Taiwan’s hottest property Aaron Yan’s romantic drama, Just You has him playing the role of a …guess what….BOSS! Aaron Yan has played a businessman in almost all of his dramas. But it isn’t entirely his fault. In an interview, he stated that he wishes to experiment with roles but he does not have the liberty to do so. It is mostly his agency that chooses his roles for him. Sad! But that does not hamper the show in any way. If anything, Aaron’s presence makes the show even more lovable. Just You is a show that will keep your heart warm on a cold winter night. Its subtle romance will make you want to fall in love again and again.


Let’s weigh Just You on our show beam balance and see what makes it an adorable show.

Good Weights
Aaron Yan: When I saw Refresh Man I thought that there could be something brewing between Aaron and his co-star, Joanne Tseng because their chemistry was too good to be fake. I started watching two of Aaron’s other shows to see if he shared the same chemistry with other actresses. Few episodes into both the shows and I realised that Aaron could build chemistry with even a tree. He is one helluva romantic lead. He looks so convincing in every romantic scene that I am forced to wonder if he has anything going on with his actresses behind the camera. He has been linked with most of his leading ladies but nothing has ever been confirmed. Anyway, Aaron is the main highlight of this show. He may be repetitive with his roles but he does manage to look different in each show all thanks to his styling. Aaron’s ‘aeroplane’ hairstyle (that’s what his co-star Puff Guo calls it) looks a little funny but it suits him. Even with a baby face, he effectively manages to look like a strict, neurotic, and egotistical boss.
 
Puff Guo: The first few episodes, Liang Liang may appear very irritating and irrational but as the show progresses you will start liking her. Liang Liang gradually grows on you and you understand that she is a clean hearted, naive, and honest person. She is so innocent that at times I felt like shaking her hard and screaming at her to tell her to stop being so blind to peoples’ vices. Puff Guo plays the character of Liang Liang with a lot of sincerity which is evident onscreen.

Romance/Chemistry: The show may not be high on intimate scenes like other T-dramas nonetheless it has several endearing moments. Aaron and Puff have an easy chemistry between them and they look very comfortable with each other even behind the scenes. What the show lacked story wise was more than made up for by Aaron and Puff’s fabulous chemistry.
 

Bad Weights
Annoying Antagonist: Qi Yi ex-girlfriend is the antagonist in the show who gives a tough time to Liang Liang. Every couple needs a third-party threat to help the couple grow closer. But here Ding Jia Yu was just a pain in the neck. Qi Yi is clearly disinterested in her but she still won’t give up. Neither was Jia Yu’s character well defined nor was her motives behind any of her actions. She was too weak an antagonist. She lacked the kind of effect third angles generally have in a show.

Too Looooong: Every major development of the show takes too long to happen. For instance, Qi Yi has left for an important meeting with the wrong file. Liang Liang chases after him to hand him the right file. The chase itself takes up half the episode. Similarly, there are certain petty situations that take up more time than required. The show could have been concise and shorter had there not been such unnecessarily stretched scenes.  
 
The show beam balance is heavy with good weights, which means Just You is a show to watch for sure. Its romance is what you have to look out for. Just You is a feel-good rom-com with honest and caring characters. If you fancy a disciplinarian boss and a fun loving subordinates’ love story then go for this one. If you are an Aaron Yan fan (like me) then do not dare miss this one. Watch Just You just for Aaron.  
 

Originally posted on www.alphagirl.in

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It has been ages since I last reviewed a Taiwanese drama. Though I watched In Time With You sometime between February and March, I don’t know what took me so long to review it. ‘In Time With You’ is a romantic Taiwanese drama about two childhood friends who promise to never fall in love with each other despite having deep-rooted feelings for each other. I picked this drama because it had only 13 episodes (at least on the site that I saw it on) and finding a T-drama with less than 20 episodes is a big deal. Moreover, the drama had great reviews online so I thought this is perfect for binge-watching over the weekend. However, it took me more than a week to finish the drama as each episode was 90 minutes long. So, basically, the number of episodes made no difference because the drama was loooooooooooong anyway. But it was an enjoyable drama so I am not complaining.  

Let’s weigh In Time With You on our show beam balance and see if this two friends-turned-lover are worth your time or no.

Good Weights
You Qing’s Wardrobe and Character: Every girl will know why wardrobe is counted as a good weight. You Qing works as a manager with a shoe manufacturing company. She is a smart and ambitious woman and that is clearly reflected in her dressing. Mostly dressed in smart formals, You Qing’s clothes and shoes had me frothing at the mouth. Even her sister-in-law would borrow clothes from her in the drama. I was in awe of her impeccable dressing sense. You Qing’s wardrobe is every girl’s dream. Actress Ariel Lin looked stunning in almost every outfit that helped her look her part in the drama. You Qing is a headstrong girl who knows how to perfectly balance her personal and professional life. She is stubborn, rude, and unapologetically outspoken which is what makes her character so real. She is not sweet and kind lady but a hot and nice woman. Moreover, Ariel Lin played the character to perfection which is what made me like You Qing even more.  

Chen Bolin: I have seen Ariel’s dramas before so I was aware of her acting prowess. It was the first time I was watching Chen Bolin in a drama and I think he has the cutest dimples in Asian dramaland. Li Da Ren is the quintessential romantic hero who loves the heroine unconditionally and can do anything to see her smile. He is always there to wipe her tears when she is upset. He patiently listens to all her complaints. Solves her problems for her. Protects her from harm. Fights with people who speak against her. And basically, acts like a err….drama hero. The casting director chose the best face possible to play such an endearing character. Chen Bolin’s smile can make any girl go weak in the knees. Thankfully, his pretty face is not devoid of expression and his portrayal of Li Da Ren was just perfect.

Intense Chemistry: For this, I have to applaud Ariel for being able to build an amazing chemistry with both her male leads Chen Bolin and Sunny Wang. Her chemistry with her ex-boyfriend on the show Ding Li Wei i.e. actor Sunny Wang was too hot to handle. There are plenty of sweet love scenes between You Qing and Li Wei which is a given for any romantic T-drama. Also, actor Sunny Wang is an eye candy which is why it is natural to be torn between Da Ren and Li Wei. You Qing and her bestie Da Ren do not have that many love scenes but there are several adorable scenes between the two pals that will make you fall in love with them.



Bad Weights
First Episode: I don’t know why but I found the first episode of the show extremely boring and almost decided not to watch it. Had I not read rave reviews of the show I surely would have not watched it beyond episode 1. But luckily I held my patience and gave it another try. In case you decide to watch this show do not feel very disappointed by episode 1. It is boring I agree but the show overall is not bad so let the one-episode slip.  

Draggy Episodes: The website I saw the drama on had 13 episodes but several other websites have broken down the drama into 20+ episodes. But despite the breakdown, the story does seem to drag sometimes. It does slow down a bit but doesn’t fully lose track. In spite of the slight dip in pace I eagerly waited to catch the next episode only because I liked all the characters on the drama.

