KDrama to Watch: Sungkyunkwan Scandal (2010)

Sungkyunkwan Scandal (2010)

Grade: B+

20 Episodes

Kim Yoon Hee is forced to impersonate her own brother as a means of obtaining income for their family. Yoon Hee learned much of the classics by eavesdropping on her brother's lessons when her father was still alive, so she is talented enough to take small jobs at the local book shop. There is an urgent need for something more lucrative, however, when the noble who paid for her brother's medical expenses tries to take Yoon Hee as a concubine to pay off their debt – something completely within his legal rights, since women were property at this time in history. Out of desperation, Yoon Hee agrees to be a stand-in for someone attempting to earn entry into the prestigious Sung Kyun Kwan academy by attending the entrance exam in someone's place. Upright Lee Sun-joon catches Yoon Hee in the act, but instead of turning her in, he challenges her to take the exam for herself (thinking she was her brother, Yoon Shik). Yoon Hee earns entrance to the academy – but will she be able to keep her secret while living in a school full of young men? What will she do when she learns the truth behind her father's death?

*This is the VERY FIRST historical drama that I have even remotely enjoyed. It has decent pacing, well-written characters, and even the music is engaging, with a good balance of variety and familiarity among the musical themes. I did not enjoy the gisaeng element, as it hearkens to a time in human history where women actually aspired to be glorified sex slaves since it often meant a more comfortable lifestyle, but luckily it is not the main focus of this drama. It was fun to watch the reactions of the guy friends as they found out, one by one, she is actually a girl and how they handle it afterwards. Gu Yong-ha played by Song Joong-ki was probably my favorite character overall, and while all the guys were fun to watch, the ending is somewhat lacking. The search for and buildup over the fabled document that would help the king reform Joseon wasn't resolved very well, and the series ends with Yoon Hee basically forever impersonating a man – not affecting any real change in their world, except from the acknowledgment of those few who agree to continue keeping her secret. I would probably watch this again, and I definitely recommend it to others.*

JFilm to Watch: Shall We Dance (1996)

(Japanese Film) 

 Shall We Dance (1996) 

Shohei Sugiyama works as an accountant, with a devoted wife and daughter waiting for him at home every night. Despite owning a home and his external show of success, he is depressed. One night, on the train home from work, he notices a woman staring wistfully out a window of a local dance studio. Overcome with curiosity and a longing for something more in his life, Sugiyama visits the dance hall and signs up for group dance lessons. Will he be able to keep his double life a secret from his wife and coworkers, or will he give up dancing in the end?

*I enjoyed this version better than the American remake from 2004. The characters are real and endearingly awkward at times. There is not as much music as would be expected in a movie based on dance, but older films tend to have more silence between dialogue anyway. When certain characters finally reveal their feelings, the dialogue is refreshingly transparent and genuine without feeling heavy-handed. I would watch this again.*

KDrama to Miss: Mary Stayed Out All Night (2010)

Mary Stayed Out All Night (2010)

Grade: C

16 Episodes

Wi Mary is busy evading debt collectors and hiding the spare few items she can at a neighbor's house, all because of her father's failed business ventures. She had to take time off from school to try and earn more money, but without a college degree and loan sharks chasing them down in the streets, there is not much hope for stability for Mary and her father. Their luck changes, however, when Mary's father runs into an old friend – a friend with deep pockets and a handsome son. The fathers then decide to arrange a marriage between their two children, and Mary must think quickly to avoid marrying the eligible owner of an up-and-coming drama production company, Byun Jung-in. She somehow convinces the indie rock band guitarist Kang Mu-gyul, whom she had accidentally hit with a car the night before, to pose as her husband in a fake photo shoot. What happens when Jung-in's father threatens to pull out all his investments if Jung-in does not go through with the arranged marriage? Will My-gyul continue to pose as Mary's husband to deter the fathers' efforts? Who will Mary choose in the end once feelings among the three start coming into play?

*I once wondered what would happen in a drama when it's not clear who is the lead and who is the second male lead; now I know the ambiguity makes for terrible writing. Mary ends up kissing both men, and then it turns out she actually has a history with the second male lead, as revealed in a flashback about their childhood – usually that is reserved for the relationship between the girl and the lead, not the second male lead. I have never had “second male lead syndrome” before, but this is one drama (spoiler alert) where it made NO SENSE for her to choose the musician. Mu-gyul never changed. He was still rude, he was still self-centered and moody all the time, purposely misunderstanding situations to make Mary feel bad, unable to provide for her, and just wasn't there for her. Jung-in, on the other hand, time and again proved himself a self-sacrificing man of action and extremely conscientious of her needs (while also being handsome and charming), saving her from physical harm as well as social embarrassment, yet she chose the guy who treated her like crap. 

I was so sick of Mary and Mu-gyul's self-centered “love” that kept hurting everyone around them – a relationship that did not make either one of them better people and had them resorting to childish antics like hiding in a dumpster to avoid Mary's dad. Sometimes kdramas can have funny moments like that, but between these two it just came off as immature and selfish. Yes, Mu-gyul needed the stability Mary's affections provided, but being with Mu-gyul did not make HER a better person. He couldn't even keep her happy – they break up 12 times in the following year (as revealed in the last few minutes of the show), proving they are not good for each other. Mary's character also had that annoying meek, mousy personality that I just don't appreciate. And even if it was an arranged marriage, Mary would have grown to love Jung-in, there is no doubt in my mind. She would have always been taken care of, with no fear of emotional strife with a gentle, loving partner. GAH! She chose the bard instead of the prince! Even the soundtrack was annoying after the first few episodes. I don't recommend this drama.*

KDrama to Maybe Watch: The Virtual Bride (2015)

The Virtual Bride (2015)

Grade: B-

12 Episodes

Pop singer Oh In-young is about to be dropped by her production company, unless she can make their idea for a television show popular. The program is a reality show “daughter-in-law experiment,” with In-young having to learn menial chores like cleaning paste pots and chopping vegetables for the family's kimchi business, as if she really were the new daughter-in-law. The eldest son of the family, Cha Myeong-seok, is a math professor at a local university and has little in common with the vapid entertainer and is reluctant to participate in any way. In-young's career is on the line, though – will she be able to win the hearts of her co-star and disapproving mother-in-law?

