Playful Kiss

Annyeong!

Here’s a throwback review of a successful afternoon Koreanovela in the Philippines in 2011.

The story centers around the romance between Baek Seung-jo, a hugely popular and intelligent boy from class A in high school and Oh Ha-ni, a clumsy, not so bright girl from class F. It’s about that unrequited love and how it was reciprocated by the beloved one.

Writing about Playful Kiss evokes nostalgic memories of my high school days, back to the time when I was just starting to seriously pay attention to Korean dramas. I can vaguely recall all the scenes, but the feeling I felt while watching this years ago is still clear on my mind. And how could I forget some of the songs from their ost? I believe these sweet, cute songs are vital for the drama to have that sentimental attachment with the viewers. Though I have to admit that the ost from the Taiwanese version (It started With A Kiss) sounds slightly better for me.

The plot is easy to follow because it only has few major twists that complicate the flow of events. I see that it focused on Ha-ni chasing Seung-jo endlessly until he can finally give back her love. Unlike other dramas, there seems to be no antagonist here, the wicked and hateful one. Well, Yoon Hae-ra, the girl who is equally smart and sporty as Seung-jo and happens to have romantic feelings for him, is a bit annoying but still harmless. Her character’s not evil enough to cause a big hindrance to the love story.

The storyline is quite simple, and there is lack of surprising twists and turns, but the romantic side of me believes that Ha-ni made up for it. It is still (and definitely) really fun to watch.

The message it instills in the audience vary depending on the viewer’s perception. Others may think that patience and determination can help a person attain his/her wants and goals in life (just like what Ha-ni did). Will not disagree on that. But others may also think that the lead female character’s foolishness and being numb and blinded by love can leave her with a little pride and a bleeding heart in the end... and who wants that?

For me, I do think that it was slightly exaggerated. Ha-ni looks desperate trying to win Seung-jo’s heart. Stalker mode ON. Her perseverance and willingness to endure all the embarassment that she could get from this one-sided love could be inspiring, but she should also set a limit and know when to pursue or to surrender. Meanwhile, Seung-jo is just too cold and his rudeness to Ha-ni should not be tolerated.

Still, my heart goes out to Ha-ni every time she is being ignored by Seung-jo. It’s painful to watch all her efforts being disregarded. We know that all she ever wanted was to be with him and get even a little bit of appreciation. But... wait and see until the denial stage is over. Here comes the fruit of her labor. J

Things got better and better when Seung-jo finally stopped suppressing his growing feelings for Ha-ni . It’s a renewed hope for Ha-ni, and a relief for us viewers. Even though he is struggling to admit it to himself, his feelings can’t be hidden forever. Awww, so touching to see him upset over the possibility of Ha-ni finding love with another guy. He’s jealous and that sudden and striking realization hit him hard.

Also, he almost blew me away with his secret smiles. This Robot boy sure knows how to fascinate us with the way he responds to his developing attraction to Ha-ni. Annoyingly cute lol J

Kim Hyun-joong and Jung So-min did a decent job in portraying the lead roles. It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t outstanding either. Anyway, it’s entertaining so I easily carried along with the drama.

I’d also like to mention Seung-jo/Ha-ni’s #1 fan, the ever supportive mom (Hwang Geum-hee, Seung-jo’s mother). Thanks to our matchmaker who is more than willing to help Han-ni to win her son’s heart. Her character surely adds to the humour of the drama.

Seung-jo's parents and Ha-ni's father

The drama is not extremely cheesy, because Seung-jo is not the mushy type of guy and it took some time for him to show his feelings for Ha-ni. But it still managed to give me a fluttery feeling. It’s funny, sad, annoying and romantic at the same time.

If you’re into light rom-coms, this is worth giving a try. J J J

*Photos used are not mine. All credit goes to their rightful owners*

My Love from the Star

My thoughts about My Love from the Star (You Who Came from the Stars)?

Well, honestly, my limited vocabulary (and also the limited time) makes it uneasy for me to deeply express my views about the drama. For some reasons, MLFTS seems to be different from any other drama. My words are just not enough. lol 

But with all that I can, I will gather all that I know to describe MLFTS in this entry. So stick around and enjoy!

