Thoroughly enjoyable drama in which the great cast overcomes an "OK" story.

A solid drama with wonderful leads and a great supporting cast. However, the meandering story in which one of the characters struggles with schizophrenia veers perilously close to a lecture on acceptance in a few places. Thankfully, those moments are few and quickly fade into the background while we get to enjoy the great chemistry of the cast. Gong Hyo Jin (When the Camelia's Bloom) plays Ji Hae Soo, a sexually repressed psychiatrist whose struggles with physical affection are well known to all of her family and friends (except inexplicably her mom). Hae Soo vacillates between an endearing vulnerability and a prickly self-sufficiency. Jo In Sung (That Winter, The Wind Blows) plays the dashing young author Jang Jae Yeol. Rich and successful (of course), Jae Yeol has a dark past that briefly explodes in the dramas opening scene. Sparks fly when the two appear on a television panel together to talk about human relationships, where Hae Soo is not impressed by the brash, self-confident author. On the other hand, Jae Yeol is intrigued (of course). Jae Yeol turns out to have much more insight into the human condition than might be expected from a dashing playboy. So much more, in fact, that his insight proves valuable to Hae Soo and her co-workers in the treatment of their patients, who suffer from an interesting variety mental health conditions. I found it all a bit implausible and the treatments seemed to me to gloss over how great a challenge recovery can be. But such is the world that kdramas exist in. This is ultimately a love story, and the chemistry between the leads made it a very believable one.

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Starts off with a bang, then limps to an unsatisfying conclusion.

"Now, We Are Breaking Up" starts off a with a bang (pun intended), filled with sizzling chemistry between the leads, but the story soon starts to meander, wobble, then get repetitive. For those wondering "Now, We Are Breaking Up" essentially translates to "Let us both agree that this relationship will end eventually, so during the entire time we're together we will be in the process of breaking up." It's kind of a lame idea that gets played as a "deep thought". The two leads spew similar not so "deep thoughts" in voice overs where they pontificate about living and loving in the here and now. (Honestly, it's a mystery this stuff made it out of the script room.)

Ha Young Eun seems one dimensional, and Song Hye Kyo's acting is flat. Jang Ki Yong's performance is a bit lackluster too. But there are some bright spots. Perhaps the brightest is the delightful relationship between the 2nd leads, dingbat Hwang Chi Sook and lovesick Seok Do Hoon. (If only they'd been given more screen time!) Other relationships explore interesting ground too. When philandering husband Kwak Soo Ho discovers that his wife Jeon Mi Suk is seriously ill, the realization of how much she has sacrificed for him to be where he is becomes a punch in the gut. Ha Young En's self-righteous, tone deaf father comes to a similar realization when her mom demands a divorce, regretting her years of self-sacrifice and longing for roads not taken. Chi Sook's dad, the gruff CEO Hwang, turns out to be surprisingly interesting and insightful, but other characters (Jae Guk's mom) are almost kdrama tropes.

One final note: Song Hye Kyo is absolutely lovely, but she's now a lovely 40 something. She has about reached her expiration date for carrying this kind of romantic melodrama with a leading man 11 years her junior. I for one would like to see her romance more mature leading men in their 40s or 50s, and perhaps even play a mother figure.

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Complete lack of chemistry between the leads spoils this one.

I took a chance on Soul Mechanic (“Fix You” on Viki) solely because it had Jung So Min in the lead and although I was ultimately disappointed with the drama, it wasn’t because of her. Jung So Min can play beautiful, shy and vulnerable with the best of them, but in this part she was also asked to express the anger and rage of someone in need of serious clinical help. It was shocking to watch in places, but she inhabited the character so completely that it was utterly believable (at least until the final few episodes, during which the script had Woo Joo somehow heal herself and get her life back together). Jung So min was lovely as usual. Her long wavy auburn locks were mesmerizing, and her quirky wardrobe with its long billowy dresses fit her personality wonderfully (although it was a tad hard to swallow that a struggling artist could afford those clothes and that apartment).

