Drama Review: Working Mom Stay at Home Daddy

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This drama centers around 3 kids and their families. The story tells of the parents each trying to live and find happiness through the situations that plague them in  21st century South Korea.

Our main couple Lee JaeMin and his wife MiSeo work for the same company. When they find out she is expecting their second child, things go awry as they try to figure out how they will take care of him. With Miso having already taken maternity leave for their first child and being set back at work for it, they are at a loss. Things ensue when JaeMin finally decides he will take the maternity leave to take care of their son. There on, he and his wife have to deal with the backlash and consequences of that decision from their job, coworkers, and family.

So I decided to take a chance on this drama because we’ll I liked the title and it seemed like it was a story that was a long time coming. It’s not often I watch 100 episode dramas, but this one was addicting entertaining. I looked forward to it everyday and still miss it.  Although it was filled with a lot of drama it was not the annoying  kind that makes you want to pull your hair out. There is some thing about watching a family drama that make you feel all bubbly inside. Especially when it’s about young families with little kids. All the drama just seems so small and yet so important.  It was nice to watch something in this day and age that was not focused on a broken family and people with twisted values.

It’s always a treat watching men taking care of babies. Not only because it funny watching them not know what to do but it is also nice to see how they work things out in the end. The 3 fathers were great together. The chemistry, the bad jokes, the bromance. All of it was joy to watch. I can’t even decide who was my favorite. They all had their own particular charms that you just couldn’t help but fall for them. I’m am also glad to see Han JiSang back for his second on screen roll after playing the older bother in Rosey Lovers. Man this guy is what you call a total all rounder. I can’t wait to see what he does next.

Of course the women did a great job of bringing the drama. But there wouldn’t be a show with out them.  Each mother represent a different type of woman, the two income household wife, the breadwinner wife and the homemaker wife. They each had their own issues that I’m sure many people could relate to. Which is also probably why this show was such a good one.

I can’t finish talking about the women without mentioning the grandmas. I have to say that my favorite was JaeMin’s mother. That lady was a perfectly played plot device that you just couldn’t help but love. And the mother son dynamic between them was hilarious.

The children did a pretty good job with thier acting too. MinHo’s character played by Go SeungBo was so adorable. Not to mention Goo GunMin’s character Kim BangGeul, I would love to have a daughter daughter like her, so sweet and understanding. She was well played. And congratulations to GunMin for winning the 2016 best child actor award for this role. I think she definitely deserves it.

Frankly, I like the quirky main song. I cant wait to hear the full thing. The Drama had a lot of instances where they played a lot of American songs as background music in coffee shops etc. And the funny thing is that the music is always on point. That usually never happens. I was shocked every time and it gave me a good chuckle even when the scene was a serious one.

Here is what it Scored,

Plot – 9

Story -8

Character Development -9

Music -10

Acting –  9

Cinematography – 8

Over All – 9

Honestly, in his day and age where all you see is stories about affairs and infidelity being relished. A story about strong family values is like a breath of fresh air. Give it watch if you feel you need one. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll get angry, you go uuuuuuuhhh.  I guarantee you won’t leave disappointed.

Drama Review: Smile Donghae

So I punished my self for not sitting and writing out my reviews by not watching any new dramas. Them I found a side door and decided to watch old drams instead. And I stumbled onto this. Yes people I watched all 150 episodes OK I’ll admit I skipped two or more but that’s to be expected in a drama with so many episodes. And a mellow such a this warrants just that..

So let me introduce DongHae.  Carl DongHae Laker, a  Korean american speed skater travels to Korea with his mother Anna Laker (who suffered brain damage from a childhood accident.) for a competition. He later gets injured while saving his fiance of  6 years SeHwa from a car crash which winds up ending his career. He then proceeds to get dumped by his fiance who doesn’t want to care for his mother. Now ready to return to america, his mother spots his father and refuses to leave. After deciding to stay and  search him, he meets BongYi, and aspiring chef and her family takes them in. The drama ensues as the Lakers try to adjust to their new life in Korea.

So I decided to watch this around the time that Healer ended just because I was beginning to miss Lee ChangWook’s face. I am not a mellow drama fan but I decided to give it a chance because of him. Beware it is very addictingu! Before I knew it a was halfway through the thing. and by the time you realize this you go “well I might as well finish ” And after a bit of a struggle towards the end I got through it.  The story flows pretty expertly and is written in a way that is rather excellently considering the type of arcs that are present with in it I thought  I’d write a little something it because I liked the characters. This is your typical familiy drama with appropriate representations different generations, including all of the conflicts that can possibly arise.

It’s funny that as soon as he came to Korean DongHhae like just went down hill. He was on some real Iljimae shit, like I have no idea how he is so optimistic but I’m glad it was a good ending for him. If you guys are ChangWook fans and like to back track on character like I do I suggest giving this show try. If your ever between drama and find that you don’t know what to watch I say give it a watch. It’s a good side drama

 

Drama Review:Pretty Boy, Bel Ami

So the review for this got delayed for a longgggg while because I felt I had to read the manga before I write it. This show made me laugh a lot. And it was very refreshing to see our little Sukie again. The story tells of a man who is supposedly so good-looking that he can make any woman fall for him. However, he has a hidden past that not even he knows about. Now he has to ‘conquer’ 12 women in order to get what he needs to elevate himself and to unravel his past.

