Korean Movie Night: Friend 2 친구 2 (2013) Korean

Yu Oh Seong, Kim Woo Bin, Joo Jin Mo, Jung Ho Bin

Movie rating: 6/10     Neck score: A

The last movie during our marathon weekend was Chingu 2. Compared to Chingu, it was a lot easier to follow in the sense of it being more modern and closer to what we were used to, but Chingu was a much better movie. While Chingu 1 was about friendship, this one was just a gangster movie. It only had a few actor from the original, the gangster Joon Suk (Yu Oh Seong) and his gang member Eun Ki, who has progressed in the gang since getting out of prison, and everyone else was just added to this plot. This leaves it feeling a lot more shallow, since there is less depth of character and a lot less emotion to it. Also, we miss the rich character development. The story also jumps around a lot as it is telling not only the story of the present, but also a year or so ago, the original movie timeline, and the past of Joon Suk's father, who started the gang back in the 1960s. All that jumping around makes it a bit confusing at times.

Korean Movie Night: Flu 감기 (2013) Korean

Jang Hyuk, Soo Ae, Park Min Ha, Yu Hae Jin, Ma Dong Seok, Lee Hee Joon

Movie rating: 8/10     Neck score: A

This one came highly recommended by my little brother, who had previously watched it.  He said he got so into it that he was jumping up and down and shouting at the screen, which is common practice for me while watching movies and dramas, but he doesn't typically do.  He totally has mad respect for Jang Hyuk now.  He loved the chemistry between the leads.  He really had been looking forward to showing us this movie, so we decide to have a movie night and watch it.  The problem is, if it made him shout and scream, who does it, what would it do to us, who always shout and scream.  Haha.  He was worried we didn't like it, but we did.  I loved it, but that didn't mean that I hated what was going on during some parts.

It's very shocking on the visuals, and it tries to shock you.  There are some moments that are just gross and make you feel a bit sick, physically and morally/emotionally.  We have a flu virus that is passed on airborne and there is a really gross coughing montage that was designed to make you paranoid and wear a mask always.  Then there was "The Claw" scene that was pure shock factor that was meant to horrify.  It did that well.  There were many times when we were screaming so loud and dramatically that he was worried that we hated the show.  But it was so intense!  Especially where cute little girls are concerned!  Plus medical thrillers about viruses are crazy, with the panic and selfishness.  There were so many evil, selfish idiots who were basically villians, plus mass panic.  It's just a show where the stakes are high and you get so into it that you are yelling at the bad guys and ferociously cheering the heros.  It's VERY engaging and both fun and exhaustin to watch. I do recommend it, especially of you love Jang Hyuk and/or Soo Ae.  They are both great in it.

227. I Can Hear Your Voice 너의 목소리가 들려 (2013) Korean

Lee Bo Young, Lee Jong Suk, Yoon Sang Hyun, Lee Da Hee, Jung Woong In

Drama Rating: 9/10     Neck Score: A

I fell in love with every single character, except the few who had no redeemable qualities, such as Judge Seo, but even the horrible bad guy, Min Joon Gook had his sympathetic moments.  But every character was well rounded and likable.  I have never had second lead syndrome quite like this.  I have also never been this attracted to Oska (Yoon Sang Hyun).  I was a little shocked there, but he was so adorable and such a good person!  I also loved how much growth all the main characters had, from traumatic experiences, to developing better relationships, to becoming a better lawyer/prosecutor, to just growing up and being adult... or even realizing that being a murderer was totally the wrong thing to do, no matter how crappy your life was at that moment.  Our female lead, Kim Hye Sung (Lee Bo Young) was super flawed, a self-centered super snarky girl who you couldn't help but love and appreciate.  Park Soo Ah (Lee Jong Suk) was both super childish and mature beyond his years, and so very complex.  He was both a puppy and a namja.  Then you have the cop turned lawyer, Cha Gwan Yoo (Yoon Sang Hyun) who is too idealistic and nice, but super good at his job.  Prosecutor Seo Do Yeon (Lee Da Hee) is Hye Sung's childhood frenemy, who has to deal with perfectionism and a black and white upbringing.  The relationships between all the characters made them all grow and become better, as did the traumatic ordeals they had to go through, constantly almost dying and having their worlds turned over.  I also loved the minor characters, such as the Judge, who was just the best.  I really can't believe I didn't watch this when it came out, because it is amazing.  I've never enjoyed a law drama quite this much.  I felt like they were a little better at making those court scene a little more realistic and less over dramatic.  Obviously not perfect, this is still a drama with some fantasy, but you could tell they put a bit of work in, and it paid off.  It was just a really solid, enjoyable, intense drama.  One where the love triangle actually fills you with feels and you are actually torn instead of just annoyed, and you have feels for all the characters instead of just the OTP.  Standing ovation.