So what was the source of my disappointment with Soul Mechanic/Fix You? Well, for starters there was absolutely no chemistry between the lead characters Han Woo Joo (Jung So Min) and Lee Shi Joon (Shin Ha Kyun), which for a romantic comedy pretty much kills it. As I watched I couldn’t tell if the problem was with the actors, their characters, or the script. It just wasn’t there. Part of it could have been the cringey doctor patient relationship that the script tried to lamely explain away toward at one point. Part of it could have been that—even by kdrama standards—the romance between Woo Joo and Dr. Lee was incredibly tame (lame?), almost entirely platonic in nature. And part of it could have been the age difference between the actors Shin Ha Kyun and Jung So Min (15 years). They just didn’t look natural together. Speaking of age gap, I found it hard to swallow that Dr. Lee’s Dad was actually old enough to be his Dad. The two actors differ in age by 17 years, but they looked more like brothers. It was jarring and really affected the credibility of the story.

This is a weird show. It’s good in places, but ultimately unsatisfying. Fans of Jung So Min will see something they haven’t seen before, but some of it is not pretty to watch. Others will want to skip this one altogether.

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Good, not great. For fans of light comedy/romance without too critical an eye.

First, I liked this drama very much, but there is no way it deserves a 10/10. Read the reviews that gave more realistic grades and the reasons they were given, and let them guide you. Is this a feel good drama? Absolutely. But realistically speaking that's about it. And despite the fact that I think Shin Hye Sun is one of the best actresses working, this drama isn't in the same league as Hometown Cha-Cha or Hospital Playlist. It isn't even Shin Hye Sun's best work. (Check out "Thirty But Seventeen" or "Mr. Queen".) This drama is simply good, not great.

I thought Welcome to Samdal-ri was going great until the final quarter, where things kind of petered out to the expected conclusion. There is a lot of filler in the final two episodes in particular. There just wasn't enough story to fill up all 16 episodes, and dragging things out exposed some issues with the story. Sang Do's 30-year one-sided love was more than a bit farfetched, and the amount of screen time it was given made even less sense. The extent of Cho Yong Pil's father's animosity toward Go Mi Ja felt way too harsh, and it also deserved less screen time. (There had to be a better way to create tension in the plot.) Other storylines really deserved a lot more screen time, like Hae Dal's relationship with the dolphin scientist. (And her daughter was a complete delight, stealing nearly every scene she was in.) More could have been made of big sister's wacky relationship with her chaebol ex-husband, and finally more could've been made of Sam Dal & Yong Pil's reunion, giving them more time to explore their new dynamic. Not exploring these storylines made the presence of so much filler all the more frustrating.

As much as I liked this drama, its flaws were obvious even to me. It is not a 10/10, but if you like feel-good dramas you will like this one. And if you have a more critical eye, there are better shows to watch.

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Compelling story about a village of widows and single women in war ravaged 1950s Korea

Compelling story about a village of widows and single women scratching out an existence in war ravaged 1950s Korea when one of the widows stumbles across a deserter in a nearby bamboo forest. The movie avoids taking sides in the war--there is barely any mention of North or South. Instead it focuses on the desperate plight of those left behind after their husbands and sons have gone off to war and the anxiousness of not knowing--and possibly never knowing--whether they are alive or dead. In one interesting sequence, the deserter daydreams in color about the school teacher's life he lived before the war. This was one of 10 movies that Kim Soo-yong cranked out in 1967 and despite the obviously low dollar production value, it is worth a watch.

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A throwback to the era of Stairway to Heaven

A total throwback to the era of Stairway to Heaven and early Korean dramas, which makes it a deliciously guilty pleasure. Everything about this revenge drama is way over the top. The bad guys are so bad you want to strangle them and the good guys are so adorable you want to pinch their cheeks. There are orphans, lost memories, murders, return from the dead, fake relatives, 2nd wives, step sibling rivalries, chaebols, bad guys who ultimately redeem themselves, bad guys who get what they deserve, and lots of other craziness that is only found in kdramas. This is not great literature come to life. This is ridiculousness in its full kdrama glory. Thumbs up!

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An absolute riot of tropes

My Love Eun Dong epitomizes everything that makes kdramas a unique art form. It is simultaneously hilariously eye-rolling and warmly engaging. It is an absolute riot of tropes: Fated love, rich boy/poor girl, amnesia, insane coincidences, and a love triangle are all there. Scenes are filled with piggyback rides and wrist grabs, shared umbrellas, bullying and bitch slaps. Everyone will know from the very first episode how it all will end, but the journey is enjoyable nonetheless. None of the villains seem too unbeatable and none of the obstacles feel completely insurmountable. It is impossible not to pull for the two star-crossed lovers. The title “My Love Eun Dong” is a phrase that appears several times in the second half, and it is a touching sentiment. This isn’t a great drama by any means, but I really liked it for what it is.

