288. Hwayugi 화유기 (2018) Korean

Lee Seung Gi, Cha Seung Won, Oh Yeon Seo, Lee Hong Ki

Drama Rating: 7/10     Neck Score: A+

Why does it have to be a thing when the Hong Sisters have a really great, funny drama that you're all invested in and then when it comes to the climax it's underwhelming and then takes a nosedive to mediocre in the last few episodes? Why does that have to be a consistent thing?! It's like they paint themselves into a corner they can't get out of without a bunch of crap happening. I hated the last few episodes of Master's Sun and Big. I think I may have even mentioned this in the review for The Greatest Love (which is one of the few that doesn't fall into that trap). Hwayugi is no exception. By the last episode we were not having it, it was boring and unnecessary, and we only made it through it through cracking jokes about how boring and lame it was. No one wants a series worth of mopiness shoved into the last episode. What makes it worse is that it was so good up until the last bit, where it fell flat on its face. So good that I probably would have given it an 8, but the ending knocked it down a whole point, and I had to think hard on the rest of the show to give it a 7. It almost went as low as a 6, that is how lame the ending was.

2015: The Year of Sexy Necks

Every year I make a calendar for myself, so I get exactly what I want and that sense of accomplishment.  I usually have a different theme each year (such as smiles or flower boys), and this year I decided to use my list of the Top 10 Sexy Necks as the general theme of 2015's calendar.

There was so much I could have put in here, and so many ways to do this, but I finally decided to count down to the number 1 on this list, and use the two remaining months for the other honorable mentions and general hot guys that I like and wanted to use.

97. You're All Surrounded 너희들은 포위됐다 (2014) Korean

Lee Seung Gi, Cha Seung Won, Go Ara

Drama Rating: 7/10     Neck Score: A

I loved this drama.  It was a bit hard to get into at first, maybe because it was slated as a comedy and it totally is not.  No comedy starts off with it's first two episodes being that sad and traumatic for the lead.  That is the realm of melodrama.  This is a cop drama no matter what anyone says.  It is funny in parts, but it is a cop action drama.  Well, expecting comedy might have made it a bit harder to get into at first, but after the 4th episode that no longer mattered.  It picked up after that and made this the drama I was watch that I looked forward to the most at the time.  The part I loved the most about it was the ensemble.  It wasn't just Cha Seung Won and Lee Seung Gi that you loved, it was everyone on their violent crimes police team.  Love, love, love.  So many good relationships, and not just the two main couples.  The bromance between Gook and Tae Il was maybe my favorite relationship of all.  Or maybe the non-admitted bromance between Cha Seung Won and Lee Seung Gi.  The mystery did a good job of building, but we often knew what was going on before the characters, which can be a bit annoying sometimes.  Also the bad peeps were over the top bad.  They need to be kicked in the face.  The last episode got a little bit over the top, but I just laughed and went with it and it was fine.  Seriously good show.  Love it.

79. The Greatest Love 최고의 사랑 (2011) Korean

Cha Seung Won, Gong Hyo Jin, Yoon Kye Sang, Yoo In Ah

Drama Rating: 8/10     Neck Score: A

At last I found the show that I really was needing while watching shows such as Prime Minister and I and I Need Romance.  Funny, uplifting, romance, etc.  This is probably the best Hong Sister's drama and my favorite one (along with Master's Sun).  However, as awesome as it is, you really need to be well versed in Korean pop culture to appreciate it.  Literally, I tried to show it to a friend who was just starting to watch dramas (I think this would have only been her second) and lizabreff and I were cackling while it all went over my friend's head.  So we decided to hold off on that one for her and made her watch Secret Garden first.  This show is so funny though.  Cha Seung Won is a genius.  Doko Jin is so hilariously perfect.  Also he looked so good with that facial hair, then when he shaved it he still looked so good!  I was like, how is this possible?!?!  The way it makes fun of the Korean entertainment industry is so perfect.  Gong Hyo Jin is an unlikeable star who fell from grace during the scandal that broke up her girl band.  Doko Jin is the industry's top actor.  Then their paths cross and it's so funny.  I guarantee you'll also get the OST stuck in your head.  It's such an iconic OST that it is used for shows like Running Man when people get crushes.  Classic, awesome show.  Also, unlike many of the Hong Sister's dramas, this one never fell apart or got super silly, but stayed golden the whole time.  Also, best cameo of all Hong Sister's dramas- Lee Seung Gi, which just makes You're All Surrounded (Starring Lee Seung Gi and Cha Seung Won) so much better because you know they already love each other.