Goblin Review

Title: Goblin
AKA: Guardian
Genre: Fantasy, Romance
Episodes: 16 + 3 SP
Broadcast Period: Dec-2016 to Jan-2017
Cast: Gong Yoo, Kim Go Eun, Lee Dong Wook, Yoo In Na, Yook Sung Jae, Lee El, Jo Woo Jin, Park Hee Won, Kim Min Jae, Kim So Hyun

In ancient times, Kim Shin (Gong Yoo) is an unbeatable general in wars, but the young King (Kim Min Jae) is jealous of Kim Shin and kills him. Kim Shin becomes a Goblin, possessing an immortal life. At first he thinks that he is blessed, but he realizes that he is cursed. Closer to the present day, Kim Shin has waited 900 years for a human bride to end his immortal life. One night, he saves a dying pregnant woman (Park Hee Won) who is destined to die. Meanwhile, the Grim Reaper (Lee Dong Wook) is unable to find the dead pregnant woman. The woman gives birth to a baby girl named Ji Eun Tak (Kim Go Eun). 9 years later, Ji Eun Tak lives with her mother and is able to see ghosts. One night, her mother suddenly dies. On that night, she meets the Grim Reaper.
In the present day, Ji Eun Tak is a high school student. She still sees ghosts and hears their whisper of “Gobins bride”. She now lives with her aunt’s family, but she is mistreated by them. On her birthday, Ji Eun Tak sits by the sea with a lighted birthday cake. At that time, Kim Shin suddenly appears in front of her. Kim Shin does not know why, but he can hear her voice and appears in front of her against his will.

So 2016 ended and 2017 started with TvNs new record-breaking drama, Goblin. I have to say, it was one heck of an emotional drama. It’s ALL about emotions, it’s a simple story. Everything had a purpose, and it gradually expanded to a problem, and then the journey for the solution. So story-wise it’s good, but the action and excitement is missing. However, the key function (I personally think) is that the writers were depending on the viewers emotional needs. And by that I mean that the actors and actress’ for this drama, was carefully handpicked because it needed a lot of face-acting. Emotions had to be carefully delivered. And they did. I have never been so sad and so happy and excited for a drama as I was with this one. It’s right to say that I couldn’t get over it, a long time went by before I started on another drama. As great as it was, it still had its flaws. For me a lot of flashbacks ruins the storyline. I would rather they used an episode and just showed us the story what happens, it doesn’t have to be in the beginning, just so we see it one time and not a trillion times throughout the drama. Because the same scene from the past got repeated multiple times, then comes the next bit and etc etc. However a great watch, definitely going to watch it again when my heart is healed.

☆☆☆ (1/2) / 4(1/2) out of 5 stars
♥♥♥♥♥ / 5 out of 5 hearts

Because It's The First Time Review

Title: Because it’s the first time
AKA: My First Time, Friends 2015
Genre: Youth, Comedy. Romance
Episodes: 22/8
Broadcast Period: Oct-2015 to Nov-2015
Cast: Choi Min Ho, Park So Dam, Kim Min Jae, Lee Yi Kyung, Jo Hye Jung, Jung Yoo Jin

“If I am 20 years old, this is my youth, right? What kind of youth is this? What’s going to happen to my life from now on? You must have had a plan if you brought me into this world. You have nothing to say, right?”
With a freewheeling personality, Yoon Tae Oh (Choi Min Ho) is a 20-years-old freshman in college. He has been friends with Han Song Yi (Park So Dam) since they were little. Now, he begins to have feelings for the girl who has a bright and positive personality. Meanwhile, Tae Oh has a friend, Seo Ji Ahn (Kim Min Jae), who is well-behaved and exemplary. A love triangle brews between these three people.

A short webdrama, with a nice story, and adorable actors. Very easy to love all the actors/characters, because the storyline was so enjoyable. A slice of youth at it’s prime! I really had 0 expectations and really thought one episode and I would be out. But I found myself fully involved in the story, enjoying the performances, the writing, the entire look and feel of this drama. There is a good balance of light and heavy in this without going too far either way. I’m fully engaged with the story behind these young people and looked forward in these few short episodes to see how they would work through the difficulties life was throwing at them. I loved the cameos!

☆☆☆ / 3 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥½ / 3½ out of 5 hearts

Second Time Twenty Years Old Review

Title: Second Time Twenty Years Old

AKA: Twenty Again

Genre: Drama, Romance,

Episodes: 16

Broadcast Period: Aug-2015 to Oct-2015

Cast: Choi Ji Woo, Jung Soo Young, Ban Hyo Jung, Lee Sang Yoon, Choi Yoon Soo, Choi Won Young, Kim Min Jae,

36-year-old Ha No Ra dreamt of becoming a dancer in her high school years, but met her husband Kim Woo Chul when she was 19. After having a child, she focused on taking care of her family and had to give up her dreams. In hopes of becoming a proud wife and mother to her college professor husband and her son Min Soo, she strives to enter college and ends up getting accepted into the same college as her son.

A cute heartwarming story delivered with an encouraging performance by TvN. I really love that channels drama, they are so cheering and not so dramatic and complicated like those typical Korean melodrama. This drama almost made me study for my exams instead of watching it, almost. It teaches the young people that you don’t have to have your whole life figured out now, take it step by step and make sure you’re happy too. The concept really reminds me of Angry Mom, the only difference is that this is in college instead and not high school. I really enjoyed the drama, it was not complicated at all, what I liked was that there were no evil/bad people or good people. They all acted according to their surroundings and very realistically, humanly. The acting was also very good, even the college students were adorable. If I had to point out something negative it would be how weak the main character were, I don’t know why, but weak female MAIN characters bugs me. Like when they can’t do anything themselves and need help with everything. Although Choi Ji Woo (Ha No Ra) had a good performance and her character grew stronger in the end, but she was still dependent on others. All in all a good drama to watch with a nice flow.

☆☆☆☆/ 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥ / 4 out of 5 hearts