Korean Drama : Reply 1988 (Hangul: 응답하라 1988)

I really have no intention of watching this drama because I was quite disappointed with Reply 1997. Since then, I lost the excitement to watch any REPLY drama series. But, then one day my dearest friend who is a Korean told me to watch REPLY 1988, because it is really good, and the only Korean drama he'd watch with his entire life. He keeps talking and convincing me to watch it, while I was skeptical the whole time, and suddenly utter the words 진짜 for real??? (Chincha-means Really). And he goes saying, Yes. I'll bet you'll gonna love it. So I decided to give it a try, watch it, since this person really mean a lot to me.

Reply 1988 It is a family drama set in the year 1988, about five families living in the same neighborhood of Ssangmun-dong, Dobong District, Northern Seoul. Inspired from the Three Families Under One Roof (1986) drama and third installment of the Reply series. Starring Lee Hyeri, Park Bo-gum, Ryu Jun-yeol, Go Kyung-pyo, and Lee Dong-hwi. 

THE FAMILY

Sung Family

• Sung Dong-il (played by Sung Dong-il) - Deok-sun's father.
• Lee Il-hwa (played by Lee Il-hwa) - Deok-sun's mother.
• Sung Deok-sun (played by Lee Hyeri) - the only girl in their group of five neighborhood friends.She has a bubbly personality and always makes people around her happy. Unfortunately she is kind and ranked 999th in school. 
• Sung Bo-ra (played by Ryu Hye-young) - Deok-sun's older sister, a student at Seoul National University ill-tempered and always fight with Deok-sun.
• Sung No-eul (played by Choi Sung-won) - Deok-sun's younger brother, but he looks much older than his age.

Kim Family

• Kim Sung-kyun (played by Kim Sung-kyun) - Jung-hwan's father, he act so wierd and a little childish. He loves to fix things and end-up screwing everything.
• Ra Mi-ran (played by Ra Mi-ran) - Jung-hwan's mother a little freak, thank to her husband behavior.
• Kim Jung-hwan (played by Ryu Jun-yeol) -known as Jungpal among the group, his a little rude especially to Deok-sun, it is his way of hiding his true feelings towards the latter. He loves soccer and a top students in there school and always stay cool most of the time but actually he's very warm inside. 
• Kim Jung-bong (played by Ahn Jae-hong) - Jung-hwan's older brother. He failed 7 times in college exam. Acts weird but really smart.

Sun-woo Family

• Kim Sun-young (played by Kim Sun-young) - Sun-woo's mother. She's a widow and Taek's father bestfriend.
• Sung Sun-woo (played by Go Kyung-pyo) - A good kid and a caring brother, his a dependable son to his family. He always stick to the principle and studies all the time. Like Jung-hwan his also a top student in school. His father died two years ago so he's the only guy of the family. Very obedient to his mother, and never complains anything to her. 
• Sung Jin-joo (played by Kim Seol) - Sun-woo's cute little sister.

Choi Family

• Choi Moo-sung (played by Choi Moo-sung) - is Taek's father. His also a widower. And always acts to cool in front of everybody. Later he and Sung-woon's mother will fall in love and get married.
• Choi Taek (played by Park Bo-gum) - is a genius baduk player; he quits school and focus his self only about baduk. Taek is very happy whenever his gang gathers in his house after he comes back from the international competition. Among the group he thinks Deok-sun is pretty and openly admit he has feeling for Deok-sun.

Ryu family

• Ryu Jae-myung (played by Yoo Jae-myung) - is Dong-ryong's father. He is also the boys homeroom teacher and principal in school.
• Ryu Dong-ryong (played by Lee Dong-hwi) is the geek and mood-maker of the group; he never study even though his father is the school's principal but he has more knowledgeable about girls and life in general. He also like to dance all the time. 

One of the biggest difference about this drama from the rest of reply series is that, it emphasis on family and friendship mix with romance and comedy. While Reply 1997 focused more about the past of the youth. I have zero expectation when I started watching this series and you know why. Reply 1988 blow me away, my friend is right this drama is really good. The story involves not only to the main leads and the friends but also everyone in the neighborhood. They group themselves from father, mother and youngster group. It's character has its own story. There wasn't any episodes wherein I did not shed any tears, laugh like fool and giggle to the max. I'm a self proclaim SUCKER in any drama with touching story-line, especially if it involves about family and friendship. My friend is right when he told that watching Reply 1988 would make you realize how people changed over the past. Mid-way through this drama I can't help but look back, from how I was before technology dominates the present day time. Life of today is really by far different from what it is used to be before. People talk and had a real communication and can survive without any technology. And live a simple, genuinely happy and contented life. While today is the other way around. 

