Shibatora (シバトラ -2008)

Starring:
Koike Teppei as Shibata Taketora
Ohgo Suzuka as Hosho Mizuki
Tsukaji Muga as Hakuto Shinsuke
Miyagawa Daisuke as Shinjo Toru
Minami Akina as Ayukawa Tamaki
Uchida Shige (内田滋) as Nanbara Kantaro
Sotaro (聡太郎) as Uzaki Tei
Matsuda Tamaki (松田珠希) as Manabe Yuna
Konno Narumi as Miyagi Mei
Maya Miki as Chiba Sakura
Fujiki Naohito as Fujiki Kojiro
Supporting & Guests
Imada Koji as Kinoshita Mitsuo (ep1)
Omiya Taro as Hosho Mitsuhiko (ep1,10)
Tsubaki Takayuki as Iketani Noboru (椿隆之) (ep1)
Yagami Ren as Urazawa (ep1)
Nishiyama Sosuke as Mizumoto (ep1)
Yamane Kazuma as Takagi (ep1)
Haru as Rumi (ep1)
Kawano Naoki as Kusunoki Yuji (ep1-4,7-10)
Daito Shunsuke as Kato Gakuto (ep1-4,9-10)
Miura Ryosuke as Kanazawa Takeshi (ep1-4,8-10)
Suenaga Haruka as Machida Rika (ep1-4,7-8)
Suzuki Ryohei as Mura Hiromi (ep1-4,9-10)
Kuranuki Masahiro as Mori Bunmei (ep1-4,8-10)
Suzuki Taku (鈴木拓) as Class 2-B Adviser (ep1,2,4)
Takahashi Tsutomu (高橋努) as their supervisor (ep2)
Karato Ryo as Mizoguchi (ep3)
Koike Ayame (小池彩夢) as Yagi Yuria / Mary (ep5)
Kono Yoichiro (河野洋一郎) as Yagi Yuria's father (ep5)
Takaku Chigusa (高久ちぐさ) as Yagi Yuria's mother (ep5)
Hiraga Masaomi as Ochiai Takeo's relative (ep5)
Tengenji Ryu (天現寺竜) as an artist (ep5)
Sakamoto Mitsunari (坂本三成) as as a police detective (ep5)
Ito Keita (伊藤圭) as a police detective (ep5)
Kawano Yoshiko (川野良子) as an announcer (ep5)
Hashizume Ryo as Ochiai Takeo (ep5-6)
Harada Kana (原田佳奈) as Chiba Yuri (ep5-6)
Shida Nanako (志田菜々子) as Ikushima Toko (ep5-6)
Aoki Shinsuke as Iwaki (ep5-6)
Ohira Natsumi as Ikuno Yayoi (ep7)
Yuge Tomohisa as Shishido (ep7)
Kohata Ryu (木幡竜) as Kanai Masaki (ep7-8)
Ideguchi Tetsuya (出口哲也) (ep7-8)
Kiriyama Renn as Igarashi (ep7-8)
Haruki Misayo as Machida Rika's mother (ep7-8)
Okouchi Hiroshi (大河内浩) as Kosugi (ep9-10)
Kyo Nobuo as Ino Takayoshi (ep9-10)
Sugiura Takao (杉浦太雄) as Wakabayashi (ep9-10)
Nakagawa Shingo as Fudo (ep9-10)
Toma Sora (藤間宇宙) as Masuda (ep9-10)
Inoue Waka as Tokiwa Ryoko (ep9-10)
Abe Ryohei (ep11)

No matter how you look at him, Shibata Taketora is just a quiet, ordinary junior high student. He looks so vulnerable that bullies try to rip him off on the streets, but he is actually a police detective and an expert swordsman in kendo. Taketora has a special ability to see the "hands of death" around people whose life is nearing the end. One day, Taketora is assigned on undercover operations. He sneaks into a high school, a maid cafe and a juvenile detention center... With the cooperation from his various friends, he gets to the bottom of the matters. --Fuji TV

This was a pretty good series but typical. Nothing spectacular really. The idea of the story was good though. Again another thought provoking Japanese series that left a huge moral to the story.

