The film which catapulted little known Lee Jun Ki into instant stardom all over Asia. Yes I admit quite candidly that I watched this movie for my recently found Jun Ki mania but I'm going to remember this movie for the masterpiece it is rather than just a random K-movie featuring LJK. The controversy regarding the racy humor used throughout the movie notwithstanding, the movie is a fine portrayal of love, friendship and betrayal. It is heart-warming to see the effeminate Gong Gil and the heroic Jang Seng's relationship, which was most certainly much more than just friendship. At the height of utter despair and chaos in their lives, when they flee from the countryside in the hopes of a better life in Seoul, the way they act out the parts of two blind men in the middle of nowhere is a treat to watch. That is perhaps the most poignant scene from the film barring the one at the very end. There's a puzzle in the title of the movie since it leaves you in doubt about who the real king is. In my opinion it's Jang Seng rather than the tyrannical, literal king since he desires to be a commoner even in his next life and chooses the right to live on his own terms rather than living a life of luxury whose terms will be dictated by others. He is the real king of the movie.
The actors have portrayed their parts to perfection. Jeong Jin Yeong has done especially well in conveying the inner turmoil the King suffered from, his eccentricities and frequent displays of mindless cruelty. Excellent acting by Kam Woo Sung as well. And last but not the least, LJK proves in this movie that he IS after all an actor and not just a great looker. I think it will be hard for even a straight guy to resist his charms after watching this movie.

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I started with this drama mainly because the plot seemed interesting enough. We all know what happens in a forbidden kind of love story between student and teacher and I expected it to go the cliched way right from the beginning but Biscuit Teacher surprised me here. The relationship between Tae In and Bo Ri has been depicted with sensitivity and a lot of depth-they are like friends, each other's mentors, guides, siblings, parents and lovers. Beginning was extremely fun and humorous with lotsa hilarious and heart-rendering situations involving individual students. But towards the end it kind of became a drag where there was little to no substantial plot development. It was heart-breaking to see Tae In cry so much and frustrating to see Bo Ri act like a confused teenager, unsure of her feelings. However the ending totally made up for it- very sweet. If not for anything else, this drama MUST be watched for Gong Yoo's realistic portrayal of an innocent and love-struck teenager, who matures from an eccentric, unruly kid to a real man with the strength to sacrifice what's most dear to him. Great acting by Gong Hyo Jin and the supporting cast as well.

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I started on this drama mainly because of Song Joong Ki since I've been a big fan of him ever since Sungkyunkwan Scandal. And I'm mighty glad I did. I was pleasantly surprised to find that without adhering to cliched Kdrama machinations or plot developments it was able to keep the viewer entertained throughout. The acting by the entire cast is honest and mind-blowingly good especially the 3 leads. The stories of the patients, their suffering and human moments moved me to tears at times. Although I feel a few of the guest stars or patients over-acted at times but that doesn't undermine the overall seriousness of the drama. Coming to the romance part, it was delicately portrayed. The development of the relationship between the leads and Hye Young's friendship with Jae Suk give the viewers some truly memorable moments.

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Let's just say I was one of those people who actually wanted to root for this drama. I have never seen Ahn Jae Hyun in anything else but I liked him in the beginning. Playing a vampire does not require a huge acting range. You can act broody and intense without needing to have 10 years' worth of acting experience. The beginning too was good. Finally a take on vampirism where it is an actual medical condition instead of a myth. That was quite interesting, writer-nim. Brownie points to you for that. Ji Sang's youthful looks were because he stopped ageing at some point. And as for the villain, he wanted the whole world to benefit from a condition like vampirism instead of it being treated as some medical evil. I loved your use of rationale in certain cases. I even loved all the information on biochemistry that is relentlessly hurled at the viewer.

