this drama is perfect for fans....

Her Private Life is a romantic comedy about an idol fangirl (Park Min Young) who has been passionate about her idol for many years.  She works as a curator at an art museum and tries to hide her fangirl side, but her secret becomes in jeopardy of being exposed after a new director (Kim Jae Wook) arrives.
Park Min Young plays our idol fangirl Sung Deok Mi. Deok Mi is classy, composed, and very good at her job as an art curator. But in secret, she is a true fangirl of Si An of the pop group White Ocean. Her home is decked out in all kinds of merchandise, she’s always ready to snap amazing pics of him, and she even runs a popular fan site dedicated to him. She is all in! I just knew Park Min Young would be perfect for this role. She wonderfully showcases the duality of being a mature working woman with being a dedicated fangirl. I loved watching her try to navigate both worlds and the lengths she had to go to in order to keep her secret. And things get so complicated as Ryan ends up involved with each of her identities while not knowing she is actually both of them.
Kim Jae Wook is Ryan Gold, the new director of Deok Mi’s art museum. He’s a bit prickly and closed off, but of course he’s pretty great underneath that. And he’s got some trauma stemming from being abandoned at an orphanage as a child.
We also have some important supporting characters. Park Jin Joo plays Lee Seon Joo. She is Deok Mi’s best friend, and the two have a very close relationship. Then there’s Ahn Bo Hyun as Nam Eun Gi. He’s our second lead who has been like a brother figure to Deok Mi, but he actually harbors feelings for her. Ryan was quite unappealing those first couple episodes because he was just so callous. But once we start getting a window into his past as well as seeing that he is a genuinely good guy, things start to improve. Then things get really fun when he starts getting tangled up in Deok Mi’s fan life all while not knowing she’s actually a fangirl.
Then rounding things out is the oh-so-sweet object of Deok Mi’s fangirling, Cha Si An (One) of the popular band White Ocean, as well as the trouble making sasaeng Cindy (Kim Bo Ra) who is well known in the fan community and bit of a rival of Deok Mi.

With the premise of Her Private Life focusing on a fangirl and the life that comes with it, this is something that I’m sure many people will be able to relate to. Watching every video your favorite group or idol puts out, fantasizing about them, waiting for a new album to drop, collecting merchandise, meeting other wonderful fans online while also contending with toxic fans. It’s all too familiar to those involved in the fan community. The show highlights many aspects of the fan culture in South Korea quite well. There are varying levels of it with some being very innocent with the simple joys of admiring an artist while other parts are very disturbing and can lead to obsessive and dangerous behavior. The drama worked all of this into the story so nicely.

Ryan and Deok Mi get off on the wrong foot with several initial encounters that end badly. Then he has some pretty humorous misunderstandings about her early on too. But as he gets to know her, he becomes intrigued by her. And when she ends up in the middle of a scandal with her idol, we get a good old fake relationship between her and Ryan to allow the pair to grow close while trying to make things better.

Her Private Life was always completely engaging with wonderful pacing that never felt draggy. That’s frequently a challenge in romantic comedies, and I sure do appreciate how well this drama put everything together to deliver a very entertaining drama.

Read More

IU dominated this drama...

I was not surprised to witness another stellar performance from IU. This woman is just so talented that she always over-delivers regardless of how big or small her role is. IU as Man Wol was the perfect angsty and badass boss lady. Her angry scenes were so scary and credible (and funny too). Oppa found those moments absolutely cute and adorable.  But even if Man Wol's supposedly jaded after living a thousand plus years, IU is still able to convey Man Wol's fears and vulnerability through her magnificently dramatic eyes. She handles heavy drama really, really well. Some of my favorite moments were the scenes where her friend Yeon Woo (Lee Tae Sun of Prison Playbook and Suits) was executed and all of the scenes where she and her staff had to move on to the afterlife. Those were heavy moments but IU handled them with so much restraint (yes, no loud wailing) while still managing to deliver those emotions with a lot of intensity. I felt so sad for Man Wol. Living that long and unhappy life must have been really hell for her. But I also understood (and appreciated) where the Mago (various deities all played by Seo Yi Sook of Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol and Start-Up) was coming from. The Hotel was like purgatory for her - a place where she's given the opportunity to make amends for her past sins. She would have vanished as an evil ghost but the Mago probably thought that her crimes were somehow justified because she did them as revenge for what happened to her people. I was glad that she got that chance because I knew she was a good person.  No, Jin Goo was not as spectacular as IU. I felt he struggled quite a bit during the heavy drama scenes that required him to cry, hence, he had to resort to covering his face most of the time. But IU's in a totally different level and I don't think it would be fair to compare them. Overall, I was happy with Jin Goo's delivery. I loved his steady and reliable acting especially during the scenes when he had to persuade the feisty Man Wol. 
I loved how Chan Sung always reassured Man Wol that he would protect her, be by her side, and never allow her to go into the dark side. And how he kept that promise! I loved how Chan Sung would always hug Man Wol whenever she was doubtful or afraid. Those hugs were definitely one of the things I looked forward to in the show. They made me feel so secure. 
And Man Wol always did her best to protect Chan Sung too. I loved it when she said that although the dead are bound to lose their memories as they walk along the bridge to the afterlife, she would hold on to her memories of Chan Sung for as long she can. And I loved how she kept that promise when she sent off her first love, Go Chung Myung (Lee Do Hyun of Prison Playbook), on that bridge. Man Wol was not swayed and she never forgot her promise to go back to Chan Sung. 

