Kdrama Review: The Great Seducer (Tempted)

Clips of the kdrama The Great Seducer or Tempted was all over my Facebook last year but I didn’t really paid attention to it. It’s just that I did not find it  interesting that time- which by the way happens to me everytime. 😂 So last week I was looking for a kdrama to watch and The Great Seducer happened to be on the list of the most popular and I remembered my friend suggesting this so I gave it a try.

Some great stuff (not so great but still good) about The Great Seducer.

Great Actor Woo Do Hwan. I swoon over handsome kdrama oppas easily but them touching my heart through their acting is a whole different story. There are just few actors who really touched my heart - Kim Soo Hyun in Moonlight Embracing the Sun, Yoo Seung Ho in Remember, Lee Joon Gi in Scarlet Heart and addition to this short list is Woo Do Hwan. 

There’s a scene in The Great Seducer wherein Si Hyun’s eyes were compared to Cinderella’s mirror (they’re actually referring to Snow White’s step mother’s mirror) and I totally agree. I think his eyes say it all. I love how he portrayed Si Hyun’s character and emotions. His eyes can transform to player Si Hyun to loving Si Hyun.When he cries, I want to hug and comfort him and when he smiles and laugh, I crazily smile and laugh with him. I think that’s how effective he was. He gained a new fan in me.

Great Supporting leads. I was able to get through this kdrama because of Woo Do Hwan and the gang - Soo Ji played by Moon Ga Young and Se Joo portrayed by Kim Min Jae. Their frienship is #goals but was kinda sad as well on how their friendship ended. But at the back of my mind I know that they still got each other’s backs. 

I particularly love Moon Ga Young - she portrayed the broken Soo Ji very well. She’s undoubtedly a great actress and in this kdrama, I think she really outshined Joy.

Not so great stuff t about The Great Seducer.

Unecessarily complicated back story. I am not against complicated stories or plot but if it’s complicated it should be atleast game-changer or something that will make you hold into seat or will make your imagination work.  But for this kdrama, the complication is unecessary and cringey.

Joy’s one-dimensional acting. Don’t hate me for this but I feel like Joy’s acting is lacking. One dimensional. It feels like she’s just throwing her lines. I also watched her in Liar and His Lover and I think she’s much better there, or probably her role in The Great Seducer requires more maturity that she was not able to deliver. I dunno. 

Final Verdict: It’s not really so great but still okay hmmm.. As I have said before, if you’ve been watching kdrama for years now, you should find something that will hold you into watching. It may be story, the characters, the actors, the setting or whatever it may be. In this case it is Woo Do Hwan, I agree he is a great seducer! lol!

Best K-drama Bromance

Sometimes it is not the romance that make our hearts flutter while watching kdramas but the bromance. Agree?

1. The Heirs - Kim Tan and Choi Young Do (Lee Min Ho and Kim Woo Bin)

 2. Sassy Go Go! - Kim Yeol and Seo Ha Joon (Lee Won Keun and Ji Soo)

3. School 2017 - Hyun Tae Woon and Song Dae Hwi (Kim Jung Hyun and Jang Dong Yoon)

4.  Suspicious Partners - Noh Ji Wook and Ji Eun Hyuk (Ji Chang Wook and Choi Tae Joon)

5.  Descendants of the Sun - Yoo Si Jin and Seo Dae Young (Song Joong Ki and Jin Goo)

6. Hwarang - Kim Soo Ho and Park Ban Ryu (Choi Min Ho and Do Ji Han)

7. School 2013 - Go Nam Soon and Park Heung Soo (Lee Jong Suk and Kim Woo Bin)

 8. Goblin - Goblin and Grim Reaper (Gong Yoo and Lee Dong Wook)

Who made your hearts flutter? 😂❤️

K-Drama 101: Titles

If you’ve been watching Kdramas, I know that you’ve heard all or most of these words that are used to address someone. I’m not even Korean but sometimes, I use some of these with my friends. ❤️

Cha Eun Woo, My favorite oppa as of the moment 😂

Oppa (오빠) - older brother and it is only used by females to address a male older than them. It is also used as a term of endearment. Personally, this is my favorite word, it just sounds sweet! ❤️

