Zoe
Because This is My First Life
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Let me get this out of the way first. Nobody growing up in Korea would think that a marriage of convenience would ever be the simple answer to life’s problems. With all these family obligations, societal expectations and unspoken rules, it’s ridiculous to imagine so. There are so many great things about this drama that are so different. No one pays attention to the CEO. The feminine representations are the best. The chirpy office girl is so sardonic. The women treat each other with respect.
Ji Ho – female lead
Ji Ho is a wonderful Kdrama heroine. She has this beautiful inner strength and the ability to laugh at herself and own up to her crazy actions. She actually runs very hot and cold like a Korean male hero. Towards the end of the drama she really has gender role reversals and is totally tough.
Se Hee
“Do you know how much stress people like you give me?”
Se Hee’s honesty is beautiful. I also love the way his preserves Ji Ho’s autonomy.
The cat is a major focus in Se Hee’s life. It’s so adorable. Yes, Se Hee is introverted, but he still is highly aware of other people’s perspectives and feelings.
Romance
“Something that’s not simple just started.”
It’s such a great start to a relationship that Se Hee likes everything about Ji Ho. He’s not looking down on her for those usual reasons of messiness, clumsiness, chattiness, etc. He’s not annoyed by her at all.
“If you have some time, would you marry me?”
“I noticed you washed the instant noodle bowl.”
“Yes, it’s a habit.”
“You have a really good habit.”
These two are an amazing couple. They are so normal. I love the way the pair meet through a series of texts and notes. I was concerned about what would happen when the truth came out, but they both dealt with it maturely without the ridiculous high drama that I predicted would ensue.
I appreciated the approach that they first found themselves to be so compatible and the relationship developed from there instead of this opposites attract sort of premise that is so rampant.
They have a great positivity in their relationship. Se Hee is so polite to Ji Ho.
Se Hee’s way of falling in love is too cute. He is such a reserved character, but the drama shows all the little ways that he is falling in love. Actually, when he talks to other people about Ji Ho, you can really see how much he cares about her and how much he notices about her.
I love the way they start really looking at each other. For me, that was the sweetest moment when they’d bump into each other somewhere, do an awkward bow and just look at each other as if they’re savouring the happiness and looking at their love’s face.
I thought the ending would go the standard route of miscommunication and missed opportunities. But the drama does well to surprise us with what each character actually knows.
While normally I wouldn’t encourage emotional whiplash from either gender, I feel a bit satisfied seeing the heroine get to play the strategic hero when it comes to romance while the hero flops around helplessly. It’s a bit of a different angle too, that throughout the show the hero is flawlessly considerate and he needs to pull out some selfish sentences so the heroine understands he actually has feelings.
Work
“We are not family. Let’s get paid properly.” I love this slogan haha.
The drama portrays different work environments from Ho Rang’s restaurant to Soo Ji’s corporate world.
Family
Ji Ho’s mother is really a great dynamic to the show. I enjoyed her unpredictable interactions with people and she has a most meaningful conversation with Se Hee. Considering her relationship with her husband, it was wonderful to hear Se Hee’s point of view of how he won’t be lording over his wife.
Ji Ho’s sister in law is quite nice. I was glad she was also normal, wanting to be on good terms with Ji Ho.
Friends
Ji Ho’s friends are great. They are both actresses that I’m familiar with from shows that made a big impact on me. They are multi-dimensional women. I always feel so happy to see a cheery slightly ditzy character in a managerial position.
Ho Rang
She’s a pretty average girl. Who knew a sofa could be the cause of so much drama and miscommunication.
Soo Ji
I first saw Esom in White Christmas where obviously she seemed so small next to all the male models that starred in that show. She is an amazing character in this show with so many hidden layers. She’s snarky, but also motherly. She has an active sex life but doesn’t flaunt it and yet continually gets discriminated and harassed at work for her gender. The drama demonstrates this so strongly but not in an in your face harsh manner. I liked seeing Soo Ji still living life despite being so submissive at work. I wasn’t sure if I would like her love line but really Mr. Ma is so cute with her. I agree with his assessment of her.
“You look like a baby when you smile. But you look scary in general.”
Mr. Ma
“I’m a bit scared to be scolded by you twice in one day. Gosh, Soo Ji is the scariest in the world!”
Mr. Ma has a unique way of using his voice in different scenarios that makes his character really come alive.
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While You Were Sleeping
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I watched this with the family. We did plenty of marathoning. It’s an easy show to watch with great little arcs that are quickly completed so annoying people/events aren’t dragged out unnecessarily. I do feel like that is one of the killers in Korean dramas, especially if you’re watching it with others and can’t press the fast forward button as liberally. The plotlines and the setups were intriguing, thought-provoking and feasible.
I enjoyed the pacing in this show with all the neat and tidy arcs. And the show maintains its consistency and quality all the way through. That’s noteworthy. At first, the comedy felt forced, but in general, the drama was everything – funny, sad, meaningful and intelligent. All the characters are fun and don’t waste their screen time.
The start is a little shaky as most Korean dramas are. But it settles in nicely. The characters are smart, funny, quirky and loveable.
One of the main things that stands out to me with this show is their problem solving, friendship and communication. Because they all dream about each other’s lives, it’s hard to keep secrets and they all talk about their problems together. This is awesome.
Jae Chan – male lead
This is probably one of the first LJS dramas where he’s not this perfect upstanding guy. I liked his flaws. His character development is wonderful and his backstory fits in nicely with his philosophy and attitude.
Hong Joo – female lead
I loved how respected she is in this show. She is well positioned in her workplace and she gets to play a significant role in problem solving. At times, I’m annoyed that she just thinks she’s helpless in the face of her nightmares.
Woo Tak – aka Batman
This guy was hands down the most favourite character. He is so good-natured, handsome, and strategic. His involvement in the show made everything better. I loved him so much from beginning to end.
Yoo Beom – bad guy
This guy is handsome too but he can also be hella annoying. Still, I liked his character and how he contributed to the troubles of our team.
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20th Century Boy and Girl
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Things happen, get resolved, victories occur for sad looking people. The show gives a lot of respect to its characters. No one is unnecessarily shamed. The media scandals look like they’re going to be a big deal but they eventuate to nothing, so I was relieved.
The girls in this show are great. Of course, they have their stupid, weak moments. But there are so many shining moments when they are just being normal adult women that we so rarely get to see in Korean dramas. I really like there isn’t someone constantly telling them off or telling them they’re stupid. Even if Young Shim keeps turning up late (WHY?) her boss just is chill.
Also the level of English in this drama is really good. Both the leads can successfully pull off speaking in English. Han Ye Seul is particularly stellar.
Gong Ji Won – male lead
Kim Ji Suk looks very sleek. It was really nice to get so much of him on my screen.
Gong Ji Won is very much a character that you’d see as a second lead syndrome kind of guy. I really love his gentle acting. He’s so sweet and manly at the same time a real winning combination. I liked how mature he was and secure in his identity. He’s so wonderfully easy going and not petty at all. Even when he’s upset, or jealous, he doesn’t take it out on anyone. I like how you can see his vulnerability even as he tries to hide it.
He is really nice to the women in the show. Treating them with respect and giving them compliments.
Sa Jin Jin
Sa Jin Jin has it all. Money, fame, beauty and a wonderful relationship with her parents. And she’s not boy crazy. I love how she schools her emotions and restrains her thoughts when she’s working. Professional woman for the win. Also she can hold her liquor. OMG. She is definitely one of my favourite heroines ever.
It’s always great to have a composed and successful woman who is good at what she does. She’s not bitchy (though she can be tough). The drama shows how kind she is without being preachy about it.
Her parents are the kind and sensitive type who try and figure out carefully what their daughter needs from them.
I like that Jin Jin didn’t care what she looked like in front of Ji Won and she wants to be his friend.
Even with Jin Jin’s misguided crush on Anthony, I like that she wasn’t fanatical about it even though she is his fan. She just went out of her way to do little kind acts that he could choose to ignore. This girl has got so much dignity. She doesn’t have to be sly or use any manipulation to “snag” the person she “loves”.
Parents
The drama seems to take great pains into showcasing different styles of parenting.
Young Shim’s parents = mum pushover nice + dad super mean
Ah Reum’s parents = dad pushover nice + mean mum
Jin’s parents = nice dad + nice mum
I like that Jin Jin’s mother didn’t ship Jin Jin and Ji Won. Or at least not openly.
