Go, Single Lady

24 episodes

Synopsis:
Wang Man Ling (Ady An)  is the daughter of a successful pig farmer. Despite being wealthy and owning a supermarket, she acts just like an ordinary girl and she isn't educated in anything such as the fine arts/culinary/debauchery. Instead, she's educated in raising pigs, saving money, and how to shop in supermarkets. Her fiery personality and tendency to get violent when infuriated makes it hard for her to find a man that loves her for her. When her boyfriend, Peter, blows up and says that he's only with her because of her money but can't stand her anymore, Wang Man Ling makes an impulsive deal saying that she was going to find someone better than him in one year. Immediately, the tension is high when she ends up flipping tables at the end of every date she gets set up with from the dating agency's VIP list. Soon she's blacklisted from the list. However, due to coincidences and misunderstandings, Wang Man Ling encounters Fan Jiang Yu (Mike He). Fan Jiang Yu was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. Everyone knows who his father is and his father is extremely successful. Throughout his entire life, he wasn't treated as an individual but as his father's son. When an incident occurs, it forces Fan Jiang Yu to take responsibility and leave the high class society due to the collapse of his parents' company. Wang Man Ling and her family do him a favor by offering him a job while working together. He begins to teach her the ways of high society while she teaches him how to earn money with his own ability. Overtime, the two begin to develop feelings and see what it takes to truly be happy.

*Beware of spoilers*

Review: 

      I was compelled to watch this drama mainly because Ady An and Mike He were starring in this. I admired Mike He ever since I saw Devil Beside You and his other works didn't fail to impress me. Of course, his kissing scenes were always on the top of the list (along with Joe Cheng) and so I was also excited to see some intense make out sessions. After watching this drama, I don't think I was emotionally invested in this drama even though it was entertaining to watch it. I wasn't emotionally invested with any of the characters or the plot. I don't know if it was because I felt detached to the characters or if I just wasn't interested in them enough to see the similarities. However, it didn't leave a huge impact on me.
      The minor characters became more likable as the drama went on. They weren't entirely perfect/likable but their character improvement was great. They also didn't try to ruin the relationship between the main characters. For Ya Zi, I just felt as though she came off as somewhat catty. She had her goal set in mind and really didn't do anything to break the main couple up. But the side comments she made to Wang Man Ling were slightly judgemental and were kind of meant to target the incompetent aspects of Wang Man Ling. She kept saying that there was an upper and lower class even in the rich. I felt that some of the things she said came off as catty even though it can also be seen as trying to push them toward a certain goal. The doctor character was also somewhat boring throughout the drama.  There were a few scenes where he was an amusing character but he seemed kind of dull in a lot of scenes.
    I liked the main characters because they developed from what they learned from one another. Wang Man Ling tried to act more like a lady under the judgemental supervision of Ya Zi. She also learned more of what the upper society was all about. Fan Jiang Yu learned what it meant to be "new money." New money is when you create your own wealth whereas "old money" is money that is passed down. Fan Jiang Yu learns to work and save money and also not expect too many superficial things from life. The small identity crisis they put in was an interesting touch. I couldn't help but think that the father was a little
cruel in leaving Fan Jiang Yu thinking that he was an orphan throughout most of the drama when he actually was an orphan to begin with. The episodes kept me interested though I would have liked it if they made the ending of each episode more enticing. This was rather comedic, sometimes exaggerated, and sometimes realistic. However it was a light watch and I would recommend this to people who want to watch something light and not too dramatic. 

Discovery of Love

16 episodes 

Given Synopsis (viki.com):

Life is going great for a successful designer until her ex-boyfriend comes back into the picture. Han Yeo Reum (Jung Yu Mi) has everything going for her – she’s a successful furniture designer who lives a happy and carefree life with her two best friends and dating the sweet plastic surgeon Nam Ha Jin (Sung Joon), who might be popping the question soon. But her perfect world is turned upside down when her self-absorbed ex-boyfriend, Kang Tae Ha (Eric Mun), comes back into her life. As the CEO of an interior design company, Tae Ha and Yeo Reum are brought back together when they have to work together on a project, and Yeo Reum begins to question her beliefs about true love. And to complicate matters, Ha Jin’s childhood friend Ahn Ah Rim (Yoon Jin Yi) confesses her long-held crush on Ha Jin, which throws his emotions into a state of confusion. Can the four lovebirds find true love? “Discovery of Love,” also known as "Discovery of Romance," is a 2014 South Korean drama series directed by Kim Sung Yoon.

*Beware of Spoilers*

Review: 

This drama has a realistic take on romance and love. It truly doesn't give you this fairytale romance but something very realistic--the bickering, the jealousy, and the understanding. It had a funny and great start as it introduced the characters. The flaws of the characters were showing in the very beginning. You can see how the original couple ended and you could already see how the current relationship was going to end as well. Both Han Yeo Reum and Nam Ha Jin were facing in different directions claiming to be looking at one another. Han Yeo Reum was subconsciously going back to Kang Tae Ha while Nam Ha Jin was continuously searching for his childhood sister/love from when he was at an orphanage. I immediately expected that Han Yeo Reum was going to go back to Kang Tae Ha when Nam Ha Jin's childhood love/sister appeared. 

   I liked how both men kept trying to make more of what they had. However, you could see how both the male and female counterparts were constantly looking past the flaws of the other because of love. I also loved Han Yeo Reum's friends. They were the OTP throughout the whole drama and their scenes made me laugh so hard because they were so cute together. They were loyal and devoted friends. Their scenes are amazing. I also loved the actress who played Yoon Sol because she just has this certain charm to her. I also liked how all the character stalked to the audience at times. It was almost like they were having an interview in the middle of the drama and it was really nice to hear and they spoke a lot of facts about the relationship. 

     I feel that this drama made me extremely fickle between choosing the two men chasing after Yeo Reom. Kang Tae Ha still loved her and their relationship ended on misunderstanding and tragedy. Both haven't quite let go of the other and he does treat her well and care about her. Nam Ha Jin also cares about her greatly and can always be expected to take care of her and watch over her. However, I began to get sick of Nam Ha Jin. I felt that he was extremely shady in not telling Yeo Reom about his childhood and how he got close to a girl at the orphanage and that he found her again. He kept pushing off telling her as if there was going to be this big reveal. Instead, it only created frustration, misunderstandings, and jealousy. Not to mention, the girl, An Ah Rim was kept in the dark as well about the fact that Nam Ha Jin was the oppa from the orphanage. However, she frustrated me as well because she was so obviously squeezing herself into the relationship while saying that she was going to back off. That annoyed me because it just made her seem pathetic. She acts pitiful because she's an orphan and demands that Yeo Reum understand her when all Yeo Reum sees are "kimbap dates" and "hiding when seeing her." It is obvious that An Ah Rim is a strong character because she had many part time jobs to reach her goal and she has a fiery personality as well. However, I felt like she just kept acting weak and girly in front of Nam Ha Jin and I thought that was shady of her as well. 

      I also hate the fact that so many dramas use childhood crushes and promises as a standard for a touching romance. To be honest, can a child truly keep a promise to the very end? And if so, does that mean romance is instantly sparked? In their memory, the other was merely a child or a childhood crush. I don't think that years after not seeing one another, a crush could develop into something more. I just don't like the whole "childhood love" going into romance when they first started liking one another at preschool/elementary school ages. I understand it a bit more when it took place in middle school/high school. 

      Other than that, I really liked this drama. The way the characters interacted and how their romances played out was very down-to-earth, straightforward, and realistic. I enjoyed it a lot. 

Perfect Couple/金玉良缘

45 episodes 

Synopsis:

This is a comedic/historical drama. Yu Qi Lin is a young girl that came to the capital alone hoping to find her foster mother's son and bring him back to meet her. She runs into the arrogant young master Jin Yuan Bao who is the son of the very wealthy Jin family. After a series of events, Yu Qi Ling accidentally marries Jin Yuan  Bao under a false identity. They started off constantly bickering and judging one another. However, as the story progressed, the two begin to develop feelings for one another. However, it is then, that the original girl that was supposed to marry Jin Yuan Bao comes back. Yu Qi Lin and this girl must continue to weave the intricate lie they created. They all must go through a lot while Jin Yuan Bao's cousin greedily tries to sabotage the family to get the power he wanted. They suffered many different situations and the two even had to go through emotional hurdles upon finding out Yu Qi Lin's true identity. 