But seriously what happened to you after the first 5 episodes? The moment Ji Sang stopped performing surgeries all I saw was him taking leisurely strolls all around the damned hospital and meeting either the Director or Yoo Ri Ta or Min Ga Yeon or Dr Joo, talking about all kinds of useless stuff and nothing else. Hello PD-nim, instead of overloading my brain with information, just show me through actual action. Too much exposition ruins any narrative.
And the romance? Uh why did they fall in love again? I'm sorry I just don't understand. Am I supposed to swoon at them mouthing lines swearing undying love for each other with not an ounce of emotion in them? It seemed like Ri Ta kept throwing herself at Ji Sang who was not even interested. And then all of a sudden, he is interested for lord knows what reason. (Oh wait it's because of their cosmic connection..he saved her from all those bad CG, Twilight-rip-off wolves....oooooh shooo romantic!)
I did not even think their scenes cute.

And somewhere around episodes 8-9 it all went downhill. The same things kept happening on infinite loop. Let me list them -
1)Ji Sang and Director having some kind of confrontational conversation in which sometimes they attack and snarl at each other and sometimes they don't. YAWN!
2)Token romantic scenes between Yoo Ri Ta and Ji Sang which were anything but romantic (who the hell calls their girlfriend/boyfriend 'Doctor Yoo' and 'Chief'?)
3)Walking around the hospital
4)Conversation between Ji Sang and VTH-16 researcher doctor
5)Ji Sang fighting off vampires and mostly getting beaten
6)Chairman and Associate Director having boring passive-aggressive conversations
7)More walking around the hospital
8)Min Ga Yeon and Ji Sang scenes which were too few
9)Patients in ward 21A going bonkers
10)More walking

The only portions I looked forward to where the parts featuring Sister Sylvia, Hyun Woo and Min Ga Yeon and Ji Sang's interactions which were actually genuine and made me feel something for them. They did not come off as forced and contrived unlike the Yoo Ri Ta and Ji Sang scenes. Even Ji Jin Hee couldn't save this trainwreck and he tried his best to make Jae Wook memorable!

And don't even get me started on the ending. What the hell happened? It was like the writer picked out every nonsensical, irrational cliche from the dramaverse and crammed all of them into an hour's worth of time.

Dear writer-nim, do us a favour and DO NOT EVER WRITE A DRAMA AGAIN. I feel like jumping off a bridge after watching that atrocious finale. I want those 20 hours of my life back! And this is coming from a busy person who no longer has sufficient time to watch all the K dramas she wants to watch.

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I seldom give a drama a 10 on 10. Because no matter how well a plot has been handled and cinematized there's always room for improvement. But in the case of this fabulous Hong sisters venture, I can think of no other way to improve the story. From the cast, to story, to direction, to solid comic chops, to acting, to music and plot and character development, nothing was lacking in this gem. Although to be truthful I'd have liked for the romance to be a bit more pronounced. But I think the subtlety of feelings the leads had for each other, was needed to suit the general mood of the story. Another thing-people who had started hating Han Ye Seul after the whole Myung wol The Spy controversy, please watch this drama and prepare to be mesmerized. The way she brings out Jo Anna's arrogance and pompousness and Na Sang Shil's innocent charm onscreen, is a treat for the senses. And Oh Ji Ho proves that a solid, toned body isn't all that he has got. He made Jang Chul Soo appear so genuine and sincere. MUST watch Hong sisters drama, and on some accounts I'd rate this even higher than You're Beautiful yes!

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I have to admit that going in, I did not have high expectations from the second season of I Need Romance. The plot seemed to be like too much of a rehash of the first season with themes of a long time relationship and the boredom that may set in a relationship of that kind or how when it doesn't advance to the stage of marriage, it may signal an inevitable end. And the thrill of a new relation with someone.
But this instalment of the INR franchise surprised me with its in-depth deconstruction of romances - what we do and expect from the person we love and how often we are torn between our feelings for two people and the mistakes we make. What a mature way to resolve a triangular love.
Hats off to the makers and I think I prefer this season over the first one.

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It's interesting how having lower expectations increases your ability to appreciate a drama better.
Despite its short length and the limited scope to prove its mettle, Unemployed Romance delivers and how.

In ordinary rom coms, we see that either the male lead is financially in the ruts or it is the heroine who scrounges for every penny and works a million part time jobs. Rarely do we see a rom com in which both the leads are going through financial troubles and have more or less achieved nothing in life and, quite possibly, never will. What do they do in such circumstances? Dare not have a romance because they're poor and unsuccessful?