The Nicknames of The Heartless Cruel City

A while back I finally got around to watching Cruel City.  It was amazing.  My queue is filled with melodramas, dramas, and heavy thrillers that I want to watch but usually put off as I waste my time with the fluffy romcoms.  I get around to them eventually, but not as quickly as they deserve.  But I'm glad I finally got around to this one, because it was really good.

I actually really love crime noir things, which is why I try to save them for a special time, when I can really savor them, but it usually turns out that I never have time for them and end up not watching them for forever.  I'm learning to just start them and make time for them.  Because they will be that good.  One thing that is always good about crime noir is the rich assortment of characters who all deserve a great set of nicknames.  Half of them only have nicknames in the show anyway, because that is apparently how the crime world works.

Messing with the Moto Chinese Input: Chinese Auto Correct Fail

So, after really getting into Taiwanese dramas, Lizabreff and I decided to play with the Moto Chinese Input on our phones.  This allows you to draw the characters and it will recognize what you are writing and give suggestions.

We would send random Chinese characters to each other, use Google translate, and then laugh at what random crap we said.

This is fun... but it's also a bit dangerous I guess.

112. King of Dramas 드라마의 제왕 (2012-2013) Korean

Kim Myung Min, Jung Ryeo Won, Choi Siwon, Oh Ji Eun

Drama Rating: 8/10     Neck Score: A

This show was so great up until the last two episodes, and then it was just eh.  Not as bad as some, but I just didn't really pay attention to the last two because I had been informed that they were pretty lame.  It's a drama about people making a drama, so it's very behind the scenes and very, very meta.  Seriously makes fun of the industry at all levels.  I am so glad that I waited to watch this until after I was well seasoned, because I am sure that it was much funnier to me because of that.  Best part- Siwon!!!!  Seriously.  Siwon is a bias crusher.  He played his part so well.  He's like the younger version Doko Jin (Cha Seung Won's character in Greatest Love) and I loved every moment that he was on screen.  So funny, so perfect, and when he got his hair cut, so drastically handsome too.  I also loved PD Joo.  We probably shouted "PD Joo!" every time that guy came on screen.  Loved him, he was so cute.  Didn't love the turtlenecks that he kept on wearing though.  I think pretty much all the good people were awesome and amazing.  Lee Go Eun was awesome.  She was one of the best female leads ever.  Especially once she could read Anthony Kim.  Perfect.  I will admit that this drama gave me some serious anxiety, because it was chiefly about a writer, and every time they pulled crap on her and messed with her writing I would get so angry.  Grr.  The villains of the piece were super hateful most of the time.  So glad we got past them.  So basically, it was an awesome show and then the last two episodes were like eh, way sloppier than the rest of the show.  Mostly the very last episode.  I don't think it needed to be extended at all, but whatever.  It was pretty cleverly written before that, and having watched the kind of crap that drama writers have to go through, I might be a little more merciful... for a while.

