Jan 30th – Where We – Ryu Ji Hyun

Week of Jan 23rd: Savina & Drones – Aurora

Just Between Lovers: PTSD

Raw feels and tender hearts. Ah I didn’t expect to become attached to this drama, but I did. Just Between Lovers is a simpler story about three hurt souls who are all affected by a mall building collapse. We follow the stories of Kang Doo, Moon Soo, and Joo Won. Kang Doo’s father had been a construction worker who had died in the collapse while he had injured his knee (and subsequently his athletic dream). He now floats through life picking up odd jobs and getting beat often with the dirtier jobs. Moon Soo had been at the mall with her sister who had a photo shoot, but she was the only one who survived out of the sibling pair. The tragedy tore her family apart and she can’t even go up escalators without having flashbacks. Joon Won’s father was the architect at the site responsible for the construction. His father’s suicide because of the incidence propelled him into a repressed family life when his mother remarried. All three are trying to get on with life, but become involved together on the reconstruction project at the old collapse site. Moon Soo has as good mind for architecture design and safety and is employed by Joo Won’s company of which he is the CEO. Kang Doo does construction at the site, but is conflicted about rebuilding at the same location. As these people’s lives become entangled, they are just trying to find someone to patch up the gaping hole left in their hearts by the past tragedy.

I always find it refreshing when a kdrama shines the light on a mental illness as it is not talked about very much in Asian culture. Not only that, but the event is a tribute to the real life collapse of Sampoong Department Store as well as the Sewol Ferry tragedy. Such tragedies definitely generate survivor’s guilt and PTSD which the drama talks about in a realistic fashion. Families are broken and the event affects them for the rest of their lives. However, I am hoping for a good bit of spirit healing in this drama through connection and empathy with other people. The pastel feels and simple interactions in this drama feel thoughtful and not dramatic as you usually see in kdramas. I also never knew Jun Ho was such a versatile actor. His past roles were different, but he has great chemistry with our lead female too. She reminds me of the classy Soo Ae. This drama is seriously a breath of fresh air in the slew of melos and procedurals coming to the small screen.

PS. It feels a little fun to watch Jun Ho in two different roles as I’m watching Chief Kim and this simultaneously. He could not be more different.

Plerng Boon

This drama is angsty from beginning to end, which is totally the type of lakorn that I like. Before I go into more details about this show, I need to declare loud and clear that I love Janie as a nang’rai. Her acting in this lakorn was absolutely flawless and I am not sure that I want to see her play a nang’ek anymore  .

The storyline is fairly simple: Two friends and one man. Pim and Jai Rerng are childhood friends who’ve shared laughs and tears throughout the years. Pim is the kind hearted, pious and sweet one while Jai Rerng is strong willed and a go-getter. Nothing wrong with Jai Rerng’s character until you start looking at some of her flaws… Jealousy and greed. From secretly breaking a trophy won by Pim and stealing the limelight from her friend, it’s clear since the first episode that Jai Rerng is trouble. All this unbeknown to Pim (Yes, she’s that kind of naive female lead).

Jai Rerng’s jealousy might seem trivial at first but that’s until Rerk enters the picture. Rerk moves next to Pim and the two quickly become friends.  Pim quickly falls for him, but our girl Jai Rerng is faster and bewitches him. I am not lightly using the term “bewitch” but Rerk seemed almost obsessed with Jai Rerng. Rerk one-sidedly always put her first. Unsurprisingly their relationship doesn’t last long. Jai Rerng quickly dumps Rerk to get married with someone else – Terd, a successful businessman.

Rerk when he discovers that Pim and Terd are getting married.

Rerk who is heartbroken gets comforted by the only person who has always been there for him. Pim of course. The friendship grows and evolves into a romantic relationship at which point Rerk proposes to Pim. The lakorn could end here but no. That wouldn’t be fun.

When Jai Rerng’s marriage hits rock bottom, she turns to Pim for comfort and sets to wreak havoc in her friend’s marriage. Rerng moves in with the married couple supposedly because she has no where else to go. Let me pause here. This is just wild. Why would anyone let someone like Jai Rerng move into his or her house?! Despite several warnings from her family and her own husband, Pim goes ahead and take Jai Rerng in. What a dummy Pim is…

2017 End of Year Drama Review: Minutes Refund

Here we are this year again, begging for the precious minutes we lost watching some dramas…

The Liar and his Lover: I was lied to about the drama, from the casting to the chemistry….

 

The Emperor: Owner of the Mask: Nobody cares about the mask, nor the emperor really. I just want more plot about the smart second lead.

 

Mad Dog: I came in for Woo Do Hwan, but left because of the slow plot.

 

Man to Man: Quirky and a little overhyped, was expecting more coolness from our spy.

 

General and I: I wanted to love it, I really did. It had all the workings of an epic love story with smart people, but I got lost in the middle.

 

Two Cops: Great premise, great bromance, less Hyeri please.