The Player

Title: The Player

AKA: Hustle

Genre: Action, Crime, Revenge

Episodes: 14

Broadcast period: 2018-Sep to 2018-Nov

Cast: Song Seung Hun, Krystal Jung, Lee Si Un, Tae Won Suk and Kim Won Hae

Kang Ha Ri (Song Seung Hun) is a talented swindler/conman, with a very high success rate. Together with

Im Byung Min (Lee Si Un), a genius, but socially awkward, hacker, and Do Jin Woong (Tae Won Suk), a former fighter, they steal from the rich criminals and share the money with each other. They befriend Cha Ah Ryung (Krystal Jung) a car thief and exceptional driver, to join them in their thievery. This is noticed by Prosecutor Jang In Kyu (Kim Won Ha), who was supposed to catch them, but after dealing with corruption and lackluster chain of command, he decides to make a deal with the group: help him catch the corrupt and wealthy, and they can keep the money.

Though they join hands, Ha Ri has a different agenda: he wants to uncover a cover-up, that ended up with the death of someone close to him. And to do that he is willing to even sacrifice his past life and newly created relationships…

Truthfully, I might have had too high expectations on this one. The thought of a “robin hood”-esque group kicking butt, made me very intrigued, and usually I would love these plots. But this one was rather boring. I love OCN, but this was simply a miss - not because the plot is bad, or the acting is bad, but I just was not excited for (almost) anything in it. The revenge plot was cliché, the side stories were too common, and the ending typical. To top it off, it has con jobs in it, which is my least favorite theme. Though I fell for the group of 5 people and I watched mainly because of that, I have to say it really didn’t leave a good impression on me.

So, to sum up: not my cup of tea. Though I think people who like swindler plots would enjoy this very much.

☆☆☆½ / 3½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥ / 3 out of 5 hearts

The Guest Review

Title: The Guest

AKA: Hand / Son

Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Suspense

Episodes: 16

Broadcast period: 2018-Sept to 2018-Nov

Cast: Kim Dong Wook, Kim Jae Wook and Jung Eun Chae.

When he was a child, Yoon Hwa Pyung (Kim Dong Wook) was possessed by a superior ghost. The possession led to the deaths of many people, accidently involving the brother of a priest who tried to exorcise him, Choi Yoon, and the daughter of a police woman who tried to help, Kang Gil Young.

As a grown up, Hwa Pyung is able to see ghosts, which he believes is because of the possession. He meets Priest Choi (Kim Jae Wook), while trying to find the superior ghost, Sohn, he believes is still out there creating havoc. And he meets police woman Kang Gil Young (Jung Eun Chae), who wants to find her mothers murderer. The three get involved in an exorcism, and soon they realize that they are all the children, victims of Sohn, the ghost that had possessed Hwa Pyung, repossessed Yoons brother, and killed Gil Youngs mother. At first, the three are at odds, but when they witness more than just one abnormal case of ghosts, they soon form an alliance…

Sorry for the weird summary, I recommend watching the trailer…

Dear lord! This is by far one of my favorite dramas, ever! I loved every single thing about this - maybe not the “Son” background story, but it was still pretty amazing. I loved the cast, their chemistry, and the entire build up. It had me guessing the entire time, and I loved every minute it. I can retell the entire drama, because I was taking every minute in. I was on the edge of my seat, and I enjoyed it. The plot was very intriguing, as in how and what, which has scary moments, but not the classic ones. It was very refreshing to see a different type of storyline - that wasn’t cliché. Likewise, the fact that there wasn’t a love story, made it so much better.

All in all, 100% recommend to people that like suspense, but also those who want to try a very different genre.

☆☆☆☆☆ / 5 out 5 stars

♥♥♥♥♥ / 5 out of 5 hearts

Voice 2 (Kdrama) review

Title: Voice 2

Genre: Mystery, Crime, Police, Action

Episodes: 12

Broadcast period: 2018-Aug to 2018-Sept

Cast: Lee Ha Na, Lee Jin Wook, Kwon Yool, Son Eun Seo and An Se Ha

This is the second season of Voice.

After Moo Jin Hyuk (Jang Hyuk) leaves to take care of his child, Kang Kwon Joo (Lee Ha Na) is left alone to deal with the Emergency Call Center. That changes when she encounters detective Do Kang Woo (Lee Jin Wook) who she meets when her Team Leader is found dead and allegedly responsible for murder. They both are familiar with him and both show up at the crime scene, but Kwon Joo soon realizes that Kang Woo has ulterior motives, when he tries to take something from the scene. It is revealed that Kang Woo had been suspended before and is suspected to have killed his partner. Due to his rigid personality, he doesn’t deny, but claims that he looks for the real killer.