A good time waster but was hoping for a really good ending. I will say there was a twist that I wasn't expecting. I was really shocked. I really wasn't expecting it so that left a good feeling for this drama.

The acting was average and Fujiki-san looked horrible with that bleached hair. WTF? Go back to dark brown or black, leave the bleach behind. It made my eyes bleed.

I wish there had been more depth to this story and more money spent because this drama could have amounted to something............

.....and poor Teppei-kun. He will always be portraying a teenager as he ages. I don't think he'll ever look mature. Maybe he's lucky....or not.

Around 40 (アラウンド40 -2008)

Starring:
Amami Yuki as Ogata Satoko
Fujiki Naohito as Okamura Keitaro
Otsuka Nene as Morimura Nao
Matsushita Yuki as Takeuchi Mizue
Tsutsui Michitaka as Ohashi Sadao
AKIRA as Ogata Tatsuya
Sakura as Ogata Maki
Matsumoto Runa as Ogata Ruka
Hayashi Ryuzo as Ogata Tomoyasu
Kaga Mariko as Yoshinaga Haruko
Jinbo Satoshi as Takeuchi Akio
Kimura Haruki as Takeuchi Yosuke
Matsuo Takashi (松尾貴史) as Kawasaki Kengo
Matsumoto Wakana as Katayama Haruka
Hoshino Ryoko (星野涼子) as Uemura Asuka
Hiei Yosuke (日栄洋祐) as Yajima
Katagiri Hairi as Yanagihara Kazuko (Matchmaker)
Kato Masaya as Kanasugi Kazuya
Hashizume Jun as Kanbayashi Shozo
Maruyama Tomomi as Shinjo Takafumi
Oba Kumiko as Nakayama Michiko
Kichise Michiko as Minami Yukari

39-year-old Ogata Satoko is a highly capable psychiatrist who is single. She's forthright, a caring older sister and reliable in her job and in private. Her interests are staying in luxurious Japanese inns and watching stand-up comedy videos.

Satoko hasn't had a boyfriend in the past five years. Nevertheless, she derives satisfaction from work and isn't worried about her finances. Among her good friends that she hangs out with are 35-year-old Morimura Nao, her junior who proclaims that she won't marry, and 39-year-old Oikawa Sadao, her peer since high school. Satoko is happily enjoying the single life.

At an alumni reunion as everyone is on the verge of 40, Takeuchi Mizue, her good friend since high school who is now a full-time housewife, rushes Satoko into action. "If you want children, you should marry now" and "It's women's happiness", but both are lost on Satoko, who isn't convinced.

One day, Satoko attempts to cheer up Nao, who is downcast over a shocking incident, and goes to her favourite hot-spring inn. There she coincidentally encounters a breakup between a handsome but somewhat odd man, Okamura Keitaro, and his girlfriend...--jade_frost

I was only interested in this show because of Fujiki Naohito. That man is too damn cute for his age. *sigh*

This story line had promise but as the series progressed I felt that they focused too much on her profession. I thought this was about love in the 40's. In a way it was but I felt nothing in the progress of romance. So in a way, the story got depressing and lost its objective. Or so I thought.

I will say the character of Keitaro was amusing. He had his quirks but was really endearing and loveable. I never really thought of my trash and water they way they had him focused on. LOL! I guess I'm not environmentally friendly. Ooooops!

If you are of the younger mind set, this show really isn't for you at all. It might be even boring. I myself am pushing "Around 40" so I thought this would be great. Ehhh. It was okay. I was really down trodden about how they portrayed us at this age.................