 
In Time With You is charming love story that will make you want a guy best friend. It is that Taiwanese drama which should be on your ‘to-watch’ list. If you are looking for a sweet friendship-turned-romance drama then stop here and spare some time for this heart-warming drama.

Originally posted on www.alphagirl.in

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It’s Okay It’s Love (IOIL) (Also translated as It’s Okay, That’s Love) is the reason why I am addicted to Korean dramas. IOIL is the first Korean show I ever saw and since then six Asian TV show streaming channels have been bookmarked on my browser. When I first read the name of the show I found it difficult to believe that it is a psychological drama. In fact, I almost decided to not watch it because the title sounded so cheesy. But I’m glad I went ahead and gave it a try as it opened a completely new world of entertainment to me. This show is a complete package of drama, comedy, romance, and tragedy. By the end of the series I was left asking for more (explains my addiction to K-Drama).

Let’s weigh It’s Okay It’s Love on a beam balance and see if it is worth watching or is better missed.

Good Weights
Good Story – IOIL is a medical drama with an interesting storyline for every character on the show. The show deals with several medical cases and each case has been dealt with maturely without compromising on the entertainment value. You may not belong to the medical field but the psychiatrists in the show explain each case in a simple manner for a layman to understand. Despite dealing with a serious topic, the show still makes space for comedy and romance without straying away from the central theme.      

Amazing Soundtrack – Apart from the beautifully woven storylines, the original soundtrack of the show is what stands out. All the songs in the show are just incredible. It sets the mood for a scene especially for the non-Korean audience who may initially struggle slightly to understand the nature of a scene.
Sleepless Night by Crush (feat. Punch) is my favourite and I listen to it in a loop. Its lyrics are extremely romantic and totally suits the protagonist’s love story.

Good Acting – What’s beautiful about this show is that every character has a part to play and has a story of its own. It shows how each character deals with its own personal issues and how they manage to tackle them and go on in life. Supporting actors of the show have done an amazing job. Each of them has acted their part to perfection.

Main Lead’s Chemistry – Jang Jae Yeol and Ji Hae Soo’s chemistry is intense and enchanting. Their love-hate relationship is so engaging that you wait for them to come together on screen. Jo In Sung (Jang Jae Yeol) is not only handsome but also a good actor. He looks so vulnerable in certain scenes that you almost feel like protecting him. After a few episodes he just doesn’t look like the Casanova he was thought of being initially. He manages to shed the playboy image and comfortably fit in the role of a romantic hero.
Gong Hyo Jin (Ji Hae Soo) is exceptionally good as the independent and highly opinionated psychiatrist. At times, you might feel annoyed with the way Hae Soo deliberately pushes Jang Jae Yeol away from herself but that is what is required for the character. Hae Soo is a difficult woman because she deals with some insecurities and guilt which is why she uses her arrogance to shield herself.

Bad Weights(I found it extremely difficult to spot any flaws in the show. So the bad weights for this show are not exactly its shortcomings but a few things that bothered me slightly.)
Easy Treatments – Some of the ailments have been shown to be treated easily. An illness like schizophrenia is difficult to treat and may take years to control. But in the show, a patient is shown to contain it very easily and in a rather short period of time. I am not from a medical background but from what I have read I know that it definitely requires more time and efforts to treat it. However, since the show is only 16 hours long I cannot blame the makers for speeding up the treatment process as the audience is not really interested in seeing the detailed procedure of the treatment.

Cheesy Title – I must say that the show’s title is totally misleading. With such a strong content it should have been named differently to avoid the audience taking it to be a just a regular romantic series.

The show beam balance has way too many good weights than bad weights which clearly indicate that the show is a MUST MUST WATCH. I cannot elaborate enough why the show deserves the accolades it has been receiving online by several K-drama fans. All I can say is that had it not been for this show I wouldn’t have tried Korean dramas at all.  It’s Okay It’s Love is totally worth the 16 hours of your life.
 
Originally posted on www.alphagirl.in 

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The last time I was super duper excited to write a drama review was while writing for Scarlet Heart Ryeo. SHR was my most favourite drama of 2016. She Was Pretty came out in 2015 but for me, it has been the best drama for this year because the drama scene has been very disappointing this year as compared to the year 2016. She Was Pretty is a typical romantic comedy that you watch when you are looking for something sweet and funny to unwind and relax. I had not binged on a Korean drama series in a while so last weekend I decided to catch a fun show and finish it in two days. And I could have finished this drama on Saturday itself had my mother not scolded me for staying up late to watch a drama. This drama was funny and highly engaging. I could not wait to reach the show finale. Had I to have my way I would not have left it without finishing all 16 episodes in one sitting.

Let’s weigh She Was Pretty on our show beam balance and see what is ‘pretty’ and what is ‘ugly’ about this drama.

Good Weights
Hwang Jung Eum: Kim Hye Jin, the goofball, is the reason why this show is hilarious. Actress Hwang Jung Eum’s comic timing and natural acting are laudable.  I loved her weird expressions that flit from excited to bewildered to bemused to annoyed to God knows what not in nano seconds. Hye Jin is crazy and I mean it. She has no inhibitions whatsoever and often ends up making a fool of herself. This is the reason why I found it difficult to relate to the younger Hye Jin who looks sorted and sophisticated, unlike Hye Jin who is completely cracked in the head. Her tiffs with Seong Joon are funny while her weird encounters with Shin Hyeok are hysterical. Yes, she does tend to overact in certain comical scenes, but she does it effortlessly which is what I like the most about her.  

Park Seo Joon: I have seen Park Seo Joon in Hwarang and I wondered why he was the main lead in the drama because I wasn’t very impressed by him. In fact, I liked everybody on the show except him. However, She Was Pretty changed my opinion about him as I loved his portrayal of Seong Joon. Seong Joon is a perfectionist who believes in pushing his employees hard to get the best out of them. I felt that Park Seo Joon does not have that ‘boss’ look and he was not very convincing with the stern boss look. But he was not horrible because I genuinely liked his character and Park Seo Joon has evidently played the character with a lot of sincerity. I probably still feel that Aaron Yan is the best ‘boss’ out there and maybe in comparison to him Park Seo Joon seems to fall short. Park Seo Joon does play the ‘lover boy’ well and looks as lovable as a male lead should in a romantic drama. His chemistry with Hwang Jung Eum is good and I loved the couple’s love scenes.