The two, start investigating the death and after a few occurrences, the two of them end up working together as there seems to be someone pulling string from behind the scenes…

Okay, so I was a huge fan of the first season, because of the many side stories - like each episode had an individual story. There was a main one too, but it didn’t overshadow the side plots. This one did. I cannot remember the side stories - like at all. I know it is common for Korean dramas to do that, but I really felt disappointed. Its not a bad story, and the focus on the main story doesn’t ruin it, but it felt like every other kdrama, instead of the drama I fell in love with. It’s a good drama with great suspense and storytelling, and I did like it, but I kind of wanted more of the original. But its fine…

The duo was okay, I mean I like Jang Hyuk, but Lee Jin Wook is good too. So, I cannot complain.

All in all, a decent second season.

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥ / 4 out of 5 hearts

King Gwanggaeto the Great Review

Title: King Gwanggaeto the Great

AKA: Gwanggaeto, The Great Conqueror

Genre: Historical

Episodes: 92

Broadcast period: 2011-Jun to 2012-Apr

Cast: Lee Tae Gon, Kim Seung Soo, Im Ho, Park Jung Chul, Oh Ji Eun and Lee In Hye.

This story is about King Gwanggaeto, who conquered much land, and made his kingdom Gogouryo spread and occupied most of the peninsula, making it the biggest kingdom, of the Three Kingdoms of Korea.

Go Damdeok (Lee Tae Gon) is the second son of the royal family, but this has not strained the relationship with his brother, Crown prince Dammang (Jung Tae Woo), however Damdeok has the same qualities, if not better. Though the royal household is loving and caring, the politics of the court act otherwise. Since Damdeok has been in battles, and on the front line for many victories, the court start seeing Damdeok as a possible threat, especially the prime minister Gae Yeon Su (Choi Dong Joon). Unsatisfied with the royal house, Gae Yeon Su has been working behind the curtains, to remove the king from his post, and make himself that title, but Damdeok, compared to the others, defies both strategies and advances made by Yeon Su. Though not completely aware of Yeon Su’s intentions, Damdeok doesn’t trust him, and soon enough Yeon Su plans an assassination on Damdeoks life. This attempt forces Damdeok into hiding, and soon enough he experiences the real Gogoryeo; away from the royal lifestyle, and military life…

So, this is another historical day drama, which spans over 92 episodes. It caught my attention due to the lead character, which is a very famous hero of Korean history. And though I expected it to be a bit draggy, the last 15-10 episodes were fillers of you ask me. I guess it was quite popular, and they decided to drag it on, which is very annoying when you’ve been watching a decent story for the past 60 episodes. I’ve now watched my fair share, so I can say with certainty that this drama has the most action I’ve seen in a day drama, for a very long time. I mean I was stuck to my screen for the first 20 episodes, and it just got better while it went on. Of course, as the usual historical dramas, the female leads were left out a bit - the love stories were halfhearted, sort of - and they didn’t show much progress, or at least I felt the typical ‘vibe’. That said, the drama is good, and has good side characters. I was pleasantly surprised by their depth, and this is more than just the ‘right hand man’. This goes for almost all the supporting cast!

To sum up: a good historical drama with a good plot, decent actions scenes, and great character storylines.

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥½ / 3½ out of 5 hearts

Partners of Justice Review

Title: Partners of Justice

AKA: Investigation Couple

Genre: drama, crime, mystery

Episodes: 32

Broadcast period: 2018-May to 2018-Jul

Cast: Jung Jae Young, Jung Yoo Mi, Lee Yi Kyung, Park Eun Suk and Stephanie Lee.

Eun Sol (Jung Yoo Mi) is a newly appointed public prosecutor, full of life and energy. Though very young and inexperienced, she graduated with highest points, and treats everyone with enthusiasm. Easy to talk to and bubbly, she is liked by everyone, until she encounters Baek Bom (Jung Jae Young), a forensic pathologist. Grumpy and simpleminded, Bom is rude to everyone, especially Sol, after she accidently almost contaminates a crime scene. Scarred by his past, Bom who had been a successful surgeon, but decided to become a medical examiner, and excelled while doing so.

The two completely different people, both talented in their fields, start recognizing each other’s strengths, while cases from past and present turn up, and the two unknowingly become partners…

This is one of those where you can’t really give a decent resume, it has to be watched.

