All About Eve (2000)

I really really like everything about this drama! The plot is not groundbreaking but feels refreshing somehow, probably because doesn’t have too many of the classic kdrama tropes: the most amazing thing is, for once, doesn’t have your typical leads. There isn’t a cold jerk male lead, nor a damsel-in-distress female lead. Wow! Other thing, they don’t have a love-hate relationship, nor do they spend time bickering endlessly. Instead, you have a pure and beautiful romance that unfolded between two people who start as friend and later develop a more deep relationship. No Father/ Mother -in-Law from hell either. Amazing!
From the beginning, the story put the focus more in the relationship between the female leads, Sun Mi and Young Mi, both had strong ambition, career-wise and everything they did was an effort towards that goal of becoming anchor-women. But is Young Mi jealousy of Sun Mi’s seemingly perfect life which causes Young Mi resolution to steal whatever Sun Mi has or wants. Their rivalry was a refreshing and intriguing thing to watch.
Throughout the drama is shown the contrast not only between this two women, but also in the romance between Sun Mi-Hyung Chul and Young Mi-Woo Jin, the sweet and pure romance vs the antagonist’s dark and tragic one.
As for the characters:
Sun Mi: she’s cute and bright without feeling annoying, and is by no means perfect, she’s gets upset and angry when provoked, and she even gets jealous.
Hyung Chul: Such a lovely leading man, his character was calm, honest and gentle. He’s true in his love and stayed true no matter what.

As for the character of Young Mi, I always enjoy a twisted and complex villain. Ultimately I have no sympathy for her but at least I get to understand her character and motivations. Her romance with Woo Jin is intense and dramatic, but dooms to fail due to the very insane and obsessed nature of their love: Woo Jin wanting to posses Young Mi and Young Mi willing to do anything to steel what Sun Mi cherish the most.
The acting: everyone did a great job portraying this rater complex character.
The music: true to be told, I don’t have any recollection about the sound track… :(
Overall, I would recommend this drama to everyone!

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This drama has been on the back burner for a while just because I didn’t know who the male leads were and they didn’t appeal to me. But I am a fan of both female leads so I knew I wanted to watch this one-day. I recently got finished with A Gentleman’s Dignity and got introduced to the great Jang Dong Gun so I thought it might be the time for me to give this one a go…

Story: It definitely screams melodrama with the crazy antics of Kim So Yeon’s character. However, the news station setting kind of added a light atmosphere. For the romances, I’ll just say it, I found the first main couple’s relationship boring. All their romantic scenes should have been heart pounding and intense (this is a melodrama!) but yeah their relationship was too easy. In contrast, I adored the second main couples relationship and rooted for them to reconcile. Some surprises came out in the last 2 episodes that really made my head spin and then comes the bittersweet ending. Really for the most part, except for every now and then when Young Mi would do some kind of crazy act, I was a bit uninterested in what was going on. Although it did, have enough to keep me watching without getting bored.

Acting/Cast: Im going to start with the second leads because in my opinion they had more to work with. Kim So Yeon was perfect as the sometimes psychotic and mostly calculating Young Mi. You understand why she does the evil things she does and by the end will feel sympathy for her character. Her romantic partner played by an actor I had never heard of before, was also very good as the caring but naïve Woo Jin Oppa. Their chemistry was great and their messy/tragic relationship was the best thing about this show. As for Chae Rim, we all know she is a great actress, but her character was not one of my favorites. And the great Jang Dong Gun of today, was definitely not that great when this drama was made because his acting was very stiff with a lack of varying expressions. I also didn’t feel the chemistry between him and Chae Rim. I did enjoy the supporting characters in the news station so the casting for them was spot on.

Music: I didn’t like it but it seemed to fit the trend of melo music of that time.

Rewatch: I wasn’t that impressed the first time so I don’t see myself watching it again.

Overall I’d recommend this only if you’re a fan of the female leads like I was.

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