Faith Review

Title: Faith (shinui)

AKA: The Great Doctor

Genre: Historical, romance, time travel, fantasy

Episodes: 24

Broadcast period: 2012-Aug-13 to 2012-Oct-30

Cast: Lee Min Ho, Kim Hee Sun, Yoo Oh Sung, Lee Phillip, Kim Soo Yun, Sung Hoon, Shin Eun Jung, Jo In Pyo, Choi Suk Jin, Hwang Woo Yun, Ryu Duk Hwan, Park Se Young, Lee Byung Joon, Kim Mi Kyung, Kwon Min, Park Yoon Jae aso..

The Queen’s life is in danger, she was hurt while people were after the King. The Woo Dal Chi general Choi Young (Lee Min Ho) has been ordered to go through the Heaven’s Door and get the famous doctor Hwata, who once before came to their world to heal. And so does Choi Young, he goes through the door and arrives, but not to heaven, but rather the future. Here he somehow finds his way around and spots a woman, a doctor. Yoo Eun Soo (Kim Hee Sun) is a doctor, but a doctor who retired from being a general surgeon and instead took on plastic surgery. Eun Soo is literally dragged by Choi Young, back in time, where she has to use her medical skills to save the Queen. But what happens when it is ordered for Eun Soo to stay, and will Choi Young be able to keep his “Woo Dal Chi” promise of returning her?

I am quite unsatisfied by my own review. I often am but this I seriously should do better. I have a really tough time conveying to you the story, the plot, without telling you everything. It’s actually much much better than I thought it would be. I was struggling so much with the two first episodes actually. It just seemed sooo.. ridiculous. I was asking “seriously…?” all the way through. The reason? Well, they have “superpowers” of some sort, and it was already enough with the time travel, I was thinking it should stop there. But I really wanted to give it a chance, since it’s lee min ho, of course. Plus somehow Lee Min Ho’s acting seemed a bit stiff at first, maybe because of the character. So as I was complaining to Bunji how ridiculous it was and I thought it would seriously be good (because of tumblr) she told me these magical words “Ano san, trust Lee Min Ho, he wouldn’t choose a crappy drama right? And think about Secret Garden, did the portion/body switch make it a bad drama?” , or something like that. So I thought “That’s right!” and I’m really glad I gave it a shot because I am actually really satisfied by this drama. It actually worked out really well. And I really liked the romance too. And it also managed to keep me curious and hoping aaaalll the time, till the last scene in the last episode I was hoping so much and right when you think it’s over, what a crappy ending, it gets that last twist and boom. Nice ending. And the nice thing too is that it somehow in my opinion wasn’t even too much. It was “ttak” perfect. Kim Hee Sun was really cute too. Btw, this drama is also about the making of a king, and all the mess in the palace. Which I actually reeeally hate but it’s in most historical dramas, but I liked it here. 

☆☆☆☆ / 4 stars out of 5

♥♥♥♥  / 4 hearts out of 5

Bunji's Verdict

I’ve already wended my frustration of this drama to Jenji, but here we go. This drama is period drama with a capital P. Like I used all my energy to really understand this drama, and you somehow do, but damn it’s so political, and if you are like me, disliking period dramas, this one is going to fry your brain. I like history and I love that this drama is somewhat true to the real historical part, but this is just I don’t know, period to the bone. Don’t get me wrong, it’s good, but just, well not my cup of tea completely. I have to admit, this is Lee Min Ho’s best acting - very close to Personal Taste - but yet I guess cold attitude and the old formal Korean suits him more. I didn’t like Kim Tae Hee, not because of her character or even because of her being opposite Min Ho, it was more her acting - totally reminds you of the mid 20s kind of drama - not the best kind. The couple didn’t really have any chemistry honestly, I preferred to second couple, the one that didn’t even have a kiss scene, the King and the Queen, looked forward to every minute of their romance. And I loved the King; just the way the character was portrayed was amazing. The drama is interesting and action packed, so it isn’t lacking. All in all, it’s and okay drama, actually recommendable.

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥½ / 3½ out of 5 hearts

King 2 Hearts Review

Title: The King 2 Hearts

AKA: King / The King

Genre: Romance

Episodes: 20

Broadcast period: 2012-Mar-21 to 2012-May-24

Cast: Lee Seung Ki, Kang Han Byul, Hi Ji Won, Jo Jung Suk, Yoon Je Moon, Lee Yoon Ji, Lee Sung Min, Park Gun Tae, Yoon Yeo Jung, Lee Soon Jae, Jung Man Shik, Kwon Hyun Sang, Choi Kwon ..

The relationship between North Korea and South Korea has always been tense, even today. But they both have a wish for uniting though through different principles.  At the WOC competition between different nations, the South and North want to show the rest of the world that they can win as one team. And to show just how much they want to be unified the South decides to send their prince Lee Jae Ha (Lee seung ki), though it is more because his brother, the King, wants to teach him a lesson. Lee Jae Ha protests but uselessly, and he is put in a team with 2 other south Koreans and 3 north Koreans, two male and one female. Kim Hang Ah (Ha ji Won)’s reason for joining is only as a favor so she can find a husband. She is tired of not being seen as a feminine woman and misses having a relationship. Lee Jae Ha is a lot after her and believes she isn’t qualified but she will fast prove him wrong. The two of them quickly develop feelings, but their love is like a forbidden love. Kim Hang Ah is someone the north is proud of and a representative, while Lee Jae Ha is from the royal family. During the tension the king and his wife are murdered and the blame is put on the North. Lee Jae Ha has to step in as the king to lead the people, but at the same time he also wants to be with Kim Hang Ah. Will he be able to fulfill both? Will he lead the people without acting selfishly and will the people be satisfied with him as a king, and can he have his love?

I actually surprisingly really loved this drama. I’m not sure I have anything bad to say about it. I absolutely loved the couple actually. And I was SO surprised by Seung ki and his role, his character, his acting and everything. I didn’t mind Ha Ji Won either, I’ve heard some people weren’t satisfied but I really don’t have anything negative to say. Again she has a role where she fight a lot lol but yeah it fits her I guess, even though she isn’t quite like that in real life, she does a great job. I loved his older brother the king. He is really cool as a brother. And the whole thing I kind of really understand, the tension and the reason for everybody’s actions and all. It’s a romance where it’s about fighting for love when it’s really tough and supporting one another. It’s not the kind of love that gets interrupted by other people and all the three/four-sums.. And the second lead couple was so nice as well. I really really liked them. I enjoyed the drama especially the male actors (HAHAHA!) 

☆☆☆☆½ / 4½ stars out of 5

♥♥♥♥½ / 4½ hearts out of 5

Bunji's Verdict

It took me unnecessary long to watch this one, but that was honestly because I really dislike the entire north vs. south theme, and especially when the army is involved. The reason(s) I started was the actors, even though I don’t really LOVE Ha Ji Won, but I adore Lee Seung Gi. The idea of following a married royal couple was kind of good as well, so I gave it a shot. I was fairly surprised, not because the north vs. south thing changed, but because of the amount of emotions this drama gives you. Not only the love story, but also the general family issues and problems, and the intense tension in EVERYTHING. I also felt the two leads were really cruel to one another, like they were really mean when they tried to hurt the other.

I never judge a drama by its Gominams (pretty men) but here the gominams are AWSOME, not just pretty faces, but actually good actors - so yeah a well-acted drama.

In order not to spoil more, I will end and say good drama, with good action and whatever you need in a drama like this.

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥ / 4 out of hearts