J

MLFTS is about an alien who landed on Earth 400 years ago and has to wait for many years before he can return to his planet. As fate would have it, he would meet and eventually fall in love with a hugely famous actress who happens to have an exact resemblance with a girl he saved in the past, 3 months before he leaves the Earth.

A drama sure to make you laugh, cry and give all the feels. It’s romance, comedy, fantasy and mystery, all rolled into one series.

So to start off, let’s talk about the characters J

I must say that Kim Soo Hyun and Jun Ji Hyun are perfect for portraying Do Min Joon and Cheon Song Yi and their sparkling chemistry, which is obviously visible, contributed a huge part to the success of the drama. Both of them made an outstanding, praiseworthy job in performing their roles.

Do Min Joon rarely smiles, but when he does, it’s heart fluttering. So prepare yourselves to be captivated by his wit and charm. And take note-MLFTS just made a new definition of ‘Alien’. *winks*

Min Joon is known to have superhuman senses- enhanced vision, strength, hearing ability, speed, and memory with immunity to extremely low and high temperature and an extremely slow aging process. And don't forget the nearly perfect appearance. Never did I imagine that an alien could be as lovely as he is. :)))

Cheon Song Yi is a top Hallyu star who looks independent on the outside, but is actually vulnerable inside. They are total opposites. But complement each other’s personality.

What I like about Jun Ji Hyun is that she isn't afraid to make herself look funny/crazy/ugly (she is still beautiful anyway). Really enjoyed those hilarious moments :D
She's recognized as a movie star, but I saw her versatility when she effortlessly pulled this off on television.

Do Min Joon has been spending almost his entire stay in the Earth being cold and distant to other people, living incognito and changing identities from time to time. He lived confining himself in the outer shell that he built to avoid trouble, complications, and attachments. I’m delighted to see how Song Yi hit the soft spot in his heart and made him react like he never did before. Slowly, he started to take risks to protect Song Yi even if it means putting his life in danger and having his powers exposed.          

awww, M so touched by his selfless acts.

  

And thennn, there are the heartbreaking crying scenes L
I already like him for being the silent guardian of our heroine, but my admiration grew even more every time I saw him crying. I can see and understand how unbearable his pain is- returning to his home planet, and leaving Song Yi. It’s so painful, that I was not able to hold back my tears. Hands down to Kim Soo Hyun. It’s such a good performance that deserves to be recognized .

The characters are definitely a strength of the drama; most of them seem to look fashionably good. It’s not hard to recognize their good sense in fashion and clothing style.

Then there comes the villain (Lee Jae Kyung). The evil older brother of Song Yi’s childhood friend gets in the way, and threatens to kill Song Yi if she reveals his secret. His irritating presence is significant to sustain the level of thrill and excitement in the drama. I am just happy and relieved that in the end, justice has been served. Of course he ended up prison, losing all his possession, and his family. Serves him right.

Regarding the story, the production behind the drama (Director, Script Writer etc.) showed their expertise in creating a show that executed each genre in a balanced way. There’s a bunch of twists and turns involved, so there is never a dull moment. You’ll laugh, cry, get excited, or feel anxious or annoyed- but never get bored with it. As what I’ve said earlier, the drama was jam packed with interesting sequences. The murder mystery made me feel curious and thrilled to see how the villain can interfere with the love story. It get a little scary, and intrigues me more, when I finally realize what he’s (Jae Kyung) capable of doing.

Jae Kyung's deadly stare, evil laugh and all his merciless acts is pissing me off. Still, I couldn't help but notice how impressive his acting was. 

And, MLFTS has a good dose of melodrama too. L

Well, one thing that’s quite confusing for me is the essence of having a girl with exact resemblance to Song Yi 400 years ago. What does that mean?  They have given emphasis on the similarity of the two females. Whether it’s just a coincidence or something, I don’t think it really matters.

The cinematography is incredibly great- lighting, framing and camera angles. Yeah, the shots are breathtaking. They have captured the spectacular, beautiful scenes of the past and modern Korea. Annnd the special effects are just amazing.