Review:

       I truly liked this drama. It may not have been the best drama but it was light hearted enough to watch for fun. I thought it was just such a pleasure to watch it. Of course many people complained that the storyline was dragging toward the end...but I didn't think so. I loved the way the characters interacted and the romance the main leads built up. Also Wallace Huo and Tiffany Tang just have this onscreen chemistry that is hard to look away from. The characters and how they were set up all played a role in how the story would progress. I mean, seriously...45 episodes means a lot of character development if not relationship drama. 

         Jin Yuan Bao is a famed inspector working for the capital during the Ming Dynasty. His family is the wealthy and powerful Jin family and they have blood relations with the Empress Dowager. This gave the reason as to why Yu Qi Lin and Jiang Xiao Xuan (the original girl that was arranged to marry Jin Yuan Bao) were so scared to reveal the truth about the switch of identity. By going against the empress's wishes, death is the only answer awaiting Yu Qi Lin. This also caused the couple to have a lot of heart wrenching moments where Yu Qi Lin should leave for the sake of everyone but none of them wants to part from the other. 

          I liked that Yu Qi Lin was skilled in martial arts. She was better at fighting that Jin Yuan Bao which is great because typically these dramas usually depict women as weaker or of equal skill to their male counterparts. This drama made it so obvious that Jin Yuan Bao couldn't fight as well as Yu Qi Lin and it was amusing to watch. However, I was disappointed the writers seemed to forget how skilled she was because they started to make Yu Qi Lin weaker. I think it was to make the characters seem more pitiful but it's kind of hard to view her as the weak, pitiful girl when she started off so strong and independent. I wished they continued with that. 

         And did I mention the chemistry? Oh, the chemistry! The chemistry between the main leads was off the charts. Wallace Huo's piercing gaze and Tiffany Tang's large eyes made me fall in love with the characters over and over again. The characters also did them justice because they were so likable. They had comedic scenes in the beginning and it gradually got serious overtime but the characters didn't lose their original charm. Their personalities still remained pretty consistent in how they treated others and how their relationship worked out together. Also a lot of the scenes were beautiful and humorous--their kiss scene, their journey to his birth mother, the manor, their room, etc. It was just a beautiful set, a beautiful couple, and beautiful cinematography. 

        As for the minor characters, it's harder for me to say because my view on each of them varies. I liked the acting of Jin Yuan Bao's cousins but I couldn't bring myself to like them 100% (especially not Liu Wen Zhao). I struggled with Liu Qian Qian at first because I just knew that she was going to be the catty little brat that causes problems for the main leads. She was the cousin of Jin Yuan Bao and she had this lifelong dream of marrying him. However, I came to like her overtime and when I watched this drama the second/third time, I simply felt a tad annoyed. Her character kind of just calls for you to get annoyed of her but you can see that she's only a girl. She's young and naive and being born into a rich, powerful family meant that she expected things to be handed down to her. In truth, she's probably one of the most pitiful characters toward the end because she has to watch her brother become this crazed, destructive maniac which also caused her demise. Liu Wen Zhao's greed was the main reason as to why he was the antagonist throughout the drama. He wanted everything that Jin Yuan Bao had because he felt looked down upon. He was looked down upon in the beginning which is understandable where his contempt came from. However, he became obsessive with becoming the heir to the Jin family's fortune and power. It came to a point where he started hurting his family, the people he cared about, and the people he didn't care about. He became a dangerous character and one that might have needed some psychological help. Jiang Xiao Xuan and the doctor character were minor characters I enjoyed watching. They were so soft-spoken and gentle characters. They made a cute couple together which made you happy that she switched places with Yu Qi Lin.  

        I really enjoyed the character development of the story and I have this guilty pleasure for all the sappy moments in historical dramas. It's just so endearing to watch. I absolutely loved this drama and the characters in it. I would recommend this to anyone who wants to watch something light-hearted. It's not the best drama but it is still pretty good. 

Fated to Love You aka You Are My Destiny (KOREAN VERSION)

20 episodes 
Given  Synopsis (viki.com): 

Making a mistake after having way too many drinks can change everything. Lee Gun (Jang Hyuk) is the successor to a large company run by his family. Kim Mi Young (Jang Na Ra) is an average-looking secretary in a law firm who earned the nickname “Post-It” for her inability to say no to her colleagues who dump work on her. When the two cross paths one night after having too much to drink, they end up having a one-night stand. When Mi Young finds out afterwards that she is pregnant, what will become of them? And will Nam Se Ra (Wang Ji Won) and Daniel (Choi Jin Hyuk) just stand by and let Gun and Mi Young deal with the situation in their own way? “Fated to Love You (Korean Version)” is a 2014 South Korean drama series that is a remake of the popular 2008 Taiwanese drama by the same title.

*Beware of spoilers*

Review: 

      This drama was very similar to the original Taiwanese series but added its own quirks to the storyline. I liked how exaggerated they made Lee Gun and I loved his laugh so much. I also thought that Lee Gun's character was nicer than the Taiwanese male protagonist's character and that Kim Mi Young's character was stronger than the Taiwanese female protagonist's character. I also felt that Mi Young's family didn't play as big a role as the family did in the Taiwanese drama. However, it allowed more development between the characters without the family always on them. However, I kind of wished for more family interaction because technically they got married because their grandmother was on to them. 

        Also, for those who watched the drama, we know that something bad happens and it's very dramatic and heartwrenching. Even though my heart ached in the scene in the Korean version, I wanted more of the scene. I wished there was more moments that showed Mi Young relying solely on the comfort of the baby's companionship when Lee Gun kept going to Sera. But because they didn't have those small moments of alone time like it was shown in the Taiwanese version, I felt the crying scene didn't have much basis to it. However, I did like the visits they made to where the accident happened and how they built their relationship back from that place of pain. 

          I loved Lee Gun with short hair (the hair he had toward the end of the drama). There was a part of the drama where he suffered serious Snape hair and I couldn't take him seriously. It was hilarious. I liked this drama a lot. It had its own personality but also kept a lot of the old in it. I was reminded a lot of the Taiwanese version and though I compared the two often, I enjoyed this version. 

Hi School Love On

20 episodes
Given Synopsis (viki.com):
Can a real guardian angel survive the perils of teen angst and living life as a high school student? Lee Seul Bi (Kim Sae Ron) is an angel who accidentally becomes human after she saves Shin Woo Hyun (Nam Woohyun) from a premature death. Despite his cold demeanor, Woo Hyun is popular in school because of his good looks and singing ability. When his best friend, Hwang Sung Yeol (Lee Sungyeol), finds out a secret that ties them together and also develops feelings for Seul Bi, who is posing as a fellow student at their school, the best friends turn into rivals. Can Seul Bi survive first love and other the perils of life as a teenager and find a way to return to her life as an angel? “Hi! School: Love On” is a 2014 South Korean drama series directed by and Sung Joon Hae and Lee Eun Mi.

*Beware of spoilers*
Review:

This drama is finally over! Truthfully, I kept watching this because Infinite Woohyun and Sungyeol were in it. However, this drama was not good at all. I was watching this with a large group of friends and they all agree that it wasn't good but they kept watching for either the actors or certain characters. It just goes to show how important eye candy is in dramas. Admittedly, I kept watching this because the minor characters were more interesting than the main couples. 

      The acting was not good. It felt awkward and cheesy. To make things worse, the main characters were not likable. Sungyeol's character was ridiculously controlling and dominating. Woohyun was also controlling. Seulbi acted nice without reason and only caused more trouble. She also couldn't protect her angel sign on her wrist for the life of her. Everyone around her helped her hide it but she just kept showing it off to the world causing people to  suspect her. The romance felt iffy as well. What kind of high school romance is that controlling? Don't talk to him. Don't stay at his house. Don't leave the house. Don't come to school. Don't do this. Don't do that. Listen to me. I'll tell you what to do. Also the sunbae angel was creepy as well. You can tell that he likes her but he terrorizes her and everyone around her. Stop being a human, you're an angel. You have no say in what you want to be because now I'll terrorize your new friends and boyfriend. All the boys that liked Seulbi were a bit on the creepy side because they wouldn't even respect her wishes. 

