Voice (Kdrama) Review

Title: Voice

Genre: Mystery, Crime, Police, Action

Episodes: 16

Broadcast period: 2017-Jan to 2017-Mar

Cast: Jang Hyuk, Lee Ha Na, Baek Sung Hyun, Yesung, Son Eun Seo and Kim Jae Wook.

Moo Jin Hyuk (Jang Hyuk) is a detective with a horrible temper. He works at the crime unit, and is known as the “mad dog” because of his ability to track and see through a case. But that changes when his wife is found brutally murdered in an ally. Out of grief and anger, he refuses to go home untill he finds the murderer. The team manages to find a suspect, but because of an operator called Kang Kwon Joo (Lee Ha Na), who says that the killer is the same person who killed her father, the case is dismissed and the suspect flees the country.

Three years later Jin Hyuk is now a traffic cop, working odd hours. Kwon Joo who had been out of the country for all the time, returns to the police station with the idea of starting a “Golden Team”, meaning an operator sending out a team of detectives to save a 911-caller within 10 minutes of calling. Her ideal is having Jin Hyuk working with her. At first Jin Hyuk refuses, but after hearing the plea of the victim he decided to set out. The two slowly find out that they aren’t that different, and that they have a common goal: to find the one who murdered their loved ones…

Firstly, the drama is much more exciting than my summary, so if you went “ah that’s boring”, it is not!

This drama made me anxious, excited and thrilled for next weekend, so I could watch the next episode. This os an OCN drama, but compared to many other dramas, this one is so ‘real’ (with the blood and grotesque nature of people). Of course, a bit lacking here and there, but the TABOO about “being too violent”.

The acting was okay, though I am not a fan of Jang Hyuk’s acting. And the female actress was likewise, not great – just about average. The storyline and screenplay are both well-executed, so it isn’t as important about them, but occasionally is annoys you. As a general the drama is great. Most recommendable.

☆☆☆☆½/ 4½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥ / 4 out of 5 hearts

Kamji’s Verdict

Actually this drama didn’t work out for me, it was very hard to finish it. Even though I’m a big fan of thriller and crime dramas, this one was just not my cup of tea. Maybe because I felt like Jang Hyuk’s character was really annoying. I get his back story and everything, but still I find him very hard to understand. When working with the police force, there are rules to follow. He Just did whatever he liked. The concept with her hearing the smallest sound, and with that figuring it out was not very well worked out. It dragged out in places where it should be suspenseful, but instead it became boring. What I did like, was the villain. Everything about him was pure crazy, it kinda grew on me. So the last episodes where he had more screentime where the best ones. Anyway, all in all, a failure for me.

☆☆☆   / 3 out of 5 stars

♥♥ (1/2)/ 2 (1/2) out of 5 hearts

My Love, Eun Dong Review

Title: My Love, Eun Dong
AKA: Beloved Eun Dong
Genre: Romance
Episodes: 16
Broadcast Period: May-2015 to Jul-2015
Cast: Joo Jin Mo, Kim Sa Rang, Lee Ja In, Jr, Baek Sung Hyun, Yoon So Hee, Kim Tae Hoon, Kim Yoo Ri

This drama is about a man who has it all, yet is unable to possess the love of a woman he is unable to forget, whom he has been loving for the past 20 years. In 1995, Park Hyun Soo (Junior) is an energetic 17-year-old boy when he meets 13-year-old Ji Eun Dong (Lee Ja In), an orphan who still has a positive outlook on life. Hyun Soo’s heart is awakened by Eun Dong but she suddenly disappears before he could really get to know her. In 2005, Hyun Soo now goes by the stage name Ji Eun Ho (Baek Sung Hyun) and aspires to become an actor. When he bumps into Eun Dong (Yoon So Hee) again after 10 years, the two fall deeply in love. But again without warning, Eun Dong disappears without a trace. In 2015, Eun Ho (Joo Jin Mo) is now a top actor who has the fame and wealth he has always wanted. But what he doesn’t have is the love of his life to share his success with. So Eun Ho decides to write an autobiography that details his love for Eun Dong over the past 20 years in the hopes of locating her. He hires a ghostwriter, Seo Jung Eun (Kim Sa Rang), to help him write the book. After he dictates his stories of Eun Dong, he sends them to Jung Eun to transcribe and incorporate into his book. But why do these stories sound vaguely familiar to Jung Eun?

