One More Happy Ending Review

Title: One More Happy Ending
AKA: Happy Once Again, The Rewrite
Genre: Romance, Comedy
Episodes: 16
Broadcast Period: Jan-2016 to Mar-2016
Cast: Jung Kyung Ho, Jang Na Ra, Yoo In Na, Kwon Yul, Yoo Da In, Seo In Young, Sandara Park,

A romantic comedy about a once-popular first generation girl-group, whose members are in their 30s and are living very different lives, and the men they encounter as they fall in love once again. In the 1990s, Han Mi Mo (Jang Na Ra), Baek Da Jung (Yoo Da In), Go Dong Mi (Yoo In Na), Hong Ae Ran (Seo InYoung) and Goo Seul Ah (Sandara Park) were once members of the successful idol group “Angels". However, the group struggled internally due to Seul Ah's intolerable attitude and meanness, which was further aggravated by her being the most popular member. Fed up with Seul Ah's selfishness, Mi Mo got into a highly publicized physical fight with her and the group disbanded in 2003.

Due to certain comments I expected One More Happy Ending to be a cliché, boring rom-com, since 2015 to 2016 is filled with those dramas. Plus, the fact that Jang Nara was the lead actress, really didn’t appeal to me. But here I am, writing a review to it. I got to say it took me by surprise. One More Happy Ending was a fun little ride.  There is the wonderful friendship between four girls at the center of the drama.  They are always there for each other as they work to overcome life’s challenges throughout adulthood.  It was nice to see. It wasn’t all a pink cloudy ride, as there was some seriousness to it, since it dealt with divorcees, single-parenthood and a lot more. It wasn’t the perfect drama, since it felt into a loop a couple of times, but it did manage to pull out of it and ended with a nice feeling to it. BUT, a review is not a review if I don’t mention the lead actor, the one and only reason for me to have watched it.  We finally get to the king of the show. You know what is amazing? How he managed, in a show that focuses on women, and had 4!! female leads, to rise above everyone and have the most important, interesting, touching, funny and adorable character of everyone. His acting could have been as forgettable as the other lead actor but he managed to own the show! True king!

☆☆☆ / 3 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥½ / 3½ out of 5 hearts

Fallen For Innocence Review

Title: Falling for Innocence
AKA: Fall in Love with Soon Jung, Beating Again
Genre: Romance, Comedy, Drama
Episodes: 16
Broadcast Period: Apr-2015 to May-2015
Cast: Jung Kyung Ho, Kim So Yun, Yoon Hyun Min, Jin Goo, Gong Hyun Joo, Lee Shi Un, Park Young Kyu, Ahn Suk Hwan

Kang Min Ho (Jung Kyung Ho) is a cold, ruthless businessman working for Gold Partners, a major bond investment firm. He has an axe to grind against the company Hermia Group. His philanthropic father was once Hermia's CEO, but he was charged with embezzlement after his death, leading to Kang Min Ho's mother committing suicide and all their family shares were transferred to Kang Hyun Chul (Park Yeung Gyu), Kang Min Ho’s uncle who now runs the company. As he butts heads with his uncle, Kang Min Ho comes across Kim Soon Jung (Kim So Yun), the daughter of his father's former secretary and who now, works at Hermia as Chairman Kang's executive assistant. Soon Jung is happily engaged to Ma Dong Wook (Jin Goo), a detective. Dong Wook dies in an apparent hit-and-run and in a strange twist of fate, Kang Min Ho becomes the recipient of his heart and makes a full recovery. However, Kang Min Ho begins to exhibit different personality traits and habits, ones similar to the deceased Dong Wook's, and finds himself falling for Soon Jung.

I have to admit, I love this drama. In the beginning, I was very hesitant about it, I mean c’mon… A heart transplant and then loving the same person, even changing the personality. I was very sure it would be a huge failure, and yet… and yet… I just couldn’t stop watching it. I just couldn’t take my eyes off the main couple, I seriously finished the whole thing in three days and then just laid around the house hating myself. However, a few days later I got over it somehow I started thinking realistically about this drama. There was a lot of good stuff in it, but also some issues that was forgotten in the drama. A lot of stuff wasn’t properly addressed or explained, so it kind of leaves you with a big question mark. This drama is a good example of how a bad, or at least skeevy, plot can be saved by excellent pacing and acting. The acting by Jung Kyung Ho was remarkable. Without him, this drama really doesn’t work at all. Kim so Yeon handles her role admirably, but without him it would have been unwatchable. A character that, by rights, I should completely despise. He really is a badass, but Jung Kyung Ho makes everything he does mesmerizing. Every time he was on screen, I was enthralled. So yeah, beside the questionable plot I really do recommend this drama.

☆☆☆☆½ / 4½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥♥ / 5 out of 5 hearts

Heartless City Review

Title: Heartless City
AKA: Cruel City / Undercover
Genre: thriller, romance, action, crime
Episodes: 20
Broadcast period: 2013-May-27 to 2013-Aug-30
Cast: Jung Kyung Ho, Nam Gyu Ri, Lee Jae Yoon, Son Chang Min, Kim Yoo Mi, Choi Moo Sung, Yoon Hyun Min, Go Na Eun, Kim Hyo Sun, Jung Soo Young, Jung Ji Soon, Kim Byung Ok, Jung Moon Sung ...

