Kim Soo Ro Review

Title: Kim Soo Ro

AKA: Kim Su Ro / The Iron King

Genre: Period, Melodrama, Romance, Fantasy

Episodes: 32

Broadcast period: 2010-May to 2010-Sept

Cast: Ji Sung, Bae Chong Ok, Yu Oh Seong, Seo Ji Hye and Ko Joo Won.

As one of the kingdoms of the North is on the verge of destruction, the pregnant queen Jung Kyung Bi (Bae Chong Ok) flees in order to keep the royal line intact. While doing so she is hit by arrows and barely survives when she boards a ship sailing south. On the boat she gives birth to a boy, but due to her wound and being exhausted she passes out. The ship encounters harsh winds and crashes, leaving only ship wreckage on a shore. A maid from the Iron Masters house spots the wreckage and notices that the newborn baby is still alive, and decides to take him with her. Shortly after Kyung Bi wakes up, but unable to find her child she breaks down. At the same time the Iron Master wife gives birth to her third stillborn, and he is unable to tell his wife. The maid who found the child on shore tells the Master about the child, and in order to save is wife from depression, decides to make the child his son, calling him Soo Ro.

In the south the 12 tribes are having problems agreeing on trivial matters, so they go to the High Priest in order to get answers, this furies one of the richer tribe leaders Shin Gwi Gan (Yu Oh Seong) as the High Priest almost becomes the king, as he is liked by all but also deals with all the main issues. When a prophecy, which says that the future king will be a child born by a woman from north, is given to the High Priest, he meets Kyung Bi and finds out about her background. He decides to marry her, and makes sure that he will be in the same position.

Several years later Soo Ro (Ji Sung) now old enough to learn from his father’s iron crafts, is met with hostility from the High Priests son Lee Jin Ah Shi (Ko Joo Won) and Kyung Bi, since they fear of him being a 'potential' king. And the tribe leader Shin Gwi Gan refuses to let anyone take his throne. Will the real heir be able to become king?

I apologize for the long review; another period/historical story that starts late into the drama.

This is my second drama about the period before the Joseon era, my first being Faith. And comparing those two would not be all that fair, even though I liked this one better. This drama had the element of fantasy, as in magic – which Faith also had, just not the same kind – and prophecies, which apparently used to be quite normal then. I am really not familiar with the story of the pre-joseon era, but from what I know they are coming quite close to the actual story. Though I really don’t understand the use of the second lead – like she was quite unnecessary. I didn’t feel bad for her, and I honestly didn’t get her backstory – not that it was interesting. I get that they were trying to make it sad and heartbreaking, but I actually was waiting for her to leave already… I know: mean. But yeah, I guess people like these types… I just don’t.

Ji Sung was cool as always. I remember him in The Great Seer, which I watched fondly, but here he was younger, which is nice to see. And he just fits those mischievous characters, I dunno why. Also the lead actress was okay, though I don’t know her, she was quite good, but yeah, still a typical lead in period…

But yeah, I found it pretty interesting to watch, so all in all fairly good watch.

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥ / 4 out of 5 hearts

A Gentleman's Dignity Review

Title: A Gentleman's Dignity

AKA: Gentlemen's Class / Grace of Gentleman

Genre: Romance, comedy

Episodes: 20

Broadcast period: 2012-May to 2012-Aug

Cast: Jang Dong Gun, Kim Ha Neul, Kim Soo Ro, Kim Min Jong, Lee Jong Hyuk, Yoon Se Ah, Kim Jung Nam, Yoon Jin Yi and Lee Jong Hyun

This drama revolves around four successful best friends in their 40’s, and how they deal with life, family and love. Kim Do Jin (Jang Dong Gun) is a director of architectural firm and is the ultimate bachelor out of the four, until he meets Seo Yi Soo (Kim Ha Neul), an ethics teacher at an all-boys school. The two have an embarrassing meeting, and that leaves an impression on the playboy. But little does he know that Yi Soo happens to be in love with Im Tae San (Kim Soo Ro), one of Do Jin’s friends and his firm partner, and the boyfriend of Hong Se Ra (Yoon Se Ah) Yi Soo’s roommate and best friend. Tae San’s little sister Im Mae Ri (Yoon Jin Yi) is in love with Choi Yoon (Kim Min Jong), another of the four friends who lost his wife a couple of years ago, so he became the one in the group that they all took extra care of during that time. He is a lawyer, and no matter the situation he would help his friends in need, also the reason for him being the lawyer of Do Jin and Tae San’s firm. The last one of four is Lee Jung Rok (Lee Jong Hyuk): he is the younger housebound of the billionaire Park Min Sook (Kim Jung Nan) who married him for his looks. The two have constant fits, due to Jung Roks infidelity and Min Sook’s jealousy, and it usually is the three friends that make alibies for him, because she owns their businesses.

Their lives suddenly get twisted after a young man named Colin (Lee Jong Hyun) arrives…

It’s been a while since I’ve seen such a nicely written screenplay, makes me all teary. The dialogues, the storyline, and the acting was pretty amazing, and somehow they turned out to be much more than the usual Korean drama (or any drama at all). While watching, I was reminded of the drama ‘Secret Garden’, extremely enjoyable, and to my surprise it was the same writer. The difference is the acting ability: if secret garden is a 10, “A gentleman’s dignity” is a 15. Good acting + good screenplay = enjoyable tv-time :P

Even though it’s different, funny, cute and romantic, it ended up, like in Secret Garden, being just a bit too long; with the extra episodes of ‘should we be together’, but still good evolvement and very interesting. Recommendable!