One of my favorite themes in the show is the inclusion of reincarnation, specifically Man-Wol’s past life characters showing up centuries later in 2019. It’s quite entertaining watching her hold grudges towards oblivious people that affected her in their past lives, such as Mi-Ra and Yeon-Woo. In their past lives, Yeon-Woo was Man-Wol’s best friend and Mi-Ra was her sworn enemy. However, in their new lives, Mi-Ra and Yeon-Woo are a couple, to which Man-Wol doesn’t take well. I have to say that I kept waiting for Yeon-Woo to get a more interactive role in his new life, maybe develop a heart-warming friendship with Man-Wol again to help her cope with the 1000 years of isolation and loneliness she endured being bound to the hotel.
There are a lot of twists and turns surrounding Man-Wol’s love life, with constant flashbacks to her previous life relationships we develop an understanding that she is waiting for her past love interest, Chung-Myung, to return to her and walk the path to the afterlife together. However, throughout the drama, there is a slow-developing relationship between Man-Wol and Chan-Sung that could seem forced to some or just inevitable, but it results in Man-Wol having to choose between the two further on in the drama. 

I loved the music in this show. They definitely helped set the mood, especially for the drama scenes.

I was happy with how the show ended. Yes, it was sad. But that was the right and logical thing to do. Chan Sung's love for Man Wol was so great that he no longer wanted to see her suffer while living her long and unhappy life. He let her go and he trusted that their love for each other will bring them together again in their next lives. Overall, I think that IU well presented the beautiful yet avaricious character of Man-Wol and will forever be a fashion icon for me. It’s a show where you must pay attention to the plot and make up your own theories and conspiracies, which just makes it all that more exciting.

Read More

this drama is so sad...

Uncontrollably Fond (also known as Lightly, Ardently) is a romance melodrama about a popular star (Kim Woo Bin) and a documentary producer (Suzy) who knew each other as teenagers, but were separated.  The two are reunited many years later after secrets from their past begin to surface and the star is given only months to live.
Well, count me as completely surprised at just how much I loved Uncontrollably Fond! Of course, I was hoping I would enjoy it, but I entered in a bit cautiously. I love the writer of the drama, but I’ve always been more neutral towards the leads.
But it turned out to be just my style of melodrama. I enjoyed all of the characters and was genuinely interested in their individual stories and how they related to the bigger picture. All of the supporting characters are important, and they helped create a rich, in depth world.
The drama has a wonderful soundtrack that really set the mood for the drama and easily stirred up my emotions. The cinematography is really great too with so many absolutely gorgeous scenes throughout the drama.

We have Kim Woo Bin as leading man Shin Joon Young. I’ve never disliked Kim Woo Bin, but I’ve just not cared much for him. I’ve never been drawn to his characters and usually found them more on the obnoxious side. Once we get passed that brash personality, Joon Young had this softness to him that is both sad and childlike. Kim Woo Bin delivered so much depth and emotion in his portrayal of Joon Young. I could really feel his pain over the tremendous guilt he was experiencing as well as his passion for Eul. He really moved me on so many occasions.
Suzy plays our documentary producer No Eul. I’ve also been sort of neutral towards Suzy in the past, but mostly I’ve found her pleasant enough. And I thought she fit the character of No Eul very well. No Eul has a bad reputation because she will do anything for money because she is poor and wants a good life for her brother.
And I ended up really enjoying Kim Woo Bin and Suzy as a couple. They each have a strong presence that really made their bickering quite fun. With one obstacle after another coming between them, they share plenty of intense scenes that really draws you into their relationship. Then there are these subtle moments where they soften and you can really see the sweet chemistry with this couple. Their love story is a roller coaster of emotions, but I never doubted their love for each other.

I didn’t personally have any issues with the drama, but I thought I would give a little heads up for anyone considering watching it. It is definitely a melodrama. Don’t be fooled by the early episodes that have a somewhat lighter tone to balance things out. Things become progressively more angsty and melodramatic as the drama progresses. Also, Joon Young and Eul have a very tumultuous relationship. If you’re looking for a sweeping romance with lots of lovey dovey moments, Uncontrollably Fond is not that kind of drama. One horrible event after another seems to constantly get in their paths and prevent any chance of a real relationship. The couple doesn’t get a lot of time to really be together.
With everything finally set right, Joon Young was able to enjoy his final days with the love of his life, Eul. She took care of him, they played, they laughed, and they just got to finally be together. It was both joyful and sad to watch them finally get to be a couple. And how fitting that he took his final breath resting his head upon her shoulder.

