Love Rain – Korean Drama Review

 Love Rain
사랑비
Sarangbi

One… Two… Three…In just three seconds I fell in love.

Characters: ♥♪♥ / ♥♪♥♪♥

I give two separate ratings for characters, because we have the 70′s group and the present day group. The 70′s group irritated me a lot. In Ha was too cowardly to make a move for the girl. The girl was too much of a wallflower to speak up and say she liked him. The only one brave enough and smart enough about relationships was, ironically, the goofy guy who didn’t end up with anyone! Not even a wife he didn’t love! The main characters were adorable when they shyly ran into each other and made awkward advances. They were very cute, and I liked them together until they made excuses involving everyone around them and stopped trying to be together. I was really rooting for In Ha at the begining, too. How could you not? He’s so very endearing and awkward, and you want him to be with her, but he has plenty of opportunity to speak up, and he doesn’t until it’s pretty much too late. Huff.

And he only got worse as he aged.

I don’t understand why everyone in this drama (is it a Korean thing?) seemed to imagine it was selfless to marry someone you don’t love to spare the feelings of someone else, and then live through a half-hearted marriage with your spouse. That’s not being thoughtful of others. That’s just excusing your own cowardice, and for that I can understand Hye Jung’s bitterness. She wasn’t right in all she did… but not all wrong, either.

The present-day characters, however, were superb. The youngsters, I mean. (Played by the same Jang Guen Suk and Yoona as the couple in the 70′s.) Yoona as Ha Na is so bubbly, and lively, and as someone later says, a warm person. Very likeable, and fun to watch.

Seo Joon starts out a little rough around the edges, but it’s not long before I was totally head-over-heels for his character. (And so was Ha Na.) Fantastic chemistry between the two! The best I’ve seen, actually! Possibly second to the Creating Destiny couple. ^.^

I love, too, how the doctor friend felt like a representation of the audience. He saw everything that was going on, and felt for his friends, but was like, “What am I supposed to do? What are they supposed to do!?” And he was ten thousand times more likable than his Dong Wook character. In fact, I’d pick him any day. No question. Okay, if Seo Joon was in the picture, a little question. : P

Hilarity: ♥♪♥

The laughs mostly happened between Episodes 5-10, which were my favourites by far, between Seo Joon and Ha Na; when they first meet, as they’re bantering, starting to fall for each other, and shyly coming to terms with it all. Through those episodes, I laughed and giggled a lot. I kind of wish it was just about them, and none of the depressing first love business got in the way. But I suppose that’s why it’s a 20+ hour drama, and not a five hour Korean romcom. (Do those exist? If not, they definitely should.)

Tear Drama: ♥♪♥♪♥

It’s the little things that get me in this one. Or rather, the big things that materialize in the little scenes. A painting revealed, a passing glance, a phrase with hidden meaning. The music just makes it all worse. The main theme starts and I cry. I cried a lot. Especially through episodes 12-17. Yes, that’s a big stretch of crying.

Sleep Deprivation: ♥♪♥♪♥

I watched chunks and chunks together because I had to get through it. This thing just… it messes with your feelings, man. Like… TOO MUCH FEEL!! A lot. After a while, it gets a bit too depressing with the continual: They’ll be together… they won’t… they will… they won’t… going on. Be prepared for a lot of that through the end.

Eye Candy: ♥♪♥♪♥

Actors aside, let’s talk colour. This drama was gorgeous. The lighting and colours used for every scene were so superb that I forgot to judge the actors’ hotness for once! I don’t know much about cinematography, but whoever was in charge of it on this production, give them a raise! And give them more dramas to make beautiful! Every scene was a visual treat. The 70′s bits had a pretty, soft, yellow aura, and though the modern scenes more crisp, they still had a lovely, vibrancy.

Now we can talk faces.

YoonHee/HaNa played by Yoona was very pretty! I can actually see why all the guys were in love with her. I didn’t care much for her 70′s character, but that had more to do with her minimal lines and wallflower attitude.

And Jang Guen Suk… he just has that something about him that’s lovable. Even when he’s playing the jerk. Which he does superbly.

Ending: ♥♪♥

IN WHICH THERE ARE SPOILERS!!

I can’t figure out why I’m not jumping up and down over the ending. I finally got a wedding! I mean, an actual proposal and a wedding dress, anyway. I think after so much back and forth of sadness, I was ready for a good stretch of only happy times, with smooches, and walks in the park, and babies, and I was simply underwhelmed. I really have no serious complaints! It just didn’t wow me. I felt like after all the tears they wrung from me in the later episodes, they should have made up for it in disgustingly happy fluff. They didn’t. That’s all! I mean, it’s a solid, happy ending! I just wanted more.

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.

Stars Falling From the Sky – Korean Drama Review

This is really late. I finished this drama some time ago, but… well, you don’t want to hear about work troubles. Just read on for the review! One for Secret Garden should be soon to follow!

Hangul: 별을 따다 줘
English: Stars Falling From the Sky or Wish Upon a Star or Pick the Stars
Romanized: Byeoreul Ttada Jwo

Just a little personal note: I think Pick the Stars makes the most sense as a title. I’ve seen Stars Falling…, used the most, but I think it makes the least sense. Although none of them make any sense until the last few episodes, so confusion abounds.

