Prime Minister and I stars Lee Beom Soo and Yoona (Girl's Generation) as the titular characters, "Prime Minister" and "I," respectively. It started airing last December 2013 (on a Monday & Tuesday run time), and is almost nearing its end. I've only started watching it and I really got hooked. I'm not that of a fan of Yoona, and I'm not really familiar with Lee Beom Soo, that's why I didn't have the motivation to watch this drama when it first aired.
Now for the story..
This drama is about the Prime Minister of Korea who married a young reporter due to circumstances the they were in. Of course, like any other cliché K-drama goes, they don't like each other but still goes through with the wedding for convenient reasons. It's then called a "contract wedding" and so they struggle to keep this secret only between those people who were involved in making the decision. Even the Prime Minister's family (three kids) and Nam Da Jung's (Yoona) sick father are not aware of the wedding being a hoax.
As you might've noticed, the story is quite the same with Full House and Goong (which are two of my favorite Kdramas). The main characters get into a "contract wedding," where they have to pretend that they're all sweet and in love with each other when in reality, they hate each other and that they're just starting to fall in love. I love clichés like that, and so I easily got hooked with the story. I didn't really bother to look up this drama when it aired, but when I didn't have anything to watch on a certain day, I tried it out and ended up watching most of the episodes that's already out. What I like about this drama is that I don't expect any surprising twists or even exciting scenes from it. Just the good all romance of two people stuck in a situation wherein they're meant to fall in love, seals the deal for me. Clichés never disappoint, since you already know what could happen. I love it!
Not recommended though for those who hate clichés and those people who live for criticizing these sort of Korean romantic comedy drama. By the way, I don't have screenshots for this drama because I didn't download it due to lack of space in my hard drive (whale cries). I do need a new external hard drive because my 1 TB one is already full of movies, dramas, sitcoms, and anime. (whale cries again)
This variety show is a new one by KBS, which is also airing on KBS World TV. I got to know this show because of news from Allkpop.com mostly about Tablo's (Epik High) daughter, Haru. I'm a fan of Epik High and I really like Tablo and his wife Kang Hye Jung, that's why I wanted to watch this. Last Christmas vacation I watched some of the latest episodes of this show and I found it really cute.
The situation is like this: the mothers of the children will be out for 2 days and so the kids will stay with their dads and do chores or fun stuff which was left by mommy on the notes. The following celebrities are the participants in this show..
Choo Sung Hoon with his daughter, Choo Sarang. Sarang is a really bubbly (sort of) spoiled daughter of Choo Sung Hoon and his Japanese model wife, Shiho Yano. Sarang eats really well and she's really cute with her bangs and short, thin hair. Being a daughter, she's always being spoiled by her dad.
Lee Hwi Jae is with his twin baby sons. I think he has the most difficult job among the fathers since his kids are only 6 months old and still can't sleep at the proper time yet, and there are two of them. Nonetheless, the kids are already showing personalities and they're cute.
Jang Hyun Sung is with his two sons. His kids are more grown up than the rest of the kids, and the challenge for him is to properly teach his two sons how to be responsible at their age, while also hanging out with them to have fun.
Lastly, we have Tablo and his daughter, Haru. At the screenshot above, he witnesses his daughter holding hands with her friend. He was the one who asked his daughter to go look around the zoo with her friends and Haru took the initiative to hold the hand of the young boy so that they can look around together, but Tablo already got jealous of the young boy. Haha! He's so cute. Anyway, Haru is quite smart and mature, although really picky about food. She looks like her father because her eyes are the same as him.
This reality show is a really cute one because of the different personalities of the kids and the funny ways the fathers try to raise their child without the mom's help. I hope this continues and I will continue watching it online, on KBS World TV's Youtube channel.
Here's episode 7 (with English subtitles) from Youtube:
Badump Badump is a skit on Gag Concert which is my current favorite skit now. When I went to Dubai for the holidays, I watched Gag Concert on KBS World and tried to look for good skits, since I wasn't familiar with the skits anymore (because they were all new ones).
Guy: Why did you suddenly ask to see a movie?
Girl: I've wanted to see this, and you're the only one that was free.
Guy: Why would you watch this movie? You only watch action movies.
