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| screencap courtesy of dramabeans |
Ok, so it's like that where I live, anyway. Which has put me in the mood for some end-of-season, end-of-summer related posts. And I figured that HEY, this would be an excuse to recap all of the dramas that I have watched over my 4 month summer vacation!
Since I am learning Korean and like the overall format, I pretty much only watch Korean dramas. I know, I know, call me picky :p But if anybody has any recommends for other AWESOME asian dramas, let me know?
For the tl;dr crowd, if you scroll down to the bottom of the jump, you can see which ones were my favourites and which ones sort of fell flat for me. But I hope that at least someone reads through this post, because it took forever (and I mean forever) to compose.
Completed Dramas:
In this post, I have decided to include dramas that I completed this summer, as well as dramas that I have started, but am still in the process of watching (either because they are currently airing, or because I just haven't had time to finish them yet).
1. 49 Days (49일)
Broadcast Period: March 16, 2011 - May 19, 2011 (SBS)
Okay, okay, so technically this was not really one of my "summer" dramas, considering this drama began airing in March, therefore I started watching it during the school year. Or...well, exam season. Heh. But it ended during my summer vacation, so in my books? It counts.
This drama had a rather interesting premise in the fact that it combines supernatural aspects with real life. The main character, Shin Jihyun (played by Nam Gyuri), is on track to having the perfect, storybook life -- she is engaged to Kang Minho (Bae Soobin) who is a wonderful, loving fiance, has two of the greatest BFFs that anyone could ask for, and also has a rich daddy who spoils her to boot. All of that changes in an instant though, when she is involved in a car accident which throws her into limbo between life and death. In this state of limbo, she meets the reaper (also known as the Scheduler, played by Jung Ilwoo), who offers her a second chance at life -- with a catch. She has 49 days to collect three genuine tears that non-family members cry for her; in order to do so, she is permitted to borrow the body of Song Yikung (Lee Yowon). In theory, this seems an easy task, but upon the commencement of her 49 days, Jihyun realizes that not everything in her life is as it seems.
Jo Hyunjae (playing Han Kang) and Seo Jihye (playing Shin Injung) also star in this drama.
It did not take very long for me to fall in love with this show. For starters, it is a nice change from your usual korean drama formula -- with the fantasy twist, it veers away from your usual romance drama, and despite being rather melodramatic, also avoids being overly angsty or sobby. That is not to say that it was without its sobby-ness or angst, but it was done so in a way that didn't make you roll your eyes or want to shout at the screen. This drama's plot twists also kept me on my toes, which is a definite plus in my books. After watching nearly 40 Korean dramas and reading countless suspense novels, I am pretty freaking good at figuring stuff out, so it takes a good writer with a good sense of shock factor to surprise me. That being said, there was one certain plot twist that did not sit well with me, but it did not have too much of an overarching effect on the drama itself, so to me that was negligible. Though the drama was not without its flaws in general, overall, I really enjoyed it and would recommend it. As a warning though, the ending may not be satisfactory for some viewers, haha. Seriously, right when you think you have it all figured out, the show will slap you upside the face and say "WRONG." I personally thought it was a good ending, but there have been some people who thought that it wrecked the whole show. Proceed into this drama with caution.This drama has been subtitled by WITHS2 and Darksmurf Subs. For streaming links, check out Dramafever.
2. Best Love (최고의 사랑)
Broadcast Period: May 4, 2011 - June 23, 2011 (MBC)
Broadcast Period: May 4, 2011 - June 23, 2011 (MBC)
Ahhh, the drama that started off all of the May madness. Best Love, a drama written by the famous Hong sisters (the masterminds behind My Girl and You're Beautiful, to name a couple of their previous works), offers us a glimpse into what REALLY goes on in the world of celebrities. Gu Aejung (Gong Hyojin) is a washed-up former girl group member, who has gone from the top of the celebrity food chain to the very bottom. Seen as a total diva who was the sole cause behind her group's disbandment (despite the fact that she is, in actuality, the polar opposite of her supposed diva image), she faces near-constant ridicule and is struggling to revive her career. Enter Dokko Jin (Cha Seungwon), a movie star who is at the top of his career, who in real life is rambling a-hole, yet is well-loved and accepted thanks to very firm PR-control from his management company. That is, until Aejung comes into the picture, and he finds his heart beating faster for her. To complicate matters further, a young oriental-medicine doctor by the name of Yoon Piljoo (Yoon Kyesang) comes into the picture, and is cast on a reality TV show with Aejung. Who will win Aejung's affections? The sweet, loving doctor, or the rich, jerky movie star? Is Dokko Jin actually willing to allow his carefully-built image crumble for Aejung?
