Boys Over Flowers (2009)
Watched: 27 August 2011 - 10 September 2011 (guesstimate)
Rating: 9/10 Episodes: 25
Summary: Poor Girl goes to rich school, meets rich bullies, one of whom falls for her. Cue drama about teen angst and the poor-rich divide.
Drama: The first kdrama I completed watching. The one that started it all. Well, not really; Chuno was the first kdrama I started watching, but I only got to finish it a couple of years later, so Boys Over Flowers holds the title for "First Kdrama Ever Completed", hurrah! Overall a good kdrama, and one of the very few that got me hooked within its first few minutes. My fave character here is Gu Jun Pyo (Lee Min-ho), with all that childish arrogance and overpossessiveness. I got pretty frustrated at times with Jan Di (Gu Hye Sun) because I felt she should just have been upfront and honest. Bear in mind this was the first kdrama I'd completed, so I wasn't aware at that point in time that all kdrama heroines were supposed to be like this. I got hooked on this, and it got me started on the whole kdrama-obsession!
Soundtrack: Pretty alright by typical kdrama standards, but I thought it was really good at that point in time. It's got some good gems, one of which (Tree Bicycle's 'One More Time') is still stored in my mobile, it's that good.
Personal Taste (2010)
Watched: 3 November 2011 (guesstimate) - 8 November 2011
Rating: 9/10 Episodes: 16
Summary: Guy pretends to be gay to live with Girl and examine her really cool house. Girl is total mess and ends up needing Guy's help winning her ex-boyfriend back. Guy falls in love with Girl. Conflict of interest.
Drama: Good. This was during my Lee Min-ho phase, and I thought he was really good here, better than in Boys Over Flowers, as I felt his character was more mature and 'grown-up' here. Son Ye-jin though, is the one who makes this kdrama, and it would prolly have been very different if a different actress had taken the lead. I liked her whole cutesy messy girl-next-door persona, and there were several pillow-gripping moments in this drama (literally: I remember some scenes where I would almost scream at the screen, it was that good). Watch this if you like seeing Lee Min-ho all cleaned up and styled like a dandy.
Soundtrack: One of the better ones. Several catchy tunes, and some fantastic ballads. I've replayed the soundtrack so many times, I think I might actually be quite sick of it by now.
My Princess (2011)
Watched: 31 December 2011 - 3 January 2012 (guesstimate)
Rating: 8/10 Episodes: 16
Summary: Bubbly Girl doesn't know she is a princess. Guy has to help Girl become a proper princess. Watch if you're into normal-girl-turns-into-princess-overnight stuff.
Drama: I watched this in high definition and it ruined my subsequent kdrama experiences; after being able to see every pore and facial line, going back to Youtube quality was quite a pain. I watched this not knowing that the two leads (Kim Tae-hee and Song Seung-hun) were such mega K-stars. Kim Tae-hee is quite adorable in this one, and I couldn't stop admiring her hair and accessories throughout the entire drama. It's got some pretty good laughs, but it can get pretty irritating when she starts whining and emo-ing. Song Seung-hun is a good male lead, providing just the right amount of machismo and strength to Kim Tae-hee's cute femininity.
Soundtrack: Cracking my brain, but I can't recall any tune. Which means it wasn't that impressive, I guess.
Sungkyunkwan Scandal (2010)
Watched: 5 January 2012 - 10 January 2012
Rating: 9/10 Episodes: 20
Summary: Joseon-era, Girl pretends to be a boy to study in university. Noble Guy falls in love with Girl, not knowing she is a girl. Throw in Popular Guy and Rebel Guy for a very fun ride.
Drama: Word of warning, this was really addictive. I thought everyone did a really good job playing their characters, and Park Min-yeong is really good playing the innocent big-eyed sweet thing. Towards the end, I was rooting for everyone except Micky Yoochun (don't ask me why, I think it was the whole goody goody two shoes thing that I can't quite stand in a male lead). This was, at that point in time, the fastest I had ever finished a kdrama, which proves how good it really is as a whole. Watch this is you like the whole one girl being protected by several guys plot, it's one of the best of its kind.
