It is six month since I succumbed to this drug called Korean drama, an uncharted water for someone who favoured French cinema and Johnnie To's cop series. Since I took the first dose, mainly to diagnose its popular appeal, I have watched, flipped through or sampled over 40 of them, a staggering number given its side effect that I have also since become fascinated by Korean New Wave cinema, a completely different territory. Before dipping into the eight 'new' ones lining up in my desktop, it is a great time to take stock of those that have kept me awake until the wee hours many a night.
1 My lovely Kim Sam-soon
Forty Korean dramas later, this is still my favourite. No competition, yet.
I told a friend earlier that if she had got time for only one Korean drama, then check out this one. A couple of weeks later, she remarked that it was indeed an alternative, and an excellent one at that. Not only that the heroine has a job she is passionate about (rather than one just to keep her occupied, say), she is plump ('fat') and plain (far from being immaculate, a prerequisite for Korean female leads). Atypical of Cinderella, it presents love as it is experienced; unpredictable, confusing, and made the more complicated by one's past or current relationships. There are also many scenes describing the physical desire between the couple, hilariously funny, they are a fresh air in its Korean genre. The drama concludes with an uplifting image of the couple kissing mid-way through their arguments on the steep stairs, following an voiceover from the heroine if they might break up. In order words, while it rejects a straightforward happy ever after finale, its heroine is charging ahead to peruse her share of happiness nevertheless.
An added bonus for woman audience is; every time when the arrogant hero slightly misbehaves, he gets punished one way or the other, sometimes at the hands of his manipulating and abusive mother! Infused with hilarious comic and poignant moments, it launches two of the best actors into much deserved stardom. One only wishes that they can continue to find materials that match their talents.
Well-written script and a great ensemble on both sides. Brilliant soundtrack.
2 Coffee Prince
Another less than immaculate female lead yet it is hard to see who can resist her acting and boyish charm. Besides, the way it deals with homosexuality is cliche-free, human and cool. The sparks between Yoon Eun Hye and Gong Yoo is simply unbeatable. If the portrait of the secondary couple takes up less screen time, it will be more engaging.
3 My girl
A funny and innocent con girl and an upright man who never lies (not even white lies?), surely their worlds cannot be further apart. Yet somehow, you just want the girl to inject some life to the man and 'steal' his heart from his star-sportswoman. Episode 12 and 23 are particularly addictive. When can Lee Da-hae be this effortlessly funny and immaculate again? A hardcore feminist might not like it though. A pity that the character of the secondary leads are so dull. Like Kim Sam-soon, it is a drama I can watch again and again without getting bored as long as I am holding a remote control to skip those sequences on the gambling father and the secondary leads.
4 Winter sonata (Doesn't the poignant finale resemble that of Jane Eyre?)
5 Beautiful days (Sacrifice, sacrifice and sacrifice. All in the name of love.)
6 Stairways to heaven (Kwon Sang-woo proves himself coolest of all. Hints: Do fast forward those scenes when the evil stepmother is present for you have watched them in many other places.)
The three classic tear jerkers all stars a leading lady CJW and lucky to her, playing opposite to three of the most charismatic Korean actors. While CJW's portraits are consistent and convincing in all three parts, it does feel as if she is playing the same role when, if like me, watching them one immediately after the other. I also lost my patience a little bit at the portrait of an 'ideal' woman whose happiness derives exclusively from putting the others before her own ambition and desire. Surely her life and ambition is just as deserving as the others'?
7 Full house
Rain might not be the handsomest or the best of actors, he is certainly one of the rare specimens that can ignite the screen with a mere hint of movement by his toned muscle. To say that he is sexy is an understatement. Despite the patchy script and repetitions in the last few episodes, it has got that trick to make you glue to the screen until the finale. A good case study when it comes to star power.
8 Brilliant legacy
The four leads might not the most glamourous, but together they make this drama work. Very educational for the growing new middle class in the region.
