Korean Drama Challenge #3

3. Your favorite female lead character.
In dramaland, a majority of female leads are put into the category of the typical Candy - pure/innocent, hardworking, usually poor. A lot of them are like Cinderella, swept up by rich guys, mostly chaebols. However, there are some exceptions, and those characters are worth cheering for. The character that first came to mind was Park Ha from "Rooftop Prince," with her feisty, spunky attitude. She doesn't have time for nonsense, and although there were times when I was agonizing at her stupidity, she was able to redeem herself by not being the expected noble idiot, the helpless, completely dumb heroine, when she confronted her evil stepsister. Another female character I personally liked was Oh Dal Ja from "Dal Ja's Spring," because she was just really likeable. She wasn't one of those exceptions, and her character was pretty simple, but I liked the way she felt like a real person, and how Chae Rim played her. In that sense, the female leads in "The Woman Who Wants To Marry" and "I Need Romance" can be examples of the type of female characters I seem to like. Hardworking, confident, and relatable careerwomen in their 30s.

Korean Drama Challenge #2

2. Your favorite male lead character.
I've never really thought about this before. Hmm... The characters that come to mind right now are Yi Gak of "Rooftop Prince," played so hilariously by Park Yoo Chun, Hwang Tae Kyung (Jang Geun Suk) of "You're Beautiful," and Dokko Jin (Cha Seung Won) of "Best Love." Then there's Kim Boong Do from "Queen In Hyun's Man," who has been hailed by drama experts as the most perfect male lead character of 2012. For me, he's pretty boring as a drama character, but I have to admit, he would make the perfect boyfriend. Yoo In Na is one lucky girl. Anyway, like the ones I've listed above, I seem to like the characters that really stand out, that make you laugh, the ones that probably don't exist in the real world. I think, before, I used to like those cold, snobby, chaebol-type male characters that somehow made you swoon, like Kim Joo Won (Hyun Bin) of "Secret Garden," but now, it's those crazy ones that do it for me. Right now, I'll go with Choi Han Kyul (Gong Yoo) of "Coffee Prince" and Seo In Woo (Park Shi Woo) of "Prosecutor Princess," for being such romantics in their love. Although Han Kyul was kind of annoying at first, his "I don't care if you're a guy or an alien" love confession had a deep impression on me. And Seo In Woo, for being such a caring male lead for his leading lady. This really feels contradicting of my said fancy for crazy guys, but oh well...

Decisions, Decisions...

I've spent the last 2 or 3 hours reading things on the Internet, like blogs on Korean dramas and stuff, and just felt overwhelmed with all the things I want to watch and do. I seriously don't know what to do...

I'm sure I'm going to keep watching "Flower Boy Next Door," but I don't know which drama to stick with for the Wednesdays-Thursdays slot. I kind of want to stick with "Level 7 Civil Servant," but "That Winter, The Wind Blows" is kind of intriguing. I think I'm going to watch "Iris 2" with my friend, Maria. Maybe I'll just watch all of them?

Then, there's the ones that I started and are in the middle of. Let's see... "Chungdamdong Alice" is waiting for me to finish, along with "Full House 2," then "Bad Guy," which is pretty interesting, but I don't know why I stopped. Finally, there are the dramas that I want to check out, including "Chuno," which I just watched the first episode of. I really want to check out "Jejoongwon," but for some reason I'm hesitating. I'm just going to go and watch now...

New Dramas

"Level 7 Civil Servant" - Jan. 23 - March 28 (20 episodes)
"That Winter, The Wind Blows" - Feb. 13 - April 3 (16 episodes)
"Iris 2" - Feb. 13 - April 18 (20 episodes)

These are the rival dramas competing in the ratings battle on Wednesdays-Thursdays at 9:55 PM (KST), on MBC, SBS, and KBS, respectively. So far, I've only checked out the first four episodes of "Civil Servant," and the three episodes of "Winter" that have aired this week. I was pretty satisfied with both, but none of them has really grabbed my heart, just yet. "Civil Servant" is a fun, light watch, while the Noh Hee Kyung feeling of "Winter" reminds me a lot of "Nice Guy." It's not as captivating and interesting, but it's okay so far.

Old Dramas

I kind of feel like re-watching old dramas, like "All In," "Damo," "Gumiho," "What Happened in Bali," and "Successful Story of a Bright Girl." We have a 3-day weekend coming up, along with Agora Days, which comes with a lot of time on my hands. It's been at least about seven years since I watched these, and since then, I've gained some experience with Korean dramas. I'm kind of curious as to how I'd think about these dramas after watching them now. Back then, being the blank slate that I was, I just watched them for the fun and pure amusement of it. I've become a lot more critical, along with some sort of authority to base my watching experience on. I especially want to check out those first three, if I get the chance.