Eonni (언니) - older sister 

Nuna (누나) - older sister 

Hyeong (형) - older brother 

Appa (아빠) - Dad 

Eomma (엄마) - Mother 

Ajumma (아줌마) - Middle-aged woman 

Ajeossi (아저씨) - Middle-aged man, mister  

Harabeoji (할아버지) - grandfather 

Halmeoni (할머니) - grandmother 

Dongsaeng (동생) - younger bother/sister 

Namdongsaeng (남동생) -  younger brother  

Yeoja Chingu (여자 친구) - girl friend 

Namja Chingu (남자 친구) - boy friend

Chingu (친구) - friend

Depyeonim (대표님) boss

Sunbae  (선배) - senior

Hoobae (후배) - junior

Haksaeng (학생) - student

Adeul (아들) - son

Ttal  (딸) - daughter

Nampyeon (남편) - husband

Bumonim (부모님) - parents

Samchon (삼촌) - uncle

Imo (이모) - aunt

Sajangnim (사장님) -  CEO, boss

Must See Korean Movies

The number of Korean movies I’ve watched  is probably no match to the kdramas that I’ve binged watched. The Korean movie world is a world yet to explore but here are some recommendations. Share yours too!

1. Hot Young Bloods is a cute movie starring Lee Jong Suk as Joong Gil, a famous playboy and Park Bo Young as Young Sook, a tough gang leader. Be ready to fall in love yet again.

2. My Annoying Brother is a film starring Jo Jung Suk and EXO’s D.O. It is about the love-hate sibling relationship of Doo Sik and Do Young. This movie will surely bring a good laugh and a bunch of tears too!

3. Along with the Gods is one of the top-grossing domestic film in South Korea. The story revolves around the death of Kim Ja Hong (Cha Tae Hyun) and the  three grim reapers who escorted and defended him in the afterlife. It’s an interesting movie with an interesting plot, death and afterlife. 

BTW, It’s nice to see Ju Ji Hoon oppa again after Princess Hours (that was long time ago).

4. Train to Busan is also one of the top grossing film in South Korea and I must say the most hyped Korean film of 2016. It is a zombie apocalypse film starring our dearest goblin, Gong Yoo. 

5. Werewolf Boy stars Park Bo Young and Song Joong Ki, two of my favorite actors. It is sweet yet heart-breaking. 

6. Miracle in Cell No. 7 is probably the most tear-jerking Korean movie I’ve seen. The story revolves around the relationahip of a mentally challenged man wrongfully accused of murder and his daughter. This movie is truly moving so be sure to prepare tissues when you watch this.

7. My Sassy Girl is first Korean movie I watch. It’s an old yet timeless movie starring Jun Ji Hyun and Cha Tae Hyun. 

8. My Little Bride is another “old” movie starring Kim Rae Won and Moon Geun Young. It may be as weird as it seems due to the age gap of the two in the story but it’s such a cute and sweet film.

9. 200 Pound Beauty is another oldie but goodie. It is one of   those that intoduced me to Korean movies.

10. My Love, My Bride starring Jo Jung Suk and Shin Min Ah tells the story of how sweet love is but later showed how marriage is not always a bed of roses. It’s a cliche yet meaningful story.

Kdrama Review: School 2017

I think I have mentioned many times now that what got me into kdrama, kpop and Korean culture in general is Who are You: School 2015 (actually it was Yook Sung Jae of BTOB). I loved that kdrama so much so I was really anticipating for the next school year - School 2017.

 School is a kdrama series which mainly focuses on sensitive issues such as the corrupt education system, academy and tutoring culture in South Korea, bullying and common problems of teenagers in love, friendship and family.

 Simple plot. If I were to compare it to the previous installments, I must say that the plot of School 2017 does not really stand out; it is simple and predictable - which is not always a bad thing. Sometimes, such light and superficial kdramas are easier and fun to watch if well presented. And School 2017 is one of these kdramas.

 Relatable young love. School 2017 might lack story depth but Tae Woon and Eun Ho's young love and cute interactions will surely give you a mini heart attack. I love how the story was presented and how it was developed. It wasn't grand nor fast-paced but it was developed just right, along the way as they shared dreams and stuggles. I think their story is something that most of us can relate to.

 Kim Se Jeong's infectious smile. Kim Se Jeong's debut acting performance is not bad at all. I find it over the top at first but I started to love her as the drama progressed. Her smile will just melt your heart and will make you smile as well.

 Manly yet cute Tae Woon oppa.  I honestly don't want to watch School 2017 at first eventhough I've been waiting for this series because I don't find Kim Jung Hyun interesting but as always, I had a change of heart. He's one of the reason why I watched School 2017. 

He portrayed the rebellious and charismatic Hyun Tae Woon effortlessly. The scene where Tae Woon showed his Boy in Luv moves weakened my knees. LOL! Now, I am anticipating for his next kdrama.