Friends
I appreciate that the girls were all different shapes and sizes. When reviews stated that the friendship was good, I wasn’t sure how good a friendship it would be. But it’s the chemistry and the camaraderie that makes these girls’ silly conversations and interactions stand out to me. They’re not funny, or deep, they’re just natural and comfortable, and that’s what makes it so meaningful.
I like that everyone has respectable jobs and they’re all in a stable stage of life.
Sometimes, they’re too busy for each other, but the girls have good instincts and know when one of them needs a pick-me-up.
Ji Won fits surprisingly well into the rag tag bunch of friends. He reacts, and responds with as much interest and enthusiasm as them and he plays along with their jokes and stories.
Romance
I always appreciate a normal meeting between romantic characters. The relationship between the two is so simple. He likes her, she likes him. They are so blissfully comfortable with each other. Yay. I actually haven’t seen childhood sweet hearts reunited, so it was nice to see how Ji Won was remembering how much he liked Jin Jin when he was a teen. Ji Won is very straightforward in his romancing and his intentions with Jin Jin. He’s not pushy at all though, and in fact rather the slow. He’s in it for the long haul. I also like that the drama explains the reason he’s going slow, it’s also because of his past and the fact that Jin Jin is so gaga over his brother. The push and pull of the romance is really perfect.
I like that their relationship isn’t rife with near misses and awkwardness. Jin Jin really shares stuff with Ji Won in a happy way.
I really like that he doesn’t laugh when she’s embarrassed, he feels bad himself because that’s what love is.
Another win: consensual kissing.
Young Shim
Young Shim’s family is small and quiet with a grumpy father. Young Shim is so sweet and loyal to both her parents despite her father being so gruff and mean to both his daughter and wife. I like how Young Shim looked out for her mother. Young Shim can also drink – good job show.
Even though Young Shim is the shy one, she’s also the studious one. Once she gets a job there aren’t a lot of workplace dramas of her getting abused verbally by her boss (just the cleaning lady) so that’s great.
I really liked her functional relationship with her boss. He has such a nice face when he talks.
“Sunbaenim, by any chance, would you like to eat with me from time to time?”
“Mondays and Thursday? If that’s okay with you.”
Ah Reum
Ah Reum is kind of the throw away character. But I like that she’s good at her job. And when she makes a choice she sticks with it. She is quite pathetic, but when she decides to move out, despite all the bumps and potholes, she’s happy with her decision and she copes. I loved that. I also became interested in her love line as well and the compromises they had to work out with each other.
I especially appreciate that her more pathetic character didn’t have a smashed kiss, and that she was also credited to be romantic and worthy of a slow mo/replayed kiss as much as I hate them.
Anthony
This actor is a bit of a flat face. I feel like the other actors were giving their all to provide him with some chemistry but he was so emotionless and expressionless. It was a strange dynamic of not knowing how the brothers felt about each other’s relationship with Jin Jin. It was like they were both hesitant to go forward but couldn’t help themselves.
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She takes charge of the relationship and Gyeon Woo gets forced into the boyfriend role of a rather unstable woman.
They get into all sorts of crazy situations.
Gyeon Woo faithfully follows and supports. And he has some great lines when she needs it.
Overall, this film gave me a sort of grubby feeling and never really captured my attention. I couldn't really root for either main character and their romance was very bleh.
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Marriage, Not Dating
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There are some weird sound effects but one of the most original ones was when Jang Mi threatens Ki Tae and in the background there's a lion's growl and when they cut the camera to Ki Tae's face he's swallowing and there's a puppy whimper in the background. So weird but funny!
This drama is super modern. There's a kiss between the heroine and the secondary male lead. Unheard of! But also really hot. The skinship was out of this world for a Korean drama. So much touching! They have some awesome hugs too. Haha.
I rarely can watch a drama without skipping large sections towards the end. But this one, the characters are always engaging and fun to watch. I like how the drama plays around with relationships and how they really make fun of that whole, “I'm so cool” thing where everyone is nonchalant about exes and triangles. They even congratulate each other on it, “You were so confident around Se Ah. You were so cool around Yeo Reum.” I like how the drama fleshed out that they were just hiding their feelings from each other. “We talked less than when we were in the fake relationship.” I wasn't expecting that kind of levity, and it really added some depth to the rom-com.
I don't think I have ever enjoyed awkward as much as I enjoyed it this one. I think it's because they don't just pour it in bucket loads on the poor heroine but every character has to endure the most terribly awkward situations. I was cackling and soaking it all up.
Se Ah
She had to be the cool girl to hold onto Ki Tae as a friend and she has no sense whatsoever. She can't see that Ki Tae is both disgusted and terrified of her.
Hyun Hee
Hyun Hee is the BFF and she's pretty cool. She's supportive, a little sassy, and also has a lot of common sense and dignity. She really gets the short end of the stick the poor girl. I was really rooting for her HEA. And she has some tricks up her sleeves. Sometimes she seems so pitiful and helpless and then she pulls herself up by her bootstraps. Hyun Hee is pretty badass.
Yeo Reum
I have never felt more conflicted about a character and I never got tired of watching his handsome self strut around on the screen. Honestly, for the 16 hours of watching this drama, I was always ridiculously happy whenever he made an appearance. And that smile...! Gah. Even Ki Tae says, “his killer smile”. Hahaha. Such a hottie. He has the most beautiful facial expressions too. He's not your usual secondary male lead. He is also not perfect at all, which is refreshing because then I don't feel like the heroine is missing out too much by passing him by.
Jang Mi - “I'm trying to find myself.”
Yeo Reum - “You're weird.”
“What?”
Yeo Reum points at her. “You're right there. What more are you looking for?”
He was adorable for five minutes. He became an asshole really quickly when he was mean to Jang Mi just because she was a being a flirt. Who gives him the right to punish her? Dickhead. It's weird how he ended up being more important that I thought. I was disappointed that Jang Mi hadn't learned her lessons when it came to him.
In situations where there are two males in a stand-off I like how the Koreans use the term, “Don't be so scary” when they mean don't be so dramatic. Yeo Reum knows a lot about stand-offs and relationships.
Yeo Reum thinks most of the games the crowd he finds himself in as funny. He's younger than all of them and of quite a different mindset so he does enjoy adding fuel to the fire.
Yeo Reum is the epitome of the bad boy. He drives me nuts but he's so cute when he wants to be. I felt like a pickle forgiving him. But he and Jang Mi are also so couply together. I wish we had more chance to see him being genuine before his interest in Jang Mi became more of a power play. Most of the time I thought he was real sleazy but then he'd smile. Gah! I'm such a pushover. Bottom line though is I do not like him. He's bad news, petty and conceited. It's because he's handsome and he knows it. I hate that. He only likes her when it's easy or amuses him. That's disgusting...right?
But he's the kind of guy that will never show it when he's hurting. And he does hurt.
But similar to Se Ah, he only thinks of himself and is really really stupid when it comes to real relationships. They're so good at being cool they don't realise that there's more to love than being right or making all the cards fall into place.
Jang Mi
I like her enthusiasm for life. Her facial expressions are so cute and she dances to herself.
Also, I'm always really impressed by a heroine who can piggyback her love interest. It's so hilarious.
I love how modern she is. She so casually throws out to the traditional mother in law that “Who cares who works in the kitchen? They should help each other out.”
Mother in law - “You made a doctor peel chestnuts?” Damn straight.
Jang Mi throws herself wholeheartedly into anything she undertakes. I like that she gets excited over little things and that she's appreciative of the smallest positives. I like how happy she is. She finds the good things to smile about.
Of course, Jang Mi has to undergo some character development.
Jang Mi - “Stop being clingy. I want a cool relationship!”
Ki Tae - “You, of all people, are saying that?”
Hoon Dong
Hoon Dong is supposed to be a ridiculous character. And he is. Really childish, a mama's boy, spoiled, self-centred, playboy, etc. He does grow. Of course he does.
Ki Tae
Ki Tae is a neat freak. I love that moment when Jang Mi first visits his house and starts touching everything. He's so particular.
Throughout the show he has to do a lot of running. He has great form.
He also uses his eyes very effectively to convey his contempt. It's so fun to annoy him! His eyebrows are perfect too.
I actually like how much he whispers. He is a master at it. I get so convinced when he lowers his voice.
He's such a stern character, it's fun to see him start smiling as he looks over his photographic evidence of his and Jang Mi's relationship.
I like that he's always been the detached guy and finally he has to admit he has feelings for the klutz girl even before she feels that way about him. Ha!
