True Beauty

                                                   

Episodes: 16
Synopsis:
Based on the webtoon, True Beauty follows Lim Ju Kyung, a high school student who is often bullied and teased due to being perceived as "ugly." After Lim Ju Kyung discovers the power of make-up, she transforms herself into a "goddess" and attempts to hide her true appearance from all her new friends. Unfortunately, Ju Kyung's worst fear came true when Lee Suho runs into her when she is bare-faced. 

Suho, not realizing it was Ju Kyung at first, is interested in the girl who loves horror comic books and treats him like a normal human being. Soon, he realizes that the beautiful, popular girl at school is the same girl he sees bare-faced in the comic book store. As he deals with his own inner demons, he finds solace in Ju Kyung's company and attempts to keep her close while dangling the fact he knew her secret. 

As the two get closer, Suho's former best friend Han Seo Jun comes back to school. Han Seo Jun is the classic bad boy, and he has distanced from Suho after blaming him for not picking up their friend's phone call prior to their friend's suicide. As the two both become entranced by Ju Kyung's personality, the two learn to heal their relationship as well as themselves. 

Review:
What a cute, light-hearted drama! 
I am currently reading the webtoon right now which is fairly different in several scenes when compared to the drama. The casting is pretty well-done though I find it difficult to fully understand why Moon Ga Young made Lim Ju Kyung appear so childish. In the webtoon series, Lim Ju Kyung is a high schooler and has her funny moments (yes) but she also wasn't socially unaware to the point the drama made her out to be. Likewise, I have a hard time fully understanding Cha Eun Woo's acting role since he's often cast as the ice-cold prince, which fits Suho. However, in the webtoon series, I felt as though Suho's personality and charisma spilled through the pages and the drama just made Suho seem cold and block-ish for most of it. The actor for Han Seo Jun, on the other hand, brought a new side to the character making everyone suffer from second-lead syndrome. I'm not sure if this is a director's choice or if it was an attempt to highlight the contrast between the male leads but it was just something I wish could have been improved upon. 

This drama isn't very deep and I probably won't rewatch it again. However, it was cute and light-hearted. It was perfect for a simple and mindless watch. It made me laugh, it made me blush, and I loved the character growth throughout the show. It also had an amazing soundtrack, and it doesn't hurt that this entire cast is EYE CANDY :) 

The Sound of Your Heart

Episodes: 20

Synopsis: A sitcom-like drama following the webtoon artist Cho Seok and his adventures with his family and his wife Aebong.

Review: 

I really enjoyed this light-hearted drama. It was super easy to watch. The scenes were all different stories (very similar to a sitcom drama or a webcomic) while still telling a fairly coherent story of life. This was so funny as it highlighted the funny stories between family members and the awkward love story Cho Seok tries to build with Ae Bong. It felt real and comedic at the same time. I love how our main lead is this awkward and aspiring comic artist. He's a bit silly at times but is also very genuine. 

I highly recommend this. Kwangsoo did an amazing job in this role. I think this was definitely a role made for his awkward, lanky persona that he has constantly shown on Running Man. He played this role so well that I have a hard time even trying to watch season 2 of "The Sound of Your Heart" because they changed up the entire cast. Therefore, at least for now, I refuse to watch The Sound of Your Heart 2 because this was so good. The 2nd one from what I have seen has Sung Hoon playing the role of Cho Seok. That just doesn't feel right to me because Sung Hoon is very conventionally attractive, and has always played as the attractive male lead in other dramas. However, the awkward character of Cho Seok just seems more befitting for an actor like Kwangsoo who can really bring out the comedic effect of the character. Likewise, it was hard to invest myself into the other actors as the mom, dad, brother, and girlfriend as well. They tried to do the whole: "I made it big as a webtoon actor so they made this drama with Kwangsoo acting as me. But this is the real me" kind of story. It was a good attempt but I just couldn't get into it the way I got into this drama. 

Memories of the Alhambra

Episodes: 16 

Synopsis: 

Yoo Jin Woo, the CEO of an investment company that specializes in optical devices, travels to Granada, Spain to meet the developer of this supposed new AR game that many companies are trying to obtain. When he begins to play this game, he realizes that the game makes him feel as though he is completely immersed in the real world. He is able to feel the sword in his hand and the cuts given to him as he is slain by virtual warriors. However, as he continues to play the game, he soon realizes that it is becoming harder and harder to separate game from reality -- and it may only end with the death of it's players. 

Review:

I enjoyed the premise of this drama. It reminded me a lot of the artificial reality version of the drama "W." In fact, it was pretty entertaining to see the actor Kim Ui Seong playing in this drama as well as "W"--especially since it gave off similar vibes: when something that was supposed to remain in the fictional world comes and affects real life. The artificial reality shown through video games definitely was an interesting touch, and I can see the appeal it can have to many audiences who watch this drama. There is a lot of action made in a video game style, mystery, thrill, and so forth. I really enjoyed this drama especially as things began to pick up and be explained better. The beginning was a bit slow and the ending was really anticlimactic for my taste. However, the process of watching this was very intriguing and it definitely kept me engaged. 