☆☆☆☆½ / 4½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥ / 4 out of 5 hearts

Jenji's Verdict
This drama is actually quite different from many of those I've watched. So it was a "mature" drama, since the male leads were in the 40's which was really fun to watch, also because it's about these four guys who have been friends since high school and seeing their relations and so. Really funny and I actually liked pretty much all couples, all of them funny and special. My favorite was Yoon and Mae Ah Ri, I was supporting them all way through hahah, and I liked how they all evolved, and changed. I just didn't like Kim Do Jin, not sure if it is because of the character or the actor. I think the actor maybe. I just reeeeally didn't like him. But I survived. I actually only feel like it was a bit too much with Kim Do Jin and Seo Yi Soo, the others were pretty fine. So really not many complaints. Very different from what I am used to and I liked it. Recommend it really!

☆☆☆☆½ / 4½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥ / 4 out of 5 hearts

God of Study Review

Title: God of Study
AKA: Lord of Studying / Master of Study
Genre: School, Comedy, Romance
Episodes: 16
Broadcast period: 2010-Jan to 2010-Feb
Cast: Kim Soo Ro, Bae Doo Na, Oh Yoon Ah, Yoo Seung Ho, Ji Yeon, Go Ah Sung, Lee Hyun Woo and Lee Chan Ho.

Kang Suk Ho (Kim Soo Ro) is sort a different lawyer: when he has a case, he'll put 100% effort into it, meaning EVERYTHING, which also means if he looses a case, he looses all. As he changes office once again, he gets a case about a school, whom he is familiar with; his high school. The school is known as "the trash school", where students dont do any effort in studies, and the teachers have given up on the students. The case he is given, is about the closing down of the school and changing it to a private school, which means all 'usual' students will be changed to other schools.
Kang Suk Ho decides to take the case, but instead of helping with the change, he wants to change the schools reputation, by making 5 students enter "Chun-Ha-Dae University" - Koreas most prestigious college. Jang Ma Ri (Oh Yoon Ah) has taken on the school after her father, ever since had fallen into a coma, but optimistic she isn't. In the matter of fact, she feels as if she is thrown into something that she hates, taking responsebility, so she is more than willing to do the change to private school, but ends up being persuaded by Suk Ho. Suk Ho's first meeting with the leader, Hwang Baek Hyun (Yoo Seung Ho), happens as Baek Hyun delivers food to Suk Ho's office, where Baek Hyun pulls a prank on Suk Ho. Baek Hyun is living alone with his grandmother, who always dreamed of Baek Hyun being a top student, but it happens that they're loosing their home, which Suk Ho uses as his advantage, and makes him join the special class. Other than Baek Hyun there are 4 other students that join: Gil Pul Ip (Go Ah Sung), childhood friend of Baek Hyun, and has always tried her best at studing. She lives with her mother, who owns a bar, and has an affair with a married man. The reason for her joining is her not wating to become like her mother. Hong Chan Doo (Lee Hyun Woo), childhood friend of both Baek Hyun and Pul Ip, and has always had a secret crush on Pul Ip. He loves dancing and has givin up on all kind of study. His father has always made all his decisions for him and has been very strict with him, whereas his mother is loving and caring and tries to support him, but fails as she cant say anything against her housebend. He joins the class together with Oh Bong Goo, because he wants more. Oh Bong Goo (Lee Chan Ho) is the son of resturant owners, who believe that Bong Goo isnt smart in any way. Bong Goo loves studying on the other hand, and joins because he want to study and do better. Lastly there is Na Hyun Jung (Ji Yeon, T-ara), she is the daughter of busy people, meaning parents that are too busy and simply dont care about her. She has a 'stalker-ish' crush on Baek Hyun, thats mainly the reason for her to join the class.
Han Soo Jung (Bae Doo Na) is a pasionate teacher, who LOVES all her students. She hates Kang Suk Ho, so she makes a deal with him: if 5 stundents vulenteerely join the 'special class', she will become the assistant teacher..

This has become one of my favorite dramas. I remember the japanese series "Dragon Zakura" which was the the storyline behind God of Study, and I loved it. God of Study is mainly the same as Dragon Zakura, but a little different. The korean version has focus on the study and relationship between the characters, whereas the japanese focuses on study and humanity (meaning what does it mean being a fellow human and friend). I love both, but the korean was great. It was fun, sad and interesting, and has less focus on the love story, which I perfer. Usually when watching korean dramas, I get annoyed; firsty, because the lovestories are too nauseating, secondly, the guys always seem to be hurt more than the girls. This drama did the opposite. The supporting girl was sad, not insane! Love it! The actors were fun and perfect for their roles, but my favorite would be Yoo Seung Ho, portraying Hwang Baek Hyun. Ive seriously never seen an actor crying, and still be able to cry cool and look cool aswell.. Hands down for you!
On another note, hot-korean-deliquents fighting and crying, yes please!! hehe.. verdict:

☆☆☆☆½ / 4,5 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥½ / 3½ out of 5 hearts