Choi Si Won: If you are not aware of my love for second leads then click here and here to know of my adoration for them. Choi Si Won’s wacky character Kim Shin Hyeok made me laugh and cry. His crazy antics at pulling Hye Jin’s leg used to crack me up. I especially loved to hear him call Hye Jin ‘Jackson’. The most painful moment on the show for me was when Hye Jin talks to Shin Hyeok and receives a call from Seong Joon asking her to meet him as he now knows the truth about her. Shin Hyeok begs her not to go but she cannot help it as she has answers to give Seong Joon. He repeats ‘gajima’ (don’t go) so helplessly it pained to see him like that. It was the most heartbreaking scene I have seen of a second-lead. Actor Choi Si Won is absolutely adorable in his eccentric role. He looks the part with his dimples adding to his character. I hope I do not have to see a character like him as a second-lead ever again because I don’t think I can bear this kind of pain once more.  

Friendship: Hye Jin and Ha Ri are best friends and inseparable. They trust each other blindly which is why Hye Jin sends Ha Ri to meet her love Seong Joon without feeling any kind of insecurity. Ha Ri becomes a little selfish and tries to keep Seong Joon by her side despite knowing what Hye Jin feels for him. When Hye Jin discovers Ha Ri’s truth, she does not attack her with accusations but instead gives her a benefit of doubt. Ha Ri too feels guilty of her wrong actions and makes it up to Hye Jin. I liked the fact that the writers did not turn Ha Ri into an evil friend just to make her a villain. Ha Ri is a good character who loses her way but then regains the lost love with her repentance. I like Ha Ri and Hye Jin’s friendship and the fact that they really are loyal supporters of each other. The are several dramas showcasing bromance but very dramas promote sisterhood and I am glad that this drama did it in a very believable way. I liked the fact that the writers did not turn Ha Ri into an evil friend just to make her a villain. Ha Ri is a good character who loses her way but then regains the lost love with her repentance. I like Ha Ri and Hye Jin’s friendship and the fact that they really are loyal supporters of each other. There are several dramas celebrating bromance but seldom do they promote sisterhood and I am glad that this drama did it in a way that is relatable.

Sweet Moments: This drama is high on comedy and does not have a lot of hard-core romantic moments. However, there are enough of saccharine moments that make the drama endearing. The drama has several of those lovey-dovey moments that romance lovers savour the most. For instance, Seong Joon and Hye Jin find themselves alone on an overnight outing. On their way, they happen to eat at a restaurant but are unable to pay for the food so the restaurant owner makes them do some labour work to recover the money. Now Seong Joon is a rich guy who probably has never even seen cow dung, unlike Hye Jin who has faced a tough life. He cribs about touching manure and cries when he accidentally touches fresh cow dung with his gloves on. So, he basically strongly detests manure. While working in the cowshed, Hye Jin loses her employee ID card which she treasures a lot considering she landed her dream job. She returns to retrieve her ID card but is unable to find it. Seong Joon knows how important the ID card is for to her so he searches through the manure for her ID card and hands it over to her lying that he found it fallen on the ground. Seong Joon cringes at manure but for her sake, he does something that he dislikes the most. Similarly, there are back-hugs, piggy-back rides, soft kisses, forehead kisses and a lot of love that you would want to see in a K-drama.


Bad Weights
Faulty Details: The script has loopholes that are way too glaring to be ignored. For instance, Shin Hyeok chances upon Seong Joon’s house access card when he helps to drop an unconscious Seong Joon home. After that Seong Joon never asks him for his access card. Shin Hyeok thereafter enters Seong Joon’s house as and when he likes and Seong Joong does not question even once of how he gained access to his apartment without his permission. Also, I found it difficult connect with the young Hye Jin who is calm, civilised and nerdy which is very different than the restless, hyperactive and effervescent older Hye Jin. Yes, people do change with time but when they showed flashback scenes of Hye Jin with Seong Joon, I found it difficult to believe that it is the same girl because nothing about young Hye Jin gave a vibe of the older Hye Jin. It is quite possible that the difference in personality was deliberate so Seong Joon does not identify her easily but still, isn’t he supposed to be conflicted with what he believes and what Hye Jin wants him to believe? Also, the supposed ‘suspense’ factors in the drama were too easy to predict. I couldn’t help rolling my eyes when the suspense was finally revealed as I could bet my life on my guesswork.
 
She Was Pretty has more of good weights than bad weights which means that it is a treat to watch. Despite its gaping plot holes it never ceases to entertain so do not miss it for anything. It ends on a sugary sweet, positive note that will make you miss the drama terribly after it has concluded.

This drama has a good start and a smooth ending which left me with sweet memories of the show. If rom-com is your genre, then go for this one without thinking too much. It is highly entertaining and worth your time.  

Originally posted on www.alphagirl.in

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What do you get when you put a rich handsome lonely boy and a poor unsuccessful decent looking girl together? You get the plot for a short Korean drama series. Even though this may be the plot of almost 80% Korean romance dramas, I still love watching them because these Korean writers somehow manage to present the same old wine in a new bottle every time. And I am a sucker for romance and still jump each time I see Naoki confess his feelings for Kotoko and bawl each time I see Joon Pyo cry for Jan Di. So, I still am game for this formula. However, sometimes the cliched storyline backfires and ends up disappointing audiences the way this drama disappointed me.
Though I was high on romance dramas, I hadn’t seen an out and out mushy, corny stuff in some time. My Secret Romance came as a respite for my longing. There was ‘fireworks’ in the very first episode which generated a lot of buzz for the drama. I too would wait eagerly each week to catch up on the drama. But sadly, this drama also tumbled towards the end till it fell flat.

Let’s weigh My Secret Romance on our show beam balance and see how this romantic drama fares and if it is worth a watch or no.

Good Weights
Sung Hoon: This guy has the face and body of a Greek God. He is a rare specimen of a ‘tanned’ Korean actor. Acting-wise he may be on a weaker footing but looks-wise he was just perfect for this role. This role anyway did not require him to emote a lot so it was ok. The show was replete with kisses and sweet moments and Sung Hoon does that like an ace player so I am happy that he was in the drama. However, even this Jack could not save the Titanic from sinking as the story failed to provide enough scope for him and the drama.

Couple Chemistry: I have said this before that, for a romance drama, the lead couple chemistry is the deal maker for the drama. Actors Sung Hoon and Song Ji Eun shared an amazing chemistry. She looked like a very naïve employee while he looked every bit of an intimidating boss. Jin Wook and Yoo Mi share several sweet moments on the show and these two actors looked very comfortable with each other which made them look convincingly in love with each other.


Bad Weights
Lee Yoo Mi: Now I am only talking about the character Yoo Mi and not actress Ji Eun. I personally felt that Yoo Mi was not a well-developed character because she seemed one-dimensional. She feels a little awkward with Jin Wook initially because of their one-night stand and also because of his stern face. But even after he makes it clear that he likes her, she still looks wary of him. Why?
The most annoying thing is when she stares wide-eyed at him each time he steals a kiss. She even hiccups occasionally in his presence. I know Jin Wook is HAWT and anybody would feel nervous around him but being nervous all the time is a little too much.

