The Master's Sun

Just in time for the spooky holidays, The Master's Sun, was a drama that put a bit of a chill down my spine. I was first introduced to So Ji Sub here, and I have actively followed his career ever since. I gave this drama a try because of Gong Hyo-Jin. I loved her in "It's Okay That's Love" and when I saw her picture on the poster I didn't hesitate to start this drama. My anticipation was surpassed by the beauty and comedy of this drama.

Poor Tae Gong Sil is afflicted with the gift of seeing ghosts. These spirits harass her into seclusion on a rooftop apartment. Once a vibrant student with her whole life ahead of her, we see a woman who exhausted with the problems of the dead. Gong Sil's demeanor is terrifying, but as we get to know her, we see a woman who needs a good nap. This character was hilarious, and though she had a rough time dealing with all the spirits who needed her, she was always helped poor unfortunate souls find their peace. Gong Hyo-Jin slayed this role. The way she executed different characters, and then transitioned by to Gon Sil, it was an in-depth display of her vast talent. As scared as I was, in the beginning, her character made me laugh so much. As she blossoms into her own, the effervescence of her life, and spirit shone brightly and I enjoyed watching the pitiful caterpillar grow into a butterfly.

While Gong Sil made me laugh, Joo Joong-Won made me snort on multiple occasions. This character was beyond hilarious. Joong-Won is a chaebol who happens to have the magic aura of keeping ghosts away. He finds himself having to deal with a clingy woman, who doesn't want him for romantic purposes, but rather a "ghost-away" spray. So Ji-Sub's expressions made me laugh so much. There was this quirk of his eyebrow that always shot up. It was the most hilarious thing I've seen.

The chemistry between these to leads was steamy. They played off of each other in such a way that you couldn't help but ship them.

Second lead Kang Woo played by Seo In Guk, was incredibly sweet. I didn't ship him with Gong Sil, but his performance touched my heart. The other second lead, Tae Yi-Ryung played by Kim Yoo-Ri was annoying as usual. This particular actress played the second lead in other drama's and I always end up hating the characters she played. I don't know if the character was as annoying as I found it, but it was the regular antics and schemes of a female lead.

If you haven't watched it, enjoy this masterpiece

Happy drama watching!

Devilish Joy

Devilish Joy had one of the best first episode's I'd seen in a long time. It's comparable to Romantic Doctor. The chemistry between the two leads was palpable. Choi Jin-Hyuk was witty, observant, and just plain ole attractive. One of my favorite actresses, Song Ha-Yoon, was beautiful in this role. I've followed her career for a couple of years now and I am always impressed by the projects that she picks.

Devilish Joy serendipitously brings together Chaebol/Doctor/ Genius businessman Gong Ma-Sung, and spoiled but good-hearted idol  Joo Gi-Bbuem. They have an incredible day together trying to get Joo Gi Bbuem back to her friends. They connect through their fears, and by the end of the day, they are smitten in love. Imagine the most romantic day, and that is the first episode. But the morale of this episode is all good things must tragically come to an end. Gong Ma-Sung overhears a conversation and as he follows the potential culprits, he gets hit by the K-Drama truck of death. 3 years later, they reconnect but their lives are drastically different.

Joo Gi-Bbeum maintained her sweetness despite the transformation of her circumstances. Once a national sweetheart, she is despised because people believe that she is responsible for the death of another celebrity. Her debts have mounted and as the head of her household, she does various jobs to support her dad and her siblings. Joo Gi-Bbuem is exploited in many circumstances, but she remains quietly resilient. Song Ha-Yoon was amazing. She's got these soft puppy eyes, and the various expressions always have a thread of sweetness to them. Playing an idol, she had all the mannerisms and quirks we see in a K-Pop star. The change we see in her body language was a note to her talent.

Gong Ma Sung was...Zaddy hahahaha. The clothing that he was styled in made in attractive. The angles they filmed him in was very nice. I loved how the portrayal of a man who knew he was dying. While he tried to balance the emotional aspects of his condition, I liked how he used a scientific approach. What sold this drama for me was the chemistry between the leads. Choi Jin Hyuk's gaze was endearing, and as I read through the comment section, we all came to the conclusion that he and Song Ha-Yoon must be dating.

This drama isn't without its flaws. Hoya plays the cousin, and the character is...annoying, endearing but annoying. The aunt was needlessly cruel. She was heartless, but we aren't given a substantive reason for the depth of her hate. The character flaws of the Doctor are especially grating. However, the romance between the leads was very enjoyable.

Happy Drama Watching

My I.D is Gangnam Beauty

My I.D Gangnam was the answer to K-drama prayers I hadn't realized I needed. I love webtoon drama's, I think they have a creative edge, and the way they're directed is incredibly enjoyable. On the flipside, it's a slippery slope (usually downhill) after the 5th episode. I was a bit trepidatious when I started this drama. To be honest, I was pretty sure I was going to drop it. But then something happened, something utterly magical came over me. I fell in love. I fell so hard for this drama, that by the end of it, I was shaky and having withdrawal symptoms.