I swear, this drama took me by surprise. I did not expect to like it as much as I did. I think I cried (or was teary) in almost every story! The fact that there weren’t unnecessary love stories, or a draggy/long main story, kind of made it more interesting as a viewer. To be engaged in every story, rather than wanting to follow a main story, is kind of refreshing. BUT yes... There is a main story, it just doesn’t take much of the screen time in every episode, different than (filler episodes) dramas… I enjoyed the characters too. They seemed a bit typical at the beginning, but you kind of find them relatable later one. From the happy girl to the grumpy guy. I liked both.

Of course, there are annoying things as well, but you kind of forget those along the way.

So: all in all, a great drama to watch - heck made me interested in pathology… says a bit.

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥½ / 4½ out of 5 hearts

Gye Baek Review

Title: Gye Baek

Genre: Period, Historical, Romance, Revenge, Melodrama

Episodes: 36

Broadcast period: 2011-Jul to 2011-Nov

Cast: Lee Seo Jin, Cho Jae Hyun, Oh Yeon Soo, Song Ji Hyo, Cha In Pyo, Hyo Min, Lee Hyun Woo and No Young Hak.

Due to the Queen being of Silla blood, an elite group of assassins try to kill her and the Crown Prince Ui Ja on a regular basis. This has prompted the King of Baekje to assign his most loyal and skilled swordsman Moo Jin (Cha In Pyo) to guard them.  But due to unforeseen events, the Queen dies to save her son, and Moo Jins wife dies while giving birth to a son, Gye Baek.

Several years later, Gye Baek (Lee Hyun Woo) now a youngster, works odd jobs, so he can take care of his drunk father. Here he meets merchant-in-training Eun Ko (Park Eun Bin), whom he immediately falls for. Moo Jin, who has lost his arm, has remarried, so the past is unknown, and Gye Baek believes his stepmother and stepbrother, are his real mother and brother. Though mourning, Moo Jin meets the Crown Prince Ui Ja (No Young Hak) again, now a regular Prince due to the new Queens (Oh Yeon Soo) son taking that title and sees right through his pretense, about not caring about the past.

While trying to uncover the truth, and helping Ui Ja, Moo Jin dies, while Gye Baek witnesses it. Filled with anger, Gye Baek blames Ui Ja for the murder of his father but ends up as a hostage of Silla. As years pass, Gye Baek (Lee Seo Jin) lives only for one sole purpose: to kill the man, who killed his father, unaware that there is more to the story than meets the eyes…

Yeah, I know this is very detailed, and yes, I did spoil a bit, but I tried to stay off the details, so if you decide to watch it, you will get several surprises and you will notice the details I left out.

Out of all the historical dramas out there, this one is the first one where I was in awe of the quality of the costumes - like the first 10 min seemed extremely well. I don’t now much about the uniforms of Baekje, but I know that the armor was iron, and it kind of looked like iron. In most dramas I can see that they are made of plastic (or whatever it is) but I didn’t in this one - at least not in the beginning. Also, it might be because I had the first episode in HD quality (I think 1080p), that might have something to do with it too. What I mean is, it was nice to see that there exist good costumes out there, like realistic ones anyways.

This is also one of my first dramas where the lead actors are over 30 years old, as they (directors, or whoever casts these actors) usually have young actors doing quality and popular dramas. And they were all ‘veteran’ actors, with skill, which was extremely nice to see. I have to admit, I was amazed by Song Ji Hyo. I never knew she could act mean or evil - she can officially do both. I liked her in this, and she is very good at acting. Though I noticed that she was tired (haha, blaming RM for that). The rest were good too.

The lacking thing in this one is both pace and extreme character development, which I couldn’t really comprehend. Though the fact that these developments are the reason the story end as it did.

But all in all, an alright drama that made me emotional, and confused at the same time.

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥½ / 3½ out of 5 hearts

Jumong Review

Title: Jumong
AKA: Prince of the Legend
Genre: Period, Historical, Romance, Melodrama
Episodes: 81
Broadcast period: 2006-May to 2008-Mar
Cast: Song Il Kook, Han Hye Jin, Kim Seung Soo, Jeon Kwang Leol, Oh Yeon Su and Song Ji Hyo.

This is the story about the creation of Kogoryeo, and the people who started it.
While trying to fight the corrupt noblemen, Hae Mo Soo (Heo Jun Ho) and the crown prince Kum Wa (Jeon Kwang Leol) get caught up in political turmoil. The king saves the crown prince, but Hae Mo Soo is caught and tortured. Yoo Hwa (Oh Yeon Su), the only survivor of her clan had always admired Hae Mo Soo, thus the two had become lovers, but after Hae Mo Soo gets caught, the crown prince saves Yoo Hwa, by making her his concubine, while carrying the child of Hae Mo Soo.
Several years later, the son of Hae Mo Soo and Yoo Hwa, Ju Mong (Song Il Gook), now all grown up, was raised as the concubine’s son. Earning the utter contempt from his two older brothers, who believe that the now king prefers Ju Mong, rather than the two older sons. Though a brat, and quite useless, Ju Mong tries his best to be seen at “a piece of trash” so that he won’t get attention, but the jealous brothers try to kill him numerous times. After being thrown out of the royal house, Ju Mong ends up on the streets and meets So Seo No (Han Hye Jin), daughter of a merchant, again, where the first time she had saved him, after his brothers had attempted to kill him.
He starts working for the So family and becomes familiar with the world. At the same time the two princes desperately want Ju Mong dead, though fate has other plans for him…

