Secret Garden – Korean Drama Review

Hangul: 시크릿 가든
English: Secret Garden
Romanized: Sikeurit Gadeun

Synopsis: Rich, snotty department store owner meets impoverished stunt girl, and against his will and reason, falls for her. Oh, and then they switch bodies.

My Rating: As with most (all?) dramas, PG-13. With body switches of differing genders, there’s bound to be some awkward–yet hilarious–things going on. Also, there’s a gay guy thrown in there. Not sure what purpose he served, but it was queer odd, to say the least.

American/English Counterpart: Pride and Prejudice meets Freaky Friday. Served with kimchi.

Characters: ♣♣♣♣♣

The characters all felt very familiar to me, and in that way, also likeable. Joo Won is a total Mr. Darcy: rich, entitled, always right, and always rubbing it in. Loves to bicker with Gil Ra Im, and even after falling for her, insists that being with her is completely against his character and principles.

Gil Ra Im is a very interesting lead. She’s no-nonsense with her job at the stunt school, but still very girly and cute at times. Although likable, she didn’t impress me as a great character until quite nearly the end.

Yoon Sang Hyun as “Korean wave star,” Oska, is our main funny guy. Being that he’s a celebrity, we get plenty of fan interactions between him an Ra Im, much to the dismay of Joo Won, who happens to be his cousin.

Yoon Suel is probably my favourite of all secondary female characters. She’s quite vindictive towards Oska, but she has good reason to be, and surprisingly turns out to be the voice of reason for Ra Im. She has some killer quotes, too.

Not to forget the guys at the action school! Lee Philip plays Gil Ra Im’s stunt director Im Jong Soo, who harbors quite the crush for his student. It’s both charming and sad to see how his ill-fated love plays out. I can never be sure whether to find him annoying or pitiful. The rest of the guys at the school are fantastic!

And of course, no Korean rom-com would be complete without an evil ahjumma. This one comes in the form of Joo Won’s mother, who although desperate for her son to get hitched, has very specific ideas of who he should not marry. Enter relationship road bumps.

Hilarity Per Episode: ♣♣♣♣

This is kind of hard to judge, since the mood can swing instantly from episode to episode. It’ll go from side-splitting antics to a sob-fest so fast it makes your head spin. It takes a bit to get into the funny parts–not until the end of episode 5 do they switch bodies, and that threw me a bit–but once it gets funny, it is FUNNY. Like, laugh to tears funny.

This isn’t what it looks like! Okay, maybe it is. Question: What does this look like? =P

Tear Drama: ♣♣♣♣

If memory serves, I didn’t shed a tear until the 17th episode, and from then on, until probably the last one, I was crying a lot. I was really angry at Ra Im for about twenty minutes, and then there’s another big twist, and I’m like, “Serves you right,” and then I’m bawling again because Joo Won is doing wonderful things to make me that way. That’s the funny thing about this drama. It starts out like a regular romantic comedy with enough drama between the leads to make you believe that’s it. Then, there’s the fantasy element that sort of comes out of nowhere, and makes it feel like you’re watching two different dramas with the same actors. By the end, I think it settles into a good pattern, but by then you have all the huge, emotional things thrown at you, and it can be a bit overwhelming.

Soundtrack: ♣♣♣♣

“It’s not legal for a man to sing like that.” -My Mother on Hyun Bin singing “That Man.” I have to agree. But Hyun Bin is and does a lot of things to make the rest of mankind despair. I love it when a lead actor/actress sings the theme for the drama. It gives it so much more meaning. Baek Ji Young sings “That Woman” which is the version more often repeated in the drama, and it’s beautiful… but I have a special place in my heart for Hyun Bin’s rendition.

Other songs that enhance the drama’s drama are: Here I Am, Appear, and Reason.

Sleep Deprivation: ♣♣♣

It doesn’t get high marks in this department, because it started off so questionably. Not that it wasn’t interesting… but considering I went into it prepared for immediate body swaps and instant over-the-top funny, I felt it took too long to get into that. If I hadn’t read the synopsis, and just watched it for the romance, I probably would have been more excited. However, stick with it. The journey is well worth it.

Eye Candy: ♣♣♣

I feel like such a fool. I went through this entire drama, not realising Hyun Bin is also the lead in My Lovely Sam Soon. I raved about his gorgeousness in that, but thought Joo Won was just so-so until halfway through the drama, when his personality sort of enhanced his attractive quality. So weird. Well, he breaks that ridiculous stereotype that all Asians look the same, because I didn’t believe my sister when she told me it was him. But it is, and yeah, he’s beautiful. Maybe not in that special sparkly tracksuit… Hehe. But it’s the chemistry that really gets you in this, and eye candy is secondary.

Ending: ♣♣♣♣♣

Best. Ending. Ever. Second only to Creating Destiny. I love it. Love it, love it, love it. Loooooooooooooooove.

