Hi friends, I would like to throwback to 2017 so far. It's been a great year and I would love to share some dramas that would be nice for you to take a look. Here's on my best version:
1. Hospital Ship
Rating: 7/10
This medical drama tells a story about Song Eun Jae (played by Ha Ji Won) as an immensely talented surgeon. She has seen a lot of success as a surgeon, but also a lot of struggles in her family life. When an unfortunate incident leads her to a ship instead of a prestigious hospital, she has little compassion for the stubborn elderly patients. Kwak Hyun (played by Kang Min Hyuk) is the emotional opposite of his senior doctor, Song Eun Jae and strives to be a warm and caring person. He heals not just with medicine but a smile. With the meeting of the two, Song Eun Jae began to change.
I love how warm Kwak Hyun is. He may not be the perfect example of male lead, but he has those warm eyes and smiles. Though the difference in their age is quite big, I think Kang Min Hyuk has done quite well. Check out my review
here I love most when Kwak Hyun is really persistent and consistent in loving Song Eun Jae. He becomes her pillar of strength and also someone to depend on. Though it takes quite a while for her to open up, but I love how patience Kwak Hyun is. Even when he said, "Between us, it's not a wall, but a door. When you are ready, just open the door. I'll be standing right in front of you."
Maybe it's just my personal opinion and the condition at that time really comforted me due to his saying, that "I am not holding on, just let things go the way it goes. At least that person is not uncomfortable with me around. And if nothing changes forever, that'd be good too. If she's not the one, there will be a different path. Relax, time will solve all matters." and that's when I love his character so much, for being so mature and understanding towards Eun Jae's pride. When you like someone, just be consistent enough. If he/she's not the one, then you get another one, isn't it? Let things go the way it should go. Wise enough, man. You can't force fate to happen, anyway.
It just one thing I don't like the most, the sudden cancer of Song Eun Jae which feels like being forced. It would be better to just have a happy ending instead. For the medical science, there are parts that I feel a bit too much for just a hospital ship. Sometimes I would wonder as well, why this ship suddenly handles all the surgeries. But let's just say that this is purely for the sake of drama. Anyway, if you just want a simple kind of realistic kind of love story, then go ahead for this one. You won't only gain the romantic story, but also medical case.
2. Legend of The Blue Sea
Rating: 8/10
Legend of The Blue Sea tells a classic fairy tales of "Little Mermaid" who was created by Hans Christian Andersen. This is the first comeback of Jun Ji Hyun after starring in the massive hit "My Love From The Star" back then in 2013 as Cheon Song Yi. Her opposite is the famous actor of "Boys Before Flowers" & "The Heirs", Lee Min Ho. With the star-studded cast, we would say that the rating would be high, but this time, Jun Ji Hyun & Lee Min Ho didn't nail it like their previous dramas. I would say the story is very interesting indeed, and Jun Ji Hyun is super beautiful as well.
In my opinion, maybe because both of them took a similar role with their previous character - which of course, for Jun Ji Hyun's case, I would say, I like Cheon Song Yi's antics better. She's just the best. But as Shim Cheong, she's good as well with her own antics here. She also nailed as the fashion icon. I also love the story between Heo Jun Jae and Shim Cheong here because their love spans across the ocean, across the time and again, they work together to prevent the tragedy to happen.
3. Goblin/Guardian: The Lonely and Great God
Rating: 8/10
The massive hit for 2017 with Guardian's final episode recorded an 18.68% nationwide audience share, making it the second highest rated drama in Korean cable television history. It received critical acclaim and became a cultural phenomenon in South Korea. The drama success is also due to the casting which line up Gong Yoo (first comeback after 5 years), Kim Go Eun, Lee Dong Wook and Yoo In Na. You all know that this drama tells a story of goblin life that bears a bloody sword in his chest and has been given eternal life as punishment. In order to end his life, he has to find a goblin bride who can remove the sword from his body.
The twist and complexity of life and death make the story even more interesting. Gong Yoo and Lee Dong Wook's bromance also shines throughout the drama. I give a standling applause to Kim Eun Sook for her creativity in creating a cultural phenomenon which she took an idea from children's folklore. One thing I don't like is the casting of Kim Go Eun (sorry), but I like someone else taking the character. Maybe that's why when I watched this drama, the temptation is not that big. As in I can watch it later on, rather than the next day after it aired like what I usually do.