All in all, Uncontrollably Fond was an amazing ride! The characters were so rich and full all the way from the main characters down to the supporting ones. The intricate web of lies that connected everyone made for a tension filled story that left me always wanting me more. I enjoyed each and every relationship and was never bored for one second of the drama. Joon Young’s passion for Eul was complicated and didn’t always produce the sweetest results, but I never doubted his love for her and that dedication was at the center of a remarkable tale of love and redemption.

Read More

this drama truly is a masterpiece...

It’s Okay to Not Be Okay is a healing romance that tells the story of a troubled health worker (Kim Soo Hyun) at a psychiatric hospital whose fate becomes intertwined with a writer (Seo Ye Ji) with Antisocial Personality Disorder as they fall in love.
Kim Soo Hyun plays Moon Gang Tae who is a health worker at a psychiatric hospital. His only family is his older Autistic brother who he has spent his life taking care of while neglecting his own needs. He silently struggles through life doing his best. His world is completely turned upside down though when Ko Moon Young blows into his life like a hurricane.
Seo Ye Ji is Ko Moon Young. She keeps the fact that she has Antisocial Personality Disorder hidden and has been able to become a successful children’s writer. She is cold, calculating, and a bit dangerous. She sets her sights on Gang Tae and sets in motion a complicated romance for the pair.
Then we have Oh Jung Sae as Moon Sang Tae. He is Gang Tae’s older brother. His Autism causes him to struggle understanding people and has brought challenges to him and Gang Tae. Even though Gang Tae tends to take care of him, Sang Tae is very loyal, independent, and also wants to do what he can to help Gang Tae too.

Wow! Get ready! This drama is something else! It hooked me right from the start, and then I was glued to my seat all the way through. This is one of those special shows that captures your heart and takes you on an emotional journey that leaves you changed when you are through. Special indeed! The drama is like a dark, modern fairy tale. It has a magical quality to it in the way the story is told. The script was so incredibly well-written with every line of dialogue having meaning.
A lot of thought also went into the production with so much attention to detail in constructing the sets as well as how the scenes were shot. The OST also greatly enhanced this magical feel. All of these elements blended together beautifully to carry us away into this slightly disturbing yet very healing fairy tale.

Kim Soo Hyun and Seo Ye Ji delivered powerhouse performances, and any time they were on screen together was completely captivating in so many different ways. Their chemistry was palpable. They run very hot and cold with each other which resulted in some incredibly intense moments as well as some deeply emotional ones.
This relationship is a bit disturbing in the beginning as these two clash. Their actions towards each other aren’t always that great. These are two very broken people. But they are drawn to each other, and those walls slowly start coming down between them.
Our characters are all very different from each other and have their own issues to deal with, but they all ultimately need the same thing…love and acceptance. Loneliness can be crippling, and that is shown very clearly here. Seeing this unlikely group come together and heal was such a treat. The concept of what a family is was explored in such a touching way.

It’s Okay to Not Be Okay is one of those unique and special thought-provoking dramas that truly is a masterpiece. It tells a heart-wrenching yet beautiful story of growth and healing. The characters are flawed, but we come to understand them and root for their personal growth and happiness. They don’t have to be perfect to achieve that either. Love and acceptance can be found in imperfection. The message is clear and simple…It’s Okay to Not Be Okay.

Read More

this drama is just perfection...

I was hooked to this drama from episode 1, I loved the villain aspect and how the main character isn't perfect how has to kill people because he has no choice. This story is about a man you kills and punishes the worst of worst, those who even the police can't catch, those who are worse than the Mafia. Starring Song Joong Ki you will be able to see how versatile he is – from being the badass lawyer to the cutest foreigner to the coolest lawyer from Italy. Every part of his scene is way too hilarious. Not to mention that his visuals are totally overflowing in this drama! His Italian speaking skills seem to be very attractive, too!
Song Joong Ki may be one of the main characters of this series, but let’s not forget about the other main leads and supporting actors. All of the actors in Vincenzo are really performing well in every episode which makes the drama more interesting and more humorous! I can’t clearly remember but I am certain that I laughed countless times while I was watching this drama. I couldn’t even stop being amazed at every part of the scene. Moreover, I totally got hooked on this drama.
Apart from Song Joong Ki, you will definitely love watching some of the familiar actors in this series such as Taecyeon (Jang Joon-Woo), Jeong Yeo-Bin (Hong Cha-Young), Kwak Dong-Yeon (Chairman Jang Han-Seo), Yoo Jae-Myung (Hong Yu-Chan), and many more! Vincenzo has definitely got a lot of great actors portraying their characters so well.
Vincezo is not just your typical love story – a badass guy who falls in love with a good lady. It is more of an action, humorous, and exhilarating drama! Every part of the scene is overwhelming and captivating! One good thing about the drama is its love interest doesn’t seem to drag the story itself. The drama seems to be very natural and it becomes more entertaining as it moves on to the next episode. Obviously, there are a lot of unpredictable scenes in its storyline and there might be more surprising scenes that we must expect from this drama.