Hot Shot (籃球火 / Lan Qiu Huo -2008)

Starring:
Jerry Yan as Dong Fang Xiang 東方翔
Show Lo as Yuan Da Ying 元大鷹
Zhou Cai Shi as Zhan Jie Er 湛潔兒
Coco Jiang as Li Ying 李贏
Wu Chun as Wu Ji Zun 無極尊
George Hu as Wu Ji Wei 無極威
Gu Bao Ming as Li Zi Ping 李子平
Michael Zhang as Can 殘 / Ah Fu 阿福
Zhang Yan Ming (張雁名) as Du Fei 杜飛
Lin Pai Yan (林伯彥) as Qi Xiao Yun 齊嘯雲
Lin Qi Tai (林祺泰) as Qi Xiao Yu 齊嘯雨
Extended cast
Zhao Shu Hai as Dong Fang Xu 東方旭
Yun Zhong Yue as Lao Lu 老路
Wang Xia (王俠) as Dong Fang Shou 東方朔
Ma Zhi Qin (馬之秦) as Tie Lan 鐵蘭
Wang Wei Ting (黃薇渟) as Lin Zi Xuan 林紫璇
Yan Jia Le (顏嘉樂) as Flower store owner
Wang Jian Min as Ji Wang 紀網
Jian Han Zhong (簡翰忠) as Commentator
Qian Ding Yuan (錢定遠) as Commentator
Jiang Wei Wen (蔣偉文) as George
Xie Kun Da as Wang Jing 王竟
Han Run Zhong (韓潤中) as Li Ke 李克
Cai Ming Xun (蔡明勳) as Wen Huai Wen 溫懷文
Li Guo Chao (李國超) as Coach of Xin Rui
Xu Jun Hao (許君豪) as Wang Gui 王貴
Gong Ji An as Sun Hao 孫浩
Renzo Liu as Coach of Xiang Yang
Lan Jun Tian (藍鈞天) as Jian Deng 賈登
Bu Xue Liang as Tang Long 唐龍
Li Jia Hua (李佳驊) as Ge Li Ya 戈利亞
Li Xing Wen (李興文) as Coach of He Yi
Na Wei Xun as Wang Ye 王爺
Huang Tai An as Fan Tuan 飯團
A Di as Wu Ji Mo 無極魔
Chen Bo Zheng as Zhan's father
Lu Jian Yu as gangster

In a school where academic reigns supreme and sports are relegated to a dusty corner of the campus, Li Ying vows to revive the basketball team by volunteering to be the head coach. Her first member is Yuan Da Ying, a country boy who is passionate for basketball but has no skill. Their recruitment goes into high gear when Dong Fang Xiang, a legendary basketball player, transfers to their school.

Around the same time, Yuan Da Ying falls for Zhan Jie Er, a scholarship student who reminds him of his childhood friend. Things are complicated by the fact her family works for Dong Fang Xiang, who she also grew up with. Their encounter may just rewrite the school's basketball history.

Hmm? This show was actually pretty cool. It was Slam Dunk on crack. The action scenes were amazing. I couldn't get enough of that. Really cool moves too the point that actually had me serious about basketball. I'm not a fan of that sport at all but the scenes kept me interested and I learned a few things even though I KNOW some moves weren't real. Even though some things weren't real, the actors knew there stuff and actually played the sport almost professionally. Or they acted it so well they had me believing they could.

Being a typical Taiwan drama, some scenes were overly dramatic (overacted). I'd really like to see a few more of their dramas portrayed seriously. There were times though that this show actually seemed that way.

The story was cute but somed things were a little rushed. I think this series needed an extra episode or two.

This show wasn't disappointing one bit and was really entertaining. Worth watching? Yeah.

Alan Luo


George Hu


Jerry Yan


Wu Chun

Goong S (궁 (宮) S -2007)

Starring:
Se7en as Lee Hoo / Kang Hoo
Heo Yi Jae as Yang Soon Ae
Kang Doo as Lee Joon
Park Shin Hye as Shin Sae Ryung
Extended Cast
Myung Se Bin as the Queen
Lee Ki Young as Jo Sang Ki
Oh Mi Hee as Hwang Tae Hoo (the Queen's mother)
Yoon Ye Hee as Jang Yoon Hee (Lee Joon's mother)
Chun Ho Jin as Joon's father
Ha Jae Young as Hoo's and Queen's uncle
Cha Hyun Jung as Joon's bodyguard
Ye Soo Jung as person in charge of Lee Hoo's education
Song Baek Kyung as Bulbam
Jung Hye Young as Hoo's mother
Jun Soo Yun
Moon Ga Young
So Do Bi
Lee Joo Hyun
??? as Shin Jae Man (Sae Ryung's father)
??? as Ma Young Nam (Soon Ae's friend)

