Hello Everyone! How R U Today?

Filled with friends, love and adulting these past few weeks have really made me wonder what it means to be an adult. And about the obstacles, we must face to get there. Girls Generation 1979 and Age of Youth 2 have accomplished something even my parents can't get me to do. Think about the future. Both of these shows have managed to top my 2017  best drama list and made me want to appreciate my friends more. But let's be real, kdrama friends are 2x better than your actual friends. So without further delay let's just jump into the reviews!


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Girls Generation 1979

This show warmed my heart and got me excited as soon I started watching it. As someone who absolutely loves the Reply Series, I was squealing with excitement when I realized how similar the plot was to the Reply Series.

The only real difference between the Reply series and Girls Generation 1979 (besides the episode count) is that Reply has narration and jumps between the past and present. Girls Generation 1979 takes place in 1979 only.  For a short series (only 8 episodes) I wasn't expecting the plot to be so developed or for so much character depth!

The synopsis makes the show sound as like a simple high school romance story set in the 70s, but it was much more than that. This show gave so much insight into the struggles of not just students at that time but also a young woman. The friendship between Jung Hee and Hye Soo was beautiful and gave me all sorts of fuzzy feelings.  A relationship that started off bad because of a one-sided love, developed into a sisterly relationship. I’m a sucker for any show that has tons of character growth, and this show was just overflowing with it.!

The show put more focus on the friendship but that doesn't mean it neglected the romance every high school drama features. Unlike other school dramas, the romance here was actually endearing and drama free. Jung Hee's storyline did a excellent job of portraying first love and the struggles that came with it.  For once I can say I actually enjoyed watching the love triangle and trying to figure who she would end up with. Throughout the show, Jung Hee seems to be walking to a fine line trying to figure out what she wants for her future. The decisions she had to make were some I think most people could relate to.
Within these 8 episodes, I fell in love with Jung Hee’s maturing personality, her messy family, and the emotional story hidden within. I fell in love with Jung Hye Joo who seemed like the perfect student, and popular girl but was hiding an ugly secret, her tragic home life, and the horrible treatment she received later on.
This show has quickly become a personal favorite, and while a part of me wishes that we had got a glimpse of the future, the other part of me is actually happy with the open ending. Not only does that leave the possibility for a second season but it kept the story and memories of these amazing girls right were it belonged. In 1979.












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Age of Youth 2

No doubt one of the best shows of 2017!

Age of Youth 2 had me anxiously waiting each week for the subbed episodes, and watching the raw episodes when I couldn’t wait anymore. This season did a great job of carrying over the events that happened in season 1 and bridging the time gaps between the two seasons. I loved how instead of appearing like a second season, it came across as an extension of the first season. The first season of Age Of Youth is still my favorite but only because Kang Yi Na was my favorite character. I was devastated when I heard she wasn't apart of the main cast for this season! Luckily she made cameos throughout the season , instead of her just disappearing of the face of the earth like characters in other shows do. I'm glad we got to see glimpses of our crazy Kang.  Thankfully they didn't replace her actor.

Unlike Eun Jae.

I felt bad for the second season actress. Ji Woo was trying so hard to portray a Eun Jae similar to the first season but that didn’t work. What we got instead was some confusing mix at the beginning and whole a different Eun Jae by the end. I can't say that I disliked her, but nothing made this actress stand out to me. I didn't finish watching this show thinking Hey, I should check out other shows starring her! 

My biggest complaint though is the Song-Min relationship. Going in I my biggest worry was that  the change of cast was going to be awful. If I had any complaints, I was sure they were going to be about the new character Jo Eun. (she ended up being awesome and I loved her story line) But no. I ended up complaining about the same thing as last season.  The inconclusive conclusion of the Song-Min relationship.

In the first season, they teased us with their relationship. They were good friends that were chasing similar goals, and had good chemistry.  When they announced a season 2 I thought we were finally going to get a kiss and a happy ever after.

Nope.

And here I thought her aegyo finally captured Song Min's heart.

Everybody else had a love story except Song Ji Won. Even the new girl! All the same girls who had men in the first season, were the same people who got new men in the 2^nd season. (well except Eun Jae) I feel like the writer is playing with my emotions and its absolutely frustrating.

First I’m happy that Ji Won finally got her own story. Under the circumstances I understand, it didn’t seem like the best time to fall in love. But the signs were there, and their chemistry was great. But apparently  it still wasn't enough to get one kiss, promise, or just anything.  The chemistry had me needing to see more, but all I got was a slap to the face.