The ending of episode 19 made so happy that I waited for episode 20 because the way it left us was just cruel. I mean Hong Cha-Young getting shot?! And things didn't get better when the final episode began, everything just got from terrible to absolutely to sh*t!!! I just have to say how much I loved the character development of Jang Han-Seo , I just love his relationship with Vinzenco and how they are like actual brothers. I cried so much when Han-Seo stood up to his brother and he shot him. When he was saying how thankful he was to Vincenzo who was there for him like nobody in his life ever was, I was balling 😭😭😭 and when Vincenzo told him how he deserved to be his little brother, my heart shattered 😭. Now episode 20, so many things happened, so much action, so much death. I loved how Vincenzo finally put an end to Jun Woo and Choi Myung Hee!!! I hated them so much, but I guess that mean that the actors did an fantastic job pertaining these characters. Also the time jump, 1 year later. I knew that they had to show us a Vincenczo and Cha-Young scene and what we got was just...more than anything I could have hoped for. The KISS was just everything I was so happy 🥰🥰🥰Also Vincenzo's final monologue was just phenomenal 💯

Read More

This drama has taken first place as my all time favorite historical drama...

I've been waiting for this drama for quite a while since seeing the trailer and the promotions and WOW. I guess I have an eye for incredible dramas. This one easily takes place as one of the best dramas of the year. I was beyond amazed for 1hr the detail given about the story & characters portrayed by an unbelievable cast of top actors young or old. The details that were put toward the location, set design, graphics & outfits esp Mawang, and the aura A++they didn't skimp. I won't lie some spoilers, but only in a story setup details.
The storyline was so tragic from the beginning, how these two kids that just met and fell in love will have this destiny filled with heartbreak. It's basically star-crossed lovers but also fated lovers. I loved every minute of it.
The general plot is interesting with different elements of Korean folklore, fantasy, good vs evil, and of course, romance. However, the drama seems to have forgotten some of the side storylines that they introduced and never go back to tell us more. For example, how did ML become the richest man as an astrologer with no family support? It doesn't quite make sense. I would like to know how ML's bodyguard came to follow him, and what's the backstory of the gisaeng who wanted the king and the royal family dead. Although I like the happy ending for the leads, it does seem a little anti-climatic. Do we really need to end it with the palace power struggle and give us an open ending? Why waste the last few minutes on those bad guys still hunting down FL?
The biggest strengths of this drama is the cast and their great acting. It's no surprise that the veteran actors are great. Our young leads also did a very respectable job and I believe in their joy and heartaches. I am happy to see that she's grown up to be such a fine actress and I've enjoyed her acting here. I haven't seen any of her modern dramas though. I've seen Ahn Hyo Seop in "Abyss ". He has definitely grown as an actor as well, and this might be the best performance I've seen him. I also like his acting here, though he's not used well in the second half of the drama. However, I am especially impressed with our villain's second prince, Kwak Shi Yang. What a great performance by him that I feel bad for his suffering because of Ma Wang.
I absolutely loved the ending. I was happy that Cheon Gi and Ha Ram can finally just be together and be happy. Also, I loved the kinda cliffhanger where the two princes fight. Who knows maybe they are setting up for a spin off? One following Prince Yang Myung?

Read More

this is a story about pain and loneliness...

Just Between Lovers tells the stories of people who struggle but persevere in order to make something of their lives.  Ten years ago, a mall that collapsed due to bad construction killed many people and altered the lives of the survivors. A man (Junho) lost his father as well as severely injured his leg and a woman (Won Jin Ah) lost her little sister. As they work on a new building project, they struggle to heal old wounds as they fall in love.
Junho plays Lee Kang Doo. Kang Doo lost everything because of the mall collapse. His father, his dreams, and the chance at a normal life. Now he struggles to get by while living in debt. His situation is just bleak. He also deals with some severe Post Traumatic Stress from the accident. He’s a very rough around the edges and straight forward guy. But watching him deal with traumatic memories that brought him so much pain and so many tears ripped my heart out.
Won Jin Ah is Ha Moon Soo. After her little sister was killed in the accident, her family never fully recovered. And she deals with survivors guilt for living when her sister didn’t. The accident also led her down a career path building models for new buildings to identify any problems. This ultimately leads her to cross paths with Kang Doo.
Then we have Lee Ki Woo as Seo Joo Won. Joo Won’s life was also changed by the mall collapse. As an architect at the company Moon Soo works for, he’s always working to prevent a similar tragedy to the one in the past. On the outside, he seems to have everything, but underneath that he is a lonely man who also struggles with the past.