Why watch a romantic comedy? Do you want to be in a relationship?
*cue opening tune of Ode to my Family by The Cranberries*
I like this skit because it's not your usual skit with all the funny lines and body gags but because it's based on a love story between two friends who are too afraid to admit that they like each other and so when it's being implied (that they like each other), they go all "OMG he/she's going to find out" or "I really like this feeling but I can't tell him/her" on their minds. There are many instances and the screen shot above is one example. The situation is funny itself. They would always do things together (like watch a movie) and insist that they only do so because they're both single and really good friends yet they don't want to admit to each other that they do want to be in a relationship (with one another) or something like that. The opening tune of the "Ode to my Family" by The Cranberries is the background music for when they're feeling all fuzzy inside that they seem like a couple but they're not (officially) committed.
Another part of this skit is the funny younger sister of the girl who is also close to the guy, since they're good friends. The younger sister would always see the two doing something together outside which often seems like a date. However, when the sister would finally say a line that should be "Are you two dating?," instead she will say something else that would make them seem like they're indeed just friends, and that would be the punch line.
In the end, these two would still be friends that has feelings for each other that they would never(?) admit, and that's just too funny for us viewers. We'll never know, once this skit ends, the two idiots might eventually end up together like they would always do in the dramas and movies. For now, let's just enjoy them being all giddy inside and while denying that they want to be in each other's arms! (while we laugh at them)
You can watch Gag Concert on KBS World TV Youtube channel.
Reply 1994 ended last Saturday, leaving all of the hopeful fans heartbroken. In every drama that I've watched and liked, I would always feel heartbroken and empty after watching the final episode. Whether I like the ending or not, it will always feel like a good friend leaving for somewhere faraway. This time also, I felt like friends who stuck with me through the latter part of 2013 left me alone again in facing challenges in life. I think that that's how I show my sincere liking for Korean dramas, and whether the stories may be clichéd or too simple, the value it has for me will never change.
Reply 1994 is a Kdrama that I've recently got attached to (and stuck with every week) and the fact that it already ended makes me want to watch it all over again from start to finish. I'm just going to point out some of the highlights of the last episode (Episode 21) of Reply 1994.
Na Jung and Chilbong got some closure, although Chilbong was really heartbroken.
The two "rivals" also got some closure, apparently as sunbae and hoobae.
The first glimpse of the husband, where the foot was only shown, and now the husband's face was finally revealed.
Sseuregi (Trash) or Kim Jae Joon is Na Jung's husband. This is the part when Na Jung's father scolded the husband for choosing the date of their wedding as the same day as the soccer World Cup game.
Sung Dong Il appa hesitating to give Na Jung's hand to Sseuregi.
The happy husband and wife.
There were few moments from the present time that were cleared out, like when Sook-sook asked his brother-in-law to answer Il Hwa omma's call.
The wallet catching thing was also cleared out, because apparently Sam Cheon Po caught the wallet and gave it to Trash hyung-nim.
The scene where Sung Shi Won met the husband from an earlier episode was also shown.
Finally, the scene where everyone gathers in Na Jung and Kim Jae Joon's house for a house-warming party and leaves the house to end the series.
In this scene, it was also revealed that the flat is Chilbong's and that Na Jung and Sseuregi's family is only renting it, which explains why Chilbong is comfortable inside the house already. They also talked about how everyone's first loves worked out, except for Chilbong, who then joked that his also worked out well.
Sung Na Jung and Kim Jae Joon's wedding photo, with awkward Chilbong at the back.
Bonus! Sseuregi appa with his youngest son. So cute!
Finally, we have the final moments of the past. This was in 2002, days before Na Jung and Sseuregi's wedding. They were all watching a soccer match of Korea in the World Cup.
The morning after watching the game, they all gathered for the final breakfast that they will have after living together in the boarding house for many years. Boarding house omma again went all out in preparing the breakfast.
Everyone said their goodbyes, and Haitai was the last one to leave the boarding house since Sam Cheon Po and Yoon Jin already got married a year ago. They took a final photo to commemorate their final moments in the boarding house.
This is the saddest part of the episode, since I feel like I'm also part of the gang and that we're all going our separate ways after this episode.