As much as I complained I would still give this show a 9/10.  Although I wish there were some changes, it was perfect the way it was. But if they announce a season 3 I’m not sure I’ll watch it. Why should I have to watch 3 seasons just to finally see the Song-Min couple get together? It only took 1 season for all the other girls to fall in love!  My heart can’t take any more of this.


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Hiya Everyone!

So I've been working my way down my must watch 2017 dramas list and I've finally made it My Only Love Song. I've been wanting to watch this show since it first came out but unlike most dramas, you can't find it online. It's not a easy to show to find.

Well it's actually easy to watch since all you need is Netflix and a screen to play it on, but since I forgot my Netflix login watching this show became a big hassle. Also being that this show is a Netflix original may be another reason it took me so long to watch this show. I didn't know what to expect, and there is nothing worse than wasting your time on a bad drama. I've watched a few Netflix original shows before and to be blunt they were horrible.

After resetting my password and finally being able to log back on I found myself checking out other shows (mostly Chinese dramas)  so I wasted a lot of time. But I did learn that Netflix has a nice Chinese and Korean drama selection!

And finally last week I finally managed to sit down and watch the entire show. Success! Dab!

I now regret not watching it sooner because My Only Love Song only has 20 episodes that are 30 mins each. As much time as I spent procrastinating I probably could've watched this show from beginning to end 2 or 3 times.  This show is a great, short, and quick remedy to any post drama blues! I was quickly drawn into this exciting story filled with quirky characters and funny events.

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Plot

The secret to eternal youth

Overall My Only Love Song is a cute romantic comedy about Song Soo Jung (Gong Seung Yeon) a spoiled, Hallyu actress who becomes fed up with her career and the people around her. Wanting to escape her life she is somehow transported from present time to the Goguryeo era. While trying to get herself out of trouble she meets On Dal (Lee Jung Hyun), a petty thief who will do anything for money.

Basically, the show starts off as a crazy mess.

The pretty male villain you loved to hate and hated to love

But its such a funny crazy mess that I loved and couldn't help but be curious to see what will happen next. The situations the characters found themselves were unreal, and the villain took the evil pretty boy role to a whole new level. Also, the story has many moments where it seems to parody other historical romances. This makes the plot seem so much more fun, and the romance so much more adorable.
The storytelling and narration also made this show different from others because it almost resembles a comic book with all the graphics, captions, and special sound effects.

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Characters

As a HUGE fan of Cnblue, I was jumping for joy when I heard Lee Jong Hyun was cast as the male lead. Not many people remember his role in Gentlemen’s Dignity but I loved watching him as Colin, and his cute bromance with Kim Woo Bin. After watching him in  Orange Marmalade I was ready to see him move up to bigger (and better) roles.

Gong Seung Yeon has become one of my favorite actresses from 2017. Staring in Introverted Boss, and Circle all of her roles have captured my attention and so far she has proved how good she is.  Whereas in those previous shows she was cast in more serious roles, My Only Love Song was much more lighthearted, and a nice change.

Seung Yeon is the only one who brings so much life to Song Soo Jung. She was that friend that every girl wants, and a lead we wish we could see more often. I quickly formed a love-hate relationship with Soo Jung. At first, she came across as an arrogant actress who loved to be spoiled. She was loud, had no problem telling people off, and she never backed down from a fight. I disliked her arrogance and spoiled attitude but as I continued to watch the show I somehow ended up liking her for those same reasons. In modern times her personality made her seem like a crazy lady, but in the historical time, it made her seem like a strong woman who took no nonsense.

The piggyback ride is a romance drama MUST HAVE

Every episode was filled with her crazy antics and I found myself dying from laughter because of all the trouble she caused. I couldn't help but feel bad for On Dal since this troublemaker was the woman he fell in love with.

Which speaking of the romance...

Seeing how Seung Yoon and Jong Hyun were matched in We Got Married I knew that they were a great couple, but I was still shocked by their chemistry!

All the skinship and touches seemed natural, so much so that it seemed like they weren’t even acting and that were really in a relationship. And the kisses? 9 out of 10 on the hotness meter (Queen in Hyun’s man is a great example of 10/10). One of my favorite moments is the scene in episode 17 where they share a (one of many) deep kiss. I mean there was nothing naughty about that kiss but I had to cool myself off after watching that scene.

They are steaming up the windows

Fighting for a romance that can't be

At first, the romance was light and adorable, but as the plot thicken so did the romance. Watching On Dal fight the world in order to keep his love. Soo Jung fight for a romance that could not exist. It was beautiful.  It reminded me why I love watching historical romance dramas. There actions were filled with so much tenderness and affection I was begging the writer to let them end up together.