This drama has been one of those that I watched the beginning of, with interest, but accidently read about the evolvement of the story, so I had it put on hold. As time had passed, I’d forgotten about the evolvement, and I decided to watch it again, so when the “thing” I wasn’t interested in seeing appeared, I remembered it, but had an easier time sitting through it. After watching the entire thing, I had mixed emotions, mostly frustration due to the love story, but as many of the “older” dramas, the romance is usually the subplot, so it isn’t given the same amount of “care” as the main story. That said, I didn’t care for the romance aspect, as it made me annoyed, and I ended up going: whoever, just save the wife please.
The main story is very interesting, and one of the better Korean period pieces, as it is action packed most of the way through - though it has moments where I was bored. But it tries to keep you invested.
It was funny seeing Song Il Kook so young, but honestly, I didn’t see much of a difference. The rest was alright, though there is something annoying about the female lead, even if she was the most bad-ass female lead I’ve seen in a long while, but I can’t really put my finger on it.
To sum up: a great and interesting drama with a frustrating love-triangle, but still decent storyline.

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥½ / 3½ out of 5 hearts

Mystery Queen Review

Title: Mystery Queen 2

AKA: Queen of Mystery 2

Genre: Mystery, Comedy, Romance

Episodes: 16

Broadcast period: 2018-Feb to 2018-Apr

Cast: Choi Kang Hee, Kwong Sang Woo, Lee Da Hee and Park Byung Eun.

This drama continues where the last left off.

Yoo Seol Ok (Choi Kang Hee) got divorced from her prosecutor husband, and now lives with her best friend Kim Kyung Min (Kim Hyun Sook). The two are both trying to get into the police academy, though Seol Ok still helps Ha Wan Seung (Kwong Sang Woo) with cases during her free time. Unfortunately, Seol Ok isn’t able to make the cut for the academy, even though Kyung Min does. And while trying to study and/or find places to do so, she gets involved in several cases - which she, with Wan Seung, tries t solve.

During a case they encounter Jung Hee Yeon (Lee Da Hee), who runs several cake shops around Seoul. Though her personality is nice and very likeable, there seems to be a deeper truth behind her interest in Wan Sung... 

After watching season one, I was intrigued to watch this season, since I felt the previous one had been lacking a lot of different things. I like that they tried to make the love story of these two with a sense of humor, unfortunately that became boring half way through, and I lost interest. Even the “jealousy” parts were boring, though I admit, I laughed at them. I like that we were introduced to the families of the characters, and I like that they added new characters that recurred. Though the main story was boring - the thing with Wan Seungs past - the small stories were alright. Truth be told, this drama isn’t memorable. It has funny moments, but fails, if you ask me, in the serious parts, and has a bad story line.

My verdict is the same as I mentioned in the first season: this drama is okay, with decent acting.

☆☆☆½ / 3½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥ / 3 out of 5 hearts

Triangle Review

Title: Triangle

Genre: Family, Romance, Action, Crime

Episodes: 26

Broadcast period: 2014-May to 2014-Jul

Cast: Kim Jae Joong, Lee Bum Soo, Im Si Wan, Baek Jin Hee and Oh Yeon Soo.

This drama follows three brothers, separated as children, spread to different walks of life, and reunited by fate.

Jang Dong Soo (Lee Bum Soo) is a cop with a horrible temperament. As a child, he was separated by his younger brothers, which he feels guilty about. After another failed arrest on mobster Go Bok Tae, questions about his mental health arise, and profiler/psychologist Hwang Shin Hye (Oh Yeon Soo) is asked to asses it. The two had known each other in the past, and he had lived with her family after loosing his siblings.

At the same time, Heo Young Dal (Kim Jae Joong) a jobless gambler, devotes most of his time spending money, he had blackmailed from older women, on gambling. After being busted by Dong Soo, he is reluctantly put to work as an informant, to smoke out Go Bok Tae.

