Jung Hwan Syndrome: Why I'm Done With Love Triangles

I've never actually liked love triangles.  Why would I like that level of uncertainty in a show that I came to see a romance in?  Love triangles aren't romance, they are lame.  I suppose I tolerated them as a necessary evil in all K-dramas, but there are different types of love triangles.

The kind that is most tolerable for me is the one where even though there is a second male lead, you know that he never really had a chance and that he really isn't an issue, but is a bit annoying or makes the male lead actually act instead of being a scaredy cat bum or whatever.  The type I hate the most is the one who for some reason gets way too much screen time and makes the love story plot weak and disconnected.  I'm all about a reasonable build and flow that makes sense and allows me to build the right kind of feels instead of last minute forcing them down my throat.  Does this make it a little formulaic?  Maybe, but at least I am seeing the romance I want blossoming.

More K-Dreamland Adventures with Marlubs and Lizabreff: Hello 2016 Dreams!

So far 2016 has been good to us in the K-dream department.  So many good dreams featuring our favorite K-pop and K-drama stars.  Apparently there is nothing more validating and helpful than a superstar K-pop group telling us we are awesome and amazing, or having a K-superstar saving us from gangsters.

Hurray for the best kinds of dreams.

Wake Up! Geum Sa Wol's Impromptu Jam Session

Now that Geum Sa Wol is over (even though I'm still waiting for the last episodes to get freakin subbed- come on Viki!) this is the perfect time to unearth an amazing creation that happened as I was watching the first 5 min of episode 20 of My Daughter, Geum Sa Wol.

Lizabreff's dongsaeng was over, playing on my guitar while waiting to get picked up from our house, and she came downstairs right as I started watching episode 20.  She's totally into K-dramas too, so I ended up having to pause and explain to her what was going on.  This turned into magic.

More of MarlubsGD's K-Dreamland Adventures

I know I said I was going to have Lizabreff's dreamland adventure next, but she honestly doesn't have them as often, and certainly doesn't write them down as much, so instead I will share a bunch of dreams I had over the last little bit.

There is less interaction because of how busy and how ridiculously different our schedules are these days.  Sigh.  It makes drama watching together extremely difficult.  Sad day.  Well, at least I can dream.

175. Bubblegum 풍선껌 (2015) Korean

Lee Dong Wook, Jung Ryeo Won, Lee Jong Hyuk, Park Hee Bon, Bae Jong Ok

Drama Rating: 6.5/10     Neck Score: A

tvN needs to stop advertising shows as fluffy RomComs when they are emotional cry fests.  I had a feeling this one would be a cry fest, but I didn't expect it to be 75% crying.  All of the drama was literally family and disease related and the love triangles were not even existent.  You just felt sorry for the other peeps because they didn't really ever have a chance.  Like ever.  That's what you get when the lifelong BFFs finally realize that they should just date.  So, the mom drama was frustrating.  But that actress did a fairly good job with the Alzheimer's believability.  She was the nicest more innocent Alzheimer's patient, but whatever.  I was just glad that she wasn't putting a torn in the romance.  While I'm not like a huge fan of Lee Dong Wook, I do think he's a great actor.  I'm just not in love him with like Lizabreff and her mom are.  But, he and Jung Ryeo Won (who I am a big fan of) were literally one of the cutest couples ever.  They did the BFF/practically siblings turned lovers perfectly.  You knew how much they loved each other and how comfortable they felt with each other.  It was perfect.  However, them being torn apart for that many episodes was way too much crying.  Gosh, that needed to stop.  Then when it did, and it was all cute, suddenly it was over.  So it was a little draggy and anti-climatic?  I don't know.  It seemed like their break up was over nothing, because it was.  Whatever, I guess they learned from it and grew up a little.  Sweet and cry fest about sums it up.

162. I Remember You 너를 기억해 (2015) Korean

Seo In Guk, Jang Na Ra, Lee Chun Hee, Choi Won Young, Park Bo Gum

Drama Rating: 9/10     Neck Score: A+

What a consistently good drama.  Sad it didn't have super ratings in Korea, but it was competing with popular ones.  Maybe it's just because I like psychological thrillers, murder dramas, and all the actors in this show, but I just loved it.  Park Bo Gum!  Why do you have to steal my heart every time!?!  I loved how organic the relationship was.  All the relationships.  Even the bromancey type deal between the detective and "Dave."  But I loved how the romance took it's time and progressed at a natural pace for someone so unemotional as Lee Hyun.  Also big slow clap for Jang Na Ra, she impresses me every role, and this time she did good with the action, bad-a detective.  Basically everyone did a great job, especially Choi Won Young and Park Bo Gum- and super epic slow clap for Do Kyung Soo for once again rocking his acting skills for a creepier role.  He played a good psychopath.  Woo woot.

