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.*

KDrama to Miss: My Shy Boss (2017)

My Shy Boss (2017)

Grade: C-

16 Episodes

Viewing Platform: Dramafever

Small time, minor role stage actress Chae Ro-woon quits acting in order to work at a PR firm – the same firm at which her late older sister had worked. The CEO, Eun Hwan-ki, is distant and cold, with his own employees fearful in his presence and not even sure what he looks like. Ro-woon gathers quite a lot of “telling” information about the reclusive CEO once she begins working, all in her quest to find revenge for her sister's suicide. But what happens when Ro-woon realizes that Hwan-ki is simply shy and misunderstood, not a snob or cruel, and unlikely to be the cause of her sister's death? Will the co-CEO Kang Woo-il be as charming as he appears when Ro-woon puts him under scrutiny as well? And what does Hwan-ki's sister have to do with the secretary's suicide?

*I had a difficult time enjoying this drama, as the entire plot revolves around a young woman's suicide. It's a complex issue, and while the drama does have its lighter moments, like all good kdramas have, it felt like the writers were not treating the topic with enough solemnity. The soundtrack and cinematography are all high-quality, but it wasn't enough to make me like this show: the characters are incredibly messed up. One of them had been cutting herself in secret – another serious mental health issue – and she slits her wrist in front of a girl when she thinks that girl is stealing her man. Plus there is infidelity, which nobody bats an eye at, and some premarital activity. It just felt too much like an American TV show, and I watch kdramas to get away from all of that. This drama also touches on transgenderism, referring to it as a person “wanting a fresh start” – another example of the writers misunderstanding mental illness (although most people don't see it as a mental illness to begin with, so for some viewers, that wouldn't be a reason to skip this drama). But for all of those reasons, I won't watch this again.*

InFilm to Miss: Chocolate (2016)

Chocolate (2016)  

Platform: Netflix

Police officer Rana is working an undercover operation when he receives a phone call from his demanding fiancee Ria. He is distracted and takes off the flashy ring she had given him, just as it's time to move in on the target, and a thief takes the ring. Raju, the thief, is chased all across town, as Rana is determined to recover that special ring. Raju ends up hiding it inside a box in a warehouse, thinking he can come back later to collect his prize, but much to his dismay, Raju had put the 50 lakh ring (worth about $75,000 US dollars) inside a box of chocolate-flavored condoms! So with the authorities breathing down his neck, Raju follows the box around as it is delivered and keeps changing hands. Will the cop track down the thief before he has to meet with his fiancee? What happens when Raju realizes who the ring really belongs to?

*This is a campy, raunchy film – sleazy even by American standards (but that becomes apparent as soon as the viewer realizes the ring is hidden in a box of condoms...). There are so many plot holes as well – what cop worth his salt answers a phone call in the middle of a sting? And it wasn't believable that the thief would be shy or discreet in any manner about stealing the condom box once it was delivered, especially with a prize worth that much. The torture room at the POLICE STATION was also very disturbing. The film is Bengali; perhaps that explains the different standards. I definitely won't watch this again, and I strongly urge others to avoid this film.*