This drama also stars Yoo In Na as Kang Seri, a top star who is happy to throw Aejung under the bus, despite the fact that they are former groupmates.
The above is a pretty crappy synopsis, but it's sort of difficult to sum up this show in only a short paragraph. I think that you really need to watch it in order to get the plot, because despite being rather simplistic in theory (and on a surface level), it is chock full of meta, symbolism (yes, symbolism -- for the sake of comedy, though), and just overall hilarity. Though this drama at its most basic level is not anything earth-shattering as far as overall plot goes (I mean, come on, we all know who gets the girl at the end), again, it does offer a hilarious glimpse into the lives of celebrities, and despite being a work of fiction, there are certain elements of it that one can tell are definitely not fictitious. It offers commentary on Korea's "netizen" culture, the microscope that celebrities at the top and the bottom find themselves under, as well as pokes fun at the "world star" phenomenon in Korea, yet, despite concentrating on more "serious" subject matter, this show rarely strays from what it bills itself as -- a light, jokey, HILARIOUS romantic comedy. I don't know if I would rank this show as one of my absolute favourite favourites just because, as hilarious as it is, it's not horribly original, but I definitely highly recommend it and feel that it is one of the Hong sisters' best works.
For English subtitles, check out WITHS2, Darksmurf Subs, or Dramafever for streaming links.
3. Lie to Me (내게 거짓말을 해봐)
Broadcast Period: May 9, 2011 - June 28, 2011 (SBS)
...But it fell flat. Very flat. As in, the synopsis I wrote up there? It doesn't... really move past that part until close to the end of the show. Well, that might be a slight exaggeration, but only slight. Basically, it seems like the writer had no idea how to move on beyond the lie, which led to a vicious cycle of things going around and around in circles, which led to another writer eventually being brought on (to revive the show from low ratings), which led to weird character dynamics, with certain characters (*coughkijooncough*) seemingly getting personality transplants, which just led to... not necessarily a hot mess, but a very not interesting drama. I was actually glad to see it end, which is saying a lot, considering how I was so excited to see more at the beginning. It was very, very disappointing all around, because the chemistry between the two leads was HOT, but I don't think even that was enough to save it.
For English subtitles, check out Darksmurf Subs.
6. Romance Town
Broadcast Period: May 11, 2011 - July 14, 2011 (KBS2)
A story that revolves around maids working in the same rich neighbourhood. No Soon Geum (Sung Yuri), comes from a family of "domestic helpers" -- not only is she a maid, but her mother was also one, as well as her grandmother. Yet, despite this, Soon Geum is not your average submissive maid; she has a strong personality and is a hard worker, whose only weakness is her father, a man addicted to gambling. Despite the fact that her childhood dreams of royalty and riches are crushed by reality, Soon Geum's fate begins to change as she becomes the maid for Kang Gunwoo's (Jung Gyeowoon) family, then eventually goes on to win the lottery. After winning the lottery, however, she chooses to keep it a secret from those around her in order to protect herself from her father's gambling debts. What affect will this have on her relationship with the maids, whom she has grown close with since arriving at the Kang household?
A lot of people found this drama pretty boring, since the plot doesn't move the speediest. For example, the whole lottery arch -- that takes forever and a day to be discovered, hashed out, and then resolved, which is sort of ridiculous considering that it is ONE conflict, and the drama is 20 episodes long. Also, the title -- it is not very apt. In fact, the plot has very little to do with romance, haha. It is very much a slice-of-life drama with a twist, and nothing overly exciting, but I enjoyed it overall. I actually appreciated the overall simplicity in the plot, because I watched the majority of the drama unsubtitled! It wasn't until the later episodes when the conflict really kicked in that I wanted or needed subtitles, actually. Don't know if that says good things for the overall plot, or bad things. I guess it all depends on personal preference. But again, I enjoyed it overall, particularly when the drama delved into the issue of money versus happiness, and whether one is greater than the other. I also enjoyed how this drama examined multiple plot lines/issues with multiple characters, rather than just focusing on the main couple and their loveline.
English subtitles for this drama were just recently completed by WITHS2, and are also available at Darksmurf.