I fell for this drama from the first episode, the story was different and backstory was well thought out. The way the whole drama was executed, was beautiful. I feel like every single detail was carefully thought through and put in the correct sequence. Of course while you watch it, you get impatient and want to know how all this would end for the couple, but now that I’m done with the drama I somehow understand that the whole process was for me (and you) to understand that deep feeling and desperation to accept the ending. It was hard for me to accept the ending, but I actually used a day to think it through and my conclusion is that it was realistic and faithful for the whole drama.
 Ah, one more thing I want to highlight, in lots of drama when the future is linked with the past, you get an enormously amount of flashbacks, and this one is no exception. However the flashbacks are always a new scene or from another perspective so you never get the feeling of a repeated scene all over the drama. So… Perfect I want to cry. The cast were all so emotional and were the perfect fit for the characters, they really made a storm of feelings. While we are at it, I can’t get Kim Sarangs elegance out of my head, she really is naturally beautiful, and as a girl I do feel slightly jealous :b
Overall this drama definitely is one of the best of 2015, it wasn’t even on my list to watch but I ended up marathon it for 2 days.

☆☆☆☆☆ / 5 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥♥ / 5 out of 5 hearts

Melody of Love Review

Title: Melody of Love
AKA: Love through songs, Love Rides the Song
Genre: Romance, Family, Comedy
Episode: 151
Broadcast period: 2013-Nov to 2014-Jun
Cast: Kim Da Som, Baek Sung Hyun, Hwang Sun Hee, Kim Hyung Joong, Kwak Hee Sung, Sun Woo Jae Duk, Kim Hye Sun, Park Woong

A girl named Gong Deul Im (Kim Da Som) is dreaming of becoming a musical actor, even though her parents are against it. By accident, she gets to know Park Hyun Woo (Baek Sung Hyun), who also dreamt of becoming a musical actor, but gave up his dream, to fulfill his father’s dream of becoming a lawyer. His best friend Han Taekyung (Kim Hyung Joong) is a musical director and decides to cast Deul Im against all odds. Hyun Woo can’t stay away from the stage, and together with Deul Im he learns the true meaning behind standing up for his own dream. 
Even though Han Taekyung is a talented director, and keeps a pride in his original musicals, he encounters some financial problems. He seeks help from Hyun Woo’s cousin from America, who decides to invest money in their new production. However, what will happen when his new producer tells him to make a Broadway musical remake.


 Okay, I miraculously managed to finish this absurd drama within a week. I need an award for that seriously; ‘wasting time’ gives a whole other meaning after watching this one. But then again, I did it to myself, the only reason I watched this was because I was interested in the main actor, Baek Sung Hyun, I watched him in other dramas where he had minor roles, but in this one, he was the main, so I was interested in how he would achieve it. Hmm.. He has talent for acting (he started since he was 7), but unfortunately he was casted with other disappointing actors. I have seen idols turn into actors and succeed, and some fails big time, Dasom is one of the failures. Why would they give her a lead role? Okay, I should stop here with the actors, because it is not their fault, the writers for this drama should consider never ever write again. I thought this drama was about pursuing ones dream, when in reality I just got a lot of headache. The story was like a complicated soap opera, and the characters was so poorly build up that it made no sense in the end. I’m sorry for being so negative about it, but I would like to recommend everyone that are thinking of watching this, don’t do it. It is not worth your time. 

☆☆ / 2 out of 5 stars

♥ / 1 out of 5 hearts

White Christmas Review

Title: White Christmas
AKA: Monster
Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Psychological
Episodes: 8
Broadcast period: 2011-Jan to 2011-Mar
Cast: Kim Sang Kyung, Baek Sung Hyun, Kim Young Kwang, Lee Soo Hyuk, Kwak Jung Wook, Hong Jong Hyun, Esom, Kim Woo Bin, Sung Joon and Jung Suk Won.