The Empress (Myung Se Bin) is in her early 30s, but she is still not married. Since, the 1st successor to the throne died, the royal family is in search for a new successor. Incidentally, they come to know of a young man who was in fact a son of the prince to a woman who left the Palace for her to be able to keep her pregnancy a secret. The young man's name was Lee Hoo (Se7en), more commonly known to his friends as Kang Hoo. Lee Hoo worked as a delivery boy at a Chinese restaurant, and was known for his 7-minute maximum delivery time. Lee Hoo had been brought up as more of a punk than a prince so his habits and his way of conversing were very different from the people of royal blood. Although he had never dreamt of living in the Palace, he one day finds himself immersing himself in its grandeur and improving himself to prove that he indeed deserves to be called the Successor to the throne.

He soon finds out that not only will he be facing lessons to the path of royalty, and dilemmas of love and of stature, but he will also learn to compete for the position he had been, first and foremostly, called for.

This drama was not even close to the original Goong. It wasn't supposed to be, I think. I think they were just trying to ride the coat tails of that most famous, exceptional drama.

I made it through most of the episodes but gave up. It bored me to tears.

I will say this. It brought my attention to Se7en. I googled him. I youtubed him. I fell in love with his music. Rain he is not but damn if he doesn't have the most softest voice and awesome dance moves. Okay, lets not forget those lips. This man has the most poutiest, kissable lips I have ever seen. Women pay thousands for collagen injections for those type of lips. Wow!

He isn't the best of actors. I think he has some kind of potential but this drama wasn't it. I think he needed a drama that is more for his genre. Dance and music and then progressed from there.

The other actors had no excuse. The acting was deplorable and emotionally retarded almost to the point of being in a coma. What the hell?

Se7en

Romantic Princess (公主小妹 / Gong Zhu Xiao Mei -2007)

Starring:
Wu Chun as Nan Feng Jin 南風瑾
Angela Zhang as Mai Qiu Sui (Huangfu Shan) 麥秋穗(皇甫珊)
Calvin Chen as Nan Feng Cai 南風彩
Gu Bao Ming as Huangfu Xiong (EMP) 皇甫雄
George Hu as Nan Feng Lin 南風璘
Li Ang Lin as Nan Feng Ying 南風影
Genie Zhuo as Gong Mo Li 宮茉莉
Hsia Ching Ting as Yi Sen Chuan 伊森川
Bu Xue Liang as Mai Cong Guang 麥聰光
Huang Jia Qian as Mai Ge Hao Wa 麥戈浩娃
Lu Jian Yu as Head of Guards
Ye Hui Zhi (葉蕙芝) as Head of Housekeepers
Long Chen Han (隆宸翰) as Ah Jie 阿傑
Feng Yuan Zhen (馮媛甄) as Ah Bao 阿寶
Qing Xuan (晴宣) as Sha Sha 莎莎
Li Yi Hua (李衣驊) as Maid

Adopted by middle classed parents, Xiao Mai has always had a dream to be an heiress. Who knew that one day this dream would come true. Xiao Mai's biological grandfather is the head of a prestigous aristocratic family and after many years of searching, he finally finds his long lost granddaughter. As she starts her life as an heiress, everyday is filled with excitement, however, everything seems a bit different from what she had imagined them to be.

Hmmm? Another corning Taiwan drama/comedy. This could have went somewhere. Sort of like Goong but not. This story lost focus. Most of it was unbelievable. It was rushed. A love triangle...not. They needed something but whatever it was....wasn't there.

It was okay for a time waster....that's it. If you are a Wu Chun fan, there ya go. Nothing more to this story. Fangirls delight, yes. This drama was a definite waste of money and the ending totally sucked. The ending could have saved this show by about 10% but they failed in that too.