103. Love Family 有愛一家人 (2013) Taiwanese

Chris Wang, Jack Li, Serena Fang, Amanda Chou

Drama Rating: 4/10     Neck Score: A+

Why, oh why, Taiwan?  It started out boring, and then got decently good, and then went so dramatically drawn out that there was no way that couple could actually get back together again because he was being a noble idiot to the point of being an outright d-bag (complete with the side swoop d-bag hair) but no they wrap it all up in the last episode magically and fill it with cheesy crap hoping we'll forgive them.  Happens every time.  But, I do have to say that the bromance in this was the best in the entire world.  Sheng Ren and Long Shi were the best.  That bromance literally make everything worth it.  The part that bugged me the most was how she faked it, that really cheapened the whole emotional experience that we all went through.  She's one good actress... boo!  The writing was so bad in the last quarter that it almost ruined the earlier experience for me.  But they do love to drag things out, don't they?  Never making it so bad that you want to die, but always snatching happiness right at the moment it could have happened, right until the very end.  It's very frustrating when you've already sat through 60 episodes of fun and cute only to be tortured with 11 episodes of bitter misunderstandings before they lamely get together at the end.  Boo.

96. Dating Agency: Cyrano 연애조작단; 시라노 (2013) Korean

Lee Jong Hyuk, Choi Sooyoung, Lee Chun Hee, Hong Jong Hyun, Jo Yoon Woo

Drama Rating: 5/10     Neck Score: A

This is the last of the current Flower Boy series, and probably the lamest of all of them.  I still liked it, but as a Flower Boy drama it was a bit lame.  Both lead mens were on the older side, with Jong Hyuk being quite old, but he's still pretty enough to be a flower man at least.  It had a nice serial feel to it as the dating agency has a new case every few episodes.  I'll admit that the only reason I broke down and watched it was because Lee Kwang Soo was one of the clients.  I almost just watched episodes 6-8 for him, when I decided that I liked the main cast well enough to give it a chance.  It was ok good, it just wasn't as gripping as some of them.  I think the main story arc probably had the most holes and silly drama in it.  Also, Master gave most people the second lead syndrome.  I didn't love him as much as most people, but he was cooler than the main guy.  I have no idea why she didn't fall in love with him instead.  But he never had a chance, unlike some other peeps who have a chance and don't take it, or have a chance but don't deserve it.  I think he was probably friends zones from moment one.  Sad day.  It get cray cray at the ending, but ends ok.  My favorite episodes are 6-8.  I was actually excited about those episodes.  Other good cameos include Gong Yoo, Lee Chung Ah, and Choi Won Young.

77. The Prime Minister and I 총리와 나 (2013-2014) Korean

Lee Beom Soo, Im Yoona, Yoon Si Yoon, Chae Jung Ah

Drama Rating: 5/10     Neck Score: B

I watched this for Yoon Si Yoon.  I've basically watched every show he's been in, despite everything.  This one, however, wasn't so bad.  I was actually looking for something really lighthearted since I just went through a couple of heavy types.  This one certainly is that way... at first.  Also it helped recover my impression of Yoona after the Love Rain disaster to I'd be fine with her dating Lee Seung Gi.  She definitely had more chemistry with Lee Beom Soo than Jang Geun Suk, but still more with Yoon Si Yoon (after all, Lee Beom Soo is almost old enough to be her father... almost but not quite).  However, this show really isn't written that well.  The basic plot is silly at best.  Contract marriage to stop a scandal for a newly elected prime minister?  Please.  That's just dumb.  It's actually got a bit of a Sound of Music type deal going on with it, with the grumpy/stern prime minister being a Captain Von Trapp type deal and the reporter being our Maria.  There are three adorable kids and the mystery of the dead wife.  Yoon Si Yoon may or may not be a good guy, he seems to have his own agenda, but he's darn cute either way.  So it starts off good, but then gets a little lame and stupidly dramatic, and the ending was super lame.  Still, it wasn't the worst drama, and it did lead me to appreciate Lee Beom Soo.  Most of the stupid drama resolved itself well, so that is something.

