Age of Youth Review

Title: Age of Youth

AKA: Hello, My Twenties!

Genre: Melodrama, Comedy, Romance, Mystery

Episodes: 12

Broadcast Period: Jul-2016 to Aug-2016

Cast: Han Ye Ri, Han Seung Yeon, Park Eun Bin, Ryu Hwa Young, Park Hye Soo, Yoon Park, Choi Duk Moon

University students Yoon Jin Myung (Han Ye Ri), Jung Ye Eun (Han Seung Yeon), Song Ji Won (Park Eun Bin), Kang Yi Na (Hwa Young) and Yoo Eun Jae (Park Hye Soo) share a house. Jin Myung is busy supporting herself financially and studying. She suffers from lack of sleep. Ye Eun is devoted to her boyfriend, she is clear about what she likes or not. Ji Won has a bright personality and likes to drink. Yi Na is popular due to her beautiful appearance. Eun Jae is timid, but she has an unique taste for men.

At first I thought this was a short peaceful drama empathizing how university students has it, but that’s only the cover. Underneath it lies a web of mysteries involving all the girls. his is not only a drama. They showed the real life. I likes it, I got me interested right away, and it was nice to get away from all the melodramas, and suffocating love stories. The screenplay and story evolved smoothly and the suspense was kept all the way till the end. So yes a very entertaining drama. 

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥ / 4 out of 5 hearts

Gu Am Heo Joon Review

Title: Gu Am Heo Joon

AKA: Hur Jun, the original story

Genre: Period, Historical, Romance

Episodes: 135

Broadcast period: 2013-Mar to 2013-Sept

Cast: Kim Joo Hyuk, Park Jin Hee, Park Eun Bin, Namgung Min and Baek Yoon Sik.

Raised by a loving father, Heo Joon (Kim Joo Hyuk) does not see himself different than other children around, but is soon come to realize that being the son of a concubine is not as being like his half-brother. His father, a magistrate, is famous for catching barbarians at the border, but one day the barbarians decide to retaliate, they kidnap Heo Joon, the magistrate is left with a horrible choice to make – wait till there is an agreement with other people. This sparks a hate in Heo Joon, who believes he has been abandoned by his father.

Years later, Heo Joon now a grown up, has become a thug, infamous for his illegal trading. When he one day is arrested, his father the magistrate, is left with no choice but to have him and Heo Joons mom flee the city. Ridden with guilt, Heo Joon decides to keep his head down and find a job where he can earn money, so him and his mother can buy a house. And as fate has it, he meets Yoo Ui Tae (Baek Yoon Sik) a local and rather renowed doctor, who sees a potential in Heo Joon, and soon Heo Joon learns the art of medicine…

I started watching this after I finished Horse Doctor, since I heard it was the same director and script writer. Also it had Kim Joo Hyuk in it, acting the same character his father did, so I had to watch it. This drama is one of those morning period dramas I think, since each episode is approx. 35 minutes and you can almost not watch 10 episodes and you would sort of still know what’s going on. Though I did not feel it was draggy, I was a bit annoyed at the ability to cure the patients. I don’t completely remember the year which is acted in this drama, but it’s at least 200-300 years before our time, and for some reason they are able to almost cure everything – which historically seems incorrect. Besides that, there were very few ‘bad’ scenes – meaning badly acted – but honestly I really didn’t mind. I liked the storyline, the love story and the screenplay, also the interacting between everyone is quite well made. Then again it could have been made better – I mean it’s from 2013…

Anyways, enjoyable and a good watch.

☆☆☆½ / 3½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥½ / 3½ out of 5 hearts

Operation Proposal Review

Title: Operation Proposal

Genre: Romance, Comedy, Time Travel

Episodes: 16

Broadcast period: 2012-Feb to 2012-Mar

Cast: Yoo Seung Ho, Park Eun Bin, Go Kyung Pyo, Kim Ye Won, Lee Hyun Jin and Park Young Seo.

