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.