Year End Review 2013 Part Deux – Best Family Drama for 2013

By NewKDramaAddict

Let’s go through the drama checklist:

1. Birth Secret?–Nope!
2. Amnesia?-Nope!
3. Super Evil Mother In Law?–Nope!
4. Evil Step-Mother?–Absolutely NOT!
5. Love Triangle?–NOOOOOOOO!
6. Dysfunctional Family?–Nope!
7. Devoid of Romance?–Nope!
8. Piggyback Scene?–Several
9. Bromance?–BIG TIME!

What would this year be like if I DIDN’T talk about the first time that I ever, not only watched raw but also streamed a drama from Korean Television? That’s right, Ugly Alert is the first drama of that distinction. Anyone who follows me on twitter knows that I have actively talked about this drama for the last 6 months! I had to think long and hard about what to write; not so much because I didn’t have anything to say but more because I have SO MUCH to say. I’ll try to limit my spoilers, just in case you ever want to watch it but I will give you enough, just to peak your interest….maybe.

Ugly Alert end feels

By Cookingdramas

Thank you Ugly Alert for being with me for these 6 months (that’s half a year! holy smokes~)

Thankful for Writer Jung for creating such a beautiful story with such beautiful characters.

Thankful for Director Shin and the rest of the crew for the effortless detail you put into each shot. 

Just Watched: Hyunhaetan Marriage War

So, as I was busy stalking Lim Joo-Hwan because… well, I started watching Ugly Alert (wait for the review) and I fell in love immediately with him. While busy stalking this handsome men (even pinned a few of his gorgeous, sweet face on my Pinterest), I found this two episodes Korean drama special, Hyunhaetan Marriage War, broadcast by MBS. Each episode is an hour long so you definitely can marathon in one afternoon, or during your free time. So what this drama is all about? For once, I can definitely relate myself with this drama *tsk tsk* A marriage that involves two families from two different backgrounds, united and faced many issues from both side. Well, I’m sure you can picture how messy it gets when fathers, and families, from both side insisted their ways and refuse to compromise to even the smallest thing ever… SMDH.

Ugly Alert - A Wonderful Family Drama that I Wish More People Could Watch

**SPOILERS--Limited**

Stars:

Im Joo Hwan as Gong Joon SooKang So Ra as Na Do HeeChoi Tae Joon as Gong Hyeon SeokKang Byul as Gong Jin JooSeol Hyun as Gong Na RiKim Young Hoon as Han SeoShin So Yool as Shin Joo YeongHyun Woo as Kang Cheol Soo

Synopsis

People, who have different lives, become a family because of their parents. They sometimes look down on other family members and jealous of other family members. Through all of this, they get to understand each other and cure their wounds. A man, in particular, goes through infinite sacrifices.~mydramalist

Ugly Alert / Bravo My life - if you're into dailies

I've just caught the "dailies" bug and I'm not talking about contact lenses. I've watched like maybe 3 korean dailies in my not-so-short memory...the first is Pure 19 which starred Gu Hye Sun in her pre-BBF days where she was actually adorable and I actually liked her character. Everything she starred in post BBF didn't appeal to me. Anyway, that was an accident - I bought the VCD not realizing it was only part I (about 50 episodes). Silly me. I never made it past that though I did watch edited scenes of her and So Ji-suk as a happily married couple for the last 20 episodes maybe.

Next is I Live In Cheong Dam Dong, which I gobbled up within 2 weeks I believe...yup...all 170 episodes of it. And I join many others in recommending this sweet gem. Anyway, blinded by my love for Im Joo Hwan whom I adore beyond words since he charmed my socks off in Tamra, the island, I downloaded the first few episodes of Ugly Alert (previously known as Bravo My Life) just to check out his first drama post-army. And just like that, I was hooked.

First Impressions: Ugly Alert?!

No way man, you tell me that’s UGLY? I say Park Kyu hotness alert OKAY? There’s no way I’m gonna get around to this stupid title, maybe I should just use Fool’s Watch instead (which doesn’t exactly sound any better but hey, no ugliness innit?).

I did 10 episodes of this drama of a drama, and it’s one bag of …. dramatic! You’ve got to believe me if you haven’t watched, the gathering of all possible dramatic cliches and tropes you can think of, no miss! Accidents, deaths, OTT siblings, you name em…etc.It doesn’t get any sillier or makjang-er than this. But I’m still watching, and hooked.

