KDrama to Watch: Jealousy Incarnate/ Don't Dare to Dream (2016)

Jealousy Incarnate/ Don't Dare to Dream (2016)

Grade: A-

24 Episodes, 60 minutes each

Viewing Platform: Dramafever

Weather girl Pyo Na Ri is an aspiring news anchor at a large television station. She is also recovering from a 3 year crush on the athletic and charming yet arrogant news anchor, Lee Hwa Shin, who has been on assignment in Thailand as a news correspondent for the past while. Hwa Shin had exposed his older brother's meat company for false advertising and selling lower quality products, creating a rift in their family. Na Ri is excited to go to Thailand to earn a few extra bucks on a short work assignment, even though it means interacting with the object of her one-sided love. She does run into a handsome, kind young man on the plane ride over, Go Jung-won – who just so happens to be Hwa Shin's rich best friend. While in Thailand, Na Ri accidentally feels Hwa Shin's chest and notices a lump – her mother had died from breast cancer, and while Hwa Shin is a man, Na Ri can't shake the feeling that Hwa Shin's health could be at risk. What happens when Na Ri's suspicions are proved correct? Will Hwa Shin be grateful for her help, or continue to reject her? How will Na Ri feel when she realizes Jung-won is interested in her?

*This drama is an interesting cross between a soap opera and a romantic comedy. The first few episodes are very confusing, as coworkers and ex-wives, uncles, step-moms and grandmothers are all introduced and eventually connected. However, the large cast lent itself well to having so many episodes and helped keep the plot interesting. The caricature-like characters were quite entertaining as well – loud and funny yet mostly relatable. Lee Hwa-shin was my favorite character because of the struggles he encounters and growth that happens. Everyone else was not nearly as entertaining, or pitiable, or dynamic. And as always, Gong Hyo-jin's clothes (Pyo Na Ri) are extremely distracting/ugly. She is a good actress, though, and a good foil for Jo Jung-suk. Loved the chemistry, the music wasn't my favorite, but the pacing was excellent for such a LONG drama, and I liked the ending. I also liked how the writers kept coming back to and using the jealousy theme; repetition in art brings balance, and it all worked very well. I'd watch this drama again.*

KDrama to Watch: One Percent of Something (2016)

One Percent of Something/1% of Anything (2016)

Grade: B

16 Episodes, 40 minutes each

Viewing Platform: Dramafever

Unbeknownst to Kim Da-hyun, that elderly man she had seen fall in the ditch behind her school and helped take to the hospital wasn't actually a homeless nobody – he is the owner of a giant, successful business conglomerate, and that is the day her fate changed. Stubborn, hot-tempered chaebol Lee Jae-in has to deal with his crazy grandfather's whims once again when the elderly company owner decides to change his will. This time the grandfather includes an edict that his eldest grandson, Jae-in, won't inherit the company and all its riches unless Lee Jae-in marries the lowly school teacher, Kim Da-hyun. What happens when Jae-in settles not for marriage, but for dating Da-hyun for half a year in order to fulfill the requirements of his grandfather's will? Will he be able to persuade Da-hyun that he isn't a scam artist first of all, and second, that he can make it worth her while to date him temporarily?

*The plot is fairly simple, particularly because there is no true second male lead in this drama. I also didn't love the male lead – his happy smile is weird/cheesy, but not in a cute way. I did like that Da-hyun is a strong female lead, not to be bossed around by the whims of a crazy ex-girlfriend and not swayed by the promise of riches. At the same time, this does eliminate some of the usual tension, which makes a drama lose its excitement. I appreciated that the business side of the drama did not get much screen time. When a drama goes too far off into the complexities of the business or the evil scheming of the antagonist, I lose interest real fast. It also ties up everything neatly in the end. So for a lighthearted drama, give this one a shot.*

KDrama to Maybe Watch: Strong Girl Do Bong-Soon (2017)

Strong Girl Do Bong-Soon (2017)

Grade: B-

16 Episodes, 1 hr each

Viewing Platform: Netflix, Dramafever

Do Bong-soon was born with a mysterious power of incredible strength, passed down to every woman in her family line, yet all she wishes to do is be “normal.” She even hides her powers from her former schoolmate (and longtime crush) In Guk-doo, who is now a police officer in their neighborhood; her tiny size and cute face make it easy to play the weak damsel in distress – except when she slips up. As strong as her desire is to hide her powers, she can't help but defend the innocent and preserve justice when the need arises. It is during one of these slip-ups that the young CEO of a major video game company, Ahn Min-hyuk, happens across Bong-soon when she's in the middle of demolishing a group of tough gangsters. What does the quirky company owner do? Hires her as his bodyguard! Why does she agree? Because she has always wanted to make a video game character based on herself, and this is the perfect way to go! How long will Bong-soon be able to hide her powers from the world? What happens when love enters the mix? And what happens when the serial killer discovers Bong-soon's secret, along with the method to take away her powers?

