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Masters Sun vs. The Greatest Love

Recently I watched a drama called The Greatest Love (2011). I chose it because Gong Hyo Jin, who I loved in Masters Sun and wanted to see her in something else. 

Btw: It is interesting that I choose this drama, because about two days ago I read an article on hancinema.com about Cha Seung Won, who played the male lead in this drama, all three most important broadcasting companies (SBS, KBS and MBC) want him to participate in their up coming dramas. The Greatest Love is the last drama he shooted.

So how was it?? I liked it but...oh yeah there is a “but”! It was very and I mean VERY similar to Masters Sun, or it is better to say Masters Sun is very similar to The Greatest Love. Ok you may argue that in GL she is a former top star and he is a current top star and the enviroment is totaly different and she doesnt see ghosts and so on... But if you look under the surffice the true story is the same. Well the story is the same in almost every drama. But the characters are the same also. 

In Masters Sun I really liked Joo Joong Won. There are many heartless and cold CEOs but Joo Joong Won is far the best of them. Hes got style!! And so has Do Ko Jin! They are both arrogant and selfish in their way, which is quite charming. I think they even look alike and they both have amazing voices, also very similar. Both Cha Seung Won and  So Ji Sub are very good and handsome actors!

And Tae Gong Shil?? She is so crazy and lovable in the same time, Gong Hyo Jin is excellent in this role. But After watching GL I understand why. She is weird. In a good way! I love her weirdness!! When she is playing a celebrity (Gu Ae Jung) it is kind of off. But it works! So when she is playing a crazy woman who sees ghosts it must be weirdly awesome! 

Masters Sun is my most favourite drama I wonder if there is something better. And I think The Greatest Love is almost as good. Almost... My rating for both dramas is 10 out of 10!

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Kim Tans Sweaters!!!

Hi, 

as I promised here they are! A collection of KIM TANS SWEATERS and sweatshirts!! And they are even better than his coats! Some of them look like from the 90"! I am not very fashionable person, but I wouldnt wear a sweater with a parrot...

The pink one is hardcore!!!

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SBS Drama Awards 2013

Hi,

I just have to say that I am more than happy with the results of SBS Drama Awards 2013!! Mainly because The Heirs didnt take everything! 

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Why do we love drama?

Dear drama lovers,

some time ago I posted an article about drama called What is drama? But I think there is one even more important question and that is: Why do we love drama?

It is something I quite don't understand myself. I am from central Europe and I discovered the world of korean drama just about a year and a half ago and I fell for it instantly! But why do I love it so much?

As a teenager I used to watch soap operas from Latin America. Recently I had been missing somethig like that in my life. I tried to watch them again, but...OMG....THEY ARE SOOOOO STUPID!!! I watched that??? I couldn't believed it.

After some time I picked up an interest in Korea, at first it was North Korea, after the death of Kim Jong Il. Then I started to focus on South Korea, learn Hangul and so. One thing led to another and I found korean drama.

For me, as an European, it is very exotic and diffrrent and it is way better than Latin soap operas!! What I like about drama is that it usually isn't very long, of course there are exceptions. As I think about what I like about k-drama the most is that it is Korean! That is reason enough!

The plots and setting are trying to be original, but there is a bunch of stereotypes. Many people critisize them, but I think that these stereotypes makes a drama, without them it would be something else. Don't you agree? Of course, there are several ways how to turn off your cell phone, but in drama they take out the battery. Is it stupid? Maybe, but it is the way in drama and I accept it!

But we drama fans or drama lovers accept the world of drama as it is. It doesn't have to be different or better, because IT IS DRAMA!!

I wish you all happy New Year! And a lot of great dramas to come!!

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So yesterday I was just watching the 12th episode of Bel Ami when Ma Te told Bo Tong (my quoting isnt exact:-):"I dont know what it means to love someone, so until I know dont go anywhere..."

And I was like: WHAT!! WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY!! YOU REALLY THINK SHE WILL BE WAITING FOR YOU TO MAKE UP YOUR MIND?!?! YOU ARROGANT...

But, as we all know, she will..

Ahhhh, I wish there would be one drama where the heroine chooses the other guy. Please make one, please, please, please...

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Marry Him If You dare

Dear drama lovers,

Last night I finished watching Marry him if you dare. As I wrote in one of the previous articles I liked the drama.

