu Ae-jung have something else in mind altogether?

*Cha Seung-won NAILS IT in this kdrama! A cross between Robert Downey Jr. and Johnny Depp, he makes the entire show, and I am able to overlook Gong Hyo-jin's distractingly bizarre wardrobe choices. This is definitely one of those stay-up-half-the-night-to-watch kdramas. Great pacing, great comedy, believable romance, and a sweet ending that isn't so tidy as to be annoying. Gu Ae-jung's character is a little annoying, since she refuses to let herself be swept up by Dok Ko Jin in that stubborn “I'm self-sacrificing” kind of way, but I still would definitely watch this again!*

UPDATE: Nine years since my first viewing, and I still LOVE IT!

InFilm to Miss: Chup Chup Ke (2006)

Chup Chup Ke (2006) 

Jeetu is in serious debt, with collectors clamoring for their cash. He ends up jumping into the ocean, as his life insurance policy would be enough to pay back all his debt, despite leaving behind his parents and a loving fiancee. What happens when a hapless fisherman finds Jeetu's body and thinks the list in his pocket are all the people who owe Jeetu money? Will the fisherman's boss agree to take the shameless trickster in?

*This story line had great potential, but some of the physical comedy didn't quite hit home with me (I don't typically like slapstick anyway), and Jeetu's character as the lovable rogue was off the mark. He comes off as a true miscreant, and his one redeeming act isn't even shown on screen. It also felt too heavy and dramatic overall, and the ending was rather abrupt. I won't watch this again.*

TDrama to Miss: My Queen (2009)

Taiwanese Drama 

My Queen (2009)

Grade: C

34 Episodes

Thirty-two year old single lady Shan Wu Shuang is a driven reporter for a local magazine, focused on forgetting her failed relationship six years in her past. Troubled 25-year-old Lucas enters the scene and is hired on as her assistant, unable to move on from his past love as well. What happens when the two start to develop feelings for each other? Will they be able to overcome the obstacles that relate to their eight year age difference or simply go their separate ways?

*This was an interesting break from the Kdramas. While it followed a typical romantic-comedy formula, the pacing was different because it has twice as many episodes as the average Kdrama. There were a lot of funny, goofy moments in the first few episodes, but by the end it became very serious and dramatic, and it wasn't as clean as most Kdramas. The guy who plays Lucas is very handsome and charming, and while Wu Shuang's character also has her charms, the end message of being happy whether or not you're married didn't quite hit the mark for me. Of course we should be happy regardless of where we are in life, but it bothered me when Wu Shuang decides to delay marriage simply because it doesn't matter to her anymore. Marriage is more important than that. So overall, not a bad show, but I probably won't watch it again. Plus they talked too fast!*

ChFilm to Miss: Lost in Thailand (2012)

Lost in Thailand (2012) 

(Chinese Film) 

Scientist Xu Lang has made a breakthrough in fossil fuel use, creating an additive that increases the volume of usable fossil fuel, although it is not yet ready for commercial use. Despite his marriage being on the brink of breakup, he takes a trip to Thailand to convince an investor to back further funding. Once in Thailand he realizes his colleague turned nemesis Gao Bo is attempting to reach the investor before him, so he can sell the additive as-is. Xu Lang uses the simpleton Bao Bao who had been sitting next to him on the plane to try and throw Gao Bo off his trail. Instead, Xu Lang loses his passport and has to rely on Bao Bao to travel around Thailand, and wacky escapades ensue. Will Xu Lang reach the investor before his nemesis, or will Bao Bao lead them into disaster?

*I would classify this film as a bromance action-adventure with some comedy. Ir's also definitely at least a PG-13 rating for situations and language, and while the scenery is interesting and beautiful, I probably wouldn't watch this again. I think it's supposed to be more of a comedy, but I don't think all of the humor translated. I probably won't watch this again.*

KDrama to Watch: My Lovely Sam Soon (2005)

My Lovely Sam Soon (2005)

Grade: A-

16 Episodes

Kim Sam Soon is an aspiring patissier who finds her boyfriend of three years cheating on her on Christmas Eve. Devastated, the nearly 30 year old runs into the men's bathroom by mistake, where Hyun Jin-hyeon, a 27 year old owner of a French restaurant, witnesses her humiliation. Their paths cross again, where Jin-hyeon learns Sam Soon's profession and hires her to bake at his restaurant. Jin-hyeon's mother is pressuring him to date, so he asks Sam Soon to be his pretend girlfriend. Sam Soon agrees when Jin-hyeon says she can name her price – her family home is going to be taken from them unless she can scrape together $50,000 to pay off the debt. How long will the pair be able to fool everyone around them before the fake relationship starts to stir real feelings?

