Pasta Review

Title: Pasta

Genre: Romance, Cooking, Comedy

Episodes: 20

Broadcast period: 2010-Jan to 2010-Mar

Cast: Gong Hyo Jin, Lee Sun Kyun, Lee Honey and Alex.

After spending three years as a kitchen assistant Seo Yoo Kyung (Gong Hyo Jin) is finally to be upgraded to junior cook, or assistant pasta cook, at the restaurant La Sfera. Unfortunately, the head chef runs off with the restaurant money and leaves La Sfera without money and head chef. The manager decides to hire Choi Hyun Wook (Lee Sun Kyun), whom Yoo Kyung had met before on the streets, and had confused him with being the new kitchen assistant. As Hyun Wook enters he ends up firing all the female cooks, which at first seems to be coincidental, but soon he announces that ‘women have no room in his kitchen’. He hires all male cooks for the positions the female cooks had, and soon enough even Yoo Kyung is fired as well. But being stubborn as she is, she refuses to leave, even if she has to continue being a kitchen assistant in order to stay.

At the same time Kim San (Alex) a regular customer, has an interest in Yoo Kyung, but hides the fact that he is the owner of La Sfera. Also, TV personality and cook Oh Se Young (Lee Honey), who happens to be close to Kim San, seems to have a past with Hyun Wook.

The four soon have their work entwined, and as fate has it, also their love life…

I stumbled upon this drama when I was checking out Gong Hyo Jins dramas, and decided to watch it, since I liked the drama “Thank You”. Unfortunately, I wasn’t as pleased as I was when I watched Thank You, but it has its moment. The drama is not bad, just has absolutely no point - I didn’t understand the dilemma, and I didn’t understand the supporting actors (Lee Hone and Alex), except for the unnecessary love triangle/whatever you call four people love drama. Also, I was annoyed at the amount of hostility from the other cooks, though I get the entire “he-fired-everyone- and-wants-to-boss- everyone-else”-vibe, but isn’t that what it means to be a chef… like don’t they do that all the time? And aren’t used to being bossed around…? Hence the “main chef”?

Anyways… Putting that aside, I kind of enjoyed the kitchen/restaurant environment. The main couple was also realistic, ignoring the “no-love-in-kitchen”-part. Their “meet”, and story was pretty decedent and funny.

So all in all nice drama, but to be honest, 20 episodes was a bit stretchy...

☆☆☆½ / 3½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥½ / 3½ out of 5 hearts

Jealousy Incarnation Review

Title: Jealousy Incarnation

AKA: Don’t dare to Dream

Genre: Comedy, Romance, Family, Drama

Episodes: 24

Broadcast Period: Aug-2016 to Nov-2016

Cast: Gong Hyo Jin, Jo Jung Suk, Go Kyung Po, Lee Mi Sook, Park Ji Young, Lee Sung Jae, Seo Ji Hye, Moon Ga Young, Ahn Woo Yeon,

Weather caster Pyo Na Ri (Gong Hyo Jin) and news anchor Lee Hwa Shin (Jo Jung Suk) are long-time colleagues at SBC broadcasting station. Pyo Na Ri has had a crush on Lee Hwa Shin three years ago but things change when she meets the perfect man Go Jung Won (Go Kyung Pyo), a chaebol heir and close friend of Lee Hwa Shin.

Meanwhile, Sung Sook (Lee Mi Sook) and Ja Young (Park Ji Young), who are rivals in both love and career, gets entangled with Kim Rak (Lee Sung Jae), a restaurant owner and landlord of the building where Pyo Na Ri lives.

The most bizarre drama I ever encountered. From the description alone you can’t possibly expect how this drama unfolds. I liked it though, despite it’s bizarreness, it portrays some problems in society that’s not being mentioned. This drama might be a way to direct some awareness into the situation. I loved all the characters, except one. I’m not a big feminist or anything, but the way Pyo Na Ri was portrayed, was really pathetic for us woman, I really didn’t enjoy that part, more likely on the verge of uncomfortable. However, I more than enjoyed the fight between the two male leads and their childish jealousy. This drama made me laugh so much I felt like I was watching a variety. All in all, a really weird, different, all-around hilarious, and thought provoking drama. 