So, unfortunately, I could only find the first chapter of the manga online and at the only bookstore where I live, the manga section is seriously lacking. And lacking is putting it lightly. But from what I read I think they captured the characters perfectly, which is a great feat considering that some dramas destroy the original manga.

As it seems to be the ‘trend’ these days, they pulled a number on Jang GeunSuk’s hair. I mean they put the weirdest hairstyles on this guy. And even if you hate it, it eventually grows on you. I think the funniest scenes were Jang GeunSuk trying to act ‘innocently’ sexy. It was so purposefully awkward that i couldn’t contain myself.  It had the subtle comedy that I find funny (though a lot of the people around me don’t). The progression was very good. although It did slow down closer to the end.

Here’s how it scored.

Plot – 8

Story -9

Acting – 8

Overall -8

If you like Jang Geun Suk I know I wont have to tell you to watch it. If you don’t then this may not be the show for you. His character is not very different from the ones on Marry Stayed out all night and Your beautiful. But as a fan its always nice to see him on screen. Honestly I know why they always use him for these roles and honestly couldn’t think of anyone else off the top of my head

Drama Review: One More Happy Ending

 

Han Mimo is a former girl group member. She now runs a dating agency for divorcees  with one of her former band mates. She is awesome at her job and is totally in love with the concept of love. The only problem is that she cant seem have a successful relationship.  After a few random encounters with the gossip magazine reporter, Things begin to change for her.

This was one of my favorite shows this year. I heard about this drama and determined to watch it some time soon. I mean Jung KyunHo, Yoo InAh and even Kim TaeHoon (its not often you get to see this guy in a role where he is not evil). I knew for sure that I was not going to let it slip by. These folks always give a good performance no matter who they play. But it was only when I had nothing else to watch one weekend I decided to pick it up. And boy was it good. It reminded me of one of my favorite rom-com Movies  What happens in Vegas.

Maybe its just a bad side of me that enjoys reveling in peoples misery. I love how it just all happens so fast that there is no time for it to drag in the beginning. The ridiculous coincidences were kind of over the top. But its because of those unbelievable coincidences that it was so good. The first two episodes set the tone for the whole show and it didn’t drop (too far) till the end.
Although I am a little saddened by the no future story at the end I like what they chose to do to replace it. It definitely added a more realistic scene to the whole story.

There wear a few times though where the imagination or in your dreams scenes (like I like to call them) were a little out of place. but I’m many ways it added to the comedy aspect and really gave you something to laugh about

m the type that normally ends up bored or even annoyed by the main characters going through the usual motions of the kdrama love story. Because of that I often find myself taking a breather in the side stories of the secondary characters. Its been a while that I didn’t need to do that. But I must admit that they too were pretty good. The story found a way to portray  and deal with many  forms of love. And though they weren’t all the sugar coma candy sweet ones each story was a good watch.

All of the cameos that kept popping up out of nowhere were so funny, Kim SoYeon, Kwak ShiYang, Sandarac Park, Muzie, Oh JungSe not to mention Park YeongSoo. I always love watching him. lmao and even Conan. I was rolling on the floor when he showed up.

OK here is what it scored

Story – 8

Plot -9

Acting – 9

Cinematography – 8

Fashion – 8

Character Development – 9

comedy – 10

Over all – 8

If you are ever looking for a good laugh I bid you watch this drama it is definitely worth it . You get great love stories you can laugh at and empathize with.

 

Drama Review: Squad 38

Let me first say that watching a drama of this style is not easy for most people. It often takes a lot of thinking to follow all of the characters, much less all the plans they come up with and how they work. Even if you are a Seo InGuk fan it may take a lot for you to stay appeased especially if you are the flair loving type.

Even if you only came for InGuk I bid you to stick around, It’s a great story with good acting and lots of devilishly good plots for getting back at the Man!

Many OCN dramas of this genre are usually gritty, with complex plot lines and have a tendency to put romance lines on the back burner (I’m talking a big ass 9 range stove here people). They are always there just close for you touch but still so far away. But with this didn’t quite have the edge that they usually do.

I have to admit that I wasn’t a fan of having Choi SooYoung as the main character. (And I know in getting the stink eye from the snsd fans) Its not that is don’t like her, I’ve seen her act before. But part of me felt like she wasn’t quit right for the role in the beginning. Or it could just be that her character annoyed the shit out of me at first. Who knows it might be both.

The ending was very (slightly) anticlimactic to me. I felt like they still had one more guy to take care of after this one. Like it was a little to easy. But then again I guess its testimony to the fact that it doesn’t really take much but a lot of courage and a little balls to stand up in order to get rid of people like that. (watch and you will find out.)

I also can’t finish this without mentioning the awesome cameo in the end. I bid you drama viewers, if you have not yet seen this drama watch Bad guys first. Then you will be so cracking up at the end. Ending with a good laugh is always the best way to end a drama.

Here is what it scored

Acting – 9

Plot- 10

Story- 7

Cinematography – 7

Comedy- 8

Over All – 8

Some people might find the drama itself a little… well plain. But when you get down to its  core its a great plot that gets you thinking and gives you some good laughs along the way. Check it out!