Unemployed Romance is yet another example of the cliche of 'love conquers all' being stretched in to a realistic story. Jong Dae and Seung Hee overcome various odds from jealous new romantic interests, poverty, sick parents to unemployment and bitter memories of a break up, to finally get together in the end.

The drama has hilarious moments which arrive in the form of Jong Dae's hopelessly silly friends and Seung Hee's irresponsible boss. It also has its fair share of emotionally poignant scenes in terms of Jong Dae's conversations with his hapless, generous and amiable father. And this is not to mention the excellent chemistry between Nam Goong Min and Lee Young Ah - both of them should be applauded for their realistic portrayal of two individuals who have never had it easy in life.
Everything put together, 'Unemployed Romance' is a really cute, funny and heart-warming drama which does not veer off completely from reality at any point.

Definitely worth a watch.

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What a heart-warming and simple film with such a serious message for the viewers. At the same time as warning viewers not to make hurried decisions regarding losing one's virginity or sex in a relationship, the movie gives us such a wonderful love story. Reassuring to see the Shin Min Ah of 9 years ago who was a gifted actress even back then and Jo In Sung fits into his character of a shy, academically-inclined but considerate boy splendidly. Another remarkable feature of the movie is the music which strikes a chord with the viewers and is in harmony with the inherent theme. Definitely worth a watch and perhaps a re-watch.

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How I loved this season of Let's Eat. For those of you uninitiated into the Let's Eat fandom, you can probably guess that there's foodporn involved here. Lots of it. And heartwarming drama, comedy and slice of life elements which made the first season so popular despite the fact that the makers had steered clear of any promotion blitzkrieg.
Season 2 takes us through the lives of residents in a Sejong villa away from the hustle and bustle of Seoul. So long story short, in thematic terms it utilizes the same elements from the first season - urban alienation and loneliness, the dangers faced by single women living all on their own, and the way food brings people closer together and forges relationships between the lonely and the lovelorn. But really, what makes Let's Eat 2 much more special is the relationship between the male and female leads. Because nowhere else in the broad spectrum of Kdramas have I seen such an authentic portrayal of friendship between a man and a woman. (Not even in 9 End 7 Outs was the friendship between Su Ae and Lee Jung Jin so wonderfully depicted)

Fat-shaming of women is another important issue which the writer has handled as realistically as possible without becoming overtly preachy about it. I was relieved to see Soo Ji coming to terms with her low self-esteem issues which eventually allowed her to see Dae Young and her own relationship in its true light.

Also that particular bit where Dae Young makes the grand declaration that Soo Ji is a kind and fun and pretty woman who deserves to be loved probably remains one of my favorite indirect confession scenes in all Kdrama history. Way to make a woman swoon and move her emotionally, Dae Young!

In terms of acting, Yoon Doo Joon did extremely well as the somewhat smarmy, somewhat sneaky and sharp but adorable and kind Dae Young. And Seo Hyun Jin brought Baek Soo Ji's earnestness and her naivete to life like nobody's business. Nowhere in the drama did her hysterics or anger seem out of place or unwarranted. The side characters' stories were a bit underplayed in this instalment but the fantastic chemistry between the leads made up for everything else. In fact I wouldn't mind watching this one again. My only complaint is that the angst was kind of drawn out in the last 5-6 episodes. DY and SJ could have gotten together much earlier and we would have been blessed with a few more romantic/cute scenes.

So those who are still hesitant about watching this because there's no Lee Soo Kyung here, no need to worry. Because romance and friendship-wise, this drama serves up a much more delicious offering than its predecessor.

Now for a season 3. Make it happen producers!

