7th Grade Civil Servant Review

Title: 7th Grade Civil Servant
AKA: Level 7 Civil Servant / 7th Level Civil Servant / My Girlfriend is an Agent
Genre: action, romance, comedy
Episodes: 20
Broadcast period: 2013-Jan-23 to 2013-Mar-28 
Cast: Choi Kang Hee, Joo Won, Ahn Nae Sang, Hwang Chan Sung, Jang Young Nam, Son Jin Young, Choi Jong Hwan, Kim Min Seo, Lee El, Byun Seung Yoon, Uhm Tae Woong, Kim Soo Hyun, Im Yoon Ho 

Kim Seo Won (Choi Kang Hee) is the girl who moved from the country to the big city, having several part time jobs while studying for the civil servant exam. She runs around and barely finds time for all the things she needs to do. One day her friend, who has a matchmaking company, offers her to go on a match-making session for money. At first Seo Won declines but after thinking for a bit, she thinks "Why not?", sitting for 2 hours talking with somebody who will pay your dinner isn't that bad at all, and she could use the money. So she accepts. The guy she is to meet is Han Gil Ro (Joo Won), he too isn't there on free will exactly. He is there just to get over with it so he can have his car back. He is the son of a CEO, coincidently also studying for the civil servant exam. Since both of them aren't interested in the match making, they sit for two hours at the restaurant, both studying for their exam, but not knowing it. When the 2 hours are up they decide to meet for another session, since Gil Ro promised his mom that he would go to 2 sessions at least with the same woman. At the second session things go wild and Gil Ro ends up losing a bet, his car, because of Seo Won.  He tries to get Seo Won to pay up, but she doesn't have the money and just wants to get away from him. Which doesn't exactly go well, as they meet again for the civil servant exam, and end up having to go through training together.

As I was watching the drama, I was actually really wondering what the reason for the low ratings was in the last few episodes. Well then I found out. The reason is that the drama almost has two endings. There are two things going on in the drama 1. The bad guys vs. the good guys 2. The relationship between the two leads. Honestly, the fight between the good and the bad is not that interesting, and so when the relationship between the two is okay or whatever, then you don’t feel like finding out how it ends with the fight. So now I definitely understand the low ratings. And I really don’t think that this is Jo Won’s best drama, even though I haven’t watched much if his. It felt as if the last episodes were just filled with random scenes trying to fill out the time, the ending was dragged out too much. Though it was an alright ending, I honestly didnt feel interested. This drama ended up being a revenge drama, but not the exciting kind at all. The message of the drama was fine "It takes more courage to forgive than to seek revenge" but I just feel like it was all messed up. Like two stories flowing together in a bad way or one overshading the other. Anyhow, I only enjoyed the fun parts in the first half of the drama. So I honestly don't really recommend this drama. Even though Jo Won is a great actor, I would rather watch something else. But if you have the time and have watched all dramas then I wouldnt stop you haha!. 

☆☆☆½ / 3½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥  / 3 out of 5 hearts

Bunji's Verdict

This drama started out very good honestly, but somewhere along the line it became halfhearted. The climax wasn’t that climatic, and instead of saying that it was too much about the revenge, I have to admit, I didn’t really care nor notice much of it after J.J’s (Uhm Tae Woong) death. I know it’s a love / police drama, but the romance took too much of the drama, and the entire thing became dull. Though I have to admit, it was great fun, really funny, humor was tip top! And the supporting couple grew on me, even if they didn’t have that much screen time.

I must say I am pretty tired of the female character - just too typical, and annoying, like I remember her being exactly alike in Protect The Boss. But I was happy about Joo Won’s new kind of character (haven’t watched Ojakgyo Family, but compared to all the others) - kind of his real personality.

To explain this in other dramas, I would say the closest is City Hunter and Fugitive Plan B - you feel me? So if that is your type of drama, watch it.