Overly Cliched Storyline: Yes, I admitted at the start of this post that I don’t mind clichéd romance dramas. But trust me, this drama is toooooooooo clichéd. A one-sided lover cum best friend, a clingy girlfriend, an elitist father and almost everything you can think of was there in this drama. There are several dramas that have all of this but the script of the show makes a drama interesting. I felt that the scripting for this drama was weak and could have been better.

Too Much Love: Suspense shows thrive on the suspenseful scenes that catch viewers off guard. Similarly, romance shows thrive on romantic moments that viewers eagerly wait for. Though I am a sucker for romance, I do not enjoy shows that constantly throw romantic scenes out of nowhere. I like to wait for the story to develop and like to cheer the leads on to finally go in for the much-awaited kiss. This drama became like a trashy romance novel that has a kiss on every alternate page. Where is the wait? Where is the excitement? After a point, I would yawn at the love scene despite Sung Hoon being in the frame. I wish the writers had been more judicious about the kisses, then the kisses would not have lost their impact on me so easily.

Draggy Ending: Ugh! The last four episodes make me cringe. Why!!!! Despite the predictable story, I was liking the show because of Sung Hoon and Ji Eun but then, the last four episodes were unbearably boring. I actually jumped through most of the scenes and landed straight on the last episode because so much of misunderstanding and flashback made no sense to me. I think the writer must have run out of ideas and was forced to drag the show till 13 episodes so he must have written these four episodes on one page by simply writing ‘recall what happened in the previous episodes’.

My Secret Romance weighs down with bad weights which means that there were a lot of loopholes in the drama. For me, My Secret Romance is like a Mills and Boons story that is high on love and low on story and logic. I did enjoy the first nine episodes of the drama till it started to drag unnecessarily and spoilt the perfect climax of a predictable romance drama.


If you like dramas with a lot of lovey-dovey scenes, good-looking lead couple, and an exceptionally hot leading actor and do not mind a lame climax then do watch this drama, it won’t disappoint you. Also, if you like Sung Hoon then you have to watch this because he looks just so damn HOT!!!u like dramas with a lot of lovey-dovey scenes, good-looking lead couple, and an exceptionally hot leading actor and do not mind a lame climax then do watch this drama, it won’t disappoint you. Also, if you like Sung Hoon then you have to watch this because he looks just so damn HOT!!!

Originally posted on www.alphagirl.in

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I personally feel that 2016 was one of the best years to watch Korean dramas. Why? Firstly, because most of the popular Korean actors (Gong Yoo, Lee Min Ho, Lee Jun Ki, Jang Keun Suk, Ji Chang Wook, Song Joong Ki, Lee Jong Suk, Kim Woo Bin) had at least one drama or web series in that year. And secondly, the dramas released in 2016 were mostly AMAZING. There was a time I’d spend three hours a day catching up on all the latest drama. One such cool drama released by the end of 2016 was Hwarang. I was excited about it from the moment I saw its first poster.
Hwarang started on a good note and went on well, till the story writers decided to ruin it all towards the end. I guess it’s a jinx that dramas that start well and have my attention and love, suddenly change the route and have a crash landing. But, even with a boring ending, this drama was fun with all the bromance and camaraderie between the lead characters.

Let’s weigh Hwarang on our show beam balance and see if this multi-starrer drama earns any stars for itself or no.

Good Weights
Bromance: The show has 6 guys around whom the story revolves which means there is a lot of bromance on this show. Of all the male bonding happening on the show, my favourite pair was that of archenemies Su Ho (Choi Min Ho) and Ban Ryu (Do Ji Han).  From hating the sight of each other to helping each other in times of serious trouble, the two of them come a long way in the show. I loved their bonding as much as I loved their conflicts. Being secondary characters, their story did not get much screen time but the two actors did a good job with whatever little story they had. Sadly, the moment the bromance drops, the show becomes uninteresting and borderline boring which is a disadvantage for a pre-produced drama as it cannot alter the story on viewer’s demand. Had this show not been pre-produced I guess the director would have added some more male bonding scenes on the show which would have helped it garner more TRP’s.

Cast: The story may have failed the cast but the cast did not fail the story. The six boys suited their respective roles and played their part convincingly. I especially like Han Sung (Tae Hyung) and Ban Ryu’s characters a lot. Han Sung because he isn’t like any of the other boys. He is naive and childlike and a very happy character. I don’t think singer-actor Tae Hyung (BTS’s V) needed much of a homework to play the role of Han Sung because he is just as playful and cute as the character in real life. I also loved Ban Ryu’s character a lot because there was some serious character development in his case. There is a difference in his character before and after joining Hwarang which makes him the only guy to have benefitted from the Hwarang setup.

Direction: In a special episode of Hwarang, the cast had complained of the Director being a perfectionist who made them do scenes in the most realistic way possible. For instance, an actor would be slapped for real only to make the scene look realistic on screen. The director’s quest for perfection is what made the show look so striking. Some scenes on the show look spectacular and only a director with a vision could come up with such amazingly shot scenes.



Bad Weights
Story Loopholes: The show had an amazing director but sadly the story was lacking in so many ways that even good direction and cast couldn’t keep it from falling flat. The drama had a lot of mysterious storylines but sadly not everything was explained in the show. For instance, Sun Woo (Park Seo Joon) had some serious problem of fainting in the most crucial moments. He fainted in the first episode during a fight and some random episodes after that. I thought maybe he has some serious illness or maybe he suffered something in his childhood or maybe it is some hereditary ailment that makes him faint when he feels cornered but this problem of his was neither dealt with nor explained on the show. In fact, my first reaction after the last episode was, “Wait! What about the dizzy spells? Why would he faint in the most crucial moments? What the hell!!!” I observe shows very closely as a viewer and when certain points of a show are left unexplained it leaves a bad taste in my mouth. It is frustrating when writers add characteristics to generate curiosity and then never bother to address them. Similarly, there are characters that come and go without any purpose. Yeo Wool (Jo Yoon Woo) is one character that was a big waste because I still don’t know how he contributed to the story. What’s worse is that they didn’t even show what happens to him in the end. He is one of the six main Hwarangs but still such a poorly written character. His introduction made him look mysterious but later on, he was just used as a filler. Then there was Han Sung’s elder brother who joins as an assistant Hwarang but then suddenly becomes a Hwarang after he murders a character on the show. What? Though accidentally, he did kill someone in the story right? Then why was he not punished? Why was he promoted to Hwarang?


The show is interesting but often falls flat and leads you nowhere. However, I really enjoyed watching the first half of the show which concentrated mainly on the boys bonding with each other. Even though the show has several romantic angles, none of it had my attention as my interest lay in how the warriors would discover the truth and how they would help each other in testing times. If you plan to watch this show then, do it only for some decent bromance.