       The minor characters were more interesting and the drama did a good job in letting us catch glimpses of their life and relationship. I enjoyed watching those more than anything. Sungyeol's dad was actually a great character because he wanted to protect his son first but was also rather understanding to Woohyun's situation and his mother's situation. 

        Other than that, the storyline was pretty bad. There wasn't really a good plot. It sort of just added a lot of "I'm the dominating male" moments and bromance moments here and there. It frustrated me to watch this. The ending was good. I think the ending was a little rushed in just finishing everything. But it made more sense because they didn't even have a legitimate storyline. So I was rather satisfied with the ending of this drama. 

     

The King 2 Hearts

20 episodes 

Given Synopsis (viki.com):

The drama stars Lee Jae Ha as a young crown prince of modern-day South Korea that is governed by a monarchy. Although he shuns politics, he is thrown in the midst of a political turmoil with Kim Hang Ah, a female North Korean special agent. Will the unlikely duo overcome their initial animosity to find common ground? “The King 2 Hearts” is a 2012 South Korean drama series directed by Lee Jae Kyu.

*Beware of spoilers*

Review:

      I finally got around to watching this and I enjoyed it so much. The storyline and the dynamics of how it played out were all well done beautifully. This story revolved around a fictitious Korean royal family.  They were basically figureheads that only took care of certain diplomatic/military issues and had to work together with the prime minister. I really liked how this drama took that into consideration. It felt very political and professional throughout the whole drama because they emphasized how the characters were used to that sort of life and had grown up with the responsibilities given to them. I liked that it was professional when it had to be and only cute and relaxed when the protagonists were enjoying their free time together. 

      I really liked the character development of Lee Jae Ha (the prince) and I enjoyed the multiple sides of Hang Ah's personality. Of course, Lee Seunggi and Ha Ji Won did a fantastic job playing their parts and it was so nice to watch them. A lot of people were annoyed of  Lee Seung Gi's personality in the beginning because he was snobby, spoiled, and mean to others. However, I didn't mind. I liked that they showed this "I'm the prince and no one can touch me" phase because it showed how little responsibility meant to him and how little he cared for others and it allowed us to see what he truly thought of himself and how he matured to fill in the shoes of being the king.
     The characters were all very quirky and distinct. The female roles were extremely smart and strong spirited. I was not annoyed at anything about this drama because I could see the characters building up to be better characters. I was annoyed by the antagonist of this drama, John Mayer, because he just continuously ruined things and traumatized people. His acting was great though. I truly thought that this man needed psychological help.
     Other than the love line between our protagonists, I was also extremely invested in the minor couple (the princess and Eun Si Kyung) I honestly thought that Eun Si Kyung was one of the most charming characters of the show and that he was truly compatible with likable princess. He was this stiff, awkward, loyal guard that was really devoted in what he did and he was very formal. The princess was more free-spirited and outgoing. When the princess faces trauma, I fell in love with the way that Eun Si Kyung disregarded the fact that she was sitting in a wheelchair and continued to like her in this very formal way. I really liked them together. I was infuriated at the end and was in denial with what happened to Eun Si Kyung. I always figured that the writers could totally alternate the situation around and make things work. An emergency room scare would have worked out fine. However, at the end, they show the princess moving on. All I could think about was: if I was her...how will I move on from a guy that perfect? How will I move on from someone that truly loved me unconditionally and never demanded more than I offered? 
      I truly enjoyed it: the acting, the storyline, the sarcastic humor, the characters, etc. Everything was palpable and the characters just felt so real. I truly enjoyed it. 

20s

Synopsis:

This is a 2013 Korean mini series. This is the story about a young idol star Kikwang encountering his first love again when they are in their 20s. The two begin to fall in love but their love story may no longer be as innocent and carefree as how they were in middle school. Kikwang is an idol and the girl, Hye Rim, must deal with different situations while dating her boyfriend such as not being able to show him off to friends, not being able to publicly be with him without being attacked by fangirls, and dealing with obsessive fangirls that want her to back off. 

Review: 

This was very fluffy and light. This is a short watch that is only 4 episodes long. It's not a long series and I enjoyed it a lot. It really showed the struggles that come along with dating a popular idol when the girl is not famous. I was so upset in the beginning when the guy that Hye Rim had a serious crush on was an ultimate douche. I liked that they showed that there are such people in our society today that don't take your feelings seriously but would rather try to take advantage of you. But thankfully, she was smart and walked off angrily. She later found her happiness with the kpop idol Kikwang. They showed flashbacks of their middle school days and showed how happy they were in the beginning. Then you see the problems with dating an idol that is so well-liked. No one believes you if you say that you're dating this idol and you don't want to tell anyone in case someone decides to leak the story. His schedules make it hard for her to see him and he is often very tired. Then they have to deal with fans. Not to mention, her best friend/roommate is a huge Kikwang fan. The whole scenario of this drama was just interesting to watch.  

My Secret Hotel

Episodes 16

Given Synopsis (viki.com): 

        The Secret Hotel is considered the most luxurious hotel and the most sought-after wedding destination in Korea. Nam Sang Hyo (Yoo In Na) is the manager of wedding planning at the hotel and rules over her domain down to the last detail to provide her clients with the most memorable dream weddings. But her perfectionistic work environment begins to unravel when her new wedding client his Gu Hae Young (Jin Lee Han), a famous architect who also happens to be her ex-husband. Things get even more complicated when a man falls to his death during Hae Young’s wedding, causing a major problem for managing director Jo Sung Gyeom (Nam Goong Min) and the hotel PR manager Yeo Eun Joo (Lee Young Eun). Could the murder be related to some secrets from Sung Gyeom’s past? And can Sang Hyo and Eun Joo help the hotel regain its polished reputation when they both compete for love and career advancement? “My Secret Hotel” is a 2014 South Korean drama series directed by Hong Jong Chan.

Review: 

       If you're looking for a drama that shows a lot of relationship development and boyfriend/girlfriend moments, this probably isn't the one to go for. I feel like this focused way too much on the love triangle in terms of relationships. This drama actually dragged the love triangle till the very end. A full 16 episode drama of a ridiculous and childish love triangle. The only romantic scenes that I remember were all  from flashbacks of Nam Sang Hyo and Gu Hae Young's marriage in Vegas. I couldn't even appreciate the romantic scenes from the "dating" period that she had with Jo Sung Gyeom because she was playing with both the first male lead and the second lead's heart. This fickle and indecisive female lead was annoying to watch. Her behavior was not cute as she went back and forth between the men. She would also constantly make excuses as to why she's helping and heading toward Gu Hae Young. I did not appreciate this dragged out love triangle. The beginning of this drama was so intense and interesting. I feel like the drama did not meet the standards it set in the first few episodes as it went on. It felt a bit sloppy at times. 

         I like that the hotel had a lot of mystery. Murders were happening and every shady character looked like a potential suspect to me. It introduced a lot of the minor characters and also set this drama's mood and allowed everything to start rolling. Both male leads were likable and so it was hard to tell who she was going to exactly end up with. However, as soon as the interactions began to progress, it was quite obvious who she was going to end up with. I was a bit confused as to what they considered "marriage." In both marriages that Nam Sang Hyo had with Gu Hae Young, it appeared to only be a wedding ceremony and not a legalized in documentation. That was a bit confusing for me. 

         The characters were often very straightforward and I was grateful that they didn't make the female characters too scheming. Of course, I disliked the fickleness and indecisiveness of the female lead but she had her own mystery to solve about the separation she had with Gu Hae Young seven years ago. I liked that the male leads were rather open with what they were feeling and they often made the show very entertaining and a little more fast paced. I also liked that both male leads were getting frustrated and constantly were demanding her to look for her feelings and to find out who she truly liked.
       I also enjoyed the We Got Married cameo and the many references to her song Love Battery. It was amusing but it did throw off many viewers who didn't understand why this random girl just ran up to Jo Sung Gyeom and was just spazzing out about how he looked like her husband Nam Goong Min (the actor's real name). It was so funny and enjoyable to see their interaction.
       It was an interesting drama but it wasn't the best. A lot could have been changed, the relationship could have progressed a bit faster, and less focus could have been placed on the love triangle, and less time could have been focused on misunderstandings.