Particularly what he does in Episode 11 is really epic for him. I love how he practices in the mirror.
And he only gets cuter from there on out. I love the way he says her name with such elation and hope.
He's absolutely adorable when he's in love. “You wanted a cool relationship. This is just too cool.”
I loved seeing him evolve and how caring and considerate his transformation left him.
Romance
Even if you were the last guy on earth...
“You and I have to act like a couple. My mum is meticulous.”
“What about my revenge?”
“Especially for your revenge. You're worth every penny.”
The Plot
Jang Mi - “Your family stalks you?”
Ki Tae - “It's a family full of love.”
The way he tries to convince her to be his fake girlfriend is hilarious and she rebuffs him beautifully and confidently. It doesn't take much though and soon the two are in league with each other. And Ki Tae finds she's even more perfect than ever. I think it's fun to have the Asian spin on the epitome of the worst possible partner for your child. Jang Mi plays it perfectly. I think it's hilarious that the less conservative members of the family although shocked are quite nice. Grandma approves! This kind of story, especially with Asian families, it's so cruel to play this kind of game because the parents are soooo invested in their kids. Their kid getting married is what they live for, how can you play around with that? It's too sad.
I eventually got really pissed by how silly and emotionally tied up they got into the situation. I really came to hate the manipulations and cruelty of Bong Hyang (mother in law from hell). The drama makes excuses for her. The other characters refrain from scheming out of mercy and not wanting to be evil. But she! She believes in what she does 100% doesn't hold back and really hurts the people around her in the name of duty and honour.
Mother in law
Such an annoying and manipulative witch. But this is Kdrama and of course she has to do something that makes me want to hi-five her.
She also gets her act together a little more, which is great towards the end of the drama.
Usually I require a little more comeuppance for all the trouble she caused, but I couldn't begrudge her pure happiness.
Fashion
Stubbies with a formal coat? Weird.
Ki Tae's fashion...I love it. Although in Episode 8...yuck!
Ki Tae also wears shorts which I have not seen Kdrama men wear. I was wondering where the calves were. Haha.
Elder treatment
Jang Mi is probably the first to speak back to an elder. Such a modern woman.
They also try and scare the parents off by tricking them into thinking Jang Mi is a rapscallion.
Ki Tae is a modern man as well and doesn't mind bodily moving his mother which, you have to admit, is not very deferentially Asian of him. I love it. It reminds me of my own brother's relationship with our mother who, yes, can be meddling but it portrays the family closeness.
On a random note, I thought I've seen it all with these subservient deference to the elder but for the future mother in law to turn up at the girl's workplace just to ask her to push the grocery trolley? WTF?
So yes, there are super weird moments like that but there's this one moment when the grandma says this line about her late husband deserving a particular treatment and oh my gosh! The sacrilege! I was cackling with glee.
I think what's important is that the elders have to learn things too and they need to have character development and I love that Bong Hyang gets told off.
I do like that even after having an argument, the Korean respect demands that there is some level of acknowledgment in the power relationship. That they can see past the feelings and still offer honour because it's so ingrained in them.
Music
I loved the music. It was really cute and I liked that that dramatic music wasn't overdone like some of the dramas I've seen.
The Ending
The staying power of the drama is really good I think. It kept me laughing right up till the end and I was engaged and always rooting for the characters.
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I was a little nervous starting this one having heard of violence and intense bullying. I guess you could say I have a weak stomach. But as always, when Kdramas pick a topic, they dig into it and explore it and twist it upside down and analyse it under a microscope.
I found Ah Ran pretty annoying throughout the drama although she has the cutest smile. Even after finishing it, I'm not exactly clear why Ah Ran was acting so mean towards her mother.
Plot-wise, it's actually quite slow. But the slightest development in the drama made me sit up and pay attention. This happened again and again. By the halfway mark, I was wondering what would be the next thing that would capture my interest and all the drama had to do was rearrange the seating plan in the class and bang, I was back on board. Haha.
If this was a book, I think I would be really depressed. There are a lot of bad things that happen but it's like I didn't realise it until I sat back to count them up. The main characters throughout the drama are continuously banging their heads against a brick wall. It's fail after fail so it's unusual for me to be able to be able to stick with the drama and actually appreciate it.
Kang Ja
I knew I was in good hands with this heroine. Her school days were equally as violent but she was the one dishing it. She was quite the legend. The contrast of the sweet and naive mother with Kang Ja's actual personality is really interesting. Ah Ran is the one person who can walk all over Kang Ja. But it's also great how being a mother is part of Kang Ja's personality too. She's bossy and empathetic and wants to look after everyone.
I think the fun part about this is that there's a lot of maturity to this heroine that is lacking in the other characters because she's twice their age. And she understands where they are coming from even though they might present with a false front to appear cool or to remain in the school hierarchy.
When Kang Ja's secrets starts spilling out I like that she doesn't make any apologies. She believes in what she's doing.
Go Bok Dong
I liked him from the start. He's a forced baby gang member and he owns it with his whole tone, language and body demeanour. He's like, really vicious. But most of the time it's his attempt to steer people clear of danger. His actions speak much louder than his words.
I was so tickled pink when he was worried that Jo Kang was ruining her life. It was the sweetest thing ever.
When it comes to romance, Bok Dong has zero swag.
Go Bok Dong really broke my heart actually.
I've never felt so sorry for a character.
He really gets the short end of the stick.
Some of his most emotional moments, are really quite comical and yet it's so important to him I felt doubly bad all at once even while I was laughing.
The actor Ji Soo is really amazing. I was so convinced of his adolescence. His portrayal of a teenage boy unable to deal with letting his heart feel and the way it comes bursting out at random moments is brilliant.
My favourite moments were when he was being scary. He uses his face so effectively to convey his vehemence. He is also really good at crying.
No Ah
He's such a harmless and gentle teacher. I get a big kick out of seeing him scandalised by the other side of the tracks. As his dad says, “You were beaten as a kid and now you're a teacher you're still getting beat up by the other students.”
Of course he has a big heart but generally I was scoffing at his ineptness. He fails miserably at cracking the kid code. But he perseveres. And when his kindness shines through at some moments of the drama, it's very touching.
Hong Sang Tae
This kid seems like a predictable character but he was full of surprises as the spoiled poor little rich boy.
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When I sat down to write this review I was full of gobbledygook. I feel like I could write a thesis on the beauty and wonder that is Healer. Once again, my expectations of the standard of Kdrama has just completely been blown up to another level. Can I just get married to this drama and be done with it?
This drama is both intensely sad and intensely funny. You've got to love that rollercoaster of emotions.
Watching this made my heart so so so melty. There are some badass characters in this drama and the way they kindly and gently treat their loved ones made such a big impact on me. There are some really lovely people in this drama who have such big hearts, gosh, the feels!
But let's not forget about the action. I loved loved loved all the smarts that went into the plot and the twists and the deceptions. I always enjoy a drama where the characters are constantly one upping each other. The fight scenes were also really great. I liked that they were practical, and not so showy like some fight scenes I've seen in dramaland *cough City Hunter *cough.
I do feel that it is my public duty to note that there are some plot issues that really don't make any sense. What drama doesn't have them?
On to the characters:
Young Shin - heroine
I feel like I understood Young Shin really well. Her thought processes, actions and decisions all made sense to me.
At first she seems ordinary but then we find out she grew up in a house of ex-cons and has a lot of tricks up her sleeves.
Young Shin is brassy and unapologetic. I like that no one is stepping on her. She's too busy bullying everyone around her. She's very confrontational. She's definitely a wild card and quirky odd but in a good way. I loved how she's always dancing.
As the hero points out, she is brave and she has coping strategies to help her get on with life.
I like that she doesn't have a best friend.
Acting: I first saw Park Min Young in City Hunter. I really loved that her personality is so different in this drama that straight away, I didn't associate her with Kim Na Na.
Jung Hoo
Let me tell you this. Jung Hoo is a guy who knows how to do arrogance right. He pulls it off so perfectly. He doesn't have to be rude, but his condescension just hits it right on the money every time. And he absolutely doesn't use it on the heroine. For. The. Win. This guy is damn good. I was bouncing around with excitement over all his moves. He is very calm and he completely lit up the screen every time. He is amazing and captivating and I'm so in love.
Jung Hoo - “living life was just whatever. Since I was born, I might as well live.”
He reckons he wants to live alone for the rest of his life.
I like his longsuffering exasperation when he has to make contact with people.