Just Between Lovers is a sad but beautiful story. The script was well thought out with all scenes and character interactions having importance. The cinematography is gorgeous in this drama. So many shots beautifully depict the landscape as well as the emotional weight of the character’s interactions. The wonderful soundtrack also enhances this. The songs create a hauntingly bittersweet tone that really tugged at my heartstrings.
Just Between Lovers is sort of a slow burn kind of drama. It takes a few episodes to really get everything set up and then it carefully makes it’s way through the story. Despite having a slower feel to it, it was paced really well. There were some times during the latter third that I found a bit draggy, but overall the drama is very engaging.

These are two people that are in immense pain, and they feel alone in their struggles. But connecting with each allows them to explore their shared connection and understand that they are not alone in their pain. They each have a lot of issues to work through both personally and as a couple, but their relationship is the definition of a healing one. Now almost everyone in this drama is experiencing varying levels of misery. Everyone has problems and most are struggling to get through them. Something I really appreciated with this drama was how it handled the topic of past trauma. It doesn’t sugar coat things. Many people expect victims of trauma to just get over it and move on. But this drama shows that these experiences have lifelong effects.
Losing a loved one will always leave a hole in your heart. Traumatic memories of pain and suffering can haunt you and cause you physical pain throughout your life. You also never fully understand someone else’s pain. And even when people do begin to heal, things will never be completely okay again. But for the characters in the drama, it meant that they needed to work even harder to be happy. It was all portrayed so achingly true to life.

Just Between Lovers told it’s story beautifully. It’s depiction of trauma and healing was heartachingly real. But even in the midst of tragedy, life does goes on. And those struggling need others to reach out to them and show them that they are not alone. They may not be able to heal all their wounds, but it’s better to have someone to share that pain with and to ease the burden if only by a small amount. Knowing you are not alone can make all the difference.

Read More

this was quite a ride...

W – Two Worlds is a fantasy romance about a man (Lee Jong Suk) and woman (Han Hyo Joo) living in different worlds.  Yeon Joo is a surgeon living in the real world, and her father is the author of the popular web-comic W. And Kang Chul is the main character of that comic. Things become complicated when Yeon Joo’s father decides to kill off Kang Chul and Yeon Joo gets pulled into the comic world and comes face to face with it’s hero.
W – Two Worlds was quite a ride! There’s a great fantasy story in place with a very capable cast. There are also a lot of twists and turns in W. Never get to comfortable because you just never know what’s going to happen in this crazy world.
Lee Jong Suk is a perfect fit for Kang Chul. First, he completely looks the part, and it was easy to see him transition from a comic character to real one. He really brings to life our comic hero who is cool, suave, rich, handsome, and kind. No wonder Oh Yeon Joo falls head over heals for him!
Han Hyo Joo plays Oh Yeon Joo. Her normal life is turned upside down when she is pulled inside her father’s comic. She then finds herself having to repeatedly save Kang Chul’s life while trying to figure out just what is going on with her father and the crazy scenario she has found herself in.
Through all of the craziness, Kang Chul and Yeon Joo realize how much they need each other. They become an unlikely couple who would do anything for each other. They go through a whole lot of difficulties, but these two had a nice chemistry and get to share some very lovely couple moments together.
The first few episodes of the drama were good, but a little dry. But things really get going around episode 4. The intensity really ramps up as Kang Chul and Yeon Joo keep finding themselves in one desperate situation after another.
There really are no “rules” in this drama, so just buckle up and get ready for one crazy event after another. There aren’t a lot of answers provided as to how everything works, so be prepared for that too. It’s also a long road to happiness for our couple.
I love the whole concept of a “character” having to learn he’s from a work of fiction. It’s unbelievable and devastating for the person involved. And Kang Chul is the one at the center of that identity crisis. The drama really explores all of the different aspects of Kang Chul’s character as well as how his constantly changing situation effects his thoughts and actions.
The drama has some really nice songs on the soundtrack, but I was disappointed that it didn’t seem to utilize them very well. They were mostly just relegated to the ending freeze frames rather than being used throughout each episode. I think the “feels” would have been a lot stronger if the songs were better utilized.

Overall, W – Two Worlds was one fun and crazy ride. With an action packed fantasy story, there was never a dull moment. And I really loved Lee Jong Suk and Han Hyo Joo both individually and as a couple. They brought these characters to life and made for one wild, romantic journey that I will certainly remember.

Read More

perfect romance drama...

It is love at first sight for pharmacist Ji Ho (Jung Hae In) with Jeong In (Han Ji Min) when she steps in his pharmacy for a hangover cure. The cliche here is that she is already in a relationship that has gone to the stage of marriage discussion and he is a single dad. The story revolves around how they overcome the hurdles around them and take the chance, to be honest with their love for each other.
Ji-ho and Jeong-in realize how difficult it would be to have a relationship with each other, so they intend to leave it be. However, tension builds between the two as Ji-ho cannot deny his feelings for Jeong-in and Jeong-in struggles to suppress her feelings for Ji-ho. There are many times where she calls him and wants to meet with him for no apparent reason. After some time, she decides to follow her heart. Both Ji-ho and Jeong-in have to make uncomfortable decisions, and the road for them is never easy as they prove to their parents and friends the sincerity of their feelings.
One Spring Night is not a typical K-drama, it is a thought-provoking series that will make you question and reflect on realities for what they are. If you like slow-burn stories that grow on you slowly but deeply, please watch this show, and you will be all set for an emotional ride.