Lim Soo-Hyang is the real MVP. I'd seen her previous work in the drama 5 children and Inspiring Generation. In both roles she's so different I hadn't realized it was the same actress. Lim Soo Hyang playing the wonderful Kang Mi-Rae is the most enjoyable performance I've seen. Kang Mi-Rae is a young woman who has had a painful childhood. Ostracized for her weight, and later on for her looks, Mi-Rae struggles with her confidence. Deciding to get plastic surgery as a way to adjust to her new life as a university co-ed comes with some unexpected obstacles. She is judged to be an easy target and is placed in some dangerous scenarios. She also has to navigate some tricky social situations because of her face. Lim Soo Hyang's portrayal of a woman who is growing into her self and discovering what makes humans worthwhile was wonderful. She was able to showcase insecurity, anxiety, confusion, and innocence in a way that is rarely shown. 

Heartthrob Cha Eun Woo plays the Tsundere Do Kyung Seok. Introverted, but incredibly cognizant of his surroundings, he's almost like a guardian angel. Do Kyung Seok has had to overcome some abandonment issues and deal with a controlling father. I liked that he was authentic in his thoughts, and his morals. Cha Eun Woo has an incredibly attractive smile that we didn't get to see too often, but when it showed, it was utterly blissful. I can't wait to see what other acting projects he'll be in. Do Kyung Seok, is a character who is revered for his good looks, but he is socially awkward. Despite the disparity, he's really good at seeing people for who they are. He was able to see the good in the people he chose to surround himself with and he was able to decipher the B.S in the others. 

Villian Soo-Ah, was the worst character ever. I loathed her with my entire being. Every move she made was conniving and manipulative. In the last episodes we got to see her story, but I hated the character so much, I was completely disinterested. 

To be honest, I didn't really watch the last episode, it had a lot about Soo-ah, however, I think I was alone in hating her with the intensity that I had. This show was magnificent, and the last scenes with Do Kyung Seok and Kang Mi-Rae were very romantic. This is a definite must watch!

Personal Taste Review

This throwback is a classic feel-good drama. The soundtrack made my heart melt, the characters were quirky, and the chemistry was sizzling. I even hated the "second-lead" in that classic K-Drama way.

I was on the hunt for all things Lee Min-Ho and I found one of my favorite roles he's played. Jeon Ji-Ho is a rising architect, who finds a traditional house to live in to get inspiration. Ji-Ho is cold on the outside and warm on the inside, and it was amazing to see the contrast. He's the kind of character to help a girl out when she unexpectedly has her period. (getting her products and painkillers). In his cold demeanor he points out others obvious flaws and ways they are inefficient, but in his warm actions, he is a wonderful support system through any kind of pain. He's the perfect guy, and perfect roommate, the only thing is he's straight.

Park Gae-In lives in a traditional Korean house and finds herself with a gay roomie. The only problem is Jeon Ji-Ho is in fact, straight. Gae-In constructs furniture, and she has been abandoned by her long-term boyfriend, and her best friend has caused her the ultimate betrayal. This fish out of water starts to find her stride in life when Jeon Ji-Ho comes into her life.

This drama has everything, an arranged living situation, a Chaebol lead, a spunky female lead etc. The story was able to bring these tropes into a new light. We get to connect to the leads in a very intimate way. The insight into their thought process, and into their values was amazing. This drama reveals the Korean societal attitudes toward their gay population. It was an interesting take, and I would love to hear from people who are gay in Korea if this drama resonated with them.

I adored this drama, and I am pretty sure that you will too!

Lawless Lawyer Review

I didn't dive in to watch this drama. The subbed episodes were released irregularly, and the synopsis didn't grab my interest despite my undying attraction to Lee Joon Gi. But I ended up scrolling for something to watch, and I decided to give it a try. I was gobsmacked by how brilliant this drama is.

From the first episode to the last episode, I could never predict what was going to happen next. The show starts off with a woman who is caught in some dangerous ploy. Her son happens to show up at her law office and becomes a witness to her murder. Fast-forwarded 18 years into the future, the political and legal landscape is corrupt under the guise of being a place of law and order. Each episode illustrates the corrosion of justice, and we get to see Bong Sang-Pil and Ha Jae-Yi rectify the wrongs of their past. I can't reiterate enough, this show was brilliant. This crazy ride was not the least bit predictable, and I found myself up till 3 am trying to get through another heart-pounding episode.