And similar to Ju Ji Hoon I like the lazy way he speaks. And he whispers! Be still my beating heart. =P
Jung Hoo would make a great Clark Kent because he totally owns the switch between badass Healer and bashful Bong Soo. I love the way his whole body language and facial expressions change when he's being Bong Soo. He completely owns his dorkish character and it's hard to tell if he's just being Bong Soo or if he really is that awkward because he doesn't hang around people much.
Jung Hoo is the first guy that I've seen who is not a neat freak. He's as sloppy as a girl.
He also has the cutest laugh. The funny thing is that his serious face is so darn sombre and then he smiles and he looks like a little kid.
Romance
Serious adorbs. Serious. Adorbs. It is honestly to die for. Ji Chang Wook and Park Min Young just sizzled with their interactions. It is seriously that good. The chemistry...the CHEMISTRY.
I'm finding that I really enjoy the star-crossed lovers premise in Korean dramas.
So...it starts off with Jung Hoo stalking Young Shin for a job that he's working on. As he spies on her, he is very contemptuous.
But it doesn't last long.
I like that for both of them, they are individuals. They have a lot going on, and sometimes their relationship takes the backseat.
Jung Hoo is another hero who has the most kindest and softest eyes when he's looking at his lady love.
I also like that while he acts appropriately intimidated by her father, he still is man enough to kiss her regardless.
Moon Ho
This guy is full of surprises. I liked all his acting except when he was angry. His angry face seemed over the top. His relationship with Jung Hoo is pretty epic. Bros bros bros.
“How come you never lose to me even once?”
Also, I loved how dedicated Moon Ho was to the “kids”. He, himself, has moments of that childlike quality that is so endearing.
Moon Shik
I really liked the way the drama showed how Moon Shik was haunted by what he did in the past.
Chi Soo
Chi Soo is Young Shin's adoptive father. He's hilariously protective of Young Shin and suspicious of Jung Hoo.
The story of how he Chi Soo adopted Young Shin and how hard he worked to earn her trust is so touching.
Chi Soo has some great scenes with Jung Hoo as well. Their father-boyfriend meet and greet is the best ever.
Also, Chi Soo doesn't get the complete package deal of submissiveness from Jung Hoo and I like that. I think both know their boundaries and both put on a show to fulfill their expected roles. It makes for an interesting dynamic.
Min Joo
“Wait. You, a guy who wouldn't fall if someone threw you, fell on your own?”
Dae Yong
“He wouldn't answer even if I asked and even if he answered I wouldn't know.”
She's a spunky kid and I was really impressed with how brave she was in her care for Jung Hoo.
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This show is called K2 for a reason. It’s all about Ji Chang Wook’s role and everyone else is sort of useless. It really shows in Episode 13 when Ji Chang Wook is working hard and using his brains and the politicians are shaking hands and his girlfriend is lying in bed watching TV, and the secret agents are peeling beans in the kitchen.
The drama takes a while to get interesting. It’s a gentle and subtle sort of story but it stays with you and the big moments are big moments. I like the sort of strange premise of bad guys getting beaten by other bad guys and then taken care of by the good guys.
It’s really interesting to see how Je Ha can sympathise with Madame even while knowing how perfectly evil she is and how he can be nice to her while even knowing the full extent of her selfishness. And he hides his contempt well and he sees so clearly right through her.
Je Ha – male lead
I've only seen Ji Chang Wook in Healer. Je Ha has more confidence than Jung Hoo from Healer. I think Je Ha’s attitude was really great. He was always useful, always willing, yet always in control.
“He’s not a hunting dog. He’s a wolf.”
JCW’s character is both action and brains. You gotta love that. One of the skills of Koreans is getting into the heart of the matter. They really know how to hit a bad guy where it hurts.
I love how ruthless JCW is.
If Yoo Jin insults him with her petty ways he takes it up a level.
There’s nothing more satisfying than getting under the bad guy’s skin.
I'm not one for political thrillers. But this one reeled me right in. The characters are chilling.
I really loved Je Ha's snarky language, “your unsolicited concern” and “So all you people need to do is pray that I get through each and every day alive, no matter what” hahahah
He doesn’t let anyone step on him. And it’s interesting how verbal he is with getting what he wants. He’s not a “hit first talk later” kind of guy.
With his relationship with Yoo Jin, I think he also sees a bit of himself in her. The way she fights so hard and isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty to survive.
Ji Chang Wook is so good at being badass and vulnerable in a heart beat. I like how Je Ha is confident of his own value.
He’s actually pretty tough in the romance and I liked that. He doesn’t give a lot when he doesn’t want to. He’s confident with the way he handles Anna.
Anna – female lead
Yoona kind of gets the short end of the stick. Her role is not very exciting at all. All she does is cry and scream and tremble. I think her appeal for Je Ha is that he has found a creature who is more forlorn and bizarre than him. I liked that he had compassion for her, that he was interested in her. It was cute.
She was kind of like his pet. Like a tamagochi. When she went all prickly it was satisfying to see her being won over by Je Ha’s chivalry. I wasn’t sure if I’d like the relationship between her and Je Ha but Ji Chang Wook has got so much chemistry, I shouldn’t have worried. Just a word from Je Ha, and Anna starts thinking of other people instead of just herself and it’s really nice how she applies her revelation straight away.
I really liked that he talked some sense into her. He called her a cry baby hahaha.
I really like that even though the mother was the victim, the drama didn’t sugar coat her personality and her flaws. Anna knew to remember her fully and not just as the perfect dead mother.
When Anna starts interacting with people, it’s actually really fun.
Anna’s character is pretty weak but she was pretty damn useful and quick in a fight.
There’s a surprising amount of equality in the relationship.
Yoo Jin
“I’ve never betrayed anyone who’s never betrayed me before.”
I like that Madame Yoo Jin is so seldom sincere that the people around her can’t even detect her vulnerable moments because they think she’s just up to something.
“She’s the type to not shed blood in public even when she’s been shot!”
I was worried about her being annoying, but I kind of rooted for her as well. I liked the way she was calculating and how if someone made her uncomfortable she would make them uncomfortable right back.
In a way, I thought it would be more fun if she was more cold, and we later got to see her break. But, I guess it’s alright that she has a lot of observable pain right from the start.
I really like the filming when Madam calls Je Ha “K2” before the mission. I loved how the drama showed that Madame cared about Je Ha.
“If you find yourself in a situation that’s too dangerous, it’s ok to come back.”
I like how the plot came down to the two siblings.
I also liked how Choi Yoo Jin’s scary relationship with her husband progressed.
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The drama knows how to space its angst.
I really like that we don't have to wait forever for some resolution. The drama didn't draw out the crisis for longer than necessary. They introduce many interesting side plots and secrets and I liked being able to jump on board those and get curious about the answers to those problems.
Jun Su's character. How can a person be so beautiful? I think on any other actor he would have been too goody-shoes for me. But the personality is so sincere and good-hearted. I was convinced that he was actually like that.
Jun Su is such a sweetheart. He and his father are such a pair. They are both gentle, obliging and doing anything to please. Jun Su constantly works to prove his value and his new family becomes his sole goal in life.
“You did not come into this family as a housewife.”
Even the slightest acceptance makes him happy.
He is very considerate of others.
I like that he's a bit of an old man in a young boy's body the way he tells off his elders. He is very responsible.
His purpose in life is to provide for his family so no matter what he's doing, if he's in pursuit of that, he's happy. There's the confidence the viewers have in Jun Su that he's going to be just fine because he's resourceful and works hard.
I haven't wanted to cry for a drama for a long time. By episode 4...waaah.
When they made the switch to adulthood, I thought my heart would burst with the feels. Jun Su is just like his childhood self. Generous and innocent and unassuming until you mess with his family. If you think Jun Su as a kid is adorable, he's even more cuter when he's old. How is that even possible? Oh the adorbs!
It is really amazing how the drama comes up with a million different ways that Jun Su demonstrates how obsessed he is with his family. He is so old-fashioned the way his whole life is his family.
Jun Su is the epitome of the Korean concept of sincerity.
“Feels like he is from the country yet it also feels like he knows the city.” That is Jun Su. He is naive but he has a strong sense of justice and he's really smart so he doesn't get tricked into any kind of deception. The wonderful thing about Jun Su is he really knows what he wants to do with his life. He doesn't make mistakes and has no regrets for any of his decisions.
I think one of my favourite sides to Jun Su was his salesman side. He's an impressive guy.