9 Sungkyunkwan scandal
Albeit a copycat of some popular Korean dramas, such as Coffee Prince (on homosexuality), Boys over Flowers (cross dressing to gain access to an exclusive boy/man territory), and that it is extremely loose with historical truth, this costume drama (a genre I incline to stay away for its twisted representations) is a gripping modern story in disguise, especially in its depiction of gender roles. It is unusual that the secondary 'gay' couple are also rather well written. The joke planted at the last minute on the poor bookish protagonist is a naughty surprise comic moment.
10 The first love of royal prince
Having watched Snow Queen first and hated every minute of it, it is a delightful and refreshing to find the arrogant 'Snow Queen' in the adorable girl-next-door role.
11 Coffee house
Like My Lovely Kim Sam-soon, the lead couple have to deal with the legacy of their respective past before they are ready to commit. Patchy at parts but sufficiently engaging to keep you stay tuned till the very end. Kang Ji-hwan is cute here.
12 Wedding
An underrated drama with unexpected depth in its interesting depiction of the bumpy road for the newly-wed to build trust and an meaningful relationship. Ryn Shi-won gives a very steady performance as an diplomat who knows nothing about a woman's heart.
13 Iris
Fresh in subject matters, the screen is brightened up whenever the reliable Lee Byung-hun shows up, smiles or grinding his teeth. I have seen him in many films and he is yet to fail to deliver, be it a soldier guarding the border (JSA), a rural teacher (The Harmonium in My Memory; Bumjee Jumping of Their Own), or a student activist during the political upheaval of the 1980s (Once in a summer). The only role I am not so convinced of is the 'weird' part in The Good, the Bad and the Weird, too much of a stereotype role for me.
14 East of Eden
The one who has the most fun must be Song Seung-hun who plays nearly all roles possible in one character; born underdog, reluctant desperado, over-achieving hero, mighty brother, long suffering son and lover in this 56 episode ambitious epic. The most interesting bit is its depiction of the drastic social and political evolution sweeping Korea society of thirty years, and how it parallels to recent Chinese history.
15 Women in the sun
A small lie to cover up a moment's lapse of sanity leads to a life of redemption and endless lies. How often is a Korean drama centred on a complicated character who is less than absolutely honourable and adorable? Thumbs up for Kim Ji-soo who dares to take up this challenge. Although this is a more complicated role, it is paralleled with her role in This Charming Girl.
16 Love and marriage
The leading man cannot act. But who cares when he has got such a handsome face?
17 Lie to me
Its script must have been scrabbled in a terrible hurry! What a waste on the chemistry between the lead couple Yoon Eun-hye and Kang Ji-hwan!
18 Secret garden
A flop. Can never understand the hype, even less on why Hyun Bin is in it. But then this is not the first time he strays to an implausible role since he proves his crafts in Kim Sam-soon at 23.
19 Snow queen
Another feeble script. Never warm to any of the characters. Hyun Bin's character feels too self-indulgent than sacrifice for the sake of his dead friend.
20 The world they live in
A great potential lost; it could have been an amazing in-depth portrait of lives on the other side of the camera.
21 Great great
An early one for a slim Kim Sun-ah. She is slim and unremarkable, and I have certainly expected something much more from her.
22 The fool
Is there such a fool in the world? The leading lady looks awkward at her role and is never convincing, not even in 200 Pounds Beauty.
23 My 19 year old sister-in-law
The opening scene is borrowed by a recent Taiwanese drama... that is what I can remember about it.
24 Wonderful life
Poorly executed on all accounts.
Some of those I have sampled but failed/didn't bother to finish:
1 Boys over flowers (The campus ruled by sheer evil is beyond my imagination and I struggle to suspend my disbelief. Though Lee Min-ho found his stardom from here, I fail to see why the hype on him or other members of F4).
2 You are beautiful (All seem to be geared up for a teenage audience. The pace too slow for my taste).
3 Pasta (Don't like the tyranny of the chef who thought he was the best)
4 Working mum
5 Slighshot
6 Sweet 18 (I have seen the leading couple in something better and that sums up my experience).
7 Prosecutor princess (It is stretching to see how come a highly intelligent and educated woman can be so downright stupid).
8 Goong S (A farce)
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