*I was really hoping for more interaction between In-young and Myeong-seok – they had decent chemistry, and the idea for the TV show they were filming seemed more entertaining than the drama between all the other characters. This felt less like a typical romantic-comedy drama and more like a family drama show, since it spent a nearly equal time on all the characters' relationships, thoughts and feelings. As a result, I did not connect as well with the main couple as I usually do. I was frustrated a few times when the meek daughters-in-law did not speak up against their overbearing, at times even cruel mothers-in-law; this annoyance could be contributed to a cultural difference. I had an issue with the male characters as well – they were either incompetent and buffoon-like yet well-meaning, or slimy two-faced deceivers. (The math professor was the exception.) Cute premise, decent story, but not my favorite. I might watch this again.*

KDrama to Watch: Flower Boys Next Door (2013)

Flower Boys Next Door (2013)

Grade: B

16 Episodes +2 Bonus “Making Of” type shows

Timid, single shut-in Go Dok-mi works as a proofreading editor, living a quiet, lonely life trying to hide from a painful past. Her window to the outside world leads to some casual spying on the handsome neighbor in the next building, and she would have kept on spying from her modern-day tower if the neighbor's brother Enrique hadn't been visiting one day and caught her in the act. Enrique is a genius, gregarious game designer with a soft spot for those in need of emotional healing. Will Enrique convince Go Dok-mi to finally leave her apartment and join the rest of the world again, or are some wounds too deep for even his happy touch to overcome? What happens when another of Go Dok-mi's neighbors attempts to woo her, or when Enrique's fans demand he return to Spain to continue his work?

*This kdrama was a lot more somber than I had expected for a romantic-comedy, especially considering Enrique's energetic character and the upbeat opening to the show. Enrique reminds me a lot of the Japanese anime character Naruto, with his childlike, happy-go-lucky demeanor and even his “yellow” hair – very cute. I did not like Go Dok-mi's character, though – the weak, soft-spoken type of young woman is very unappealing and frustrating to watch. I did enjoy the romance between two lesser characters – Oh Dong Hoon (Go Kyung-pyo from “Tomorrow's Cantabile”) and his editor; they represented a more realistic love. Overall, it was a slow, sad, sweet kdrama, which can be enjoyable if you're in the right mood, and it had a different pace because it did not stick to the “rich guy, poor girl” trope. I might watch this again.*

InFilm to Watch: Bang! Bang! (2014)

Bang! Bang! (2014) 

Bank receptionist Harleen has led an ordinary, dull life in a small Indian town, until the day she decides to go on an internet dating site. However, instead of her website match meeting her at the restaurant, international jewel thief Rajveer appears, and there is an immediate connection. Harleen reveals she has always wanted to travel and see the world. Rajveer advises her not to wait until that elusive "some day" to fulfill her dreams. Then, during the date, some men chasing Rajveer catch up to him, spotting Harleen in the process, and she is soon swept up in the fugitive's life. Will Harleen continue trusting the mysterious, charming man, or will she turn him in and go back to her ordinary life? And what is Rajveer's true dream?

*This is based off the American film, “Knight and Day” (2010), which I have not seen, but I might if it's similar to this Indian adaptation. The film is action-packed, with lots of explosions, gun fights, car chases, near-death escapes – everything typical to true action movies. It's so over the top, though, it's almost humorous. The actor, Hrithik Roshan, has an unbelievable physique, not including the extra thumb on his right hand, and especially including his striking, lime-green eyes and on-point dance moves. It was fun seeing Katrina Kaif again (“Mere Brother Ki Dulhan,” 2011), and she paired well with Roshan. There is more violence in the film than I prefer, especially the first scene which is used effectively to paint the antagonist in an evil light, but I'd watch this again – there's even a kiss scene!*

InFilm to Maybe Watch: Gori Tere Pyaar Mein (2013)

Gori Tere Pyaar Mein (2013) 

Rich playboy Sriram desires nothing more than the latest car and to skirt his father's desires to pass on the family business, until he meets a beautiful, outspoken older woman. Dia is an outgoing activist, and Sriram indulges her for a while, even giving up eating chicken, but when he sells an abandoned monastery as part of his father's business, instead of allowing her to try and obtain the property for an orphanage, they end their relationship. Sriram is about to marry another girl, but in telling his fiance about Dia, he realizes he still loves her. Will Sriram be able to convince Dia to leave the village she has decided to champion and marry him?

*I did not like the opening number of this movie, as it had rude lyrics and scantily clad women in a night club setting – no doubt to emphasize Sriram's immature, self-centered nature - but it can easily be skipped. There were some funny moments, however, and it was sweet to watch him undergo some growth in the process of trying to win back his love. No kiss scene, though, and it isn't so compelling of a story that I would want to watch it again right away. It wasn't too bad though, so I might recommend it.*