Towards the end, we also see a scene where Chilbong meets a girl who apparently is from the countryside and also refers to slippers as "ddal-ddari" like how Na Jung referred to Trash's slippers back then, and this made Chilbong laugh.
Haitai became an office worker who succumbs to his superiors, even though in his youth, he was all energetic and did what he wanted.
Na Jung became a strict mother, who would always pay attention to his kids' studies, which is very different from how she was part of a fan culture (basketball) in her youth.
Sam Cheon Po and Yoon Jin enjoying technology, which back then was only a walkman. It was also mentioned that they were really lucky to have experienced both analog and digital in their lifetime.
Binggrae or Kim Dong Joon diligently working in the medical field (revealed to be in the dermatology department in a past episode) despite having issues of identity crisis and career path back then.
Finally, the boarding house went out of business, days before Na Jung's wedding. This final scene made me really empty inside, and it was the perfect way to end the series.
I have many thoughts about this drama, and I might as well reveal them all here. I love it. Even though some people who "shipped" whomever with Na Jung got either really happy or disappointed with the drama, I still believe that in the end, the essence of the drama was redeemed. I also got to a point where I got sick of the husband guessing game but I continued on watching it for the sake of the whole gang. I didn't care anymore who the husband will be (but I initially shipped Na Jung and Sseuregi, since it was first to bloom) and nor should anyone sincerely watching the show. What I mean is that the essence of the drama is to show the life in the past and Na Jung's husband being a mystery is only part of the fun. That's why this show shouldn't be judged whether Na Jung married the "right" guy for him or whether it was justified that Sseuregi should be with Na Jung or not. I think that the writers redeemed the drama towards this last episode and really showed the true beauty of this series. Don't get me wrong, I'm really satisfied with the way this story was told, and only the husband guessing game being extended for too long that got me a bit uneasy watching this. Nonetheless, I've never watched a drama this good lately (well, except for Gu Family Book) and I'm really happy that I had Reply 1994 with me this 2013.
I will definitely miss the whole Reply 1994 gang and I believe that I love this gang much more than the Reply 1997 one, since I can probably relate to these 20-somethings more. Before I get too depressed, I just found out that there would be a special episode that will air Jan 3, 2014. Here's a preview of what's in store for us Reply 1994 fans in that special.
Last December 12, 2013, YG Entertainment released a teaser video (embedded above) on Youtube for a new unit created within YG family. The logo showed the letters B and H, which probably is the initials of the members of the new unit. In the video, we also saw two girls creepily walking and holding hands. Of course, as many have suspected, the two girls are indeed Park Bom and Lee Hi.
After the first teaser, 2 more videos were released, which showed Bom and Hi. This December 17, 2013, there will be a pre-release of their single, "All I Want For Christmas Is You," which is a version of Mariah Carey's song of the same title. I think the song will be available on that day on this website, since it was linked in the YG-Family page on Facebook.
I was so excited for this new unit of YGE, since these two have really powerful and lovely vocals. I really adore Lee Hi and I have been waiting for her to be back, promoting again and this is such a good time, because it's the most wonderful time of the year and their singing this wonderful song! Did I just fangirl? Well yeah, that's the purpose of my blog. On the other hand, Bom joining Hi is such a dream come true since both ladies have the most beautiful voices in YGE.
Definitely look forward to these two collaborating this Christmas!
Bel Ami or Pretty Boy is a Korean drama series still airing in Korea and started airing last November. It is a drama series based from a manhwa (Korean comic book). This series stars Jang Geun Seuk, IU, and Han Chae Young.
Jang Geun Seuk plays Dokgo Ma Te, a playboy and a really beautiful man. So far, Jang Geun Seuk only played roles of this kind, a narcissistic man who is popular among women because of his pretty face. He fits the role well, since he is, well, pretty.
Alongside Jang Geun Seuk is IU, who plays the role Kim Bo Tong. Kim Bo Tong is a grown adult in her mid-twenties who still lives with her family and is unemployed. She's a family friend of Ma Te, and so they have an oppa-dongsaeng (older brother-younger sibling) relationship.
However, Kim Bo Tong is not only a family friend, but also an admirer of Ma Te. She likes Ma Te to the point that she'll do anything for him, and sees no other man more attractive than Ma Te.
