239. Legend of the Blue Sea 푸른 바다의 전설 (2016) Korean

Jun Ji Hyun, Lee Min Ho, Sung Dong Il, Lee Hee Joon, Shin Won Ho

Drama Rating: 6/10     Neck Score: A

Why did I start this one?  Not for Lee Min Ho (obviously).  I do like Jun Ji Hyun, but not for her either.  It was because of Jo Jung Suk's cameo.  Also, Sung Dong Il was the bad guy.  Because of those two alone, I endured the rest of this.  Actually, it was much better than I thought it was going to be.  I actually really loved it up until the last half of it.  I liked the premise with fate repeating itself and flashing back and forth from their past lives to their current lives, etc.  So when the show was about the mermaid, I loved it.  When Sung Dong Il was the main bad guy, I loved it.  He is just an amazing actor who could take a psychopath and make him sympathetic.  Then the makjang took over with the evil mom and "hyung" (who totally looked younger than Lee Min Ho) and I actually forgot that she was a mermaid.  Now if the whole thing were about that makjang and not about the mermaid, I would have been fine with it, I like good (haha, I mean bad) makjang.  But when makjang takes over a different genre, then it becomes a problem.  I really forgot she was a mermaid (it wasn't important any more at that part) and I forgot he was a conman.  I always struggle with Lee Min Ho the most when he's being sad and serious (or mopey).  He is fine acting like a conman, and they were an adorable couple, but every time he cried I am not moved.  I just can't believe it.  He's not a good crier I guess.  I would be like "oh no, Lee Min Ho is sad now" and proceed to check the latest Twitter updates.  They wrapped up all the makjang really fast, as they realized that it was out of place, so our villain didn't even get the ending he deserved.  He was too cool to be wrapped up in that sloppy manner.  Sad day.  The last episode was really boring and drawn out.  Whatever.  So by the end of it I wasn't even paying attention that much and was playing Go Stop while watching.  So, while it probably started out a 7 or an 8, by the end it was probably a 5 or a 6.  Jo Jung Suk was a 10.  He outshone everyone in the scenes he was in.  I was like "who is that squid next to him?" when he was interacting with Lee Min Ho.  He was just too charismatic.  Overall everyone was great and the show was good, it just had the sloppy writing in the second half curse, like most dramas do.  I did wish that Tae Ho (aka my Shin Boo) had more screen time.  He makes good faces.

238. Seven First Kisses 첫 키스만 일곱번째 (2016) Korean

Lee Cho Hee, Choi Ji Woo, Lee Joon Ki, Park Hae Jin, Ji Chang Wook, Kai, Ok Taecyeon, Lee Jong Suk, Lee Min Ho

Drama Rating: 4/10     Neck Score: A++++

Ok, so we all knew what this was before we started it, right?  A web drama commercial where a bunch of hot oppas were a little bit more of sell outs than normal for a CF.  But the good thing about it was that it was also a parody of all the drama genres and styles, because you can't take it seriously and I don't think it took itself seriously and definitely none of the actors did.  So it's a fun way to do a CF and its definitely a good way to look at the hot boys, so win-win?  It's ridiculous and hilarious.  So now here is a summary of what I thought of all the different stories:

Lee Joon Ki- creepy stalker who got away with it because he's the sexiest man alive.  I really think he got shafted by being first because it made his "first love/loved from afar" story line come off as creepy and stalkerish.  Especially the part where he has a slideshow of all his stalker pics he took of her.  That aside, he was probably one of the more swoon worthy oppas in the show.
Park Hae Jin- Tsundere boss?  Workaholic?  His story was one of the ones that made more sense, since it was just more natural since he was the boss character.  We also got lots of lovely forearm shots, and his swoony smile, so overall good.
Ji Chang Wook- Spy.  I kind of love how they typecasted everyone to their most famous roles.  Park Hae Jin was the tsundere/slightly creepy until you realize what is going on, and Ji Chang Wook was Healer again.  They went through all the thriller/spy stereotypes too, and it was hilarious.
Kai- the most awkward ever.  Kai = no acting.  Kai's hair = yuck.  It was just awkward, the whole time.  He was the tutoring student, so it was another squirrely, awkward noona romance.  And it was worse because there was zero chemistry on his part.  Just awkward.
Ok Taecyeon- absolutely hilarious.  He was the chaebol makjang character, and it was amazing.  I was just laughing the whole time.  The water slap, the kelp slap, the evil bitca, the evil mother, the birth secrets, it was hilarious and adorable.
Lee Jong Suk- this one was probably the most logical of all, as he was himself, filming a CF with her, and they were adorable together.  It was the one that was probably the most natural.  She also seemed to have good chemistry with him as well.
Lee Min Ho- was that even an episode?  I did like how awkward this one was, because she was assuming it was like all the others, and acting all full of herself, and everyone was like wut?  But then it was like just awkward the whole time, and Lee Min Ho's was like "what am I doing here?  Why did I agree to this?" the whole time too.  So this one doesn't even count.  It's just pure awkwardness.  Plus, he didn't even get an attempted kiss, so what is this 7 kisses thing?  It was like 6 1/2 first kisses.

Okay, so now, if I had to pick one of them to be my "kiss" choice, I would probably chose them in this order: 1. Lee Jong Suk, 2. Park Hae Jin (Hae Jin and Jong Suk might just be tied for first), 3. Lee Joon Ki (3rd now because of how stalkerish his story was), 4. Ji Chang Wook, 5. Ok Taecyeon- because I say no to that kind of drama in real life, 6. Lee Min Ho- because he's at least close to my age, 7. Kai- because that kind of awkward noona romance is a no.  This is probably a good indication as well of how sexy they were too, strongly based on the story lines as well.

And rating them based solely on their endings might put it at: 1. Ok Taecyeon-his ending was just too hilarious, 2. Lee Joon Ki- because his ending made his story much cuter 3. Ji Chang Wook- because his ending was bad-a, 4. Lee Jong Suk, 5. Park Hae Jin- both closely following the others in cuteness, 6. Lee Min Ho- because he didn't have an ending, 7. Kai- because his ending added nothing.

I could probably also rate them on how cute their BTS videos were, but that is just being silly (but Joon Ki was adorable in his) and basically just rating how much I love all these boys in real life (which would probably be a different post entirely).  So I will not, but they are worth watching (except I didn't bother watching Kai's).

Don't regret watching this.  It's pure fan fiction, so just indulge and enjoy.

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.

34. City Hunter 시티헌터 (2011) Korean

Lee Min Ho, Park Min Young, Kim Sang Joong, Chun Ho Jin

Drama Rating: 9/10      Neck Score: A

It was just stubbornness that kept me from watching this show earlier, since it kept getting recommended to me, but it's seriously really, really good, so I recommend that you don't need to do that, but watch this one right away.  It's a really good blend between action/revenge thriller, comedy, and romance- with emphasis on the action and revenge of course.  I still think this is Lee Min Ho's best role ever.  He plays the boy forced into revenge and seriousness when he just wants to love and have fun so very well.  Also, I love Kim Sang Joong.  He is so bad-a.  He's cool.  There are lots of good plot twists, lots of good action, good comedic timing, and even a creepy hot hit man that you shouldn't be attracted to, but kinda are.  Also the imagery is really good.  One note.  Please watch this one before you watch Shining Inheritance (if you have any plans to watch Shining Inheritance) so that you wont hate his mom in this one, as you will hate her in Shining Inheritance.

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.

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.