The side romance also had me screaming in frustration and praying for a happy ending. This story had me crying at one point because this story was much more tragic than the main couples and the relationship less likely to succeed. After watching the little group of 5 misfits joke around and get in and out of trouble together I couldn't help but want everyone to end up happy.

The ending wrapped up the show nicely but it still left a lot of questions. If I had to complain about one thing in this entire show it would be exactly that. The show does not give us a lot of answers and many times I was left stunned by random occurrences that never got a proper explanation.

For example, After 10 mins of post drama happiness, my bubble burst and I realized one important question that was never answered. Why did the time traveling occur in the first place?

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Conclusion

I'm going to miss this funny cast of characters

Overall despite the few WTF moments, unexplained incidents, and no true explanation of why they are brought back in time this show was amazing. The romance is on point,  the plot kept me wondering what will happen next, and I fell in love with every character (even the flamboyant villain). I definitely plan on re-watching this in the future and I will no doubt will be recommending this to others. It’s a great drama and like other short shows, it leaves you wanting more.


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I have a weird analogy for you.

What do boat racing and Seven Days a Queen have in common?

1. There are multiple boats/ships sailing,


2. The race between said ships keeps you on the edge of your seat


3. it’s unpredictable,


4. it’s hard to cheer for just one boat because let’s face it. Nobody likes to be an unhappy loser.

This show made me all sorts of crazy with the multiple ships and the unpredictable changes in the plot. This show contained everything that I disliked about historical dramas and put it into a package of pure perfection. How will I ever find a Historical drama better than this?!

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PLOT

On paper, the plot sounds the same as all the other historical dramas that have been produced.

Evil ministers. Manipulative queen. Bad family relationships. Terrible prophecy. Ill-Fated Love

Now, where have I seen that before? (Moon that Embraces the Sun, Shine or Go Crazy, The Princess’ Man, and trust me the list just goes on)

You never truly know what is going to happen because this show does a great job of balancing politics and romance. They both were tightly interlinked and it was a cause and effect relationship. When something major happened because of the political happenings it affected the romance. And vice versa.  I loved that the romance wasn’t kept separate. It wasn’t a “drama” romance where love conquers all and it exists in its own bubble away from reality. Instead, it was a realistic love. The happenings around them affected their relationship, and at times their love had been pushed aside in order to address other more important problems.

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CHARACTERS

So many ships sailing.

The classic run scene, but their version was hilarious

 Argh! The love triangle in this show was so frustrating! It was just soo good! Starting with the child actors and moving into the adult actors, this love triangle has kept me on the edge of my chair. Chae Kyung and Yi Yeok, were THE couple. You start off rooting for them that doesn’t last long. Guess who comes along? King Yi Yeong portrayed by the perfect Lee Dong Gun. He smiled once and I was rushed to the ER for SLS (second lead syndrome).

Lee Dong Gun rocked this role! Yi Young is portrayed as a villain, but he was a character that you could never truly hate (and it’s all because of Dong Gun). Even though I was 100% positive that this man was crazy, needed a therapist and a whole bottle of chill pills I still loved him. Unlike the other evil kings that we see in historical dramas, Yi Young was different. He wasn’t truly evil, rather he was a victim his past, status, and the people around him.

I loved watching him interact with Chae Kyung (Park Min Young) because those were the only times that we saw him, not as a tyrant, but a broken man who needed help. Chae Kyung was his ray of light and the only person he could truly relax around. It was adorable watching how his mood changed after spending time with her.

Not gonna lie, I kept hoping that “maybe” he would steal her from Yi Yeok.

That smile is radiant[

Yi Yeok (Yeon Woo Jin) DESERVED to be with Chae Kyung after all that he went through. They made an absolutely stunning couple, and you could see how much they loved each other. (Side note – Anybody else thinks that Yeon Woo Jin was ah-maz-ing in this role? It was different from his usual roles but he nailed it! I just wish people would stop mentioning how weird his eyes looked.) His love for her is what helped him survived those hard times and they were each others first and last love.

Chae Kyung didn’t make this triangle any easier to watch because her chemistry was great with both men (how does Park Min Young do it?). Just when you think you want her to end up with Yi Young, BAM She shared a hot kiss with Yi Yeok forcing you to switch teams.

I saw two ships sailing and I had no clue which one I wanted to cheer for.

So I just decided I would be happy no matter who she ended up with. Simple solution, right?

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*SPOILERS AHEAD* SKIP TO THE CONCLUSION IF YOU HAVEN’T SEEN THE LAST EPISODE!

 No it wasn’t simple! After watching that last episode I got on the ground and threw a tantrum worthy of a 5-year-old. Nobody got a happy ending! It wasn’t fair that Chae Kyung and Yi Yeok didn’t end up together! But at the same time, I knew it was what needed to happen.

