164. Last 라스트 (2015) Korean

Yoon Kye Sang, Lee Beom Soo, Park Won Sang, Seo Ye Ji, Park Ye Jin 

Drama Rating: 9/10     Neck Score: A

Slow clap for this one, because I liked it.  All the characters were so complicated that you couldn't 100% like or hate anyone.  I would want to smack Tae Ho upside the head frequently, because he'd be an idiot.  I would also frequently feel sad or sorry or even want to side with Heung Sam, when he is 100% crazy.  That's the power of Lee Beom Soo.  Wow.  Even though I felt like the last two episodes were a bit rushed, it was a satisfying ending, as the fast pace seemed to work.  It was a good statement of greed, revenge, and obsession that the ending rush seemed to help more than hurt.  I also was impressed with Park Ye Jin.  I've seen her in less likable roles before which made me not care for her, but that is now a testament to her acting chops.  She took a character that could have easily been ruined and made it awesome.  So this drama gripped me from episode one, and kept me gripped to the end.  I laughed, cried (lots of times), felt super conflicted, angry, disgusted, bitter, and happy.  All of it.  It like put me through all the emotions.  And it had super awesome, incredibly violent fight scenes.  Like a ton of them.  Basically, it was about as good as this genre of drama can get.  I liked the dark, greedy, revenge, noir type drama.  Claps from me, I'm sad to see this one end.

132. Mr. Baek 미스터 백 (2014) Korean

Shin Ha Kyun, Jang Na Ra, Lee Joon, Park Ye Jin, Jung Suk Won

Drama Rating: 5/10     Neck Score: A

It was ok, but I just wasn't really into it that much.  I think the only thing that made this show work at all, with a ridiculous premise of an old man suddenly growing younger, is that Shin Ha Kyun could pull it off.  The old man in a younger man's body was good.  I liked those little details, such as him not knowing technology and things like that.  But I felt way more sympathetic to the son the whole time.  He just got the short end of the stick, being sad and then losing chances, etc.  I just wanted them to develop their relationship and not spend so much time on the romantic relationship, which was cute and I didn't hate it.  But I wanted more father son bonding time, and not the weird bonding time they came up with, like that awkward snow fight.  Also I didn't know about that Manager Hong chick for the longest time.  I thought that she was in love with the dad and still making plays at the son, which is gross.  But I warmed up to her.  The hardest part was that the bad guy is so hot.  He's the hottest guy in the show, but he's so bad, but not really.  But him in those glasses, seriously.  Rawr, Jung Suk Won, rawr.

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.