One evening Young Dal meets and falls for Oh Jung Hee (Baek Jin Hee), who works a dealer. There the two also meet Yoon Yong Ha (Im Si Wan), the adopted son of a rich CEO. Soon Yong Ha starts to get interested in Jung Hee, and a dislike for Young Dal.

As their lives entwine, fate decides to play a cruel joke on them, and the three become enemies…

In the past I’ve been complaining about too coincidental situations and relationships, but this time around, I didn’t feel annoyed at the fact that the three brothers “happened” to meet each other like they did. And I think it is because you know it from the start, so you are just expecting it. You wait till they finally share screen together, and hope they’ll know who the other one is. This made the “coincidence” seem less like a coincidence, but more like actual fate. I like that the three had different, some more realistic than the other, reactions to the fact that they are related. The three male leads are alright, though the main focus is Jae Joong - everyone loves an underdog - and most of the screen time belongs to him. But you still get the other stories. I didn’t like how little the females were involved, basically just for the love story aspect (three-way love story) and a little bit of the memory part, else they were useless.

The amount of gambling in this drama just bores me. I guess some people find it interesting, but for the average viewer who has no interest in it, I almost fell asleep. And it just took way too much time.

So all in all, an alright drama that focuses too much on gambling, and too little on the females…

☆☆☆ / 3 stars out of 5 stars

♥♥♥ / 3 out of 5 hearts

Misty Review

Title: Misty

Genre: Drama, Suspense, Mystery

Episodes: 16

Broadcast period: 2018-Feb to 2018-Mar

Cast: Kim Nam Joo, Ji Jin Hee, Jeon Hye Jin, Im Tae Kyung and Go Joon.

Go Hye Ran (Kim Nam Joo) is the top announcer, famous for her beauty and ability to stay relevant for seven years. This has taken a toll on her marriage with her husband Kang Tae Wook (Ji Jin Hee), a prosecutor from a wealthy family. The two rarely talk, and only stay together because of the title.

When her boss pressures her to step down, to have a younger announcer fill the seat, Hye Ran is given the last opportunity to save the seat, by doing a special on the famous American-Korean golfer Lee Jae Young (Go Joon). But when she meets him, she realizes that he is her past lover she had left, right before marrying Tae Wook. Jae Young has a vendetta against Hye Ran and to make matters worse, he is now married to her childhood friend Seo Eun Joo (Jeon Hye Jin).

Bewildered by the situation, unwilling to let out a scandal, afraid to ruin her position, and determined to keep her position, she decides to work with Jae Young, even if it means to be terrorized by him.

But when he is found dead, all evidence points to Hye Ran, so Tae Wook decides to defend her - and everything is turned upside down…

When I first heard about this drama, I really liked the premise, and it seemed to be a bit different than the usual k-dramas out there. Though I finished it, and I kind of did watch it because of the story, I didn’t expect it to be so dark and quite frankly twisted. The entire thing was made in dark colors, and the characters were much complicated than your usual k-drama. Unfortunately, that didn’t make this drama better, it just made seem like a spiral of cruelty and sorrow. You are not aware of this while watching it, but by the ending depression sinks in, as it really is a gloomy drama. The drama does give you small hopes along the way, only to crash in the end… And God I disliked the ending. Not because the ending was bad, but how it was executed…

Acting wise: good, even though it’s the first time watching Kim Nam Joo act, so I have nothing to compare it with.

So all in all, do I recommend? I don’t really know - not something I would watch again…

☆☆☆½ / 3½ out 5 stars

♥♥♥ / 3 out of 5 hearts

Cinderella Man Review

Title: Cinderella Man

Genre: Romance, Chaebol, Melodrama

Episodes: 16

Broadcast period: 2009-Apr to 2009-Jun

Cast: Kwon Sang Woo, Yoona, Song Chang Eui and Han Eun Jung.

Oh Dae San (Kwon Sang Woo) sells clothes at a market, and dreams of turning his little store in to a big clothing line. He is smart and talkative which helps him when he need to butter up to customers and other salespeople. When a fellow store keeper, from the same market, falls ill, the daughter Seo Yoo Jin (Yoona) of the store keeper returns from Paris, only to have him pass away shortly. Due to the financial issues, and partly to blame for the financial issues, Dae San decides to help Yoo Jin and her mother get on their feet again. This leads Yoo Jin and Dae San to become close.

At the same time Dae San meets Lee Joon Hee (Kwon Sang Woo), a rich chaebol of a fashion empire, who looks exactly alike him. Joon Hee asks Dae San to impersonate him for a week, so he can leave the business without having to worry about his competitor and cousin Lee Jae Min taking his place.