Originally posted on www.alphagirl.in

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I will start this review with a confession. I am supremely impressed with Lee Min Ho and now I totally understand why he is so popular in East Asia. Initially, whenever I googled a K-drama or any Korean actor, Min Ho’s name or image always showed up in the suggestion list. On reading about him I learned that he is known as the ‘Ryan Gosling of Korea’. That caught my attention and I decided to watch his show hoping to know what all the fuss was about. His show ‘The Heirs’ is one of the most popular and successful K-drama of 2013. But somehow I wasn’t really impressed with Min Ho. The show lacked substance, so I dismissed Min Ho as just another pretty faced actor famous only for his good looks. But Google just wouldn’t give up. His name and images would keep appearing on my suggestion list. So I read some more articles on him and discovered that Lee Min Ho catapulted to fame following the success of Boys Before Flowers (BBF) and it still remains one of his most successful shows. So I decided to give Min Ho another chance and watched BBF. And boy! What a show! And Lee Min Ho… You earned a fan! From now on I shall not complain about girls going crazy over Min Ho. I think I understand what they feeNow that I have gushed over the good-looking Korean actor let me mention that Min Ho only served as a reason to watch the show. His presence has not influenced my review of the show.
 
Let’s weigh Boys Before Flowers on our show beam balance and see if it is worth spending your 25 hours on or no.

Good Weights
Good Looking Cast – I know I had promised not to speak about the good-looking cast as a good weight but I cannot help it, F4 boys are so damn stunning. In fact, the Korean version has the best star cast amongst the different versions of BBF (There is a Japanese and Taiwanese version of the same story. There is an American version too but…lets not talk about it. I tried watching it and would suggest you keep an arm’s distance from that show.) Also, these boys are the central characters of the story and their good looks helped gain audiences attention.
Lee Min Ho as the arrogant Gu Joon Pyo stole the show with his awesome acting and handsome face. He would light up the screen by his mere presence. Kim Hyun-Joong was convincing as the handsome, introvert Yoon Ji-hoo (I am talking only about his looks and not his acting). Kim Bum as So Yi-Jung was just too cute to play a womanizer, but that hardly made any difference. He still is an eye candy.

Compelling Storyline – Despite the length (25 episodes) I never felt bored even for a second (I disliked the last two episodes but they weren’t boring, they are just patience testing!). The script was good and the story was gripping. Once you start watching it you want to know more and more about it. It’s interesting and addictive.

Beautifully Shot – Since the story revolves around rich boys and their lifestyle, the show was shot on extravagant sets and locations. Everything in the show was larger than life. The clothes, the houses, and sleek sports cars, were just over the top. All of it added to the lavish feel of the characters. Overall the show was well shot and looked very appealing.


Bad Weights
Poor Ending – The show was so good but the ending, ugh! The last two episodes tested my patience. ((Spoiler Alert!!)) I was hoping that maybe Jun Pyo is just pretending to have forgotten Jan Di because he’s probably still angry with her, but no! He has actually lost his memory. No not memory, he actually lost just HER memories. He remembers everyone but HER. Seriously? Is that even possible? I guess he has forgotten just the last one year of his life. How convenient! I wish they hadn’t dragged the show over two silly episodes. But then probably, that’s what happens in the original manga so the makers were just sticking to that.
Length – 25 episodes is too long for a K-drama. I am not complaining. I loved every episode (except the last two) but it could have been a little shorter.
Acting – There’s no doubt that Kim Hyun-Joong (Ji Hoo) was the best looking man in the story but he seriously lacks acting skills. Ji Hoo is the most endearing character of the show and Kim Hyun-Joong was aptly cast for his good looks, if only he could work on his expression, scenes would have been much more enjoyable.
One thing I really failed to understand was Geum Jan-di’s childish demeanor. Ku Hye-sun (Geum Jan Di) seems like a good actress but why was she walking and talking like a kid. Geum Jan Di is supposed to be spunky, not childish. I have watched the Japanese and Taiwanese adaptations of the story but neither of the actresses act childish like Jan Di. In fact, they are rather very feisty and gutsy girls unlike the overly silly Jan Di.
The show beam balance has an equal number of good and bad weights and if you ask me despite all the bad weights I really enjoyed watching the show. I was thoroughly entertained. There was no dull moment for me throughout the series (The last two episodes were simply patience testing not dull or boring!) Lee Min Ho may have been my motivation to watch the show but the show itself is strong enough to hold your interest. Lee Min Ho is just an added attraction


Boys Before Flowers may seem over the top but it’s not low on entertainment. It is for anybody who wants to watch some light-hearted romance.

Originally posted on www.alphagirl.in

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It’s been a while since I watched a Japanese dorama (that is what Japanese dramas are known as). So when I had one full day to myself and could only spare 10 to 11 hours I picked this J-drama expecting it to be a no-brainer, highly clichéd, damsel in distress rescued by a handsome rich man kinda light watch. But much to my surprise, this show was anything but that. Never judge a show by its name. The show is nothing like its name. I am still wondering why is it even named as Rich Man, Poor Woman? Maybe it is a clever attempt by the show makers to imply that some people are rich with money but lack warmth in life while some people are warm and cheerful but lack enough finances to survive. Whatever the reason may be, the social status of the protagonists was definitely not a significant element in the show. The show’s title is highly misleading and please do not expect any rich man helps poor girl kinda drama here. Now that any preconceived notions have been cleared, let’s check out what is good and what is not so good about Rich Man, Poor Woman.

Good Weights
Hatke Hyuga: Hyuga’s character is admiringly unique. He is good at his work and is arrogant as he sees himself indispensable. He is a simple man who has big visions for his company but hardly cares about himself. At the same time, he is trusting and forgiving and does not hold a grudge against people who stab him for their selfish needs. Despite being betrayed and humiliated by his closest comrade he doesn’t forget the good memories they shared in the past because of which he not only forgives him but also helps him make a graceful comeback. Where do we find such people? Only in drama land!

Compact and Precise: I am thankful to the writers for not stretching the ‘find biological mother’ angle too much. His mother did not care for him but he was stuck with her name and wanted to know more about her. When he does find her there is no typical mother-son reunion like in most dramas. He now knows what matters to him in life and goes straight after it without stopping in matters of the past. Similarly, all the other angles in the show were dealt with in a precise manner and nothing was stretched beyond reason so there was no scope for boredom.

Bad Weights
Production Value: I have this complaint from most of the J-doramas that I have watched. Even the latest doramas look like they are more than a decade old. Some doramas look like old Taiwanese shows. Is it just me or everyone who watches J-dorama feel that?
 
With less number of bad weights, the show stands as an average drama that isn’t bad for a one time watch. I started watching the show hoping for a light-hearted rom-com but it surprised me, in a good way. It wasn’t the cheesy office romance I presumed it to be and was a good watch. Producers of the show created a 2-hour long movie titled ‘Rich Man, Poor Woman in New York’, focusing mostly on Hyuga and his lady love’s life together as a couple and another short movie titled ‘Rich Man, Poor Woman Zero’ that shows how Hyuga built his business empire from the scratch.  