Soundtrack: A couple of really strong, heartwrenching ballads, and some comical fast tunes.
You're Beautiful (2009)
Watched: 28 February 2012 - 15 March 2012
Rating: 10/10 Episodes: 16
Summary: Sweet, innocent Girl pretends to be her brother to join a rock band. Arrogant Guy does not realize he is in love with Girl. Girl pines after Arrogant Guy but keeps it all very hush hush.
Drama: This is one of the best kdramas out there. The first half of the first episode might be a bit of a letdown, but trust me, it only gets better. Midway through this drama, you might have difficulty stopping yourself from going on a marathon and finishing the whole thing, it's that good. Jang Geun-suk is quite amazing in this drama, and if you've watched his other dramas you know he's really good at the whole arrogant guy thingy. Park Shin Hye is the sweetest thing here, and they've got also got pretty solid support from Jung Yong Hwa of CN Blue and FT Island's Hongki (HONGKI!!!!!!!). Hongki is amazing as Jeremy, and Yong Hwa isn't half bad as the secondary love interest, if you're into that kind of thing. This drama has not one, not two, but several laugh-out-loud moments; one I can think of right off the top of my mind is the scene in the field, where Hwang Tae Kyung's daydreaming is rudely interrupted with the arrival of an unexpected guest. Laugh out loud. It's also pretty sweet, everytime it gets dark and he can't see Go Mi Nam gazing wistfully at him. Sweetness overload.
Soundtrack: This is a kdrama that revolves mainly around music, so it's a no-brainer the soundtrack's so tootin' good. Possibly one of the best soundtracks around, and my mobile is loaded with songs from this drama, my faves of which are the slow ballads. Beautiful beautiful beautiful. And you've got Hongki singing, too! How great is that?
MGIAG (2010)
Watched: 15 March 2012 - 22 March 2012
Rating: 7/10 Episodes: 16
Summary: Girl is a gumiho who starts parasiting off Guy, who is totally freaked out but still can't help falling in love with Girl.
Drama: This was an average kdrama for me. It might be because I got my hopes up because it was a Hong sisters drama, or because Lee Seung Gi isn't what I would expect as a male lead, but on the whole, this was still an entertaining watch. It might also be due to the fact that I watched this straight after You're Beautiful, and my brain was still stuck on the high coming off from that rollercoaster of a kdrama, but MGIAG paled in comparison. What I liked about this one was how Cha Dae Woong was totally terrified of Gumiho at the start, and how he was so much of a lazy bum, until he slowly (really slowly) learned to be fond of her, and ended up needing her not so much for her special abilities, but because he truly loved her. Sweet. I think one of the best scenes was towards the end, when he was preparing to say goodbye to her and he had to lock himself up in the bathroom because he couldn't control his emotions. Very good scene.
Soundtrack: This was quite average too. But go take a listen at Lee Seung Gi's contemporary releases (i.e. non-OST), and really, he's pretty good!
Chuno (2010)
Watched: 3 February 2010 - 2 April 2012
Rating: 8/10 Episodes: 24
Summary: Once-yangban-now-slavehunter Guy #1 sets out to find once-slave-now-yangban Girl who coincidentally ends up in company of once-officer-now-slave Guy #2, and altogether they get embroiled in hide-and-seek wild goose chase around nation (or something to that effect).
Drama: I would have given this one a higher rating, because it started off at a 10, but it took me so long to finish that it became quite a torture, that when I finally finished it (2 years after I first started watching), it was more a relief than anything else. To be very honest, this was the very first kdrama I watched, and it changed my entire perception of kdramas: prior to this, I was pretty sceptical (even scathingly cynical) of kdramas and their overacting and cheesiness. The only thing I knew about kdramas was that they were so melodramatic, every scene was concocted to make its audience weep (think Winter Sonata and the dramas of that era). Or so I thought, until I happened to catch the ad for Chuno. Whoa. Life-changing moment. Chuno has got to have one of the best cinematography in kdrama history, for real. Breathtaking scenes and special effects. I'd never seen a kdrama with such visual beauty, and I'm not just talking about the actors/actresses. Good actors in Jang Hyuk, Oh Ji Ho, and Lee Da Hae (although a lot of critics seem to think she's too pretty here). Very good plot too. Watch this if you're bored of the typical kdrama storylines, this makes for a very good change. I would say one of the strengths of this drama is its emphasis on memory and the past, especially when it comes to remembering your first love and letting go to move forward. Beware though, if you're not into tearjerkers; this isn't your typical happy-happy everyone-falls-in-love-and-lives-happily-ever-after kinda story.
