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)
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.
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.
Reply 1994/Answer Me 1994 is now on its 10th episode, and there are quite few progress made in this episode regarding Na Jung's husband. By far, we now know that Kim Jae Joon is the husband's name, and that Kim Sung Gyun (Samcheonpo) is not a candidate anymore. In this (fangirl spazz) post, I will recall some moments in episode 10 that are important for the flow of the story, or just plain fun.
In this episode, we have a glimpse of the husband's back. I have to admit, I screamed right then and there, that it's definitely "CHILBONG!" Considering his choice of hairstyle back in 1994, Chilbong is a strong candidate because of this back view. However, we'll never know, Haitai or Trash might also sport this kind of hairstyle in 2002, or specially just for the wedding.
In this view, my jaw dropped in shock because I thought that Trash and Binggrae were holding hands. After replaying the scene over and over, I realized that it was just Binggrae's hands.
Now, Na Jung here in 2013 is seen winking at her husband.
Haitai replied with a wink and a finger gun, attempting to answer to Na Jung's wink.
Chilbong or Joon, made an "Aaang" sound in response.
While Binggrae showed kissy lips and Trash winking with a peace sign.
We all know that Samcheonpo is Yoon Jin's husband by this time, and his attempt to wink at Na Jung is then answered by the hilarious goat in the background.
Baseball player Kim Jae Hyeon apparently attended Na Jung's wedding, and left an important message saying that the wife and the groom look alike. So there are two things: Kim Jae Hyeon has bad eye sight or he's telling the truth. You know what I mean?
Na Jung finally confessed to Oppa-ya, Trash, in the morning of the first snow fall of 1994 in Seoul. She didn't want to pressure oppa, so she told him that he shouldn't be burdened with having to answer. Also, Na Jung told Oppa-ya to just hug her in moments like this.
Because of certain circumstances, Na Jung and Trash-oppa ended up watching a movie together. Trash-oppa seemed to enjoy the movie, while Na Jung feels awkward all by herself. Why, Trash-oppa, Why?
Another entertaining scene in this episode is the protest dance. It seems easy and fun to dance, and if protests were as fun as this, I would be in every rally.
As we can see here, Yoon Jin and Samcheonpo's mom are bonding over seashells. Yoon Jin seems to be returning the favor of Samcheonpo's politeness to Yoon Jin's mom back when Yoon Jin's mom visited Seoul. Also, it's the start of a close relationship between these future in-laws.
What?! They kissed again? Yes. This time, Na Jung was conscious. She was indeed conscious because she's awake and not drunk, and she's conscious because she already knows how Chilbong feels about her. Before this romantic kiss at New Year's midnight, Chilbong confessed his feelings for Na Jung. That's why this scene is full of Chilbong-Na Jung feels for the shippers.
When Binggrae and Trash were both left in Seoul, Binggrae took the chance to ask Trash to watch a movie together with him to celebrate the new year. Binggrae plans to watch the movie that Trash and Na Jung watched earlier, but then Trash had already seen it. However, Trash admits that he was not able to catch the story of the movie (despite his laughter, and now we know that it's fake) and that he could watch it again. This proves that Trash-oppa was also affected by Na Jung's confession. Although, if Trash-oppa remains the same in the next episode, I will definitely get off that ship.
Aww. Yoon Jin and Sung Gyun's (Samcheonpo) first kiss. I really like this couple, although I was rooting for Haitai-Yoon Jin at first. I didn't have anything to say about it though when it was revealed that Yoon Jin and Samcheonpo got married, because I think that their love story is really romantic. This first kiss on a boat during the first sunrise of the year is also as romantic as it gets and I'm really happy about it. In K-dramas, you don't usually get a romantic first kiss because it's usually coerced, without the consent of the female (commonly). Yoon Jin's and Samcheonpo's, however, was a product of both their desire to kiss each other, with mutual feelings. (Ahh so romantic, I can't)
What to look forward to on the next episode? Yoon Jin's hairstyle change! Is this because she's a woman who's in love now? We'll find out on the next episode. The preview was quite confusing so I will not talk about it.
In the preview, we see that Haitai is still in the running (or that's what the writer wants us to feel or see). Now, which ship am I really sailing? At first, I was an extreme Najung-Trash shipper. However, when Chilbong showed his cute personality (and hot body hahaha) and rapport with Na Jung, I immediately shipped both. It became hard to choose between the two because I feel like the writers are toying with our feelings because both are equally deserving. However, I said before in this post that if Trash-oppa will not do anything about Na Jung's confession, then I will most likely get off that ship. In Haitai's case, the show hasn't showed much Haitai-Na Jung romantic interaction (but in the preview for the next episode, there might be something) so I still am not convinced that Haitai is a viable option as Na Jung's future husband. Nevertheless, I still love this drama series. The concept really fits my taste and I just hope that I will not be disappointed.
