Marriage Contract Review

Title: Marriage Contract
Genre: Melodrama
Episodes: 16
Broadcast Period: Mar-2016 to Apr-2016
Cast: Lee Seo Jin, Uee, Kim Yong Geon, Park Jung Soo, Lee Hwi Hyang, Kim Young Pil, Kim Yoo Ri, Kim Kwang Kyu

Kang Hye Soo (Uee) is a single mother who struggles to raise her daughter while paying off her late husband's debts. Han Ji Hoon (Lee Seo Jin) is the son of a chaebol who seeks a contract marriage in order to save his mother, who needs a liver transplant. When Kang Hye Soo is diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor, she agrees to marry Han Ji Hoon and donate part of her liver to his mother, in exchange for enough money to provide for her daughter until she reaches adulthood.

This drama is one of those typical Korean predictable melodramas there is out there. However there is still a hint of something new, it was well written and executed. It didn’t get boring or dull, but rather after every episode it keeps you hunger for the next one. So yes, a very enjoyable and interesting drama. Uee’s acting has definitely improved throughout the drama; she really managed to get that motherly feeling from her, despite her young age. What is a review without mentioning the chemistry between the leads? Here I have to put my hands up and surrender. When I started it I had NO idea what I was expecting from Uee and Lee Seo Jin, mainly because I kept thinking of the big age-gap. After finishing the drama I must say they proved everyone wrong. They had one of the really good screenplay together, enjoyed watching them interact with each other and especially with that little girl! The reason why I’m not giving it full ratings, is because it had too many characters that was ignored or just needless.

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥½ / 3½ out of 5 hearts

Pinocchio Review

Title: Pinocchio
Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Family
Episodes: 20
Broadcast period: Nov-2014 to Jan-2015
Cast: Lee Jong Suk, Park Shin Hye, Kim Young Kwang, Lee Yoo Bi, Lee Pil Mo, Min Sung Wook, Kang Shin Il, Jin Kyung, Kim Kwang Kyu

A young group of people in their 20’s is working hard to become reporters at prestige’s TV-stations, as they report they cry and get hurt by the truth and realize that as reporters they must only tell the truth.
Ki Ha Myung (Lee Jong Suk) learned this at a very young age, where his father, a very respectable rescuer, was overnight framed by the news, and depicted him as coward, which resulted in nine other rescuers death. This lie destroyed his family, his mother committed suicide with Ha Myung, but he survived and was rescued by an old man, he took him in as his son and changed his identity to Choi Dal Po, and there he stayed at an island where he wouldn’t listen to the news. One day the old man’s newly divorced other son and his daughter moves in with them. However, that accident led to Ha Myung growing up with hatred for reporters especially reporter Cha Ok (Kang Shin).

Oh god, I can’t write that plot better unless I’m going to spoil something, and that i reeeeally shouldn’t do, since this is a drama I’m sure you would love because of all its surprisingly plot twists.
Though her character didn’t get nearly as much development as the hero did, Park Shin-hye’s performance was the one that stood out in this drama, that was a BIG surprise for me since I’m not a big fan of hers (actually I have too much against her), but she really convinced me of her acting abilities. She does funny in an effortless way, and made In-ha so lovable that I forgot all about the sad girl who used to get dragged around by rich assholes (man, what I wouldn’t give to wipe Heirs from my memory). It’s so nice to have her playing a strong female character, and so charmingly at that. I have to mention the chemistry too, wow.. they left me breathless accountable times, not fair seriously, not fair!  All the actors did a great job depicting their characters, from the broadcast station to the family, everyone made you love them (and hate them), and they liteally dragged you into their world. Somehow I had to bid the drama farewell, 20 episodes was too short, before I knew it I was done, it was only after the aftereffects of the drama I realized I got to send the show off with a feeling of satisfaction and lots of warm fuzzies to spare. Isn’t that what a great drama is supposed to?  Thanks for the feel-good times, Pinocchio. You were the best love story between an uncle, a niece, a grandpa, and a dad ever. Strangely, not as weird as it sounds! 2015 is off to a good start, keep them coming!

☆☆☆☆☆ / 5 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥♥ / 5 out of 5 hearts