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥(0.5) / 3.5 out of 5 hearts

Thank You Review

Title: Thank You

AKA: We Were There / There We Were

Genre: Social, Melodrama, Comedy, Romance

Episodes: 16

Broadcast period: 2007-Mar to 2007-May

Cast: Jang Hyuk, Gong Hyo Jin, Seo Shin Ae, Shin Sung Rok and Choi Kang Hee.

Min Ki Seo (Jang Hyuk) is an arrogant and cocky surgeon, who also is the son of a rich CEO. He lives every day with only the goal of being the best, until he one day, gets told that his girlfriend Ji Min (Choi Kang Hee) is sick. While visiting her, he finds out that she has last stage cancer, and that she has agreed to accept her fate, but this only furies Ki Seo who decides to take her back home to do the surgery to save her. Unfortunately even he is not able to save her, and this makes Ji Min decide to go to a small island called Blue Island. There she wants to meet a little girl called Lee Bom (Seo Shin Ae), whom she by accident gave HIV, by giving her infected blood. Guilt-ridden she wants to visit Bom and her mother Lee Young Shin (Gong Hyo Jin), and apologize, but dies while riding with Ki Seo.

Unable to get over Ji Mins death, Ki Seo decides to quit his job as a doctor and decides to help his mother in business. Here he meets Choi Suk Hyun (Shin Sung Rok), a hardworking manager of his mother’s company. In order to make Ki Seo become good, his mother decides to have Suk Hyun show Ki Seo the ropes, and one of the first jobs is getting all the land from the inhabitants of Blue Island.

This leads to Young Shin and Ki Seo meeting again, even having Ki Seo living with them, but things get more complicated as the father of Young Shins child happens to be Suk Hyun…

This is one of the few gems hidden beneath all the idol/pretty actors, with a good storyline and good actors, though it has one big problem: it is way too conservative. I’m not talking bed scenes or kisses, but conservative in the typical Korean drama. And what I mean by typical is the early 20s late 90s Korean drama with the loud boyfriend, jealous ex, overprotective male personas and most of all the long annoying stars with the hints of happy smiles (that take over 2 minutes of the screen time). I was hoping by the end it would change a bit, but it didn’t, so a little disappointed me.

On the other hand it has some things that I really like: Young Shin (I know she seems typical but I really found her more amazing than the rest of the female cast), the second female lead actually being nice and likeable and lastly the entire theme of the drama - social discrimination. Me likey! They really go beyond the casual discrimination, by actually talking about fear of the unknown, which by the way is so awesome.

Jang Hyuk and Shin Sung Rok are kind of the dull elements here, not because of bad acting but because I dislike ridiculous “jealous in love” characters. So yeah, whatever. All in all a good drama.

☆☆☆½ / 3½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥½ / 3½ out of 5 hearts

It's Okay, That's Love Review

Title: It’s Okay, That’s Love

AKA: It’s Okay, It’s Love / It’s Alright, It’s Love

Genre: Romance, Comedy, Psychology

Episodes: 16

Broadcast date: 2014-Jul to 2014-Sep

Cast: Jo In Sung, Gong Hyo Jin, Sung Dong Il and Lee Kwang Soo.

On his birthday bestselling author Jang Jae Yeols (Jo In Sung) older brother is released from prison for the murder of their father. While celebrating, Jae Yeol doesn’t notice his brother’s arrival; his brother walks up and stabs him in the shoulder several times. At the trial Jae Yeol begs for a reduced charge as he has forgiven his brother, though his brother swears when he gets out he’ll kill him.

Few years later Jae Yeol started writing crime novels instead of the usual romance novels, which has made one of his loyal fans Ji Hae Soo (Gong Hyo Jin) dislike him. Hae Soo is a physicist at the psychic ward at a hospital, and works with patients from all kinds of mental illnesses. She herself has anxiety: she is afraid of any form of romantic skin ship. The two meet for the first time in a show which discusses the psychological situation in Jae Yeols new crime book. And this makes Jae Yeol interested in Hae Soo, though the interest isn’t requited.

They meet again when Jae Yeol moves into the house where Hae Soo lives, which surprisingly is the house he owns, and the hospital as well. Soon the two start to fall for another, but things are weird with Jae Yeol as he seems to have some issues that go beyond the physical…

Sorry for the crappy summary, it is better than what I make it to be L

This is by far one of the best, if not the best drama, of the year! It has everything a drama from 2014 has to have and much more. The clichés are almost not there and it’s really innovative: from the characters and the storyline all the way to the screenplay. I love it; I think I still can’t get over it.