Spoiler Alert! Read at your own risk!!!

• LOVE TRIANGLE - Deoksun-Taek-Jungpal. 

Jungpal is a total bummer!!! Why?, because he likes Deoksun but doesn't have the courage to confess his feeling and always blame the wrong timing. Totally absurd!!! Deoksun even some sort of feelings that Jungpal might have feelings for her and even showed a little excitement about it and he just blow it away. Although, I would like to thanked his action by doing so, because I'm a die-hard Team Taek fan. So it wasn't that frustrating at all when he decided to step back and not pursue Deoksun anymore.

• TEAM TAEK 

Taek and Deoksun shared a good bond of friendship, they are bit close to each other compared to the rest of the boys. Deoksun always look after Taek and always worries about him. Taek on the other hand is alway's submissive to Deoksun. Although I never hinted this two would end up together because it was Deoksun-Sungwoo, then Sungwoo-Bora, then Deoksun-Jungpal. So I was really thrilled when Taek told the boy's that he has feelings towards Deoksun. From that moment on, I stop guessing who would be Deoksun's love interest in the drama, because right then and then I could feel that it was Taek. And I'm so happy my intuitions did not disappoint me. Because my heart really goes for Park Bo-gum (Taek) hahaha. How can it be not? He makes me giggle, his so sweet and adorable cute. His role in this drama win my heart. I wasn't even aware that this wasn't my first time seeing this guy act. As I become a Bo-gum fan, I started borrowing him in the net. And I found that he was part of "Cantabile Tomorrow". I was too blind to see him being close with my bae "Moon Joo Won" or it was maybe because his role there as a Juilliard-educated cellist isn't exciting as the famous baduk player in Reply1988? Anyhow this guy won another soul all the way from Philippines. Big thanks to REPLY 1988 and to my friend for pestering me watch this drama ;)

• THE WEDDING

Oooops! Don't get your expectation too high, because it's not Taek-Deoksun's wedding. It's Sunwoo and Bora. 

If I have to choose which Reply series is the best, obviously this series would be my choice. Though I heard the original is still the best but Reply 1988 captivated my heart and mind. Not to mention how awesome the ending. 

Although I was a little disappointed with how Jungpal (Ryu Jun-yeol) and Dongryong (Lee Dong-hwi) character ended because lets face it, this two were both utterly fantastic in their roles but they get nothing in the end. Anyhow, everyone is great. They played with distinctive colors and intensity throughout the end. It's no surprise that this drama had the highest rating ever for a cable drama viewership, achieving 18.8 % for the finale.

MY RATINGS : 10/10


Have you been watching REPLY 1988? What do you think about it? Share your thoughts and leave your comments below! Happy Drama Watching Everyone!!!

(PS. All picture grabbed from google credits to its owner)

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Korean Drama : She Was Pretty (Hangul: 그녀는 예뻤다)

WARNING: I know a lot of people LIKE this drama so much...but spare me for Pete's sake. Because I was not one of those people. If you adored this drama so much then you would rather not hear any negative comments, so I suggest you better stop reading because I might hurt your feeling.

She Was Pretty (Hangul: 그녀는 예뻤다; RR: Geunyeoneun Yeppeodda) is a 2015 South Korean television series starring Hwang Jung-eum, Park Seo-joon, Go Joon-hee, and Choi Siwon. Its a romantic comedy about two good friend who meet again after a long period of time. Kim Hye Jin (Hwang Jung-Eum) was very pretty when she was younger, contrary to what is she is now as adult. While Ji Sung-joon (Park Seo Joon) was an unattractive boy with low self-esteem, but grows up as a handsome and successful editor. When Sung Joon is back in Korea for work, he and Hye Jin decided to meet. When they are about to meet, Sung Joon didn't recognize Hye Jin, and the latter hide because of embarrassment. She then asked her best-friend Min Ha-ri (Go Joon He), a beautiful and stylish woman with good personality to pretend on her behalf. Which later became a problem because Ha RI is falling in-love with Sung Joon. Kim Shin Hyuk (Choi Siwon) on the other hand will be Hye Jin's direct supervisor at work, and they will developed a close relationship. Set in the backdrop of a fashion magazine's publishing office THE MOST.