Soundtrack: Possibly one of the better soundtracks to accompany a period drama. Really good, especially if you turn down the lights and turn up the bass. 임재범's '낙인' (Stigma) is a good listen.
Wild Romance (2012)
Watched: 2 April 2012 - 4 May 2012
Rating: 9/10 Episodes: 16
Summary: Tomboy-ish Girl becomes reluctant bodyguard to superstar baseball player Guy. They hate each other's guts, but love creeps up on them. Good rom-com, good moments.
Drama: This is one of the 'newer' kdramas I've watched (i.e. not a kdrama from 5 years back), and I first watched this on the telly, but kept missing out episodes, and felt it was too good of a drama to miss out on so many scenes. Felt I had to thoroughly enjoy each bit, so I rewatched it all from the very beginning. I'm glad I did, because this turned out to be a really good rom-com (I have good instincts!), and I am now very fond of the two leads, Lee Dong Wook and Lee Si Young. Who knew that pretty but spiteful pretend friend of Jan Di's in Boys Over Flowers would turn out to be such a good female lead of her own? Kudos to Lee Si Young, who is really likeable in this kdrama. She pulls off the boyish look really well, and unlike other actresses who shear off their hair in the hopes of pulling off more tomboy-ish roles but can't, Lee Si Young does the best in acting all rough and guy-like. The most convincing of the lot. I feel this kdrama is one of the best rom-coms out there, and it also boasts very likeable and adorable supporting leads in Kang Dong Ho and Im Joo Eun, who play Lee Dong Wook's manager and Lee Si Young's landlady cum best friend respectively. Towards the second half of this kdrama, I was rooting more for the Manager Kim-Dong Ah pair than for Moo Yul-Eun Jae, and if you google around a bit, you'll see I'm not the only one. This drama also has some pretty creative camera angles, the sort you don't quite get in kdramas, but very refreshing and effective. It recycles some kdrama stereotypes, but the way they relay it seems really fresh and exciting.
Soundtrack: Good soundtrack, relayed the emotions of the drama really well.
Sassy Girl Chun Hyang (2005)
Watched: April 2012 - 15 May 2012
Rating: 6/10 Episodes: 17
Synopsis: Problematic new Guy in town clashes with smart Girl, typical rich-poor divide story.
Drama: I know this appears on many must-watch lists, but this didn't do much for me. Maybe it's because it's dated compared to most of the dramas I watch, but I couldn't help comparing this to all the newer (better) kdramas, like Boys Over Flowers (same teen angst, rich guy-poor girl thingy). It didn't help that I watched this on a local tv station that didn't air it in its original 17 episodes, but spread it out over the course of one month?
Soundtrack: The soundtrack was quite dated (and cheesy) compared to more recent kdramas.
Twinkle Twinkle (2011)
Watched: 7 May 2012 - 31 May 2012
Rating: 7/10 Episodes: 54
Synopsis: Rich Girl and Poor Girl meet, and come to the realization that they were switched at birth.
Drama: Let me just say I wanted to cry at the start of this, not because of the storyline, but because this kdrama was FIFTY FOUR tootin' episodes long. I don't know how I managed to finish watching it all, but let's just say it still remains something I am quite proud of. Why did I watch what was essentially a weekend soap opera? One person: Kang Dong Ho. You might remember him as Manager Kim from Wild Romance. He's in this, and he was so good and enigmatic in Wild Romance that I wanted to see more. In this, he plays a poor law student who suddenly finds himself in the new position of single dad. Very different role, and he's done a good job. Kim Hyun Joo is brilliant in this (you might remember her as Gu Jun Pyo's super cool sister), and so is her stylist: beautiful outfits, beautiful handbags! The length of this drama is enough to turn anyone off, but stick with it and it's actually a pretty decent kdrama. The melodrama gets a bit much at times (think soap opera), but it's got its good scenes. The male lead (played by Kim Seok Hun) and his neurotic ways can be quite endearing, and I suppose the good thing about the drama being dragged out for so long is the good resolution; everything comes to a satisfactory end, i.e. no abrupt magic-ta-dah!-all's-good-now ending, but a nice, comfortable conclusion to an overall satisfactory drama.