This drama special is about 7 students and one teacher of Susin High School, an independent private school with the 1% of all Korean top students. Anything except studying is forbidden, and they are rating by points they get while attending school.
On a 8 day vacation - from the 24th Dec, 7 students: Park Moo Yul (Baek Sung Hyun) the schools ‘goody’ known for good behavior and has never broken a rule, Yoon Eun Sung (Esom) known as the prettiest girl in the school and liked by everyone, Yoon Su (Lee Soo Hyuk) known as ‘Angel’, because his father donated loads of money to the school and like that managed to occupy a spot, Choi Chi Hoon (Sung Joon) the schools smartest kid never leaving the number one spot at school ranking and the one Moo Yul is struggling to beat in any test, Jo Young Jae (Kim Young Kwang) hated by all students for his patronizing personality and ‘bully’ attitude, Yang Kang Mo (Kwak Jung Wook) who films everything and everyone, but has a handicap, he has and earplug, and lastly Lee Jae Kyu (Hong Jong Hyun) the only one that doesn’t seem to fit in the bunch since no one knows him. The teacher Yoon Jong Il (Jung Suk Won) got the task to take care of the students during the break, but is shortly joined by a psychologist Kim Yo Han (Kang Sang Kyung)who was involved in a car accident close by, and seeks refuge at the school, with a slight head injury.
None of the students like each other and try to stay out of each other’s ways, they at one point find out that they all got a mysterious black letter, written exactly the same way. At first most of them are treating it as a joke, but as time passes by, Moo Yul gets interested in it, and is surprised that all 7 are involved. While trying to figure out the letter, another school mate happens to be at the school, Kang Mi Reu (Kim Woo Bin), the schools dare-devil, who is suspended and wants to make Young Jae, whom he believes is responsible for it, pay for it. All that is put aside, when someone is murdered, and the telephone lines aren’t working.
Now they are stranded in the middle of nowhere, and with a murderer amongst them…

I’m sorry, I was really trying to cut it down, and it somehow became too reveling, then I wrote a lot, and yeah, less revealing: P Any ways, this drama is brilliant, with a brilliant cast (no idols) and amazing storyline. Though I have to admit, I have no idea how on earth it managed to escalate that fast without me rolling on the floor crying. Seriously, like every episode made my stomach turn, not being nauseous, but scared (in a good way) because I really would never know what I’d do in their position. I didn’t like the actress, though she grew on me, and some of the other actor did annoy me in the beginning, but as you watch them you simply wish for their well-being. I really recommend this, sincerely. It is very psychological, but it uses 8 episodes too the very fullest, and the tension does not let you down in any way. The only reason it’s not completely full rated is that there are times when I just knew what was going to happen, like 80% of the time that is.

☆☆☆☆½ / 4½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥½ / 4½ out of 5 hearts

Kamjis Verdict
Hmm, I really don’t know about this. Would you be surprised if I say I didn’t quite like it… First of all the show is anything but a traditional kdrama.  It isn't romantic.  It isn't funny.  It isn't melodramatic, either.  It's bleak, terrifying, heartbreaking, and disturbing all at once. The one thing that made this series work so well was the cast.  This drama possibly had the best cast I have seen on any kdrama--ever.  I don't say that lightly.  It was a cast of mostly teenagers, but each and every character (okay, with one exception) was layered and complex.  Even the villain of the series had interesting moments of depth that steered clear of caricature.  While I didn't like all of the characters, I grew to understand them.  The cast members were phenomenal at portraying characters who were so human that you hurt for them.
I think maybe what ruined the show for me was that everyone kept saying how dark and terrifying it is… but it wasn’t. I mean everything was perfect, the cast, the plot (I liked), how it was directed, most of the things was good. I just can’t put my finger on one negative thing, so why did it leave me with an unpleasant feeling that it wasn’t that great? I guess I’ll just ponder over that for now.

☆☆☆½ / 3½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥ / 3 out of 5 hearts