Chae Kyung and Yi Yeok faced many obstacles because of their love, and would it stop because he became king? No, it would only continue. Time and Time again he would save her but by doing this he would always be putting his title as King in jeopardy and giving his enemies leverage to use him again. I was sobbing when Chae Kyung told Yi Yeok that the best way they could show their love was being apart and living long lives so they could be reunited once again. After I saw that last scene I was dead. I had no more tears to shed, and watching Yi Yeok and Chae Kyung being reunited after death killed me. It was a beautiful moment watching them joke as children and then professing their love as adults. It was just so heartbreaking that they could only meet after death.




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Seven Day Queen Review - CONCLUSION

Why haven’t you watched this show?

If you haven’t watched this show yet you need to now! This show is worth the 10-12 hours of binge-watching (Make sure you have a box of Kleenex next to you). Seven Days a Queen is an excellent Historical romance that I would recommend everyone watch. I mean why would you skip it? Lee Dong Gun and Yeon Woo Jin look Smokin hot. Park Min Young is absolutely stunning. The romance and kisses make you blush. Did I mention there was a kick-ass nanny?

The journey is finally over and all has been revealed. I have many mixed feelings on this show, so it took me a while to figure what to say.  It's always awkward when you watch a popular show, but don't fall in love. Yeah, each person has their own opinion, but it still makes me think that maybe I missed something.

Anyways! Let's get to the review.

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Tunnel Kdrama Review

In 1986, Park Gwang Ho works as an excellent and enthusiastic detective. His life changes when he’s pursuing leads in a serial homicide case and then passes through a time portal, which transports him to present day Seoul. He meets a new partner Kim Sun Jae, an elite detective who happens to be a bit eccentric, but is one highly skilled investigator. The detective duo will also find help in psychology professor, Shin Jae Yi.

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The Police Force

This was my first complaint. The characters were funny and great as a team, but they made bad cops.  Sadly the cast falls victim to the police-are-stupid cliche. Touching evidence with bare hands, disrupting crime scenes, letting victims of crimes go home alone with no police protection, and the list just goes on. They obviously didn't watch enough CSI. Besides the main characters, I really liked Sung Shik. He and his 2 lackeys didn't stand out but they served as great comedic relief!

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The mystery

The mystery did a good job of catching my attention. In both a bad and good way. The Good:  After so many episodes you thought you had the whole story about the murders, but then new pieces to the story kept arising. Plot Twist! Yay! The Bad: Some of this information was stuff the police should've noticed or discovered quicker. They figured out the complex stuff quickly, but then they would skip over the simpler details. This where the show seemed to fall victim to another detective show cliche. The case felt like it dragged on too long (they didn't catch the criminal until halfway through the final episode)!


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                                      The Romance

The part I was so excited for but got so little in return.  The main couple Kwang Ho and Yeon Suk made me feel all sorts of emotions. Their romance was simple, but it was beautiful. I love how they were always longing and thinking about each other. My problem started here, with the other (semi) main couple, Seon Jae and Jae Yi. They were so cute together! With their similar personalities and careers I thought that they would be like peas and carrots. My main complaint was that could've been more romantic scenes! All we got was a budding romance that felt one-sided at times (Seon Jae seemed more interested than she did).  But it was cute watching them soften towards each other. It seemed like a real relationship was going to develop, but that was just a false alarm. I wish there had been more development (or a kiss scene)  or that we could've seen them get a happily ever after. If the writer wasn't going to invest more time in them, I wish he would've left it out. This show probably would've been 2x better if their relationship hadn't existed.

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The Ending

The show was going strong, but during the last few episodes, it started to go downhill.  Most of my problems began once the mystery was solved, and it was time for Kwang Ho to go home.

At first, once the killer's true identity was revealed I kept wondering why he didn't go back to the past. I understand that he couldn't go back at will, but the point of him going to the future was so that he could find the culprit, right?

I didn't get this answer until the last episode and while the message the show was trying to deliver was beautiful I kind of wish it had played out differently. The murders had occurred. Even if Kwang Ho had gone back to his time the women would still be dead, and since they didn't have all the modern resources, there would be no way to tie the culprit to the crimes. Kwang Ho going to the future was a way to finally put an end to a forgotten tragedy, and bring closure to the families affected.

Beautiful, but I still wish it had a better ending.
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Ending (Rant)

I was expecting the ending to be a glimpse at the new future. What do I mean by that? (These time traveling shows are always a hassle to explain but I'll do my best) Kwang Ho is finally home and living his life with his wife and daughter. Doesn't that mean the future changed?  Now that he's been to the future and has met Kim Seon Jae as an adult shouldn't that have encouraged him to see baby Seon Jae more?