The police infiltrates the mob, the mob infiltrates the police, people take advantage of people, they kill and betray for money, while a few others try to fight them all in hope of truth and justice. Ji Hyung Min (Lee Jae Yoon) and Lee Kyung Mi (Go Na Eun) are two police officers, a couple, in midst of all chaos revolving drugs and killing. They try to hunt down the head of the mob, thinking it is Docter's son, Jung Shi Hyun (Jung Kyung Ho) and old friend of Lee Kyung Mi. Yoon Soo Min (Nam Gyu Ri) is the younger sister of Lee Kyung Mi and ends up falling in love with Shi Hyun, not knowing his real identity. Will she choose love or revenge? Or will she even have the choice . . .

This drama is so crazy, first of all, all those undercover agents, its like the police consists of the mob and the mob consists of the police, okay exaggeration but yeah that's the feeling. And oooooh my God, Jung Kyung Ho (Smile, you) I had not expected this role to fit him like this, he did a great job, though he did have the same face expression a lot, this role suits him. The story was good, nice, and I like the way it turned out, but I wished for a tiiiiiiny bit of more romance, it stayed a bit in the background, but it was still there. There was friendships and such as well (me like) and a lot of times there were some huge twists that would make your jaw drop. And so many times I would say about the characters "I hate this guy" then later "ok nevermind I like him" hahah.. also all those people working with drugs, we didnt really see a whole bunch of people take drugs but we did see consecuenses of drugs, which was actually cool, but I'm guessing it's because of the broadcast station. Anyway, I recommend this drama! I enjoyed it! it's a cool police-mob drama.

☆☆☆☆½ / 4½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥½ / 4½ out of 5 hearts

Time Between Dog and Wolf Review

Title: Time between Dog and Wolf

Genre: Action, Romance, police

Episodes: 16

Broadcast period: 2007-Jul to 2007-Sep

Cast:  Lee Jun Ki, Nam Sang Mi and Jung Kyung Ho

Kay lives with his mother in Thailand who works as a prosecutor, and deals with the Thai-Korean mob. She made a promise with Kay that when she finally is able to deal with it completely they’ll return to Korea together. He lost his father at a very young age: he was an agent in the Korean force, but due to a secret assignment he lost his life, and is nowhere to be found, so Kay has never really gotten to know about him from his mother.  He meets Ari, a rich girl whose father is a gangster, but the daughter has never been involved in that business, but Ari’s mother is fed up with it so she seeks comfort in her house bends friend, and the two start an affair. Ari and Kay become close friends, but when Ari’s father finds out about the affair, he is keen on killing the lover, so Ari and her mother are forced to leave Thailand. At the same time Kay’s mother’s arrest goes wrong, and they are unable to arrest anyone useful, but leave’s a mark on Kay’s mothers back. That same evening Kay’s mother finally decides to tell Kay about his father, only to be killed in front of Kay, by a masked gangster who happens to be Ari’s father.

10 years pass, Kay, now Lee Soo Hyun (Lee Jun Ki) lives with his mother’s friend and the family with their son Kang Min Gi (Jung Kyung Ho), both with a good relationship. The two became trainees at the Korean National Force, like their father.  Even though Soo Hyun is a better police officer than Min Gi, the two’s relationship never had a stain, until Min Gi falls for a girl, who happens to be Ari, now Seo Ji Woo (Nam Sang Mi), whom Soo Hyun reconnects with…

I sort a feel bad for the rating, but I really am having a hard time with rating this drama. I have had the toughest time watching it. I actually found every episode long, and stuffy, not to mention draggy. Started watching it because of Lee Jun Ki, and was disappointed honestly. The Lee Jun Ki in this drama is over acting, way too much, and the chemistry with the lead actress is depressingly non-existent. I really didn’t like her character, tried, but unsuccessful. The one I like was Jung Kyung Ho, even though I don’t like the actor (or didn’t, now I do) - and that is because of his character, and decent acting.

The story is well thought, but just becomes… not boring but not catchy…  Some people might like it, I really think they would, loads of action and the entire revenge idea (reminds me a bit of City Hunter - just more messed up).

☆☆½/ 2½ out of 5 stars

♥♥½ / 2½ out of 5 hearts

Sorry I Love You Review

Title: Sorry I Love You
AKA: MiSa / I'm Sorry, I Love You / Sorry But I Love You (YesAsia)
Genre: Drama, romance
Episodes: 16
Broadcast period: 2004-Nov to 2004-Dec
Cast: So Ji Sub, Im Su Jung, Jung Kyung Ho and Seo Ji Young.