23. Pasta 파스타 (2010) Korean

Gong Hyo Jin, Lee Sun Kyun, Lee Ha Nee, Alex Chu

Drama Rating: 5/10     Neck Score: A

I hated her little bangs. They bothered me the whole show.  Her hair was ok when it was pulled back with her little hat, but when she had it down... ew.  I'm not a super big fan of Lee Sun Kyun, I think he has weird teeth, but he does have a sexy voice.  His character was annoying in this one though.  The plot was a bit draggy too.  But the food looked really good.  Also, there was plenty of eye candy in the chefs department, including No Min Woo and Choi Jin Hyuk.  If those are reasons to watch it, then do it.  It's just not the best drama in the world.  But it does have several good looking men (just not the lead) and will leave you craving Italian food.

19. Secret Garden 시크릿 가든 (2010) Korean

Hyun Bin, Ha Ji Won, Yoon Sang Hyun, Kim Sa Rang

Drama Rating: 7/10     Neck Score: A

I know I probably had heard about the body switching plot before I watched it, but that was so long before I watched it that I totes forgot and so when they finally switched bodies (like episode 5 or 6) I was like: What?  But it's so good.  I've seriously watched this one so many times and each time it just keeps getting better.  I don't bother skipping anything when I rewatch it, which is how I usually rewatch shows unless I am showing them to people.  Even though it has almost every plot device ever, from evil moms to butt headed chaebols becoming sweet loves to amnesia/coma type deals, they make it work so well.  It's well written, well balanced, full of characters we love despite the flaws, and one of the best OSTs ever.  I might own that.  I'm only sad I didn't watch this sooner, I could have rewatched it a couple more times already.
Also, after you have watched this fully, you need to watch the Big Bang Parody of it... Smell!

16. Playful Kiss 장난스런 키스 (2010) Korean

Kim Hyun Joong, Jung So Min, Lee Tae Sung

Drama Rating: 3/10      Neck Score: A

I actually started watching this earlier, got 2 minutes into it, and stopped because it was so bad.  Then one holiday weekend, when I was feeling very low and needed something so bad, I just finished it.  It really was bad.  So cheesy, bad acting, silly plot.  (I've since read the manga and watched the Japanese and Taiwanese versions).  This is probably the worst version of this story, mostly because of the bad acting and weird writing choices, such as combining two characters to make one bad other chick.  The character I liked most was "Tae Moo" which is the character's name the actor played in Rooftop Prince, aka Bong Joon Gu (Lee Tae Sung).  He had hot hair and then later when he cut it, hotter hair.  Also a hot neck.  Kim Hyun Joong has a pretty face and hot neck, but he really can't act.  He looked blank the whole time, unless he was angry at her, and then he looked like he hated her.  Even after they were married I didn't believed one bit that he loved her.  She was just annoying.  Out of all the girls, she was the most annoying.  Just... no.  So hot men, but not worth the time.  If you must watch a show of this manga then I recommend the newest Japanese version first (Mischievous Kiss: Love in Tokyo) and then the Taiwanese version (It Started with a Kiss).

15. Padam Padam 빠담빠담... 그와 그녀의 심장박동소리 (2011-2012) Korean

Jung Woo Sung, Han Ji Min, Kim Bum 

Drama Rating: 6/10      Neck Score: A

Kim Bum as an angel?  Yes, please!  This was hard to watch at first because Jung Woo Sung made crazy eyes all the time, but seeing what his character went though, I guess that's natural.  He was sort of channeling a mistreated dog that tends to bite or bark at anything after a while.  Really well acted, way interesting plot.  A man who was framed for a school stabbing murder stays in prison for 16 years and has a friend (also from prison) who claims to be an angel.  He keeps having miracles that rewind his life every time he dies so he has a chance to correct wrong choices and save people.  There are lots of interesting plot twists, a cute love story, but it starts to drag a bit at the end.  I took a long break from it before actually finishing it.  It's not like the action is drawn out needlessly, it's just very slow paced.  There is also a lot of hateful people in it, you just want to punch their hateful faces.  Still, it was very well made, very beautifully shot and Kim Bum with wings is hot!