Before finding out that Ma Te is the son of her (Bo Tong) mother's friend, Bo Tong met Ma Te on a bus, back when she was still in high school.
Ma Te looked so handsome that everyone in the bus were staring at him, including Bo Tong. Bo Tong immediately had a crush on him upon seeing him.
When Bo Tong went home, she then found out that Ma Te is the son of her mom's friend who just moved to their neighborhood. She was so happy and considered their meeting to be the fated. After that, Bo Tong remained loyal to Ma Te.
As I mentioned earlier, Ma Te is a playboy who wants to get rich. He easily does that by dating rich women.
Ma Te meets another girl who he suspects to be lurking around him for several years now. He confronts the lady and then finds out that she knows many things about him that even he didn't know about. That older lady is Hong Yoo Ra (played by Han Chae Young), an ex-wife of a rich man who comes from a chaebol (business conglomerate). Hong Yoo Ra needs Ma Te in executing her revenge against the family of his ex-husband.
After meeting Hong Yoo Ra, Ma Te rushes to the hospital with her because of his mom. Just after seeing Ma Te, his mom passed away and it was revealed that she was suffering from cancer for a while now. Hong Yoo Ra also got to meet with Ma Te's mom just after she died.
Another character, Choi David, will come out in the second episode, that's why I don't have a screenshot of him in this post. David will be Bo Tong's lover in the love triangle happening in this story..
That's it for the introduction, and I didn't mention something that's important to the plot of the story in this post, since (as always) I don't want to spoil anything. I have to admit that the story is not that great, and it really seems that it came from a manhwa. I like reading manga/manhwa, but these two, manhwa and drama series, have their own elements unique to them, and maybe that's why I'm not finding this drama series to be that recommendable. I will still keep on watching it though, because of curiosity, but I will not promise that I will keep on watching it until the end.
Mnet Asian Music Awards this 2013 was held in Hongkong last Friday, November 22, 2013. I watched it from start to end, although I didn't get to watch some parts because I had to do something. Fortunately, I was just in time for Bigbang's performance. Apart from Bigbang, there's also one more thing that I was looking forward to this MAMA 2013. When I watched the red carpet on MAMA 2013, which was prior the awards show itself (obviously), I was so glad to see Go Ah Ra and Jung Woo together. I looked forward to them presenting some awards. What I didn't expect though was the appearance of these two..
Much like last year's MAMA where Shi Won (Jung Eun Ji) and Yoon Jae (Seo In Guk) had a short skit during the awards, this year also, Reply 1994 had a short appearance. Haitai and Samcheonpo introduced the next presenters, Jung Woo and Go Ah Ra (Trash-oppa and Na Jung) from Reply 1994.
Samcheonpo was amazed that Stevie Wonder also came to MAMA 2013.
Haitai mentioned that G-Dragon was the one who ran the Coup D'Etat (GD's album), while Samcheonpo reacted that many girls like him (GD).
Again we see Samcheonpo, singing EXO's Growl.
They're apparently also going to watch MAMA 2013.
As they went on and watched MAMA, they saw Na Jung (Go Ah Ra)..
and Sseuregi (Trash/Garbage) hyung-nim on air.
Here they are realizing that these two left them to go to Hongkong and be presenters at MAMA.
Both shouted "Sseuregi-hyung nim!!" and "Na Jung-ah!," as they watch the show.
Funny thing is that Jung Woo (Sseuregi) answered to these two (Haitai and Samcheonpo)'s call, in satoori (dialect)!
Jung Eun Ji was also focused by the camera because she was also part of the Reply 1997 gang..
Another funny incident while Jung Woo and Ah Ra presented was when Ah Ra spoke (fluently) in English and asked Jung Woo to say something (in English) to introduce himself and Jung Woo answered "me too." It was so funny and embarrassing at the same time. Jung Woo just made "Sseuregi" come alive in MAMA. Hahaha!
Nonetheless, even if Reply 1994 did not air that night, it was still fun watching them in MAMA. However, I still am not satisfied with the only episode last week! I am so lacking of Reply 1994 feels right now that I had to dedicate this week's K-Mondays to Reply 1994 again. Anyways, here's the list of winners in MAMA 2013 by Allkpop.
