Coffee Prince

I have a confession. It took me 7 tries before I could commit to watching this drama. I could never finish the first episode. I wanted to like it. I really, really, really wanted to like it. No matter how many times I tried, I inevitably would lose interest in the first 10 minutes. So I rallied. I thought to myself, I should skip to the 4th episode. I TRIED, but even the 4th episode was boring and I didn't have a connection to the characters. Yet, on my 8th try... I found the sweet spot. I started on the second episode and I loved!If  I am Jane, this drama is Mr.Darcy, and by the end of the 17th episode, all misunderstandings between us were far behind.

I LOVE Gong Yoo. That devilish smile, and those beautiful eyes, they draw me in before he ever utters a syllable. It was nice watching a throwback, where he was younger and had a lighter energy about him. Choi Han-Gyul is a charming playboy who is trying to escape the clutches of his grandmothers plan to marry him off.  We see him as someone who is loyal, funny, hardworking, and a temper that never really gets checked. He finds himself falling in love with his side-kick Go Eun-Chan. While he struggles to navigate his feelings for someone he thinks is a boy. We get to see the struggle, and concession he tries to make. While his emotions blow hot and cold, I found him endearing.

Go Eun-Chan is our lead girl who looks like a guy. I was really impressed by the mannerisms of Yoon Eun-Hye. She walked like a dude, her shoulders hunched like a guy, and in general, her masculine vibes were strong. There were adorable moments when I saw her being girly. I liked how she navigated her world as this confident Tom-boy. While she came to some false conclusions about how to handle her sticky romantic situation, she was enchanting.







Lee Sun Kyun was another gem. I loved how innocent on some levels he was. He was fairly honest with his feelings. He was the anchor of this show. He grounded the whole plot with his laughter and his keen insight.

I enjoyed this drama, though I did skip some parts. I liked how we get taken on a ride of emotions. I laughed, I cried a little,  and the last episode was pretty satisfying.

Goblin Review

Can we chat for a second? Is there anyone who believes that Goblin isn't one of the most poignant and sensational drama's ever created? Goblin has EVERYTHING you could want in a "build-a-drama" fantasy challenge. This show rocked my socks off, and I'm left with a gaping hole in my week, because I don't know how I should move on!

The blistering chemistry between everyone was what made this drama unique.  We got the privilege to ship two beautiful couples (no pesky second lead syndrome). First, we have the Goblin aka Kim Shin,  played by Gong Yoo. Then we have Ji Eun-Tak played by Kim Go Eun. If you haven't checked out their previous works, I encourage you to do so. These actors independently are able to portray the depth and complexity of humanity. Together, their innate talent brings out a specific charm and appeal, that could easily been over played, or over reached. Gong Yoo does a great job of portraying a warrior on a mission in the Goryeo era, he's gritty, determined, and there is a complete aura of danger about him.  Gong Yoo seamlessly transitions from that to being a charismatic, petulant, peculiar Goblin.

Kim Go Eun show a wonderfully charming young girl who navigates through life with the best of her ability. She's given no advantages, her family treats her like a modern day Cinderella, and she is bullied at school. If that isn't enough to juggle, she is also constantly pestered by ghost asking her to help them find closure. Despite her life challenges, she maintains a stubbornly positive outlook on life, while eschewing all bitterness. The period in which she is trying to confirm whether or not she's the Goblins bride, she is effervescent and down right adorable. How these two interact and get closer, begin to rely on each other, and then fall in love is k-drama magic. It's sweet, and full of hilarious misunderstandings while managing the cheese factor. Toward the end, they are staring deeply into each other's soul and viewing almost feels like an intrusion of their privacy.

 

Next up we have the Grim Reaper played by one of my favorite actors Lee Dong Wook. This character had so many layers and it was a pleasure to watch all of the facets of his personality. He was an A-Type, stick in the mud Grim Reaper hell bent on making sure things stay in a neat and orderly manner. Yet, when he encounters a brush with his past he is almost child like in his ignorance and earnestness. Finding out his past identity gives him this tragic gravity, and he emits sorrow, kindness, patience, and mystification in a way I've never seen before. This is all magnified when he interacts with stunningly beautiful Sunny.

 

This is all magnified when he interacts with stunningly beautiful Sunny.
Played by Yoo In-Ah, this woman is feisty, intelligent, quick witted, and sharp. However it's her ability to express a certain ennuyée in every singe action that left me enthralled with her character. Sunny, also reminded me a lot of the singer Sunny from SNSD (or girls generation). I don't if it was certain facial expressions or what, but there was a extra oomph for me that was reminiscent of the singer.

The Grim Reaper and Sunny's relationship was addictive. I longed for them to have more time together, and to have more in depth conversations that they weren't able to have in their first lives. Their ending was so freaking satisfying I wanted to squeeze something.

Then we have the bromance that was so sweet and cute, and Yoo Duk Hwa played by Yook Sung Jae added a specific tenderness while maintaining it's hilarity.

The real MVP's of this drama are the writer Kim Eun Sook, and director Lee Eung-Bok. The writing is exceptional and constantly surprises the audience. The director is a genius in terms of visual story telling. The way the lighting, the background, and the cinematography blended together was gorgeous. Also the OST is epic.

Over all I was a complete Babo for this drama! Def check it out if you haven't seen it, or you're contemplating.

Side Note:
One thing I had an issue with is Ji Eun Tak's age. I understand why they made it that way, but in the beginning I was def uncomfortable lol