     I have seen many posts online comparing the chemistry between Hyun Bin and Park Shin Hye with Hyun Bin and Son Ye Jin. Everyone was acting as though Hyun Bin was more interested and had more chemistry with Son Ye Jin. However, to put things into perspective, "Crash Landing On You" is a more romance-based melodrama. This is more geared toward action-filled thriller. The romance is not one in which you really can invest in as they never truly dive into the relationship as much as I wish they did. It is very easy to not be engaged with this couple considering they spent most of their time away from each other, and we often just watch our male lead fight off video game characters and fulfill quests through most of the drama. The romance is a subplot--which is refreshing to watch after something more cliche like "Crash Landing on You" or "Boys Over Flowers." Likewise, I definitely have some qualms about Park Shin Hye's acting. I find I have a hard time resonating with her acting in every drama I have watched her in, and I do not know why. I just don't vibe with it as much as I would like to, because I really like her as a person (at least from what I've seen of her). But the acting really isn't my cup of tea. However, I do have to say she's really good at crying very watery tears (if that even makes sense lol). 

        As mentioned in the first paragraph, I wish the ending was a bit better. I think it had a lot of potential to be continued further and expanded on. I think the ending could have been filled with more resolution to the entire story rather than on this cliffhanger (almost). I even think they could have had Seju explain how his game works, how he managed to come back from his game, and how he will be able to bring Yoo Jin Woo back. I wish they expanded on it more. I think if the ending was more fleshed out, this would definitely be more enjoyable. 

Hi Bye Mama

Episodes: 16

Synopsis: Cha Yuri died five years ago after the birth of her child. In her ghost form, she lingered around her husband and child watching over them. She watched her daughter grow up without her and watched her husband remarry. One day the gods took pity on Cha Yuri and allowed her to become human again--but only for 49 days. She would be able to permanently stay human if she is able to win back her place as her husband's wife and as her daughter's mother. However, things have changed. Do people continue living forward despite her sudden reappearance or will she be able to take back what once belonged to her? And does it even belong to her at this point? 

Review:

I enjoyed this drama a lot. I think the interactions and story-line are so real and unique at the same time. I'm sure we all have asked our significant other the question of whether they'll move on if we were to pass away. This was an interesting take on that question. There were many things I appreciated about this drama: 

        - Their take on PTSD and grief--there are struggles in letting go of a particularly painful past. 

        - The way they don't make the new wife a bad person. She did come after the wife's death and brought great joy and normalcy into Yuri's husband's and child's life. Throughout the drama, they kept stressing that fairytales always make stepmothers evil. But what about those that are not? I also enjoyed the take on motherhood. Yes, Cha Yuri is Seo Woo's mom and always will be. However, Oh Min Jung played the role of a mother and deserves that title just as equally if not more so. 

       - The strength of female friendships 

        - The realization that one should appreciate life while they are still living it 

This was very relaxing and comforting to watch for some reason. I really enjoyed it. I also thought the child actor was so adorable. Fun fact -- apparently the actor for Seo Woo is actually a boy and he was cast because he looked a lot like Kim Tae Hee. I think they did a great job casting of this role, and that the actor did an amazing job. Seo Woo was so likable for this child's role. I also think this was a befitting role for Kim Tae Hee (and the other actors) as well. It was just really comfortable to watch. 

Itaewon Class

Episodes: 16

Synopsis: This drama focuses on Park Saeroyi, a righteous young man who refuses to be anything but straightforward. His life gets turned around after he is expelled from school for punching a bully, his father is killed in a car accident, and he is forced to carry the weight of knowing who did not pay for their crime. After coming out of prison for assault, he decides to open up a pub called DanBam in hopes of taking on the Jangga corporation. With the help of an interesting group of characters -- a smart sociopathic girl, a biracial Korean, an ex-gangster, and a transgender chef, Park Saeroyi begins to rise in the food industry. A true story of how revenge takes time and that bad karma can always be manifested and delivered to those who deserve it.

Review

I watched this drama as there were a lot of people hyping it up. In fact, a few of my friends have recommended it to me saying that they were currently watching it as well and that they enjoyed it. Unfortunately, I did not enjoy it. A big part of the reason is the fact that most of the characters in this drama are unlikable and very shady. I spent most of the drama stressed out, frustrated, and angry. I found it hard to invest in the characters as many were inconsistent and unlikable. The characters that I did enjoy were either too rigid or too in the background. 