 If you want a break from K-drama’s then go for this one. Rich Man, Poor Woman is not high on romance but has a decent storyline that will keep you engaged.

Originally posted on www.alphagirl.in

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In India when we like a movie we say that the movie is total ‘paisa vasool’ which means it was totally ‘worth the money’. That’s exactly what I felt after watching Descendants of the Sun. This show is total paisa or shall I say ‘time’ vasool. The show is a perfect blend of action, romance, suspense, humor, and grief. This was one show where I not only liked the protagonist’s love story but also enjoyed parallel storylines of the all the supporting characters.
Let’s weigh Descendants of the Sun on our show beam balance and see what makes the show worth watching.
 
Good Weights
Good-Looking Cast – What? Did I promise not to mention this point as a good weight? Gah!!
Remarkable Plot – I still can’t believe Korean TV channels were sceptical of taking up this show only because it dealt with a controversial topic (by which I mean the military). I was hooked on from the first episode itself. And the episode cliffhangers made me so impatient I would often find myself binge-watching the show. This medical-military drama was so hatke(unique and different) that I am totally impressed by the writers who wrote it. The love story between people belonging to two completely different fields of work seems so unlikely but the story has been woven so beautifully that the scenarios and their growing fondness for each other seem plausible and convincing.

Well Defined Characters – Every character is well written and the actors have done full justice to their roles. Each character contributes in its own way to the development of the story. Another point I want to add here is that this is the first Korean drama (for me) where the central female character doesn’t have multiple suitors vying for her attention. And the guy is not a total jerk ill-treating his girl. Mo Yeon is intelligent, responsible, and ambitious. Si Jin is chivalrous (a rare quality in most K-Heroes), handsome (couldn’t help adding it here), committed, and brave. The characters in the show seem real and relatable.    

Chemistry – Be it lead couple Yoo Si Jin and Dr. Kang Mo Yeon’s chemistry or supporting cast Ha Ja-ae and Sang-Hyun’s all the couples on the show are simply cute and interesting.

Acting – I loved Song Hye Kyo (Dr. Kang Mo Yeon) in Full House and after this show, I have officially added my name to her never-ending fan list. She was phenomenal. Her look in the show was plain and natural but she still looked breathtakingly gorgeous. Her acting is so effortless that you almost believe that she is a doctor in real life. Her comic timing is also perfect. Somehow I do not like her in romantic scenes as I fail to see any love in her eyes (I know that sounds strange). She always has this tight-lipped smile, even during romantic scenes, which looks a little fake. Other than that I do not see anything lacking in her acting.
Song Joong Ki (Yoon Si Jin), Dude! Where have you been all this while? This is the first show I saw of his and mahn! What a performance. He looks perfect as the charismatic and valiant captain. He is swift in the action scenes, soft in the romantic scenes and serious in the comic scenes. The stupendous rise in popularity of this actor, following this show is totally justified.
And not just the central characters but the supporting cast has also acted superbly well. There was not a single dull or boring moment in the entire show for me. And that I guess says a lot about the supporting cast and the sub-plots.


Bad Weights
Absurd Situations – Si Jin is a soldier with, what appears like, superhuman qualities. ((Spoiler Alert)) There is a scene where he is shot by terrorists with AK-47, he arrives at the hospital as a critical patient, suffers a cardiac arrest, receives shock treatment and boom he is back on his feet ready to take on the antagonist. Yeah right! But this is a K-drama yaha sab chalta hain (anything is accepted).
 
Now, that’s a landslide verdict. The show excels in cinematography and direction. The show has been shot in South Korea and Greece which makes it a visual delight.

Originally posted on www.alphagirl.in

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Yamato Nadeshiko Shichi Henge is a drama adaptation of the Japanese manga of the same name. The story has four drop-dead gorgeous men trying to help a socially awkward girl to become a normal girl. Now the heroine Oomasa Aya reminded me a lot of Athiya Shetty probably because of her angular face and ultra-slim figure. So, Oomasa Aya plays the role of Nakahara Sunako who is a ‘shut-in’ i.e. someone who prefers keeping away from human company and feels nervous around people. She especially feels nervous around good-looking people and head-butts them when she is unable to bear their ‘dazzling aura’. Now, such a girl is forced to live in a house co-habited by young boys who have women dying for their attention. If Sunako had a problem living there I would have volunteered to take her place but she never seemed to have any problem so I never got my chance to help her out. :P

Let’s weigh this funny story of a ‘wallflower’ and four hot men on our drama beam balance and see if this dorama is worth a watch.

Good Weights
I enjoyed watching Yamato Nadeshiko Shichi Henge because…
…I am a Kame fan. :)  Yes, I know I hated him in Second Love but he was really bad in that drama unlike Tatta Hitotsu no Koi where he was fabulous. In this drama, he was good. Not fab but good. I would watch the drama because of him.

…all characters are battling their own problems and have certain personality flaws but each one is accepted the way he or she is. Sunako is a ‘horror-girl’ and an extreme case of a person suffering from social anxiety. Her aunt wants her to become more social and live a normal life. Though she does gradually become slightly comfortable around other people she still remains a ‘horror-girl’ and her family and friends don’t mind it. Kyohei is short-tempered and grumpy. He often gets into fights with his friends but despite his poor manners, they love him for the sweet guy that he really is. Each character has an episode explaining his backstory which blends easily with the plot.

…the drama is funny. Okay, this is a Japanese dorama so the ‘funny’ scenes will be over-the-top but the cast is cool so they do managed to get occasional laughs from me.



Bad Weights
I did NOT LIKE Yamato Nadeshiko Shichi Henge because…
…Kyohei’s problem made absolutely no sense to me. Kyohei hates his face because he is so handsome that random women pursue and stalk him relentlessly. Really? He hates being good-looking. (Reminds me of a t-shirt I had in college which read ‘I Wish I Was Rich Instead Of Good-Looking. I think that t-shirt would have suited Kyohei.) If he is ‘that’ handsome why doesn’t he become a model or an actor which will solve all his problems in life? Why doesn’t he put his good-looks to some use? Don’t normal (read good-looking) people usually do that?

…the screenplay got overly exaggerated at times. Though I liked Sunako I did not like how she transformed into a fighter when someone called her ‘BuSunako’ (ugly girl). It is a typical Japanese drama trait where they tend to get very anime-ish and I couldn’t help rolling my eyes each time she transformed. The drama is adapted from a manga so such stuff is expected but something like this gets annoying for someone like me who does not gorge on Japanese anime and manga.

Yamato Nadeshiko Shichi Henge is about accepting a person the way he is no matter how weird that person may be. Each episode you see the characters deal with a new problem while making their way for love.