P.S. Yoo In Na's hair is amazing. I wish I had her hair. 

  

Surplus Princess

10 episodes
Given Synopsis (viki.com):
Can a woman do anything for the sake of love? Ha Ni (Jo Bo Ah) is a mermaid princess in the underwater empire but she longs for the human world when she sees and falls in love with a man. She transforms into a human and follows Hyun Myung (On Joo Wan) to live in a temporary house for people who are preparing for employment. The pragmatic Hyun Myung is trying to find a good-paying job to provide him with a comfortable life. But will he be distracted by Ha Ni, who has just 100 days to make Hyun Myung fall in love with her so that she can remain a human? “Surplus Princess,” also known as “The Mermaid,” is a 2014 South Korean drama series directed by Baek Seung Ryong.

Review:
     It was such a pity that this drama had to be cut short. It was so light-hearted and both male leads loved Ha Ni unconditionally. The minor characters were also extremely amusing and their love relationships were extremely cute. Ha Ni's best friend at the house they shared was extremely helpful in hiding the fact that Ha Ni is a mermaid and teaching her ways to snag the chef that Ha Ni believed she loved. Everything was going really well and I was getting extremely conflicted between the chef and Hyun Myung. I hated the antagonist (the other girl) who just constantly wore the look of jealousy on her face. However, the drama was cut short so we never got to see how she progressed with the chef or how she progressed with Hyun Myung. It was a quick and summarized version and the ending was really weird when she came shooting out of the sky like an asteroid. I wish it was longer so that I could have gotten the whole story because it was so fluffy and light to watch. Unfortunately, it was cut short and I appreciate the scenes that were not summarized or as confusing as it was toward the end.

Bride of the Century

       

Episodes: 16 

Synopsis:

Choi Kang Ju is engaged to a girl named Yi Kyung. However, there is a curse that follows Choi Kang Ju's family in which the first bride of the family's first son is always.  Thus, Yi Kyung's family hatches a horrible plan to use Yi Kyung's doppleganger Doo Rim who is from a small southern island. Doo Rim plays the role of Yi Kyung and comes to actually fall in love with Choi Kang Ju (he also falls in love with her as well). As this conspiracy is revealed, so is the curse, and the story behind everything is taken care of. 

Review:

     I really enjoyed this drama. It got to the point quickly and the storyline progressed nicely. Everything was quite visually appealing. In this drama, you will find: dopplegangers, a touch of fantasy, a curse, a ghost, doubts about death, marriage substitutes, and a lot of schemes. It was really nice to see how the dopplegangers were opposites of one another. One was nice and quirky while the other was cold and sly. Doo Rim, the nice one, looks exactly like Yi Kyung. Yi Kyung is the daughter of a businesswoman who is to marry Kang Ju and obtain financial stability. Upon finding out about the curse of the Choi family, she refuses to be the bride that dies and asks Doo Rim to be her replacement for the wedding, allowing her to take the position of wife after Doo Rim's death. However, Doo Rim and Kang Ju fall in love with one another and start to disregard the curse to be together. This causes a lot of scheming on Yi Kyung's family's side. 

      The male second lead was a little bit weird to me. He was not related to Yi  Kyung but he was part of the family. He was raised with Yi Kyung and is considered to be her older brother. However, he falls in love with Doo Rim out of the blue and proposes without any character or relationship development. It was a little creepy because he basically likes a girl that is identical to his "sister." Thankfully, he didn't have too much of a role and wasn't very threatening. 

       The ghost-curse aspect wasn't as scary as I expected it to be. In the beginning, it was freaky. But as the drama progresses, I had doubts if it was real or if it was by coincidence. There were even parts that convinced me that no such ghost exists because it was a test of true love. However, in the end, they explain the ghost aspect and the grudge that was kept for so long. It also linked the characters to past lives and it was kind of cool. 

       I was quite impressed with Hongki's acting because there were a lot of scenes where he had to be serious and mean. He also had a lot of sad scenes and it was nice to see how well he did on that. He also did a great job in playing a more mature character than some of his previous roles. It was nice to see and he did a great job in convincing me that he was in love with this girl. It was a very cute drama and I enjoyed it. 

The Night Watchman

Episodes: 24 

Given Synopsis (viki.com):

Being able to see ghosts and other supernatural spirits is a heavy responsibility. Prince Lee Rin (Jung Il Woo), like his father before him, discovers that he has the ability to see ghosts and other supernatural beings. Armed with his newfound abilities, Lee Rin becomes the leader of a group of night watchmen who patrol the streets from dusk to dawn to protect the people of the Chosun Dynasty against evil spirits. Moo Seok (Jung Yun Ho) is the best swordsman in the land who is the prince’s trusty bodyguard. But their loyalties will be tested when they both fall in love with the same woman – Do Ha (Go Sung Hee), the successor of the Ma Go tribe who seeks their help to protect the Baek Do mountain’s spirits. But Park Soo Ryun (Seo Ye Ji), the daughter of a court officer, will stop at nothing to marry Prince Lee Rin. “The Night Watchman,” also known as "Diary of a Night Watchman," is a 2014 South Korean historical drama series directed by Lee Joo Hwan.

Review: 

      When  I started watching this,  I wondered if this was going to be something similar to Arang and the Magistrate. It really wasn't despite the fact that ghosts were involved and the main leads could see the ghosts. There were many times I didn't want to continue watching it but I sat through this whole thing mainly for the three ghost characters that followed the protagonist around. They were extremely trustworthy and caring. This drama definitely did not become a favorite of mine. It was watchable but there were too many factors that bothered me. The story dragged at times and I constantly had to sit through the antagonist's weird rituals as he tried to summon the dragon. I had to constantly watch the king struggle with his inner self (I think he might have been schizophrenic) and also watch his weak character buckle throughout the entire series. The acting was really bad for a lot of the scenes and I did not feel any chemistry between the protagonist and the girl. I did not think romance was necessary in this series and their relationship felt unnatural and awkward. 

        On the bright side, the OST was really cool. I really like the one that EDEN sang because it's so action-packed. The whole drama was very fantasy-like and their clothes were not exactly historical. Many parts of this drama reminded me of Harry Potter (music, the strange whispering scenes, and the demons that looked like dementors flying). I spent the majority of this drama enjoying the acting of the three minor characters that were ghosts. They added comedy and great acting to this drama. I was surprised that the little girl acted better than Do Ha (the girl lead). I admired Jung Il Woo's nose in a lot of the scenes as well. Other than the three ghosts that did a great job in acting, the emperor also did a great job in acting out his messed up character. All in all, it wasn't the perfect drama and I wished that the storyline and acting could have been better. This drama could have a lot of potential but it failed to do so. 

I Need Romance 3

Given Synopsis (viki.com): 
Has a jaded 33-year-old woman really given up on love? Shin Joo Yeon (Kim So Yeon) works as a merchandizer for a home shopping network. After years of surviving in the tough corporate world and having a long-term relationship go down the drain, she has decided to give up on love. But will she change her mind when a childhood friend, Joo Wan (Sung Joon), and her boss, Kang Tae Yoon (Namgung Min), both younger men, vie for her affections? “I Need Romance 3” is a 2014 South Korean drama series directed by Jang Young Woo. It is the third installment of the popular “I Need Romance” franchise, which includes “I Need Romance” (2011) and “I Need Romance 2” (2012).

Review:
        This was actually a really good drama for me. I fell in love with the characters and how the main leads worked out so well together with different personalities. As always, I Need Romance dramas are quite predictable as to who she is going to end up with. Only this time, they added more context to the second lead character and showed the female lead's stress about whether it would work out if she stayed with him. At the same time, I liked that this drama didn't have a wishy-washy character. It felt like she was going back and forth at times...but if you actually sit down and think about it, she actually sticks with her decision. I just really don't like the second lead and  I never even considered him an option. But he was a big part of the drama as he was trying to win back his love while dating her. I felt that the second lead was just very indecisive and very sleazy in that aspect.
       I Need Romance dramas usually have disappointing endings for me because in the previous two dramas, I preferred the second lead greatly. In this drama, my choice was very clear and it remained clear to the very end. The guy that I liked became the main lead and that is all that matters to me. The relationship was beneficial to both sides physically, emotionally, and mentally. It was a comfortable and straightforward relationship. No doubt, both characters are extremely loyal once they dive into the relationship. I loved this drama and how it was set up and how easy it was to choose a character that never annoyed me. As always, it was very female empowering and I really liked that. The women were fierce. And I really appreciated the minor characters finding romance through different ways and how each of them had different issues/annoyances/etc. This was actually my favorite I Need Romance drama out of three stories because the main couple didn't do a lot of things that made me angry. Maybe because I just knew that things were going to work themselves out.

