Bride of the Century

       

Episodes: 16 

Synopsis:

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

Review:

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

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

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

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

The Night Watchman

Episodes: 24 

Given Synopsis (viki.com):

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

Review: 

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

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

I Need Romance 3

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

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

Hot Young Blood

MOVIE

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

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

It's Okay, That's Love

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

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

The Greatest Love

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

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

God's Gift-14 days

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

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


The answer is NO.

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