Dal Ja's Spring (달자의 봄 -2007)

Starring:
Chae Rim as Oh Dal Ja
Lee Min Ki as Kang Tae Bong
Lee Hyun Woo as Uhm Gi Joong
Lee Hye Young as Wee Seon Joo
Gong Hyeong Jin as Shin Sae Do
Extended cast
Seo Yeong Hee as Jang Soo Jin
Kil Yong Woo as Kang (Tae Bong's father)
Kwon Ki Sun as Yeong Shim (Tae Bong's mother)
Kim Na Woon as Go Shil Jang (Oh Dal Ja's sunbae)
Jang Young Nam as Uhm Gi Joong's wife
Lee Kyung Jin as Jung Ae (Dal Ja's mother)
Kim Young Ok as Dal Ja's grandmother
Kim Sung Kyum as Tae Bong's grandfather
Oh Kyung Soo as Nam Dae Soo (the department director)
Kim Jae Wook as Choon Ha (Tae Bong's friend)
Seo Yeong as Hong Ji Hee

‘Dalja’s Spring’ is the story of Dalja, a 33-year old single at a crossroad of whether to remain single or get married before she gets older. The drama aims to comically and candidly portray the reality and undying pursuit of romance of a thirty something single woman.

The love triangle of Dalja, Taebong and Gijoong brews conflicts over love versus marriage. Taebong, a hunk six years younger than Dalja, works as substitute dates and becomes Dalja’s fake boyfriend. Gijoong is the type who dreams of an ideal and rational courtship. The drama also highlights the life and work of women in their thirties through Dalja who is a talented managing director at a home shopping channel.

God I love Lee Min Ki!!! Even though he is so young, he portrays an age above his true self spectacularly! You wouldn't think he was in the low 20's but almost 30. He is very mature for his age.

OMG! The first really serious role for LMK! I got what I wanted. This was a comedy but the comedy was all on Chae Rim not LMK (a first). He was serious throughout this drama. OMG! OMG! OMG!

You never really realize who is really by your side until its almost too late. I couldn't stop watching this drama. LMK was actually the "adult" in this drama. I could almost reach through the screen and just kiss'im. This drama was almost mirroring itself with Soulmate. He was always there for her and she didn't realize it. I will say that I was hoping for a more glamorous ending. A marriage perhaps? Something more "nailed shut". The ending was just a wee bit too open ended but it was atleast a happy ending. *sigh*

Lee Min Ki

Devil Beside You (惡魔在身邊 / E Mo Zai Shen Bian -2005)

*I have updated this post from the last one since I decided to watch this a second time. Hehehe!*



Starring:
Mike He as Jiang Meng 江猛
Rainie Yang as Qi Yue 齊悅
Kingone Wang as Sang Yuan Yi 尚源伊
Ivy Fan Xiao Fan as Xin Li Xiang 辛莉香
He Du Lin as Jiang You Hui 江友暉
Ge Wei Ru as Huang Xue Wei 黃雪薇
Masuyama Yuki as Yu Yang Ping 于陽平
Tsai Pei Lin as Qing Zi 晴紫
Fu Xiao Yun as Xiao Cai 小彩
Yuan Jun Hao as Guo Kai 郭凱
Katherine Wang Kai Di as Liu Mei Di 劉美蒂
Figaro Ceng Shao Zong as Yuan Chuan Rang 袁川讓
Wu Zhong Tian as Tian Si Shen 田思慎
Wang Jian Min as Chui Ming 椎名
Tang Qi as Grandma Jiang
Meng Ting Li as Yuan Mei Jin 袁美津
Janel Tsai as Chuang Ya Li 莊雅莉
Huang Xing Lun (黃星倫) as Cai Yi Lang
Xu Qiong Yun (許瓊云) as childhood Qi Yue

Why, oh why? How did it happen? They made me fall in love with this drama! It wasn't supposed to happen. I think I have put this drama off for months and finally grew a wild hair and sat down to watch it. The beginning of the drama didn't appeal to me that is why I alway pushed it aside. This time I actually sat all the way through it....to the end. I wept, I cried tears of joy, I cried some more, I yelled, I laughed, I giggled, I cried some more, and then about lost it at the end. Oh yeah, this one was worth the trauma and heart pain. Oh yeah!I'll admit the end could have been better. I wanted more from the writers. Don't get me wrong. It ended well but I wanted more closure from the characters called Qi Yue and Ahmon/Meng. A proposal, perhaps? They went through all that crap and all we got was a........................*I ain't telllin' ya....watch it to find out*

