Defendant Review

Title: Defendant

AKA: Innocent Defendant

Genre: Legal, Thriller

Episodes: 18

Broadcast Period: Jan-2017 to Mar-2017

Cast: Ji Sung, Uhm Ki Joon, Kwon Yoo Ri, Oh Chang Sook, Uhm Hyun Kyung, Son Yeo Eun, Shin Rin Ah,

Park Jung Woo (Ji Sung) is a star prosecutor with the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office. His world turns upside down one day when he wakes up to find himself in a police station jail, accused of killing his wife, Yoon Ji Soo (Son Yeo Eun), while his daughter is missing. What roles do identical twins Cha Sun Ho and Cha Min Ho (both played by Uhm Ki Joon), successors to the mighty Chamyung Group, and Sun Ho’s wife, Na Yeon Hee (Uhm Hyun Kyung), play in Jung Woo’s current predicament? Jung Woo has temporary amnesia and has no recollection of what happened. But with the help of public defender Seo Eun Hye (Kwon Yoo Ri), can Jung Woo find a way to prove his innocence while tracking down the real murderer?

Ji Sung ♥ That drama had everything. Great script and directing, powerful acting, suspense, many twist and not even for a moment was it boring. Cha Min Ho and Park Jeong Woo were such a great duo, they had the most radiant chemistry for a villain-innocent relationship. The prisoners were definitely scene stealers, loved every moment with them, they were in charge of the humor in this really sad and frustrating drama. During the drama I wouldn’t be surprised if Ji Sung shed at least one liter of tears, you could literally see the passion he drew to his character. And that little girl? Damn. Give her an award already. However, not all of it was perfect. Now from a legal standpoint (I’m no expert, but I do know a little), but the system was one big mess, I would really not have anything to do with a legal system like this, a little turn off for this quality of drama. However, I enjoyed it for the acting and effort put into it. I give Ji Sung 10  ♥ from me, and for the drama:

☆☆☆☆ ½ / 4½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥ ½ / 4½ out of 5 hearts

Bunjis Verdict

This drama is one of those that had hype, but this time I wasn’t aware of it. Which initially surprised me since the lead is Ji Sung, but later I was rather grateful since it didn’t cloud my judgment at all.

The idea of this drama and the casting is seriously on point, but I kind of felt that they dragged some things on for too long. I won’t tell which ones as it will spoil, but things that don’t directly involve the storyline. It didn’t necessarily ruin the story or drama, but it made it hard to take serious occasionally.  Fortunately, the story is intriguing and it is an interesting watch, so things like love story become unwanted - and thankfully it doesn’t really have that. I do have to say, at one point I felt bored - because of the ‘draggy’ parts, and I felt like this wasn’t my ‘type’ of drama at one point, but to sum up: this is a good drama with great acting, and I think no matter which type of drama you prefer, this will be a good watch

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥ / 3 out of 5 hearts

Masked Prosecutor Review

Title: Masked Prosecutor

AKA: The Man in the Mask

Genre: Action, Comedy, Legal, Drama

Episodes: 16

Broadcast period: 2015-May to 2015-Jul

Cast: Joo Sang Wook, Kim Sun Ah, Uhm Ki Joon and Park Young Gyu.

Ha Dae Chul (Joo Sang Wook) is a corrupt prosecutor willing to look through things if he is payed for it. This makes him butt heads with Yoo Min Hee (Kim Sun Ah), a detective working on cases involving criminals Dae Chul is supposed to be prosecuting. But little does she know is that Dae Chul is a masked vigilante, making criminals confess and sends them to the police station. The truth is Dae Chul used to train wrestling at Min Hee’s Uncles gym, where he learned to wrestle to impress Min Hee. Then he meets his real father who tells him about his mother and how she betrayed him and Dae Chul to live a richer life with his father’s best friend.

This makes Dae Chul seek revenge by becoming a prosecutor, but due to his honest personality can’t let criminals go, so he becomes the masked prosecutor to bring them to justice…

Of all the Korean dramas, out there I was expecting (hoping) this would be more like the Japanese types of drama, and it does have all the elements, but Koreans just take themselves way to serious for it to be a funny and moral story. I understand what they were trying to do, and since they couldn’t keep it to the ‘masked vigilante prosecutor’ they tried to add another plot in the plot, making it more of 3 plot type of drama, all in one. Of course, as all other Korean dramas they have loads of sub plots, but they kind of die off, as well as the actual cases in police and prosecutor offices. I was expecting a light drama, but somehow ended up with another wannabe light version of makjang. I dunno why Koreans love birth secrets and revenge so much…

Anyways, the cast was fun, and to be fair I had a few laughs here and there, but else this drama is not really one of my favorites – even if I must say it grew on me.

So, all in all, an okay drama that I don’t think I wouldn’t recommend.

☆☆☆ / 3 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥½ / 3½ out of 5 hearts

The Virus Review

Title: The Virus

Genre:  Mystery, Thriller

Episodes: 10

Broadcast period: 2013-Mar to 2013-May

Cast: Uhm Ki Joon, Lee So Jung, Lee Ki Woo, Ahn Suk Hwan, Hyun Woo and Jo Hee Bong.