He has the most perfect face when he's hurt but trying to hide it.
I was quite amazed at how the siblings aggression towards Jun Su switched from anger to him to anger at themselves from the guilt of what they've done to him. It was strange how they accepted that their mother was his mother even as they maintained the lack of blood between them.
Ahjussi was pretty boring but he had one great line. “Did this guy's personality just change so suddenly? He fails an exam and he suddenly turns into Marlon Brando.”
Romance
“I only have to look into your eyes and I am filled with confidence.” What a lovely way to describe it. Romance at its best.
No matter how you see it, Im Jo Hwan is a beautiful man.
I liked that the pair weren't childhood sweethearts.
He has no wiles.
It's charming to see Jun Su who is just the most simple and straightforward man you could ask for fall in love with a woman so twisted up in knots. Do Hui isn't simple and kind like Jun Su. She's much more real. But to Jun Su, she is a fairytale.
It was sweet to see how gentle she could be with Jun Su.
I was surprised to see that when they do start dating, Jun Su is more comfortable with her and so he starts speaking his mind about some things. So it's funny that he is kinder to her when they're not dating.
But I loved seeing the delight on Do Hui's face when she laid eyes on Jun Su.
Cheol Su
I thought it was an interesting decision to have this sort of personality next to Jun Su. Cheol Su is a puppy. Adorable in a very shallow and immature way. Weird to think he is older than Hyeon Seok.
When Jin Ju kicks this little puppy, he suddenly becomes a man.
Do Hui
“What game?”
“Feels like you are seeing all the ways I can reject you.”
She's a tough character but in the face of Jun Su's chivalrous naivete it's so great to see her get a bit melty. And because of his tight-lipped nature about his past she gets super curious.
I like that even though she wasn't originally a bitch she became just that much softer from knowing Jun Su.
Jin Ju
“I am someone who doesn't deserve a dream.”
Jun Su's new sister is very prickly and Jun Su does anything to keep her as non-aggressive as possible. While it made me sad to see him treated that way, his eagerness and diplomacy in maintaining the relationship makes me feel appeased.
Jin Ju is the bad guy for a while. She really is the only problem in the beginning of the drama. As the drama continues, we get to know more of her thoughts and I liked understanding her better.
I felt sorry for her. That she has lived such a sucky life but she is to blame. She just regrets her actions all the time. She is the opposite of Jun Su in every way, huh?
Jin Ju is really hard on herself.
The drama did such a good job of making her into a person.
It's really interesting to see how bitterly she carries her burden of the family and how she herself struggles to keep them together.
She is angry so often that it can be surprising when she shares her heart. And she really proves how much she loves Na Ri in an incredible way.
I thought it was hilarious that they gave her such a quirky love interest.
Ju Yeong
This girl has the most beautiful expressive face. I like her diverse sides. She's loyal to her mother, really cute and often nice, even though she is immature. There were some moments that I was only watching the drama just for her. She is amazing actress with a lot of range and I found her compelling to watch.
Hyeon Seok
“My oppa, even on a deserted island with three people, criminals and a woman. He would only know to chase the criminals.”
Despite his sister's words, Hyeon Seok knows how to kiss. Oh yes!
I liked that Hyeon Seuk had to find his own identity apart from his sister and he had to know what he stood for.
He becomes a very serious young man who doesn't like games. But he loves Na Ri still which is awesome.
And how great was it when Jun Su came back around that he started coming out of his shell.
I really like how Hyeon Seok can relax around Jun Su and really joke with him and share that special connection with his hyung. It's so amazing how the serious and immovable Hyeon Seok will listen to Jun Su. Because Jun Su is so non-judgmental. Always supporting. I love how he lets Hyeon Seok find himself and how he pays attention to what Hyeon Seok is really saying.
Hyeon Seok says about Jun Su - “My brother is the one person in the world that I envy the most.”
Na Ri
Gong. Na. Ri. The biggest feels. “Big oppa, although by saying these words, small oppa will be jealous. Big oppa, to me, you are my mother, my father and you are my soul.”
Boom. Redeemed. Jun Su gave his life for that girl.
Her chemistry with her oppa was amazing.
I did not have a lot of feeling for her but when they recapped her history with Jun Su, my heart broke all over again.
I loved that she didn't want to let him down.
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Discovery of Romance
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I've never watched a mockumentary but I imagine this is what it's like. It's weird, but I like it for a change in pacing and to hear them air their feelings instead of having to stare longingly at each other.
The humour and the jabs at each other, I think, are much more Western. Also, each of the main characters has an older friend that they have no deference for which added to the more Western feel.
The drama is both wistful and edgy, a great combination. I like that it's not so fully padded with music like most dramas. Sometimes the cueing of the soundtrack in other dramas is annoying because it sort of forces the viewer to interpret a scene in a particular way.
Most of the big secrets in this drama stay secret for most of the episodes, and that's hella annoying.
Romance
This is second-chance romance done right. I like the maturity of it and how the characters got to explore what went wrong and view their growth as individuals and as a couple.
It's also got some really happy and cute moments that just made me feel really good. I like seeing people happy and in love.
There is heaps of kissing and skinship and fade-to-black bed moments.
Love Triangle
Yeo Reum's a pretty cool girl. I could see why the dudes liked her. I'd totally date her.
Yeo Reum and Ha Jin have a nice relationship. I like that. They are a couple I could really root for.
I think it's also a nice set-up to have a misunderstanding between Ha Jin and Tae Ha so that neither of them are the bad guy.
Ha Jin
“I don't quite understand...but I don't love with my head. I just...decided to trust her. Since I love her.”
This guy is so cool. First, his voice is to die for. And he says the kindest kindest things that are just too good for someone who's been lied to and possibly cheated on. He loves unconditionally even when he's been kicked and stabbed in the back.
He has some amazing, swoonworthy, marry-me-now, lines. I've come across plenty of Kdrama heroes that I've adored but I have literally never wanted to have someone in my life like I want Ha Jin.
I'm a little surprised that even though Yeo Reum is in the wrong, Ha Jin goes so easy on her. He actually goes easy on other people too. He is a painfully nice guy but he's definitely not a pushover either.
He also has such an epic smug face.
Yeo Reum
She's more of a modern girl. This I like. Even though she's more on the selfish side, it's always good to see someone who's more proactive in their life. I like that she takes charge. She is both cutesy and bug-eyed and a menace at the same time. It's great. I think these Kdramas are skewering my morals because I'll transfer my self-righteous feminism onto the next heroine even if she's really bad as long as she stands up for herself regardless if she's right or wrong.
Her independent nature shines through because she doesn't want to get married without being able to financially support herself.
Yeo Reum's confidence knows no bounds and she's steadfastly self-assured. While I've described some heroines in that way, she really takes the cake. Nothing shakes her.
I like that this drama has the feel of a rom-com but Yeo Reum is a competent and professional business woman right from the get-go.
Supporting characters
I loved Joon Ho and Sol. They're so great. The way they play advocate for Ha Jin and Yeo Reum and get involved in the powerplay of the relationship is so hilarious. They're on the sidelines giving advice, making judgment calls and giving their opinion.
Joon Ho
This guy is definitely one of the best secondary characters ever. I loved his personality. How he's a bit showy but all heart and how he works so hard to keep his friends happy. He always made me laugh with his dedication and the way he'd constantly get caught in the middle of his pals' domestics as he tries to protect everyone. His loyalty to Sol is great even though it's not always smart. He's a real oppa and he takes care of Yeo Reum too.
Sol
Sol is AWESOME. I've liked this actress since seeing her in Flower Boy Next Door. She's even better here and gets more screen time. Sol is my new favourite. She is probably the one person that can pull off the cutesy voice. Her relationship with Joon Ho is so much fun and they're just like brothers and sisters.
Sol is such a fun personality and so so so cute. But she doesn't just specialise in the laughs. I feel every emotion with her as she goes through heartbreak and everything.
She is also incredibly loyal and sweet. And I want her as my best friend.
Tae Ha
Tae Ha has a lot of regret. When he runs into Yeo Reum again he is totally hung up on her.
When Yeo Reum starts being nice to him again, his giddy delight is so cute.
Also, depressed Tae Ha is really funny.
The important thing about Tae Ha is that he doesn't baby her. Rather, he'd prefer to spend his energy in achieving things that she wants to do.
Elders
I was pleased to see different actors for the mothers in this drama instead of the same old ones every time. I like that instead of owning a restaurant like all Korean mother's do, Yeo Reum's mother works an office job.