Final thoughts? School 2017 is simple, there's nothing much to it but personally, I enjoyed the lightness of this kdrama. It is easy to watch and will leave you with smile and kilig in your heart. Yes, there are many loopholes and unanswered questions but who cares? If you want a light kdrama to watch, then I suggest you watch this. 

Kdrama Review: Remember War of the Son

Remember: War of the Son is a kdrama that follows the battle of Seo Jin Woo as he seek justice for his father who was wrongfully convicted of murder.

This kdrama has a very common story but has a very interesting gist to it. Seo Jin Woo portrayed by Yoo Seung Ho has hyperthymesia wherein he remembers everything in enormous detail. I always hear the term "Photographic Memory" but was not aware that it is actually real. The hypethymesia detail on the story made it rather interesting.

 I randomly came across Remember: War of the Son's trailer in Facebook and was completely intigued after so I decided to watch it. I thought it will just be a light drama but watching the first episode already made my heart ache. ㅠ.ㅠ The first episode will grab your attention right away because of its quick pacing and interesting characters but it somehow began to slow down towards the end that I want the PD-nim to resolve and end Seo Jin Woo's revenge and misery. Remember: War of the Son has 20 episodes but I think 16 episodes was enough.

I applaud the actors and actresses in this kdrama for their effective portrayals -  from the lead to the supporting actors down to the minor characters. They all told the story effectively but one stood out - Nam Koong Min who portrayed the psychotic chaebol Nam Kyu Man. He portrayed his character really well that I still remember his facial expressions and his voice and I'm still mad at him. Lol. He's the first villain that I hated this much which means that he's really a good and effective actor. See it for yourself. 

I tried my best not to cry while watching this kdrama but I failed. Seo Jin Woo and his father's scenes were unbelievably tear-jerking and heart-warming. But eventhough there are lots of crying scenes, it is not tiring to watch. I cried with them. ㅠ.ㅠ

Another interesting part of this kdrama are the courtroom battles. It's fascinating to watch how the lawyers question the witnesses but at the same time, it is maddening to see the corruption within the justice system. It saddens me to think that this corruption may actually exist in our justice system.

There's not a lot of romance in this kdrama which I like since Yoo Seung Ho and Park Min Young in my perspective lacks chemistry. So I'm still satisfied on how their characters ended.

Remember: War of the Son is a solid drama that will make you cry and will make you mad. It was heartbreaking and so painful to watch but it was addicting at the same time. If you are not into heavy kdramas, then I think this is not for you.

Kdrama Review: The Best Hit

The Best Hit or in some translation, Hit the Top narrates the story of Yoo Hyun Jae, a famous idol from the 90s who travels to 2017 to rekindle his relationships with the people he hurt in the past and to uncover the mystery why he suddenly went missing in 1994.

This is the first kdrama directed by PD-nim Yoo Ho Jin (for those who watch 2 Days and 1 Night, I know you know him) and Cha Tae Hyun.

The Best Hits

The hit storyline. Time travel stories are not new to us but is actually a cliche that is heavily used in either movies and kdramas. I've seen kdramas wherein someone from the present travels back to the past like Scarlet Heart Ryeo and Faith but this is the first kdrama I've seen wherein someone from a not so distant past travels to the present which makes it rather new. 

And though this kdrama has that fiction flavor, I love that it also showed realistic scenarios which everyone can relate to. One can probably relate to Hyun Jae who has everything but feels empty inside, to Woo Seung who does everything  just to make ends meet, to Ji Hoon who's working hard to catch his dreams and to the other characters. Each character in this kdrama has a story to tell.

The Best Hit has a pretty simple and super predictable plot but it has an underlying mystery that kept me on my seat watching. 

 The hit newbie actor Kim Min Jae. I've been waiting for Kim Min Jae's next drama after seeing his short yet bold appearance in Goblin as the young Wang Yeo. I'm glad that I didn't wait long, he's back as the idol wannabe Lee Ji Hoon and Kim Min Jae went all out in showcasing his wide range of talents in this kdrama. The character of Lee Ji Hoon was perfect for Kim Min Jae and I'm sure you'll love him.

The hit charm of Cha Eun Woo. I've seen Cha Eun Woo with ASTRO in various variety shows and he's undoubtedly good looking but I didn't pay too much attention to him until I saw him in this kdrama. That rebellious character of MJ surprisingly suited him. I'm waiting for his next kdrama.