       Saeroyi felt so unrealistic about how rigid he was. I hated all the love interests in this drama because I felt none of the girls were particularly likable. There were many unrealistic aspects that threw me off in the drama such as: how poorly Saeroyi ran his pub when he first opened (a lot of the stuff seemed like common sense, but they needed to introduce Jo Yi Seo to the business somehow), how Saeroyi thought his pub could grow to tackle on a recognized and giant food industry, and how he actually managed to succeed. It jumped a lot so we never truly saw the process for success. While it was satisfying to see DanBam climb up the food hierarchy, it felt like things were too easy. I feel like characters such as Hyunyi, Toni, and Choi Seung Kwon were the most enjoyable to watch. However, we saw so little of them...especially Toni. I know many stressed how nice it was to see diversity in the Korean drama, especially as he acted as someone biracial and was highlighting the stigma he experiences of not being recognized as Korean. However, it felt like he wasn't on screen that often and the acting was subpar. The best acting in this drama has got to be from Jang Dae Hee...it gave me chills, and at the end, he confused me as to how I should treat him because I actually felt bad for him.  

            Also real talk: the hair was not a vibe in this drama...especially for the main leads.

I do want to commend the drama for a few things: 

- Their OSTs were very catchy 

- Their focus on issues such as transgenders in Korea and foreigners with Korean heritage in Korea -- it targetted a lot of discriminatory practices that occur, and it provided a good perspective on those individuals. It made you like those characters more and feel thankful they had DanBam to call their home. (I will never forgive what Geunsoo did to Hyunyi in episode 12) 

Tune in For Love (Movie)

Synopsis and Review:

        This movie tells the poorly timed love story between Hyun Woo and Mi Soo. They first meet in the 1990s. Mi Soo works at a bakery with her mother-like figure/friend Eun Ja. Hyun Woo just got out of a juvenile prison center after being found guilty of his classmate's accidental death and begins to work at the bakery alongside the two women. The three become close friends but separate when Hyun Woo's past catches up with him and he leaves the bakery. Years later, Hyun Woo and Mi Soo unexpectedly meet one another. However, the time they were able to spend together was only for one night as Hyun Woo heads off to military service. 

        During the two years, Mi Soo sends Hyun Woo numerous emails to an account that she failed to give Hyun Woo a password for. She hoped he would one day figure out the password and reunite with her.  At this point, Mi Soo begins to pursue a career in writing and Eunja marries a single-father and begins to run a noodle shop. Lives are not what they have hoped it would be. Despite many poorly timed parts to their love story, they eventually are able to reunite. As they fall in love despite the gaps in their relationship, the two learn to trust, love, and grow together. 

        This was a very cute movie. It was simple and made you nostalgic for a time that you weren't a part of. I found many scenes very aesthetic -- such as the rain scene while they sat at their bakery. The cinematography was great. However, I did find the romance to be fairly unrealistic. They never truly had a long-term relationship considering the time they did spend together was so short and the gaps in their relationship were so long. When I was watching this with my boyfriend, we both questioned the likelihood of two individuals both remaining single and waiting for the other person despite the story being told in almost five years of time.

The story was cute but I feel like it didn't do anything beyond and above. I think a big part of my failure to be invested in their relationship despite the movie being about their relationship is because of the many gaps in their relationship. However, interestingly, I did appreciate the talks of not being in a satisfying job or not feeling good about oneself when comparing to others. It definitely shows how it takes time to grow and develop ourselves. That everyone's timing is different and success isn't measured on the same scale for everyone. It did make me think about the ways we often associate productivity/prestige to success at school or work...but that is definitely me thinking deeper than what this movie was showing. 

Hotel Del Luna

Episodes: 16

Synopsis: 

Hotel Del Luna is a fancy hotel located in Myeongdong, Seoul. However, despite being open, no guests seem to reside there. This is because all of their clients are ghosts. In fact, Hotel Del Luna acts as a resting stop for ghosts before they move on to the afterlife. Jang Man Wol is the CEO of the hotel, and she is tethered to Hotel Del Luna and forced to cater to the dead due to a huge sin she committed a millennium ago when she was still human. Her grudge toward those who harmed her then and her bitterness toward life force her to live a life tied to the hotel. With the help of the deities, Jang Man Wol meets Gu Chan Sung's father and makes a deal with him. He is allowed to safely return home to his son but his child would have to come work for her after 20 years. This child, Gu Chan Sung, grew up to be a righteous, sincere young man who works as a hotelier. He comes back to South Korea after his father's death to be an assistant manager at a well-known hotel corporation, only to find Jang Man Wol is awaiting his arrival to come work as the manager of Hotel Del Luna. As Gu Chan Sung gets used to the strange line of work he is engaged in, he also teaches Jang Man Wol to do more good for those who have passed away and to also face her fears and grudges. 

Review: 

        I loved this drama so much! This is by far one of my top favorite dramas that I watched in 2019. This drama reminded me of Goblin in many ways as it deals with the same questions of what life is like after death, the same concept of a character tethered to the mortal world for thousands of years due to a grudge/sin, and the ways in which we can learn how to let go and find peace in ourselves. I also cried so much at the ending (so much more than I expected to).