Hot Young Blood

MOVIE

This movie was really enjoyable to me because it just made me imagine who I'd be in a scenario like that. Would I be one of the followers or the badass leader chick?  It was a little bit extreme at some parts and it felt a little too exaggerated at times. However, it was funny.
Basically Lee Jong Suk's character is a player. Park Bo Young's character is the leader of the girl gang. The leader in the boy gang liked her and allowed her to have this invincible position. However,  Park Bo Young continues to love her childhood friend (Lee Jong Suk) who has grown apart from her. As Lee Jong Suk begins to pursue the new girl from Seoul, Park Bo Young stays silent about it and watches with envy. She soon notices that the new girl may not be what everyone thinks she is. Upon that, she gets into a fight and leaves the school after being wrongly accused. Park Bo Young feels conflicted about her feelings for Lee Jong Suk while Lee Jong Suk is confused about his. She tells the gang leader guy that she doesn't like him and is willing to give her invincible position for Lee Jong Suk's safety, gets beat up after getting removed, and both find themselves and achieve goals before coming together once again.
It was very cute ending and I got a good laugh out of a lot of the parts. Some parts were not realistic but I don't think that was the movie's intention. It was more focused on adolescence and the comedic factor.

Enjoyed it....mainly because I just really love Lee Jong Suk and Park Bo Young and because there were just too many funny and exaggerated scenes.

It's Okay, That's Love

16 EPISODES
Given Synopsis (viki.com):
Jang Jae Yeol is a mystery writer and radio DJ. He suffers from a obsession. Ji Hae Soo is going through her first year fellowship in psychiatry at a University Hospital. She chose psychiatry because she doesn't want to perform surgeries. After she meets Jang Jae Yeol, her life goes through big changes.

Review:
I can't put into words the amount of love I have for this drama. I loved it. It was just one of those dramas that made you feel like laughing, crying, and also bubbly inside. The characters were so real. All had their flaws and their good sides. You can see the real representation of interactions between normal friends/family. The acting was spot on. As always, Gong Hyo Jin and Jo In Sung never fail to impress me. D.O's acting was quite surprising to me because usually idols do a pretty shitty job at acting.
       The whole story line was amazing to me. It was such a psychological twist when you realize that Kang Woo is a representation of Jang Jae Yeol and that Kang Woo was imagined due to guilt-caused schizophrenia. And unlike a lot of amazing dramas, the ending left me warm and satisfied. I loved it for how realistic and how much I can relate to everything. Not to mention, the chemistry between the two main leads wasn't just loving and passionate. They were like a real couple where their love doesn't fade. Again, I appreciated that there was no second lead trying to ruin the relationship. Glad to see appearances of dramas where a second lead and a love triangle is NOT necessary.
        Also, the way they dealt with mental illness and portrayed it was well done. Mental illness is often stigmatized (especially in Asian countries). People tend to view it negatively and don't understand how easy one can have/get mental illness. This drama showed that and it probably enlightened many viewers that mental illness shouldn't be stigmatized because it can happen to anyone. It shows that lives can continue to go on with or without the illness and that they are just people. That was why this drama was touching and enlightening.
Absolutely 100% pleased with this drama.

The Greatest Love

 
Given Synopsis (viki.com):
A former K-pop girl group singer discovers she can extend her 15 minutes of fame by associating herself with a top actor so that she can continue to support her family. Goo Ae Jung (Gong Hyo Jin) is a former leader of the popular girl group National Treasure Girls until an internal scandal caused the group’s disbandment and her fall from grace. Years later, Ae Jung makes a living by appearing on game shows and variety shows as a C-list minor celebrity so that she can support her father, brother and nephew as the sole breadwinner. After several run-ins with top actor Dok Ko Jin (Cha Seung Won), Ae Jung discovers that being associated with an actor at the top of his game helps to raise her status and increases her demand on television and radio shows. Ko Jin, on the other hand, experiences a strange palpitation whenever he hears one of Ae Jung’s past hit songs, which he mistakes for love, and he decides he wants to help Ae Jung emerge from under the shroud of scandal from her past. But Kang Se Ri (Yoo In Na), Ae Jung’s former group mate, again feels competitive with her when Yoon Pil Joo (Yoon Kye Sang), an oriental medicine doctor, sets his eyes on Ae Jung. Will Ae Jung’s 15 minutes of fame be finally over? “The Greatest Love” is a 2011 South Korean drama series directed by Park Hong Kyun and Lee Dong Yoon.

Review:
   It has been a while since I watched this and I can't really recall much of what I initially felt upon watching it. I do remember thinking that though it was a fluffy kind of drama, I probably wouldn't watch it again. It didn't give me much of a strong impression. It was a light-hearted watch that made you smile because of the cute moments the characters shared. A lot of the moments were cliche drama moments. Very light-hearted and didn't leave a strong impression on me.

God's Gift-14 days

Given Synopsis (viki.com): 
When a mother loses a child, she harbors many regrets and broods about the many things she would have done differently if given another chance. Kim Soo Hyun (Lee Bo Young) always pushed her daughter, Saet Byeol (Kim Yoo Bin), to not only do well in school but also to always come in first place. But tragedy strikes when Saet Byeol is kidnapped and killed, leaving Soo Hyun and her husband, Han Ji Hoon (Kim Tae Woo), with no clues as to who could have done such a terrible thing and why. Detective Ki Dong Chan (Jo Seung Woo) struggles to find the killer, while Detective Hyeon Woo Jin (Jung Gyu Woon), who shares a past with Soo Hyun, tries to do what he can. But when Soo Hyun is given a chance to go back in time to change the course of events, can she find the killers and save her daughter’s life in time? “God’s Gift – 14 Days” is a 2014 South Korean drama series directed by Lee Dong Hoon.

Review:          
  God's Gift-14 days was absolutely amazing and drama-filled in the beginning. The suspense was building, the acting was superb, and the personalities of the characters and their ways of grieving were amazingly palpable. I had high hopes for this drama and I saw great potential for this drama to be an all-time favorite of mine. It started off so wonderfully. My friends were raving about it, I was encouraging my friends to watch it, and friends were asking me if I saw it. This drama was really well-received by both genders because it was about a mother's love and struggle upon finding out that her daughter has been kidnapped and murdered. The mother gets a chance to go back two weeks in time and try to stop the tragedy from happening and save her daughter. But regardless of what she did, history was repeating itself in different forms and she knew that at this rate, her daughter's abduction and death was inevitable.
        I was sucked into it because the actors and actresses portrayed an appropriate reaction to the scenarios. I could actually see the reality in this fiction. However, as it went on...I grew extremely frustrated with what was happening. I noticed in the few dramas that I watched, action dramas bore me. If you give me long scenes where the characters are fighting these bands of bad guys with their cool fighting skills, I will be bored to a point where it is tiresome to watch. It started off okay because I was still wrapped up on the process that this was a mother's struggle to find her daughter's killer and prevent the kidnapping. However, the more she began to fighting hands-on with suspects, the more she irrationally exploded in front of cops about how she knew the future, and the more the guy helped her fight and do all these things because he experienced the time traveling, the more frustrated I got. It just felt like it was stupid of them to make certain plans or actions. No one felt the time shift. They don't know what is going to happen and so these main characters need to get it in their head that they have to go through clues and other ways to lead the cops to her daughter. While I was watching the main characters figure out how to do that (after realizing their initial plans were horrible), I was infuriated at how careless the daughter was. She's so little and I didn't understand why she thought it was okay to just run off randomly. It's horrifying. No one knows where the child is going, who is going to get the child, and why she is running off. They experienced a lot of close-to-death situations because the child would run off and cause everyone to go into a frenzy. I just got so frustrated with Saet Byul because her mother made it very clear that she wanted her to stay next to her and to not run off. But as always, she doesn't listen and then cries when she gets scolded. There were a lot of annoying characters such as Saet Byul's dad because I was just very suspicious about his demeanor and the way he talked and what he said. And I felt pity for the mother as she worked so hard to keep her daughter alive while her daughter was ungrateful and unknowing of what was to happen. At her age, I would have expected her to be a bit more obedient toward her mother instead of running around and making friends with adults like a rebellious teenager would. The child gave a sense of stupidity because she's acting like a teenager but with the knowledge capacity and innocence level of a three year old.
          As more fighting scenes started showing and the political sub-plot revealing a greater scheme, I began to tire with the drama.  It began to lose it's sense of reality. Why would the government use a random child to perform this? Why use this child? Why was this girl not listening to her mother? Why does everyone look suspicious? Is someone going to die? These questions began to pile and it made watching this drama excruciating. I kept watching it and I expected a great ending. Did I get that ending?