Qi Yue (Rainie Yang) is a cheerful college girl who harbors a massive crush on the captain of the basketball team, Yuan Yi (Kingone). With the encouragement of her friends, she decides to confess her feelings. However, the next day, with her love letter in her outstretched hands and her head bent, Yuan Yi walks right by her. Qi Yue looks up to find Jiang Meng (Mike He), the school director's son, who has a devilish reputation and a penchant to bully girls. Terrified, she drops the letter and scoots away.
True to his nickname, the devil orders Qi Yue to be his personal servant, else her letter will be revealed to the entire college. Embarrassed and angry, Qi Yue has no choice but to follow in his shadow. A bizarre twist later, she discovers she has feelings for Meng, who, beneath the cool exterior, possesses a soft and loyal heart. Meng returns her affections as well, and at last the dreamy Qi Yue, whose head is made up of romantic fluff, thinks she has found love.

One thing stands in the way, however... How can they be together, when they're about to become brother and sister? And what happens when an arranged marriage and an old love enters both of their already complicated lives?

And at the end of it all....I've come to realize that Mike He is one hot dude. He never really turned me on but then I never really watched any of his stuff...until now. Oh man. He reminded me of Vic Zhou in MARS. Damn! Now I'm going to have to watch all of his dramas just so I can get a Mike He fix. Where's the Marlboro's when I need them? Oh, wait and Kingone! Hello? Umm...another hottie in the mix and Meng's friend Yang Ping (Masuyama Yuki). Both cutie patooties! YOU know I'm putting pics up of these guys!

Mike He

You've heard the phrase "hurt so good"? Well, He makes it hurt sooooo good!
Bull Fighting, Yukan Club (includes members of KAT-TUN), Express Boy, Why Why Love, Marry Me!, and others will now be given more chances to appeal to me. Yukan Club, especially, because it was stupid but I'll try again. LOL!
Kingone

Photobucket was limited in their Kingone photos. Eeergh! Ah well. I find more later.
Dontcha just love pretty boys?

I Really Really Like You (진짜 진짜 좋아해 / Jinjja Jinjja Joahae -2006)

Starring:
Eugene as Yuh Bong Soon (Birth name is Yeo Yoon He, 25)
Lee Min Ki as Nam Bong Ki (Bodyguard, 28)
Ryu Jin as Dr. Jang Joon Won (President's son, 31)
Bong Soon's family
Geum Bo Ra as Lee Han Suk (Bong Soon's mother, 47)
Shin Min Hee as Geum Soo Kyung (19)
Lee Sang Kil as Jo Hyun Joon (9)
Bong Ki's family and colleagues
Jang Yong as Nam Dae Shik (Bong Ki's father, 61)
Yoon Seung Won as Lee Sang Jik (Director Lee, in charge of security for the President, 48)
Yoo Tae Joon as Kim Joo Yup ( Bodyguard nicknamed Robocop, 28
Yoon Ji Hoo as Kang Moon Shik (Bodyguard: Bong Ki and Robocop's friend, 28)
Presidential family
Choi Bool Am as Jang Min Ho (The President, 59)
Kim Hye Ok as Oh Young Sil (Joon Won's mother, 53)
Jung So Young as Go Ji Soo (Joon Won's wife, 31)
Jung Da Bin as Jang Hyo Won (Joon Won's daughter, 4)
Staff people
Kwon Ki Sun as Ma Ok Hee (47)
Lee Young Ja as Song Un Joo (39)
Ahn Hye Kyung (안혜경) as Noh Jin Kyung (Nutritionist in charge of the canteen, 29)
Kim Chang Wan as Kang San (50)
Kim Gook Jin as Ki Hyung Do (35)
Kang In Duk as Bang Pil Do (59)
Yoon Yeo Jung as Goo Hyang Sook (55)
Others
Kim Hee Jung as Soo Jung
Kim Hyung Bum