7. City Hunter
Broadcast Period: May 25, 2011 - July 28, 2011 (SBS)
This drama really, really surprised me by being FREAKING. AWESOME. Honestly, easily my favourite drama of the summer. Normally action/hero dramas are not my cup of tea; I am more of a romance girl. However, this drama really is too awesome to pass up. Despite looking laughably lame in its trailer, I soon discovered that it is, in fact, far from lame. The plot moves along at a brisk pace, with each conflict being resolved in a reasonable amount of time, and the timing? OH, THE TIMING. Cliffhangers galore, at the end of almost every episode, right up to nearly the very end. As a result, you are kept guessing until literally the very end of the drama, and even then it leaves you an ending to ponder. Once I got to the end of the already-aired episodes and started watching it in real-time, it was almost torture waiting for the next week. I highly recommend this one. It actually has somewhat inspired me to move away from the rom-coms and romance dramas (shock!), because while the romance aspect of the plot was nice, it wasn't what sealed the deal for me. I wasn't looking for more than what was in it, and I didn't even really care if he ended up with the girl at the end. That says a lot, haha.
Han Myungwol (Han Yeseul) is a fiercely patriotic spy from North Korea who is sent to South Korea on a mission -- that is, to disrupt the Hallyu wave and take a little piece of it for the North by marrying and kidnapping one of its top stars, Kangwoo (Eric Mun). Things don't go exactly as planned, however, when she discovers that wooing and successfully marrying Kangwoo is not as easy of a task as it seems. Matters are even further complicated by the presence of Choi Ryu (Lee Jinwook), who has been sent to South Korea on both a mission of his own, as well as to help Myungwol. Not only does Ryu have feelings for Myungwol, but he is a constant reminder of the duty she has for her country, and the fact that failure is not an option. Queue your typical kdrama meddler, Joo In Ah (Jang Heejin), who is jealous of Myungwol and her close proximity to Kangwoo, and you have hijinks galore.
This drama initially starts off being very off-the-wall, so much so that I was not sure what to think of it. Sure, I enjoyed it, but it was just so... odd. Eventually though, I found myself being swept along, and the oddness became downright hilarious. At the beginning, it is obvious that the show does not take itself overly seriously; I mean, its premise in and of itself is somewhat ridiculous. Starting at about episode 10, however, it takes a more serious turn, and becomes less like the comedy it once was and more like a dark suspense story. Also, the drama was brought into real life with the lead actress (Han Yeseul) going awol for a few days from the set, putting the whole production into absolute chaos. Fortunately she ended up returning, and her sudden departure from the set is not even obvious in the drama itself (thanks to excellent editing, I am sure). Anyway, episode 13 is an incredibly dark, depressing episode, and feels like an almost completely different drama. Actually, things were getting a little bit frustrating and circular, which had me wondering whether things were completely going to the crapper or not. HOWEVER, that being said, I am so far still loving this drama, despite the dark twist, and episode 14 had me right back on the edge of my seat, wondering what is going to happen next. After I finally finish writing this entry, I am actually off to watch episode 15... haha. If you have yet to start watching this drama, I recommend it; at this point in the game, I still feel that it is underrated (it has been getting ratings of less than 10% in Korea; yeowch).
UPDATE: This drama lost its awesome. Completely. So disappointing. Right as soon as it spiraled downward into angst, it completely lost its zest, then continued recycling the same plot points for like, five episodes. Gross. Gotta give Eric props for continuing to put his all into his role, despite the fact that the drama had completely gone to the crapper, but man. What a waste of a show with such awesome potential.
This drama is amazing. Not only is it beautifully shot (the team behind the gorgeousness that was Dr. Champ is also behind this one), but the story line is, for the most part, executed brilliantly, and allows us to truly feel for the characters. Well, except for Sekyung. She is just a vile human being. But Yeonjae's quest to live life to the fullest before she dies is truly inspiring, as well as heartbreaking, as she comes to terms with her cancer and moves through the natural stages that come with a terminal diagnosis. I am not really too sure what else to say about the drama at this point, considering there are still four episodes left, except that, despite the fact that it is more of a melodrama and not happiness and rainbows, it is highly addicting. I have been on pins and needles for each episode as it's airing, haha. I have a feeling that it is going to rip me apart by the ending though, if the latest episodes are any indicator. I have been tearing up at random points throughout the last few episodes, but episode 12? A doozy. If you haven't started this one yet though, again, I highly recommend it. Don't let the melodrama or "sad" label stop you!