Along with the story, I also certainly enjoyed the soundtrack. Gives me all the feels.

And the instrumentals too.

The entire drama is seriously addicting, you don’t wanna take a break from watching it. No doubt why this drama is a massive hit across Asia. However, the show may not be suitable to other viewers as it caters to a particular target audience, probably women.

All in all, MLFTS makes a highly enjoyable watching experience for me. See it for yourself! And let me know your thoughts about it. J

Note: All photos used are not mine. Credits go to their respective owner.

Pinocchio

Annyeong!

This week’s entry is all about Pinocchio starring Park Shin Hye as Choi In Ha and Lee Jong Suk as Ki Ha Myung/Choi Dal Po.

Let me start by saying the (+) points of Pinocchio. What’s good about this drama is the lesson it imparts to the viewers. Unlike any other dramas, Pinocchio is not all about love (male to female, vice versa). It tries to instill a sense of integrity in professional setting. The drama has a fresh concept, depicting journalism as the subject matter, along with justice, revenge, friendship, and love for family. But, it all goes back to being true to yourself (whether in career or feelings for someone). Being honest plays a significant part in the drama, which is apparently seen in the lead female character, Choi In Ha with a fictional Pinocchio syndrome (making the carrier hiccup whenever he/she tells a lie).

Park Shin Hye paired with Lee Jong Suk is pretty good to watch. I don’t totally ship them, but that doesn’t mean that I’m not moved by their sweet moments. I also get this fluttery feeling, like when In Ha straightforwardly confesses her feelings to Dal Po (cause there’s no way she can deny it forever). There are too many scenes to mention, and I don’t want to spoil you by giving it all away. I just pointed out the scene stated above because it’s the first thing that came to my mind.

Credits to Park Shin Hye (for her hiccups every time she lies), she just pulled it off easily, making it sound natural/real.

I agree that the pair did an excellent job in portraying their lead roles, but I also think that the supporting casts made a huge contribution to the success of the drama. Every character has their own shining moments, allowing enough space for character development. One character that I like is Yoon Yoo-rae. I think it’s impossible not to notice Yoo Rae’s funny dialogues J J J

Another good thing about this drama are the twists. The sudden turn of events keeps the suspense level high, gradually revealing the real personality of the characters. The transformation of the two mothers caught me by surprise. I really did not expect that Beom jo’s mother (doting and thoughtful) would turn into a woman who’s so obsessed with power and authority. Her manipulative character is just so annoying.

Beom jo's mother

In-ha's mother

In general, the concept is new (maybe because I haven’t watched a kdrama similar to this), and the story is beautifully executed, thanks to the awesome actors and their incredibly great acting. It is quite impressive how the show manages to balance romance and suspense in its compelling plot. As a Broadcast Communication student, I find the storyline interesting. I have learned to be aware on how news reporting should be done with accuracy and genuineness to sustain integrity and reliability. Throughout the entire series, we are made to believe that one misleading news can leave the accused devastated. A real reporter should always check the validity of information before presenting it, and expose the true 'facts' when someone is deliberately hiding the truth. That's the only way to gain trust.

Aside from the (+) points, there are also the not-so-good ones. Well, for me, there are some exaggerated moments that are not really necessary (for example, when people are seen as watching the news attentively, anticipating the upcoming reports of both stations (MSC and YGN).

But seriously, I got disappointed when Yoo Rae and Cap Hwang did not end up together. For a moment, I admit that I was more eager to find out what’s going to happen to them than to Choi In-ha and Dal Po (especially on the last few episodes). (I know I’m giving a biased review here, forgive me)

The drama focused too much on solidly establishing the leading pair, and as a shipper of Yoo-rae and Cap Hwang, it’s just so sad to see the ending with their “love story” hanging. We don’t know what’s the real score between them but I’d like to believe there is attraction drawing them to each other. J

My final say- highly entertaining with intriguing plot and disturbing antagonists. A must-see drama.

Note: Photos are not mine. Credits to their respective owners.