75. Jung Yi, Goddess of Fire 불의 여신 정이 (2013) Korean

Moon Geun Young, Le Sang Yoon, Kim Bum, Lee Kwang Soo

Drama Rating: 4/10     Neck Score: A

I watched this for you, Kwang Soo Oppa!!!!  I sat through all that boringness just to see you in Joseon attire (which admittedly was super hot) but this was so boring!  Also, I need to admit that although Kim Bum is super hot, I really don't like the dramas that he is typically in, so that needs to stop being a factor of choosing dramas.  This was just a really long drama that made me learn more about pottery than I wanted to.  One of those sageuk/dramas where they start off as kids so you don't even get to the peeps you want to see until like episode 6-8.  Then it's more about politics and birth secrets and less about romance and happiness.  In fact there is not one kiss in this since the leading couple are a woman artisan and a prince, so it's basically about a forbidden love, but it's more about the woman artisan and that sort of thing.  Really boring.  I seriously had to force myself to finish it, but oh well.  Even though Lee Sang Yoon is not at his best in Joseon clothing, he is at his best when eating, so the scene where she cooks for him and he eats so happily is awesome.  He's got some good dimples so happy eating is a plus.  Also, Kwang Soo's character was a jerkish idiot, but he is so good looking with facial hair and Joseon clothing.  Rawr.  That made it worth it again.  Also Kim Bum as a Joseon warrior = yes.  So the show was boring and the evilness/annoyingness of the villians was lame and stupid so the only things that made this show worth it was the eye candy.  Ok, probably not enough.  Just look at pictures of Kim Bum and Kwang Soo from this show and you'll be fine.  Nothing more is needed.

74. Let's Eat 식샤를 합시다 (2013-2014) Korean

Yoon Doo Joon, Lee Soo Kyung, Yoon So Hee, Shim Hyung Tak

Drama Rating: 7.5/10     Neck Score: A

Another watch with lizabreff show, and it's sooooo good. A Korean foodie drama.  Don't watch on an empty stomach because this will make you very, very hungry.  The #1 most important part of this drama is the food scene every episode where they eat something delicious very deliciously.  It can last up to 3-5 minutes and its just them eating food with music in the background.  Seriously, I still want to eat all those things that they ate... it looked so good and they enjoyed eating it so much!  Secondly, I think I'm going to have to become a fan of Beast because Doo Joon = yes.  He was so good in this.  Besides the food there is also a pretty good mystery to this as a "don't ask" attacker is going around attacking girls in the area they all live in.  Getting ahead of myself.  This drama is about a 33 year old lady (Lee Soo Kyung) who works as a secretary at a law firm and lives in an studio complex next door to Dae Young (Doo Joon), who is a mysterious "king of insurance" and also a foodie who knows everything about food and how to eat it, and Yoon Jin Yi, whose chaebol father is in prison and she is living in the world for the first time.  They form a food group where they go out to eat together since they are all  and hate eating at restaurants alone.  That is funny at first since she doesn't trust Dae Young and they basically hate each other at first, even though they are really similar, especially when it comes to food.  The show is very funny, with the sound effects and running jokes, and the cast of the law firm is great.  The writing gets a little cray cray near the end as they try to wrap up mysteries that are within mysteries, but just forgive a little and it will be fine.  It's a refreshing show that will make you hungry and suddenly want to watch everything that Yoon Doo Joon has been in.

73. My Love From the Star 별에서 온 그대 (2013-2014) Korean

Jun Ji Hyun, Kim Soo Hyun, Park Hae Jin, Yoo In Ah

Drama Rating: 6.5/10     Neck Score: B+

I hope no one gets mad when I say that Kim Soo Hyun's neck is a little short... (they totally stretched his neck in the poster to make him taller than her) and a total trunk neck... or that this show kinda wasn't my fave.  Obviously I still liked it, but the ending kinda killed it for me.  So, I might have been more interested in the creepy killer plot (and just the creepy killer who is so hot) than the love story, so after that was resolved it was sooooooo boring.  The show is way fun though, and different enough with the whole alien thing that it was good.  I loved watching it (until Shin Sung Rok was captured and it dragged out the last episode, with all it's sadness, into like 2.5 episodes) and it was definitely well done.  Super props to Jun Ji Hyun, she was amazing in the role of  Cheon Song Yi.  Also, Do Min Joon (Kim Soo Hyun) was great at the whole alien thing and pretending he didn't like her when he did, and basically being an old man in a young man's body, etc, so good.  The whole murder mystery creepy killer for me was really compelling and how it was going to get solved, etc.  I guess if I just try to remember before the slow stretched out ending, I would probably rate it way higher.  Funny how endings, because they are the last things we watch, can totally ruin shows for us.  But seriously, this wasn't the worst ending in the world.  It was just boring and stretched out.  There wasn't much else they could do.  They kinda wrote themselves in the corner.  Also, there are some hilarious parts, such as the Heirs reference that had me howling because it was unexpected, or the ET reference with her little brother (played by Ahn Jae Hyun) getting a man crush on Do Min Joon.  Good show, just a boring ending.  That's all.