*I really liked the soundtrack for this show, but some of the humor was not quite my taste, and I did not like the thriller/horror element mixed in with the rom-com feel. They did a good job making the villain super creepy, but I don't like that genre, and I don't think it mixed well with how the rest of the show felt. There needs to be a good villain to counterbalance the hero, but I don't think the balance was quite there with this drama. There were also several gay characters/homosexual references/behaviors that were supposed to be humorous, but they missed the mark. The physical comedy just wasn't that funny either, so that threw off the “flavor” of the show for me as well. Bong-soon's clothes bothered me, and Min-hyuk's too, now that I think about it - not flattering and somewhat distracting overall. I also wasn't drawn into the love story the way I am drawn into other dramas, especially in those heat of the moment love confessions, so all of that combined is why it isn't one of my favorites. Still worth at least one viewing, though.* 

TDrama to Miss: When I See You Again (2015)

When I See You Again (2015)

Grade: C+

32 episodes, 45 minutes each

Platform: Netflix

Successful businessman Xia You-qian runs into his former high school crush, An Xi, while visiting small Pulang village. An Xi of course doesn't recognize You-qian, since he's completely transformed from an awkward, ugly teenager into a handsome, suave adult. She's also too concerned with saving her bed and breakfast from being sold off to her creditor/suitor to notice. Ever since her father died, An Xi has been dutifully running the homestay in hopes her long-lost mother would return. You-qian decides to have some fun/revenge at An Xi's expense, but what happens when real feelings start to develop between the unlikely pair? Will An Xi figure out You-qian's identity? How does You-qian's business rival factor into things? And what happens when An Xi's long-lost mother is discovered?

*This show has some pretty cute actors, but it is SO SLOW! I lost interest at least three or four times, and when you have to force yourself to finish a show, that is not good writing. Oddly, I found the antagonist the most intriguing character, and how the writing showed his love interest as not really seeing the bad in him. The mother (spoiler alert) had a change of heart far too quickly, especially compared to the scene where she was highly emotional and it was the best time for a change of heart until she denied it. The film quality is decent though, and like I said, some of the actors are attractive, so if you're in the mood to watch something very SLOW, this isn't terrible.*

ChFilm to DEFINITELY Watch: This Is Not What I Expected (2017)

This Is Not What I Expected (2017)

Viewing Platform: Netflix

 

Talented but young and with no credentials to her name, Gu Sheng Nan is a hotel chef, secretly dating the hotel manager. He unceremoniously dumps her, but begs for her help in pleasing the mysterious guest in room 1123, after he turns down dish after dish, even from Michelin rated chefs. The hotel manager pieces together from news reports that their mysterious guest is famous cutthroat businessman Lu Jin. If the hotel manager can convince Lu Jin, then their place will be bought out and turned into a true international, high-class, highly rated hotel, so he calls upon Gu Sheng Nan's talents. Lu Jin is intrigued by the young chef's dishes, and he spends an entire day challenging her knowledge and creativity, instead of moving on to acquire another hotel chain, as is his job. What happens when Lu Jin realizes his mystery chef is none other than the girl he found mistakenly scratching up his car in the parking lot the other day? Will Gu Sheng Nan be able to keep her job at the hotel?

*This is one of the BEST rom-coms I've seen in AGES! It was so cute and funny, with an interesting musical score and gorgeous lighting in many of the scenes, and Takeshi Kaneshiro (Lu Jin) steals the show with his fastidious and stern yet likable nature. (He even uses one of my FAVORITE acting techniques near the end, but I won't spoil it!) My only complaint is how they portrayed the scene between the two (spoiler alert) personal chefs: it was a play on a man sleeping with two women, which could be funny, but it took away some of the humor because of the hurt and betrayal that goes on in those situations in real life. Fortunately that scene doesn't last very long, and overall it's a good foil to add some tension to the will-they-won't-they aspect of the story. I will DEFINITELY watch this again!*

KDrama to Watch: My Horrible Boss (2016)

My Horrible Boss (2016)

Grade: B-

16 Episodes

Viewing Platform: Netflix, Dramafever

Simpering, cowardly and timid Nam Jung-gi has a son, father and brother to help care for, but he loses his job after blowing a marketing presentation to the large Gold Chemicals that was supposed to be a “sure thing.” Gold Chemical's new team leader Ok Da-jung is in charge of finalizing Jung-gi's proposal, but she turns Lovely Cosmetic down after Jung-gi inadvertently spoils the lotion sample and sexually harasses her, all because the inconsiderate new neighbor's moving crew blocked his apartment door with moving boxes. What happens when the ill-tempered Da-jung decides to quit and join Lovely Cosmetic instead? Will Jung-gi be able to provide for his family? And how will Da-jung's three ex-husbands influence life at the burgeoning cosmetics company?

*I've only seen Yoon Sang-hyun as a confident male lead and slightly insecure but still full of himself supporting character (“My Fair Lady” as the butler; “Secret Garden” as the Hallyu star cousin). While many of his situations are cringe-worthy awkward in the beginning of this drama, much like the humor in American film “Meet the Parents” - which I can't stand - I still wanted to see him play this totally opposite type of character. It was intriguing to see what happened to the character developmentally. The music is fun and well done, but there is very little in the romance department, as the drama focuses on the business side of the employees' lives and relationships. I probably won't watch this again since it lacks romantic tension, but the musical score is good, and there is good character development, so it's worth at least one viewing.*

Web Kdrama to Miss: My Runway (2016)

Web drama

My Runway (2016)

Grade: C+

6 Episodes, 20 minutes each

Viewing Platform: Netflix

High school student Han Seo-yun wants nothing more in life than to be a top runway model. Unfortunately, she has a major obstacle: her short stature. At a local tryout, she meets top male model Na Jin-wook, and the egotistical guest judge refuses to let her through the preliminaries. Later that night at the karaoke, Seo-yun and her friend console themselves with Jin-wook and his crew in a nearby room. What happens when lightning strikes as Seo-yun kisses the screen displaying her favorite male model?

*I like the mystical body-swap plot, and the actors manage to portray each others' characters well, but I didn't like the whole backdrop. The entire model scene is the epitome of vanity and selfish pursuits, so while the characters do show some development, it is limited because it feels like they only love each other as far as the other person happens to satisfy them. This setting also lends itself to some sleazier aspects of life. Other than that, it's a somewhat fun, short drama, but not my favorite.*