Annyeong!
Six years ago, my cousin introduced me to a Korean drama
that she is currently watching. I’ve already seen its trailers because at that
time, the drama will also be aired on TV. This got me wondering on why it
is worth watching (I thought that the drama reached the Philippine television
due to high demand from Filipino viewers). I decided to give it a try (It was
summer. No school works). Just when I was about to get a copy from my cousin, she had to leave right away. So, I was left with the only
choice which is to watch it on TV (I did not consider getting/downloading it
online way back when I was still in high school and still afraid to explore the
internet LOL).
Few days later, SECRET GARDEN started invading our
television. At first I don’t have expectations. Then, I just found myself
looking forward to it every night. Every upcoming episode is much anticipated,
and here’s what I have to say...
SECRET GARDEN
Episodes: 20
Genre: Romcom, supernatural, melodrama
Just a brief summary, Secret Garden is a story of a young, arrogant CEO (Kim Joo Won portrayed
by Hyun Bin) of a widely known department store who ‘accidentally’ met a simple, tough and independent stunt woman (Gil Ra Im portrayed by Ha Ji Won) and fell in love
with her despite the huge gap between their social class. Seems ordinary, huh?
But there’s more. To complicate matters, there is the amusing body-switching
part (adding to its uniqueness), Gil Ra Im’s attraction to Joo Won’s cousin, Hallyu
singer Oska, Joo Won’s ‘arranged marriage’ with Kim Sa Rang, Oska’s
ex-girlfriend, and Joo Won’s stern mother to top it all.
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| Kim Joo Won's Mother |
First, it’s pretty clear that the chemistry of the main characters
is good, playing a huge part in making the drama more realistic or relatable. Hyun
Bin and Ha Ji Won were brilliant and wonderful to watch. The lead roles complement each other's personality which make it interesting and allows character development. I also love how they portray
their roles (from the leading to supporting casts). By watching Secret Garden, I
have come to appreciate versatility in acting that I saw in Hyun Bin’s funny
and crying scenes. I can’t help but smile because he got this weird, childish
personality that only comes out whenever he is with Gil Ra Im. But I can’t also
help crying on the part where he is willing to sacrifice himself to save Ra Im
who almost died in an accident. As the story goes, you can see the
transformation of his character, from being self-centered to selfless. On the
other hand, Gil Ra Im’s role is well-played by Ha Ji Won. It seems that it
perfectly suits her. It is noticeable how great she is in action scenes. I also
like Oska’s character, his exaggerated reactions and hilarious dialogues with
Gil Ra Im (in Joo Won’s body) LOL.
Second, the twists are shocking in a good way. There is a
whole bunch of emotions- amused (as depicted on the humorous body switching
scene), romance (you’ll feel the love because of the undeniably good chemistry
of the main casts), and hate (probably because the mother is trying to get in
the way). It also has a vibe of a melodrama, strongly appealing to our
emotional senses which can be seen in the last few episodes of the drama.
The swapping of the bodies part may be too common or overused, but I don't really mind as long as I'm still entertained. It's a matter of make-believe. For me that part just added to the mysterious feel of the drama.
I think most sound tracks of Korean dramas are good. In
Secret Garden, the songs are great, and it never gets old for me. I think Sung Si Kyung's "You Are My Spring" is what I like the most. The warmth and heartfelt singing of Sung Si Kyung make me feel like crying whenever I listen to it. For me, a song is part of what makes a drama remarkable.
Yeah.. so, this is definitely a must-watch. There's so much to say, but the bottom line is I enjoyed the entire series and highly recommend it to you.
Note: All photos used are not mine.