Soundtrack: Can't remember anything = mediocre?
Love Rain (2012)
Watched: 16 April 2012 - 13 June 2012
Rating: 7/10 Episodes: 20
Summary: Guy meets Girl in the 70s but not meant to be, go their separate ways. Present day Korea, Guy's son meets Girl's daughter, and Guy meets Girl all over again.
Drama: This started out good, and it's a pity they couldn't quite maintain the momentum and feel of the first few episodes. I liked the vibe and nostalgia of the 70s story arc, and the attitude and 'in-your-face'ness of the present day story arc, but something was missing towards the second half. I think it was when they took a turn for the normal, i.e. it started feeling like any other kdrama out there (and not the good ones). It was fun and exciting when Jang Geun Suk and YoonA first met (both in the 70s and present day), but after that was over and they had to face the couple conflicts, it got a bit blah. There's a LOT of nostalgia though, so that's one perk of this kdrama. Good vibes.
Soundtrack: It was fun to hear music from the 70s on contemporary tv, so that's one. The theme was too sappy for my liking though.
Mary Stayed Out All Night/MMM (2010)
Watched: 31 May 2012 - 14 August 2012
Rating: 8/10 Episodes: 16
Summary: Girl meets and loves poor indie rocker Guy, but is engaged to rich drama producer Guy.
Drama: I wanted to watch something really silly and frivolous after the torture that was Twinkle Twinkle (it was pretty heavy, in both length and content), and I chose MMM because it seemed like a silly cotton-candy kinda drama. Thing is, I vaguely remember seeing snippets of this on telly and thinking that the male lead was prettier than the female lead (I didn't know Jang Geun Suk was Jang Geun Suk during my pre-kdrama days), and I still think Jang Geun Suk is really pretty in this kdrama. His hair is really very pretty, and he rocks this really cool threads (but then again he's supposed to be an indie rocker, so no brainer there). There were several times while watching this where I would wonder if Moon Geun Young's long curly hair was really hers, or a wig. Whatever it is, it suits her, and I smile everytime the Meow Song comes on (that's what I call it, the Meow Song, because of the background mew-ing). If you're looking for something light and not too angsty, this would be good for you. I didn't have any scream-at-computer-screen moments, but this might be just me. Several cute moments though, like the hair treatment bits, and Jang Geun Suk's 'haircut', and Kim Jae Wook's awkward-but-funny moments.
Soundtrack: This has a pretty good soundtrack, hence the 8/10 rating. This is one of those examples of a good soundtrack boosting the quality and viewability of a kdrama. Jang Geun Suk's 'My Precious' and '부탁해, My Bus' are good, 'Tell Me Your Love' by Trax is pop-rock worthy, and '무결테마' is sweet and cute (makes me happy just to hear it).
Secret Garden (2010)
-p3.jpg "Secret Garden")
Watched: 15 August 2012 - 20 August 2012
Rating: 10/10 Episodes: 20
Summary: Rich and handsome Guy falls for poor stuntwoman Girl, but refuses to admit he loves her. Everything changes when they get lost in the woods one day.