Synopsis: Jin Pal Gang lives a selfish, careless life, spending all her money (and her friend’s) on new clothes and hairstyles as she shamelessly chases the cold-hearted lawyer at her insurance company. She’s forced to change her whole lifestyle when given the sudden responsibility of feeding and caring for her five younger siblings.

My Rating: PG-13 for language, “hostess”ing, and naked children.

English Comparison: Sense and Sensibility and a bit of Anastasia

That may seem like a far stretch, but think about it. Pal Kang’s empty-headed romanticized fantasy dream-land is very Marianne Dashwood, and the grandfather’s quest to find the missing bloodline is rather like Anastasia. (The Don Bluth animation, not the real life story.)

Characters: ♦♦♦♦♦

At first, Pal Gang seems beyond hope. She’s so ridiculous that I didn’t think I’d make it past the second episode. But the drama is really about her changing and growing as a person, and getting past her obnoxious behavior is so worth what follows. Her siblings (each named after the colors of the rainbow) are cute as can be, and I love how they all pick sides regarding which of the guys she should marry. ^_^

Speaking of the guys, their personalities are reminiscent of the You’re Beautiful boys.

Kang Ha is the severe and serious Tae Kyung of the lot. He’s particular about everything; from his food, to his clothes, and even what times his sheets can be cleaned. As a lawyer, he doesn’t let emotions interfere with his job.

His younger brother, Joon Ha is like Shin Woo in his quieter, warmhearted nature. He’s helpful, supportive, and caring; everything his older brother seems not to be. He also coos at babies and is impossibly tall and handsome, so I pick him as my “Stars” husband, thanks very much!

Tae Gyu is Kang Ha’s and Joon Ha’s crazy nephew. In fact, that’s what they call him–Crazy. He has a drinking problem, throws messy parties at his uncle’s house, and is a lot like Pal Gang to begin with. He’s like Jeremy, but off the charts insane.

As for the snooty Jung family, when they’re not giving me the creeps, they’re boring me to tears. I’ll be interested in watching it a second time and seeing how much more I enjoy it with the powers of the speed button.

Hilarity Per Episode: ♦♦♦♦

Little kids are funny. Five kids in one house are hilarious. Hiding five kids in the same house, right under the nose of the most particular man in Korea… words escape me for that situation. It’s something you have to see. Also, Tae Gyu had me laughing to tears on several occasions. Something is wrong with that boy.

Tear Drama: ♦♦♦♦

Hungry little ones are sad. Five orphaned, starving little ones are pathetic. Five orphaned, starving little ones who burn themselves, tie their feet together, suffer cuts, and freeze out in the cold rather than let their siblings get kicked out of the house which holds their last hopes of survival are heart breaking.

Soundtrack: ♦♦

I barely remember the music for this. Just the opening theme, which is a lot of fun, but doesn’t fit the majority of the episodes. You can’t go from a tearful, sickly baby in imminent peril to this song without having a bit of a shock.

Sleep Deprivation: ♦♦♦

The episodes were engaging, and the plot moved pretty quickly, but the Jang family killed a lot of interest for me. Anytime Jae…Wuts Her Face was part of the plot, I stopped caring.

Eye Candy: ♦♦♦

The lawyer guy really has to grow on you. He’s so ugly at first, as is Pal Gang’s personality. Over time they both change though, and then they’re both lovely. Joon Ha is always good eye-candy, however. And he’s so. tall. Jae’s Dad, on the other hand, he’s so ugly I cringe whenever he hogs a scene. Can’t stand it.

Ending: ♦♦♦♦

It went through the usual girl-makes-silly-excuses that kept them apart routine. But they weren’t apart apart, and it ended with almost as much happiness as I could hope for, and it wasn’t a short ending! I’ve heard several complaints about the gappy, rushed up ending, but I say fiddlesticks! It was happy and yes, cheesy, and dramatic, and cutesy, and that’s all I care about. ^-^

Overall, it surprisingly became one of my favourites, and I plan on watching it again and again!

Today I Cried a Lot

I wrote this yesterday and just didn’t have the heart to publish it.

You know that amazing Panera manager I reference a lot? The one who got me hooked on Korean dramas, and took me to see Brave, introduced me to the wonders of the Asian market, obsesses over Disneyland, and threatens to kill people who don’t do a good job at work? Her name is Lauren.

Well, today was Lauren’s last shift at our location. Only, no one knew it was her last until she was leaving for the day. Forever.

The relocation is a great opportunity for her. I’m happy for that. I am. My brain is telling me I’m being overly emotional and it’s not like she’s died or fallen off the face of the earth, and I will see her again because she promised to visit. But I feel devastated. I feel like I lost a best friend. I feel like work is going to suck from now on, and/or I’ll start crying randomly throughout my shifts when I think of her.