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A wonderful feel-good romp

I had no idea what to expect going into this one and I was delightfully surprised. This is feel-good romantic comedy—with a little mystery, suspense, and action thrown in--and I absolutely loved it. Petite, doe-eyed Park Bo Young was perfect for the role of Do Bong Soon. Her diminutive stature and schoolgirl innocence fit the part perfectly and she was a delight to watch. Her chemistry with Park Hyung Shik as Min Hyuk was terrific, and they looked wonderful together. Kim Ji Soo was also good as the brooding cop who discovers too late that he let the love of his life slip away.

The rest of the cast is also good. I can only imagine how wild it must have been filming some of this stuff. How anyone kept a straight face is beyond me. Kim Won Tae goes completely over the top in the dual roles of gangster Kim Kwang Bok and the swishy Oh Dol Pyu. It is hilarious in places and cringeworthy in others, but he held absolutely nothing back. Jang Mi Kwan was super creepy as the villain Kim Jang Hyuk. All in all, it was a wonderful ensemble they assembled for this production.

A couple of special shout outs: First, to the team that created the subtitles. I watched this show on Viki and the translation to English was wonderful, often explaining the double meanings, alliteration, word play, and cultural references in the Korean dialog. Outstanding! Second, I don’t normally pay much attention to the OST, but I immediately recognized the voice of Jeong Eun Ji singing the “Secret Garden” love theme. What an amazing talent.

So what kept me from rating this one a “10”? Some of the other reviews have complained a bit about the jarring contrast between the mostly happy, cartoonish theme, the bumbling gangsters, and the violence and gore related to the dark, sinister bad guy. I have to agree with that. If there were a machine to create the perfect drama, I would use it to tweak the settings on this one. I would dial back the violence and darkness a bit, dial back the cutesy on romantic lead Min Hyuk just a little and the shreeking campiness of the queen Dol Pyu a little more. I would also dial back the Keystone cops effect on the bumbling mobsters just a little bit, add a dash more of grandma, and a little less of Bong Soon’s mom beating up on her dad. However, these are all mostly quibbles. Don’t let any of it stop you from watching this wonderful show.

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A bit of a disappointment

This show, which was highly rated by some of my favorite MDL reviewers, didn’t live up to expectations. While it did evade some of the worst K-drama tropes—like a breakup only to makeup in the final act, or overbearing in-laws for whom social status is much more important than love when it comes to marriage—the story offered nothing to replace them with. The one bit of suspense was confusing and far-fetched (memory transference?!!), and the inevitable romance plodded along, albeit pleasantly, to the end.

After having seen Park Seo Joon in the lead role now in two K-dramas (Itaewon Class and this one) I have to say I’m not a fan. I find it very hard to connect with his characters. His Lee Yeong Joon is such a colossal jerk through the first 4 episodes that I found the very idea of the angelic Secretary Kim (played by Park Min Young) falling for him exasperating considering what he’d put her through for the previous 9 years. And even though Yeong Joon mellowed out in the second half, I never really recovered. His narcissism was at times self-mocking and played to comedic effect, while at other times—like when we heard his internal monologue—he appeared to be disturbingly self-absorbed. In either case, the cringeworthy “aura” humor wore thin rather quickly. I also found his transformation from complete jerk to compassionate, considerate boyfriend beyond belief.

The angelic Park Min Young played Secretary Kim (Kim Mi So) and did a good job with what she had to work with. She was absolutely lovely, but all she was asked to do was be pretty and sweet and flash her startled doe-eyed look a few times per episode. The real stars of this show were in the supporting cast. Kang Ki Young had all the best lines and absolutely nailed the part of Yeong Joon’s only friend, President Park You Shik. He was hilarious, and his interactions with and his secretary Ma Eum (Kim Ye Won) were highlights of the show. Other characters shined too, like Bong So Ra (Hwang Bo Ra) and her wacky relationship with Secretary Yang (Kang Hong Suk), and Kim Ji Ah (Pyo Ye Jin) and office heartthrob with a secret, Go Gwi Nam (Hwang Chang Sung).

