Currently Watching Update 7/30/10

After finishing up Coffee House, I don't have as many Korean dramas that I'm looking out for on a weekly basis. Bad Guy and Baker King Kim Tak Goo are the two leading dramas I'm currently into.


BAD GUY~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After watching episode 15 of Bad Guy on viikii I'm even more excited to see the next episode. I can't tell you the details, but it seems like the next episode might just go toward a topic I hate to have in any drama: amnesia. Now, I don't know for sure if the next episode will actually contain that topic (as I'm not psychic), however it did end with a certain someone looking out the window with a blank face. If you watch Korean dramas, you know that amnesia seems to be a more common occurrence in their dramas. I think that's the only thing I really don't like about Korean dramas. Amnesia is a very rare occurrence, so to have it show up in so many dramas makes the drama seem more unrealistic. Usually when I see amnesia play a part in a drama, I take it as the writer had a writers block and didn't have time to think of a better solution to the problem other than wiping out a characters previous history.


KIM TAK GOO~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It's rare that I watch any drama over 25 episodes, much less 30, however the baker king's drama is something I'm really excited about lately. At first, I was kind of annoyed in the first few episodes. They spent a lot of episodes on KTG's childhood. However, as I continued to watch, I'm kind of thankful that they took the time to slowly paint the back story of the character. Unlike some dramas where they continuously flashback trivial facts to waste time, the writer took the time to use the childhood memories to really develop the characters. Now as I am getting into the middle of the drama, I am completely entranced. After watching episode 14 with english subs, I was really annoyed that I couldn't watch 15 & 16 with subs yet. This is why I'm upset that I cannot watch it on viikii anymore. The viikii translators usually do a good job of translating episodes fast. Because I couldn't watch it with the english subtitles, I ended up watching them without. Let me just say, even without subtitles, I really enjoyed episodes 15 & 16. Okay, so I only understood 10% of the language, but I guessed about 15% more from information on the previous episodes. Anyway, I don't know where the story will go, but I'm still on board.


Hotaru no Hikaru 2~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I've only watched one episode of this so far. Really, I don't know if I should even continue with it.

My Country Calls~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I've watched the drama through episode 14 and I stopped there. There's only 2 episodes left, but I think I'll put it on the back burner for now. Ever since the user who was uploading the episodes was deleted from veoh, I've been too lazy to look for a new provider for my drama addiction. I really did enjoy it so far though.

P.S. Man~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
PS Man has been on the back burner for a while now. I watched up until episode 14, but I suddenly just have no interest in it. Is it just me, or does it seem like the drama should have been shorter? It seems like it should be 14 episodes, not 21. I don't think I have the nerve to sit through 7 more episodes of this. The beginning was great, I really liked it, but I'm not sure if I want to keep watching. Anyone know if it is good enough to continue?

Cinderella's Sister~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I heard a lot of great stuff about Cinderella's Sister, so I watched the first episode. I have yet to watch anymore of it. I'm not sure if I should continue. I know everyone is saying it is great, but I'm just not that interested in it. I guess if I get bored I will continue.

There are more dramas that I'm in the middle of, but those are the main dramas I'm watching as of yet. What is your opinion on these dramas? Let me know!

Gumiho / Nine Tailed Fox

Rating: ****

Genre: Romance, Action, Fantasy, Horror, Drama
Episodes: 16
Cast: Han Ye Seul, Jo Hyun Jae, Jun Jin, Kim Tae Hee, Park Joon Suk

"Shi Yeon is a Nine-Tailed Fox living undercover in the human world. By day, Shi Yeon is an employee at a natural history museum. By night, she's a top-ranking woman warrior in the Nine-Tailed Fox clan, charged with preserving the delicate balance between man and fox. But her world is sent spinning when an atrocious serial murder - where the victims have had their internal organs gouged out - is uncovered. Detective Min Woo believes the murders may relate to the organ trafficking trade, and goes undercover in a seedy organ smuggling ring. But Min Woo's cover is blown, and it's only through the intervention Nine-Tailed Fox warrior Mu Young and Shi Yeon that he's able to survive! But he's seen their true identities as Nine-Tailed Foxes…can he be allowed to live?"