Another thing I don't quite like, is the ending of the story. What is the purpose of having the goblin bride if in the end, the Goblin still has to live a lonely life again, waiting for the reincarnation of his love? There's nothing better than this bittersweet ending, I agree. But I like a happy ending instead.
4. Strong Woman Do Bong Soon
Rating: 9.5/10
This drama is my favorite of 2017 and I would say, it's a MUST watch drama if you like a romantic comedy and also thriller drama. You would surely feel the fun and happiness by watching this one.
It tells a story of a woman name, Do Bong Soon (played by Park Bo Young) who was born with superhuman strength. Her strength is hereditary and passed along only to the women in her family. Her dream is to create a video game with herself as the main character. She desperately wants to become a willowy and elegant woman, which is the ideal type of her crush, In Guk Doo (played by Ji Soo), a police officer. Thanks to her strength, she gets the job of a bodyguard to a rich heir Ahn Min Hyuk (played by Park Hyung Sik), the CEO of a gaming company, Ainsoft. Contrary to Guk Doo, Min Hyuk is an odd man who is playful, a little spoiled, has no regard for rules, and dislikes policemen. He has recently received anonymous threats, blackmails, and has even been stalked at an occasion.
One day, a series of kidnapping cases break in Dobong-dong, the district Bong Soon lives in, and she is determined to catch the culprit after her friend was targeted. With the help and training from Min Hyuk, she manages to control her strength to use it for good causes. Min Hyuk and Bong Soon find themselves and their relationship grew into something more.
I love this story because it's funny, light and the romance between Min Min & Bong Bong is just too cute too miss it. These two couple becomes the most adorable couple in the whole Korean dramaland. Besides, you would surely fall for Park Hyung Sik's puppy eyes and his heart-touching acting. I just love the story from the beginning, till the end of the story. Perfect ending as well. It took quiet a while to move on from Ahn Min Hyuk.
5. While You Were Sleeping
Rating: 7/10
I always love Suzy no matter what. This time around, admitted that she's far better than her usual acting. I love that she finally choose a happy ending drama. This drama is a pre-produced story, with her opposite starring, Lee Jong Suk (sorry, I don't like him though). This drama is also a debut for Jung Hae In who is cast as the handsome police officer.
This drama tells a story of a woman who can see future events through her dreams and she works together with a prosecutor to prevents the tragedy to happen. Mostly, this drama will tell a legal case about murder, kidnapping and also harrassment which is a concern in the society. The story is just so-so in my opinion, but if you are looking for something nice to watch, this one is still a good one to check.
6. Temperature of Love
Rating: 5/10
This drama tells a story of two people who first meet online and soon develop a relationship when they meet in person but then get separated after choosing different paths for their careers. The first half of the episodes is super nice.
But I am truly disappointed with the second half of the drama because the story becomes a bit dragging and I don't like how the writer wrote the story. Maybe it was just my personal opinion, but seriously, why don't Lee Hyun Soo (played by Seo Hyun Jin) gave a chance for Park Jung Woo (played by Kim Jae Wook)? When he decided to confess to her, she rejected him in a way I couldn't understand and still in love with On Jung Sun (played by Yang Se Jong) even after 5 years of being separated. It's 5 years, and the only person who always stay by her side is Park Jung Woo.
You would have those heart-wrenching moment between those innocent couples, Seo Hyun Jin & the rookie actor Yang Se Jong in the beginning. And if you have to choose, you would be torn between Yang Se Jong & Kim Jae Wook, believe me. I know it's me being very subjective. It's hard I know to accept someone you don't love or feel anything with. But I hoped before that at least, Lee Hyun Soo would be realistic enough to see the reality. It's just me maybe who can't connect with her - our choices in life is far too different.
7. My Golden Life
Rating: 8.5/10
It's a bit difficult for me to give the rating for this drama. If we talk about the real problem, this drama actually nails it. My Golden Life depicts a story about a mother's misguided love has caused her daughters to get swapped in status, and so the heroine Seo Ji An (played by
Shin Hye Sun) enters the chaebol household to have a better life without knowing she is actually not their long-lost daughter, but her "former twin" sister instead.
The long-lost daughter is a very typical story in Korean drama land (still remember about Autumn in My Heart, right?) But it's still a very interesting story to watch as you would be curious enough as how the show managed to find the right track back. Even I found myself was addicted in the first half of the drama. No wonder this family drama could break 44% of rating - which is very rare.