This drama is one of those ones where you aren't too sure what to think of it at first. Actually, to be honest, at first I was not as overly impressed as everybody else was. I was bored, actually. Then I realized that I was probably just in the wrong mindset when I started watching the first episode, because after I went back to finish it? Hilarious. Honestly, I don't know what it is about this show that has me, because it's not like it's completely out-there wacky funtimes, nor does it really contain any shiny, brand new plot concepts. I do enjoy the fact that the typical "villain" second lead female is more laughable than someone that we are supposed to take seriously, and I absolutely love the bickering that goes on between Jiheon and Muwon. I only insisted on continuing on with this drama because of Jaejoong, since I am a longtime DBSK fan, and well. I haven't watched any of the other members' dramas in their entirety, nor have I watched more than one episode of Jaejoong's Japanese drama, so I figured that I should give this one a chance. And man, am I ever glad that I did. I think that Eunseol is the most unapologetic female lead that I have ever seen in a kdrama, and it is awesome. I love watching her take the chaebols down a few pegs, haha.
Most Underrated: Biggest Letdown:I say this tentatively, as there is still room for things to go very, very wrong. But for the most part, despite its flaws, I don't understand why ratings for this show are SO low :( Started off hilarious, quirky, and funny, remained awesome until episode 10, forgivable till episode 14, then bam... car crash. Almost more disappointing than Lie to Me, because unlike the latter, it was actually good at some point.
This drama also stars Yoo In Na as Kang Seri, a top star who is happy to throw Aejung under the bus, despite the fact that they are former groupmates.
For English subtitles, check out WITHS2, Darksmurf Subs, or Dramafever for streaming links.
3. Lie to Me (내게 거짓말을 해봐)
Broadcast Period: May 9, 2011 - June 28, 2011 (SBS)
Yet another member of the May Madness dramas. I don't know what was up with May and premieres of awesome (looking) dramas, but I was definitely not lacking anything to watch.
Gong Ahjung (Yoon Eunhye) is a civil servant who, despite having a lot going for her, feels somewhat lacking in comparison to her frenemy Yoo Soran (Hong Soohyun). Not only did Soran steal her first, unrequited love away from her (Chun Jaebum, played by Ryu Seungsoo), but she even had the nerve to marry him and then rub salt in the wound by making snide remarks about Ahjung's single status. In an effort to one-up Soran, Ahjung lies that she is married to Hyun Kijoon (Kang Jihwan), a rich chaebol hotel manager. This lie eventually snowballs, as Hyun Kijoon eventually finds out about it, then decides that it is in his best interest to play along. That is, until his ex-fiancee Oh Yoonjoo (Jo Yoonhee) shows up! 어떡해?
This drama, at the start, looked like it would be pretty freaking hilarious, full of excellent chemistry, and just good all around. I mean, if you watch the trailer, it looks pretty promising, and it's not like it didn't sound promising before. Hello, Kang Jihwan and Yoon Eunhye? In one drama? Makings for instant success.
...But it fell flat. Very flat. As in, the synopsis I wrote up there? It doesn't... really move past that part until close to the end of the show. Well, that might be a slight exaggeration, but only slight. Basically, it seems like the writer had no idea how to move on beyond the lie, which led to a vicious cycle of things going around and around in circles, which led to another writer eventually being brought on (to revive the show from low ratings), which led to weird character dynamics, with certain characters (*coughkijooncough*) seemingly getting personality transplants, which just led to... not necessarily a hot mess, but a very not interesting drama. I was actually glad to see it end, which is saying a lot, considering how I was so excited to see more at the beginning. It was very, very disappointing all around, because the chemistry between the two leads was HOT, but I don't think even that was enough to save it. I would say skip this one, but if you must see it, it has been subtitled by WITHS2, Darksmurf, and you can catch it streaming on Viki.
4. Dr. Champ
Broadcast Period: September 27, 2010 - November 16, 2010 (SBS)
My May Madness drama binge took a brief interlude with Dr. Champ, a... sports drama? To be honest, I picked this drama up for completely shallow purposes, heh. And because I was looking for something to watch in between waiting for episodes of dramas to air/be subtitled. I was unemployed at that time, you see. Unemployment leads to a ton of spare time, which leads to following five Korean dramas. At once.
Anyway. Synopsis. Kim Yeonwoo (Sim Soyeon), an orthopedic doctor with a bright future, finds her dreams shattered when she is fired from her job at a prestigious hospital for refusing to ignore a case of malpractice. Blacklisted and thus unable to find a job elsewhere, she soon finds herself at Taereung National Village, the training center for national Olympic athletes. There she becomes involved with Park Jiheon (Jung Gyeowoon), a young judo athlete who falls hard for Yeonwoo. Despite being actively pursued by Jiheon, Yeonwoo develops feelings for Lee Dowook (Uhm Taewoong), her supervisor who can't get over an injury which cut his own Olympic career short, as well as led to the disintegration of his relationship with Kang Heeyoung (Cha Yeryun). Will Dowook give up on his love for Heeyoung, or will Yeonwoo be left crying on Jiheon's shoulder?