Who Are You: School 2015

Basically, Who are You: School is about identical twins and their journey on discovering their real identity. Lee Eun Bi is a victim of bullying from Tongyeong, while Go Eun Byul is from Seoul. Only Go Eun Byul is aware of her twin’s existence. One day, Lee Eun Bi decided to commit suicide in an attempt to put an end on the intolerable acts of her bully classmates. Go Eun Byul hurriedly rescued her and thought it was the best time for them to switch lives. Few days later, Eun Bi woke up in the hospital remembering nothing. She was mistaken as Eun Byul, and started living with the identity of her twin sister. When she gained back her memories, Kang So Young(the bully) appeared again and tried to make her life miserable. The story uncovers Eun Bi’s move from the traumatic experience to standing up against Kang So Young, finding love along the way, and the mystery only few people, including Eun Byul, know.

It’s always refreshing to watch a teenage drama with a youthful vibe and nice pairing. This show has put a light on the daily struggles of a bullying victim (Lee Eun Bi) and how she can’t simply get away from it. At first, I don’t understand why Lee Eun Bi kept mum and refused to seek help. Then I have realized that for a victim whose life is ruined and courage is outweighed by fear, escaping is not an easy thing to do, especially if there’s nowhere to go. Even if it seems unbearable, she had to endure all the pain to avoid issues or bigger trouble and to protect her loved ones from being involved. I don’t have a relatable experience, but I have become aware of the burden a bullied student is carrying and how it can turn a life upside down.

The story is engaging to watch and I like how it makes me intrigued from the start. There are just so many questions on what would happen next and that kept me interested. The switching of identities adds twist to the drama and allows relationship development throughout the entire series. The characters have great potentials and there is an ample space for growth.

I don’t have much to say about the technical elements of the drama, because I focused more on the casting, acting quality or execution and the concept. As the story progresses, I noticed its slow pacing becoming apparent. I also think the frequent close-up shots are carried out to focus more on their facial expressions and details of movement. It played a role in establishing a more dramatic shot. Music cues in at perfect timing. The songs are great, and it’s just appropriate for the drama. It’s sweet, sad, and heart-fluttering. I won’t get tired of listening to its OST over and over again. (especially the one by Yook Sungjae J)

For me, the series is quite short at 16 episodes, probably because it left me wanting for some more. One reason is that I’m looking for a reconciliation between Lee Eun Bi and Kang So Young. Until the end, the bullying issue, which is prominent in the drama, is not clearly resolved. Another reason is the disappointing ending, because Lee Eun Bi did not end up with Gong Tae Kwang. Right from the start, I knew I liked him better than Han Yi An. Gong Tae Kwang is cuter than cute, this drama wouldn’t be as exciting as it is without him. Obviously, I acquired the second male lead syndrome, and I can’t help it. I just think that Han Yi An’s role lacks strong appeal, it would be better if he’s just a friend. Or if he ended up with Lee Eun Bi’s twin sister, Go Eun Byul, right? All along I’ve been confused on who will she end up to. I did not expect that there would only be one pair in the end. It’s sad to think that maybe, we really can’t have all the good things. And the finale of this drama is a proof.

One thing that I would love to see in this drama- more scenes with Eun Bi and Eun Byul together. I wish they have met each other earlier so that there would be a lot of catching up and more sisters bonding.

Kim So Hyun, who portrayed both Lee Eun Bi and Go Eun Byul is totally charming, it’s hard not to admire her. Credits to her, for playing two different roles with consistency and effortlessly, which can be challenging for any actor. It’s just easy for her to pull off pitiful, submissive Eun Bi and then transform into a dominant and snob Eun Byul.

I have to say that Jo Soo-Hyang (Kang So Young), the bully, really did an excellent job. Every encounter with her is much anticipated, I can literally feel the dramatic tension between them (Lee Eun Bi). It was impressive how the show has managed to keep the suspense level high through Kang So Young’s role.

Overall, the show leaves a pretty good impression and there is a high chance that you would also love it. J J J

*Note: Photos not mine unless stated. All credit goes to their rightful owner.*