More detailed review here: https://bookswithnatasa.home.blog/2021/07/10/should-watch-20-one-spring-night/

Read More

amazing drama but I really wanted a wedding at the end...

Tak Dong-kyung (Park Bo-young), an editor for a web novel company, lives a fairly ordinary life until she stumbles into an unexpected fate. All in a single day, she finds out she is dying from glioblastoma and has only three months to live, learns that her boyfriend is a father-to-be and has a wife, gets scolded by her superior at work, and is spied on by a pervert before the pervert falls into a sinkhole.

Drinking her problems away, she happens to see a shooting star from her rooftop apartment and drunkenly wishes for the world to be doomed. Her wish is heard by Myul Mang (Seo In-guk), a messenger between gods and humans. He was born between dark and light: when he breathes, countries disappear; when he walks, the season's collapse; when he smiles, life is extinguished. All he has to do is exist for something to fall into ruin. This is not his intention but simply his fate. On his birthday, he gets to choose a human’s wish to fulfill. Sick of his fate, he chooses to fulfill Dong-kyung’s wish to end the world.

Dong-kyung ends up signing a hundred-day contract with Myul Mang, risking her everything.

Seo In Guk as Myul Mang

There are a lot of actors we need back on our screens and Seo In Guk is one of them.

In “Doom at your Service” Seo In Guk played the role of the male lead and deity of destruction titled Myul Mang. Fun fact; Myul Mang literally means destruction or doom in Korean.

The drama wastes no time in letting us realize how much power Myul Mang has. In the drama's first scenes, we are shown just how powerful he is, with his favorite acts: manipulation, dream control, and our own personal – He being the reason for every destruction that happens and will ever occur.

This character made its way quickly to my most favorite Korean drama character.

Overall, this was my favorite drama of the year. I know that the majority of people didn’t like the second half of the drama but I loved all of it. The final episode could have given us a wedding or something more but still, that doesn’t change the fact that this drama was everything! I also loved some of the parallels with Goblin. Especially the scene where Muyl Mang disappears (I cried my eyes out).

More detailed review here: https://bookswithnatasa.home.blog/2021/08/20/should-watch-24-doom-at-your-service/

Read More

this drama is so binge able...

While You Were Sleeping (2017) is a pleasant and well-acted Korean drama, written by the same scriptwriter, Park Hye Ran, who wrote the masterpiece I Hear Your Voice, and both dramas starred the same attractive young male lead actor, Lee Jong Suk (Pinocchio, Secret Garden, W, Dr. Stranger). Both dramas had elements of fantasy about them — in one Lee Jong Suk’s character could read people’s thoughts when they looked into his eyes, and in the other, he could enter the dreams of his soon to be girlfriend, played by Bae Suzy (Dream High, Big) and learn about and protect her from negative events that could potentially harm her or cost her her life, or that of her friends and loved ones.

Speaking of Seung Ho Yoo, his performance as a lawyer/prosecutor was far more seriously contemplative in Remember (2016) than Lee Jong Suk’s here in While You Were Sleeping, and Seung Ho Yoo is several years younger than Lee Jong Suk, to boot! I really think the writer was between a rock and a hard place here considering the casting of Bae Suzy, who seems to be better at comedy than drama. Given the seriousness of several of the situations in this drama, it may have been a finer drama if they laid off the comedy to a large extent and focused more on melodrama, just like the superior Remember did. In that respect, even I Hear Your Voice achieved a far better blend of melodrama with comedy than While You Were Sleeping. The occasional comedy never overwhelmed the main serious theme of that drama.

Jung Jae Chan (Lee Jong Suk) is a young, new prosecutor who, despite being a bit cold on the surface, has a good heart and a good eye for bringing righteousness and justice to various legal cases, and he lives with his younger brother who is still in school, Jung Seung Won (Shin Jae Ha, Page Turner).
Jae Chan quickly and inexplicably takes a liking to his new, pretty, and perky neighbor Nam Hong Joo (Bae Suzy), an inexperienced, often unemployed reporter living with her mother Yoon Moon Sun (Hwang Young Hee) who runs a pork restaurant, and whose disturbing dreams serve as a reflection of future events to warn her about potential dangers to her life.

More detailed review here: https://bookswithnatasa.home.blog/2021/09/12/should-watch-26-while-you-were-sleeping/

Read More

Kim Bum is such a sweetheart...