70. Clinic on the Sea 海の上の診療所 (2013) Japanese

Matsuda Shota, Takei Emi, Fujiwara Norika, Fukushi Sota, Arakawa Yoshiyoshi

Drama Rating: 7/10      Neck Score: A

Didn't expect this one to be as awesome as it was.  It's one of the best little comedies I have seen.  They set up their running jokes so well and then proceed to make fun of them themselves.  For instance, every episode Kota Sensei (Matsuda Shota) falls in love with a girl every episode, announces that he's going to leave the boat, and then is brokenhearted.  After a few episodes of this they stop paying attention to his announcements.  Later, they make fun of him by having another character do the same thing, using the same words.  Or at the end of each episode he says he's going to play a song on his guitar and then each response to this builds off of the other.  It's only 11 episodes long, and it's very delightful.  It is a medical drama, but it's never so serious, or takes itself serious, but is also very appropriate.  Also the chemistry between Kota and Mako-chan (Takei Emi), as co-workers, friends, crushes, etc, is wonderful.  The running jokes of him teasing her, stealing her pudding, or getting hit by her slipper, are some of the things that keeps the show lighthearted and lovely.  It was a really well written drama and just what I needed at the time.  It was a real joy to watch.  Plus Matsuda Shota is on the list of Top 10 Sexy Necks, and him in a doctor's coat, or those cute bad sweaters he wears, is reason enough right there to watch this.  So good.

68. Pretty Man 예쁜남자 (2013) Korean

Jang Geun Suk, IU, Lee Jang Woo, Han Chae Young

Drama Rating: 6/10     Neck Score: B-

What I liked about this one was that it wasn't really about the romance, it was about this pretty man Doko Ma Te (Jang Geun Suk) discovering himself and reaching his full potential.  He is a pretty man who grew up with a single mom and now uses his looks to get money and other fancy things.  He's not exactly a man slut, but he does get rich sugar mamas to help him live the lifestyle he wants.  But what he really wants is to succeed on his own and meet his dad.  Then this woman (Han Chae Young) pops in and tells him who he is so he can help her bring her mother-in-law down so she can get her place in the family back.  In the mean time he has to become powerful himself to take this lady down.  He has to date/get to know a bunch of powerful women to learn from them, all the while getting help from his childhood friend/fangirl (IU) and the dude that has recently been following his friend around (much to Ma Te's displeasure.  It was much better than I thought it would be, based on the title and premise, and I actually really liked it, even though it went a little cray cray at the end with the birth secrets and family drama stuffs.  I liked how it was about character development and getting better.  Still not a fan of Lee Jang Woo though.

67. Gu Family Book 구가의 서 (2013) Korean

Lee Seung Gi, Suzy, Choi Jin Hyuk, Yoo Yeon Seok, Sung Joon

Drama Rating: 6/10     Neck Score: A

Not the best drama Seung Gi's ever done, but I liked it more than most people I talked to.  I know a lot of people were bothered by the ending, but I was fine with it.  Also it's pretty cheesy in spots, but oh well.  I also liked Seung Gi's high little pony tail, while others I spoke to did not... it's ok.  There is still Choi Jin Hyuk.  He is so hot in this.  This is probably my favorite role he has ever played.  When he was being the good little gumiho, he was adorable.  When he was being the bad 1000 year demon, he was so very sexy.  All he had to do was stand there and he was so sexy.  Rawr.  Also Sung Joon made the best derpy faces.  He was hilarious.  The bad guy was so very nasty that you hated him so much, but you are supposed to.  He's nasty.  Suzy was really good in it.  She made me completely forget how annoying she was in Big and think she is awesome, which she is.  Basically this is a silly but still great fusion/fantasy sageuk.  As fantasy sageuks go, Arang and the Magistrate is way better, but this one is still very enjoyable to watch, and has plenty of eye candy as well.  After all, Choi Jin Hyuk just stands there looking very sexy a lot.  Totally stole the show, really.