This bittersweet drama is a big hit in my book. However, there are a few unrealistic parts in this story. For instance, Shi Yeon (a Gumiho) was supposed to have grown up thinking she was human. However, Gumiho's are supposed to eat human liver, right? How could she have zero inkling that something was off when she was supposed to eat human liver? Another thing I thought was kind of off is that when the Gumiho's die they turn into ash. Gumiho's aren't supposed to be some mystical creature exactly, they are supposed to be the next step in evolution (basically). Unlike vampires, who are dead but continue "living" for thousands or so years, Gumiho's have a more normal life span. Why would they turn into ash after they die? It makes no logical sense at all.. Anyway, other than that it was a good drama.

Ying Ye 3+1

Rating: ***.5

Genre: Romance, Comedy, Action, School
Episodes: 16
Cast: Chen Qiao En, Jerry Huang, Jason Hsu, Ming Dao, Viter Fan

"Xia Tian, Jia Jiang, Fang Wei, Bulu all four grew up on Westside Street together and currently study in Ying Ye School. One month away from graduation. Xia Tian's dad is a police officer in Westside Street and is retiring tomorrow. But just on that day, they all had a fight with the Dinosaur gang in the school and were almost expelled by the principal. Officer Xia went to settle the conflict and not only did it not get settled, his gun got misplaced by the principal too. Everyone thus discussed things over and decided that AJ they all will remain in the school and they must find the gun within the one month of graduation to let Officer Xia retire peacefully and happily. Jia Jiang, Fang Wei and Bulu then can successfully graduate. While finding the missing gun, they discovered that a ex-convict Grey Wolf who escaped from prison is possibly connected with the missing gun and even more surprisingly, the Grey Wolf is actually having close communication and contact with students in Ying Ye."

Anything with Ming Dao and Chen Qiao En in it is a good drama. However, I'm not too interested in the way the fight scenes and such were made.. Anyway, it is something to check out.

My Lucky Star

Rating: ****

Genre: Comedy, Romance
Episodes: 20
Cast: Hong Xiao Ling, Jimmy Lin, Lee Wei, Leon Jay Williams, Yoo Ha Na

"Like the boy who cried wolf, Xia Zhi Xing had lied one too many times. So when she did tell the truth, nobody believed her except for the most unlikely person, Zhong Tian Qi, a runaway young master of a jewelry empire. His belief in her inspired her to become a real jewelry designer instead of a lying, scheming jewelry con artist. In the process, she taught him the real value of jewels that he is destined to inherit. "

Bull Fighting

Rating: (not Rated)

Genre: Basketball, Romance, Comedy, Sports
Episodes: 17
Cast: Cyndi Chao, Godfrey Gao, Hebe Tian, Lee Wei, Mike He

"It started as a 3-on-3 basketball competition between two rival schools; an annual event in which the winner would control the 13th Street basketball court for the following year. To everybody's surprise, the 9-year reigning champion lost this year... and it was all because of one girl. Now, this game has a new purpose. Yi Sheng Xue (Hebe Tian), a hot-headed young girl, is an avid Bull Fighting fan. At her side is her loyal childhood friend and personal bodyguard, Jin Zi Cong (Lee Wei). Their lives take a drastic turn when they meet Shen Ruo He (Mike He), whom Sheng Xue falls deeply in love with. However, they encounter many obstacles that stand in the way of them being together. Will love triumph over evil? And will Zi Cong be able to live with seeing the woman he loves, love another man? "

I like Mike He so much that I'm afraid my review will be bias so I won't say anything lol.. I liked the drama though.

My Bratty Princess

Rating: ****

Genre: Romance, Comedy, Drama
Episodes: 33
Cast: Jang Na Ra, Alec Su, Bao Lei, Chen Xiu Li, Lu Xing

"Situ Jin, a mischievous free-thinking lady, and her companion, A Ling, go on a series of adventures. She does not know that she is a princess of the former royal family. To protect her family’s reputation outside the home, Situ Jin dresses as a man and calls herself Xiao Longxia. Concerned about the plight of the refugees which the officials have been ignoring, she comes up with various schemes to help them. Emperor Zhu Yun has been steadily working on consolidating the empire that his father had left him. A monk once gave him a puzzle, telling him that whoever solves it will help him with the problems of the empire. He escapes from his palace to wander around the city with his companion. He befriends Xiao Longxia after he realizes that the money she has conned and stolen from others is being spent on the refugees. When Xiao Longxia solves the puzzle, he decides to maintain closer ties with her. The prince of Yunnan resents the emperor since his sister, the previous queen, had been killed with her family. He sends his son, Bai Yu Fei, to cause unrest and to marry Princess An Ning. An unlikely friendship develops between the Emperor, Xiao Longxia and Bai Yu Fei, each pretending to the others to be someone else. Palace and court intrigues, rebellion and assasination plots abound. "


Oops, I guess I forgot to review this.  It's kind of odd, don't you think?  I don't know how this slipped through my net.  I hope I haven't left a few more undone.  For My Bratty Princess, I really don't remember it well enough to give a decent review.  Seeing as how it was four stars when I rated it, though, it must've been good enough to watch.

