King of Dramas- Mini Review

Name: King of Dramas
Year: 2013
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Studio: SBS
Episodes: 18 at 1 hour each
Starring:
Kim Myung Min as Anthony Kim
Jung Ryeo Won as Lee Go Eun
Choi Si Won as Kang Hyun Min
Oh Ji Eun as Sung Min Ah

Minimal Spoilers Ahead

They have been written in white, so in order to view, highlight the blank space between {}.

The acting was decent from all, Kim Myung Min was very convincing as the seemingly heartless man, only out to get greater ratings, but Si Won was really funny, and in a lot of ways he stole the show. I don't have a Si Won bias or anything but I think he was really good playing this strange character.
As I'm at the end I can think of two things that I did not like:
1. The first half of the show, basically the same plot. In each episode a new roadblock prevented them from making/airing the show. It became a bit ridiculous after the fourth week. Fortunately that ended and they got down to business of actually filming the show in episode 10. 
2. I was totally engrossed, until episode 16 when Anthony Kim got the{ eye disease news}. I felt like it was really unnecessary to give him another stumbling block and make us feel the angst. It felt as though it was only included because the show was extended from 16 to 18 episodes. I wish they would stop waiting so late into the production to tell the staff, because the change in direction is always so noticeable. Episode 17 and 18 really were like filler from an anime, unnecessary and tedious. But all's well that ends well, I suppose.

The Things I Did Like:
1. The romance between Anthony Kim and the Go Eun was believable, and they had good chemistry, but not really very touching, since it sort of took a back seat in the show to the actual story. Although I love romance, it's nice that this show was really about making their show come to life through false-steps, hard work, and struggle.
*In those filler episodes they did delve deeper into the feelings they had for each other, but as I said, I wasn't really into those episodes.*
2. The fashion really fit each character. Anthony was almost always in a fur lined coat/suit jacket because even though he was down, he had a standard that he like to live up to.

Go Eun was always a bit disheveled and wearing bulky clothes, being a writer takes up too much time for fashion or layering on make-up.

Hyun Min, when he wasn't acting for the on-screen production, always had on sweats, tee-shirts and funny props because he spent his off time playing video games and lounging around his house.

Min Ah was perfectly coiffed and dressed in expensive clothes. In the later half of the show, she took over the plush fur look from Anthony.

3. The internal struggles that the characters faced. Each person had troubles that they had to face and hopefully come out better, and I think the writer did a good job making those struggles believable and interesting.
4. The fact that the secondary couple didn't come together to console each other after losing out on the main leads, and that their relationship was built up really well from the first time that they met. Also, they provided most of the comedic relief.

I enjoyed this show, and would recommend this to new Asian drama watchers, but especially viewers that have more shows under the belt, because this show was refreshing and for the most part a light and fun viewing experience.
I would give this drama 8 Hearts but I'm knocking it down to 7 for the last two episodes.


Some GIFs for the road:

c. audrezzzzzzzz.tumblr.com/

c. ohhmygoshh.tumblr.com

c. lary-asianlover.tumblr.com/

Dalja's Spring- A Mini Review

Title: Dal Ja's Spring
Year: 2007
Starring: Chae Rim and Lee Min Ki
Premise: A 33-year old working woman, never had the time or opportunity to find love, but all of a sudden finds herself with more options to choose from than ever before.
Why I Chose This Show: Honestly? I came for Min Ki, because his role in Shut Up! Flower Boy Band was way too short and since he hasn't been in many television shows, I picked this one because it seemed the most interesting. As I started to watch I saw some familiar faces. Chae Rim is actually the female lead from Oh! My Lady, also starring a younger guy (Choi Si Won) as her love interest, and the second male lead of that show is also the same in this one, Lee Hyun Woo as Uhm Ki Joong. I thought of it as a cute history and jumped right into the drama.

SPOILERS AHEAD!!!

I have to admit that it took me a little while to finish this drama, it was in no way boring but the episodes were long, 60+ minutes each and then other, newer, shows would catch my fancy and DS would take a back seat. However, even though that's true, I did enjoy this drama alot. I kinda felt like Dal Ja was my emotional doppelganger. She was very in-her-head about romance, always imagining romantic encounters and dramatic scenes. Luckily the fantasy skits were scattered throughout the entire show. There were quite a few things that I liked about this show and  few that I didn't.

Things That I Did Like:
1. I seriously applaud the fact that neither Dal Ja or the audience was confused about her feelings for Kang Tae Bong very long, and that once she knew, she was pretty up front with the spare, Uhm Ki Joong.
2.The second female lead, Hwi Soon Joo, played by Lee Hye Young, isn't just there to be evil to Dal Ja. The love triangle that starts the show between Soon Joo, Sae Doo and Dal Ja, doesn't last long and naturally flows into a comfortable friendship between them all. I think the only other shows I've seen something like this happen in is MARS (2004 Taiwanese drama starring Vic Zhou and Barbie Hsu) and Protect the Boss (2011 Korean drama starring Ji Sung and Choi Kang Hee).
3. This drama didn't do much of a roller- coaster ride. There weren't extreme highs or extreme lows, it was cute and fun to watch and a nice break from some of the emotional gut punches I've seen recently. Instead of trying to make 'drama' out of nothing, I think the writers just did a good job expanding the scope of the story by adding to the relationships of people around Dal Ja and Tae Bong.
4. Although there was some parental opposition (because she's older, and he is just a part time worker), where there were some arguments and tears, neither side went overboard. Like trying to pay Dal Ja off, or lying to keep them apart, or the most ridiculous: locking them away. Then in the same way, the solution that Tae Bong and Dal Ja come up with to win their parents' approval, was better and more creative than the over done kneeling and crying (although those scenes usually get me all weepy), it was refreshing to see.
5. The Affection between Dal Ja and Tae Bong was cute and they looked really good together.

cr. to gibbynka on tumblr

6. The drawings and episode titles was a cute touch to the show as well, and added to the feeling that this was a production made with thought and care.

Things That I Did Not Like:
1. The fact that Uhm Ki Joong and his weirdo ex-wife, were pointless for most of the show, except to leave Dal Ja out to dry with all the rumors. To the end of the show, people still think that she had an affair with him, when it was all made up by the ex-wife. There is just something so irresponsible about a man that will get you into a situation and only watch from the background as you try to navigate you're way out. Was he too embarrassed to just say one sentence to keep her from being suspended?
I could have lived without either of them in the show.
2. If you Wiki Lee Min Ki, you can see that this was not his first drama, but his expressions were at times a bit frozen. I think actors like that belong in emotionally intense productions because they say a lot without words, but for this it just looks as though his facial dictionary is limited. I think he could have done a much better job acting in this drama.
3. The fact that in the last episode it took Dal Ja and Tae Bong so long to meet up. It was a bit frustrating.


All-in-all I thought the drama was pretty good, but I also feel like if I look back on this drama in a year, I won't remember a lot about it. I think I'll only give this drama a 7 hearts rating.