Drama: Hands down, the BEST kdrama I've watched thus far. If I could give this kdrama a rating of 11 out of 10, I would, but that would skew the reliability of my rating system (I'm weird that way). I'll be honest, I knew about this kdrama for quite some time but refused to watch it because I feared it was just hype and hysteria over nothing much. Fast forward to right this moment as I'm typing this out, 10 days after I first finished watching the whole thing: I'm trying very hard not to rave about this kdrama too much, but to be honest, this kdrama blew me away, it was that good, it exceeded each and every one of my expectations. When I watched You're Beautiful, I thought that was the epitome of kdrama greatness; boy I was wrong. THIS is the epitome of kdrama greatness. Hyun Bin and Ha Ji Won are amazing in this, so amazing, I can't quite imagine any other actor or actress that could have done what these two have done in this. Hyun Bin isn't conventionally handsome in this kdrama, but there is just something about the way he plays Kim Joo Won, that little mischievous spark in his eyes (the sit-up scene, the sit-up scene!!!! *squeals like fangirl*), that childish possessiveness that is just so endearing, and that manly aegyo. I mean, look, have you seen a man pull aegyo and still come off looking suave and macho??? And Ha Ji Won oozes just the right amount of independence, bravado, femininity and vulnerability to balance out that poor-girl-trying-to-succeed-without-pissing-everyone-off character. This is the thing: Secret Garden could have gone terribly wrong, so terribly wrong that you would mention it and people would burst out laughing. Like, seriously, just think about all the different plot elements they cram into this single drama, and try to picture it on paper. It reads potential destruction, but somehow, somehow, they managed to pull it off and now it's deemed by many to be the best kdrama ever made. The trick lies in the actors. Just the right balance of everything = kdrama perfection! Kim Joo Won, Gil Ra Im, Oska, Yeun Sul, Director Im, Ah Young, all perfectly and loveably cast. This is also a pretty intelligent kdrama, in the sense that it requires the audience to work their brains a bit; I don't know of any other kdrama that almost gave me a headache trying to keep track of who's really who (the Joo Won-Ra Im switcheroo, anyone?). And oh, the emotion! I don't think I've cried this much watching a kdrama, either. But very cathartic. And plenty of amazing magic-filled moments; I laughed out loud, choked in glee, smothered my face to muffle the shrieks of shock... what a rollercoaster of emotions. Beautiful. Go watch. The only problem with this kdrama? It's so tootin' good, I am now left with the secret fear that I will not find another kdrama to match the epicness of this one.
Soundtrack: The songs are very emotionally-charged, so be prepared for that. Beautiful ballads, pitched at exactly the right moment, will have your heart thudding and your tears falling. Give Hyun Bin's '그남자' (That Man) a listen, and don't forget 4Men's '이유' (Reason), Sung Si Kyung's '너는 나의 봄이다' (You Are My Spring), and Yoon Sang Hyun's 'Here I Am'. My advice though? Don't listen to the soundtrack until after you've finished the kdrama. Don't spoil the fun for yourself.
My Lovely Samsoon (2005)
Watched: 22 August 2012 - 28 August 2012
Rating: 7/10 Episodes: 16
Summary: Average 30-year old patissier Girl meets rich younger restaurant owner Guy and has to pretend to be his girlfriend. Guy's ex-girlfriend comes looking to win him back, but Girl refuses to give him up without a fight.
Drama: I watched this because Hyun Bin was in it. It was a pretty average drama in my opinion, but I understand how it would have been really revolutionary in 2005, especially when you think of the overly depressing tear-inducing kdramas of that era (that must have been the trend then, much like today's historical period time-travelling trend). This kdrama could possibly be the one that kickstarted all those food-related kdramas, but I'm not sure; apparently they based this off of Bridget Jones, and once I knew that, I did notice some resemblance. This is proof of how some people just get better with age; the Hyun Bin of My Lovely Samsoon doesn't quite ooze the charisma of the Hyun Bin in Secret Garden, but there are hints to that greatness. What did I like about this kdrama though? Er... *thinking* ... *still thinking* ... It was interesting to watch Hyun Bin and Jung Ryeo Won and Daniel Henney (I am not familiar with Kim Sun Ah or her dramas, whereas I know Jung Ryeo Won by face and Daniel Henney... who doesn't know Daniel Henney?) in their younger days. Also, it was a pleasant surprise to see Lee A-Hyeon (didn't know her name before this), who was also in MMM and Twinkle Twinkle. There were some good moments, such as Samshik opening up to Samsoon about his past, and Samsoon's constant bumping into that poor man (the one who keeps meeting her at the most inopportune of times), and the head chef's half-crazed pursuit of Samsoon's sister. Like Bridget Jones, you really did end up feeling Samsoon's pain and heartbreak after every mishap. Not bad overall, but everything seemed really dated, but that's not their fault.