Didn't the future change?!!

It seems as if Kwang Ho came home and just acted like the case never happened. He changed and grew as a person, but I wanted to see more. I understand, there is nothing he could do at that point to solve the case. But I still felt he should've done something for Seon Jae, or to prepare for the future. I would've like to see how the future affected his actions once he returned to the past. And how his actions in the past effect the future. They did a good job tying everything together, but they also left some mini cliffhangers (leaving for space for a season 2, even though that probably won't happen)

I mean we discovered how the other Kwang Ho (N) was related to him! The older Kwang Ho should've been teaching baby Kwang Ho everything he needs to know so that in the future he could help capture the culprit ( cuz by then older Kwang Ho, would actually be old). I don't care what, but do something!!  I mean I was expecting the ending to go like this:

EXAMPLE ENDING:

They capture the criminal in ep. 15, and Kwang Ho goes back at the end of that episode. In episode 16 Kwang Ho is doing things in the past to help prepare for the future. We watch as his life continues and the changes that occurred. We see the true killer being taken in handcuffs (again)

And we end with a cute scene where we see a happy (still a cop) Seon Jae marrying Jae Yi. An older (retired) Kwang Ho and Yeon Suk smiling as they watch their daughter getting married. All their fellow detectives (past and present) unite for this happy event.

Or something like that.

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Conclusion

Overall the show was good. I enjoyed the drama but there were many parts I wished the producers had changed, or just cut out altogether. The mystery was great but it seemed as if the characters could have been portrayed differently (smarter would've nice). It would've been nice if they could've acted more like cops, and not let emotions lead them. It's not as good as Signal, or Nine: Nine Times Time Travel but I would recommend that people give this show a try. It's interesting and it offers something different to the time traveling genre.

 Thumping Spike

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Love for a thousand more

The happy Loner

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Page Turner

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Splash Splash Love

Adolescence medley

Hiya Friends! How R U Today?

Did you know that Thai drama's (Lakorns) have a lot in common with the Hallmark Channel?

What do I mean? Well, let me explain...

In the USA there's a TV channel, Hallmark, that features heartwarming romances and family oriented movies/TV Shows. The movies are guilty pleasures and addicting to watch but they can be cringe-worthy at times. There's only so much cheesy dialogue, and unrealistic love stories a girl can handle.

On this channel not only will you find multiple movies with similar plots, but you'll also even find the same actors in all these similar movies.

Lakorns are exactly this. Guilty pleasures, that star the same actors repeatably! It's not uncommon to finish watching an airing lakorn, and see one (or both) of the leads starring in this new show.

Want to know which Thai actors/actresses are popular? Just look at how many dramas they've starred in. It usually tells it all! If the list goes on forever then, you know they're popular. See that they starred in dramas released weeks apart? They must be superstars! (Although one big difference is that Hallmark movies cause you to cringe because they're overly sweet. Thai dramas have you cringing because of the amount of jealous woman and slap/kiss moments.)

Today I have created a guide of my favorite, popular Thai actors and my favorite shows starring them!

Note: I repeat. When you are a popular actor in Thailand your face will be everywhere! Some of the shows listed might also star other actors from this list!

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Push (Puttichai Kasetsin)

Note: It may not be official, but to me DJ Push is the prince of romantic-comedies! His goofy personality was mad for those kinds of shows! He was the main reason I decided to give Thai drama's a chance. His smile (and body) are just beautiful!
Best Shows: 
Ugly Duckling Perfect Match (Favorite)
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Mark (Prin Suparat)

Note: Prin is a very versatile actor. You'll find him in comedies, dramas, mystery. Basically, you'll see him everywhere! I love him in comedic roles, but after seeing him in Kleun Cheewit I changed my mind. Lawyer/Cop roles are better! He also stars in a few shows with his girlfriend Kimberly, and they're such a fun pair to watch. 
Best Shows


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Mario (Nutthawuth Maurer)

Best Shows:
The Rising Sun (favorite) 
Song Huajai Nee Puea Tur

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Ken (Phupoom Phongpanu)

Best Shows


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Boy (Pakorn Chatborirak)

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Nadech (Nadech Kugimiya)

Note: I haven't watched many shows staring Nadech, but that doesn't mean anything! From the shows I have seen I can tell he's very talented (and sexy). Something I have noticed though is that he stars alongside Urassaya, A LOT!! I don't know if the producers did that on purpose (they do look cute together and their chemistry is great!) or if its because they fit the roles. The world may never know... 
Best Shows:


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Golf (Pichaya Nitipaisalkul)