Shinhwa Group is shown to be one of South Korea's largest conglomerates and is headed by the strictly arrogant Kang Hee-soo. Her son Gu Jun-pyo (Lee Min-ho) is the leader of F4, the most popular and powerful group of boys at the prestigious Shinhwa High School. Yoon Ji-hu (Kim Hyun-Joong), So Yi-jung (Kim Bum), and Song Woo-bin – Gu Jun-pyo's friends and rich heirs in their own right – are all members of the group. When F4 bullies a boy to the verge of suicide, the poor but vivacious Geum Jan-di (Ku Hye-sun) saves his life and receives a swimming scholarship to attend the High School. Geum Jan-di's family runs a dry cleaning business and she lives in a small home with her parents, Geum Il-bong and Na Gong-joo, and her younger brother Geum Kang-san.

Ku Hye-sun as Geum Jan-di, A dry cleaner's daughter, who is offered a scholarship to attend the prestigious Shinhwa High School. Her name translates as "lawn/grass". Headstrong, optimistic, stubborn, and kind-hearted, Jan-di readily stands up for her friends when they are being bullied. She gets on Jun-pyo's bad side when she stands up to him, but he soon professes his feelings for her.She also seems to initially like, fall in love with Ji hu.
Kim Hyun-joong as Yoon Ji-hoo, a member of the F4 and the grandson of a former president of Korea. He has a driving phobia after being involved in a car accident that killed his parents and left him the only survivor. He is initially in love with his childhood friend Seo-hyun, who helped him overcome his social anxiety. Calm and gentle, his musical talent catches Jan-di's attention and she begins to develop feelings for him.

Kim Bum as So Yi-jung (my fave), a member of the F4 and a skilled potter. His family owns the country's biggest art museum. After losing his first love to his brother, he becomes a womanizer. He eventually changes his playboy ways when he realizes that he likes Ga-eul, Jan-di's best friend.

Kim Joon as Song Woo-bin, a member of the F4, his family runs the country's largest construction company, which Woo-bin later admits has strong connections to organized crime. He also likes to mess around with girls since he was hurt by a previous woman in his life. However, he has excellent business sense and is very charismatic.

Kim So-eun as Chu Ga-eul, She is Jan-di's best friend who later develops romantic feelings towards So Yi-Jung.

There are a couple of side romances in this series as well. One of these is a gradual romance that is sweet. I enjoyed watching this romance unfold. The side romances add to the story and don’t detract from the main couples, which I enjoyed. But I also felt more invested to Ga-Eul and Yi-jung romance, they were perfect.

Another thing that made me question everything is the beginning of the relationship between Jan Di and Jun Pyo. She rejects him and he just tells the world they’re dating anyway – and so they end up dating. No, I will not get over it. Not only is it completely ridiculous and has no sense whatsoever but it is also once again showing how little the opinion of teenage girls in dramas matters. The guy makes a decision and the girl follows it because he said so. It might have been filmed in 2009 but it’s still the 21st century and women are now allowed to choose who they want to date.
Of course, feelings start appearing and growing further as Jun Pyo shows many times his efforts. In his own ‘unique’ way, he does feel love and it is shown more than once throughout the episodes. If you’re into characters overcoming their differences and worlds, I guess the efforts they both make are easy to appreciate, particularly when it comes to understanding each other and being a part of each other’s world.

The story is full of drama and suspense. While this can be a little overwhelming at times, I found myself wishing that they could just have a happy ending after all! I think this is because the characters are so likable.
Even Jun-Pyo, who is not my favorite character, had enough redeeming qualities that I couldn’t quite hate him. This might be because of the story, the actors, or a combination of both.

Read More

THE BEST LEGAL DRAMA EVER!

Legal dramas are a hit or miss, usually. It caters to a specific type of audience and definitely not everyone’s cup of tea. You would seldom hear someone say, “Let’s watch a legal drama for healing or to past time.” It requires your full attention, and it can’t be played in the background while you’re doing another task. That’s why when a legal drama receives so much attention and praise, you know it’s ~that~ good. And yes, long story short, Law School is worth checking out!
Yang Jong-Hoon (Kim Myung-Min) is a former prosecutor. He is now a professor at a prestigious law school. He is straightforward and tends to unleash biting remarks. Students don’t like him because of this, but Yang Jong-Hoon does not care what his students think of him. Yang Jong-Hoon is focused on cultivating personnel for the law field, members who will be able to contribute meaningfully. Professor Kim Eun-Sook (Lee Jung-Eun) is his only colleague that he can speak openly.
Kang Sol (Ryoo Hye-Young) and Han Joon-Hwi (Kim Beom) are first-year law school students. Kang Sol barely got into law school. She comes from poor family background. At school, she is surrounded by students who are smart and come from wealthy backgrounds. She feels insecure and even shameful due to her background. Kang Sol slowly learns about the true legal profession. Han Joon-Hwi is at the top among first-year law school students. He is an attractive young man with leadership qualities, but he has a secret.