Park Kyu & Beo Jin [Tamna] - Catch Your Wave

Is anyone else watching this drama? 

It's my new fave! It is so HILARIOUS! XD

Park Kyu is an exile (for being a womanizer! haha) from Han Yang (Seoul) who comes to Tamna (Jeju Island). Then Beo Jin is the daughter of the village's head diver and a diver herself. Trouble (also fun and perhaps love~) ensues when Park Kyu is assigned to stay at Beo Jin's house. 

What's up - Alone MV

A drama that I recently watched. -_- I haven't been sleeping because of this gem. I wanted to finish it as soon as possible. Like literally 2 days with 20 episodes. Now my eyes are dead. 

What's Up ♥ Smile :)

Ok, OMG how do I begin to explain What's Up? I really don't want to oversell it but seriously, I frigin love it! I haven't loved a campus drama this much since Dream High *cough sorry Heartstrings* No but really, I can't recommend it enough and it's become one of my favorite casts so far. All the conflicts are solid and I love the fact that every character is a lot deeper than you initially think so in the end they end up surprising you. It kinda reminds me of Tamra the Island, maybe because it has a lot of the same characters... is it the same director?

All I know is Im Joo Hwan is in it and I don't think I could coherently explain my love for him ♥ It literally doesn't matter what horrible haircut they give him I would still marry him on the spot. 

Okay, that being said I hope you enjoy the video lol

Credit: mrsdarcy27

Im Joo Hwan in HIM Magazine and Prepares for His Discharge this Week

While he may not be an A-lister in Korea, he’ll forever have my love and goodwill after Im Joo Hwan delivered a career-making performance as the exiled Joseon nobleman Park Kyu in the underrated Tamra the Island. It’s weird how I’ve watched so many In Joo Hwan performances because I was checking out the movie or drama for someone else, and he always makes me sit up and notice him. In Snow Queen, despite scruffy math genuis-turned-boxer Hyun Bin brooding his way into redefining sexiness all-around, Im Joo Hwan held his own as a prickly doctor who was smart and decent. He was also one of the many flower boy warriors in A Frozen Flower. He’s been off serving in the military for the past two years, leaving even before his finished drama What’s Up started airing. He has such a baby face I was surprised he was close to the age limit for service. Im Joo Hwan gets released this week on the 16th of February and I’ve got my eyes firmly focused on his next steps. Will Korea give this talented guy a break with the right project? I think he’s phenomenal in sageuks and I wish he got released earlier and could have joined either Jang Ok Jung, Live in Love, or even the fantasy Gu Family Book. There is also the sageuk The Unauthorized Biography of Admiral Lee Soon Shin with Uhm Tae Woong, or even the still planning stages Sword and Flower, which isn’t a sageuk but still a period drama. Not to mention Goddess of Fire Jeongji, about the life of the first female pottery maker in Joseon, which has been courting Moon Geun Young for ages but after she just wrapped Cheongdamdong Alice I doubt she’ll jump back into another drama. I’m getting way to excited to cast this boy in something. To welcome back In Joo Hwan, enjoy some recent pictures of him in HIM Magazine (the official military magazine) posing prettily and hosting a military event.

Life Lesson from What's up: More eyeliner, more badass. Rules of dramaland.

Written by kaedejun

The last of the 2011 musical dramas that ended in 2012, and probably the best. What’s Upfollowed the dreams of a group of students who wanted to be a star! It’s very similar toYou’ve Fallen For Me, and yet it managed to take on a more serious tone, showing the rivalries and friendship that grew out of all these students who had one remarkable professor who made them think about why they were in that school, and to be true to themselves. Only then could they become the best.The stakes were higher in this drama than You’ve Fallen For Me, which was appropriate for college students.

What's Up is ONE of my all time favorite drama's.

I wanted to watch What's Up for a long time ago but never really got around to do so. But I picked it up on Tuesday and already finished it. IT WAS SOOOOOOO GOOOD. I watched over 70 K-drama's in the last 4.5 years. And What's Up is ONE of my all time favorite drama's. IT WAS BEYOOOOOOND GOOOOD!It's sort of like dream high but only a thousand times better. Every character, every conflict was so well portrayed. I am absolutely floored. Of course the actors were really gooood as well. Im Joo Hwan, Im Joo Eun, Kim Ji Won, Daesung, Oh Man Suk, Lee Soo Hyuk and Jo Jung Suk had stellar performances. This drama had some of the BEST songs EVER in any drama before!