Spoiler Alert! Read at your own risk!!!

• Kim Poong Ho (Ahn Se Ha) He is the company chairman’s son but keeps it a secret from his coworkers until towards the end of the drama.

• Kim Shin Hyuk (Choi Siwon) is TEN. The elusive famous writer THE MOST has been trying to have an interview with.

MY RATING : 5/10

REVIEW: I'm a DIE-HARD SIWONEST so obviously my main reason of watching this drama is because of him. On its first episodes I'm loving it because Siwon's character was perfect for him. He and Hwang Jung-eum showed a good chemistry together. I was hoping that maybe there could be a twist about the story but there isn't. When Park Seo-joon is entered the picture I start getting pissed. His a good actor no doubt about that, but his role for this drama isn't fitting (based on my personal opinion). He and Hwang Jung-eum are better off as brother-sister relationship like the one they had in Kill Me, Kill Me, than boyfriend-girlfriend thing. Other thing that made me hate this drama because Siwon character was left out. He was suddenly out of the picture I was hoping, at least maybe the writer would make him and Ha Ri end up together, but it didn't happened. They didn't even gave him good end story. After he revealed his self as TEN, he was gone completely.

CONCLUSION: She Was Pretty didn't really work for me. I am not recommending this....(period) but if your a SIWON fan then you should watch this at-least.This was his perfect army sendoff and a gift to us SIWONEST.

Have you been watching She Was Pretty? What do you think about it? Share your thoughts and leave your comments below! Happy Drama Watching Everyone!!!

(PS. All picture grabbed from google credits to its owner)

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Korean Drama : The AWL

This drama is based on a webtoon with the same title. Inspired from real-life events that transpired in 2002 when union workers were unfairly fired from large supermarket chain Carrefour, and fought back. Starring Ji Hyun-Woo, Ahn Nae-Sang, Hyun Woo, Yesung, Park Si-Hwan and Kim Ga-Eun.

Lee Soo-In (Ji Hyun Woo) has the kind of attitude wherein he has to do the right thing no matter what. After his discharge from the military, he apply and worked at a large retail market called Fourmis Market. One day, his boss Jung Min-Chul (Kim Hee-Won) ordered him to fire his subordinates at the supermarket. He then refuses to do so and decides to join the labor union. Because he’s not a person that can stand by quietly and watch corruption happen. In spite of everything he knows, he finds himself being the one who has to speak up when an injustice is being done. He and the temporary employees struggle against unfair dismissals, wage slavery, worker exploitation through different employment statuses, various faces of oppression inside a work environment and the way they affect people’s lives behind the scenes and on the spot.

REVIEW: When I first heard of this drama, I was anticipating to watch this because its my first time seeing YESUNG act. I have no idea what this drama has offer. I was even disappointed when I found out that YESUNG is not the main actor and was about to skipped and stopped watching it. But I decided to give this drama a change for my reviews sake.

AWL is an interesting drama that anyone can relate to. Its an eye opener! It allows me to learned about my rights as an employee. Often times employee's are being abusive by there rights at work. Because of fear of losing there jobs, they remain quite, afraid and powerless. Although I haven't experience being mistreated by my employers, and yet I still can relate the worker's scenario in this drama.

AWL is a must-see, this drama pull off an inspiring story that gives hope to its viewers particularly the one's who are employed. So there you have it guy's. Watch it and be amaze :)

MY RATINGS : 8/10

Have you been watching The AWL? What do you think about it? Share your thoughts and leave your comments below! Happy Drama Watching Everyone!!!

(PS. All picture grabbed from google credits to its owner)

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Korean Drama : The Village Achiara's Secret

The story revolves around the seemingly quite village of Achiara where crime is zero or supposed to be practically non-existent rather and everyone knows everyone and secrets aren’t really secrets, with few outsiders visit and even fewer seem to leave. Starring Moon Geun Young and Yook Sung Jae. When Korean-Canadian Han So Yoon (Moon Geun Young) is back to her birthplace Korea, after finding out the newspaper clipping that says both herself and her older sister died in a car accident in Korea. So Yoon soon discovers that her own deceased family has unimaginable ties to Achiara. Luckily she is hired as an English teacher in Achiara. On her first day at work, she accidentally found a corpse buried in the forest whom everyone in town suspects that, that woman is Kim Hye Jin (Jang Hee-Jin). The girl who disappeared with no trace from the village two years ago.