I give Yamato Nadeshiko Shichi Henge 2.5 out of 5 rating. If you are Japanese anime/manga lover you might just like this dorama.

Originally posted on AlphaGirlReviews.com.

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Have you ever had a crush on your teacher? Well, I did not because I was in a girls school with a faculty consisting of only female teachers. I did have some male professors in college but all of them were married with kids and were not great in the ‘looks’ department. While watching Taisetsu na Koto wa Subete Kimi ga Oshiete Kureta the only thought hovering in my mind each time I saw Shuji was, ‘thank God I never had an attractive teacher’. I mean, look at this guy. Tell me how is a student supposed to concentrate on a subject when the teacher is so alluring? I have been ranting on my Twitter and Facebook against this. This is not fair! You cannot expect young girls to not fall in love with such a handsome professor. And this dorama is just about that. A young girl has a soft for the most handsome professor in her school and she unwittingly has him trapped in a scandal that maligns his image. However, this drama is not just about the scandal. It is also about human feelings and how we sometimes fail to understand what we really want in life.

Shuji Kashiwagi (Haruma Miura) works as a biology teacher at a high school. He is in love with his school friend and work colleague, Natsumi Uemura (Erika Toda) who is an English teacher. They are happy together and wish to marry soon. One morning Shuji wakes up in his bed and is shocked to see an unknown girl lying there. He is unable to recollect the events of the previous night that led the girl to his house. He offers her his house keys so she can get dressed and leave as he leaves for work. On his first day at school, Shuji starts to take the roll call of his class and is stunned to know that the girl he supposedly spent the night with is actually his student. Hikari Saeki (Emi Takei), seems to have fallen in love with Shuji after spending the night with him and is determined to have him one way or the other.
Let’s weigh this teacher-teacher-student love triangle drama on our drama beam balance and explore the depths of this drama to know if it is worth a watch or no.
 

Good Weights
I enjoyed watching Taisetsu na Koto wa Subete Kimi ga Oshiete Kureta because…
…it shows how humans can be indecisive in life. Shuji is a very principled, idealistic and righteous man. But even someone like him can be confronted with a difficult situation where he does not know which way to go. Shuji’s lack of decision frustrated me to no end. But when I gave it another thought, I could understand him to some extent. Shuji wants to do what is the best for everyone but in the process, he ends up messing things up. This happens to all of us, right? Where we want to do our best but things just don’t go our way. This is the realism in Japanese dramas. Even people with the best of intentions can harm their loved ones unintentionally.
…I liked watching Haruma Miura. Will discuss his acting skills in the other section of this post but for now, let me praise this good-looking actor. Haruma is present in almost every other frame and I personally enjoyed ogling at him. He features in my Facebook cover image video and also on my Twitter back cover which clearly shows that I am his fangirl. (Wookie Oppa, don’t worry you are still my number one oppa. Muaaah!) If you have liked him in any of his other dramas, you will like him in this one too.
…I liked actress Erika and Emi’s acting. Both the actresses were subtle and portrayed their respective characters excellently.

Bad Weights
I did NOT LIKE Taisetsu na Koto wa Subete Kimi ga Oshiete Kureta because…
…I felt lost somewhere in the middle of the drama. After episode 6, the drama slows down a bit and I was left wondering where the drama was leading to. I was sceptical that this drama might not end on a good note but thankfully the ending was good. The drama was wrapped up nicely and all my questions were satisfactorily answered in the last episode. While watching the drama, you too may feel annoyed with Shuji and Natsumi, but please be patient as the last episode will put everything in its right place.
…I did not understand why Shuji kept explaining himself to his students. I’m not sure how close Japanese teachers are to their students but it looked silly watching him admit to his one-night stand in front of his students.
…I wanted Haruma to act better. I have seen Haruma’s movies and dramas and I know that his acting is limited. He is absolutely stunning to watch but he really needs to act better. In this drama, he often raises his eyebrows and widens his eyes each time he looks at someone. He does that so many times that I wonder if the director asked him to look startled each time he saw someone.

Taisetsu na Koto wa Subete Kimi ga Oshiete Kureta is a simple (regular) drama dealing with a difficult (different) storyline. The drama does not have a single kiss or even a passionate hug but it is high on emotions. There is nothing memorable or overly dismissible about it. But you do need to be a little patient to be able to see it to its end.

Taisetsu na Koto wa Subete Kimi ga Oshiete Kureta is a decent watch with some thought-provoking scenarios. Watch it if you like Japanese dramas dealing with depths of various relationships.

Originally posted on Alphagirl.in.

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Romance is my favourite genre and I have been binging on romance fiction forever. But for the first time ever I felt terribly sad for being single. I felt bad for not having a boyfriend in my adulthood. It is very easy to fall in love when in your teens and today when I look back on those days I wonder what the hell was I doing when everybody around me was busy nurturing their relationships. I tell you I never craved for companionship even then but after seeing this drama I wanted to smack my head hard for leading a boring teenage life. I am not too old to love (no one ever is), but I am definitely not young enough for puppy love.
bawling in a corner
Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo is the sweetest, cutest and loveliest young love story I have seen till date. Bok Joo and Joo Hyung’s love made me want to go back in time and re-live my college years. (OK! I just remembered the boys in my class and now I do not blame myself for being single. Sheesh! Even time travelling would be of no help in finding a decent option in that desert of a class I was in.) This drama faced some serious competition from two popular shows but of the three shows, Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo wins my vote for being the best. Hands down.

Let’s weigh the cutest romantic drama of 2016 on our show beam balance and see what makes the drama click with the audiences.

Good Weights
Bok Joo and Joon Hyung Romance: Though the main romance on the show starts in the latter half of the series the build-up to it is reasonable and entertaining. The circumstances under which Bok Joo and Joon Hyung fall in love may not be totally believable but it all makes sense in the drama world. Once the two start dating their journey becomes so saccharine that I wanted could put them both in my cup of coffee and sip it for a long long time. The nervousness in confession, fear in admittance of feelings, the rush of love, the excitement of initial days of dating, jealousy, possessiveness, bickering, fighting and then kissing and making up, all of these phases in love was shown in the most adorable and convincing ways. Lead actors, Lee Sung Kyung and Nam Joo Hyuk may be four years apart but the chemistry they brought on screen was adorable to the point that I envied them for being so much in love.

Sportsperson’s Challenges: Sports is the backdrop of this drama and the show writers have shown as many hardships faced by athletes as possible. The drama is mainly about Bok Joo who is a female weightlifter. Weightlifting itself is an underrated sport and in such a case having a drama based not just on weightlifting but a female weightlifter is a commendable attempt. However, the drama focuses not just on the struggles of Bok Joo but also Joon Hyung who is a swimmer and Shi Ho who is a rhythmic gymnast. The drama shows how weightlifting is an unpopular sport compared to glamorous sports like swimming and gymnast. But popular or unpopular, every sportsperson has his own set of trials that we rarely get to see. Though the writers did a good job depicting Joong Hyung’s set of struggles, they took a rather obvious option of an eating disorder for a rhythmic gymnast. I am sure gymnasts have more problems than what’s on their platter. Nevertheless, that was the least of my concerns when it came to the overall content.