Kang Baek Ho (Yoo Seung Ho) was once a baseball player with a lot of ambition. Now, due to things happening in his past, he is working as an office employee. His life is quite normal until he one day the love of his life and childhood friend Ham Yi Seul (Park Eun Bin) is to get married. Even after spending all his life close to her, he has never been able to tell her or confess his feelings. After her watches her getting married, he stumbles upon a love letter Yi Seul had written to him in middle school. Heartbroken over his own coward-ness, he is greeted by a man claiming to be a ‘Conductor of Time’. He gives Baek Ho a second chance: to let him go back in time and fix his relationship with Yi Seul – and confess his feelings. But people don’t change so quickly: will Beak Ho be able to correct his past, and finally covey his feelings towars Yi Seul?

When I was watching it I was very hesitant as I am a huge Operation Daisakusen fan, but to be honest this really is a good drama. From what I remember of the Japanese drama Yamapi goes back to time and fixes points in the past – but doesn’t really do much (except for having Aragaki fall for him more) to the time stream. The thing that I really liked about this drama was the alternation of the time stream, meaning that whatever he does in the past does not only affect him and the female, but everyone else around them – which is the butterfly effect.

The characters are pretty original, though some of them remind me of the characters from the Japanese one – except Yoo Seung Ho, who managed to make this character his very own, and that is really a tough job to do.

I’ll stop talking now. Summing it up: a good remake with a good story and cast.

☆☆☆☆/ 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥½ / 4½ out of 5 hearts

Secret Door Review

Title: Secret Door
AKA: Uigwe Murder Case
Genre: History, Mystery, Political, Action
Episodes: 24
Broadcast period: 2014-Sep to 2014-Dec
Cast: Han Suk Kyu, Lee Je Hoon, Kim Yoo Jung, Park Eun Bin, Kim Min Jong, Kim Chang Wan, Lee Won Jong,

This drama is the historical remake of the conflict that occurred between the Joseon King Yeongjo (Han Suk Kyu) and his son the Crown Prince Sado (Lee Je Hoon). They had two very different ways of how to rule the country. King Yeongjo wanted to pursues the strong royal authority, and to strengthen his political power. While Crown Prince Sado insisted on the more ideal thought of equality for everyone. It was known that King Yeongjo, even after 30 years on the throne felt threatened by his son, and therefor he sentenced him to death. Nevertheless, mystery surrounds Crown Prince Sado’s death, even 100 years after. This drama will explore the truth behind one of Joseons greatest struggle for power.

This show takes Korean dramas to a whole other level. I have to start with saying I’m a geek when it comes to history, it’s one of my passions, so I really enjoyed this drama. Especially when I know that, it’s based on a real event.  Yes, this is a very powerful drama with an awesome cast line; if you are a saeguk fan (like me), this is a definite watch. This story has been tackled so many times in dramaland, that it makes it no easy job to bring an exciting and thrilling atmosphere to it. Just in 2014 there is already two works about king Sado, (Bonus info: Yoo Ah In plays King Sado in the movie!!!)
After watching the first episodes, I realized that this was a little different from the others; somehow, I was so confused I couldn’t continue, so I decided to research the background for this mysterious king. In addition, it definitely helped me get through it, and it opened up so many questions about him. Now I know why every historian thinks he is interesting.
I was surprised they casted Le Je Hoon as king Sado, and that’s because I’ve only seen him in Fashion King (2012), and he really didn’t make an impression on me, plus he really doesn’t have other projects, so he is kinda unknown. After watching him play this role, I see why they said he is the perfect fit. He really pulled out an amazing and interesting character I think only he can do, and the fact that he is kinda unknown in dramaland makes him perfect for this role. You’ll see why in the drama :b
All in all a very interesting drama, that I’m happy I decided to watch, the reason it doesn't get the perfect score is because of the lack of romance, in real life King Sado was known as the ladies man :b

☆☆☆☆½ / 4½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥ / 4 out of 5 hearts