I want a new drug
So, while I have always been a fan of anime and live-action U.S. dramas for years, I've recently developed a new addiction - The Korean Drama. I entirely blame my trip to Gwangju last summer.
I'll highlight the handful of dramas I've watched (or am currently watching) thus far, so maybe I can bring one of y'all in on this addiction of mine, too. Or, maybe you'll genuinely be interested and watch one of said shows on a day in which you have nothing else to do... Either works for me.
You're Beautiful
The first Korean drama I watched in its entirety, the synopsis of You're Beautiful (YB) reads like a typical crazy shoujo manga -- An aspiring nun, Go Mi Nam is forced to join the popular pop idol group A.N.Jell when her twin brother leaves the country. To keep things on the down-low from the press (and the other band members), Go Mi Nam cross-dresses as her brother, naturally. Hilarity and romance ensue.
Its pretty run-of-the-mill stuff when you break it down like that, but what makes YB work so well is that it is a romantic comedy with heavy emphasis on the comedy. This is one show that isn't afraid to lampoon soap opera tropes, the pop music scene, and break the fourth wall on so many occasions. But, don't fret, for in-between all that craziness is a cute story with four incredibly likable lead characters. By the end of this 16 episode series, you just might believe A.N.Jell is a real pop band.
If Ouran High School Host Club and Skip Beat were to have a love child (with a little dash of NANA thrown in), You're Beautiful would probably be the result.
Couple or Trouble (Fantasy Couple)
Couple or Trouble (also known as Fantasy Couple) is, believe it or not, a remake of sorts of the old 1987 American film, Overboard, which starred Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell. As with the film, in Couple or Trouble, a spoiled rich heiress becomes an amnesiac one fateful night and ends up as the live-in lover of a blue-collar Average Joe. This drama series is also written by the same duo that worked on You're Beautiful.
This drama might not be everyone's cup of tea, as it is fairly slow moving for a majority of its run, but that is also the series' greatest strength, too. Over the course of the 16 episodes, you get to see the relationship between the memory-less heiress and the Jack-Of-All-Trades everyman blossom. They start off as bitter enemies who loathe each others' guts, but thanks to some handy dandy amnesia, they slowly fall for one another. And it is the cutest thing ever. Their relationship is not overly romantic nor presented as an epic love story for the ages, but it is one of the sweetest relationships I've seen.
However, the show's greatest moments probably come in the last three-to-four episodes (the climax). We know the girl is going to regain her memories of her past life, and we know it's going to involve a lot of emotion and tears for everyone involved, but it's done so poignantly it touches you and breaks your heart. I'm not afraid to admit I cried over this one; I really had become attached to the two main characters by the time the show reached its climax.
City Hall
Out of all the dramas in this post, City Hall probably contains the most adult presentation of a relationship between a man and a woman. I just finished it earlier today, but I can definitely say the greatest strength of this series is its two leads (played fantastically by Cha Seung Won and Kim Sun Ah). Essentially, this show is two stories in one: A lowly secretary's rise in political power in her small hometown , and the relationship between her and the enigmatic, suave, and charismatic new deputy mayor. Cha Seung Won (on the left in the photo) plays the deputy mayor. I'm going to admit it - the dude is ridiculously sexy. His portrayal of Joh Gook just oozes charisma; you can't help but be drawn to him. But, Joh Gook is by no means a perfect character. Oh no, in fact, he is the most damaged one in the entire show. But, this makes him infinitely interesting and entertaining to watch.
Not to be outdone, Kim Sun Ah plays Shin Mi Rae, the underdog whom you will come to love and root for from the bottom of your heart. She represents the people, and her idealism for change in a filthy and corrupt government will have you cheering her on. When her heart breaks, yours will too. When her heart soars, you'll be there with her.
City Hall is a show filled with ups-and-downs, highs and lows; it's not a disservice to call it a roller coaster. I screamed at my monitor whenever Mi Rae suffered and was humiliated, and I hooped and hollered whenever the "little guy" managed even the tiniest of victories over the evils of a corrupt government. But, it is the development of the two principal characters that carries this show for me. Their relationship and dynamic is what kept me coming back, even if it meant I had to endure watching a goodhearted character go through hell.
Smile, You
Like City Hall, it is the relationship between the two leads in Smile, You that carries the show.
Smile, You is the story of two families, as different as can be, whose lives are suddenly thrown together when the "riches" fall to "rags". The two households find themselves then living under one roof and the tension, banter, and head games roll from there. But, while the parents constantly fight, the youngest from each family find themselves inexplicably drawn to one another. It's your classic love/hate relationship.
This one is still airing in Korea (I'm on episode 20 of a proposed 46 episodes long series), so I still don't know how things are going to play out in the end, but I can definitely say that the two leads make this series. The parents are aggravating and bog things down with their fighting. Other plot points, such as the eldest daughter of the Richies and her relationship with a divorced doctor also don't add much, but luckily, is given less screen time as the show goes on.
Smile, You is a drama geared at (and about) the family. It has its heart in the right place, and there are little bits of wisdom to be learned, but, it is the endearing lead characters who make this show stand out among others.
And, that's about it. For now. If you are willing to get lost in the vast sea of Korean dramas, these are some good ones to get you going (3 of the 4 began airing last year, too). As I'm writing this, I'm already looking into other series, such as Assorted Gems (I'm up to episode 10 on that one), Pasta, Chuno, and one or two I can't remember the name of.
