First Impression : Dear My Friend

I was pretty hyped to watch this star studded drama but I feel like I'm going to drop it so I'm writing this post to record it down.

I don't think the story is engaging enough for me to follow. I do love an ensemble kind of drama but I couldn't relate to the drama.. which is kinda odd because I live next door to my grandparents. I'm quite close to my late grandmother.. somehow the drama doesn't reminds me of her and I was probably looking for some comfort in this drama.  Go Hyun Jung character is not my favorite, realistic? probably but a little annoying.

The cameos are something else though, Jo In Sung and Daniel Henney are such eye candy. Should I stay for it? haha

I probably will watch another 2 episode before completely dropping the drama.

My life as a Kpop fanatic and Kdrama addict.

As soon as I wake up the first thing I grab is my phone. Doesn't matter WiFi or data, I need my news fast. I go to my top websites and scroll down to read comments. I think this is an odd side to Kpop fans, The comment section is the place to get all the information. I've been a regular at the side for years and it honestly feels same old but I still read it habitually because I know there's a gold information that cannot be missed. I do this through out the day until before I go to bed. I think at least 10 times a day. There's a notification app for it but I prefer refreshing the page.

I listen to Kpop in the morning and sometimes before bed. I may be at home walking the dog or while waiting for schedules to finish. If I'm doing some light chores, I might listen to Kpop too.

My cable have all the basic Korean channel but only 2 stations I am subscribed. KBS and SBS. I'm not a big fan of SBS variety show so I usually don't watch. I would record dramas and variety show. If I am bored, I'll go through recording for about 3 hours each day. The most is probably 5 hours.

I watched drama through out the day. My new years resolution was to watch as much drama as I can so I'm keeping myself busy with it. I don't really watch an episode till finish. I usually watch and pause a lot. I like to research on the actors on the drama  and reads reviews on dramabeans. 1 episode probably take me 2 hours to finish between breaks.

For my blog, I try to blog more frequently this year as to document all the dramas I have watched.

So you probably be thinking, what do I do for a living that most of my time is spent on Kpop? I'm a full time caregiver.. so I'm either at home or hospital, I waste a lot of time waiting so I kill time with Kpop. I have a maid that does house chores, I only do food, medication and other routines involving pets. I have 3 rather large ponds and 6 dogs.

I'm technically like a Korean Ahjumma.

Splash Splash Love

Splash Splash Love is a webdrama that is aired in MBC as 2 episode. It is a fantasy sageuk (traditional) drama staring Kim Seul Gi and DooJoon of Beast.

It tells a story of a 3rd year student who feels like her bad luck keep on looming upon her and she wanted an escape. She prayed hard and noticed a suspicious looking puddle of water that was resulted from the rain.She jumps into the water and it transported her to a different time period. It was Joseon. Joseon era had a serious draught problem with no rain for 3 years. They were doing rain ceremony to call on the rain gods.Suddenly the student drops from heaven. The only way home is for the rain to come.

Heol. I'm bad at summarizing without giving away spoilers.

I usually avoid sageuk because I don't feel like researching for Korean history. The drama requires no Korean history knowledge (though it would be fun) and so I enjoyed the drama. The hilarity of the time difference is quite funny and the romance is adorable.

Definitely would be rewatching this drama in the near future.

Ms. Temper and Nam Jung Gi

The drama is about the two different individual with same intergrity values that strive to get on top without compromising on their values. Ms Temper is Ok Da Jung's nickname who is a upright charismatic leader that strive to succeed without resolving to dirty tactic. Nam Jung Gi is a timid talented hard-working worker who avoid conflict by giving into the situation to avoid confrontation.

I enjoyed the drama for it's realism and the issue brought up in the drama has familiarity
but the delivery is refershing. Nam Jung Gi's character isn't really interesting but Ms.Temper is very interesting. Nothing like a admirable girl crush can lifted one's spirit.

At times I feel stressed watching the drama because I am able to emphatize on the problems face by the staffs. I lack in working experience in life so I could only guess that the drama cover almost all the characteristic of the office workers. I think my favorite side character is Deputy Park because he is still quite charming despite his flaws. I could see his character like how Nam Jung Gi cared for him. My least favorite character happen to be MiRi which is so odd for me to say because my name is very similar to her name. Aside the fact she is quite talented at her job.. I can't relate to her character at all.

The drama airs at a cable station but the rating is quite low even by cable standards. I think the problems lies on the fact that it's quite a burden to watch for those who work. As someone with a lot of leisure, I still find the drama quite stressful. When Ms. Ok's mother got sick, I wonder how it would be like if I was working. I am a fulltime caregiver so I just feel like I can't do what Ms. Ok does but in a way, I understand that everyone have their own problem. It is not fair because due to personal matter that we should drop everything without consideration for others.

Looking at Nam Jung Gi being a slave to his job is so disheartening because it made me wonder why do he work so hard to feed his family but he does not see much of his family. What is the meaning of family? Just provide enough money to live and be satisfied? I am no position to judge though. It's just life throwing salt on you.

Acting and story wise, I still think that the drama is worth the time I spent on. It's refreshing change from the usual drama I've watch.

Memory

Memory is a drama about a lawyer name Park Tae Seok played by Lee Seung Min who battles Alzheimer's disease. Upon realizing his fate, he rediscover his new purpose in life by doing what he should have done in the past and trying to undo his mistake.