9. Love Rain 사랑비 (2012) Korean

Jang Geun Suk, Yoona, Seo In Guk, Kim Young Kwang

Drama Rating: 2.5/10     Neck Score: A

Watched this for Jang Geun Suk, fell in love with Seo In Guk.  Also, Yoona must have not liked Jang Geun Suk cause zero chemistry from her side, while plenty from his.  I used to think she just couldn't act, but later shows have proved me wrong.  She had way more chemistry with Lee Beom Soo (eyebrow raise?)  Two love stories: Parents and Kids.  Draggy, draggy, draggy.  The first few episodes were the parents, in the late 70s/early 80s.  Sweet, but tragic.  Chemistry between Jang Geun Suk and Yoona was fine.  Modern kids love story- hate each other at first, fine.  After they fall in love, suddenly no chemistry on her side.  Weird.  Then there are like 8 episodes of the same thing- repeated noble idiocy on both the parents' and childrens' sides, lots of moping- "I love you but we're going to be siblings!" "We can't be together cause our kids love each other!" etc.  Seo In Guk is awesome in both the past and present.

8. Rooftop Prince 옥탑방 왕세자 (2012) Korean

Park Yoochun, Han Ji Min, Lee Tae Sung

Drama Rating 6/10     Neck Score: A

This was my first current drama.  I actually had to wait for the episodes every week.  I also graduated from Netflix to DramaFever and Viki.  I have to say that the second time round made me realize how bad some of the aspects of this was.  The first episode is pretty boring and lame.  It's a fusion sageuk (historical) with the past coming to the present.  So when it was two separate story lines (the past from the Joseon Dynasty and the modern day people) it was super boring and lame, but as soon as the prince, played by the talented Park Yoochun (also from JYJ/DBSK) and his three henchmen, arrive in the modern times it gets way better.  The plot itself is full of holes and super cheesy and way too dramatic at parts, the bad guy is probably the lamest bad guy ever- he can't kill anyone no matter how hard he tries- but the acting of the main couple and the three ducklings (Yoochun's men) make it worth while.  You do have to be down with the reincarnation cop out.  Also, I may or may not have certain scenes cued up on my Netflix account so I can watch them over and over again when I need a cheer up.  Hint: it's not the kissing scenes (although those are good), it involves Tae Moo (Lee Tae Sung) making the best faces ever.

7. My Princess 마이 프린세스 (2011) Korean

Song Seung Hun, Kim Tae Hee, Park Ye Jin, Ryu Soo Young

Drama Rating: 4/10     Neck Score: B-

Song Seung Hun is a hot, hot man.  But he can't really act.  Kim Tae Hee is pretty, but she can't really act either.  This plot is... ok.  They're trying to restore the monarchy and she's the long lost daughter of the run away prince.  Sweet.  Forcing this diplomat dude to be the one to train her... a bit of a stretch.  His English skills (as a diplomat too, mind you) even more a stretch.  Still, it's a fluffy show full of beautiful leads.  I wish I could say the same for the second leads.  They are both super ugly, as in they made them ugly on purpose so they wouldn't be more attractive than the leads.  Park Ye Jin (normally a super classy and beautiful woman) because of her dumb nasty hair and the other dude because of his face.  I just don't like him.  I thought their interference was very uncalled for and ridiculous too.  They seemed so unnecessary.  The second male lead is probably what lowered the neck score for me.  I call him Ugly Man.  I still hate him.  Seung Hun's neck is nice and muscular, but not enough to get it passed a B-.  Cheesy little drama that is ok if you want to watch mindless flirting and beautiful people.

6. Protect the Boss 보스를 지켜라 (2011) Korean

Ji Sung, Choi Gang Hee, Kim Jaejoong

Drama Rating: 8/10     Neck Score: A+

I actually tried to watch this one before You're Beautiful, however the first 5 minutes reminded me too much of Boys Over Flowers (the whole delinquent girl beating up all the boys and a guy with weird hair) that I couldn't bring myself to watch it.  Then I gave it another go after a while and it proved to be awesome.  The best part of this show is that it doesn't take itself seriously, and even makes fun of it's genre- business/chaebol drama.  Even the evil parents find themselves unable to be evil in the face of the all powerful grandma.  Also it's got two delightful men in it.  Ji Sung is a great actor and quite handsome, and Kitty (Kim Jaejoong) suddenly replaced everyone in my heart.  It didn't hurt that while I was watching this I also happened to stumble on JYJ/DBSK.  The bromance between this two cousins (Ji Sung and Jaejoong) is way better than any of the romance, which is way good.  Love the "girl" fights they have when they finally get down to it.

5. Coffee Prince 커피프린스 1호점 (2007) Korean

Yoon Eun Hye, Gong Yoo, Lee Sun Kyun, Chae Jung An

Drama Rating: 6/10     Neck Score: B+

Another, and probably the most classic of all girls dressed as guys drama.  The creepy part is Yoon Eun Hye looks so much like a boy.  Seriously.  She just... yeah.  The think that makes this drama work is the chemistry.  Gong Yoo is a hot, hot man (with a hot, hot neck) and he's got a good "I want you" eye expression.  So we've also got some major gay things, because she seriously looks like a guy.  The other hot neck of this drama is that Japanese boy (Kim Jae Wook), but I don't think there is bad looking guy in the cast.  Even the one they call Gorilla (Lee Eon) is super hot.  Some boring story lines, and weird draggy plot devices, but the chemistry of the main couple probably makes up for a lot of that.