66. Unemployed Romance 실업급여 로맨스 (2013) Korean

Lee Young Ah, Nam Goong Min, Suh Joon Young, Bae Seul Gi

Drama Rating: 5.5/10     Neck Score: B

This is just a cheesy little romcom, it's only 10 episodes long.  Watched it for Lee Young Ah, wasn't too disappointed either.  It's about a couple who met in college and then dated for forever, broke up without a great explanation, and then met each other years later when she went to the unemployement office where he worked.  The great thing about it is that the first half is completely from her perspective, and then it switches to his perspective so we can see both sides of the story.  It is also hilarious.  My favorite part is when he deals with the breakup with the rice cooker.  It is one of those fancy ones that talks, and he keeps talking to it, having it make rice and stuff.  It is nothing glamorous, but it is pretty funny, especially with the ridiculous things they do trying to keep from admitting that they still have feelings for each other.  In the romance department it's pretty realistic, with people over thinking things, things being messy, trying to chose the best despite what they heart says.  Both leads are pretty much the most awkward people ever, so that's cool.  It's just a cute little drama, with a bit of a weird ending.  They always do that in shows about writers though.  They have to write about what we just watched, turning life experience into a bestselling book or drama, whatever.

63. Marry Him If You Dare 미래의 선택 (2013) Korean

Yoon Eun Hye, Lee Dong Gun, Jung Yong Hwa, Han Chae Ah, Choi Myoung Gil

Drama Rating: 2/10     Neck Score: A

Yong Hwa further ruined for me.  I really hated this one, which is sad because I really loved it at first.  It was a really interesting premise of a lady who goes back in time to change her life because of all the crap that happened.  She wanted to stop herself from marrying the man she married.  The interesting part was she was still so obviously in love with that man, even as an old woman, that you wondered why she wanted to change that fact.  Also, Lee Dong Gun, you are a handsome man.  I had tried to watch him in a drama before, but it was so old and stupid that I never got far.  I tried again because of this show and still didn't get far.  I hated the lead girl.  Anyways, Lee Dong Gun is the husband that she wants to keep herself from marrying, but both her present and future selfs are still falling in love with him despite everything.  I also love that he's a news anchor but has a super foul mouth.  Also, fell in love with him that time he put on the Darth Vader costume.  Yep.  Loved him.  Anyways, I really hated Yong Hwa's character in this one too, but if he just stayed the other guy that would have been fine, but all the sudden the writers went completely crazy and changed the plot completely making it into not a romance but a self-discovery of the main girl, leaving the ending completely open, weird and stupid.  I don't know if the Yong Hwa fans protested or something, but whatever it was shouldn't have happened.  A potentially interesting show was completely ruined by suddenly completely horrible writing.  I don't normally outright hate a show by the ending, not even Boys Over Flowers, but I seriously hated this one.  Boo!!!!!!!  Learn to write peeps!

62. Reply 1994 응답하라 1994 (2013) Korean

Go Ara, Jung Woo, Sung Dong Il, Lee Il Hwa, Yoo Yeon Seok, Kim Sung Kyun, Son Ho Jun, Baro, Min Do Hee

Drama Rating: 7/10     Neck Score: A+

OPPA!!!!!!!  I told you I fell in love with Jung Woo Oppa.  Now I am forever in love with him.  He was so perfect as Sseureki Oppa.  Seriously.  This is like not a prequel to Reply 1997, just another story in the same world and same set up.  Actually around the 1997 years in the sequence we have cameos from the 1997 cast and it's wonderful.  This one is about a boarding house in Seoul ran by a family from Masan (with the same exact parents as 1997) and all their lodgers are from different country provinces with a series of different dialects.  The big question is who is the husband.  However, banking on the popularity of 1997, they expanded this one.  Instead of 16 45 min long episodes, there are now 21 hour+ long episodes.  This is probably the shows only downfall.  It gets draggy.  The writing is less tight and they drag it out and try to trick you for so long, even when we already know who we want it to be.  I think some of the episodes are almost 2 hours long and that's just too long, even if you love the show.  I struggled with that part, but still loved the show.  It was still delightful, nostalgic, and had a great soundtrack that included original songs in the 94 style as well as Seo Taiji and the Boys, the ones who made Kpop what it is today and started the Kpop craze.   Oppa!!!!!!!  Ok. That will never get old.  I love Oppa.  Just like 1997 the whole cast is gold and you love everyone.  Go Ara is awesome too.  I was super impressed with her and how into the part she got.  She continues to impress me in You're All Surrounded.  I like her too.