Some things I liked:
- IU's acting as Jang Man Wol was so impressive. She was sassy, emotional, deeply sad, cold, hilarious, serious, etc all at once. I was very pleased with the wide range and depth she provided with this role. I have also read many reports that she enjoyed this drama a lot more than some previous drama roles she had.
- I think Yeo Jin Goo is great at recognizing how much he needs to act and how he has to act. In fact, his crying scenes really hit differently. It's crazy how I watched him when he was a child actor in dramas like "Iljimae" and "The Moon Embraces the Sun" to him now acting in mature lead roles as such.
- The ghost stories were very entertaining to watch as each told a story. It definitely feels less scary when you have Jang Man Wol explaining things or assisting along the way. I definitely was more invested in the three main ghosts that worked at Hotel Del Luna. Most of my tears were for them.
- I do question how Gu Chan Sung resumed normal life after Jang Man Wol. I know he is a mature, reasonable, and strong-willed character in this drama. But it seems close to impossible to move on from a connection he shared with Jang Man Wol.
- I feel like Jang Man Wol and Gu Chan Sung had great chemistry as friends but it did feel a bit awkward when they turned romantic. I can't quite put my finger on it...but their chemistry and compatibility were amazing in scenes when they're engaged in deep conversation or are joking together.
- I loved the ways in which it showed different soulmate connections and also the ill-fated ones. I loved the way it depicted life, death, and so forth. It was very comforting.
- Cried so much during the last two episodes

Romance is a Bonus Book

Episodes: 16

Synopsis:

Kang Dani is a newly divorced stay-at-home mom. With many years not being in the workforce, she struggles to find a job with a lack of recent experience and intense job competition. In a desperate attempt, she hides away her prestigious education and previous work experience and applies for an internship position at a book publishing company where her childhood friend, Cha Eun Ho, works as a senior editor. Cha Eun Ho does what he can to support his friend as she seeks to find her sense of self and become more independent. He helps her at work in ways he can, lets her room at his home, and takes care of her during hardships. It is during this time that Kang Dani feels more confident in what she can accomplish on her own and also where she finally starts to realize that the person who has truly loved her had been around her all this time. 

Review:

This is a long-overdue review, especially considering I watched this a year ago. I have rewatched this a few times and have recommended this drama to many friends during this time period. I think this is a great drama to watch because it involves healthy communication, strong female friendships, independent characters, and also interesting takes on the family vs. career question women constantly face when they join the workforce. The characters were all very likable and this drama somehow managed to give them all enough depth for you to understand their motives, their personality, and what really makes them unique from another character in the drama. Since I cannot speak to the small details as clearly, I will list a few things that I genuinely enjoyed in this drama in terms of what it has to offer (in no particular order)

1. It makes me want to work in a book publishing industry. It dived into small details such as what happens when printing goes wrong, the amount of teamwork that goes into it, and the ways in which the book industry is constantly shifting to keep up with a device-driven world.

2. It makes you analyze what decisions are meant for you. There was one very touching scene where three women in the office got together to look back on the decisions they made: whether it is sacrificing a career for love, sacrificing love for a career, or not sacrificing either but losing oneself to family/work/responsibilities. The way it goes in-depth shows the complexity of what a woman will face as they move into the future, and it also shows how all the sacrifices are not fulfilling at the end of the day with so many other considerations such as personality differences, gender roles, the person you are with or not with, etc.

3. Strong female role models. Normally, we find ourselves disliking women who are interested in the same men BUT you actually see how their lives are more than just liking one person. They are able to accept the reality and move on gracefully AS WELL AS excel in the job they are doing with great professionalism. You can see this in Song Hae Rin's character. You can even see it in other female characters in this drama as they all try to strive to be better versions of themselves.

4. Character growth in many characters -- you can see growing confidence, responsibility, and maturity in not just the main characters but also the side characters

5. The relationship between Kang Dan I and Cha Eun Ho was very natural and sweet. It had just enough to be realistic yet also unrealistic (because it is still a drama haha). It's also a great contrast to what Dan I's relationship was like with her previous husband, who was stifling her in so many ways

6. Beautiful cinematography throughout

7. Shows that romance is multifaceted -- can be beautiful but there will always be hardships in life

8. There is a plot hole though! Kang Dan I has a daughter that goes to school abroad. However, we only hear of this child in the beginning when she is requesting tuition and medical fees. Her daughter had like one phone call in the beginning. However, as the drama went on, we seem to forget that Kang Dan I is a mother and it seems like she did too.

All in all, watch it! Things resolve themselves easily, great character depth, good plot! It is not frustrating drama but also a drama that can make you feel many things!

Crash Landing on You

Episodes: 16

Synopsis: 

This drama follows the story of Yoon Seri, a South Korean Chaebol heiress, and Ri Jeong Hyuk, a North Korean soldier from an elite family. After a natural disaster and Yoon Se Ri disappears during a paragliding event, people did not expect her to have ended up in North Korea. Through using threats against Ri Jeong Hyuk and his soldiers of not protecting their area well and allowing her trespass into the country, Yoon Seri finds herself living at Ri Jeong Hyuk's home and well-protected while figuring out how to get back to South Korea. The two fall in love and go through many hurdles together both in North Korea and South Korea.