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You know when you have watched a handful of sageuks, you can't really make sweeping statements like 'This is the best sageuk ever' or, to go a step further, 'This is the best Korean drama ever'. And yet I am forced to utter a banality like 'It will be hard to find a historical drama as stylistically perfect, emotionally riveting and heart-wrenching as QSD'.
From the beginning till the harrowing end (which I agree could not have been done any better), you are experiencing an edge-of-the-seat suspense and the feeling never really goes away. The political machinations all the characters indulge in - from the deliciously evil Mishil and her gang to Princess Cheonmyeong and later on Queen Seon Deok and Bidam - are all par excellence and it's a pleasure to watch this drama of epic proportions unfold onscreen. There are mesmerizing sword fight scenes (which thanks to the genius of Kim Nam Gil look absolutely real-life) in which Bidam and Yushin will monopolize your attention.
And Ko Hyun Jung is beyond brilliant. A worthy villain - beautiful, conniving and yet regal in her own way. The only somewhat weak part of the drama is Lee Yo Won as QSD, who should have done a little better. But Kim Nam Gil and the rest of the cast have delivered a performance of a life time.
And the OST is gorgeous - Lee So Jung's 'Come, People of God' will give you goosebumps (it is Queen Seon Deok's theme mainly).
If you are still hesitating because of the 62-episode thing, trust all the reviews and the mad ravings all over the internet regarding QSD, and hop along for the ride of a life time.

You will not forget QSD once you are done with it. It will leave its indelible mark on your memory. And so will the angst-ridden, dark anti-hero Bidam.
Watch this for Kim Nam Gil if not for anything else.

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Even though I'm profoundly sad about the fact that there won't ever be another new Arang episode to look forward to, I owe this drama enough to be able to write a favorable review. Not only have I been entertained to the core by the Arang makers and actors, but been gifted with a story so heart-warming and wonderful that I'm going to remember for a long time to come. Despite the naysayers and the people unhappy with the ending, I'd say the end couldn't have been done more realistically yet satisfyingly.
I rarely give a drama a 10 and to be honest the sad feeling that the end left me with (despite being fitting) made me want to give it a 9. But then Lee Jun Ki and Shin Min Ah have done so extremely well as the leads and made Eun Oh and Arang so endearing to me, that I can't possibly do them that disservice.
Coming to the plot, oh writer-nim how have you managed to mash up all genres - drama, intrigue, mystery, comedy, suspense, romance into one single story and made everything seem so believable and legitimate too? How? HOW? It's a remarkable achievement for which you deserve an award anyway. To tie up all loose ends of a story with such a convoluted plot must have been an ordeal that few writers would want to go through.
And must I say anything about the actors? Lee Jun Ki, do you need to sound so modest that you have to apologize to the viewers for perhaps not being able to do well enough after having just returned from the army? Exactly who are you kidding? To describe your performance in one word I'd say you were FABULOUS.
You played not one but several roles with such panache that the (female) viewer could only be glued to their tv or pc screens and pine for you in their hearts. Eun Oh, the magistrate. Eun Oh, the investigator. Eun Oh, the protector and savior of Arang. Eun Oh, the devoted son. Eun Oh, the administrator. Eun Oh, the top-notch martial artist. Eun Oh, the lover of Arang. You made all the Eun Oh-s so genuine, lovable and dignified that you deserve awards. Not one but lots of them.
And Shin Min Ah, even though you might be typecast in paranormal/supernatural being roles after this who the heck cares? You can play those characters terrifyingly well which lots of other accomplished actresses will have trouble with. Your Arang will definitely remain ingrained in every viewer's memories as a lovely young maiden ghost who never gave up and earned for herself a life and love that had been previously denied to her. Arang rocked our worlds and so did your performance. Honestly, both Lee Jun Ki and Shin Min Ah had crackling chemistry and should work together again.
About the rest of the cast, Yoo Seung Ho was particularly stellar as Jade Emperor and so were others like Yeon Woo Jin. Joo Wal appeared as a creepy, vulnerable and perpetually confused man drifting through life as if he were in a daze and Woo Jin's portrayal ensured that we got the message. Kwon Oh Jung, Hwang Bo Ra as Dol Soe and Bang Wool were equally amazing and without their incredible comic timing things may have gotten a bit drab. Han Jung Soo as Mu Yeong was another plus for the drama - I was a teensy bit unhappy about his fate at the end but the writer turned things around and gave us a little bit of hope that his existence was perhaps not completely wiped out.
If I'm to list the shortcomings, then a few stand out. Like how Joo Wal and Lord Choi came in contact with the evil fairy Moo Yeon and how Lord Choi came to adopt Joo Wal as a son were never shown. Seo Rim's father, the previous magistrate who died searching for his lost daughter was never shown either.
Also the songs were a weak link with the notable exceptions of K.Will's 'Love is you' and Jang Jae In's 'Fantasy' which I've been listening to on a loop. Why this marked difference between the kickass background music, those hauntingly melancholy themes and the actual songs? Even Baek Ji Young's rendition of 'Love and love' comes off as an annoyance.
But anyway, in the light of the brilliance of the other parts of the drama and the story, I'm ready to forgive such minor oversights.