The answer is NO.

The ending was the worst way to end a drama. The child was saved and the male character's problems were resolved. He realized the situation and he could have lived with Saet Byul and have a happily ever after. He could have ended up with the female lead because everyone was rooting for them to be together. However, it ended horribly. It felt ridiculous that he felt the need to sacrifice himself when the child was alive, he was alive, and everything was resolved. I felt that the director was going for a more profound and philosophical ending when really it just left everyone in a state of disappointment and "Did I really waste so many hours on this drama for this?"
        My friends were disappointed with the ending. I was disappointed.
         I felt like this drama could have been so much more but it wasn't. There was too much action and hands-on fighting (LIKE WHERE ARE THE COPS?...OH RIGHT, THE COPS ARE PART OF THIS SCHEME TO MURDER THE CHILD) And the ending was stupid. The characters became increasingly stupid in their actions and decisions. Everyone was a suspect in the viewers' minds and it just became a very tiring drama to watch.

Two Weeks

Given Synopsis (viki.com):
An aimless man wakes up one day, in a pool of blood with a dead woman next to him. Jang Tae San (Lee Joon Gi) had always lived his life without much meaning, but all that changes on that ill-fated day. As he is wrongfully accused of murder, Tae San also learns that he has a daughter, Soo Jin (Lee Chae Mi), who has been diagnosed with leukemia. The next two weeks of his life will determine his fate and whether he can save his daughter’s life. “Two Weeks” is a 2013 South Korean drama series directed by Son Hyung Suk.

Review:

       Two Weeks was really interesting at first but it began to drag and I got bored as it went. I don't know if it's a pattern but if a drama is focused on action and fighting more than relationships and story line, I can't fall in love with it. This didn't leave a strong impression on me. Most likely won't watch again. However, this drama does have praise-worthy factors. It was touching and it had suspense/mystery. It was a whole package for many viewers. It just wasn't the one for me.
        The actors did an amazing job. I knew Lee Jun Ki from his previous dramas and I decided to watch it mainly because of him. The child actress was absolutely adorable.I was not familiar with the mother but she did a pretty good job at her role and you could almost feel the connection she had with the child. The whole concept of the plot--the guy suddenly finds out that he's a father after many years because he can donate body organs to his daughter because he's match, he finds out his daughter is sick, and two weeks before the surgery date, he gets caught up in a murder mystery and gets framed as the suspect. Very dramatic, very moving as he tries to reach his daughter that he felt love and guilt toward.
       It was a pretty moving concept with the sub-plot and gun and fist fights but it just never left a strong impression on me and I really don't have much to offer as to how I feel toward this. I didn't despise it but I didn't love it either. It was just "okay."

Cunning Single Lady

Given Synopsis (viki.com): 

Could she have been a little too rash in divorcing her husband? Na Ae Ra (Lee Min Jung) marries the nerdy genius Cha Jung Woo (Joo Sang Wook) but divorces him when he fails to achieve the success she wants. Although a little self-absorbed, Ae Ra learns that life is not that glamorous as a divorcée and learns to live on her own through sheer hard work. But when Ae Ra finds out that her ex-husband went on to achieve success after their divorce and is now the president of D&T Software Ventures, a venture capital company, she schemes to win him back. But can Ae Ra carry out her plan when Gook Seung Hyun (Seo Kang Joon) has his eyes set on her and his older sister, Gook Yeo Jin (Kim Gyu Ri), also vies for Jung Woo’s heart? “Cunning Single Lady,” also known as “Sly and Single Again” and “Devious Divorcée,” is a 2014 South Korean drama series directed by Go Dong Sun.

Review: 

          This felt like Hi My Sweetheart in some ways. However, Hi My Sweetheart was a high school to adulthood based drama while this mostly focused on their adult life. Instead of missing opportunities like in Hi My Sweetheart, it was divorce that caused the distance and the change in characters. However, I love these kind of dramas solely for the fact that under the facade of being a cool CEO, the guy is still the dork that he was before and it takes that one girl to reveal it.
      I actually enjoyed this drama. It was well-done as a relationship that was "once married, now divorced." There was a love triangle going on at first. But thankfully, I didn't worry about it too much because her choice felt evident. As usual, there were some disputes and some moments that annoyed me (because a lot of things are quite simple but get complicated by characters). The process was cute. Some parts, it felt like it was losing the essence of how strong the girl lead was originally. But this was actually really well done and allowed the relationship to mature and to address the untold cracks that caused the divorce in the first place. It was cute and I liked the actors.

The Suspicious Housemaid

Given Synopsis (viki.com): 
Can a stoic new housekeeper help the Eun family recover from the tragedy of losing a mother? Park Bok Nyeo (Choi Ji Woo) is a mysterious housekeeper who never cracks her serious demeanor and is rumored to be able to do anything that is asked of her by her employer. Her new charges are Eun Sang Chul (Lee Sung Jae), a recent widower, and his four troubled children, Han Kyul (Kim So Hyun), Doo Kyul (Chae Sang Woo), Se Kyul (Nam Da Reum) and Hye Kyul (Kang Ji Woo). Can the enigmatic new domestic worker help the family members heal their emotional wounds? “The Suspicious Housemaid,” also known as “The Mysterious Housemaid” and “The Mystery Housemaid,” is a 2013 South Korean drama series. Inspired by the 2011 Japanese drama “I Am Mita, Your Housekeeper,” the series is directed by Kim Hyung Shik.

Review: 
         This was alright for me.  Probably won't watch this again. Characters angered me too much at times. Also how does a woman act like a robot? It didn't feel realistic.  I hoped it would have been like some Robo-nanny...like Mary Poppins kind of thing...where she robots her way into the family and fixes all the messes that was left behind. All in all...ehh...
       I really liked the child actress though (Kim So Hyun). I look forward to her work where she becomes the main lead instead of the child role. The children all did an outstanding job. There were times when I found the issues portrayed annoying. I didn't like the father because of his spineless character. It was just very unrealistic to me.

Miss Korea

       

Given  Synopsis (viki.com): 

Can a former high school beauty queen help save a failing cosmetics company? Oh Ji Young (Lee Yeon Hee) used to be the most beautiful girl in her high school but she now scrapes by making a living as an elevator girl for a department store. Her former classmate, Kim Hyeong Joon (Lee Sun Kyun) works for a cosmetics company that is about to go out of business, if he doesn’t find a way to save it. He and his colleagues come up with a brilliant idea that they hope will help save their company and their community: Find a local girl that they can groom to become the next Miss Korea. Could Ji Young be the woman who can save them all? “Miss Korea” is a 2013 South Korean drama series written by Seo Sook Hyang and directed by Kwon Seok Jang, the same writer-director team behind the popular 2010 drama “Pasta.”

Review:

         This felt repetitive since it was about the competition and saving the company while rekindling a high school romance. I don't have much to say about it. It just felt very distant from me. I had trouble relating to the female character because her high school attitude vs her current attitude were polar opposites and I had trouble investing myself into the growing relationship. True, I still kept coming back to watch it and to get closure...but it was frustrating for me. The girls in the competition were catty and used relations and bribery. I did not like that. Competition was not fair and square and that angered me. Girls worked hard to abash one another through revealing secrets and causing scandals. The relationship within this drama was a sub-plot. I felt like the drama was basically about the competition and a girl rising to her full potential while finding romance in a high school sweetheart. There were a lot of "awww" moments but the chances of me coming back to this drama to watch it for those moments are highly unlikely.