From the beginning to the end, every single minute is entertaining, and so is every side story. I even liked the OST! Not a single thing is bad, except for the fact that my standards for a good drama has risen by a lot.

All in all not only recommendable, but also a must watch!

☆☆☆☆☆ / 5 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥♥ / 5 out of 5 hearts

Kamji's Verdict

Ah, I still can’t get over this drama. It was perfect in every possible way. It may sound as an exaggeration, but while watching it, you don’t have one negative thought about it, you just silently wish this drama would never end. It had its moments, sometimes you would smile, laugh, cry and even curse, (I curse when I suddenly realize something, I didn’t before, and that happened a lot in this drama, it took me by surprise over and over). So I agree with Bunji, when she called it the best drama of 2014 so far. I'm going to start looking for a man like Jang Jae Yeol. 

☆☆☆☆☆ / 5 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥♥ / 5 out of 5 hearts

Master's Sun Review

Title: Master's sun
AKA: The Sun of My Master / The Sun of the Lord
Genre: horror, fantasy, romance, comedy
Episodes: 17
Broadcast period: 2013-Aug-07 to 2013-Oct-03
Cast: So Ji Sub, L, Gong Hyo Jin, Seo In Guk, Kim Yoo Ri, Choi Jung Woo, Kim Mi Kyung, Lee Jong Won, Park Hee Bon, Hong Eun Taek, Lee Do Hyun, Lee Jae Won, Jung Ga Eun, Kim Yong Gun, Han Bo Reum, Hwang Sun Hee . . .

Joo Joong Won (So Ji Sub) is a cold CEO who only thinks about his "Kingdom", his hotel and mall. As a young teenager (L) he had somewhat a traumatic experience, being kidnapped and watching his first love die. However things aren't exactly what they looked like, but only Joong Won knows. There is a rumour that he is under a curse, as he turns down proposals, and never has a succesful relationship. Unexpectedly, on a rainy night, fate brings him to a place out of town, where he ends up meeting a strange woman, Tae Gong Shil (Gong Hyo Jin). Tae Gong Shil had an accident, and ended up in a coma for 3 years, after she woke up she could see spirits/ghosts. Because of this somewhat unfurtunate ability, Gong Shil was forced to stay in here small rooftop apartment, disclosed from the rest of the world. Only ghosts come to visit her, because to them, she shines brightly like a sun.  Tae Gong Shil notices that ghosts do not get close to Joong Won, so she starts following him. He on the other hand does not like her nor believes in ghost, but when she tells him she can see ::::, his first love, he suddenly sees the oppertunities that lie in her ability.

I had so much fun watching So Ji Sub's character, his hand movements, which he did so much were fun to watch. Again he lives his character, very typical his acting, he becomes his character. I didn't see anything wrong with the acting of the others either. You kind of have to get used to Tae Gong Shil, not sure if it's the actress, I dont think I have watched here in a drama before. Also we had that thing again where this guy, Seo In Guk's character, thinks that he needs to protect Tae Gong Shil, and Tae Gong Shil ends up being this voulnerable girl who needs protection. That annoys me, but it's a part of her character maybe. Overall it is nice and it's not hard to watch. It had plenty of funny moments. Though it does feel like your average drama, didn't have a WOW effect, you still enjoy it since it's relaxing and not stressful.

☆☆☆½ / 3½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥/ 4 out of 5 heart

Bunji's Verdict

After reading Jenji’s review I really didn’t want to watch this, I mean if it IS So Ji Sub, it better be WOW, but she said it wasn’t so I was afraid I’d dislike it. BUT I’m honest by saying this, I really enjoyed it. The back stories were seriously heartbreaking, and the two were just great together. I haven’t really seen Ji Sub in this kind of comedy role, but it suits him, and wow, I really had a blast. I mean sometimes it was so funny, I couldn’t stop laughing. And Gong Hyo Jin is my favorite actress, now I said it! Beside the three last episodes, which somehow felt like fillers, I have to say one of the best dramas of the year (I don’t care what Jenji says - I liked it a lot).. Also I’m crossing my fingers that these two actors get married! Hmph!

So, should you watch it? YES! I recommend it, very much so!