When a fire breaks out at a Medical Center, and the survivor from Center dies due to illness, the people involved in the saving suddenly become infected with the same disease. In matter of three days about 34 people die and the CDC (Contagious Disease Crisis) Team are put to the task to figure out the source. When they realize that every person infected will die in short as 2-3 days’ time, the team asks to announce it as an epidemic, but due to the low death rate, and the fact that only the people who have been near the Medical Center, the higher-ups leave decide to keep it hidden. Frustrated by this Squad Leader of the CDC Lee Myung Hyun (Uhm Ki Joon) who lost his daughter due to an unknown disease tries his best finding the reason.

Trying to trace the illness they notice that a young man happens to be connected to the spread of it and seems to be immune of it. Now they have to find him and how to cure the disease, before the number of sick becomes too large…

The drama caught my interests after I entered the “Yeongasi” hype, but it didn’t really manage to reach that level. I felt that it tried too hard to become like IRIS or dramas like that, but could have become great if it didn’t try to do so. Casting wise, pretty brilliant, recognized some of them, but I didn’t feel like this drama had much acting focus, except for the lead actor.

I really spent almost 2 weeks watching this 10 episode drama, not because its bad, just not that intriguing I guess. Action/conspiracy/police/outbreak drama lovers, will absolutely adore this. I just wasn’t into it.

☆☆☆½ / 3½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥ / 3 out of 5 hearts

Phantom Review

Title: Phantom

AKA: Ghost

Genre: Crime, action, investigation, identity swap

Episodes: 20

Broadcast period: 2012-May to 2012-Aug

Cast: So Ji Sub, Lee Yeon Hee, G.O, Daniel Choi and Uhm Ki Joon

This drama revolves around the Cyper Squad in the Korean Police. Kim Hyun Woo (Soo Ji Sub) is team leader of the cyber squad, and is searching for the infamous hacker Hades. Little does he know, the hacker is ex-cadet and his old roommate, Park Ki Young (Daniel Choi). While the two are going head to head, the famous actress Shin Hyo Jung (Esom) dies in from a fall, out of her apartment window. Everyone believes its suicide until Hades uploads a video for the world to see, how someone pushes her out of the window. Shortly after the evidence start to point at Ki Young, and for some reason Hyun Woo doesn’t try to find the real murder, even though he knows Ki Young is innocent…

Hmm, I tried not to give much away, but the drama is more exciting than what I’ve written. Basically it’s a police action drama with a corrupting topping. I really enjoyed it, almost every bit of it, and even though it does not have any romance in it, which for me is unusual to like, it was pretty brilliant. So Ji Sub can’t be compared, I love him, but I didn’t like his leading lady, or whatever you could call her… Not the greatest actress. G.O was a nice surprise, though you can see that he isn’t very used to acting. Kwak Do Won was great, probably one of my fave, as the hot headed police officer. All in all, a great drama, defiantly recommendable…

☆☆☆☆½ / 4½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥½ / 4½ out of 5 hearts

Jenji’s verdict

This drama seriously just blows your mind. It get more and more complicated and so many things happen that just leave your jaw hanging. Too many times I had to check whether it was the end of the episode because it was so extreme, and extreme things usually happen at the end of each episode. It really is a drama that gets you thinking all the time “What? Why? How? OMG what’s going on! Can’t be true!” it’s one of those.. And I really liked the actors, I think it was my first time seeing G.O act, it was decent. Not bad at all. And So Ji Sub,, daaayyuuum! That guy! Like when watching him talk sometimes you get so absorbed and you just admire what a great actor. Good looking, charismatic. All. I think all the actors did a great job. I’m really wondering why it didn’t get as good ratings as some other dramas, wondering if the Korean watchers don’t like that genre? Only melo dramas lol. Anyway.., at some point it did actually get too much for me, around ep 12, I was kind of slowing down, it was getting too much, but when I continued later I couldn’t stop! And the ending was really good, and I don’t know how but I felt bad for the “bad guy” in the end :/ This is about revenge going too far and trying to defeat hate with hate, or more like fighting the rich power-thirsty people by becoming just like them. And about the importance of police officers doing what they have to do being a “good police officer”. Doing their duty.  And of course we love hacking lol. It almost makes you want to become a hacker hahah! I’m just like “cooooooooool!” “awesoooome” and then it’s even So Ji Sub as a hot hacker lol. Hahah, enough from me. Like hacking? Mindblowing dramas? This is the one for you baby! 

☆☆☆☆½ / 4½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥½ / 4½ out of 5 hearts

Scent of a Woman Review

Title: Scent of a Woman
Genre: Romance
Episodes: 16
Broadcast period: 2011-Jul to 2011-Sep
Cast: Kim Sun Ah, Lee Dong Wook, Uhm Ki Joon and Seo Hyo Rim.