Ah Rim
I feel bad, but she was a really annoying character.
Ending
The final episode is fine. But it kind of doesn't address everything that I hoped it would. It doesn't seem to serve the purpose of a finale that summarises what the drama was about. The drama touches on a lot of things about dating relationships and I felt like it tried out here and there but never committed to a solid theme like I was expecting and hoping for.
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Most first episodes you can miss. But you don't want to miss this one. Also, the drama gets better and better as it goes along.
Eun Sol is the one who carries the drama the first half, but the second half, Ji Heon really is awesome.
You never know where the show is going to take you.
I liked that there were nonromantic non slow mo hugs involved.
Ji Heon's Dad
I grew to like this character really quickly. The fact that he's so down to earth with Eun Sol is great. It's nice that she has allies. He's a dad that really wants his son to succeed.
The things he does for community service is so funny.
I really liked him.
“Even though I meet a lot of women, I stick to my own age bracket.” Gahahaaha.
I also really like his relationship Eun Sol and how he wants to so desperately accept her but knows all the troubles that will come with it.
The actor really conveys the blustery, tempestuous personality with the soft-hearted side.
He's probably also one of the first Kdrama parents to apologise to the children for yelling at them. I love that he wants to start again with Ji Heon and be a better father to him.
Mu Won
I love his facial expressions. He's very cute and polite and he has a husky voice that does tingly things to my insides.
Mu Won - “Have you eaten?”
Eun Sol - “What?”
“If you haven't eaten, let's eat together. Even if you have eaten, eat again with me.”
His little fights with his cousin amused me because Mu Won is so mature but sometimes Ji Heon just gets on his nerves. I like the clashes they have and all the power plays and the way Mu Won is so cool about it.
Mu Won - “Do you want to eat together?”
Ji Heon - “No...why would I eat with...”
“Great. I don't want to, either. So, goodbye.”
Mu Won's a well-behaved gentleman so I like that Eun Sol advises him to, “stage a strategic revolt”.
He's kind of like a preppy high school girl who wants to experiment but just can't.
He is a beautiful creature and has the loveliest love confession but he's too scared to hear the answer. I loved that montage as he tries to avoid hearing her response.
In Episode 7....gah! I loved seeing his playful side. He definitely enjoys annoying Ji Heon more than he actually likes No Eun Sol.
“Are Ji Heon and I that annoying?..then you can just play around with us.” tehehe.
It was fun to see him relive his childhood or basically be immature for once in his life.
Finally, his shocked face whenever Eun Sol does something rowdy is just the best. The best.
Eun Sol's Dad
I really appreciate the continuing theme Myeong Ran and Eun Sol are confident women because their parents treasured them. As Eun Sol's father says, “Is your child the only precious one? My daughter is also very precious.” I like that they were brought up knowing that it's not the money that's valuable.
It's also great that with Ji Heon being such a sissy boy, that he has to gain the approval of Eun Sol's dad's more manly perspectives.
Romance
I really could not envision the chemistry working out. In most noona romances, the woman is still really childish and needs taking caring of by the younger hero. But Eun Sol really is like a mother to him to the point that it's sweet how she babies him.
I like that Ji Heon falls in love first. I think it's only appropriate considering the nature of the relationship.
When she confronts him about him liking her, he goes into the usual spiel of all the reasons he wouldn't like her. It doesn't phase her, she's still like, “So? What does that have to do with anything? Do you like me or not?”
“Why, why can't you accept my feelings?”
“First of all...”
*gasps “What, there's a number two?”
As the drama progresses, I began to understand Ji Heon's feelings for Eun Sol and how she became everything to him and it wasn't icky and weird but based on friendship and selflessness.
I really like how they outlined the relationship in Episode 8. How Eun Sol's rant at him really woke him up to how he was relating to her. And it wasn't all sunshine and roses.
When they do get together it's not very clear.
Eun Sol
I like that Eun Sol's personality remains consistent and her quirks continue throughout the drama. She doesn't change just because she falls in love.
Of course, Ji Heon tests her limits as a secretary. I like that she prevails.
Ji Heon - “Ah, what kind of woman is she? She's so ruthless!”
The heroine's voice is very low. It's a nice different from the tendency of Korean heroines to have a whiny voice. I like that she's not the type to apologise a hundred times. I like that she's a realist and not a fairytale optimist from the get-go.
I found myself looking forward to getting to know and love her.
I like that she owns her outbursts. She doesn't back down from her decisions. She sees them through.
She might say the wrong things, but she's not clueless. In fact, a lot of the times she's right on the ball. Her common sense is so uncommon in Kdrama heroines.
I like that she doesn't get tongue tied and she can say what needs to be said without dragging out long misunderstandings. She doesn't take crap lying down from anyone. She is an unusually quick thinker and when someone threatens her she threatens them right back.
In Episode 4 when she head butts him, she completely stole my heart.
Although I don't condone manhandling or intimidating, I do like that she does it to him as much as he does it to her.
Eun Sol really gives it to Ji Heon when he tries to put the moves on her. She is so brilliant.
She also isn't afraid to tease him about her relationship with his cousin.
I also like that she really gives it to him straight about the kind of relationship they have. I think she's the first heroine to really lay it down that working tirelessly is not as easy or as stress-free as other Kdramas portray.
She seems more like a noona to the cousins and she makes fun of Mu Won's lack of fighting skills.
Her practical side sometimes makes her seem cold and I like that she hardly ever cries.
Ji Heon
“I know you can solve the problem on your own. But you also have to tell me about it.” ~ Ji Heon
I can't believe the actor was the 34 when he filmed this. He acts so convincingly as a child. He does have a disorder but that's not a good enough excuse for me.
I liked when he started to try and look out for Eun Sol in his own weird way.
When he starts to let her help him, it gets even better.
He's an extremely prickly character who doesn't like this or that and doesn't like to be touched either. In the beginning he acts like he doesn't care what anyone thinks but of course he's a big baby and when he starts putting in the effort and trying he really enjoys the approval.
Responsibility is really hot. Haha. Ji Heon definitely became more attractive to me as he started growing up.
His immaturity also works in his favour too because he's not as prone to hide behind arrogance and image because he knows he doesn't really have one.
His stance on romance is simple, but effective. He's also encouraging.
It's weird how his character developed such depth and presented a side to Ji Heon that I would never have suspected, yet the writers lay the foundation so you realise it was always there.
He also apologises for wrist grabs.
Even as he grows up, he doesn't lose his cluelessness, “What? You're also dating an assistant manager?” ahahahaha.
By the end of it, I really believed in his character and his love for No Eun Sol.
Myeong Ran
I loved her as the best friend. She is a little on the large side which is great and she's just as kickass. And she's my first solid best friend in a Kdrama. She has a low voice too and that made the friendship seem more mature for some reason.
I liked that she has fun together with Eun Sol. It's not just that she's someone to complain to or a shoulder to cry on. They get along so well and can just let loose with each other and have inside jokes and dance and sing together.
Myeong Ran's ferocity really cracked me up. I like how the rich didn't dare cross her. Her strange relationship with Na Yun was hilarious.
The Ex – Na Yun
I kind of liked that she was a bit less controlled than other second female leads. She doesn't have it all together. She also really cares about Ji Heon even when she contemplates revenge, she won't go through with it.
She also wears her heart on her sleeves and she's not cool at all. She actively tries to prove herself to Eun Sol and this made her seem much more real.
I like that she chokes on her food and that she makes friends with Myeong Ran.
Elders
I liked the theme of the main characters outsmarting/rebelling against the parents.
There are scheming elders but I'm glad that the elders scheme amongst themselves and get in the way of each other and so it's not all up to the poor younger folk to dodge their machinations.
Also, Eun Sol has no trouble standing up to the elders. She's not intimidated or deferential at all. She's so direct with them, “Please don't come to this crappy neighbourhood with your crappy attitudes anymore.”
Surprisingly, the children of the annoying elders also learn to get a backbone and confront their mothers. For the win.
Fashion
Bow ties are always fun. Ji Heon wears a backpack which emphasises his kid look.