The hit variety show crossover. I felt like I'm watching the variety show 2 Days and 1 Night while watching this kdrama. Why? You'll see familiar faces such as Defconn, Kim Junho, Kim Jongmin and the international referee in their cameo appearances. I was happy seeing them in the kdrama showing their support to their brothers Cha Tae Hyun, Yoon Dong Gu and Yoo Ho Jin PD.

The Misses

Yoon Si Yoon as Yoo Hyun Jae quite a miss. I don't hate Yoon Si Yoon but I just think that the cheerful and quirky character of Yoo Hyun Jae does not fit him well. I found his portrayal unnatural - that "okay he's acting" feels. I remembered his character in the kdrama Flower Boys Next Door - the feels is similar. No hate. ✌🏻

 The main coupleis quite a miss. It's fun seeing Hyun Jae and Woo Seung teasing each other but their connection lacked depth. I prefer Lee Ji Hoon and Choi Woo Seung as a couple but I think the writer wants to tell us not to cross the thin line between friendship and relationship. LOL! Okay.

Missing performances. I think I was just looking for more performances from the actors since this kdrama is somehow revolving around Korea's entertainment industry. 

And I know JB is not the highlight of this kdrama but I was really anticipating for the performance of these two. I was quite disappointed that I didn't see them on stage.

 Final Verdict. The Best Hit may not be the best but it is a good kdrama to watch. It is simple and predictable but it is interesting as well. Let me know if you've watched this kdrama.

Kdrama Review: Cinderella and the Four Knights

I grew up hearing the story of Cinderella and her happily ever after. And though Cinderella was my favorite fairy tale I was not ecstatic when I first heard of the kdrama Cinderella  and the Four Knights. Probably because I am not very familiar with the casts but I had a change of heart after watching the first episode - I know! this happened to me many times now. Lol!

The Hits

An old and familiar story told in a new way. Cinderella and the Four Knights is somehow similar to the Cinderella story that we know - it is about a girl who is mistreated by her stepmother and stepsister while his father works away from home. Her life changed drastically after meeting the rich Kang cousins.

Aside from similarities of the plot in the Cinderella story we know, this kdrama talks about family that we all can relate to. It shows that no family is perfect, we argue, we fight but at the end of the day a family will always be a family; just like the Kang cousins.

Modern Cinderella Eun Ha Won. I loved the character of Eun Ha Won - she's nice, sweet, strong, hardworking, virtuous and stands for herself; she doesn't need a guy to rescue her. She's a perfect depiction of a millenial Cinderella. And Park So Dam portrayed her character very well. Her smile is infectious and just brightens up every scene. She's a gem, I love her.

Not just one but four knights. It's always nice to see handsome boys in a kdrama, agree? These guys are cute when they get on each other's nerves but it's cuter seeing them secretly looking out for each other.

Jung Il Woo portrayed the rebellious yet soft-hearted Kang Ji Woon. Though his character is rebellious, he didn't seem that defiant at all. I think that character does not fit him; the sweet and cute Kang Ji Woon suits him better.

I did not like his stiff character at first but he became absolutely lovable towards the middle of this kdrama. He's cute and his smile is just captivating.

Ahn Jae Hyun was the arrogant and playboy Kang Hyun Min which I think fits him perfectly. I was really convinced that he's a player. This guy really needs a beating and I'm glad that Eun Ha Won gave him that. He's my favorite knight tho.

 Lee Jung Shin as the affectionate singer-song writer Kang Seo Woo is uhm.. just okay. I love his song - Confession.

Choi Min as secretary Lee Yoon Sung was a surprise. Initially I wasn’t sure who the fourth knight was, but then I realize that it was him. He has a stiff and serious character but it's nice to see how he look after the Kang cousins and acted as the Kuya of the group.

The OST that just can't get out of my head. For You by BTOB will leave you with that last song syndrome. The song is just perfect plus it was sang by my dorky boys. Whoa..whoa.. Hearing the sweet voices of BTOB on the background makes my heart skip a beat.

The Misses.

The paasa love triangle. I started to love this kdrama because I found Kang Hyun Min and Eun Ha Won cute but they just drifted apart. Sad. It's like they promised you something that they can't keep. It was disappointing at some point. I really love their chemistry.

Damsel in Distress Park Hye Ji. I honestly grew tired of Son Na Eun's character here. I was tired of her crying scenes that I skip them. Jinjja! 

Do I recommend this kdrama? If you like something that has an easy-breezy story with lovable female and male leads then yes, I recommend this kdrama to you!

Photo credits:

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