Lee Yeon Jae (Kim Sun Ah) has a lousy job where her boss keeps harassing her and everyone takes her for granted, mainly by giving her all the work. 10 years she has had the job, but hasn’t complained, since she needs the job and by saving money, bits by bits, in hopes that one day she can get married, move into a house with a yard and have children. Her father died of cancer when she was young, so she is left with mother, which also a reason for her not is being able to actually start dating someone. Her life is turned upside down, when she goes to the hospital and meets her elementary school classmate Chae Eun Suk (Uhm Ki Joon), who at first ignores her, because she kept reminding him of his past. He finds out that she is terminally ill, and that she roughly has 6 months to live. Scared and angered she leaves the hospital, refusing to get treatment, as she is reminded of her father’s days with cancer, and as she arrives at the office only to be angered even more, when an incident that had occurred earlier with a missing ring, whom she had been accused of stealing by a powerful woman Im Se Kyung (Seo Hyo Rim), gets heated up in the office. She decides to quit her job, and take a vacation, using the money she had saved over the years.
In Okinawa, Japan, she by accident meets Kang Ji Wook (Lee Dong Wook), the general manager of the same company, and whom she has had a crush on for a very long time. The two spend a lot of time together, only to be ruined by Ji Wooks fiancé, who is no other than Se Kyung.
When Yeon Jae returns to Korea, she decides to make a list, of the thing she wants to do before she dies, but as it turns out she has already set things around her in motion, not to mention a man’s heart and a woman’s jealousy.

One of the year’s best Korean, no out of all, drama. I, like many others, watch drama because of Idols or actors that are beyond popular (Jang Geun Suk, Hyun Bin etc). When I saw this drama I didn’t really think of it, didn’t really read the plot, nor did I recognize the cast. While watching Running Man (Korean varity show) a guest named Kim Sun Ah was starring and they talked about her new drama. I really liked her in My Name is Kim Sam Soon/My Lovely Kim Sam Soon, so I hurried and read the plot, and had to download it! While watching, and this has only happened once while watching MARS, I couldn’t stop, heck I prioritized the drama over my sleep! It was even a school day :P
It’s a bit of a grown up drama, like My Lovely Kim Sam Soon and Can You Hear My Heart, but that doesn’t make it any less of a drama. I totally recommend this to those who like heartfelt and mature dramas.

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥½ / 4½ out of 5 hearts

Jenji's verdict
Really really nice drama, I really liked this, new kind of plot. It was fresh because I hadnt watched anything like this. And it's one of those dramas where you are just crying, and it's those problems you cant do anything about! So its like, you're helpless and you can only cry .. really tough. But then again, it's so cool, I dont really have words, it was really amazing to think about the "situation", and actually imagine, what it would be like. Really interesting drama, and as Bunji often told me, very grown-up. But I have to warn you, there's a lot of crying. But definitely recommend it.The actors too are fine, my first time watching Kim Sun Ah, and Lee Dong Wook as well I think, and it was really fine. 

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥ / 4 out of 5 hearts

World Within Review

Title: World Within
AKA: The World That They Live In
Genre: Romance, Movie Making
Episodes: 16
Broadcast period: 2008-Oct to 2008-Dec
Cast: Hyun Bin, Song Hye Kyo, Uhm Ki Joon and Seo Hyo Rim.

This drama follows the people behind the camera: directors, producers, actors, screenwriters, assistance etc. Jung Ji Oh (Hyun Bin) is a director who is loved by all this co-workers for his easy-going personality and care for others, even named the stations back-up. Even though he is highly appreciated, he hasn’t been able to have his breakthrough, and keeps getting low ratings. Joo Joon Young (Song Hye Kyo) is also a director, different from Ji Oh she is seen cold and thoughtless by her co-workers, but as far as work she is even more succesfull than her idol/mentor of a sunbae Ji Oh.
The two of them had a relationship at some point where Ji Oh had broken up with his girlfriend. After Ji Oh breaks up with Joon Young he returns to his girlfriends side, and Joon Young becomes Ji Ohs assistant director. The two of them maintain a friendship, but as years pass, so the does Ji Ohs too serious girlfriend. When he finally ends things with her, and as Joon Young breaks up with her boyfriend, the two of them decide to give it a shot again.

I wanted to watch this drama for a long time now, but kept putting it off because of my expectations being low (mainly because of the low rating). And I have to say, stupid! Like I’m so in love with this drama! You those dramas where you want to know what happens after ’the couple’ becomes a couple, this is exactly what is shown, with their work as a twist. Yes, it’s VERY adult like, a lot of serious talk, break-up and not to mention endless fights. But I swear, everything is perfect here, every single character, screen, dialogue, you name it, it’s as if it’s the real world. Hyun Bin and Song Hye Kyo aren’t just perfect together, but their characters are amazingly tailored for them. Now you ask, why didn’t I give them 5/5? Hmm, the answer is simple, I was satisfied at the end. Yes, that’s rare, but I was too satisfied. I just wish that there was this small portion left for us to imagine further. I mean, EVERYTHING ended… Well, peacefully. As if they hurried to wrap the ending up. Oh well…

☆☆☆☆½ / 4½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥½ / 4½ out of 5 hearts