☆☆☆½ / 3½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥½ / 3½ out of 5 hearts

The Equator Man Review

Title: The Equator Man
AKA: The man from the equator
Genre: Melodrama
Episodes: 20
Broadcast period: 2012-Mar-21 to 2012-May-24
Cast:  Uhm Tae Woong, Lee Hyun Woo, Lee Joon Hyuk, Siwan, Lee Bo Young, Kyung Soo Jin, Im Jung Eun, Park Se Young, Kim Young Chul, Lee Won Jong, Lee Jae Yong, Lee Dae Yeon, Cha Hwa Yun, Lee Seung Hyung, Jung Ho Bin . . .

Jang-il (Lee Joon Hyuk (young: Siwan)) is the smart kid at school, with the dream of becoming a prosecutor to protect the weak. One day he faces some trouble, as dept collectors come looking for him at school. Unexpectedly the strong kid at school Seon Woo (Uhm Tae Woong (young: Lee Hyun Woo)) saves him. As Seon Woo gets into trouble Jang-il is too be his tutor, but Jang-il soon finds out that Seon Woo hasn't been taking advantage of his potential. The two of them develop a close relationship, one where they would do almost anything for one another, almost. Their friendship comes to a test, a test strong enough to tear them apart. Seon Woo's father dies a mysterious death, which police claims is suicide. But that just doesn't make any sense to Seon Woo, and he starts investigating. On his way to the police station to submit the proof for his father’s murder, he meets Jang-il. To whom he shouldn’t have turned his back on. Jang-il prevents Seon Woo from going to the station by as very last resort attempting murder. Now he has so live hiding a secret which is eating him up from inside, something which has torn the two friends apart. Several years later, Seon Woo will build his power up from scratch, trying to  find out what really happened and seek revenge. Revenge on a friend.  You will be surprised.

This drama is the next big drama, so amazing I was glued to the screen for 20 episodes. Amazing tension and it's got you from the start. I loved the part where they were kids, loved the little Seon Woo SO much! Everything about him, so cool. Jang-il on the other hand, I seriously couldnt watch. I was so sick of him and even made me hate the actor, I guess he is that good at acting? or what? I was really surprised by Uhm Tae Woong, I had not expected his acting to be THAT good! Maybe because I wasnt that happy about him in that one movie I watched. Here on the other hand.. WOW! so nice, the acting, and his charactor. The love stories, which I havent mentioned, I wasnt too happy about it, I hate those stories with "I must have you, cant live without you"-stalkerish kind of , not crush but like really.. like a crazy person. And its like, the girl from their childhood likes Jang-il but he is disgusted by her because of her father? or because she isnt from at well-off family. And Jang-il likes(like crazy person) the girl who likes Seon Wo and whom he likes. I really hate that kind of thing but I guess the drama is so good I could bear with it. But it made me hate the actor, I dont remember him this annoying in City Hunter. Seriously if you like the action, tension, drama, with sweet love and great actors, this is for you. The revenge part is so good! Wow-mazing!

☆☆☆☆½ / 4½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥½ / 4½ out of 5 hearts

Bunji's Verdict
I guess 2012 was the year of good dramas, because Equator Man defiantly is on that list of great dramas. It has great actors, good screenplay, good chemistry between actors and great dialogues. Though I have to say, the revenge part was crazily deep, so I actually for the first time felt like the lead became crazy because of it. Usually you see them scream, and act like madmen, but this guy seriously became mad. Like, I was scared.

But the bad part was the length and the fact that the only thing this drama is about is revenge. Okay yeah there are many, but you really don’t have time to breathe in the entire drama because of the tension, and the fact that you actually know why and how everything happened, but the lead doesn’t. So the entire drama is about waiting, waiting for things you already knew happened happens. Of course except in the beginning where you get to know the stuff, that the rest, I don’t know how many, episodes are about. It did take me some while to watch this, I started this before Jenji, can you imagine, but couldn’t end it.

I do recommend those who enjoy the entire “justice” part, and also if you like the “back to your own place” thingi…

                                                             

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥ / 4 out of 5 hearts