I was skeptical about this drama, because I am not a huge sports fan. I mean, true to my Canadian roots, I will watch hockey and I do enjoy hockey, but that is about it. You will not see me running out to the ball game. I do not storm away from the sports bar when my favourite team loses. I do not watch sports dramas. BUT, I decided to watch this one, because it sounded bearable enough, and well, eye candy. And BOY did this drama more than deliver on eye candy alone, haha. If half-naked dudes is your thing, then WELL you are in for a treat ;) ...Ahem anyway, that aside, I actually did enjoy this drama a fair bit, which surprised me. It is a story that does not try to be greater than what it is, which is both a strength of the plotline as well as a weakness. A strength, because it is a very "human" story, and thus very slice-of-life and relateable, a weakness, because it plods along at certain points and there isn't really a whole lot to it. It is what it is. That aside though, this drama had amazing camera work, and a super cute ending, which is always a bonus.
For English subtitles, check out WITHS2, or if you prefer streaming, Dramafever.
5. Baby-Faced Beauty (동안미녀)
Broadcast Period: May 2, 2011 - July 5, 2011 (KBS2)
Yet another drama that I started watching as soon as it premiered in May. I am not kidding when I say that I had a lot of spare time that month!
Lee Soyoung (Jang Nara) is a 34-year-old woman with not a lot going for her. Not only is she unmarried, but she is without a stable career, and is saddled with taking care of the family debt and lack of a university education as a result. When her bratty younger sister chooses to party instead of show up to work, Lee Soyoung takes her place, pretending to not only be 25-years-old, but a university graduate. Thanks to her baby face, nobody is any the wiser, which leads to her landing a job at a fashion design company, where she is the "magnae," but is finally on her way to achieving her dreams. There she meets Choi Jinwook (Choi Daniel), a 27-year-old attempting to strike it out on his own apart from the (very successful) family business. As is the case with all kdramas, Jinwook ends up falling for Soyoung, believing that she is 25-years-old. What will happen once Jinwook finds out? What will happen once the company finds out? Will Soyoung be fired, or will it be dismissed as a simple misunderstanding?
This drama was another one that surprised me. At first, the overall tone of it, at least to me, felt rather slow and somewhat boring, so I was incredibly tempted to drop it. However, it eventually picks up, and finds its footing as an adorable, light workplace drama that is full of heart. Soyoung, while infuriating in the fact that she is completely spineless and allows people to just walk all over her, is a character that you feel you can root for. Not only is she talented, but she is a very hard worker who will do anything to achieve her dreams once she has that first grasp of them, including lie about her age and identity. The plot is not without its "THIS AGAIN?" moments, but overall it clips along at a good pace, with most issues solving themselves rather quickly, and with little angst. The plot also has its strengths in the fact that it does not focus on a single issue or point, such as "romance" or "career" -- it takes a little bit of everything, and ties it all up in a nice little, adorable little bow at the end. I recommend this one.
For English subtitles, check out Darksmurf Subs.
6. Romance Town
Broadcast Period: May 11, 2011 - July 14, 2011 (KBS2)
A lot of people found this drama pretty boring, since the plot doesn't move the speediest. For example, the whole lottery arch -- that takes forever and a day to be discovered, hashed out, and then resolved, which is sort of ridiculous considering that it is ONE conflict, and the drama is 20 episodes long. Also, the title -- it is not very apt. In fact, the plot has very little to do with romance, haha. It is very much a slice-of-life drama with a twist, and nothing overly exciting, but I enjoyed it overall. I actually appreciated the overall simplicity in the plot, because I watched the majority of the drama unsubtitled! It wasn't until the later episodes when the conflict really kicked in that I wanted or needed subtitles, actually. Don't know if that says good things for the overall plot, or bad things. I guess it all depends on personal preference. But again, I enjoyed it overall, particularly when the drama delved into the issue of money versus happiness, and whether one is greater than the other. I also enjoyed how this drama examined multiple plot lines/issues with multiple characters, rather than just focusing on the main couple and their loveline.English subtitles for this drama were just recently completed by WITHS2, and are also available at Darksmurf.
7. City Hunter
Broadcast Period: May 25, 2011 - July 28, 2011 (SBS)
A May Madness drama that I actually did not start watching in May, haha. Actually, I was avoiding this one at first because it looked like absolute crap, but I eventually discovered that I was dead wrong.