*It's been a while since a Kdrama kept me up late into the night, but this one did it! I love how real the characters feel, and Sam Soon's smart mouth is fantastic. In a lot of dramas, the female lead is wishy-washy or gives into the female rival's requests for her to butt out, but not Sam Soon! She is older than most female leads and that age leads to a wisdom about herself that is refreshing because it leads to more realistic responses. There is great character development as well. It did feel a bit slow towards the last couple episodes, and it doesn't show everyone's endings, but again, Sam Soon's spunk bumps this show up into the A range. Also, Sam Soon is supposedly an old-fashioned, undesirable name, but since I'm American, I didn't get that feel. I imagine that an American equivalent might be the name “Bertha.” I'd watch this show again.*

KDrama to Miss: Pinocchio (2014)

Pinocchio (2014)

Grade: C+

20 Episodes

Ki Ha-myung and his family are living happily together until a horrific accident during a fire leads to several firefighters losing their lives. The news reports start speculating that Ha-myung's father - the fire chief - is still alive, since his body was not found in the wreckage and purposely left his men to die in the factory explosion. Ha-myung's mother eventually commits suicide from the slander they are powerless to stop, attempting to take him with her, while Ha-myung's brother is thrown in jail for threatening the reporter who was the driving force behind all the news about their father. Shortly after, Choi In-ha, a young girl with the Pinocchio syndrome (she hiccups whenever she tells a lie or hides the truth) comes to live with her grandfather in the countryside. They discover that the grandfather has adopted a boy he found while out fishing and thinks the boy is his own son who died 30 years ago. Ha-myung, renamed Dal Po, goes along with it because of his love for the old grandfather, and because he does not want to reveal his identity to In-ha, for she is the daughter of the very reporter who destroyed his family.

As interesting as the premise sounds, this was a total miss. It took me over three weeks to finish this show, despite the fact it had nearly all the same elements of many successful kdramas. I had the hardest time sitting through this show, and I definitely won't watch it again. I did like the soundtrack, though, and it did have some favorite actors (Lee Jong-suk from “I Hear Your Voice” and Park Shin-hye from “You're Beautiful”), but again, it did not draw me in. There was lots of crying, probably more from the guys than the girls, which at first I appreciated but by the end it was just annoying. Ha-myung suffered a terrible tragedy, but he cried almost every episode, several times an episode, and it was not endearing.

KDrama to Watch: Tomorrow's Cantabile/Nae-il's Cantabile (2014)

Tomorrow's Cantabile/Nae-il's Cantabile (2014)

Grade: B+

16 Episodes

Note: Do not watch this show if you hate classical music. It doesn't have to be your favorite, but if it bothers you even slightly, you will not enjoy this drama.

University student Cha Yoo-jin wants nothing more than to become like his idol Viera, a famous European conductor. However, a childhood trauma prevents the musical prodigy from boarding a ship or plane, so he cannot study abroad. One day he crosses paths with Seol Nae-il, a childlike piano major afraid of growing up, and she soon develops a crush on the standoffish Yoo-jin. Meanwhile, Yoo-jin's bad attitude leads him to taking piano lessons with Nae-il's professor, and he tells Yoo-jin he doesn't have to come to lessons and will receive an A in the class only if Yoo-jin plays a duet with Nae-il. It is while they practice together that Yoo-jin learns to truly listen and understand just how talented Nae-il is. Will this discovery help Yoo-jin on his path toward becoming a renowned conductor? Will Nae-il develop her talents and keep pace with Yoo-jin or give up the piano forever?

*I liked the lighthearted feel to the whole show – nothing gets too serious, the pace is consistent, and there are quite a few humorous moments in the first several episodes. There is NO KISSING, however, which is always a little disappointing. The characters and their back stories were fairly interesting, although some of the characters were just a little too odd for my taste (Nae-il and Franz). Still, it's a nice, uncomplicated little show with a great feel of camaraderie from the characters coming together to achieve something. I might watch it again.*