Traitor Hong Gil Dong Review

Title: Traitor Hong Gil Dong

AKA: Rebel: Thief Who Stole the People / Rebel: Thief of the People

Genre: Period, Melodrama, Romance

Episodes: 30

Broadcast period: 2017-Jan to 2017-May

Cast: Kim Sang Joong, Yoon Kyun Sang, Chae Soo Bin, Kim Ji Suk and Lee Ha Nui.

Ah Mo Gae (Kim Sang Joong) is a slave, living and working for a nobleman, with his wife and two sons. Their lives are a common slave life, and as life goes, Ah Mo Gae soon notices that being a slave not only halts his life, but limits any hope of a future besides being a slave for his two sons. Even though he is a slave, Ah Mo Gae has the mind of a business man which his owner uses for his advances, and every single time Ah Ma Gae is to be set free, the nobleman finds a way to postpone it. His sons start to realize themselves what it means to be slaves, as the oldest Gil Hyun isn't allowed to read and the youngest Gil Dong is forced to keep his opinions at bay. Soon Ah Mo Gae realizes that Gil Dong isn't just your regular child, as when he gets upset he becomes unnaturally strong. Even though Ah Mo Gae does everything he is able to, so that Gil Dong's powers aren't known to anyone, destiny has other plans and the family ends up having to run for their lives.
As a grown-up Gil Dong (Yoon Kyun Sang) has changed: he cares more about girls and how to earn easy money – much to his fathers' dismay. Ah Mo Gae on the other hand has become a leader of an outcast group of people outcasts like him, dealing with illegal trade.
Even though life seems harmonious, the tension between Gil Dong and his father has shifted, and unfortunately the noblemen have gotten an interest in the dealings and wealth of Ah Mo Gae. And soon enough their past comes to haunt them...

I was waiting for this drama the moment I had heard it was in consideration: at that time the leads weren't even chosen – but I was 100% sure I was going to watch it. This story is one of my favorite stories of Korean literature, due to its creativity, but also because of historical accuracy. Even though this isn't exactly like the original novel, it is very close to it – and the fantasy aspect is also great and fits the story perfectly. Yes, it might be different, but the moment you accept it, it becomes such a nice way to portray the strength of Hong Gil Dong. Another thing that was amazing was the lead couple: I don't remember watching a couple which fit better than these two – even though 'how' they got together might not be great, but the relationship that 'happens' is a delight to watch. The only reason it isn't a 5 stars, it because of the crying scenes of Kim Sang Joong – which you'll have to watch on your own to understand. But that is also it.
Honestly, I don't know how to not spoil anything, and how to explain how much I enjoyed it, without ruining it for you or make you over expectant, except saying: I recommend this drama.
To sum up: an awesome drama with great acting, and amazing story.

☆☆☆☆½ / 4½ out of stars

♥♥♥♥♥ / 5 out of 5 hearts

Personal Taste Review

Title: Personal Taste
AKA: Personal Preference, Kae In's Taste
Episodes: 16
Genre: Romance, comedy
Broadcast period: 2010-Mar-31 to 2010-May-20
Cast: Son Ye Jin, Lee Min Ho, Kim Ji Suk, Wang Ji Hye, Choi Eun Seo, Im Seul Ong, Jo Eun Ji, Jung Sung Hwa, and MANY more.

Park Kae In is trying to work through her life selling her own designed and made furnitures. She lives in her father's house with her friend Kim In Hee, while her father is in England for some business (he's an architect). Park Kae In has now for a while dated Han Chang Ryul but one day as she attends her friend(Kim In Hee)'s wedding she sees that the groom is her boyfriend Chang Ryul. Later on her other friend finds her a renter as she needs money, but at first she resists but then her friend tells her that he is gay so there wont be any problem. So she agrees and she ends up living with him (Jeon Jin Ho), and he totally turns her life upside down. At first he only wants to move in because of the house her father built, cause he's an architect too.. But later on of course they start liking each other but she still thinks he is gay and he cant blow his cover cause then he'll have to move. But then when he cant take it anymore he tells he aint gay so they can be together but yeah people try to split them up (by people i mean her ex-boyfriend and ex-bestfriend) and then later when everything settles down her father comes back home and then he finds out that Jin Ho stole some blueprints and then says that he only wanted to take advantage of his daughter and then Kae In finds out but she still wants to believe Jin Ho but he cant deny it cause it was his intention at first but then he fell in love with her and so lots of things happen but of course it all ends great. :P

Well i actually liked this drama, it was reeeally funny and had really cute moments and it is 2 people loving each other and fighting for their love, and not like in many other dramas where they dont even know whether they are in love. The only bad thing about it might be that there are soooooo many people involved. I'll try to explain.. u see.. Park Kae In likED Chang Ryul and is having a bit hard time letting go. But he likED her EXbest friend Kim In Hee and now he is back to liking her. But her Exbestfriend Kim In Hee is trying to steal her new "boyfriend" Jin Ho. But Jin Ho is cool and always turns her down cuz he only likes Park Kae In. Now, there is this director at the company where Park Kae In has just been hired, he is gay and likes Jin Ho, and when he found out he was "gay" too he tried to like.. get in a relationship with him, but then Jin Ho can takes it anymore cause he's kinda old and creepy so he tells everyone he isnt gay anyway. But the director is okay cuz he supports him and Park Kae In and tries to help them. Then there is also this girl who has been liking Jin Ho since she was 7. And she even sleeps at his place. Annnd. There is this guy at Jin Ho's company who like her. And Jin Ho's mother doesnt approve of their (Jin Ho and Kae In) relationship.. so im just telling,, its really complicated but worth to watch,, lots of fun..

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥½ / 3½ out of 5 hearts

Bunji's Verdict:
This is by far one of the best ideas for a drama that I’ve seen in a long time, and it turns out great. Even though I felt this drama was lacking, and I can’t put my finger on what it is, but when I think back on several occasions in the drama, I can’t help myself loving it.
I expected Lee Min Ho to be “Gyu Jin Pyo-like” or me not to be able to differentiate him from that role, but to be honest, he was far more believable as Jin Ho. Okay, yeah I don’t like Boys Before Flowers and I to be honest am an anti-BBF, but Lee Min Ho was pretty amazing as “the Korean Domiyoji”, so I didn’t mind him in BBF. Him acting in such a different character and portraying Jin Ho made me fall for him, like at episode 2.. That has never happened, except for once (hint: Akanishi Jin – though with Akanishi it was crush at first sight).
The female lead, Gae In, was okay. Loved her character, pretty unusual Korean lead, but as she started to “become a woman instead of a girl”, I became a little annoyed.
And I agree with lumpy up there, there are WAAAAAAAY to many involved, and the feelings are swaying WAAAAAY to many times, but heck, the typical Korean story lines are: dislike -> friendship -> interests -> love -> betrayal -> misunderstanding -> explanation -> avoidance -> clearing all the mess. So going all the way, there HAD to be some reasons for the betrayal and explanations, right? What better is there than guy nr 1 loving the male lead, woman nr 1 hating the female lead, guy nr 2 loving the female lead, woman nr 2 loving the male lead, guy nr 3 loving woman nr 2, guy nr 2 hating the male lead and woman nr 1 wanting the male lead. Confused? Hey, I had to read this 6 times...

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥ / 3 out of 5 hearts