4. Personal Taste 개인의 취향 (2010) Korean

Lee Min Ho, Son Ye Jin, Kim Ji Suk, Wang Ji Hye

Drama Rating: 5.5/10     Neck Score: B


Giving Lee Min Ho a chance without 25 episodes of drama, and I wasn't too disappointed, although this all seems laughable now.  I guess I went through that phase too.  This drama is decidedly better that BOF.  His hair was much hotter in this one.  What is also laughable is that I hated Kim Ji Suk and thought he was ugly at first.  I now am not impressed with Lee Min Ho (to the point of maybe disliking him a bit) and am absolutely love Kim Ji Suk.  He's one one the top Korean men that I would love to marry, along with Lee Kwang Soo.  I even went back and watched parts of this again and was baffled at my past self, because Kim Ji Suk is very hot in this one, even if he plays a d-bag.  Also, I love Son Ye Jin.  She should get the real props in this drama, as she plays awkward and with a not so good script really well.  I heart her.  So, as a drama based off of a misunderstanding that makes the dude have to pretend that he's gay, it's decent.  Lots of steamy scenes, and a bit more adult humor.  It had some interesting twists, and the other peeps seemed needlessly mean/evil at times.  Wang Ji Hye is amazing at being a bitca, especially in this one.  Also, love her hair.

3. You Are Beautiful 미남이시네요 (2009) Korean

Park Shin Hye, Jang Geun Suk, Lee Hong Ki, Jang Yong Hwa

Drama Rating: 6/10     Neck Score: A

Hong Sisters save drama for me!  This one is delightful, ridiculous, but really fun to watch.  It also has lots of attractive boys in it, so it was just what I needed after the last drama I watched.  Nun dresses as her twin brother to join a kpop boy band?  Yes, please.  As girls dressed as guys go, this one is probably one of the funnier.  Also, super props go to both Jang Geun Suk and Lee Hong Ki for playing their parts so delightfully well.  This one is fluffy, but a good kinda fluffy.

2. Boys Over Flowers 꽃보다 남자 (2009) Korean

Lee Min Ho, Ku Hye Seon, Kim Hyun Joong, Kim Bum, Kim Joon

Drama Rating: 3/10     Neck Score: B+

Nearly killed dramas for me.  I guess when I was expecting 16 episodes and it wasn't... The only thing that saved me from a certain death was Kim Bum swooping in every episode to do something random with her friend.  Also there were 4+ really hot men with hot necks.  I guess the F4 is probably why everyone loves this show.  It's definitely something you need to experience if you want to understand all the references that will be made to it, since it's one of those classics.  Almost Paaaaaaradise!  I watched it a second time, only the good parts, and it took me 6 hours.  6 out of 25 is still decent, I 'spose. Having read the manga and watched the Japanese drama as well, there is not much I can really say against it, though.  The Korean version seems to miss the point a little more than the Japanese drama misses the point.  They make the girl too nice.  This is essentially a story about a girl, who is pretty much a bitca (Buffy the Vampire Slayer reference), who can't make up her mind who is being chased by a bad boy- a real jerk mind you- who will never change his mind.  They cute-ify it in the drama world, which makes the ridiculous mom drama parts seem more cruel than they would if they were all actually real jerks like they are in the manga, but maybe that's just me on my soap box.  But I could stand to see Geum Jan Di flip people off as many times as she did in the manga.  Just saying.

1. My Girlfriend is a Gumiho 내 여자친구는 구미호 (2010) Korean

Lee Seung Gi, Shin Min Ah, No Min Woo

Drama rating: 8/10     Neck score: A+

My first drama, so of course it has a special place in my heart, but it's also a really good drama.  It's hilarious, as is typical for the Hong Sisters, I soon learned, and a good balance of drama and the other necessary evils.  Plus both the leads are super attractive, necks included.  It was a great place to start for me. I especially loved their relationship.  It started out as a butt headed boy conning/helping a mythological creature (a Gumiho- 9 Tailed Fox that eats men's livers to become human) in what seems to be a mutually helpful agreement, even though he's constantly scared she'll eat him and grows in the cutest way.  I love how obsessed with meat she is.  Shin Min Ah is amazing, just saying.  She plays the Gumiho so delightfully sincere.  Loved it.