Review:

      I ugly-cried during this drama and went on an ultimate emotional rollercoaster. One minute I'll be laughing and another minute I'd be crying. It really hit me hard in the feelings in so many scenes, especially as things picked up from episode 10 onward. One thing I do want to mention is that this drama reminds me of Rooftop Prince. Instead of time travel separating the couple, we have a border separating Yoon Seri and Ri Jeong Hyuk. The three soldiers and the spy under Ri Jeong Hyuk's command also remind me of the little time travel squad in Rooftop Prince, especially in the scenes when they arrived in South Korea. This drama's army squad had more of a voice than the characters did in Rooftop Prince. I really liked that they all had their own strengths and flaws, and that the writers took the time out to strengthen the friendships between Seri/Jeong Hyeok and them on individual levels such as: letting the kdrama fanboy character meet his favorite actress Kwon Ji Won, having a big brother-little sister bullying relationship with one of the other characters, making clothes for them, and so forth. These characters also played to their own strengths as well, such as the spy utilizing his spy knowledge and skill to help out Seri and Jeong Hyuk. Another important thing I want to mention before diving into the details is that I'm really appreciative of many Korean dramas steering away from unhealthy love triangles and causing unnecessary tension between characters. For a period of time, Korean dramas used to use the love triangle trope in every drama and would portray one person as vulnerable and good, while the other as a homewrecker and a b*tch. It's not the most realistic trope and it is also quite frustrating to watch. Nowadays, a lot of dramas either have ditched the love triangle idea completely or have created love triangle dynamics where all three individuals involved are rational, empathetic, and willing to grow in other ways. 

      I want to start with the character of Seo Dan before I touch on the main leads. Seo Dan is a side character who is seemingly very cold and emotionless. As we get to know her and her pains of an unrequited love toward Ri Jeong Hyuk, we see that she has a soft side she hides behind a tough exterior. Her calmness despite feeling anxious and panicked makes viewers like her more in comparison to making her a character who is b*tchy and domineering toward Ri Jeong Hyuk. Her reasons for not wanting to let go and rationalizing why he didn't love her when she was in his life first was very understandable. It made viewers empathetic toward her, especially as she learned to let go and interact with the love interest meant for her. Now while, Seung Jun, the eventual love interest of Seo Dan, is a very complex character with a sad background--I found the ending so brutally harsh for Seo Dan. She has such bad luck with love, and the one time she felt appreciated and had her feelings reciprocated, it got taken away from her. Her internal strength really showed at the end as she remained on her own but it seemed really unfair for a girl like her. Likewise, I found Seung Jun's decisions to enter Seo Dan's life without realistic plans of actually being able to be with her a bit selfish. The more you watch, the more you realize that Seo Dan is pretty naive despite putting on a cold front. So if Seung Jun tells her that he loves her when she's interested, she would 100% put her all into the relationship up till the very end. Thus, I found Seung Jun selfish as he knew he wasn't safe to stay in North Korea or South Korea, and yet made so many promises of coming back for her one day and so forth. Seo Dan might have already been stuck on him by then but I feel like it'd be harder for her to move on when she knows that they had talked about this promise of him coming back one day for her. His last thoughts as a character involved with the idea of feeling sad and happy that someone would be crying for him and thinking of him. In my opinion, it's really not fair to Seo Dan and she really did deserve better--whether it's having her happily ever after with Seung Jun or moving on to find something better for herself. The girl just wanted to be loved!! But also our secondary relationship between Seo Dan and Seung Jun was very fun to watch as they shared a lot of chemistry in the bits and pieces of screentime that they got...which is very impressive since I was also very emotionally invested in their ending.

           As for our main leads, the chemistry was pretty good. I think there was a healthy balance of comedy, drama, and emotional scenes (especially since the little army squad was so funny). I really enjoyed the relationship dynamic between Jeong Hyuk and Seri but I got to say Jeong Hyuk really be risking it all for Seri. He puts his life on the line again and again. Maybe that's why I like their relationship dynamic so much because it gives me unrealistic expectations of men and of love. But honestly, that's what makes life fun---the unrealistic expectations (haha). I did find some scenes toward the end unrealistic. I genuinely don't think that they would've ever met again. I can also understand why they had to go back to North Korea because they have responsibilities toward their own families and so forth. But I feel like once they are back, Seri would not be reunited with Jeong Hyuk. Likewise, the last few interactions via Jeong Hyuk's pre-written texts for Seri made me very grateful that long-distance relationships will never be as bad as a North Korea-South Korea LDR (LOL). It was also great casting for this drama, especially since they have these big-shot actors playing in the main leads. They also have an impressive cast in this drama that has previously featured in dramas and films such as When the Camellia Blooms, Romance is a Bonus Book, Parasite, and so forth. There was also quite a few cameos from big names as well -- Kwon Ji Won appeared as one of the NK soldier's favorite Korean drama actress and even performed a hilarious and nostalgic scene tying to Stairway to Heaven (a really old drama lol). Kim Soo Hyun also cameoed as North Korean defector, and I think he did a great job in highlighting the struggles of being North Korean in South Korea. His scraggly appearance also reminded me of his character from Dream High (haha).