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"Back then, there were no good reporters. This time there is.” ~ Dal Po
The first episodes starts with a rollercoaster of feels. I like that this drama isn't the standard love square with scheming elders. While I was watching it, it kind of overtook my life. Although it was pretty stressful for me I couldn't stop watching it. I was also watching an action Kdrama at the same time as this one and Pinocchio made my heart beat so much faster and the plot and relationships really had me on the edge of my seat. I don't like foreshadowing though! Don't tell me something bad is going to happen, Dal Po! There are no dull parts in this drama, which, makes it really special in my opinion. And there are no useless side characters. Everyone is interesting and unique and screen-worthy. I actually loved every single secondary character even the ones that were just comic or even bordering on slapstick. They were all really good.
I liked that there are sub-plots and crises that arise and get dealt with as different news incidents happen. So there are a lot of small victories along the way and it's not just about one long-drawn overarching plot. It keeps the storyline fresh and exciting. I also appreciate how they portray the older generation of reporters influencing and mentoring the next generation but sometimes their words of wisdom come back to bite them in the butt. It's funny how a moment of fierce lecturing gets imprinted on a trainee's brain and informs their professional development.
It's also great that it's not just about fighting against the news industry. Sometimes the news drama took a backseat to the characters' personal development. I also like that it's not all an uphill battle. There are some higher up people rooting for In Ha and Dal Po too. There are humorous parts as the two competing news stations try and one up each other.
I thought the set up of the drama, was really thoughtful. Having the main characters be in a legally awkward position is great. And the whole uncle thing? Never gets old. It's so funny the way they got used to it. Although how they can stand to be in a relationship and still go back to “uncle” terms without batting an eye is beyond me.
I love how Korean dramas know how to uniquely demonstrate the relationships in the family in such a meaningful, but cutesy way. Actually, a surprising theme that emerged is the betrayal of family for the sake of justice.
Random note: In Ha wears heels to her first interview and then later on in the show she claims she doesn't have any heels.
Gyo Dong
I loved him. He seems really serious and upright and a good mentor to Dal Po but he gets caught up in the news rivalry shenanigans too. I love the way he'd be so mature and then encourage his subordinates to insult the other team. And he's easy on the eyes too. His little flirtation was so awkward but cute.
Mothers
In Ha's mother was not as evil as I thought she'd be. She was sensible and thought about her actions. Sure she was selfish but at least she was clever and cunning and made sense. I also liked seeing her loosen up and joke around. I like that even though she tries her best to make people feel like shit, Dal Po and In Ha are strong enough in themselves to continue to be professional towards her. Although, there is one point that In Ha confronts her and she does it in a way I thought I'd never see. It was good to see the icy Manager Sung pissed off. I was annoyed by the repetitive cycling of her arguments though. When she told lies she demanded other people prove them false. When others did the same, she disregarded them as assumptions.
Towards the end of the drama, I really liked her acting.
For Bum Jo's mother, I liked that she was more concerned about Bum Jo's happiness than status.
Romance
I really do not understand why Koreans think applying bandages to the opposite gender is so romantic.
Anyway, this is my first childhood friends/frenemies romance. I like seeing their casual relationship that sometimes sizzles. The chemistry between In Ha and Dal Po...it's good.
Also the toast kiss was more memorable for me because of what happened after...hahaha.
The way Kdramas dream up these convoluted obstacles...it's so sneaky and tricky. I kind of like the twist that Dal Po feels he's not good enough for her but In Ha's father actually thinks it's the other way around.
Dal Po, on the romance front, is strong and not afraid of rivals. He's so freakin' calm about it. I just like the way he doesn't dramatise things. He makes a lot of mistakes in his relationship with In Ha but I like his imperfections. Also, can we just have a shout out for Lee Jong Suk and his epic back hugs? The way he affectionately caresses In Ha's face is always so satisfying and sweet.
I like that Dal Po trusts In Ha and doesn't think he needs to be the big man and protect her from things. I like the way she trusts him back so there's little pointless arguing or her needing to prove herself. I do like that they have real arguments about their values.
In Ha is really thoughtful of everything that Dal Po has gone through. And when it comes to standing up for him, she's a tiger.
The crisis of the romance was stupid and yet tricky at the same time. There are no right answers. Is it a case of illogical noble martyrdom? I don't know. I really don't.
Jae Myung
I really loved this actor/character. His smile is perpetually sad and he just conveys this broken, and lonely persona so well.
Every time he was on the screen, my heart was in my mouth just being so achey. And he's so kind and so bitter and aghhhh.
He honestly, stole the show for me. He, out of everyone, is so strong. His powerful character is so intensely portrayed. I wanted to hug him and hi-five him and everything.
In Ha
I like seeing her expressions come alive. She has some great attitude and sass that I enjoyed.
My first drama with her was Flower Boy Next Door. I thought the hicupping thing would be overdone, but she owns it well. Her hiccups' concept stretches to scenarios as well. So it's not so much about lying but keeping quiet about the truth. And so she can't act either because her “body knows she's lying”. I wish they kept true to that, but they started to expand it so that her hiccups was basically her moral compass, which kind of made it preachy. Although I did like it when she'd say something like, “I do believe you *hiccup, oh, I guess not.”
I like her confidence. When she and Dal Po get into the reporting industry, In Ha is professional and not clingy. Yay! Dal Po has the smarts but In Ha has good instincts. She's level-headed and she does it in a way that's calm and not showy.
She also stands up for what she believes is right even if it means standing against Dal Po. It's always good to see a woman able to separate herself and her opinion from her boyfriend. She really whips Dal Po into shape. I was really surprised to see that kind of backbone coming from a Kdrama/Park Shin Hye. As the drama goes on, it becomes clear that you do not want to mess with In Ha.
In Ha is also really good around the second male lead. He's nothing to write home about, but she showed decisiveness when it came to him and didn't string him along.
Also, I love that she initiates kissing. And how many times have you seen a heroine cut off a hero's rambling with a kiss? In Ha is awesome.
Dal Po
I'm starting to see a trend with Lee Jong Suk characters being underestimated and looked down upon but possessing inner strength and confidence. I love the way he portrays his characters as arrogant and intelligent, yet vulnerable and with such a selfless and big heart.
Lee Jong Suk and his feelings. It's so easy to get caught up in them. Gah! Even with his ridiculous hairstyle my heart was beating for him. And seeing him as a sad little orphan again...oh, Lee Jong Suk...The way he lived his life...just to spare a poor old man's heart...*sigh. Such a sad little kid.
Dal Po gets caught up in the chase of the news too. The drama portrays a very cutthroat, unprofessional and dirty world of journalism. It was interesting how Dal Po, despite his hatred for the culture fell trap to it when he started in on the race to get that exclusive. The self-reflection was really spot on. He's a really mature character and even the elders respect him for it. He's also really clever with catching people out when he interviews/interrogates them.
As the drama builds, I hated to see him go through his crisis alone.
“I hate myself to a point where I can't even breathe.”
Lee Jong Suk knows how to act. I also really like his blank face when Yu Rae tries to flirt with him. Also, his disgruntled face makes me laugh every time. Seeing his range of emotions is impressive. I thought I'd seen all of his facial expressions. But then there was his tipsy scene. His drunk face...Oh gosh. Lee Jong Suk is epic. EPIC.
Bum Jo (that's such an unfortunate name!) Second Male Lead
I'm not sure if I've ever disliked a secondary male lead off the bat like I did this guy. He's all “In Ha is my destinyyy”.
He's also a spoiled mama's boy. This guy is so creepy. He's the kind of “nice” stalker that is fooling nobody. He's freakishly tall as well. How can someone be taller than Lee Jong Suk?
I did kind of appreciate that after In Ha draws the line, he takes the hint and stops chasing her. But of course, I did feel that he was being somewhat petty.
Actually, he probably has the least character development out of anyone I've seen in a Kdrama.
He's all kinds of ridiculous. But my favourite line of his was, “Did I just swear out loud?”
Jae Hwan
I love these competent and capable women in the media industry.
Dal Po - “We have to barge in there, so it might get ugly.”
Jae Hwan - “That's my speciality.”
I loved her relationship with the silly Hyun Gyu.
Yu Rae is pretty silly. “It's not easy to make copying paper look sexy.”
On an end note, I really loved the music and how emotional it was. It matched the story well and I just thought it was used really effectively.
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The fun really starts when Bong Do gets the hang of how the talisman works.
I'd also like to mention that in most Korean dramas the character development is really a big thing. And I really appreciate that. However, Queen in Hyun's Man doesn't have that. The immature ex-boyfriend continues to be the immature ex-boyfriend. I don't mind. It makes this drama different from others.
Bung Do
I first saw Ji Hyun Woo (actor) in Angry Mom so it was hard to get over that personality. I was happy to see different facial expressions as he portrayed Bung Do. He's actually more hotter when he doesn't smile.