        I just really appreciated the teamwork, the hard-working characters and their perseverance to maintain that "waikiki" smile, and the ability to remain strong despite other girls trying to win and sabotage chances. It was a battle of who was the smartest and who was the one that could cause the crowd to swoon. It was pretty good on those aspects. But the story-line focus didn't strike me as interesting as some dramas make it. I guess I was expecting a romance that wasn't so confusing. Half the time, I wasn't sure if they were actually going to be together or if they were just reminiscing old memories while remaining professional and friendly in their current state.  However, I stayed with this drama because it was fascinating as to how she went through the hurdles and how her relationship with the male lead matured from their high school one. So toward the end, you see a lot of high school nostalgia because things work out for both of them.

This is probably a good choice to go to if you want inspiration to work out, to study harder, to strive to be more than you are through hard work, and so forth.

Summer's Desire

       

Given Synopsis (wikipedia): 
The story may revolve around summer's desire, but it is really a love triangle between three people colder than winter itself. Yin Xia Mo is a girl loved by two men. Luo Xi is an orphan who garnered fame and fortune with his infallible charisma. Even though others believed him to be kind and smart, he was really a cold, ruthless, and wicked man who manipulated others to get what he wanted. When he was introduced into Xia Mo's family, he fooled everyone with his sweet words-except for Xia Mo, who only saw the con artist in him. Ou Chen is a rich heir whom everyone feared, and was extremely overprotective of his high school girlfriend Yin Xia Mo. When he found out that Luo Xi was living with her, he became extremely jealous. This started a chain of events-as both boys were in love with Xia Mo, but their love for her was so all-consuming that they started a war to have her. Five years ago, Luo Xi lost and was sent away to England. Yet, Ou Chen didn't win as his action caused him to lose Xia Mo's favor and his own memory. Five years later, they met again. Would history repeat itself, and would the desires of summer enter their wintry hearts?

Review:
          This was so-so for me. All the characters were twisted and I couldn't see myself in any of them. It felt a little bit unrealistic. The two men in the love triangle did not intrigue me or satisfy me in what I thought an ideal drama man was like.  Dramas are supposed to fulfill that desire and need to know that some men out there are perfect and realistic with flaws that can be accepted. However, this one was so dark and twisted, none of the characters were normal despite how "perfect" their surrounding and status made them look. The girl was just as twisted and icy as well.
         I did not like the characters because I felt the girl was too emotionless and too unrealistic for me. Nobody is ever that dull just because they fear being loved. People have emotions that play out regardless of childhood trauma. It doesn't have to be happy but I didn't even see the pain and desperation in the girl's eyes. It made it hard for me to feel strongly toward her. I didn't like the male leads because they were either too masochistic and needy or too controlling and demanding. I couldn't like any of them. The story line progressed toward a more softer approach as it went but I still couldn't fall for the characters at the point so Summer's Desire lost it's appeal.
         The only appeal this drama held for me were the actors. I always enjoyed their works and I'm quite familiar with their intensity in acting. However, in this drama, I felt that all three could not display their full potential because there were so many stoic moments. In all honesty, I did not feel summer in this drama. It should have been called Winter's Desire for all the emotionless characters of this drama. Dark, twisted, emotionless Winter's Desire.

Boss and Me/杉杉来了

33 episodes

Given Synopsis (viki.com):
Xue Shan Shan (Zhao Li Ying), begins to work in a major company. She may not be the smartest but she's hardworking, sweet, and caring. When she helps her boss's sister by donating blood (which is a rare blood type), her boss's sister begins sending her lunch every day. She would go outside to eat the lunch to avoid the jealousy of co-workers. However, the place she ate was actually right outside the boss's office which had stained glass. Her boss, Feng Teng (Zhang Han), a young heir to a corporate conglomerate, begins to develop a crush on her. The two build their relationship overtime in this 2014 drama.

Review:

Loved it!!!

     Xu Shan Shan is cute, bubbly, realistic. She felt human and that is why I liked her so much. The guy wasn't focused on his wealth...very down to earth. It is one of those few dramas where the rich guy didn't flaunt his wealth in a snobby way. His love for her didn't feel condescending. He liked her because of her personality and he mentioned, more than once, that he didn't care about wealth, status, or etc. He genuinely cared for her. Xu Shan Shan and Feng Teng's relationship was based on honestly, trust, care, love, respect, and equality. It felt realistic and neither were in it for materialistic things or for fun. The drama even ended on a tone with respect and a sense of feminism as Xu Shan Shan began to work toward her own business success/wealth while dating him. He supported her and encouraged her character development as she matured throughout the entire drama.  

         This drama didn't have a lot of the drama that typically revolves around rich families and girls that like the male lead. Instead, it felt like something that might actually happen. Everything felt real and not just for the sake of keeping the audience on their toes.  This was such a calming and peaceful watch. The devotion between the main characters denied me of ever feeling annoyed with minor characters. The minor characters weren't even that annoying because they felt so genuine. For example, his sister was extremely nice to Xu Shan Shan and treated her as a friend even when she had worries about the social difference.  At the same time, because she was also the friend of Yu Shu's, she was also telling Yu Shu to continue to pursue her "dreams." Yu Shu is the girl that liked Feng Teng. I didn't mind her presence that much and she wasn't that big of a threat and even became Shan Shan's friend. Throughout the drama, you also see a lot of character development and relationship development as she found her own love story. This drama was just so light-hearted, realistic, and comfortable to watch. This is definitely a drama to watch when you're in the mood for something lighthearted or after watching some turbulent drama.  

Beautiful Man

I honestly don't know what to say about this drama. I liked it but at the same time I didn't like it. It didn't leave a strong impression on me and I actually got bored with it sometimes. I felt like there could have been room for more memorable scenes. I understand the majority were probably there to watch IU and Jang Geun Suk, but I looked past that and it just felt like a very cliche and slightly embarrassing drama to watch. I felt like it put too much emphasis on the fact that Jang Geun Suk's character is beautiful. It makes the love seem more like infatuation than anything else. Whenever IU's character is asked why she likes oppa, she immediately says it is because he is good looking and that doesn't seem like an extremely touching factor or strong foundation in a drama that is supposed to give me the idea that the two are going to last as a couple even after his beauty fades. 

Synopsis: 

        Ma Te is a physically attractive man and he knows it. He is unbelievably self-absorbed and thinks highly of himself. His appearance is the epitome of perfection and he might as well be considered the most beautiful man in the world. With his dashing good looks and charms, he uses it to attain wealth and success. He's likable and quite eloquent with his words when talking to women...actually, he doesn't even have to talk because the majority just drop to their knees upon seeing his heavenly face. (Is my sarcasm toward how ridiculous this drama is showing?...Oops) 

         Anyways, the story picks up and became interesting for me when his ambitions are noticed by Hong Yoo Ra. She acknowledges his ambition, potential, and ability. She decides to mentor him to success and wealth. To allow him to control his abilities to his advantage, she gives him a mission to seduce ten women who are all successful in different career fields. 

           Meanwhile, our girl lead is head over heels and infatuated with Ma Te. She's an ordinary girl called Kim Bo Tong (her name literally meaning ordinary). She begins to try to help in every way she can even if she causes problems at times. She tries to get his attention while giving him all her affection. While she was vying for Ma Te's attention and love, David Choi is doing the same for her. He loves vintage things with a passion. He also gets along well with Bo Tong. In this drama, you watch to see their relationships forming and how sincerity can move one's heart. Personally, this was more of a cute and light-hearted drama than one of those really dramatic and realistic dramas that I adore. 

In Love With Power/Beauties Without Tears

After watching a couple of dramas with really disappointing endings *ahem...Qing Shi Huang Fei....Deja Vu.* I literally began watching this thinking: This better be good. And it did not disappoint me. I actually liked this drama. Even though I felt that our second lead was kind of pitiful throughout the entire drama (since he was supposed to be the male lead if our female lead did not mess up). This was a pretty interesting drama with rivalry, competition, love, power, and revenge all mixed together. All these components make sense when we're dealing with an imperial family and living behind palace walls and being a part of the emperor's harem. None of the characters were truly evil. They all started off as very kind and naive women who hardened to a point where they became the way they did. I liked how even though the women were all getting stronger with their power and sense of competition/rivalry, you could still see their original personalities within their actions.