With the help of Police officer Park Woo Jae (BTOB’s Yook Sung Jae) and Seo Ki Hyun (On Joo-Wan), the son of a prominent businessman and politician in the village, So Yoon then begin to investigate her family whereabouts in seek of finding her sister, As they get closer on finding the truth, the ugliness of the village is revealed.

Spoiler Alert! Read at your own risk!!!

• Kim Hye Jin (Jang Hee-Jin) is Han So Yoon (Moon Geun Young) long lost sister. They were separated right after their road accident when they were younger. After their parents died on the spot. So Yoon grandmother brought her in Canada, living behind Hye Jin. Because she is an adopted child. 
• Kang Joo-Hee (Jang So-Yeon) is the town pharmacist. She is the one who sent So Yoon grandmother that newspaper clipping which later So Yoon found out after her grandmother's burial.
• Ga-Young (Lee Yeol-Eum) is the high school girl who likes to bully Seo Yoo-Na (Ahn Seo-Hyun) Seo Ki Hyun half sister. Ga-Young is Kim Hye Jin half sister, they share the same dad from different mothers. 
• Kang Pil-Sung (Choi Jae-Woong) the weirdo who disguise himself as girl at night. At first he was the prime suspect of Hye Jin death, but later revealed that his not....BUT....he is the MURDERER of our crimes happening in Achiara's neighboring town. He is a psychopath. But this guy help a lot in finding Hye Jin's death, thanks to his photography and videos.
• Nam Gun-Woo (Park Eun-Seok) is the hottie teacher who is also Kang Joo-Hee's boyfriend. He is also Ga-Young first love. But later it was revealed that he is Ga Young and Hye Jin's older brother.
• Yoon Ji-Sook (Shin Eun-Kyung) is Seo Ki Hyun step-mother and Seo Yoon Na's mother. And Kim Hye Jin's REAL MOTHER and MURDERER. Kim Hye Jin's was born out of wedlock. Ji Sook was raped when she was young the same rapist as Ga Young's mother. In her seek on having a good image to his boyfriends family. She asked her mother to send Hye Jin for adoption. Illegal adoption in-fact. When Hye Jin find out who her real family she asked them, especially her mother for help. Because she was very sick and needs Kidney transplant and the only people could help her is Yoon Ji Sook, her real mother. But Ji Sook is afraid that her mother-in-law will find out Hye Jin's identity, she push her away from her life again. Because of what happened, Hye Jin seek revenge in her mother through seducing her moms husband and having an affair with him. But she wasn't killed because of that incident but because of her trying to revealed to the whole town who is her father. The suspect of rape incident happened in Achiara. Her mother was so furious after finding it out and so is his father's wife. Together they killed Hye Jin and buried her body in the forest.

MY RATINGS: 8/10

REVIEW: This drama is one of my favorite because of its suspense and suspicion you can’t help but feel towards each characters. I really feel bad for Hye Jin, especially that part wherein she is begging for help to be save, but her mother turn her back away from her. It was so heart breaking, because she wanted to live for So Yoon. And that part also wherein So Yoon was telling Ji Sook that Hye Jin is someone else's precious daughter and sister. That was like a bomb!I was crying a ton!

If you are looking for humorous or a rom-com to sweep your heart away then, The Village Achiara's Secret isn’t for you. Although there are a little hints for love between characters but don't expect to much further in that department because it isn't happening. Because this drama is all about, mystery, suspense and family.

Conclusion: I would recommend this drama to anyone who enjoys thrillers and mysteries that discuss themes like justice and family relations. The Village: Achiara’s Secret has its fair share of lapses but its manageable to watch, with some lesson learned.

Have you been watching The Village : Achiara's Secret? What do you think about it? Share your thoughts and leave your comments below! Happy Drama Watching Everyone!!!