60. The Heirs 왕관을 쓰려는 자, 그 무게를 견뎌라 – 상속자들 (2013) Korean

Lee Min Ho, Park Shin Hye, Kim Woo Bim, Choi Jin Hyuk, Kang Min Hyuk, Kim Ji Won, Krystal Jung

Drama Rating: 5/10     Neck Score: A

The most over hyped drama of all time.  Supposed to be the next Boys Over Flowers.  Well... I guess it was similar.  Only I thought it was a bit more tolerable, but maybe that was because of Kim Woo Bin.  Even when he was being a complete bully bad boy, with no seeming redeeming qualities, man I was so attracted to him.  Yes, this show has lots of eye candy, but it's also ridiculous and stupid, and overly dramatic.  Hated the main characters.  Loved the side characters.  Seriously, Lee Min Ho was a creeper stalker overbearing type.  Park Shin Hye was the same character she always plays.  Kim Woo Bin... hot, sexy, funny bad boy that I shouldn't like but did.  Choi Jin Hyuk, sexy but not in it enough to justify anything.  Kang Min Hyuk... the one who tipped the scale and made me actually give in and watch it... was adorable.  Like always he was the best.  He and Krystal are like the best high school couple ever.  They made the show (along with Woo Bin's sexiness).  So... Lee Min Ho... not passable as a high schooler and wore the worst sweaters ever.  Those turtlenecks made me want to scream and the pink fluffy thing.... no.  Also, his character was dumb.  No sympathy for him at all.  But I did also love the momance between the two moms.  Lee Min Ho's mistress mom and Park Shin Hye's dumb (as in can't speak) housekeeper mom.  They had such a great love/hate relationship.  It could have been worse, but it dragged on and was boring and I already knew that she wouldn't end up with Kim Woo Bin like I really didn't want her to because I wanted him for myself.  It's tolerable, and having watched it has made it possible to make fun of it and get all the references to it in later dramas (like the one in Love From Another Star that had me waking my roomies up because of my laughter).  Don't regret it, but didn't love it.

55. Master's Sun 주군의 태양 (2013) Korean

So Ji Sub, Kong Hyo Jin, Seo In Guk, Kim Yoo Ri

Drama Rating: 8/10     Neck Score: A+

This is my favorite Hong Sisters drama (well tied for first with Greatest Love) but you have to be okay with horror to like it, because this is a Horror Romantic Comedy.  The first episode is probably the scariest too.  The first 15  min has some of the scariest ghost faces that will deter any peeps who are less enthusiastic about horror things.  I mistakenly recommended it to my younger sister, because I loved it so much, and she reported back that it was way too scary for her, which is something I haven't considered.  Even while my roommate finally watched it she needed me there for some episodes because they were on the scary side.  It didn't bother me, but it can, apparently, be a bit on the scary side (especially that stitch mouth granny in the first 15 min).  I watched it because it was the Hong Sisters, Horror Comedy, and Seo In Guk, but I came out completely in love with So Ji Sub.  Man that man is sexy.  He played vulnerable so well too.  Also, Kong Hyo Jin is awesome in this, but her hair and style is as tacky as always.  But her acting makes up for it.  I love the way the Hong Sisters always throw in lots of side romances, those are always cute.  This one has some hooky plot arcs, which is actually pretty typical for Hong Sisters.  They are good a comedy and pop culture references, but not so good at wrapping up loose ends and solid finishes (couch couch Big cough cough).  But this one, overall, was great.  Less love triangley and more ghosts and funny.  Also we got to see So Ji Sub and Seo In Guk sing the Three Bears song.  Win!