        I also liked the separate clips at the end of each episode that provided more depth to the story. I feel like character development is insane for all the characters. None of them are truly unlikable except for maybe the main antagonist that was obsessed with tearing down Ri Jeong Hyuk. I really enjoyed this drama, I wouldn't go into this expecting a very realistic drama. That's because the entire set-up is like a classic kdrama setup to allow you to have unrealistic expectations. First of all, it is based in North Korea which in general we all know little about. It involves an unlikely romance that crosses borders and even has a hint of fate being involved. The girl survives a typhoon and winds up alive in North Korea (how?) There's a lot of action scenes where the main characters just do not die. There are unlikely reunions throughout the drama, and unwavering loyalty to one another despite not knowing each other for long. We got a chaebol-heiress/entrepreneur as one of the characters and the Captain of the guard from an elite North Korean family on the other end. It's not meant to be a realistic drama but it is extremely entertaining and satisfying to watch. I felt like the first half was about world setting and getting us invested in the relationship, and the second half was when everything was truly kicking off. Toward the second half, I missed the first half. But when I was first watching the beginning few episodes I found it slow at times. But when I finished the drama, I found myself watching those beginning episodes again. 

Also, important to know is that North Korean defectors in real life helped give advice for this drama. In many ways, this drama was highlighting North Korean societies in ways we haven't had a chance to see before. They also didn't make North Korea seem evil but rather portrayed them in a more positive light despite being extremely behind in cultural and technological advancements & despite the political environment.

Overall, highly recommend. I really enjoyed it. Here's some scenes and episodes that I liked the most: 

Ep 10 - Man Bok's apology about being part of the brother's death - his guilt made me cry 

Ep 12- The village ladies helping each other out, reunion with the North Korean army in South Korea, watching them be shook at the world of South Korea, the birthday scene

Ep 13-By far the best episode, a lot to unpack-- North Korean kids buying things with her black card -- so cute and funny such as the jeans scene; Hyeok getting jealous of Seri dating guys before; Kwon Ji Won scene; epic fight scene and the scene of them running up to Seri bleeding makes me so sad
The frenemy character makes me so happy b/c he's such a big brother character -- always bullying her but with a soft heart too 

Ep 14- the intimacy of the hug when she wakes up and the way the guy friends rushed to see her

the spy putting spy devices to check on her while she was at the hospital -- everyone playing to their own strengths, distinct characters

Foods to try in Seoul, Korea!

This past summer I went to Seoul, Korea for a week to visit my childhood best friend! Here are some food pics (unfortunately couldn't share all of them). But please let me know if you visit any and let me know of any cool places as well that I can go to when I visit again next time! Yay food places!

Foods to Try

             

• Try fine dining! The picture on the left is from when I went to Ondabile. It's not crazily priced but it definitely gives you the fancy setting that makes you feel beautiful. I want to recommend this because I had a great time there but after recent google searches, it appears it has closed. But I'm not sure how accurate that information is so please look into this further if you want to try! The address is: South Korea, Seoul, Yongsan-gu, Hannam-dong, 28-2 B2
• Street food is a must-try! You can find them in many shopping areas or tourist locations. This picture was taken at Myeongdong and the women running the stand appeared in every one of my friend's stories when they visited. 

• The pink drink on the left can be found in almost all convenience stores in Korea (the most common one I saw being CU Convenience store). There are many amazing drinks from grape juices to teas but this is ALCOHOLIC!!! We all know the standard soju drinks from Korean dramas but this is a peach drink with 2% alcohol. It's very light but be careful to not buy this for your children-- it's definitely a great treat if you're of age though! 
• The drinks on the right are absolutely delicious as well. They are from the Style Nanda Pool Cafe in Myeongdong. Matcha is a go-to if you want to play it safe but I loved the hibiscus drink!

                  

• Line Cafe drinks! - located within the Line Friends Store 
• Yoogane Chicken Galbi - Myeongdong  - this was so delicious and there are many different chains that make amazing dak galbi! You just got to find it! 

• Insadong Korean Art Street has a lot of street food. These are just some examples such as sikhye (rice drink) and squid! I personally really liked Insadong because I love when there are a lot of food stands and mini restaurants/cafes all around. It's a lot of fun. The poop cafe is located here as well as dragon beard candy!! I bought two boxes of dragon beard candy and that is another must-try! 