Due to his natural ability to do business, Dae San becomes a bother to Jae Min. And when Jae Min befriends Yoo Jin, the empire doesn’t become the only thing they each fight for…

This drama was one of those I downloaded ages ago, but never really got around to watch. Besides it being almost 10 years old, I gotta say it’s alright. Though I felt it was very cliché and had the unnecessary jealousy. I mean most of the dramas that are like this one, are so male dominant. The lead actress only serves as the love interest for the two male characters, and to be honest both are boring love stories.  And the fact that it was Yoona, didn’t make the character better. The casting was also mediocre, mainly because the characters were 2 dimensional - even the male lead who did try but failed.

Besides that, I kind of enjoyed the storyline, though it was very cliché. I do like a badass revenge plot, but it must be well crafted - and this one is alright.

So, all in all an alright drama, to watch because of the story and not romance.

☆☆☆ / 3 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥ / 3 out of 5 hearts

The Immortal Admiral Yi Soon Shin Review

Title: The Immortal Admiral Yi Soon Shin

AKA: Immortal Admiral Yi Sun Shin

Genre: Period, Historical

Episodes: 104

Broadcast period: 2004-Sept to 20044-Aug

Cast: Kim Myung Min, Choi Jae Sung, Lee Jae Ryung, Choi Chul Ho and many others..

This drama is the biopic of the great admiral Yi Soon Shin, from his childhood till his death.

Yi Soon Shin (Kim Myung Min) was born as a poor noble, due to his grandfather being convicted as a traitor, which leads to his family being labelled for generations. Being book-smart and intelligent, Soon Shin has together with his two best friends Won Kyun (Choi Jae Sung) and Yoo Sung Ryung (Lee Jae Ryung) made a promise to apply for scholar positions at Sunkyungkwan, but due to the lack wealth and reputation, he decides to change paths, and becomes a soldier.

In the army Soon Shin goes through ups and downs, and while noticing the increase of Japanese pirates, he investigates, and discovers that the “pirates” aren’t pirates but actual militia, the Japanese Navy. Terrified of the possibilities and man power of the Japanese Navy, Soon Shin tries to get help from the ‘higher ups’ but is dismissed. This doesn’t stop Yi Soon Shin, and he decides to get help in order to become the admiral of the Joseon Navy, so that he can prepare for possible invasions. This doesn’t lie good with the higher ups, the king and even his best friend, as they see him as a man trying to get power. Soon enough the Japanese attack, and while rooting for a Joseon win, the public start to see Soon Shin in a better light than their own king - which doesn’t lie well with the shallow king…

This is another one of the most popular heroes of Korean history, and probably one of the most liked one too. The best part for me was that it almost fit the ‘real’ story perfectly (almost), but another good part is that it was very exciting to watch - there were things happening quite often. There was storytelling, but not in the boring kind of way. That said, 104 episodes is a lot! Even if you love every character and love the story, it seriously is long. Even if you binge it, it takes a lot of time. I remember when I was at the last episode and they showed the entire storyline, it seriously felt like it was years ago. And I do think it took me a week or so… and I was binging… The casting was perfect: Kim Myung Min is great as Yi Soon Shin, and his voice just fits like a glove.

The bad part is though the makeup and wigs/fake beards… It really looked fake. Also the ‘wars’ looked very cheap - I don’t know if it because its from 2004, but you could see that some scenes were used more than once, and the “turtle ship” was also filmed from different angles, so you would think there were more than one. Besides that (actually not something I spend much time thinking about), it was a really good watch.

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥½ / 4½ out of 5 hearts

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

Witch's Court Review

Title: Witch’s Court

AKA: Witch at Court

Genre: Legal, Crime,

Episodes: 16

Broadcast period: 2017-Oct to 2017-Nov

Cast: Jung Ryu Won, Yoon Hyun Min, Jun Kwang Ryul, Kim Yeo Jin and Lee Il Hwa.

In 1986, four factory workers were victims of sexual torture during a strike, by the officer Jo Gab Soo (Jun Kwang Ryul). 10 years later Jo Gab Soo, now a political nominee, was trialed for the offences. Kwak Yong Sil (Lee Il Hwa) is a noodle restaurant owner, living with her teenage daughter, Ma Yi Deum. When the trial goes public, Young Sil was reluctant to come forward, but thinking about the other women, she decided to stop hiding and come forward, only to be found by Jo Gab Soo, and mysteriously disappear. Yi Deum, unaware of the situation, tried to find her mother, but was unsuccessful.

20 years pass and Yi Deum (Jung Ryeo Won) is now a prosecutor aiming for the top. Known to use dirty tricks, and cheat during trial, she has gotten herself a bad reputation with co-workers. And when her team leader is accused of sexual harassment, she tries her best to keep it buried. Things go haywire, and she is demoted to the Crimes Against Girls Unit dealing only with sex crimes, together with the prosecutor of the case she tried to bury, Yeo Jin Wook (Yoon Hyun Min).