I thought they would take the episodic route of taking case studies per week, but they did not. Instead, they focused on the main characters’ background stories, incorporate them into the main premise, and built a solid story from there. It’s also unexpected for me to ship a non-OTP this much that I am shaken.
Murders and corruption aside, the drama is actually a slice-of-life drama about the life of law students. Everyone in the freshmen squad is relatable in terms of how they handle their academics. Of course, Kang Sol A (Ryu Hye-young) leads them as the most kindred spirit in the study group. She struggles in both finances and academics – but she never gives up. She barely passes her exams, yet she pulls through with the help of her reliable friends. Aside from her good nature, Sol A is also a filial daughter and sister. She genuinely cares for her family without hesitation.

Anyway, as a character, Joon-hwi had so much depth, and Kim Bum portrayed him convincingly. He was an orphaned boy whose beloved uncle got killed by an unknown murderer. He was even one of the prime suspects but he managed to prove himself innocent while still attending his classes. Whew! Joon-hwi didn’t even have the time to grieve in silence because he was too busy balancing his academics and solving his uncle’s untimely death. I’d like to think that this was also why SolHwi never materialized because it’s just too much for a student to handle these overwhelming emotions all at once. Even though there was no legit confirmation of SolHwi, deep in my heart, I know that Prosecutor Han and Lawyer Kang was the endgame.

My favorite Yangcrates moment was when he was able to break Ye-seul’s wall by effectively questioning her in the witness stand – law school style. Ye-seul was deeply hurt and in a state of denial and shock. She couldn’t even identify the difference between love and abuse, but Prof. Yang was able to shake her and let her realize what she’s fighting for and whom she’s fighting against.

To be honest, the drama felt dragging halfway and the revelation of Lee Man-ho (Jo Jae-ryong) as the real killer with Assemblyman Ko Hyeong-su (Jung Won-joong) as the main bad guy were underwhelming. Or maybe because I expected this to be an over-the-top whodunit series when in fact, it’s just a simple story with complex characters. What do you think?

Read More

simple and fun... what else could you ask for?

Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo tells the story of athletes on a college campus trying to achieve their dreams and follows the weightlifting journey and first love experience of a young woman named Kim Bok Joo. Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo is very much a slice of life story on a college campus.  The drama has some nice humor with lots of heartwarming moments as it portrays the students working hard to succeed in their individual sports. It also really highlights both the good and bad that comes with being a top athlete.
Lee Sung Kyung was great as our Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo. Bok Joo is a bit frumpy and awkward. Her personality comes off a bit tough, but really she is super sweet and innocent. Lee Sung Kyung makes some truly wonderful and hilarious faces that really make this character enjoyable.
Nam Joo Hyuk was a lot of fun as Joon Hyung. He’s outgoing and confident with a sort of childishness to him. He was easily my favorite character in the drama. He’s such a genuinely nice guy that you can’t help but root for him in everything he does.

I really enjoyed the relationship between Joon Hyung and Bok Joo in the first couple episodes. But then it felt like it took a backseat to some of the other happenings in the drama especially as we go on Bok Joo’s one-sided journey of first love with Jae Yi. Finally, around the halfway point, things really improved in the relationship department. Joon Hyung becomes a real friend to Bok Joo which soon turns into romantic feelings. He becomes very protective of her and only wants to see her happy. He also loves her for who she is. I definitely perked up seeing his passion and caring for her. I would call the romance between Joon Hyung and Bok Joo cute. There is a lot of playfulness and fun that provides a lot of humor. I didn’t find it swoon-worthy in any way though.
It also didn’t really have that push and pull dynamic that I like. It takes a long while for them to move through the stages of annoyance, to friends, and to lovers.
And then things are pretty simple aside from some small misunderstandings. I just didn’t feel any high stakes between the two and their relationship. But they are still unbelievably adorable, and their strength comes from how natural they are together. They are about as cute as can be!


I do feel that the drama moved along pretty leisurely for my tastes. For me, this was mostly due to there not being a grander plot running in the background. It really does just focus on Bok Joo and her first experiences with love. And that’s not a bad thing, it just feels a bit too normal in many ways.
Most of the characters also feel pretty one dimensional. Although characters reacted emotionally to difficult situations, the conflicts felts very surface level. Even the characters that had serious issues to deal with, such as Shi Ho, felt like that was all there was to them. For the most part, everyone just had their role to play.

I did enjoy the sports theme of the drama. I’m not big into sports, but I really enjoy the Olympic sports like swimming and gymnastics. So this fit that perfectly. I think the drama captured the atmosphere of being at a sports university well, but I would have loved to have seen more actual competitions for the students. Since the drama focuses more on their personal lives, I didn’t feel to invested in their actual competitions. But overall I was happy to see sports incorporated into a drama.

Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo is a fun and inspirational drama on many levels. While I did find it a bit slow overall and would have liked to have seen a bit more story, it still had plenty going for it. Joon Hyung and Bok Joo are super adorable together and are the best thing about the drama. If you like cute couples, slice of life stories, and dramas without a lot of angst, Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo is a perfect fit.

Read More