Yeo Bong Soon (Eugene) leaves her mountain village and comes to Seoul to live and look for her parents after her foster 'grandmother' passes away. She finds a job as an assistant cook at the President's Blue House canteen and later, in the Blue House kitchen. She falls for Jang Joon Won (Ryu Jin), the President's son, a highly intellectual doctor; however, he is married with a five-year-old daughter. His wife is suffering from dementia. As Bong Soon finds herself falling in love with Joon Won, a love triangle builds up when Bong Ki (Lee Min Ki), the President's family's bodyguard, starts to fall for the hillbilly Bong Soon! The drama explores about how Bong Ki gets in touch with his own feelings and how Bong Song's generosity makes the men fall for her.

This was truly a beautiful story. A love triangle, yes. But not overly intense. I will say that the progression for Bong-soon's love for Bong-ki didn't really hit until the last 3 episodes and their were 34 episodes. Don't get me wrong, we see her change attitudes towards him during the whole show but it from total hate, to disbelief, to friendship.......just her love for him was just rushed at the end. That's how I felt anyway.

The whole show really showed how love can change and to love someone unconditionally while sick. I loved Joon-won's character. I really, truly did. You could feel the torment and guilt he felt for both Bong-soon and his wife. That character had depth.

I did not care for the wishy-washy character of Bong-soon. Once she found out about Joon-won's wife, you'd think she would back off. But instead she held on for dear life and didn't give Bong-ki the chances he deserved. They tried to portray her as a good girl but I think that fell through while dealing with Joon-won's character. That part left a bitter taste in my mouth.

Bong-ki. What can I say about him? Lee Min-ki is a freakin' riot. He always leaves me with a smile on my face. He has some great comedic timing and his facial expressions are a joy. He always makes me happy while watching him. I'd really like to see him in a serious role. No comedy involved. I wonder if he could pull it off. I think I might Dal Jal's Spring next just so I can get more of LMK. *sigh* How can someone be that cute?

Lee Min Ki

The Princess Hours (궁 (宮) / Goong (Gung) -2006)

Starring:
Yoon Eun Hye as Shin Chae-kyung
Joo Ji Hoon as Lee Shin
Kim Jeong Hoon as Lee Yul
Song Ji Hyo as Min Hyo-rin
Chae-Kyung's family
Im Ye Jin as Chae-kyung's mother
Kang Nam Gil as Chae-kyung's father
Kim Suk as Shin Chae-joon (younger brother)
Shin's friends
Choi Sung Joon as Kang In
Lee Yong Joo as Jang Kyung
Uhm Sung Mo as Ryu Wan
Chae-kyung's friends
Jun Ji Ae as Lee Kang-hyun
Lee Eun as Kim Soon-young
Dan Ji as Yoon Hee-soong
Palace
Kim Hye Ja as the Queen Mother
Yoon Yoo Sun as the Queen
Park Chan Hwan as the King
Lee Yoon Ji as Princess Hye-myung (Shin's sister)
Shim Hye Jin as Lady Hwa-Yong (Yul's mother)

Goong (궁) is based on the same titled manhwa by Park So Hee.

Goong is a story about young love in face of tradition, politics, and intrigue. In the imaginary world, modern-day Korea is a constitutional monarchy and the Royal Family lives in a grand Palace, the Goong. Story opens with the sudden death of the reigning the King. Faced with the decreasing popularity among the public for the Royalty, a grand wedding for the Crown Prince, Lee Shin (Joo Ji Hoon), is decided to be the best publicity move to improve the image of the Royalty and at the same time prepare Shin for immediate succession. The intended bride? The headstrong, awkward, and sweet spirited Shin Chae-kyung (Yoon Eun Hye) that just happens to go to the same exclusive art school. Chae-kyung was betrothed to become the next Crown Princess by her grandfather and Shin's grandfather.