While dealing with these cases, Prosecutor Yi Deum, with the help of Prosecutor Jin Wook, soon starts to understand the victim’s perspective, but also starts to find links to her mother’s past and disappearance…

To start up, I was ecstatic when I found out that there was going to be a Korean drama revolving around sexual abuse/misconduct, because it is so rare and underplayed. Unfortunately, this drama missed the mark of actually doing what was supposed to be an eye opener. Even though the manage to show the true world of these situations and crimes, the fact that they managed to undertone it once again with just the wort type of character that could be the lead for this type of story. I get that the drama was about her “witch” personality but I felt so uncomfortable most of the time, that I started to dislike the lead more and more, instead of feeling any form of sympathy for her. They tried to show her backstory and make her likeable in situations, being all ‘badass’ but it honestly just infuriated me even more. At the end I didn’t even care for her.

Putting all that aside, as said the stories of the victims are amazingly and brutally honest, and I like that. Making stories that make you realize things, instead of wanting to avoid them, is good storytelling - which this drama does. It just needed a different lead actress/main character. I think I would have enjoyed it with just the main lead actor… and he was such a dull character too.

All in all, I wouldn’t recommend. My ratings are both based on the acting and story, but the heart rating is my experience of it.

☆☆☆ / 3 out of 5 stars

♥♥½ / 2½ out of 5 hearts

Joseon Gunman Review

Title: Joseon Gunman

AKA: Gunman in Joseon / The Chosun Shooter / The Joseon Gunman / The Joseon Shooter

Genre: Period, Revenge, Melodrama, Action, Romance, Suspense

Episodes: 22

Broadcast period: 2014-Jun to 2014-Sep

Cast: Lee Joon Ki, Nam Sang Mi, Jun Hye Bin, Han Joo Wan and Yoo Oh Sung.

“Third year of Emperor Gojong's reign. The Liberals and Conservatives were in fierce opposition in Joseon. The Confucian Scholars who advocated for Emperor Gojong's enlightenment policies and their doubts for gunmen holding a new type of gun were being brought down one by one...” (intro of drama)

Park Yoon Kang (Lee Joon Ki) is the son of the magistrate, but much to his fathers' dismay, he is quite the party boy. His father had taught him swordsmanship, but due to Yoon Kangs carefree life, he spends most his time entertaining gisaengs. The two don't see eye to eye, as Yoon Kang doesn't have any interest in his future, and his father spends most time away from home. All this changes, as notable people get shot in the middle of the streets, and the magistrate is unable to apprehend the gunman. Soon enough their family becomes a target, and the family goes into hiding with the Jung family. While there the daughter of the Jungs, Jung Soo In (Nam Sang Mi) and Yoon Kang, recognize each other, due to an earlier altercation, but soon they become close. As the situation with the gunman escalates and the magistrate dies, becomes labeled a traitor, and the rest of the family as well. Yoon Kang’s sister is sent into slavery, and while trying to run away with the help of Soo In, he is shot in the chest and falls into water - presumed dead.

Three years later, a Japanese business man called Hasegawa Hanjo, looking exactly like Yoon Kang emerges on the shores of Hanyang. Even though he is refuting everyone’s claim that he is Yoon Kang, Hanjo in the matter of the fact Yoon Kang - but has decided to pretend to be Hanjo; in order to clear his father’s name, save his sister from slavery, and exact revenge on his father’s death. But that is easier said, than done…

I started this drama because of Lee Joon Ki, since it was his first after military release, but it took me quite a while to finish. This drama reminds me of the typical Korean dramas that are too new to be ‘classics’ and too old to be ‘revolutionary’ - they are those ‘inbetweeners’ that bores both new and old crowd. While watching I expected it to be a “typical”, but they decided they wanted to make it different, and kind of ruined most of it. I felt that it dragged on for a very long while, and the ‘main story’ had a dumb ending. The second half was just unnecessary, and it ended, for me at least, as if the main cast were unlikeable antagonistic. I get what they were trying to do, but they were just unlikeable at the end, and I didn’t like any part of it - meaning I ended up not feeling bad for anyone at the end. They tried to make it reasonable and failed.

I didn’t enjoy Lee Joon Ki in this, and I felt that he was stuck in his bad old routine - I hope he snaps out of it soon. The female cast I forgot as soon as they left the screen - so I had situations where I forgot who the main actress it.

All in all, a drama bored people might enjoy, but not a drama to watch for excitement.