Alzheimer is currently uncurable disease that only get worse over the time, the relevation of the disease to his close ones and the how his support team accepted his disease was truly admirable. The balance of empathy and wanting to be strong from the support team is beautifully done. I could not rewrite the scene any better than what the writer has done. I am amazed to see how everyone is coping with the news differently but in the same time, they were very realistic.

I enjoyed how his role as a lawyer is played. He is a humane lawyer disguise as a cruel lawyer. This is a spoiler that I want to share. In the first 2 episode, he is a lawyer without mercy and uses any tactic to ensure he wins in the court. It becomes his regret to be such lawyer and he grows into a better lawyer. His tragic past was really sad but it was a part that drives him to push through his struggle.

I didn't think I would end up liking this drama so much.

Based on summary alone, I didn't think I could started watching but I knew that Lee Sung Min is a great actor and I wanted to support (heh..suddenly feel guilty, I will buy the DVD la) by watching the drama (oooh wait, I DID. by watching tvN's YT channel). I wanted to drop after the 2nd episode but I am so glad I was bored enough to just continue it.

Memory draws a comparison with another Law/Alzheimer theme drama Remember Son's War starring Yoo Seung Ho and Park Min Young. That drama is the one I didn't bother...because I got to know that Park Min Young paired up with Yoo Seung Ho and that deflated my interest on watching the show. The drama didn't do well in ratings.. I guess partly because it was a follow up drama to Signal. Which is ashamed because this drama is a masterpiece.

I think the balance between law and Alzheimer part was done well. I kinda hated the fact they emphasize on his disease being an early stage but his symptoms is very advance. Drama, you want to give me hope or lose hope ah? My favorite part is how the relevation of the disease was out but Park Tae Seok had so much dignity that it doesn't bother him one bit.

Right there, he may be just a fictional character but I just want to applaud how dignified a person he is. The drama is like the perfectly flawed world that I want to live in.

This drama is humane and may not be everyone's cup of tea but I don't regret my time on watching this drama at all. Great job overall to the director, writers, actors and everyone involved in this drama.

If you have the time to spare, watch this drama. It's a beautiful story.

Page Turner

I knew I love this drama even before I watch it.

Page Turner is a 3 episodes drama that tells a story on 3 aspiring pianist overcoming their shortcomings. It stars Kim So Hyun who played dual role in School 2015 and Sassy Go Go Baek Ho team mates, JiSoo and Shin Jae Ha.

The irony of me hating School 2015 and LOVED Sassy Go Go. haha I adored Kim So Hyun, who by the way is Park Yoo Chun reel sister (they had dramas often together) so I just naturally love her as well. 

I didn't know what to expect but I was hoping that Jisoo get the girl this time but the romance part of the story is not strong. I think school love life is a bit trickier to write on?

There is a bit of a miracle part of the story but this is fiction so no need to think so much on that said miracle. I find all the characters are light hearted despite the grim situation. 3 episode may seem a little but I though it was good enough not to be draggy.

For a short drama, this is an excellent drama. I wouldn't mind watching puppy Jisoo again. Shin Jae Ha is a good actor and I want him to shine further. Kim So Hyun is on her way to be a top actress and I hope she doesn't grow up too soon.

Come Back, Mister

I skipped most of the drama parts that I might as well say I never watch the drama.

I was completely sold on the idea of the drama and I did enjoy the first few episode but I grew out on it very quickly.

I perhaps should have dropped the drama but I continued stayed on because I like Honey Lee and Oh Yeon Seo story and bashfully I'll admit these girls are such girl crush materials. Bromance? Move over, they stole my heart more than Hwang Jung Eum and Go Jun Hee in She Was Pretty.

I wish the characters were not so connected. I think I leave it and there in case you don't want spoilers. There were many aspect of the drama that did not sit well on me and the humor was not my favorite kind. Oddly enough the endearing moments is what made the show bearable. I skipped the humor parts because it made me feel like I was suffering from second hand embarrassment.

The biggest part of the drama were Rain and Lee Min Jung but their characters were my least favorite. I wished there were more parts for Honey Lee.

I wonder how it would fare without Descendant of the Sun competition... but I rather watch DOTS if I had to choose.

Descendant of the Sun review

I think from the get go that this drama was set to be a legendary drama.

The drama writer is notoriously famous for cringe-worthy lines and her past project has been a runaway hit. Add Song Joong Ki and Song Hye Kyo to the mix, the drama is very hyped and it's certainly worth the hype.

I still don't quite get the title of the drama but it was such an awesome ride during the airing of this drama. I think nobody can disagree that this is the drama that define 2016. Okay maybe Signal can challenge that but in terms of popularity.. DOTS wins hands down.

Honestly I doubt the pairing of Song Joong Ki and Song Hye Kyo because Song Hye Kyo is such a big sunbae, and I wasn't sure how they were going to note that HyeKyo is the Noona in the relationship. I mean Song Hye Kyo is very youthful but her experience is more extensive than
Song Joong Ki. I thought the drama did a good justice on that. Fun fact, both of them hosted Music Bank before. What a coincident!

I guess I mainly stayed for Kim Jiwon who is like one of my girl crush and I did quite like Jingoo in Ad Genius Lee Tae Baek. I had no idea he is a married man with a son because his chemistry with Kim JiWon was so believable.

I know nothing about military life but medical part, I'm quite familiar because I'm a caregiver that goes to hospital a lot. I just can't stand seeing all the medical flaws in the drama but I just going to keep an eye shut because well no one is ever perfect. The ending though.. is silly.

Why play with people's heart?

One thing is for sure that I won't be waiting for a Season 2. The ending somewhat gives way for a season 2 but nope. enough for me.