I just wished the eps were longer and some of the earlier conflicts introduced were played out more but they had a 45 min time constraint so they cut some stuff out. Sigh. I know some people didnt like the ending but I liked it since the whole drama was done in a slice of life format.

I really want a Vol 2 since I am guessing that the writers really wanted to do a second season hence the ending. But with Im Joo Hwan in the military now and how the drama flew under the radar. Idk. But like seriously broadcast stations have drama's like BoF and Dream High 2 which are like mindless disasters but the real dramas like What's Up get pushed aside for that sort of ridiculousness. Which is beyond me.

Also besides Daesung's Lunatic, their were a lot of other songs in the drama which I think was the drama's original score have they been released?

If you have not watched it get to it.

What's up - I declare I love this show.

From: Maymaywatch

I declare I love this show. Truth is I never completed any other musical drama so I can’t really compare, but if they are anything as good, I’m game for more. I think I loved everything about What’s Up – I’m invested in all the characters. Hell I cried for half of them in the past 20 episodes. I know some complained about the jarring and fickle moods but I actually loved it. It prevented the drama from being draggy because it’s an emotional rollercoaster. One moment I’m crying, the next I’m laughing…sometimes both simultaneously. That’s how crazy it is for me.

The set-up isn’t anything novel, but I think it’s done just right. I know the drama’s been edited for a 45 minute broadcast, but really I didn’t feel it. I love how all the characters have grown for the better, and realistically. Jae-hun never lost his cockiness, Do-sung is as timid as ever, Byung-gun with his overflowing confidence, Chae-young’s bitchiness….you geddit. Their circumstances might have changed but they are in essence still very much the same person as they were in the earlier episodes.

K-drama Review: What's Up?

By saryre

I think I have found my new K-drama favourite. Actually, What’s Up? really took me off by surprise. I wasn’t that excited about the premise, nor did I care about the cast. Moreover, it took a long time before it began airing. At one point, I was convinced that the drama had been dropped completely. So when it actually started I wasn’t expecting it to be my taste at all. But, boy, was I wrong! I loved it so wholeheartedly with my anticipation constantly growing for the next episodes. I don’t even know if it’s fair to compare What’s Up? with the usual dramas because it sure doesn’t fall on the same level. I felt like I was watching a really long (but well worth the time) movie production. Seriously, there is a lot that other drama creators could learn from What’s Up?...like A LOT.

What I first noticed was that this What's Up? did not try to force me into loving it with pretty (idol) cast, cutesy factors or unnecessary drama. No, What’s Up? won me over because it didn’t have any of that superficial-ness. It had a wonderful cast, lovable characters, a gripping story, heartbreaking conflicts, great editing and directing, and impressive musical performances. What’s Up? felt sincere. And most astonishingly, it did it all with a great pace that never made the drama bothersome to watch.

What’s Up with the Ending

By rebzombie

What’s Up is one of those dramas that took me by surprise. I didn’t expect to like as much as I did. It is definitely a lot better than Dream High 2. The drama features music and romance between students belonging to the theatrical department of a university.

The cast members of What’s Up don’t need to be cutesy in order to get my attention. The drama has gripping plotlines, compelling characters, good directing and remarkable performances. The pace is just right to make it not tedious to watch. It focuses on the characters and their stories.

Im Joo Hwan is Jang Jae Hun the thug. He is a petty pickpocket but after causing a car accident that resulted in the death of a person, he decides to take up musical theater in the university.

What’s Up, Final Thoughts

By jennyukari

I didn’t screencap this drama only because I watched it through Dramafever instead of downloading it. Out of all the music-themed dramas I’ve seen so far though (Dream High, You’ve Fallen For Me…), “What’s Up” definitely had the best music which is kind of important in a music-themed drama.  Check out the duet between Park Tae Hee (Kim Ji Won) and Kim Byung Gun (Jo Jung Suk) above.  It was goosebumps all over for me. That being said, I have mixed feelings regarding all the other aspects of this show.