After 14 years of living in England with his mom, Lee Yul (Kim Jeong Hoon) appears all of a sudden. He is Shin's cousin as well as the former Crown Prince. Everything seemed to be going normally until Chae-kyung's optimistic spirit wins the heart of internally lonely, Yul. As the Crown Prince Shin and simple-minded Chae-kyung's relationship appear to developing deeper feelings, a series of scandals are exposed to the public right after the pair were officially announced married. Will love prevail all in a world of political pressures and martial hardships? Or will being in the spotlight of the public be too much for the young newlyweds to endure?
This drama is probably one of the best to come out of Korea. And probably the most popular too! I'll admit I loved this one. I actually watched it again last week.....all the way through but skipped parts that bored me. I didn't really care about who was going to get the throne and the crazy Queen wannabe. I think I am not the only one who thought this way. The main gist of the story was about the Crown Prince and his bride.

This story was so touching and hilarious at the same time. Yes, it had its Korean moments when you want to change the scene quick but in all the whole entire form of this drama was exceptional in every way. It brought tears and laughs. And it made those of us who had forgotten Cinderella, that dreams can come true.

I need to say this. Out of all the dramas, including Japanese and Chinese/Taiwanese, this drama had the freakin' best kissing scene ever! Not those damn pressed lips that are touching. No. This looked and felt like a real kiss and nothing left to the imagination. I could watch that scene in itself over and over and over and over and over and over again. My heart melted. The romance between the two seemed believable.

Okay, I do have one question from the end. What?????? Ummm?????? When did they "do" it? LOL! The ending was truly wonderful because they closed the ending. More than just a promise but vows were made. Now that was a truly deep and loveable drama. Indeedy do.

Joo Ji Hoon

Exhibition of Fireworks (불꽃놀이 / Bool-kkot-nol-i -2006)

Starring:
Han Chae Young as Shin Na Ra / Shin Na Kyung (Cosmetic beauty counselor)
Kang Ji Hwan as Nah In Jae (Cosmetic gallery manager)
Park Eun Hye as Chae Mi-rae (Head of the cosmetic store management team)
Yoon Sang Hyun as Kang Seung-woo (CPA, Nah-ra’s ex-boyfriend)
Park Jung Soo as Nah In Jae's mother
Kim So Yun as Shin Na Kyung (the real 20 year-old sister)
Park Geun Hyung as Shin Na Ra's father
Kim Chang Sook (김창숙) as Choi Soon Young (Shin Na Ra's mother)
Kim Joo Hyun (김주현)

Shin Na Ra, a woman who is almost thirty welcomes her boyfriend of ten years back from his business trip. During their dinner, he tells her that he not only had an affair but fell in love with another woman. Thus their relationship is no more. To make herself feel better, Na Ra drinks a large amount of alcohol and unknowingly dropped the ring her ex-boyfriend gave her into a random stranger’s cup. The stranger, In-Jae, drinks the shot without seeing the ring and both of them end up in the hospital.

To support herself, Na Ra pretends to be her 20 years old sister in order to work as a cosmetic clerk at Mi-Rae (the woman her ex-boyfriend fell in love with)’s shop but fate has brought In-Jae to the shop to. Thus began their surprising journey of love, where In-Jae is in love with Mi-Rae too.

This is my second time watching this. I've been terribly bored lately and have been searching high-n-low for dramas that I had like before. This one I couldn't remember exactly if I did or not. I just remember the main actor was a cutie.

This was a typical Korean drama. One exception. The female antagonist was a little more overbearing. So much so that I really wanted to wring her neck. She started out as a sort of sweet girl and then totally lost it! She did things that most female antagonists would think of but not carry off. This character I really didn't like at all. And to think she was the girl I fell in love with in Witch Yoo-hee. Ugh!


The best moment out of whole show.....hehe!

The ending was typically uneventful. For a romance, you would think they would have sealed this with a kiss or a promise. I felt I was left hanging. Not even a freakin' hug. I think this could have been a better drama if they toned down the female antagonists character and had the leads show a little more love. I felt the romance but it was too late at the end.



In all though, the story was interesting and there enough funny moments to keep me interested but it slowed down nearing the end. I just wanted more........................

Kang Ji Hwan