Besides, Seo Ji An also develops a deep relationship with the chaebol heir, Choi Do Kyung (played by
Park Si Hoo). After the complicated family problems, it is difficult to say that their love story would also end up in a happy ending. Regarding their romance, I would say, I wish the writer could write a more convincing story. I don't quite like Park Si Hoo's acting actually, and it's Shin Hye Sun who did a really great job. Her character stands out and she deserves all the praise. Maybe it's me, but I couldn't find the chemistry in their bittersweet story.
8. Eternal Love/Three Lives Three Worlds, Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms (三生三世十里桃花)
Rating: 9.5/10
It's been quite long since I watched Chinese/Taiwanese dramas. After the popular Taiwanese Drama of
Fated To Love You 命中注定我愛你 and
Autumn's Concerto 下一站，幸福, it's been quite a while for a Chinese dramas to do a good job in producing a good series. But in 2011, Taiwanese drama did a comeback nicely with
In Time With You 我可能不會愛你 starring Ariel Line & Bolin Chen. Besides, there is also a popular classic period dramas called 步步惊心 Startling by Each Step or called Scarlet Heart. It's a travel time kind of dramas which brought a 21st century girl to experience the live in Qing Dynasty.
Since then, I rarely watched Chinese series till I found a very good period drama again, called Eternal Love. It's a super romantic and heart-touching dramas which has a complex kind of story, plot and twist. It's boring in the first 5 episodes, but bear with it, because it sets a background with the touching love story that ascends through three lives and three worlds.
This story tells about a story of the Immortal Princess of Fox Clan, Bai Qian (played by Yang Mi) who happens to lose her identity when she was in a war with the Ghost Lord and was sent to the mortal world with her true identity sealed and does not even know who she actually is. During her time in the mortal world, she met with the Heavenly Crown Prince, Ye Hua (played by Mark Chao) who was there for a mission. Ye Hua gave her the name of Su Su. The two of them fell in love and got married in the mortal world.
Ye Hua knows that his Heavenly Lord would not approve his marriage with a mortal girl, thus intend to hide her. But his plan failed and Su Su was brought to the Heaven to be given a death sentenced until it was revealed that she's pregnant with Ye Hua's child. She was then given permission to live in the Heaven until she gave birth. But during the time there, Princess Su Jin, who likes Ye Hua crazily got jealous of Ye Hua's love for Su Su, thus accomplice with the Heavenly Lord to send Su Su back to her world. She then made a plot to steal Su Su's eyes. Ye Hua took Su Su's eyes to replace Su Jin's eyes whose got hurt because she purposely threw herself to the Zhuxian Terrace (a pond that could bring anyone back to its true identity - or death pond). Su Su was left blind and she finally gave birth to a Prince - which she never holds. She was in so much pain for not being able to take care of her child and she knew the Heaven's people do not like her exsistence. Ye Hua's love couldn't even bury her pain. Thus, she decided to suicide by throwing herself to the Zhuxian Terrace.
She was then backed to be her true self, High Goddess Bai Qian of the Fox Clan, still remembered her life as a mortal. Because the memories is not bearable for her, she decided to drink the amnesia potion to forget it. 300 years later, she met with Ye Hua again, the Crown Prince who she supposed to be engaged to. Ye Hua recognized her as Su Su and draws conclusion that Bai Qian and Su Su is the same person, thus decided to pursue her love again. Their love was so beautiful, even by living a life with different identity, they would fall for the same person again. Their love story is so beautiful that spans across the lifetime and becomes a legend.
I just love Ye Hua's character in this drama. He can be charismatic, cool, calm, gentle, soft, warm, and sweet at the same time. A typically good father and husband. I loved how devoted he is towards Su Su, no matter how many girls tried to chase him. He's just that loyal to Su Su till I have no words to describe it. Yang Mi's acting as Bai Qian is also extraordinary. She's just that elegant, charismatic and innocent at the same time.
This drama is a must watch in 2017. You would surely love it. Even I cried in some of the episodes.
With the deep plot and complicated story, this show really deserves all the love...It makes me Check out
here
How do I give a rate?
I would give 8.5+ for a drama that could make me addicted with the new episodes, or the one that I couldn't stop watching, being a little bit addicted that would affect my everyday life, or the one which I watch directly after it aired.
So, which one is your favorite? Tell me in the comment below!