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥ / 4 out of 5 hearts

Greatest Love Review

Title: Greatest Love

AKA: The Greatest Love / Best Love

Genre: Romance, Comedy

Episodes: 16

Broadcast period: 2011-May to 2011-Jun

Theme song: Pit-a-pat by Sunny Hill

Cast: Gong Hyo Jin, Cha Seung Won, Yoo In Na and Yoon Kye Sang

Goo Ae Jung (Gong Hye Jin) used to be a top idol together with Kang Se Ri (Yoo In Na) called “Treasure Girls”. In 2002 they rose to popularity and became national idols. At the same time a patient is undergoing heart surgery with only 5% of survival, but when the surgeon listens to the Treasure Girls’ hit during the surgery (where as usual surgeons would listen to classic), the patient miraculously survives.

10 years later Ae Jung is now a job-to-job celebrity hated by most people due to her bad image and reputation. After a variety job she notices a celebrity car, where she is made a fool of by top star Dokko Jin (Cha Seung Won), who throws trash at her, but leaves without her knowing his face. When his film hits the boxoffice, he waits for the American director Peter Jason to call him for a Hollywood role, which he auditioned for and is very confident about having gotten the role.

Ae Jung and Dokko Jin meet again, this time Ae Jung overhears him talking to his manager, and she by accident ends ups mentioning him on a radio show, and telling the world how close they are.

This goes completely wrong, as she is offered a job, only if she can make Dokko Jin answer the phone on the show…

I had heard and read about this drama for some time now, but I never really felt like watching such a cliché drama every again. First of all I am glad I didn’t watch it before, because I seriously don’t know how I would have reacted to it while watching all those other dramas. I mean this was a drama at the exact time I needed, since I seriously needed a good drama. This is funny, romantic, well-acted, without idols, amazing screen play and such a good scenario. I love both Gong Hyo Jin and Cha Seung Won now, a lot. The reason for it not being a 5 star is because I felt that the ‘ridiculous’ was overboard, but if you like that you should be able to watch it with pleasure  -  I had to bite my tongue a couple of times not to roll my eyes, but else it was pretty good.

A most definite recommendation!

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥½ / 4½ out of 5 hearts

Hello My Teacher Review

Titel: Hello My Teacher
AKA: Biscuit Teacher and Star Candy
Genre: School, Romance
Episodes: 16
Broadcast Period: 2005-04-13 to 2005-06-02
Cast: Gong Hyo Jin, Gong Yoo, Kim Da Hyun, Choi Yeo Jin and many more..

This drama is about a Na Bo Ri (Gong Hyo Jin), a woman who, as a student, was thrown out of school because she beat up some people. She returns to the same school, as a teacher, mainly because of her ex-teacher, Ji Hyun Woo (Kim Da Hyun), still works there, and whom she had loved every since she saw him. Little does she know, the 'leader' of the school, or best fighter so to say, Park Tae In (Gong Yoo), is a troublemaker, who seems to find an interess in the her.
He starts to like her, and refuses to go to school, or behave to say at least, unless she becomes their classoom teacher. The priciple happens to be his stepmother, and she then hires Bo Ri to be the "watch-dog" for Tae In.
Tae In falls in love with Bo Ri, which is seen as an eyesore by Noh Jem Ma (Choi Yeo Jin), who is the classmate of Tae In, and a leader in a way. She has since forever loved Tae In. She tries to make school life for Bo Ri a living hell. Bo Ri starts a relationship with Hyun Woo, but as it turns out, Hyun Woo has a fiancé. And it becomes a fight for Bo Ri's heart...

This drama took me forever to watch.. Firstly I didn't remember the homepage it was on, then the drama links were broken, then I didn't know where to download it. I remember when I started it, that I didnt like it. I hate "Teacher-Student-Love-Affairs", but I ended up liking the drama. I think I would've loved it, if I didnt resent the fact that the teacher was older and a teacher.. Just doesnt fit in my head. But the big plusses in this drama is the great acting, from Gong Yoo, who portrais the troublemaker Tae In with ease, and it looks natural on him. I liked the realtionship he developes with Jem Ma, and the fact that he understands what love it. I loved his personality, which is a double + in this one. The last star is purely because of the story; no one would or will accept a "older-woman-young-guy-relationship" nor a "teacher-student-affair", I actually found myself being one of those who dont accept them. But this story made me understand, that it is simply two people who love each other, the school is just the place they happend to fall in love.. All in all, if you have nothing else to do, or like "forbidden love dramas" this is a good watch..

☆☆☆ / 3 out of 5

♥♥½ / 2 out of 5 stars