Goblin Review

Title: Goblin
AKA: Guardian
Genre: Fantasy, Romance
Episodes: 16 + 3 SP
Broadcast Period: Dec-2016 to Jan-2017
Cast: Gong Yoo, Kim Go Eun, Lee Dong Wook, Yoo In Na, Yook Sung Jae, Lee El, Jo Woo Jin, Park Hee Won, Kim Min Jae, Kim So Hyun

In ancient times, Kim Shin (Gong Yoo) is an unbeatable general in wars, but the young King (Kim Min Jae) is jealous of Kim Shin and kills him. Kim Shin becomes a Goblin, possessing an immortal life. At first he thinks that he is blessed, but he realizes that he is cursed. Closer to the present day, Kim Shin has waited 900 years for a human bride to end his immortal life. One night, he saves a dying pregnant woman (Park Hee Won) who is destined to die. Meanwhile, the Grim Reaper (Lee Dong Wook) is unable to find the dead pregnant woman. The woman gives birth to a baby girl named Ji Eun Tak (Kim Go Eun). 9 years later, Ji Eun Tak lives with her mother and is able to see ghosts. One night, her mother suddenly dies. On that night, she meets the Grim Reaper.
In the present day, Ji Eun Tak is a high school student. She still sees ghosts and hears their whisper of “Gobins bride”. She now lives with her aunt’s family, but she is mistreated by them. On her birthday, Ji Eun Tak sits by the sea with a lighted birthday cake. At that time, Kim Shin suddenly appears in front of her. Kim Shin does not know why, but he can hear her voice and appears in front of her against his will.

So 2016 ended and 2017 started with TvNs new record-breaking drama, Goblin. I have to say, it was one heck of an emotional drama. It’s ALL about emotions, it’s a simple story. Everything had a purpose, and it gradually expanded to a problem, and then the journey for the solution. So story-wise it’s good, but the action and excitement is missing. However, the key function (I personally think) is that the writers were depending on the viewers emotional needs. And by that I mean that the actors and actress’ for this drama, was carefully handpicked because it needed a lot of face-acting. Emotions had to be carefully delivered. And they did. I have never been so sad and so happy and excited for a drama as I was with this one. It’s right to say that I couldn’t get over it, a long time went by before I started on another drama. As great as it was, it still had its flaws. For me a lot of flashbacks ruins the storyline. I would rather they used an episode and just showed us the story what happens, it doesn’t have to be in the beginning, just so we see it one time and not a trillion times throughout the drama. Because the same scene from the past got repeated multiple times, then comes the next bit and etc etc. However a great watch, definitely going to watch it again when my heart is healed.

☆☆☆ (1/2) / 4(1/2) out of 5 stars
♥♥♥♥♥ / 5 out of 5 hearts

Who Are You ? School 2015 Review

Title: Who Are You?
AKA: School 2015
Genre: School, Mystery
Episodes: 16
Broadcast Period: Apr-2015 to Jun-2015
Cast: Kim So Hyun, Yook Sung Jae, Nam Joo Hyuk, Lee Pil Mo, Lee David, Kim Hee Jung, Lee Cho Hee, Yoo Young

Go Eun Byul and Lee Eun Bi (both Kim So Hyun) are identical twins separated at birth. Lee Eun Bi lives at House of Love, an orphanage in Tongyeong, where the younger residents look up to her as a mother figure. However, she hides the fact that a gang of mean girls, led by Kang So Young (Kim Hee Jung), while teachers turn a blind eye, bullies her at school. On the other hand, Go Eun Byul is the most popular girl at Sekang High School, the most prestigious private high school in Seoul's Gangnam District. Go Eun Byul shares a mutual attraction with Han Yi An (Nam Joo Hyuk), the school's star swimmer. They have been friends since childhood. Lee Eun Bi and Go Eun Byul look exactly alike, but only Go Eun Byul is aware of the others existence. Unlike the cheerful Lee Eun Bi, Go Eun Byul is prickly and secretive.

Overall, the story is really good, and it had a lot of potential which I think the writers could have done more out of it. The drama itself feels a little bit lacking, after the huge success with School 2013, you kind of have expectations for this one too. However, it just didn’t work out as thought so in the beginning. I won’t lie, it was entertaining and I don’t dislike the drama, it just leaves you wanting more. Kim So Hyun did really well, I was pleasantly surprised by her acting, and I would watch her in other things, but the most outstanding one in this drama were Yook Sung Jae *clap-clap*. He did SO WELL. His character was sweet and funny and I loved how he was a little shit but still really cared about the people around him. The writers created such an amazing character and did nothing with it, I will never forgive them for that. Nam Joo Hyuk did great too, but I didn’t like his character… somehow the writers overdid it (again blaming the writers :b ). One last thing I wanna comment on is that I really wanted more from the other students. Not just a 30 second montage. This drama is called School 2015, so there should be more! I’m looking forward to a School 20XX ;)

☆☆☆☆½ / 4½ out of 5 stars
♥♥♥♥ / 4 out of 5 hearts

Plus Nine Boys Review

Title: Plus Nine Boys

AKA: Age Ending in Nine Boys

Genre: Romance, Comedy

Episodes: 14

Broadcast period: Aug-2014 to Oct-2014

Cast: Kim Young Kwang, Kyung Soo Jin, Oh Jung Se, Yoo Da In, Yook Sung Jae, Park Cho Rung, Choi Ro Woon, Lee Chae Mi

A single mother with 3 boys: 9, 19 and 29 is living together with her little brother; 39. She seeks a shaman that tells her the boys in her family are cursed because of their age, now a huge disaster awaits each of them the following year. Goo Kwang Soo (39, Oh Jung Se) was a successful PD of a music show, when suddenly a scandal occurred and he was demoted to a television show no one watches anyway.  The eldest son Kang Jin Goo (29, Kim Young Kwang) is known as a player and is loved by everyone from his work, but who knew he was actually walking around with a huge secret. The two youngest boys encounter a lot of problems in love, friends and dreams. How will they tackle the news about new trouble ahead of them?

A nice satisfactory drama I must say, the scenario was refreshing from your ordinary romantic comedies around this year, and the actors were very natural, they made it enjoyable to see the story unfold. Plus 9 Boys was supposed to be a 16-episode drama, everything seemed to work fine and with every episode the interest was reaching a new climax, but it was cut down to 14 episodes. To be honest, it felt a bit rushed in the last two episodes and it would have been better if they would stick to the original plan, 16 episodes so as for the drama to flow naturally without a rush and keep the depth of the storyline. Whats up with TvN and cutting their dramas lately… Anyway, I recommend this drama because it is really a sweet romantic comedy.

☆☆☆ / 3 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥ / 3 out of 5 hearts