Soundtrack: Not bad, Yi Seung Yeol contributed to the soundtrack, and there are some poignant instrumental tunes going on. Oh, the piano playing by Hyun Bin and Kim Sun Ah, those were good moments, but not sure if they count as part of the soundtrack, as those scenes were more for emotional purposes than musical ones.
The Greatest Love (2011)
Watched: 3 September 2012 - 27 September 2012
Rating: 10/10 Episodes: 16
Summary: Superstar actor Guy meets once-successful-now-joke-of-the-entertainment-industry Girl. Through a series of unfortunate (and comical) events, both end up seeing a lot of each other, and Guy falls for Girl. Challenges arise because of their different status 'levels' in the eyes of the world.
Drama: It only took me this long to finish this drama because I didn't want it to end, so I put off the last few episodes for about two weeks (maybe even longer). To be honest, when I read the synopsis, it sounded pretty boring. It didn't really help that the opening featured some cheesy-sounding 80s-looking girl band, but get past the first couple of minutes, and the whole thing suddenly becomes super addictive. This drama has got an amazing cast, and I can't think of anyone who could pull off what Cha Seung Won has accomplished as Dok Go Jin. His one-liners and facial expressions are something you have to see for yourself to understand, and this is one of those few dramas I feel was too short. There were several really amazing scenes, like the one where Dok Go Jin is sitting alone in his car with eyes closed, broken because he thinks Ae Jung has chosen Yoon Pil Joo over him. And then that one tear rolls down his face, he opens his eyes, sees Ae Jung standing there watching him, and ta-dah, the magical window scene! Beautiful! Then there's gamja. I'm surprised people who've watched this aren't going around with their own potato plants. Me, I've got my Pet Potato. All in all, this is one of the best dramas I've watched so far. Trumps almost all the dramas I can think of! Go watch!
Soundtrack: Many, many, many good songs. At first Sunny Hill's '두근두근' (Thump Thump) really got on my nerves, it was that cheesy. Towards the second half of the drama though, I actually found I liked it, and it made me smile. Huh Gak's '나를 잊지 말아요' (Don't Forget Me) is heartwrenchingly painful, while IU's '내 손을 잡아' (Take My Hand) is cute, sweet and pretty. A really strong soundtrack that really supports a really good drama.
Ohlala Couple (2012)
Watched: 22 October 2012 - 18 December 2012
Rating: 7/10 Episodes: 18
Summary: Guy treats Girl bad, Girl leaves Guy, Guy discovers he still loves Girl but it's too late because Girl has New Guy. Like Secret Garden, but aimed at an older audience with more reality, less fantasy.
Drama: This is a rom-com, so get ready for a lot of slapstick and exaggerated facial expressions. Like Secret Garden, this features a switcheroo as a major plot device, but where the former is emo and angst-ridden and has a fairytale kinda love story, this is more realistic, covers some issues that were brought up but never resolved in Secret Garden, and features older characters with more mature issues, like children, and in-laws, and colleagues, and career advancement. It's kinda like the sequel to Secret Garden, if you wanna see it that way. Like, after they've been married for several years and when the real world starts creeping into the fairytale world. Something like that. Ohlala Couple has its fair share of drama though, and the actors managed to portray the frustrations of their characters pretty well. Watch this if you'd like to ditch the teenage-y pretty-boy high school/university/young love dramas. And if you wanna know, I was rooting for Jang Hyun Woo, aka New Guy.
Soundtrack: Some catchy feel-good ones, but none that actually reach out and tug at your heartstrings.
Cinderella's Stepsister (2010)
Watched: 26 November 2012 - 22 December 2012
Rating: 8/10 Episodes: 20
Summary: Emo Girl reluctantly joins new family, detests everyone but Mystery Guy who is also staying with new family, they fall in love, but are kept apart by Cinderella Princess Girl. Many obstacles, much angst.
