Hello Monster/I Remember You Review

Hello Monster

 Hello Monster

Hello Monster is one of the best thrillers in K-Drama! During this show I choked on laughter, bawled my eyes out, and was ready to jump out of my skin! The level of writing and creativity this drama expresses is exceptional. There were twists and turns and much needed comic relief. 

Heavy weight actress Jang Nara portrays the classic spunky detective trying to catch her bad guy. Drop dead talented Seo In-Guk does a stellar job of being a finicky criminal profiler. The way these two interact with each other is amazing.

Photo by Noona Over Forks

Not only do they have chemistry, they show an incredible report with each other. There is so much affection and play between their interactions, it seems as though the actors genuinely had a great time filming. 

While the leads are amazing, I'd be remiss not to mention Park Bo Gum, Choi Won-Young, and Do Kyung So (D.O). These three gave chilling performances. While they were on screen I could sometimes feel the chill running down my spine. I've seen each of them in other genres and I was not prepared for how dark, and scary they could go. Their story lines were beyond amazing. Major kudo's for the writer! These characters are some of the most creative I've seen. 

Photo by dramabeans

Photo by Noona's Over Forks

This Drama left and incredible impression

on me, and I would definitely recommend it!

 

Photo By Dramabeans

   

Queen for Seven Days

Queen For Seven Days

photo by:

dewanontons.com/queen-for-seven-days-season-1/

I stumbled across this beautiful show when I was in yet, another desperate search for a drama to keep me engaged. From the very first episode I was hooked!

The show introduces two young characters navigating their lives in the valiant attempt to validate themselves to their families. 

Lee Yeok  played by the impressive child actor Baek Seung Hwan, wants to emphatically prove that he isn't after his brothers throne, while Shin Chae Kyung played by the talented Park Si-Eun wants to close the distance placed by her parents. 

These children serendipitously smack into each other and they begin a life long love affair.

photo by: 

http://www.dramabeans.com/2017/06/seven-day-queen-episode-3/

Meanwhile King Lee Yoong played by Lee Dong Gun is brutal ruler who tries to prove to his deceased father that he can be a great King. This was one of my favorite characters. He had so many elements to his personality and to his decisions. Though he was bat crazy and beyond cruel... I couldn't help but love him.

Photo by:

http://www.hellokpop.com/tv-movies/queen-for-seven-days-debuts/

Yeon Woo Jin plays the adult character of Lee Yeok, and Park Min Young plays the adult character of Shin Chae Kyung. I couldn't have asked for better chemistry. These two expressed an array of emotions and thoughts in ways that I'm not sure other actors could've done.

 All of the characters engaged with each other in heartbreaking, and funny ways. There wasn't a single episode that didn't make me cry and then laugh hysterically. As a viewer I witnessed misunderstandings, characters being manipulated,  and characters disastrous attempts of resolving issues. Yet, the dialogue expressed empathy, yearning, angst a magical way. 

I adore this drama so much. My heart got shredded to pieces every episode, but it was well worth it.
The best thing about this show was the depth each character portrayed. I couldn't hate the King because I got to understand how his brain ticked. At his cruelest moments he was trying to protect the ones he loved. Even though Lee Yeok is a great male lead, we still got to witness his character flaws, which humanized his journey from prince to King. Chae Kyung was a character we got to see grow and mature, and it was all heartbreaking!

photo by:
http://www.dramapanda.com/2017/06/queen-for-seven-days-2017.html

Photo by:

http://www.ibtimes.co.in/seven-day-queen-episodes-19-20-finale-preview-shin-chae-kyung-face-jail-time-736326

This is one of the great Saeguks along with Empress Ki. I am thankful that I found it fairly late so I could binge watch it, I can't imagine the agony of waiting week to week, but definitely would bring a box of tissues, because this drama drags you through the feels.

Strong Woman Do Bong Soon Review

Strong Woman Do Bong Soon was one hell of a ride. I laughed, I cried, and the antagonist ran chills up my spine. This drama draws you in with irresistible charm, ab aching laughter, and ice cold fear.

 Park Bo-Young lures you in with that sweet mischievous smile of hers. As her character, Do Bong Soon, tries to balance hiding her super strength powers with meting out justice. She often finds herself in interesting positions. This spunky, broke "Job Seeker" finds solace in video games, where she can be strong without hiding her identity.

Coincidentally, An Min-Hyuk played by eye candy Park Hyung-Sik, is the CEO of leading gaming company Ainsoft. These two become entangled with each other as they try to find the perpetrators messing with their individual lives.  Min-Hyuk hires Bong Song as his personal body guard and they realize they are more connected than they previously could have imagined. Their relationship quickly culminates into one of the cutest push and pulls I've ever seen.

Always playing the second lead, Ji-Soo, plays the role of  In Gook-Do. This stern character gruffly takes care of Do Bong Soon, while being completely oblivious to her infatuation with him. Though I don't get second lead syndrome with him in this drama, his earnestness is enough to melt any girls heart.

The most surprising character of all is Kim Jang-Hyun. This character was dark, creepy, and incredibly calculating. There is often a temptation to fall for his bad boy looks, but his character is just so evil and wily that you want to punch him in the face. Model turned Actor Jang Mi-Kwan delivered a wonderful performance.