Bad Weights
Slow Start: The first few episodes go into showing the daily life of athletes. Though it was necessary to give a background of the characters, it was too bland. After episode 2, I was contemplating if I wanted to continue watching this show or not. The story picks pace after episode 3 and though it slumps a few times, it does manage to pick instantly and move forward with fervour.
 
Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo hits all the right notes of first love and makes itself stand out in a crowd of teen romances (though the characters in the show are not teenagers). I have followed this show religiously and waited impatiently each week for its telecast. I have fallen in love with all the characters on the show and have wished to be one of them.

This utterly sweet and delightful romance between two most unlikely athletes will make you want to fall in love for the first time, every time. Loved this drama. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
 

Originally posted on www.alphagirl.in

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Nooo! Why did this show have to end? My Saturday and Sunday mornings would start with this show and now that it has concluded, I have nothing to kickstart my weekend. Now how am I supposed to know that the weekend has arrived?

Let’s weigh Cinderella and Four Knights on our show beam balance and see how well this rom-com fares.

Good Weights
Ah Jae Hyun: I liked him from his first scene itself. His chemistry with the Park So Dam was far more electric than that with Jung Il Woo. I was rooting for Hyun Min (Ah Jae Hyun) for the longest time despite knowing the fact that Ha Won will eventually end up with Kang Woo. I was actually hoping for the show makers to surprise the audience and let her go with Hyun Min. His chemistry with Hye Ji (Son Na Eun) was just meh… maybe because Hye Ji herself was so meh on the show. Couldn’t they have given him more screen time? He was so good!

Park So Dam: This new age Cinderella is smart strong, brave, and indomitable. So Dam may not be an exceptional Korean beauty but her tomboy looks helped her look convincing in the show. She isn’t the perfect Cinderella but most certainly was the perfect Ha Won. She acts well and shares good chemistry with all the three Kang cousins.

Melodious OST: I give the show’s OST a big giant humongous thumbs up! Ji Woon and Ha Won’s love song ‘For You’ (the ballad version) gives you the feels. Its beautiful lyrics ‘…you’re the only one for me….I’m the only one for you’ perfectly captures what Ji Woon feels for Ha Won. ‘My Romeo’ by Jessi always reminds me of the first few episodes that were dominated by Hyun Min. It is a fun and peppy song that suits all the amusing and mischievous instances on the show. Finally, the song played mostly when someone (read Hye Ji) was brooding on the show, Apink’s ‘Without You’ is a song that will stick in your memory even when you do not really get the lyrics.
 

Bad Weights
Too Farfetched: Now tell me why will a chaebol (extremely rich businessman) grandfather hire a young girl to change or reform his young grandsons? Why would a grandfather keep a young girl in a house full of testosterones ooops…. I mean young good-looking boys and not expect her to fall for even one of them? He is aware of how rebellious those boys are, so what made him think that a lame ‘dating’ ban will stop the girl from falling in love with any of the boys. Had Grandpa threatened them with disownment; they would have all come wagging their tails behind him and he would have to neither spend money on Ha Won nor face the threat of one of his grandsons falling in love with a poor helpless girl.

Too Clichéd: Actually, rom-com’s like these are always heavily clichéd. The hero is always there to help the girl under every circumstance. He always reaches her wearing a jacket so he can offer it to her. He will always be around her when she is lonely and upset. He will always offer a shoulder to cry on when she is sobbing. This show had it all. It is a typical romantic drama and is nothing out of the box.    

Though the show beam balance tilts with good weights, Cinderella and Four Knights is not a perfect drama. It is not even an ideal drama. It is a typical clichéd drama where you know what will happen next. However, despite the predictability people watch such dramas only for the ‘aww’ moments. And this show has plenty of them. Its good-looking cast is the cherry on the cake. I liked this show because it was funny and sweet. There was nothing complicated was entertaining for me.

If you like predictable stories with lots of lovely moments to swoon over then go for this one. Binge watch it over the weekend. Trust me you will not regret it.

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It has been more than three weeks since Goblin ended and I do not know what kept me from writing the drama review for so long. I have followed this drama most ardently even going to the extent of sitting up late at night to watch the drama within a few hours of its telecast. Goblin was a smashing hit in Korea and all over Asia. I am glad that, for once, Koreans and foreign viewers have loved and appreciated the same drama at the same time. For me, this drama is like the perfect coffee where everything is added in the right quantity just like the way I would like it. Comedy, romance, suspense, anguish, and action were so perfectly blended that I did not find this remarkable drama lacking in any department.

Let’s weigh The Lonely Shining Goblin on our show beam balance and see what makes then show a praise-worthy, MUST watch drama.

Good Weights
Rollicking Comedy: Goblin is high on emotion and relationship but it is not short on comic scenes. Comedy scenes in the show were performed earnestly that it had to elicit rollicking laughter. Be it the grim reaper and the goblin’s banter or Eun Tak’s innocent demands from the goblin or Deok Hwa’s unreasonable needs, everything was hilarious. In a drama mostly depicting human values, the reasonable dosage of comedy provided the much-needed edge to the show.  

BRomance: Though the romance on the show was decent it was the ‘bromance’ between goblin and the grim reaper that stole the show. I have not seen two male actors share such an easy yet fiery chemistry on-screen for a long time. Their banter and fights were hilarious. It broke my heart to see them hate each other for a brief period towards the end because I really enjoyed seeing them together.

Perfect Cast: I have to say that the experienced cast on the show did a phenomenal job towards making the show what it is. The sincerity with which the cast performed was evident on-screen and the results are well-deserved. Even the supporting cast looked convincing in their roles. The casting of this show was one of the best I have seen in Kdramas.

Magical Music: The show’s music is simply enchanting. In fact, the OST titled ‘Round and Round’ became such a big hit with the viewers that the show makers had to officially release it even when the producers had no intentions of keeping it in the original album. Of all the songs on the show ‘Stay With Me’ and ‘Round & Round’ are my most favourite songs.


Bad Weights
Viewers may find loopholes in the story but as far as I am concerned those minor little things did not bother me a bit. The overall content was so stupendous that I have no complaints whatsoever.

I give The Lonely Shining Goblin 4.8 out 5 rating. I have never given any drama this high marks till date (not even my most favourite dramas) but Goblin deserves such high marks as it excels in every department be its story, screenplay, cast, direction, music and every single thing that completes this drama. I personally vouch for this drama. DO NOT MISS Goblin for anything. Go and watch it now.

Originally posted on Alphagirl.in.

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