Drama: This is a retelling of the Cinderella fairytale, but with the protagonist being the stepsister, i.e. Moon Geun Young's character Eun Jo. I don't really enjoy melodramas, but happened to catch a bit of the second episode and couldn't shake it off. I ended up spending an entire weekend catching up on the drama from the very beginning, and ended up watching the last few episodes online because the rerun on telly was too slow for my liking (how did I forget about Youtube?). That's how addictive this was, I was thinking: what, only one episode a day??? I need to know what happens next, NOW! That aside, this drama will stay on your mind from the first episode, it's that addictive. It's a pretty miserable drama, but it's not like those melodramas where their aim is to make you cry by setting up the music and the scenes in such a way as to make you feel emo without understanding the reasons behind it. This is a smart melodrama, i.e. it's pretty evident how much effort the scriptwriters put into making it all make sense. You're miserable for a reason, if you know what I mean. I enjoyed how they made Cinderella aka Hyo Sun such a spoilt brat (aegyo much?), and how much you end up rooting for Eun Jo by the end of the first few episodes. Eun Jo's sullen silence grows on you. And the guys are pretty adorable too; good job overall.
Soundtrack: A couple of good ones, can't quite remember what they sound like now though.
City Hall (2009)
Watched: 4 October 2012 - 23 December 2012
Rating: 7/10 Episodes: 20
Summary: Poor Country Girl meets Cool Urban Guy at her City Hall workplace; he's the new Deputy Mayor, she's the office worker cum tea maker. Through a series of strange and comical events, she ends up becoming the new Mayor, much to everyone's chagrin.
Drama: The decision to watch this was very spur-of-the-moment, and came right after watching Cha Seung Won in The Greatest Love. I somehow end up watching Kim Sun Ah's dramas because of her leading men (i.e. Hyun Bin in My Lovely Samsoon), and I don't know whether it's because the dramas are outdated (i.e. several years old) or maybe the inferior quality of the videos I watch (not HD), but they always fall short of the expectations I have for them. Kim Sun Ah always plays those stereotypical loud-mouthed brash women kinda roles, and they kinda get on my nerves because her characters become borderline rude and childish at times. But I always grit my teeth and watch to the end. Hyun Bin was really really good in Secret Garden, and Cha Seung Won was super in The Greatest Love, so I guess it's my way of researching the evolution of these great actors. But this drama, like My Lovely Samsoon, was something I had to force myself to finish, especially towards the second half. With City Hall, I felt they fell off the tracks a bit in the middle: it had a great start and I enjoyed watching Mi Rae struggling with her colleagues and the beauty pageant and her political 'aspirations', but halfway it became your typical love story, i.e. does he love her or does he not and all that 'normal' stuff. I guess what spoilt it was reading online how this drama was really different and not your typical run-of-the-mill kdrama, but in the middle it felt like any other kdrama! Or maybe I'm just not into political kdramas. It was a relief to finish this and add it to this list! There were some good moments though, and I still think the most entertaining bit was the pre-political stuff, i.e. the beauty pageant arc.
Soundtrack: The soundtrack's actually pretty good. You've got some pretty heartbreaking tunes (bring on the emo!), like '불안한 사랑' and '이 사랑' (This Love). Emo sweet.
City Hunter (2011)
Watched: 9 January 2013 - 14 January 2013
Rating: 8/10 Episodes: 20
Summary: (to be updated very soon)
Drama: (to be updated very soon)
Soundtrack: (to be updated very soon)
And where does that leave us after all that? What follows is my list of kdramas watched thus far, from most recommended to least (top of the list = best):
Secret Garden (10/10)
You're Beautiful (10/10)
The Greatest Love (10/10)
Sungkyunkwan Scandal (9/10)
Wild Romance (9/10)
Boys Over Flowers (9/10)
Personal Taste (9/10)
Cinderella's Stepsister (8/10)
My Princess (8/10)
Mary Stayed Out All Night (8/10)
Chuno (8/10)
Love Rain (7/10)
Ohlala Couple (7/10)
MGIAG (7/10)
City Hall (7/10)
My Lovely Samsoon (7/10)
Twinkle Twinkle (7/10)
Sassy Girl Chun Hyang (6/10)
Cheers, everyone! Here's to many more Korean Kookiness to come! :)
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