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A sweet love story

I'd been putting off watching this one for a while, fully expecting it to be one non-stop tear-jerker. The tragic premise--a recently deceased young mother returns to her grieving husband and young son and spends a rainy season healing them enough to continue life without her--with Son Ye Jin starring as the young mother Im Soo Ah, was the perfect recipe for it. And while there were a few tears and some heartache, Be With You turned out to be much more. In the end, it is mostly a sweet, heartwarming love story about a family learning to cope with tragedy. It starts with a sweet fable, which then plays out in real life, and is followed by an epilog that sheds new light on all that had come before it. They combine to form a story that will stick with you long after the movie ends. Son Ye Jin is simply transcendent. She is a national treasure. So Ji Sub does a terrific job playing the heartbroken husband and loving father, Jung Woo Jin, with an understated grief, strength, and grace. Jung Ji Ho, who plays the young son Jung Ji Ho is marvelous too. This a very good movie, with a heartwarming love story. Don't miss.

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Wonderful, witty dialog in this must see K-drama

The production values (lighting, sound) of the this 2005 K-drama aren't quite up to today's standards, and it was a bit off-putting at first. I almost back-burnered show after the first episode or two, but there was something about it that dragged me in--so much so that I did something I've never done before: I binge-watched all 16 episodes in two days.

Kim Sun Ah plays the chubby, lovelorn Kim Sam Soon and is absolutely brilliant. A *very* young (22 or 23?) Hyun Bin plays her love interest, Hyun Jin Heon. His acting chops aren't up to Kim Sun Ah's, but he carries his part well enough. And I found his round, baby-face and wild hair somewhat amusing to see in light of how strikingly handsome a man he has grown up to be. (At times it is hard to believe that it's the same man who starred in Crash Landing On You.) The supporting actors are mostly terrific. I especially loved the hilarious interactions between the Chef Lee Hyun Moo (Kwon Hae Hyo) and Sam Soon's sister Yi Young (Lee Ah Hyun).

This is a great story, well told. The dialog is sharp and witty, often laugh-out-loud funny. For fans of K-drama, this should definitely be on your "must see" list.

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Potentially good drama spoiled by a lackluster performance

Middle of the road K-drama with pleasant, likeable leads with good chemistry that will resonate with anyone who has ever been "friend-zoned" or watched helplessly as an unrequited love interest falls into a poisonous relationship. However, everyone else will tire of this K-drama rather quickly.

Ha Ji Won is lovely as Oh Ha Na and her relationship with nice guy Choi Won (Lee Jin Wook) is very endearing and believable. But problems with the story start when the despicable ex-boyfriend Cha Seo Hoo (Yoon Kyn Sang) shows up. Of the nearly 40 K-dramas I've watched so far, Yoon Kyn Sang's performance as the ex-boyfriend Cha Seo Hoo is by far the most wooden and unengaging (if not downright irritating). I initially thought the problem was with the part as written, but as the story unfolded I became more convinced that it was Yoon Kyn Sang's performance that was lacking. There was just so much about him/his character that wasn't believable, and the chemistry between the actors Yoon Kyn Sang and Ha Ji Won was sorely lacking. How was the delightful, innocent character Oh Ha Na *ever* attracted to Cha Seo Hoo in the first place? And even if she suffered some momentary lapse of judgement, how did he manage to hang onto her with his stone-faced, emotionless demeanor? I just didn't buy their relationship at all, and I can only attribute it to Yoon Kyn Sang's stiff performance. By episode 10 I was so irritated that jumped ahead to see how the show ends, and I *never* do that. (Suffice it to say that what I learned allowed me to keep watching...)

Looking past the Cha Seo Hoo character and Yoon Kyn Sang's performance there was much to like about this show. At its heart, it is a story about a long-lasting friendship between two friends that love each other dearly and how it slowly transitions into something even deeper and more meaningful. Along the way it explores love in many of its shapes and colors--including infatuation, angst, romance, and an almost agape-type love--and how we can transition in and out of these in the course of a long term relationship. But with its problems, this K-drama is really just for those that remember the angst of young love and the feeling of being friend-zoned. Others will simply find it frustrating.

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