I like how he looks at Hui Jin. You can see how much he likes her.
Bung Do has got a lot of talents. He's a scholar, a fighter, and a quick learner. Mastering the modern world isn't that difficult for him.
I love how aware he is of his presence in Hui Jin's world and he wants to assimilate well so that he doesn't disrupt her life or embarrass her.
“I can't keep doing silly things that will be a nuisance to you.”
Hui Jin
I like that she's good at her job. And she doesn't take long to put her ex-boyfriend in his place.
The main thing that I like about this heroine is that she is consistent with her personality. She doesn't change because of her man and she doesn't have to learn a whole lot in life. I suppose some would call that lack of character development. But sometimes it's nice not to “learn a lesson” when watching a drama and just go along for the ride with a heroine who doesn't have major flaws that need to be corrected. She's okay from start to finish. Confident, flirty, and mischievous.
She has a lot of attitude that's satisfying. She has a bit of conceit to her that remains throughout the drama and I liked that.
Romance
“Selling that relic wasn't so dumb after all.” ~ Bung Do
There is lots of kisssssssing!!!!
This drama was really effective in convincing me of Hui Jin and Bung Do's epic romance in a short space of time. The music also was definitely a draw card with that ancient Korean style. Gah! Too good. I like that they are always so happy and relieved to see each other.
They get along pretty quick too. I like their boy-meets-girl, star-crossed lovers romance.
Because Bung Do appears and disappears, it makes for a bit of anticipation for the plot and for both of them when they finally get to see each other.
It's really cute as Hui Jin shows Bung Do how the modern world works and Bong Do's look of awe and fascination is adorable. Their relationship is one of equality. I love it! For example, Bung Do doesn't mind using the cute card and Hui Jin knows how to put aside her emotions to deal with things practically. She also steals kisses all the time which is so adorable and I was pleased to see the girl power.
They can tease each other and they have lots of fun together.
The way Bung Do cares for Hui Jin and her feelings is really touching and beautiful. He is chivalrous and noble without being a martyr about it.
Su Gyeong – best friend
She was really boring. But if she is the substitute for annoying elders, then fine. Actually, the first time she said she was like Hui Jin's parents, that was the first time I started liking her.
Also how hilarious was that continuing joke with her interrogations of Bung Do?
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With this kind of complicated premise, it would have been helpful if they hashed out the “rules” of the personalities a little more.
I didn't expect this show to be so funny. But seven personalities in one body can get you into a lot of interesting situations.
Can we just give Ji Sung 10 million awards? This guy deserves all the stars.
This drama really put this actor through the loops. The characters and challenges that Ji Sung goes through in this drama to create different personalities in really wacky situations is so phenomenal. What an actor. What. An. Actor.
Do Hyun
Do Hyun is compassionate and gentle. He is at a disadvantage because he doesn't remember what happens when his other personalities are in control. The other personalities do remember and so they make deliberate attempts to confuse Do Hyun in order to be in control of the body. It was very strange to have the one personality leaving video messages for Do Hyun to find when he re-awoke. Also, his other personalities are enemies with himself. Do Hyun takes full responsibility for his actions when he wakes up – the poor fellow! You'd think that after all this time he'd just try and not show his face to the numerous people he's offended but he awkwardly strives to make things right.
It was interesting to see Do Hyun take some really active and practical measures to monitor his mental health to stop the personalities from kicking in. He was determined.
Shin Se Gi
Hello guyliner. This personality is smart and conniving. He knows how to pretend to be Do Hyun. He's the bad boy personality and the bad guy all wrapped up into one. I liked how the drama made a point of Se Gi having to bear the brunt of Do Hyun's unpleasant experiences and how he is the protector.
The ongoing fight that Do Hyun has with this character is sinister and intense but also very heart-breaking.
Yo Sub
Yo Sub was a bit cliché at first but he really brings out a beautiful side of Ri Jin and his character improves. Again, Ji Sung's quiet portrayal of him is intense and effective.
Ri Jin
She does a lot of yelling. When she's happy she screams, when she's angry, she screams. When she's drunk, she screams. She gets irritated a lot. I preferred her sweet side which is unusual for me. I usually like the ferocity of a heroine but Ri Jin's shining moments were when she was sharing her heart and quietly expressing feelings. That's when she seemed the most genuine.
A lot of the times she has so little common sense that it frustrates me. But other times, her psychiatric brain is working just fine and she just has the perfect comebacks.
But her dramatic moments seemed like overacting. It was hard to tell if it was just Ri Jin's superficial personality or the actress' weird portrayals of her.
Siblings
Ri On and Ri Jin are awesome sibs. They're great. It's the cutest. Ri On as a brother is way better than a boring best friend sidekick. He is so brilliant and funny. I really really liked this guy. His comic and tragic side is beautiful. I like that his dark side isn't even part of the main tragedy but it's just as heartbreaking but in a different way. He's just so wrapped up because he loves his sister. And when he turns on the serious badass side? Daaamn.
Ki Joon
I liked this guy a lot even though he had to play a stereotypical bad guy. But his expression was far from boring. His portrayal of the uptight guy who seems put together but will explode if things don't go his way, is flawless.
You know it's a good drama when I've got way too much to say about every character. How amazing is Ri Jin's mother? That compassionate and maternal look on her face is so beautiful.
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The first half of this drama is so ridiculously bad. And the second half is ridiculously good. The things that brothers will do to protect each other. *sob. I think the second half gets better because Hyeon starts talking like a normal person instead of a god-like character who is better than everyone else.
Also the mind games between the gents really starts and I always appreciate a well-timed stand off. It's a nice change to have males being platonically possessive over each other rather than fighting over a girl. As for the theme of nature vs. nurture, I wasn't so impressed. But the other theme of craving bro-ship from the heart vs. the mind was really good.
There are so many intense conversations where they are talking abstractly about mundane things but everyone in the room knows that they're talking about something else entirely different. I appreciate those moments a lot. Even Ji An gets in on it when she finds out.
Hyeon
“Please stop saying psychopathic things.”
This is my first Seo In Guk drama and I wasn't quite sold on his looks but he became more handsome as the drama went along. I'm not sure if I've ever disliked a personality as much as this guy. I think he'd be an okay character if there wasn't a pathetic Ji An for him to bully and act all superior like too. It's way too over the top.
I wasn't quite in the mood for his stereotypical brand of arrogance especially after seeing Healer's classy condescension. But I stayed on because I wanted to see how smart he really was and see how his talent and his tale unfolded. Those kid flashbacks sucked me right in.
I liked the idea of him having a Sherlock Holmes memory and intuition but him having amnesia in some areas of his life.
He is a neat freak.
His best moments are concerning his brother. Those are intense.
Ji An
Ji An is the type of heroine I hate. She's clumsy, slow on the uptake, and presumptuous. She embarrasses herself constantly, can't string a sentence and is put in a badass job position for her to disgrace. But I believe in Kdramas and their character development so I persevered. She's not a very good personality for Hyeon to bounce off.
Her pluses include that she works hard, that she can shoot a gun and she gets less annoying as the drama goes on.
There's a pretty good spoiler about Ji An that comes out in Episode 5.
Later on she gets some moments to shine which is great.
Romance
Basically every thing and everyone in this drama had chemistry except for the romance.
As per usual, Hyeon acts like he's so much better than Ji An and looks at her like she is a dirt on his shoe.
They had better chemistry as forensic partners or in a student/teacher dynamic. The way they could understand each other well without using words on the job was pretty cool.
For most of the drama it's all about Hyeon and his problems and why his poor manners gets to be excused because of his miserable life. I liked it towards the end of the drama where he starts to show compassion for Ji An and what she has experienced because of a serial killer.
Attorney Jeung
His baby face....gaah! He was definitely one of the motivating factors of keeping up with this drama. The way he so deftly portrayed sinister evil and heart-breaking sadness at the same time was pretty amazing.
Investigation Team
I liked the dynamic of this bunch. They made me smile with their enthusiasm. They're a quirky group and there's just something about them that entertained me. They are like a rag-tag crowd of siblings. They all have their individual “roles” (the analytical one, the grump, the braggart, etc.) but nobody is a stereotype. The most grumpy one is also the most compassionate. I like that. They bicker, fight, and wax philosophical about the criminals that they catch. And they're noisy. I loved them.
Also, while all of them are not that bright, they're always ready to throw down.
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