(PS. All picture grabbed from google credits to its owner)

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Korean Drama : Scholar Who Walks the Night (Hangul: 밤을 걷는 선비)

Scholar Who Walks the Night is a 2015 South Korean television seriesbased on the manhwa of the same name written by Jo Joo-hee and illustrated by Han Seung-hee. It's a fantasy historical drama about a scholar named Kim Sung Yeol (Lee Joon Gi) who become a "Vampire". He was involved in taking down the evil vampire Gwi (Lee Soo Hyuk). He dedicates his life over the next 120 years to finding a way to destroy Gwi. Sung Yeol has being haunted by the death of his first love Myung Hee (Kim So Eun). During Joseon era he meet this young woman named Jo Yang Sun (Lee Yoo Bi) whom he felt in love with. Yang Sun is the daughter of a nobleman whose family loses everything when her father is framed for treason. To make ends meet, Yang-sun begins cross-dressing as a male bookseller. During this era Sung Yeol meet Choi Hye-ryung the re-incarnation of his first love Lee Myung Hee, an aloof nobleman's daughter. Meanwhile, the evil vampire, Gwi, resides in the royal palace and uses his powers and political machinations to prevent the Crown Prince from ascending to the throne.

 ______________________________________________________

I was highly anticipating about this drama because of Lee Joon Gi and Kim So Eun, I'm a big fan of this two. During its first episodes I was hook at it and I love the chemistry between Joon Gi and So Eun. But on the long run, I was feeling disappointed because the story was about Joon Gi and Lee Yoo Bi. Honestly, I don't like their team-up. Yoon-Bi is too young to be paired up with Joon Gi and I did not feel any chemistry between the two. Not like with Lee Joon Gi and Kim So Eun, they are well soothed as a love team, the chemistry is there. Although I must have to admit that Yoon Bi did a great job portraying her role as Yang Sun. She's lovely and adorable. Then her transformation as the a fierce woman who is ready to face Gwi in support of Sung Yeol's quest in taking down Gwi's killings and dictatorship in the palace.

Speaking Gwi, It was my first time seeing Lee Soo Hyuk, he did well in his role. And infairness!!! He is so good looking. If all vampire are as handsome as him, then I wouldn't mind getting bitten by them. LOL! 

It was so nice seeing Shim Chang Min. It was also my first time seeing him act. I didn't know his into acting also, I only knew him as a KPOP IDOL (of TVQX). I must say, his role as Prince Lee Yoon is quite impressive.

Spoiler Alert! Read at your own risk!!!

• Jo Yang Sun (Lee Yoo Bi) has a vampire gene (sort of). She is one of the key elements of killing Gwi. She is also the little girl whom Sung Yeol save from Gwi's attack. Her vampire marks on the shoulder is the proof on that incident. She is also Prince Lee Yoon childhood friend, whom he is looking for over a long period of time.

• Baek In Ho (Han Jung Soo) will DIE in the drama while protecting Yang Sun. It was so sad seeing his role die. I really like him especially his role in Arang and the Magistrate. He was the head ghost reaper and on that drama he co-acted Lee Joon Gi. It was nice seeing them reunited in this drama.

• Noh Hak Yong (Yeo Eui Joo) he is Crown Prince Lee Yoon best friend. He will become a vampire.

• Choi Hye Ryung (Kim So Eun) is falling in-love with the Crown Prince Lee Yoon. And later she will get married and Prince Lee Yoon will fall for her at the end.

• Kim Sung Yeol (Lee Joon Gi) and Crown Prince Lee Yoon (Shim Chang Min) will later team-up to kill Gwi.

• The man behind the BLACK MEN is Crown Prince Lee Yoon.

• Gwi will eventually die in the end.

Noh Hak Yong (Yeo Eui Joo)

MY RATINGS: 6/10

It’s really too bad that drama turned out to be a very, very different from what I’ve expected. Maybe, if the story is reverse instead of Lee Joon Gi and Lee Yoo Bi, it would be with Kim So Eun then I guessed I'll be giving this drama 10/10. Still, in the end this drama is way better than THE PRODUCERS. It wasn't perfect but overall Scholar Who Walks the Night is enjoyable to watch.

Have you been watching Scholar Who Walks the Night? What do you think about it? Share your thoughts and leave your comments below! Happy Drama Watching Everyone!!!

(PS. All picture grabbed from google credits to its owner)

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