Panera Noodle

[On my lunch break at Panera.]
Asian Man: *stands right over me* I need to make a complaint.
Me: *slurping noodles*  o.o
Asian Man: Why are you eating noodle when you are here?
Me: They’re so delicious!
Asian Man: *laughing* You should not be eating noodle here. Iiii should be eating noodle! You’re not Asian, right?
Me: You could tell by the way I’m using these chopsticks, huh?

Best customer experience I’ve had at Panera… probably ever.

A Lesson on Marriageability

Last night I dreamed I was engaged. Then he broke it off because I made a negative comment about his driving. I believe my exact words were, “Wasn’t that a stop sign?” Of course, I was clutching the seat and my eyes were bulging as I killed our love with those words, but still. The message is clear. If you want to keep your man, do not remark on his driving in anything less than a sincerely complimentary tone.

That was a lesson for you ladies.

Now, for the gentlemen. I will use an example from work.

Male Employee #1: Sees me carrying a busing bin to the kitchen with something like double my own weight in ceramic dishes, trays, and silver wear. Watches as I precariously try to balance half of the bin’s weight on the counter in order to push aside lids and plastic things to fit said bin on said counter, praying every moment that I don’t pull a muscle in my neck or back. With me still huffing and panting from the backbreaking work I accomplished, Male Employee #1 stares at the loads of dirty eating implements and merely says, “Wow. That’s a lot of dishes.”

Male Employee #2: Sees me carrying a busing bin to the kitchen with a few large bowls in it. Says, “Oh, princess!” and rushes forward before I make it across the BOH line, taking the bin from my hands and placing it on the counter for me. Then proceeds to thank me for bringing the dishes back to him and declares that I am the best.

Note to men seeking girlfriends, wives, or desirous to keep female relatives in good humour. Don’t be a Man Fail. Be a Male Employee #2.

Why My Sister is Awesome

This is the conversation I had in the car with my recently-turned-twelve-year-old-sister.

She: I took a picture of a hot guy for you today.
Me: What? When? You were home while I was at work and I’ve been with you the rest of the time. Did you actually stalk a hot guy for me?
She: Pretty much. The pictures are on mom’s camera.
Me: That is amazing! I’m so proud of you!

Today mum reminded me to look at them and this is what I beheld on her camera…

Why I’m Secretly British

1. On average I drink about three cups of tea every day. On a good day, it’s closer to six.

2. Throughout my day I will randomly start speaking in a British accent. I believe this is proof that I was switched at birth and some undeserving American child has been living MY British life in the UK. Rudeness beyond comprehension.

3. My two favourite shows are currently Downton Abbey and Horrible Histories. I also considered buying the Horrible Histories DVDs even though they don’t work on US players. Although… I suppose I could just pop on overseas every time I fancied a watch!

Since I know you’ll be wondering what Horrible Histories is, basically it’s the best thing ever. It airs on CBBC (Children’s British Broadcasting Corporation) and uses songs and skits to teach kids about history. Um, historical skits and musicals? Yes. Please.

These are a few some of my favourites, although every one is fantastic and you really should spend a whole day just watching them all.

Awful Egyptians: Hieroglyphics with Mat
-Why I find this so attractive, I don’t know. But I think the dancing helps.
Vile Victorians: The Incredible Victorian Child
-”I’M SHOUTY MAN!!”
Ruthless Rulers: Kings and Queens Song
-Why yes, I AM trying to memorize this!!! I am super duper excited to have found this sing-along version!
Incredible Incas: Want to Harm a Llama?
-I dare you to sing this at school/work/right now.

4. Speaking of “favourites” I look at “center” “honor” “realize” and “traveled” and all I see are misspelled words. “Centre” “honor” “realise” and “travelled” are correct.

5. I know more about Queen Victoria than the current presidential candidates. I also like her much, much better than any of them.

6. When I drop things or hurt myself at work, the first words out of my mouth are either “blimey!” or “bloody…” I call things “barmy” “daft” and “beastly.” I’ve read that ‘Americans should avoid saying “bloody” as they sound silly.’ But it sounds all right when said in a proper accent.

7. I want a man like this to be my husband. How else can I expect my children to be brought up hearing fairy tales the way they were meant to be read?

I can’t stop grinning from ear to ear when I watch this. Especially when he does the voices.

8. It is cause for grave concern when the weather is too sunny. Mostly I’m worried because I can’t wear my coat, fingerless gloves, or cute scarves and hats. But also because I hate the heat. I would love for sunshine to be a beautiful rarity.

9. I cringe when I talk about “soccer” because a part of me is aware that I live in America and people here will be confused if I say “football/futbahl” which is my first instinct.

10. Even if I’m just asking the till associate a question, I’ll “queue up” rather than cut in line.

Now that you know why I must be British (and marry an Englishman) I have a bit of an announcement to make.

This is my 200th post!

Cor blimey!!

In celebration, I would like to… umm… well, really I just want to go to bed. I shouldn’t be up so late when I work on the morrow. But I will not leave you comfortless! Here’s a comical video with two British guys storming Walmart!

(Alex is the same one who brought us Snarky Brit Reading Twilight, so we love him for that already.)

“It’s Coke all the things!”