Aigoo.
I'll highlight the handful of dramas I've watched (or am currently watching) thus far, so maybe I can bring one of y'all in on this addiction of mine, too. Or, maybe you'll genuinely be interested and watch one of said shows on a day in which you have nothing else to do... Either works for me.
You're Beautiful
The first Korean drama I watched in its entirety, the synopsis of You're Beautiful (YB) reads like a typical crazy shoujo manga -- An aspiring nun, Go Mi Nam is forced to join the popular pop idol group A.N.Jell when her twin brother leaves the country. To keep things on the down-low from the press (and the other band members), Go Mi Nam cross-dresses as her brother, naturally. Hilarity and romance ensue.
Its pretty run-of-the-mill stuff when you break it down like that, but what makes YB work so well is that it is a romantic comedy with heavy emphasis on the comedy. This is one show that isn't afraid to lampoon soap opera tropes, the pop music scene, and break the fourth wall on so many occasions. But, don't fret, for in-between all that craziness is a cute story with four incredibly likable lead characters. By the end of this 16 episode series, you just might believe A.N.Jell is a real pop band.
If Ouran High School Host Club and Skip Beat were to have a love child (with a little dash of NANA thrown in), You're Beautiful would probably be the result.
Couple or Trouble (Fantasy Couple)
Couple or Trouble (also known as Fantasy Couple) is, believe it or not, a remake of sorts of the old 1987 American film, Overboard, which starred Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell. As with the film, in Couple or Trouble, a spoiled rich heiress becomes an amnesiac one fateful night and ends up as the live-in lover of a blue-collar Average Joe. This drama series is also written by the same duo that worked on You're Beautiful.
This drama might not be everyone's cup of tea, as it is fairly slow moving for a majority of its run, but that is also the series' greatest strength, too. Over the course of the 16 episodes, you get to see the relationship between the memory-less heiress and the Jack-Of-All-Trades everyman blossom. They start off as bitter enemies who loathe each others' guts, but thanks to some handy dandy amnesia, they slowly fall for one another. And it is the cutest thing ever. Their relationship is not overly romantic nor presented as an epic love story for the ages, but it is one of the sweetest relationships I've seen.
However, the show's greatest moments probably come in the last three-to-four episodes (the climax). We know the girl is going to regain her memories of her past life, and we know it's going to involve a lot of emotion and tears for everyone involved, but it's done so poignantly it touches you and breaks your heart. I'm not afraid to admit I cried over this one; I really had become attached to the two main characters by the time the show reached its climax.
City Hall
Out of all the dramas in this post, City Hall probably contains the most adult presentation of a relationship between a man and a woman. I just finished it earlier today, but I can definitely say the greatest strength of this series is its two leads (played fantastically by Cha Seung Won and Kim Sun Ah). Essentially, this show is two stories in one: A lowly secretary's rise in political power in her small hometown , and the relationship between her and the enigmatic, suave, and charismatic new deputy mayor. Cha Seung Won (on the left in the photo) plays the deputy mayor. I'm going to admit it - the dude is ridiculously sexy. His portrayal of Joh Gook just oozes charisma; you can't help but be drawn to him. But, Joh Gook is by no means a perfect character. Oh no, in fact, he is the most damaged one in the entire show. But, this makes him infinitely interesting and entertaining to watch.
Not to be outdone, Kim Sun Ah plays Shin Mi Rae, the underdog whom you will come to love and root for from the bottom of your heart. She represents the people, and her idealism for change in a filthy and corrupt government will have you cheering her on. When her heart breaks, yours will too. When her heart soars, you'll be there with her.
City Hall is a show filled with ups-and-downs, highs and lows; it's not a disservice to call it a roller coaster. I screamed at my monitor whenever Mi Rae suffered and was humiliated, and I hooped and hollered whenever the "little guy" managed even the tiniest of victories over the evils of a corrupt government. But, it is the development of the two principal characters that carries this show for me. Their relationship and dynamic is what kept me coming back, even if it meant I had to endure watching a goodhearted character go through hell.
Smile, You
Like City Hall, it is the relationship between the two leads in Smile, You that carries the show.
Smile, You is the story of two families, as different as can be, whose lives are suddenly thrown together when the "riches" fall to "rags". The two households find themselves then living under one roof and the tension, banter, and head games roll from there. But, while the parents constantly fight, the youngest from each family find themselves inexplicably drawn to one another. It's your classic love/hate relationship.
This one is still airing in Korea (I'm on episode 20 of a proposed 46 episodes long series), so I still don't know how things are going to play out in the end, but I can definitely say that the two leads make this series. The parents are aggravating and bog things down with their fighting. Other plot points, such as the eldest daughter of the Richies and her relationship with a divorced doctor also don't add much, but luckily, is given less screen time as the show goes on.
Smile, You is a drama geared at (and about) the family. It has its heart in the right place, and there are little bits of wisdom to be learned, but, it is the endearing lead characters who make this show stand out among others.
And, that's about it. For now. If you are willing to get lost in the vast sea of Korean dramas, these are some good ones to get you going (3 of the 4 began airing last year, too). As I'm writing this, I'm already looking into other series, such as Assorted Gems (I'm up to episode 10 on that one), Pasta, Chuno, and one or two I can't remember the name of.
Aigoo.