At first, I was sad. We were told we’d see her tomorrow for a few hours when she opened, but our boss got the schedule mixed up and it turns out she doesn’t work tomorrow, so today was really and truly her last one with us. The full measure of things only sank in hours later when I was leaving work and Mum asked how my day was. I  just started crying and couldn’t stop to get the words out for a while. I cried all the way home. I cried again when I got home. I had a shower and stopped crying for a little bit. Then I called my best friend about it and cried more.

Since I’m too mentally, emotionally, and physically depleted to run to the store for a tub of ice cream to devour, I’m listening to my “break-up” song list that I kind of made up just now. Since I don’t have a break-up experience to use these songs for, I’m using them to wallow in self-pity over my friend’s relocation.

Lauren & I. -Lauren loves Celtic Thunder, and Keith Harkin who sings about her. This plays whenever she calls me, so it’s hurting my heart to listen. But I keep doing it. *sobs* And I stiiiiiiiill can’t see yoooou! Lauren and I!

What Should I Do -Because we like love Koreans together, and this song sums up a lot of my feelings right now. Do you think I’ll be okay without you? Are you okay without me? The world without you is so hard that I blame myself for still breathing. Yes. I’m being VERY dramatic and emotional right now. I HAVE A RIGHT TO BE!!

Think of Me – Why, yes. There is a Phantom song for every occasion.

Once There Was the Sun – Oh, the tears.

And last, but certainly not least… Keith Harkin again.

Don’t worry. I’m coping, now.

“Love It!” size of chocolate ice cream with brownies, marshmallows, and chocolate chips mixed in, stuffed into a chocolate dipped waffle bowl. Like I said, I’m coping.

Panera Dream. What?

I must be still dealing with manager shift anxieties.

-x-

Some unshaven guy with a sloppy old t-shirt and a gross pony tail came to the back door of Panera (the alarmed, no-entry one) and asked if he could come in and use our panini press for his homemade sandwiches he kept in a plastic bag. I said I couldn’t let him in that way, and I didn’t feel comfortable putting elements on my press that I wasn’t fully aware of their content in case of food allergens that might transfer to the customers. He started threatening to throw out all the bread he found in the dumpster. I was like, “Well, sir, it was in the dumpster because we already threw it out, so what you do with it is your business.” Then he got mad and tried to shoulder his way in, but I said, “Hang on. Let me run this by one of my superiors; I’ll see what we can do for you.” And I closed the door on him yelling about my supposed rudeness. I went to Lauren and explained the situation, and she said, “Are you serious? Let me deal with this guy.” So she went and told him basically the same thing I did, but with a little more force. He refused to budge, but we locked him out.

A little while later, I went through the dining room and this girl in a pink mini skirt, stockings, and a sparkly headband (very ShinWa High) called me over to her table and knocked over her soda in front of me, then said I shouldn’t be so clumsy and to clean it up. I said, “I’m sorry, Miss. Is there a problem?” She said yes, she couldn’t believe how judgmental and uncaring I was not to let that man in, when all he wanted was a hot sandwich. I said, “What are you? That guy’s fan?” She was like, “Actually, I am.” When I tried to placate her, she stood up and slapped me in the face. HARD. Then when I tried to block the next blow, she grabbed my hair and slapped me again. Apparently that was enough to satisfy her and she sat back down with her arms crossed.

On my way back to the registers (and my face was bright red and my cheek was bruised and my bottom lip swollen) I ran into Mike who scolded me for not saying yes to a customer and then fighting with another one. He said: it’s Panera policy to break any rule for a customer, and I wasn’t following that train of thought, and HE let the guy in to make his hot sandwiches on our press. “Now. Having heard all that, do you think you might have acted differently in the past hour?”

I was so close to stamping my foot, but I settled for a definite, “No.” I explained that I felt allowing that man in was a possible threat to our other customers’ safety, I didn’t know if he was clean enough to be using our equipment, and I would do the exact same thing if it happened again. Mike kind of sighed, but didn’t say anything else, so I left, cradling my cheek and about ready to punch someone.

Lauren met me halfway to the hand washing station in the BOH and said, “Whoa. What happened to your face?” When I told her, she got super mad and was like, “That’s it. I’m gonna kick that girl’s ass. I don’t care what Mike says. That’s not okay.” So she totally went Korean drama and dragged me along to confront the crazy girl. She said she had better leave before she ended up getting beat to death with a sparkly flower (Lauren really has a heavy sparkly flower on her keychain she threatens people with) and she’d ship her body to North Korea, because it just wasn’t possible that someone like her was South Korean.  She ran away, fast.

Unfortunately, we still couldn’t get rid of Panini guy, who was in the back, now using OUR ingredients to create his own sandwiches and grill them. So I went to glare at him for good measure, and he’d taken off his “disguise” and turned out he was Russell Crowe, and the crazy schoolgirl was his rabid fan. So I just said, “I wouldn’t have treated you any different if I had known, except I would have demanded an autograph before I sent you away. I hate that you’re here right now, defiling my work station and getting in our employees way during lunch hour.” He chuckled and continued adding basil to his made-up Panini.

I’m super disappointed in Russell Crowe right now. I mean, really? Go buy yourself a huge kitchen with a personal Panini press. It’s not like you can’t afford it. So rude.