My Bratty Princess was one of the first mainland period dramas that I watched.  I remember enjoying the mischievous attitude of Situ Jin.  Considering it was thirty three episodes, I don't know how I would've gotten through it if it wasn't good.  After all, I didn't have the patience for any drama that was longer than 18 episodes back then.

Anyway, I'm sorry for the less than informative review.  Feel free to let me know if I missed any more reviews.  I may have to re-watch some of the dramas.

Bad Couple

Rating: (Not Rated)

Genre: Comedy, Romance
Episodes: 16
Cast: Ryun Jung Soo, Choi Jung Yoon, Ryu Soo Young, Shin Eun Gyung, Yoo Gun

"Choi Gi Chan is an University Botanic Professor with the "perfect genes." The drama is about an editor of a fashion magazine, Kim Dang Ja, who suddenly develops an urge to have her own baby despite opposing the idea of marriage. The story will talk about Dang Ja striving to look for a man with perfect genes to accomplish her mission. Gi Chan happens to be her "target" in order for her to accomplish her mission. The story later develops as Dang Ja must persuade him to do it without any commitments, which is a problem because Gi Chan doesn't believe in the idea of sex before marriage."

Don't remember it well enough to give a proper rating.. I liked it though.

Autumn's Concerto

Rating: ****

Genre: Romance
Episodes: 21
Cast: Ady An, Tiffany Xu, Vanness Wu, Xiao Xiao Bin, Chris Wu

"Ren Guang Xi, a cocky law student, seems to lead the perfect life. He's the sole successor to a huge and famous business and a talented ice hockey player. But in reality, his lonely life lacks joy, laughter and motivation. That is until he meets Liang Mu Cheng, the new bento seller at his school canteen. Although orphaned at a young age, Mu Cheng does not let her past affect her and lives life with great passion and determination. A harmless bet brings the two together and Guang Xi slowly changes as Mu Cheng teaches him how to give and love. Tragedy strikes when Guang Xi suddenly has to go through a major brain surgery which causes him to lose his memory. His mother begs Mu Cheng to leave him and the latter has no choice but to do so. Little does she know that she already has Guang Xi's child. Six years pass. Mu Cheng lives a quiet life with her young son in the countryside while Guang Xi is now a successful lawyer and is engaged to He Yi Qian, the kind and beautiful doctor who took care of him after his surgery. A strangely familiar piano piece stirs Guang Xi's heart as he struggles to recall his past romance with Mu Cheng. How will the couple make up for six years of lost time? Happiness, which stop do I alight at?"

I'll be honest; any drama that uses amnesia is not really interesting to me. However, regardless of that part of it, I really enjoyed it.

Brown Sugar Macchiato

Rating: ****

Genre: Comedy, Romance, School
Episodes: 13
Cast: Ah Wei, Ao Quan, Gui Gui, Wang Zi, Ya Tou

"One day, six boys with different personalities and backgrounds are notified they shared the same father. And on top of that they are entitled to a large inheritance. There is only one catch. They must attend the same school and live in the same house for one year to become loving brothers. But, the boys not only hate each other, they have to deal with nine mean girls from their class. Will the brothers band together and successfully pass the inheritance test? Or, will falling in love with their classmates pull them farther apart? "

Hi, My Sweetheart

Rating: ****

Genre: Romance, Comedy
Episodes: 14
Cast: Rainie Yang, Fang Fang, Lee Wei, Show Lo, Maggie Wu

"Xue Hai was a certifiable dork when he first arrived in Hangzhou. After his schoolmate Bao Zhu saved him from bullying, she became his first love. Then, a misunderstanding caused them to lose contact when she moved back to Taiwan. He thought she dumped him. So he transformed himself from a dork to a hunk in order to seek revenge. "

This drama was the reason I fell in love with Show Lo XD