Our hero is Lee Yoonsung (Lee Minho), a man who is kidnapped shortly after birth by Lee Jinpyo (Kim Sangjoong), a man who is hell-bent on seeking revenge. Raised believing that Jinpyo is his real father, Yoonsung is tailored and carefully trained to eventually help Jinpyo seek his revenge on those who have wronged him. It is not until Jinpyo's near-death that Yoonsung learns the truth -- that Jinpyo is not his father, but the man who is attempting to avenge Yoonsung's real father's death. With the truth about his birth discovered, Yoonsung vows to help Jinpyo in his quest for revenge, and returns to Korea disguised as an MIT-graduate, working on the communications team in the Blue House. In actuality, he is using his job to aid him in his revenge, which he fulfills under the pseudonym of "City Hunter," a hero who is upright and does not aim to kill, but to avenge his father's death by lawfully punishing the corrupt officials responsible.
This drama also stars Park Minyoung as Kim Nana, Yoonsung's love interest, and Lee Joonhyuk as Kim Youngjoo, the prosecutor who is hot on City Hunter's trail.
This drama really, really surprised me by being FREAKING. AWESOME. Honestly, easily my favourite drama of the summer. Normally action/hero dramas are not my cup of tea; I am more of a romance girl. However, this drama really is too awesome to pass up. Despite looking laughably lame in its trailer, I soon discovered that it is, in fact, far from lame. The plot moves along at a brisk pace, with each conflict being resolved in a reasonable amount of time, and the timing? OH, THE TIMING. Cliffhangers galore, at the end of almost every episode, right up to nearly the very end. As a result, you are kept guessing until literally the very end of the drama, and even then it leaves you an ending to ponder. Once I got to the end of the already-aired episodes and started watching it in real-time, it was almost torture waiting for the next week. I highly recommend this one. It actually has somewhat inspired me to move away from the rom-coms and romance dramas (shock!), because while the romance aspect of the plot was nice, it wasn't what sealed the deal for me. I wasn't looking for more than what was in it, and I didn't even really care if he ended up with the girl at the end. That says a lot, haha. For those of you who have not watched the awesomeness that is this drama yet, English subtitles are available at WITHS2, Darksmurf Subs, and streaming on Viki.
8. I Need Romance (로맨스가 필요해)
Broadcast Period: June 13, 2011 - August 2, 2011 (tvN)
A story that revolves around the friendship of three 30-something women, Sunwoo Inyoung (Jo Yeojung), Park Seoyeon (Choi Yeojin), and Kang Hyunjoo (Choi Songhyun), and their trials and tribulations in love, work, and life. Inyoung is a concierge at a hotel, seemingly on the path to marriage along with a promotion. That is, until she discovers that her long-term boyfriend, Kim Sungsoo (Kim Junghoon) has cheated on her for the second time. Suddenly, Inyoung's love life is up in the air, as she is stuck between Sungsoo and what she had with him, and a new love with a younger man, Bae Sunghyun (Choi Jinhyuk). Is long-term love enough to conquer betrayal, or does betrayal conquer love?
This drama is quite similar in tone to Sex and the City, though obviously Koreanized. It is actually very risque in comparison to your typical kdrama, with its frank discussions about sex (and *gasp* female sexuality!) and steamy kiss scenes/makeout sessions. Pretty sure the only way this managed to air was because it was on cable, not network TV, haha. That being said, at first, the fact that it was so similar to Sex and the City was somewhat off-putting -- I mean, there is even a saxophone themesong. Really? However, the drama quickly establishes itself apart from the American counterpart, despite there being similarities in plot and overall execution. I found myself actually enjoying its similarities to Sex and the City, one of my favourite TV shows, and thought that it would for sure end up on my all-time favourites list. That is, until the plot sort of lost itself. It is almost like the writers knew what sort of tone they wanted and what sort of conflict they wanted, but had no idea how to resolve it, so they just decided to stick with an anti-climax. Literally. It was awesome up until the last few episodes, before it totally sank. So disappointing. Overall though, it was a quick watch with each episode clocking in at around 45 minutes, and since I started watching it about a week before the last two episodes aired, I finished the entire drama in about that amount of time. So it wasn't like it was a huge, 16 hour, two-month-long investment that I got nothing out of, unlike Lie to Me.
English subtitles (at time of posting, incomplete, mind you) are available at Darksmurf Subs or streaming at Dramafever.