• My hotel was located in Gangnam and here were just some amazing food places that were walking distance. One is the Kakao store which has the Kakao cafe inside. I absolutely love Apeach so I went to town as you can see. 
• Then there was this ramen place called Maru Ichi - they have single stalls where you can eat ramen and it cost around $10 USD so it was pretty worth. It's not very Korean but it was comforting and light for when I was jet-lagged. 
• Tanghulu - This classic Chinese treat is typically made with Hawthornes. However, in Korea, they put their spin on it and they use strawberries. It's a bit too sweet for my taste and can get sticky since strawberries are very juicy compared to hawthorns. But it was definitely quite an experience! I don't recall where I saw this but a lot of street markets sell them and it's not hard to find! 
• More ddukbokki - did you really go to Korea if you didn't have ddukbokki? This was located near my hotel in Gangnam as well and it is a chain throughout Korea selling cheap and fast food. You can get ddukbokki and kimbap here. It's called Kimbap Heaven! 
• Dkore- this place was probably one of my favorite meals in Korea. Their kimchi jigae was addicting and I couldn't stop eating despite being full. Please go here and eat at this amazing place! It tastes amazing! 

                

There's obviously a lot more that was consumed. But finding food in South Korea is the least of your worries! There is amazing food everywhere and you can make a meal out of anything -- from restaurants to cafes to convenience stores!

When the Camellia Blooms

                                                

Episodes: 20

Synopsis:

This is a thriller following the story of Oh Dong Baek, a single mother who is running a bar called Camellia. Oh Dong Baek is an attractive, timid, and soft-spoken woman trying to make a living to raise her young son in the fictional town of Ongsan. Unfortunately, she spends a few years getting bullied by the locals as she is judged for being a single mother, for running a bar, and for subconsciously attracting the men in the town with her beauty. Six years after she moved to the town, she meets Yong Sik. He is a simple-minded man with a passion for justice. Upon meeting Dong Baek and watching her stand up for herself, he falls for her and begins to pursue her. He defends her from the aunties that look down on her, encourages Dong Baek to be confident, and attempts to be there for her son. As the two begin to fall in love, they are also faced with great opposition from many people in the town and outside of the town. Dong Baek's ex-boyfriend and the father of her child also begins to reconnect with Dong Baek as he finds out about the existence of his son. As Yong Sik fights against many odds to be with Dong Baek, he also works relentlessly to protect Dong Baek from a notorious serial killer that has decided to name Dong Baek as his next victim. 

Review:

        This drama is very addicting and well-made. I couldn't stop watching once I started. The character of Oh Dong Baek greatly intrigued me as she wasn't weak because of her timidity, and her softness actually provided validity to when she would stand up against injustice. I loved her relationship with her eight-year-old son and her son definitely made me very emotional by how mature and defensive he is toward life and toward his mother. There were some interesting themes as well. For instance, one was that it doesn't matter how perfectly constructed your life appears on social media or from an outsider's perspective, happiness can only be felt from the inside. This showed a lot in Kang Jong Ryul's social media-obsessed wife. It also showed in the way Dong Baek and the villagers' lives were actually very happy, wholesome, and simple despite not making much. The family that the town created to protect one another and make sure Dong Baek was okay toward the end was heartwarming. It made me really appreciate the importance of family and friendship, and how it is never the materialistic things in life that matter. Likewise, it also showed that forgiveness is needed to move on in life (along with confidence, happiness, and so forth). Dong Baek always had a grudge against her mother who abandoned her at a young age. However, it takes episodes and a lot of time to reconcile a relationship that both wanted to mend. It also took time to fully understand the reasoning for the "abandonment," and it was refreshing to have Dong Baek finally let go of her resentment. It did get frustrating with how many times Dong Baek guilt-tripped the poor woman about leaving her as a child BUT I have to acknowledge that that must have been a traumatic experience for a child to go through and that we are viewing this situation from the lenses of an adult who already knows that Dong Baek ends up okay and why the mother did what she did back then. 

              As for the romance side of this drama, I loved the character of Hwang Yong Sik. He is so simple-minded, wholesome, and devoted. He is actually a dream man, even if he appears like a country bumpkin in some regards. However, he treats Dong Baek so genuinely and works so hard to protect her. In that sense, I was in love with watching him court her and wait for her. His patience, love, dedication, and loyalty was unwavering throughout the entire series. It was a pleasure watching the two warm up to each other and go through many hurdles. They did not give off a light-hearted, cutesy couple vibe but rather a much more mature and contentful vibe. I think a big part of that is to play into the idea that this is the love story between two adults, one who is also a single mother. It was also nice to see Yong Sik play a role in Kang Pil Gu (the kid)'s life because a lot of dramas that involve kids tend to forget and cast aside the child for the sake of the romance. This drama made sure to have Pilgu as a strong component as to whether this relationship worked and how it would work. I really appreciated that aspect and I liked how the adults worked hard to try to understand and make the child feel as comfortable as possible. It was also nice to see that they didn't make the ex-boyfriend out to be an awful person but rather someone that regrets many things in his past, wants to be a better person and tries to make up for it in ways that may not actually be helpful. It was very easy to empathize with many characters in this story. 