☆☆☆½ / 3½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥ / 3 out of 5 hearts

Jeong Do Jeon Review

Title: Jeong Do Jeon

Genre: Historical, Political, Drama

Episodes: 50

Broadcast period: 2014-Jan to 2014-Jun

Cast: Cho Jae Hyun, Yoo Dong Geun, Park Young Gyu and Lim Ho.

This story is about the man who changed the corrupt Goryeo by making laws to help the low class and poor, and helped establish Joseon, by installing a new king on the throne.

Jeong Do Jeon (Cho Jae Hyun) is a low-class noble working for the government as a scholar in Sungkyunkwan. When the king, who was betrayed by his most loyal servants repeatedly, trials Do Jeon, the two come to an agreement, and decide to work together to fix the crumbling Goryeo. Unfortunately, the king is assassinated, by his guards, and the prime minister, together with his allies, put a young prince on the throne, to manipulate him behind the curtain. In opposition of this, Do Jeon becomes labeled as a traitor, and is forced in exile.

Loosing all hope and desire for the future, he meets the peasants of Goryeo, the ill treatment they suffer, and decides to once again help the government, but soon notices how bad the political situation in Goryeo is, so he decides to do the unthinkable: if the problem is the government, we change the government…

As a history buff this idea made me all excited, since it’s one of “those” stories/highlights of Korean history. Even if this has a lot of storytelling and a lot of moments, I kind of don’t understand the necessity of 50 episodes - which was one of the things that made my brown frown, when I started it. But as I went along with episodes, I noticed the “change” in history, which made me annoyed. Even if it didn’t change the overall history part it kind of made it “sentimental” or “emotional” without it being it. Also, simply historically incorrect. I don’t want to spoil, so I’m just going to say, trying to make a man seem like he is “feeling” bad for the poor people when he doesn’t care for his own family in the same sense is plain weird. Though I must give the production credit for portraying Jeong Do Jeon as he is portrayed in history books, and not some hero, is what made me continue this drama (even though the above mentioned annoyed me A LOT). Plus: Cho Jae Hyun is perfect casting. The rest seem okay, but the acting just seems like how any actor would act in the given roles - I mean like it doesn’t give anything extra. Besides that, this drama can seem boring - there is sooo much political TALK. They keep talking and talking, and unless you can see the history part, you’ll be bored. So they didn’t really think about that while making this drama.

OKAY, summing up: a fine drama with mostly accurate storyline, but has some flaws that just aren’t acceptable as a history buff, and can be quite boring for those who aren’t.

☆☆☆½ / 3½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥ / 3 out of 5 hearts

Deserving of the Name Review

Title: Deserving of the Name

AKA: Live Up To Your Name

Genre: Medical, History, Romance, Time Travel, Comedy

Episodes: 16

Broadcast period: 2017-Aug to 2017-Oct

Cast: Kim Nam Gil, Kim Ah Joong, Yun Ju Sang and Yoo Min Kyu.

Heo Im (Kim Nam Gil) is an oriental doctor in 1592s Haeminseo. Due to his low status he isn't allowed in the palace, but the people of Joseon know him as a nice and unworldly. Unfortunately, Heo Im is very ambitious, and spends his nights healing rich people, in exchange for payment. The positive reputation leads him to an invitation from the King to cure a migraine. Thrilled, Heo Im prepares a new set of needles he found, but while trying to heal the king, his hand starts to shake and he is accused of treason. He manages to escape, but is met with the royal army and is shot down with arrows, and wakes up in 2017 Seoul. Bewildered he walks through the city, and bumps into Choi Yeon Kyun (Kim Ah Joong) who thinks of him as a weirdo especially after he tries to save a man passing out, by using acupuncture.

After seeing the wonders of 2017 Seoul, Heo Im decides he wants to stay, as he sees possibilities in becoming richer and more powerful. Sadly, he doesn't have a license, so he tried to find a Haeminseo. Here he meets a man, who seems to know about him, and as fate has it, he is Yeon Kyungs grandfather...

I am sorry for the weird review, but I tried hard not to spoil the drama. And to be honest, this is one drama you need to watch. I loved every part of it. I mean this drama took such a turn suddenly making me fall in love even more. Kim Nam Gil is officially one of the great actors: first Pandora and now this one. Okay, he has some we won't mention, but the 2017 dramas/movies are awesome. Kim Ah Joong is an okay actress, wasn't that into some of the older one, but this one fits her like a glove – being beautiful and smart really suits her.

I like that the drama was close to actual history, and the chemistry between the leads, as well as the pace... you'll understand once you see.

So: all in all.... recommendable.

☆☆☆☆☆ / 5 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥♥ / 5 out of hearts