Currently Watching:
9. Myungwol the Spy (스파이 명월)
Broadcast Period: July 11, 2011 - September 6, 2011 (KBS2)
Han Myungwol (Han Yeseul) is a fiercely patriotic spy from North Korea who is sent to South Korea on a mission -- that is, to disrupt the Hallyu wave and take a little piece of it for the North by marrying and kidnapping one of its top stars, Kangwoo (Eric Mun). Things don't go exactly as planned, however, when she discovers that wooing and successfully marrying Kangwoo is not as easy of a task as it seems. Matters are even further complicated by the presence of Choi Ryu (Lee Jinwook), who has been sent to South Korea on both a mission of his own, as well as to help Myungwol. Not only does Ryu have feelings for Myungwol, but he is a constant reminder of the duty she has for her country, and the fact that failure is not an option. Queue your typical kdrama meddler, Joo In Ah (Jang Heejin), who is jealous of Myungwol and her close proximity to Kangwoo, and you have hijinks galore. 
This drama initially starts off being very off-the-wall, so much so that I was not sure what to think of it. Sure, I enjoyed it, but it was just so... odd. Eventually though, I found myself being swept along, and the oddness became downright hilarious. At the beginning, it is obvious that the show does not take itself overly seriously; I mean, its premise in and of itself is somewhat ridiculous. Starting at about episode 10, however, it takes a more serious turn, and becomes less like the comedy it once was and more like a dark suspense story. Also, the drama was brought into real life with the lead actress (Han Yeseul) going awol for a few days from the set, putting the whole production into absolute chaos. Fortunately she ended up returning, and her sudden departure from the set is not even obvious in the drama itself (thanks to excellent editing, I am sure). Anyway, episode 13 is an incredibly dark, depressing episode, and feels like an almost completely different drama. Actually, things were getting a little bit frustrating and circular, which had me wondering whether things were completely going to the crapper or not. HOWEVER, that being said, I am so far still loving this drama, despite the dark twist, and episode 14 had me right back on the edge of my seat, wondering what is going to happen next. After I finally finish writing this entry, I am actually off to watch episode 15... haha. UPDATE: This drama lost its awesome. Completely. So disappointing. Right as soon as it spiraled downward into angst, it completely lost its zest, then continued recycling the same plot points for like, five episodes. Gross. Gotta give Eric props for continuing to put his all into his role, despite the fact that the drama had completely gone to the crapper, but man. What a waste of a show with such awesome potential.
If you are interested in jumping on the Myungwol the Spy bandwagon, you can find English subtitles at Darksmurf Subs or watch it streaming on Dramafever.
10. Scent of a Woman (여인의 향기)
Broadcast Period: July 23, 2011 - September 11, 2011 (SBS)
Lee Yeonjae (Kim Sunah) is a woman who is stuck in a rut. Despite having worked at her job at a travel agency for 10 years, and despite being good at what she does, she is looked down upon by her boss and coworkers, and is stuck doing menial tasks that nobody else wants to do. Suddenly, Yeonjae receives terrible news -- she has terminal cancer, and only 5 months left to live. After being accused of stealing from a client, this gives her the courage to quit her job, along with the resolve to begin living her life to the fullest. After a makeover, she travels to Okinawa, where she runs into Kang Jiwook (Lee Dongwook), the new director at the travel agency that she used to work at. Apathetic about everything to do with life in general, Kang Jiwook falls into the job at his father's company, and falls into an engagement with Im Sekyung (Seo Hyorim), which moonlights as a business deal between their fathers. That is, until he runs into Yeonjae in Okinawa, and he finds his general apathy fading as he witnesses Yeonjae's new-found zest for life.
This drama also stars Uhm Kijoon as Chae Eunsuk, Yeonjae's doctor, as well as elementary school friend who has secretly been in love with her for years.