Synopsis:

         Yu er is a Khorchin Mongolian princess during the reign of Huang Taiji. She has a half-sister named Hai Lan Zhu who is considered a lowly servant because her mother was one. Regardless of their obvious status difference, the sisters loved and cared for one another. Yu er was considered the lucky star because the snow that fell when she was born saved her people while Hai Lan Zhu was considered the unlucky star because the snow that fell when she was born caused famine. It was decided upon since their births and the events that followed that Yu er would be loved while Hai Lan Zhu was destined to be lower than Yu er. In the event of a small accident, Yu er was saved by a masked man wearing a pendant of a flying eagle. This was the start of her first love. 

          Huang Taiji had come to form military alliances by marrying the daughters of Mongol and Manchu clans. He married Yu er's aunt and made her his primary wife. At the wedding, she encountered both Huang Taiji and the brother of Huang Taiji, Duoergun. Both of them had the same pendants. She immediately decided it was not Duoergun because he teased her a lot. She assumed it was Huang Taiji (when in fact, it turned out it was Duoergun who saved her).
        Hai Lan Zhu also had a lover named Zhuo Lin. She was getting married to him and all was well. However, he was sent to battle and it was reported that he was most likely eaten by wild beasts after falling off a cliff. Devastated, she attempts suicide and was almost burned to death by Yu er's mother who simply wanted Hai Lan Zhu gone with the excuse of her accompanying her dead husband. To help get her mind off things, Yu er and Hai Lan Zhu head to the palace to accompany their aunt who had married the emperor (Huang Taiji.) Huang Taiji had no interest in Yu er; but when he heard that she was the lucky star and that a fortune teller said that one day she'll rule as queen, he married her and renewed the alliance with the Khorchin Mongols. 

       Meanwhile, things were not going smoothly for Hai Lan Zhu. Her mother had been killed by Yu er's mother. Her husband was still not found despite her belief that he's still alive. Her brother seeks revenge in trying to kill Yu er. She also had to contemplate if she is to marry Huang Taiji for her own safety and her brother's. Huang Taiji was developing strong feelings toward Hai Lan Zhu and favored her greatly. However, Zhuo Lin's appearance as a crazed man who suffered severe amnesia led Hai Lan Zhu to the decision to leave the palace to be by his side. Unwilling to let her go, Huang Taiji ordered to have Zhuo Lin killed. Her brother and Hai Lan Zhu immediately assumed that Yu er's mother (the Queen) had followed them and murdered Zhuo Lin. She begins to seduce Huang Taiji, taking advantage of his favoritism towards her, and ends up marrying him to begin her revenge and also to protect her brother. 

           Hai Lan Zhu was no longer the kind sister that Yu er once loved. There was a sense of coldness and rivalry between them. Hai Lan Zhu couldn't help but think that Yu er was the daughter of the woman who ruined her happiness. The favoritism and love Hai Lan Zhu got instigated jealousy among the women in the harem. The drama continues when Hai Lan Zhu discovers that the man she was married was the one that killed her one and only love. Yu Er, devastated of never being loved by a man she adored, decides to embark on a quest to place her son on the throne since she would not get Huang Taiji's affection. The entire time, Duoergun never stopped loving Yu er. He helped her constantly and pitied her for the life she had to deal with. Toward the very end, he still loved her even though they all had married and had children with other people. She admits her mistake when she chose between the two brothers in search of her hero. They had grown old and they had to deal with so much. Drama and deaths occurred in the palace, all for different reasons. The naive and sweet Yu er now knows the schemes of the palace as she watches her son's life as emperor be filled with drama. When her son decides to run away and be a monk, she takes her grandson's hand and seats him on the throne, while she sat behind the throne making all the political decisions. Yu er indeed became the queen she was predicted to be...but at such costs and plenty of drama.

Inspiring Generation

I was excited to watch this action drama with our beloved Kim Hyun Joong. Would I see a vast range of emotions and an improvement in acting? I was anticipating it. I got to say, I was pretty hooked in the beginning. It stunned me how well the director did when choosing the child actors. The actor who played the teenage Kim Hyun Joong in this drama was a smaller replica of the actor. It was all flowing beautifully and the action kept me on my toes...train jumping, bridge jumping, fist fights, and the starting sparks of young love.
*Spoilers included in the following paragraph.*

     The characters were also not so bad either. Let me just focus on Gaya, Ok Ryeon, and Jung Tae for now. Everyone adored Gaya because she was a strong character. And the girl knew how to fight without even changing her facial expression...that's pretty impressive. Though some people would say that Ok Ryeon was weak compared to Gaya, I actually liked Ok Ryeon a lot more than Gaya. She was sensible and caring throughout the drama. She was very consistent to the very end. But, I have a question for the writers of this drama and Bridal Mask (the following sentence has a spoiler). Is it necessary to have the girl die on her wedding day? It's kind of a coincidence that the situation was so similar in both action dramas (Bridal Mask and Inspiring Generation). As for Jung Tae, it started off pretty well and he did show a lot of emotion (especially at the last episode), but I felt he was very similar to Gaya. They had no facial expressions throughout the whole drama while you could see emotions in Ok Ryeon's eyes. Gaya and Jung Tae just felt so monotone and sullen to me. Maybe it is just me? Though this drama was pretty good in the beginning and at the end, I did get bored of it in the middle and wondered just how much of this expressionless acting I would have to see. I did not get attached to the characters in this drama and I would probably not rewatch this. It felt like it was dragging it out and all the action was supposed to make up for my dying interest in the drama. 

Synopsis:
     This story takes place in China...which I couldn't help but find it confusing since the entire drama was mostly in Korean. Our story is about a young fighter named Shin Jung Tae. He works and fights in the streets during the Japanese occupation of Shanghai in the 1930s. His father had disappeared from his life and his mother had passed away. Shin Jung Tae was left in charge of taking care of his sickly little sister. He does a bunch of risky jobs like jumping off of trains and fighting just to earn money for the medicine and later on, surgery. All the while, he has a close relationship with a girl named Ok Ryeon. You could see the developing love between the two. There is also Gaya who met Jung Tae as a teenager also. You could also see her admiration for our main lead. Jung Tae ends up getting caught up in the Dobinori smuggling gang which promises him the money he needs for his sister. When his sister decided to leave home in fear of being a burden to him, she is assumed to have jumped off a cliff and died.
      The teenagers grow up to be adults. Gaya, a girl of Japanese descent, has trained to become a sword fighter to avenge her parents' death with the idea that Jung Tae's father had committed the crime. Though she is out to kill Jung Tae, she still doesn't have the heart to do so because of her feelings toward him. Ok Ryeon has stayed by his side since they were children. She looks out for him in every possible way. Though she's not tough and skilled like Gaya, she's still endearing in her own ways. She aspires to be a singer and constantly sings Somewhere Over the Rainbow. Jung Tae is torn between Gaya and Ok Ryeon. The action builds throughout the entire drama. Jung Tae probably gets into at least one fight in every episode.
       Spoilers are going to be included from here on.
       Jung Tae ends up with Ok Ryeon. You kind of expect it since they were together for so long with growing feelings while Gaya was very distant from them and planning to murder people. I couldn't help but rage at the stupidity of Ok Ryeon's end when she drinks the poison that was supposed to be for Jung Tae. She swapped the cups so that Jung Tae wouldn't drink the poison. Could she not have just poured her drink out discreetly? They weren't even looking at her. Or she could have done it in a broad gesture. Pretend to take a sip and then say something like, "I do not drink well. But I shall empty my cup in respect." And then pour it out. I honestly just felt her death could have been so easily prevented. I also couldn't help but note that her death was awfully similar to how she died in Bridal Mask/Gaksital. Both her characters that the actress portrayed died on their wedding day and in the arms of their beloved. In both, she told them to stay by her side since she knew she was going to die. Gaya remained strong till the end even though you could see her buckling a little. Jung Tae's emotions are heightened after Ok Ryeon's death. And the best part yet, they gave him a reason to continue living by ending it with his sister appearing again. It works out but I kind of got tired in the middle of the constant fighting. A lot of people liked it, I just feel that it could have been improved in a few aspects to make me anticipate each coming episode.