She Was Pretty

She Was Pretty

Review

This drama was a foreseen pleasure. If any one watched the epic "Kill Me Heal Me" drama, you might have had a case of second lead syndrome between Park Seo Joon and Hwang Jung Eum. These two have impeccable chemistry and ability to play with the odd ball characteristics developed in their characters. I was so excited for this drama to come out. It seemed as if it would be hilarious from the trailers and it was. Though I knew I'd enjoy it, I appreciate how much effort and time they put into character, and story development. Over all every aspect was satisfying.

The Story revolves around Kim Hye Jin played Hwang Jung Eum, and Ji Sung- Joon played by Park Seo Joon. Developing a friendship during their child hood years, these two are thrust back into each others lives when Ji Sung-Joon returns to South Korea to be "The-Most" magazines deputy editor. While Kim Hye Jin remembers her portly  childhood friend, Ji Sung-Joon has become an incredibly handsome, successful man who is nothing like the introvert boy she knew. Seeing him from a far, Kim Hye Jin becomes nervous and decides that she doesn't actually want to meet her old friend because she is nothing like the girl he used to know. A beautiful, poised, calm rich girl. Now she is a wild haired, rosacea cheeked, manic, nervous, broke woman who hasn't reached any level of success yet. Instead, Kim Hye Jin chooses to send her best friend Min Ha Ri, played by Go Joon-Hee perpetrate as herself. Unfortunately for both Kim Hye Jin and Min Ha Ri, KHJ's new position is working for under Ji Sung-Joon, who is an absolute tyrant in the work place. This scenario launches us into a whirlwind of lies, self-discovery, drunkenness, and overall good drama fun.

The characters of Min Ha Ri, and Kim Shin-Hyuk played by Choi Siwon are fabulous second leads. Min Ha Ri is a rich girl who has never been in love before, dealing with the scars of her broken home due to her mom leaving her. While she is her fathers daughter, there is a step-mother who has become a wedge between an idyllic family life. Kim Shin-Hyuk is a talented reporter, who is often goofy and plays tricks on his co-workers. He develops a close friendship with Kim Hye Jin, affectionately nicknaming her Jackson. The relationship between Kim Shin-Hyuk and Kim Hye Jin will make you develop a case of second lead syndrome. 

Over all this show had outrageous characters that said the most precocious things. The show is filled with friendship goals, and relationship goals. It's a multifaceted love story which address, love of a significant other, love between friends, and love of self. 

What I enjoyed most about this show was that even though Kim Hye Jin's character was manic and over the top, making me annoyed and uncomfortable often, the writers always made her stay true to herself. Her character never stops being goofy, never stops having manic reactions to life concern or worries. This show does an excellent job of portraying that for one to really find true love in this world, one needs to be exactly who they are. Over all I give this show 4.5 out of 5 stars. I loved it!

Secret Love Affair Review

I have a confession. I am a person who judges everything by it's cover. I judge books, movies, foods etc, all by their covers. I am sure that I have missed out on more than one enjoyable experience due to this horrible habit of mine. Case in point "Secret Love Affair." Apart of  me is glad that I didn't discover this drama until I was hard up for something to watch, but I have to say I freaking loved this drama! It was incredible! I laughed, I mostly bawled, I enjoyed classical music, I learned that there was such a thing as piano porn. Over all it was an amazing experience I missed out on having sooner because I didn't like the poster of the drama. Silly, I know. 

First we have to talk about these phenomenal characters written by Jung Sung-Joo. Who just so happened to write another drama I judged by the cover "Heard It Through the Grapevine". The story is about Oh Hye-Won played by Kim Hee-Ae. She is an all round gofer for her abusive in-laws. She is married to a less than competent musical professor who is in search of a prodigy to compete with a rival professor. Oh Hye-Won has an amazing ear for piano and she is was probably a prodigy in her own right. She sold her self out in order to become someone "successful" in the musical world. She didn't have the means or the resources to accomplish studying abroad without borrowing money from her boyfriends family and she has been an indentured servant ever since. Oh Hye-Won is what I would call one classy broad. Her hair is always perfect, her clothes are to die for, and she has this flawless grace and elegance even in the most chaotic times. Such as when her mother in law is trying to flush her step-daughters head in the toilet. (That is in the first episode by the way) She speaks softly, she's direct and she gets everyone's dirty business done! That is until she has amazing piano sex with Lee Sun Jae portrayed by the gorgeous Yoo Ah-In.

Yoo Ah-In is a young man from the other side of the tracks. Fortunately for him he had a piano in his house and he developed his incredible talent on his own. Working as a delivery courier, he finds his way in a university where he finds a beautiful piano that he can't seem to fight the impulse of playing. His playing puts everyone in a disarray because he could've inadvertently sabotaged the schools prodigy's performance. As the episodes progress we learn that Lee Sun Jae is an impeccable human being. Minus the the whole, stealing someone else's (contract) spouse. Sun Jae is sweet and naive, but in away that upholds his integrity. He is an example of someone who is completely open to loving someone for who they are. He doesn't really have a filter, and everything he says is truthful. The power of Yoo Ah-In's acting is that he is able to portray a range of emotions of his face that leaves his audience breathless. The visceral pain that you feel when looking at his face as his character experiences loss is incredible. Every emotion whether happiness, anger, hurt, sadness, or longing, is portrayed to an extent that it leaves the squishy sentimental part of you gasping for air. In the other words, you'll be slaaaaaaaayed!

The combination of the these incredible actors playing these magnificent characters left me wishing that I could find someone that I had an incredible connection with. Their performance woke a sense of longing in me that I had never allowed to breathe. The longing of being loved, but  more than that, 

the longing of understanding someone through a mutual passion. The piano plays cupid and counselor in this drama.