Korean Drama Challenge #1

1. Your favorite drama.
I have a lot of favorite Korean dramas, but if I had to pick one, it'd be "You're Beautiful." Ever since I watched the drama in 2010, I've completely fallen in love with it."You're Beautiful" is just pure genius. After almost three years since I watched it, it remains my favorite drama of all time. It has a re-watch value of about 10 points out of 10, where I think I've watched it again at least three times, the most I've watched any other drama. I wouldn't say that "You're Beautiful" was the best drama I've ever seen, but it is so addicting and just makes a fan girl out of me. I will never forget the Pig Rabbit, or Tae Kyung's "Go Mi Nam." And let's not forget, Jeremy's cute antics. Maybe it's because I'm still young, but it seems like a cheesy, gender-bender drama for teens like "You're Beautiful" will be my favorite Korean drama for a long time.

Korean Drama Challenge

I recently found this while browsing on a blog about Korean dramas. I think I might try it.

30-Day Korean Drama Challenge

1. Your favorite drama
2. Your favorite male lead character
3. Your favorite female lead character
4. Your favorite male third wheel character
5. Your favorite female third wheel character
6. Your favorite song from a drama OST
7. Your favorite line(s) from a male lead character
8. Your favorite line(s) from a female lead character
9. Your favorite line(s) from a male third wheel
10. Your favorite line(s) from a female third wheel
11. Your favorite dialogue
12. Your favorite story
13. Your favorite "I Love You"
14. Your favorite kiss
15. Your favorite ending
16. A drama you started but can't finish
17. A drama you've watched more than once
18. The worst drama that you've watched until the end
19. Your Best Actor
20. Your Best Actress
21. Your Worst Actor
22. Your Worst Actress
23. Your Best Couple
24. Your Worst Couple
25. Your first Korean drama
26. Your recently finished Korean drama
27. A Korean drama loved by many but you don't seem to like
28. A Korean drama not loved by many but you seem to like
29. A Korean drama which made you so happy
30. A Korean drama which made you so sad

Hundred Year Inheritance

I thought I wrote about this drama, but I guess not. I'm currently on the 10th episode of this drama, trying to get through it without cringing. I seriously don't know why I'm watching this drama. Sure, the main character's name is Chae Won, played by Eugene, who I like more than most Korean actresses. It's about my favorite food, noodles, but that's about it. The story is pure makjang, although a little less on the drama, I think, for goodness sake. My parents are watching it too, although not with me, since they don't know that I'm watching it. I don't really have anything else to say about the drama, other than that I think Eugene and Lee Jung Jin will make a beautiful couple, although it's taking so long for them to get together! I mean, seriously, when is she going to get divorced and start up that noodle company with him?

Wanderings

Lately, I've been wandering in dramaland. Over this weekend, I was browsing through some dramas, including "La Dolce Vita" and "I Really Really Like You." Neither I found particularly interesting enough to stick through, so I went on to catch up with "Full House 2" and "Chungdamdong Alice." I have three more episodes left to finish "Full House," while "Chundamdong" seems to be finishing up this coming weekend. I find "La Dolce Vita" pretty interesting, but the first two episodes are going a little slow. Also, I've taken up "Hundred Year Inheritance" starring Eugene and Lee Jung Jin, for some reason, even though it's a very cliche melodrama/makjang weekend drama. You know, the one that goes on for several months. It's probably because the heroine's name just happens to be Min Chae Won, and it's supposed to be about a noodle factory - so essentially, starring me and my favorite food.

Other than the recent dramas that I'm watching, I'm currently searching for something new and good, something worth watching, which is a first. I'm getting tired of the predictable rom-coms, where the love lines are fatally set, although I'm usually a sucker for a really good one. This is probably why I couldn't go on to watch "I Really Really" and finish "Full House" this weekend. I need something to engage my mind, for once, and take me by surprise once in a while. Is there any drama like that out there?

School 2013

Wow, it's been a very long time since the last post. I have to go sleep soon, so I'll make this quick. I just finished watching episodes 12 and 13 of "School 2013," and I just love how everything is working out now. Our two pairs of besties, Nam Soon and Heung Soo, Ha Kyung and Kang Joo, are back together now! I'm so glad... And, it seems the trouble trio, aka Oh Jung Ho and his lackeys, have pulled it together. Now, all that's left is Teacher Jung coming back to teach all of them, but we end with Teacher Kang saying he'll quit. Oh, the intensity... While watching the two episodes, I was reminded of the parallel between the two bestie pairs, where Ha Kyung hurts Kang Joo just like Nam Soon hurt Heung Soo. Now, I'm more intrigued as to who couples up with who, much less if there's even going to be love line or two, seeing as how we only have three more episodes left, as of now.