Bong Sang-Pil is a thuggish lawyer. Raised in the gang life of his uncle, he can be a bit rough around the edges. Despite his colorful background, his morals are scrupulous. He wants the people who are responsible for the death of his mother to find judgment in court. Though he has a lot of creative ways to get his opponents into the courtroom, I loved his journey to find justice. Lee Joon Gi was ever charming in this role. He kicked butt, he was romantic and fiercely loyal. This being the first time I've watched Lee Joon Gi in a role that takes place in a modern timeline, I was impressed. He shined as an endearing lawyer. I'll be making it a point to watch more of his works.

Seo Ye-Ji plays Ha Jae Yi, and this character was incredibly grounded. Despite the fact that she's willing to throw a punch (judge, lawyers, anyone could catch those hands), she had a deep sense of honor and justice. I loved how she was smart and vulnerable. The only downside was her family story. Her father was... oblivious (if I'm being kind, or dumb as a doorknob if I'm being petty). I didn't really care about the dynamics of her family life, but I loved the chemistry she had with Lee Joon Gi.

The mama villain of them all, Cha Moon Sook! My favorite villain to hate. I couldn't stand this character, I hated her on sight... then I read in the comment section that the actress Lee Hye-Young, also plays the wicked chaebol mother in "Boys Over Flowers". I was still carrying hate in my heart from that drama and didn't understand why I felt so strongly when Cha Moon Sook is first introduced. To the very end, this cunning character pulled no punches. She wasn't humanized, but she commanded respect.










All in all, go watch this marvelous drama, it's a definite good time.

Love o2o Review

This Chinese drama was cotton candy good! From the first episode to the last episode I was always getting butterflies in my stomach. If you want something short and sweet, this drama will be up your alley.

Bei Wei Wei was such an enjoyable character. She is a hardworking student and a great gamer. I loved how she could balance her responsibilities with school and still dominate in the virtual world. Wei Wei has a nice girl squad, and they are navigating all the obstacles to university life as best as they can. Zheng Shuang plays this adorable character and she played with such youthful grace. The only alarming thing was how skinny this woman was. She played an 18 or 19-year-old character, so that may have been the cause of the diet, but there were times she looked emaciated. When I looked at other pictures of the actress, though she's petite, she looked healthy. I'm not sure what was going on in her life, or if the extreme weight loss was due to the role, but I couldn't get past how skinny she was. I also loved how she put people in their place. She was fiercely protective of her friends and she didn't mince words for the fools in her life.

Eye-candy Xiao Nai is the University heartthrob. He's a basketball player, a top student for his major, and he comes from a scholastic (rich) family. This allusive wonder boy has his own squad, and they are always giving him a hard time. Yang Yang's face is basically perfect. I couldn't imagine another person to play this role. His cold demeanor was utterly charming. Xiao Nai and Wei Wei had a wonderful chemistry together. I liked how mature their relationship was. Both parties were consistently considerate of each other and honest. There was ample time for the storyline to turn stupid, but it never did.

There isn't a lot to discuss about this drama. It's short, sweet, and satisfying. There are some characters that are annoying, but they aren't central to the plot.

P.S The best eye-candy in this drama was Zhang Vin. Good lord, that man is gorgeous.

When a Snail Falls in Love Review

When this drama came out I was incredibly excited because I'd seen some of the cast in an amazing drama called "Love Me if You Dare" and another gem called "Ode to Joy". When a snail falls in love is  Chinese drama, based on a book with the same title. This action-packed, thriller was extremely impressive, and I when I rewatched it again, it proved to be even more enjoyable.

XuXu, is an eccentric woman who is a genius criminal profiler. Her high I.Q and the way she expresses her thoughts and emotions are incredibly unique. This petite oddball throws herself in terrifying cases, giving a different perspective to crimes committed. XuXu made me laugh a lot. Her observations are  Sherlockian and she is in a perpetual state of being perplexed by those around her. I liked how we had to watch this skinny Minnie gain some muscle in order to stay on as a detective. She demonstrates insane work ethic and dedication to her chosen profession.  The way she interacted with her team was unique as well. Though she made some social faux pas, it was refreshing to see her trying to correct her mistakes. The chemistry between her and Ji Bai was pretty good to see as well.

Oliva Wang and Kai Wang played love interests in another drama called "Ode to Joy". In their previous drama, Olivia's character was wild and incorrigible. The chemistry between them was a play on their individual characteristics. In "When a Snail Falls in Love" Both characters are extremely different but the chemistry is still sizzling. This show isn't nearly as demonstrative as "Ode to Joy" but we can feel the electricity zing between them.

Kai Wang plays upright Ji Bai. He comes from a wealthy background, but he is a hard-nosed detective ready to take down the bad guys with a vengeance. This character seemed like a jerk at first, but I realized he was just very dedicated to his job. This attractive team leader has to artfully navigate crushes, ribbing from colleagues, and heartbreak. Ji Bai is stoic no matter what the case is, but we do get to glimpse at his playful nature.

Over all this drama has a great story. The mystery and intrigue kept me glued to my screen, and I don't think there was ever a boring moment.