I think the problem I have with this show is that it spreads itself too thin. There were too many things going on and in the end, it had a hard time tying all the storylines up.  It’s not the unknown that’s unsettling, it’s that the show ended so abruptly making it feel unfinished.  

There’s Jang Jae Hun (Im Joo Hwan)’s struggle with his conscience over the death of Tae Hee’s father while trying to put his juvenile delinquent days behind him.  There’s the awkward romantic relationship that develops between the two. One feels guilty for his past misdeeds, pushing the other away.  The other feels it’s her fault that no in her life sticks around for too long.  Then there’s Tae Hee’s clash with the cut-throat world of the entertainment industry. It was like watching a baby duck being thrown into a big bad ocean.

Story of a Man – Park Kyu

Written by Nycgrl 

Chamber pots and pig stys

One man’s treasure is another’s piss pot

Turbulent rolls of water upending my yangban ways

All through the night & day

The rhythm of sea calls me to this speck of land

The southern isle where the sea and sky greets, the corner where exiles & foreigners meets

——–

A lonely man walks along a hill

Tall, thin spectral white with black hat still

Hands folded neatly behind him

Neither wind, nor pigs should ever ruffle or crease

Nary a hair or grease his pristine white dopo limb

The collective call of the sea sirens sing: come all, come all

To Tamna, an exiler’s home

A far-off Island

Lit up by the waning Jejudo moon

I'm totally impressed by Im Ju Hwan's acting as Park Kyu

Written by Mcmk

I'm totally impressed by Im Ju Hwan's acting as Park Kyu--- really a perfect role for him.

A stoic scholar who steals loving glances at a giddy headed silly girl -- defending her with his life - cryng his eyes out for her while letting her go -- protecting her even from his own fierce mother and fiance.

The emotions he displayed in his eyes and body language made him trully a great artist.

I saw him in Boy Over Flowers but was not especially struck by him then.

After watching him as Park Kyu I dare say he is a great actor worthy of greater roles.

I would really like to watch more of his acting.

So I hope the producers will use him as a lead for another drama before he goes into the army.

Tamra’s truly owned me, heart and soul.

Written by ILovemyTamra

One of the things that I love about Tamra is the simplicity of the story (it’s actually cliche-ic, arrogant-boy-meets-bumbling-girl–yah, I’ve seen that thousands of times) set into a captivating rural area in historic times, with a dash of adventure, mystery and family-drama. The characters are so endearing, from the side characters to the main leads, and more so their dynamics/relationships which takes precedence over the story itself. You mentioned about the drama giving life to seemingly mundane activities, and that I think is another of this drama’s strength. As I’m a fan of movies done in rural areas (e.g. The Vineyard Man), this one’s truly owned me, heart and soul.

Park Kyu - Im Ju Hwan commanded the screen

Written by Serendipity

With one watch under my belt, I don’t think I’m as enamoured as you are (though perhaps I may revise my opinion upon a re-watch). I’m very aware of the show’s faults, which leave me at times mirthlessly embarrassed (slapstick & toilet humour), yelling at the screen (why are all these people Too Dumb To Live?) or even bored (what, William/Beojin are gormless and need their sorry asses saved by Park Kyu again?). But at the same time, I thoroughly enjoyed my watch and I find myself thinking about the show at unexpected moments, which I reckon means that it has enough charm and heart to rise above its technical shortcomings and be greater than the sum of its parts. Surely the mark of a work of art.

The plot is flimsy at best, rather lazy at its worst. The show hangs on Island charm and on its people. It was inevitable that it climaxed back on Tamra – the Island scenes were its strength and the show knew it.

The people – what people! Primarily, Park Kyu / Im Joo Hwan. Im Joo Hwan has a ridiculous pretty face but I don’t begrudge it him because his performance as an actor was revelatory. He commanded the screen. He was convincing as the snotty noble, every sneer and grimace. He was utterly convincing as the heroic warrior-scholar; young and slender though he is I have no trouble believing that he is a man who can command armies and win the confidence of kings. And of course he is heart-breakingly convincing as the fragile young man broken in love. He nailed every nuance of every repressed feeling. What a gift he was handed with the multi-faceted character of Park Kyu, and how he cherished and polished that gift. His every scene with the mature actors among the excellent supporting cast (Beojin’s mother, Officer Kim, his own mother) were all gold, he had such sizzling chemistry with all of them.