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Honestly I couldn't figure out what the big fuss about this drama was. Okay so the guys were eye candy and Jung Il Woo was really hot. But that cannot possibly make up for the lack of a story or an actual plot. Things kept happening between Chi Soo and Eun Bi which made no sense whatsoever and there was obviously no logic to a brat like Chi Soo suddenly developing feelings for Eun Bi, who seemed to have no redeeming qualities except knowing how to play volleyball and acting like a klutz. The only saving grace in this drama is Lee Ki Woo, whose character was quirky, funny and charming. Ba Wool and Hyun Woo's act also provided the much needed comic relief from time to time, and made this slightly watchable.

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First things first. This drama changed my whole attitude towards classical music. About the story, the manga is brilliant in itself, but due to the large number of anime-like gags and exaggerated situations, you'd think the drama would lose its connection to reality somewhere. But it doesn't. Instead NC creates a magical world of its own where you lose yourself in Noda Megumi's brilliance and Chiaki Shinichi's slow rise to fame and influence. Comedy part of the drama too is extremely well-done, with members of the orchestra like Masumi and Mine making you laugh your guts out. While Beethoven, Mozart, Haydn, Schubert, Rachmaninoff's immortal creations provide a brilliant backdrop for Chiaki and Nodame's growing relationship. To make things perfect Tamaki Hiroshi's portrayal of the prickly Chiaki is bang on however Ueno Juri as Nodame clearly steals the thunder. Her acting and mannerisms are so accurate and reminiscent of an eccentric genius, that you start thinking that Nodame may just be for real. To all those who may not like the drama(just in case), do go watch the anime or read the manga. This is a story nobody should miss out on.

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Que Sera Sera has gotta be one of the best under-rated Korean dramas out there. The plot and the story are not exceptional, but the excellent acting, screenplay and characterizations make this drama stand out. And what seals the deal is the ending. One of the best Kdrama endings in my opinion. The conversion of the bad guy into a human with emotions has been portrayed meticulously through the various ups and downs and twists in the plot. All the characters with their human flaws and shortcomings will leave a permanent impression on you. Rewatch value is less though, since one wouldn't want to experience all the angst that the leads go through once again.

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I decided to watch this drama as a sort of timepass and because it had Oh Ji Ho. Needless to say I wasn't expecting much but here's where Get Karl, Oh Soo Jung surprised me somewhat. Here's one drama, which gets rid of the traditional Miss Goody-two-shoes self-sacrificing Kdrama heroine who cries buckets whenever things go wrong in her life and embraced the idea of a strong woman who unabashedly confesses to be a gold-digger, as its lead. And who better than a great actress like Uhm Jung Hwa to do this character justice?! The story was a bit unconventional, so was the relationship between the leads...but both Oh Ji Ho and Jung Hwa had terrific chemistry throughout. The plot drags considerably after episode 10, when stupid misunderstandings crop up. Instead of being brave and fessing up, the hero chickens out and gives the bad girl the advantage and they take this long meandering route towards reconciliation. I was expecting more spine from Oh Ji Ho's character and in that respect I was sorely disappointed. Coming to the side characters, the friendship between Soo Jung and her two girlfriends provides lots of comic relief and Karl's manager who speaks Korean with an artificial American accent and Soo Jung's teenage brother are hilarious as well. All in all, a good watch but not remarkable.

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