Song Eun Chae (Im Su Jung) is the coordinator for the popular singer Choi Yune (Jung Kyung Ho), whom she by the way is in love with. The two of them have a great relationship, mainly due to their childhood as family friends: Eun Chae’s father has been working for Yune’s mother his entire life, which lead to his entire familie working for the Choi’s. One day, as Eun Chae and Yune are in Australia, Yune decides to confess to actress Kang Min Joo (Seo Ji Young), who is known for scandals and loads of affairs. The hurt Eun Chae decides to go back to Korea, only to be robbed all her stuff. Desperate and bad at English, Eun Chae runs into Cha Moo Hyuk (So Ji Sub), a rough and rude guy, who has been cheated his entire life: he is left by his mother right after birth, adopted by foreign parents only to be abused, his wife leaves him for a rich mob guy who wants to kill him. By an accident, Moo Hyuk gets shot in the head, and as he wakes up, he is told that he has less than a year to live..

One word: soob! Like, I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a sad drama before, really. I was seriously so upset at the ending: it’s not a cry-sad drama it’s a heart hurting-sad drama! I felt soo bad for the lead and supporting actors! Eish!
It’s really good, almost brilliantly made, and acting-wise great! Especially considering how old it is… Lols.. I really do recommend this, but not if you don’t like melo-dramas, sad or those repetitive dramas. It’s different and unique.. And if that’s not enough, watch it because of So Ji Sub: currently my fave actor! First Cain and Abel and now this, awesome!

☆☆☆☆½ / 4½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥½ / 4½ out of 5 hearts

Smile, You Review

Title: Smile, You
AKA: Smile, Smile Honey
Genre: Comedy, Family, Romance
Episodes: 45
Broadcast periode: 2009-Sep to 2010-Mar
Cast: Jung Kyung Ho, Lee Min Jung, Lee Chun Hee, Choi Jung Yoon, Kang Suk Woo,Heo Yoon Jung, Choi Bool Am, Chun Ho Jin and Song Ok Sook.

Being the youngest daughter of the Seo family, Jung In (Lee Min Jung) had been spoilt to the extreme. Her father, Seo Jung Gil (Kang Suk Woo), is a wealthy CEO, had inherited everything he owns from his father. After going bankrupt, Jung In’s groom leaves her due to her situation, leaving her completely humiliated. Raged, she leaves for her chauffeurs, Kang Man Bok (Choi Bool Am), house. Feeling indebted bye Jung In’s grandfather, the one that had hired Kang, he helps her, even though his daughter-in-law opposes. As her son, Kang Hyun Soo (Jung Kyung Ho), returns from America, he tries to connect with his very first crush, Seo Jung Kyung (Choi Jung Yoon), a doctor and fellow school mate, whom he had loved for over 8 years. Seo Jung Kyung on the other hand has a relationship with her director, so she has no interests in Hyun Soo, happens to be the sister of Jung In. Jung In and Hyun Soo meet several times, unfortunately none of them are good, so they end up having a feud.
Much happens and the Seo family ends up having to live with the chauffeur and his family, which consists of the son, Kang Sang Hoon (Chun Ho Jin), the daughter-in-law Baek Geum Ja (Song Ok Sook), and the son Kang Hyun Soo. Matters complicate as the son, Seo Jung Soon (Lee Chun Hee) of the Seo family returns, and crushes the hope of the snobby and wealthy family as he says that he had used all of his assets, gambling. After losing all hope, the Seo family becomes part of the Kang household, and the war between the Seo and Kang family begins..

As I was watching Shining Inheritance I found myself wanting to watch more Korean drama, and I wanted to watch a long one as well (completely different from someone – Jenji). So I searched and found Smile, You. I read the intro of it, and didn’t really like it, but I decided to give it a go – which happened to be a smart move. I loved Smile, You. Most Korean-comedy’s are funny at the beginning, but end up being sad, and loooong. The thing about Smile, You is that when you begin, you can’t stop, and the as you think its cant go funnier than this, it exceeds your expectations and make you fall down your chair! The love story isn’t bad either. I have very few dramas that make my stomach go “wrrruuuh”. When that happens, I become hyper and fall in love myself. The family fued and the moral/living difference are amazingly done, and I tend to go, “are there REALLY so snobby people in the world?” and “are they really OKAY with living sooo poorly?”. BUT! All in all, a great watch!

☆☆☆☆½ / 4,5 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥½ / 4½ out of 5 hearts

Jenji's verdict
I never ever thought I would watch a long drama, and yes I know there are longer dramas, but this is seriously very long for me. But it was surprisingly really good! I had never expected it would be this way. When it comes to these genres it might even be better than the "short" ones. Because its a comedy its more relaxing when there are many episodes and you dont have to "try to figure out what is gonna happen in this and this episode" because it is so long! Just sit back and enjoy! It is actually really sweet and I loved how it, like Bunji said, kept those moments. It didnt fade out, even when things got serious. Actually, near the end, I was thinking I might not like the drama if it ends the way it looked like it would, but they also managed to close it up pretty nicely. I'm thinking it must be hard to end a long drama, what is a satisfying ending? It's a drama for those who want to watch a drama for fun and entertainment without having to worry about anything, just to watch.


☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥ / 4 out of 5 hearts