Warm & Cozy Review

Title: Warm and Cozy
AKA: Jeju Island Gatsby
Genre: Romance, Comedy, Mystery
Episodes: 16
Broadcast Period: May-2015 to Jul-2015
Cast: Kang Sora, Yoo Yun Suk, Lee Sung Jae, Kim Sung Oh, Seo Yi Ahn, Jin Young, Ok Ji Young, Lee Jung Moon, Lee Han Wie

Is an enduring romance between an angry ant and a lazy grasshopper possible? Lee Jung Joo (Kang So Ra) has worked tirelessly for five years for a clothing company to try to improve her station in life. But despite all of her hard work, life keeps throwing curveballs at her and she is left with no job or boyfriend. Angry at the world, she ends up on Jeju Island to start over and rebuild her life. Baek Gun Woo (Yoo Yeon Seok), on the other hand, has always had a comfortable life. As chef restaurateur of a restaurant called Warm and Cozy, he doesn’t have to work that hard to succeed because his family has always paved the way for him to succeed. But falling in love with the scrappy Jung Joo may be the toughest challenge he has faced in his carefree life. Can the two opposites find love in the scenic island of Jeju?

Apparently, the Hong sisters wrote this drama, but as far as I know all their works are mostly enjoyable and fun, plus they are pretty well-known in South Korea. However, this drama couldn’t have been more boring. I found myself struggling to get through it. Now the story sounds simple, but with the Hong sisters I expected it to be easy, to be fun, to be effortless. Yet, it was anything but. Kang So Ra was the perfect Jung Joo, since she’s the best when it comes to naive and clumsy characters (except for Misaeng, still can’t forget her in that one). However, I didn’t enjoy Yoo Yun Suk’s acting as much as So Ra’s. He was okay but not that outstanding, and definitely lacking for a main character. The characters from Jeju did an amazing job and I enjoyed the secondary characters acting as well. It is sad for a drama if the only thing you can say was good, were the cast. I could go on and on about how dull and repetitive this drama is, but I won’t. Instead, I implore you to simply not watch it. If you like a drama with character development, where there’s something to look forward to every week, and where the leads don’t fall into a recycled formula each episode, don’t waste your time with Warm and Cozy.

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥/ 2 out of 5 hearts

Modern Farmer Review

Title: Modern Farmer
AKA: Modeon Pameo
Genre: Romance, Comedy, Human, Family
Episodes: 20
Broadcast period: Oct-2014 to Dec-2014
Cast: Lee Hong Ki, Park Min Woo, Lee Shi Un, Kwak Dong Yun, Lee Ha Nui, Jo Sang Gun, Lee Han Wie, Kim Boo Sun, Lee Il Hwa

Lee Min Ki (Lee Hong Ki) is the leader of a rockband called ExSo, short for Excellent Soul. It consists of 3 other members Kang Hyuk (Park Min Woo), now an intern at his father’s hospital, Yoo Han Chul (Lee Shi Un) who has been diagnosed with cancer, while Han Ki Joon (Kwak Dong Yun) is preparing for the national exam for the 5th time although he lost hope In ever passing it. Lee Min Ki himself is drowning in debt, nevertheless he hasn’t given up on his dream of becoming a rockstar, he then inherit a piece of land outside the city. He can’t put it for sale, so he decides to start a cabbage business where he grows his own cabbage. For that he needs the help from his band members, and therefore he ought’s to gather his friends once again, and promise them to release an album very soon.

Lee Hong Ki! My one and only reason for watching this drama, and wow I wasn’t let down by his acting. This is the most suitable role for him, and he did his job exceptionally good. I have not come across any quality comedy like this one, in my entire drama-life. Really hilarious, sometimes it was beyond absurd, but you would still laugh it out. I remember I couldn’t wait for the storyline to develop, it was full of surprises, can't really predict what's next. Lee Hong Ki's acting and expressions are great! Lee Si Eon is good too - he got some explosive funny scenes in the drama. Park Min Woo is cute with his beautiful dimpled smile.
I liked all the couples, they each shared the spotline EXCEPT for the main couple, they got no ‘connection’ time at all! Well, I didn’t hate it, but it’s so different from all the other Korean dramas. The main couple would at least show some chemistry, but this drama ended in a note that left you wondering if they ever were together. But that’s great for me anyway, didn’t like the main actress anyway. Honey Lee, I can’t really remember her other works, but she definitely didn’t stood out in this, so it made me wonder why she’s so popular in Korea. Enough of her, the drama itself were excessively good, and I’m satisfied, so now I’m only looking forward to Lee Hong Ki’s next drama :D

☆☆☆☆/ 4 out of 5 stars
                                          
♥♥♥♥ / 4 out of 5 hearts