             I am a bit conflicted about the thriller side of this drama. The serial killer that was constantly threatening and scaring Dong Baek throughout the series definitely gave this drama thrill and it greatly intrigued me to keep watching. However, it also gave me a lot of anxiety because I hate the ideals of the "joker" in this story. He writes these things to random women and individuals telling them to stop being a joke, but he doesn't have a basis for any of it. A clear example of this, outside of Dong Baek, is Hyang Mi. She seems to be a very flirtatious individual who uses uncomfortable situations to her advantage. She doesn't know her boundaries and tends to steal small things from customers, such as their lighters. In many regards, she would be a perfect candidate for the joker to murder. However, you empathize with her greatly as you realize that no one deserves the right to judge another's life based on what it appears like on the outside. You learn about her motives in life and her struggles and pains. And I think that was a good perspective to add to the series to further invalidate the role the serial killer had and also have us, as an audience, be more upset as to why certain people were targetted and judged for small things. In a way, it is a reminder to us to be better people and to be less judgemental. 

            I didn't fully like how it was resolved in my opinion. Toward the end, it was pretty obvious who the killer was in my opinion. And I think that for all individuals involved, it was such an easy way to resolve and catch the criminal. I feel like there's a stronger sense of anger and injustice, and I wished that I could've seen the ultimate punishment be delivered. However, I do not mind the resolution we received in this drama. And one more thing I liked: this drama was edited very beautifully and I loved the way the story dives into the past and future throughout the episodes allowing for a more in-depth understanding of all that is happening and of all that will happen. 

           All in all, great drama! Highly recommend! You can find this on Netflix. 

Love Alarm

Episodes: 8 

Synopsis:

This short drama is about a world/society where you can no longer hide your feelings for someone. There is an app that has become the center of everyone's lives called "Love Alarm." It syncs with your heart and will notify the person you like that they have an admirer within a 10-meter radius around them. It changed the way people confess, date, get married, and so forth. This story follows around three characters that become very disenchanted with the idea of wearing their hearts on their sleeves. 

Review: 

       I saw a lot of hype on Youtube and the internet about this drama. I think a big part of that hype is that this drama is available on Netflix, which makes it easier for many populations to watch this drama or come across. Likewise, it is very short and quick to get through--targetting some of the main things that cliche Korean dramas go for: the poor female lead, the rich and arrogant male lead, the unselfish and loving second lead, and a lot of love drama. I really wanted to get into this drama and enjoy the fanmade videos online, and I wanted to also just relax and enjoy a standard/stereotypical Korean drama with the added twist of the "Love Alarm." 

         Unfortunately, I did not enjoy this drama. I feel that 8 episodes were too short to allow the audience to really get into it. It didn't even build the world and society very well considering it kind of reflected a Black Mirror-Esque dystopia. I wasn't sure how this love alarm really synced with your heart (did technology get that advanced by this time that feelings can be converted digitally? How was the app created? Why do people make a big deal about it if it is an app you can choose to download/not download?)

           I also did not enjoy any of the characters. I thought Kim Jojo was pretty shady for leading people on (even if their love alarm doesn't sound--that is still playing with a person's emotions). She consistently led her ex-boyfriend on from the first two episodes despite actively knowing she wasn't interested in him, was avoiding him, and was even kissing Sun Oh when she was still in a relationship. It just made her character seem kind of sleazy. It did mention in the first episode that the kiss between her and Sun Oh didn't mean anything because it was a "kiss without feelings." However, it really doesn't matter as much whether there were feelings present or not. It's just hard to watch when it was only the first episode and I wasn't attached to her or empathetic towards her. It also made me despise Sun Oh's character. Everyone is so caught up on the fact that the actor is a beautiful man...but the character he's playing, I'm sorry I cannot. He just seemed like he wasn't approaching Kim Jojo with the right intentions. It seemed that he was trying to keep his hyung to himself and that he was being selfish above all else. He seemed to be playing around with everyone around him. So it was really hard for me to see them act awkward around each other and flirt with one another after that incident. Like...I thought it was a kiss with no feelings? Then move on with your life? 

          But of course not.

          This is a Kdrama, and they end up dating. 

           I could not take their relationship seriously. I did not like the dynamics they had. I couldn't feel the chemistry very well. I have watched Kim So Hyun act in numerous dramas since she was a child actress--but her role in this drama was a huge disservice to her acting abilities. Everything felt stunted and a little too dramatic for my liking. And none of the characters were that likable! And I hated the way their society stressed so much on how the Love Alarm was harming people and hurting people who weren't getting liked. It just seemed so extreme with so little context about the world that they live in, how this app took hold, and then the context and influence it holds. 

             The second lead Hye Yeong aka Sun Oh's Hyung was probably the best character in this drama. He was genuine and the ultimate perfect package in that he is willing to wait for Kim Jojo, he takes his time to truly understand her, supports her decision when she decides to be with Sun Oh, and doesn't judge her through all the low points in her life. I think he honestly deserved better than to be pining for a girl that can't get over arrogant/narcissistic Sun Oh. 

All in all, this drama has shady characters with shady morals and a bad plotline/poor world-building. I do not recommend this drama to anyone...unless you're just curious.  

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.

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.