Over all this drama is warm and mushy, with a surprising thrill element. The last episode is gushy, and wonderful and it's perfect for suckers who love a "Happily Ever After" Story.

Tomorrow With You

If you're ready for the craziest emotional rollercoaster of your life, watch Tomorrow With You. Heart throb Lee Je Hoon teams up with starlet Shin Min-A to deliver a mind-bending drama.

Shin Min-A plays Song Ma-Rin better known as Bap Soon. Ma-Rin tries to distance herself from the role she played when she was 10 years old, by  pursuing her dream of becoming a photographer.Though she is largely unsuccessful, due to her life seen as a cautionary tale of a child-actor,she tries to make the best out of her circumstance. 

Lee Je Hoon plays Yoo So Joon, CEO of a development company who happens to have the ability of time travel. Though his past is tragic, he navigates his life with a light charm.

When Yoo So Joon saves Song Ma-Rins life, he finds their lives are inexplicably entwined. Witnessing a tragic end to both of their lives, So Joon tries hard to manipulate the present so that the future is different.

I have to say, the episodes I watched I enjoyed. However, I got caught up in the comment section and would skip episodes to save myself some emotional angst. I also started watching this show while it was on air, and decided to wait until I knew there was a happy ending. Things were just a bit too tragic for my mental state, and I was concerned there would be a heart-rending close to the drama. I waited until the last episode was subbed, read the comments and picked up where I left off. The ending was so amazing, and even though I cried buckets of tears, it was definitely worth it.

I would recommend this drama for those who need a good cry, it's well written, and it the acting is superb.

Legend of the Blue Sea Review

Legend of the blue sea is a unique drama that seamlessly interweaves modern day reality with the melancholy legend of The Little Mermaid.
Switching between the reincarnated life of Heo Joon-Jae and his past life of as Dam Ryung, Lee Min Ho goes through great lengths to protect his one true love. Affectionately named Sim Chung, this stunning mermaid tries to navigate the modern world that is entirely different from the ocean which she is from. Jun Ji-Hyun plays this character with her special brand of physical humor that never ceases to stop me from cracking a smile. While the leads have a cute chemistry, it was the villain that saved this drama from being a predictable melodrama.

The veteran actor, Sung Dong Il gave a performance that left me with goosebumps as he delivered an eerie representation of a man feeling as though his life culminated in nothing more than punishment. Every interaction he had on screen left me with goosebumps. This role evoked fear and anxiety for the other characters that was brilliantly balanced by all of the comedic and romantic scenes.

The supporting cast gave us insight into Heo Joon-Jae's life and where his priorities in life stemmed from. For the most part they're hilarious and ridiculously self absorbed. The supporting cast that Sim Chung primarily interacts with is full of golden nuggets of wisdom we can all use.

This drama covers a range of genres from family, to crime, and last but not least romance. As much as it makes you laugh, and clutch your chest in fear, it can also make you cry. The interaction between all of the characters, the depth of loss, and the portrayal of regret also gives this drama the little oomph that's needed.

As much as I enjoyed this drama, I did skip a lot of parts. I was never completely sucked into the drama and was able to multitask other things while watching it.

If you need a cute drama, or something to pass the time with, I would def recommend it.

Until the next drama!

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

Weight Lifting Fairy Bok Joo

Well, I've just finished Weight Lifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo, and I have to say I feel so sweet I ache. This drama was such a great ride. It would've been so easy to dismiss it as a typical romance K-Drama. There were so many elements that we've seen before. However, the writer, Yang Hee- Seung gave us depth, and authenticity. Topics covered ranged from  self image,  chivalry, first crushes, life spiraling out control,therapy, family issues, depression and many more. Yang Hee-Seung did an excellent job of interweaving sensitive topics while keeping us bursting with laughter, and cringing at the aeygo. It was absolutely wonderful.

Kim Bok Joo is played by the ever gorgeous Lee Sung Kyung. As with any project, her acting style is unique and completely her own.I can't imagine any other actress executing this role with the  level of vulnerability and curiosity we saw. Kim Bok Joo grows from a tom boyish weight lifter, to a girl with a first crush, to experiencing heartache and depression, to plunging in the passions of first love, and finally becoming an elegant, strong, young woman.

This growth happens because of  childhood friend Jung Joon-Hyung. Though the rekindling of their friendship started off rocky, they quickly began to confide and rely on each other in a way that promised a deeper relationship than simple friendship. Jung Joon-Hyung's character is played by the charming and handsome Nam Joo Hyuk. This talented actor has the ability to express all range of emotion from a twitch of his eyebrows. His eyes showed everything from him being cheeky and mischievous, to utter emotional confusions when he's confronted by his mother, to heartbreak when he learns the truth about his family. The array of expression given to us, is amazing.

We also get to peek not only into their family lives, but also the structure of their friendships. These characters were fun and lighthearted, while keeping the leading couple grounded and focused on their athletics.

Over all, I was an absolute fool for this show, and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to sit down and enjoy a feel good drama.

Things I didn't like about the drama was Kim Bok Joo's fathers reaction when her secret got out. I was unable to see him with the same affection as I had previously. But still a great drama!