This drama is amazing. Not only is it beautifully shot (the team behind the gorgeousness that was Dr. Champ is also behind this one), but the story line is, for the most part, executed brilliantly, and allows us to truly feel for the characters. Well, except for Sekyung. She is just a vile human being. But Yeonjae's quest to live life to the fullest before she dies is truly inspiring, as well as heartbreaking, as she comes to terms with her cancer and moves through the natural stages that come with a terminal diagnosis. I am not really too sure what else to say about the drama at this point, considering there are still four episodes left, except that, despite the fact that it is more of a melodrama and not happiness and rainbows, it is highly addicting. I have been on pins and needles for each episode as it's airing, haha. I have a feeling that it is going to rip me apart by the ending though, if the latest episodes are any indicator. I have been tearing up at random points throughout the last few episodes, but episode 12? A doozy. If you haven't started this one yet though, again, I highly recommend it. Don't let the melodrama or "sad" label stop you! This drama is currently in the process of being subbed by WITHS2, as well as Darksmurf Subs. You can also catch it streaming at Viki. I have personally been watching the drama raw and relying on recaps for stuff that I have missed, because it's just too pretty for me to watch streaming, BUT! If you don't know any Korean and can't wait, Viki is fastest ;)
11. Protect the Boss (보스를 지겨라)
Broadcast Period: Aug 3, 2011 - September 22, 2011 (SBS)
No Eunseol (Choi Kanghee) is broke, unemployed, and haunted by her past -- due to her poor academic record, she is unable to get a a Real job (emphasis on the capital "r"), and thus unable to move forward in life. That is, until she gets a job as a secretary for Cha Jiheon (Ji Sung), a disagreeable, lazy chaebol with some nasty issues with social anxiety and panic attacks. Working for him is hardly a walk in the park, but with her strong, "take-no-nonsense" personality, Eunseol is able to conquer her new job with relative ease, though it initially takes a little bit of teeth grinding. Her job is made slightly easier by the presence of Cha Muwon (Kim Jaejoong), Jiheon's sane, level-headed cousin, and Jiheon's rival for succession of the family business. Then there's Seo Nayoon (Wang Jihye), Jiheon's ex-girlfriend and Muwon's prospective fiancee, who is more like a pesky fly than a blip on Eunseol's radar.
This drama is one of those ones where you aren't too sure what to think of it at first. Actually, to be honest, at first I was not as overly impressed as everybody else was. I was bored, actually. Then I realized that I was probably just in the wrong mindset when I started watching the first episode, because after I went back to finish it? Hilarious. Honestly, I don't know what it is about this show that has me, because it's not like it's completely out-there wacky funtimes, nor does it really contain any shiny, brand new plot concepts. I do enjoy the fact that the typical "villain" second lead female is more laughable than someone that we are supposed to take seriously, and I absolutely love the bickering that goes on between Jiheon and Muwon. I only insisted on continuing on with this drama because of Jaejoong, since I am a longtime DBSK fan, and well. I haven't watched any of the other members' dramas in their entirety, nor have I watched more than one episode of Jaejoong's Japanese drama, so I figured that I should give this one a chance. And man, am I ever glad that I did. I think that Eunseol is the most unapologetic female lead that I have ever seen in a kdrama, and it is awesome. I love watching her take the chaebols down a few pegs, haha. English subtitles for this drama are available at Darksmurf Subs, as well as available streaming on Viki.
12. Can You Hear My Heart? (내 마음이 들리니?)
Broadcast Period: April 2, 2011 - July 10, 2011
I am not going to write my own synopsis for this one, as I am only 5 episodes in, which has NOT given me enough of a feel for the story yet. So, copy and pasted from DramaWiki
"The love story of Cha Dong Joo, a man who's been rendered deaf after an accident but pretends he can hear, and Bong Woo Ri, a woman who's intelligent but pretends she's dim-witted to protect the dignity of her mentally handicapped father."
So, there you go. I have yet to really decide how I feel about the drama yet, either, as the plot is moving rather slowly. I've just gotten to the present day! I'm trying to be understanding, since it's a 30-episode long drama, but I am so used to 16-episode long miniseries with the odd 20-episoder thrown in, so I am having a hard time being patient. I will attempt to stick with it, though. Actually, I probably should not have even thrown this one in with the rest of them, but since I started it in the summer...? Who knows when I will eventually finish it though, considering that I now have a 9-5 on top of my cushy, chill bartending job... haha.
In Short:
And the awards go to...
Most Disappointing Drama:
Lie to Me
So much potential, yet fell so flat.
Biggest Surprise, Best Drama I Watched:
City Hunter
Easily one of my new top favourites.
One to Watch With the Girls, Most Disappointing Ending:
I Need Romance
Sigh, it is so sad when good dramas end badly :(
Biggest Twist:
49 Days
(Runner Up: City Hunter)
Totally did not see the ending coming.
Most Anticipated:
Scent of a Woman
As both a fan of Lee Dongwook and Kim Sunah, I was waiting on pins and needles for this one to start, and continue to wait on pins and needles for each new episode.
Myungwol the Spy
Funniest:
Best Love
I think that it would be pretty difficult to beat the Hong sisters' comedy.
And that's it! FINALLY. 8 series completed? I think that's a pretty respectable number. Took me long enough to type up the synopses for all of them, anyway, so I'm glad that I didn't watch more!
For those of you drama lovers, what ones did you watch this summer? What were your favourites? Leave your answers in the comments box below! :)
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