I also already wrote what the drama is about, so here I will focus on details. But I have to warn you, I am in love with Jung Yong Hwa so I am not very objective :-), but I am sure you can understand that.

The drama was really fun to watch. I enjoyed that it was abou something “deeper” than just plane love story. It was about fate, about future, about past, about life. The heroine is coming back from future to “just” avoid unfortunate marriage. But as a side effect she changes herself, her life. She made herself a better person and THATS what this drama is about.

This is the first drama Ive seen that has an indefinite end. Right after Id watched it I was very disappointed, mainly because I was rooting for Jong Yoon Hwa the whole time and I didnt get to see the happy ending!!! Gosh, I was angry!

But then I thought about it and realized it is not important. What is important is that the heroine, Na Mi Rae, become an independet strong woman, who doesnt need a husband. It is very different from majority of dramas, where women needs men to be happy. It is like men is the only thing they (women) need. I beleive that love is very important part of life, the most important part. But you arent always that lucky. You cant count on someone to come save you. You also have to stand on you own feet.

So in the end it really doesnt matter who Na Mi Rae is with, as long as she is herslef. For me is this drama very inspirational and revolutionary. What I realized after some time was that I shouldnt have been rooting for Park Se Joo (Jung Yong Hwa) but for Na Mi Rae. She is the one and only hero in this drama! My rating is 10 out of 10!

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Kim Tan's coats

Is it just me or are Kim Tan’s coats too much sometimes?? 

Merry Christmas to everyone!!! Next I will focus on Kim Tans sweaters!!!

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Funny Dramas!

Hi,

I like dramas that are also fun, not just melodramas. Right now I am watching two dramas, which are like that: Bel Ami and Marry him if you dare. Bel Ami is ongoing and Marry him is recently completed.

Bel Ami, as the title it self tells us, is inspirited by a novel by Guy de Mopassant from the end of 19th century. The story (drama and novel) is about a young beatiful man who uses his charm on women to climb up on a social ladder. And, of course, there is a girl who loves him for a long time, but he doesnt see her. The plot is a classical one. But in the drama there is Lee Ji Eun in the role of the “poor” girl, there couldnt possible be a better option!! She is so great!! I liked her very much in her debut The best Lee Soon Shin, she literally shone there and now she is back in even better role. She has great comical potential and it shows! And her combination with Jang Geun Suk is killing. I think it is a drama of great performances and funny situations!

Marry him if you dare is about time traveling, which I find quite refreshing. The heroine travels back in time to persuade her self not to marry the man she married. The plot it self is interesting, there is the question: Can we change the fate? But there are a lot of funny and interesting situations. Plus the young heroine is played by my favourite Yoon Eun Hye. I discovered her in I miss you and I like her ever since. And there is even Jung Yong Hwa, whom I love since You are beautiful and the only think I can say is that it is pity he is not the male lead in this drama. I think of him more as a musician than an actor, but it is alway great to see him!! I just wonder why is he almost every time in this kind of unenviable role? If you are as frustrated as me watch Heart Strings!!

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Winter Sonata

Dear drama lovers,

yesterday I finished watching Winter Sonata. I learned that it is a very popular drama that started the world "korean drama fever". And I have to admit: I quite dont understand why.

It is the kind of drama that is way too sentimental and plays on your emotions. I personally dont like this kind of dramas, It is like someone pour a bucket of honey on your head, not so pleasant, eh? But it is not just it.

The plot is quite interesting, but the pace of the story is very slow. I mean veeerrryyy slow!! Everyone is saying: " I am sorry" ALL THE TIME! And it is unbelievable all that happens to the male hero: he has an accident, after which he looses his memory, his mother thinks it would be better if everyone thinks he is dead, so she lets it be, not telling anything to anyone. Then she decides to implant him new memories, so he WOULDNT KNOW!! Then he has another accident, after which he REMEMBERS EVERYTHING!! And then, so we wouldnt be bored, he has a hematom in his brain which is pressing on his eye nerv. He leaves for United States to have a surgery, but he RETURNS BLIND!! WHAT THE HELL!! DID HE HAVE THE SURGERY OR NOT!!! WHY IS HE BLIND??? We just dont know, ahhgrr so frustating!!! But after all this it is a miracle he is only blind.

Dont get me wrong. I know there are worse cases, like Princess man, where the male hero dies in every episode and still somehow survives.

I really liked Bae Jong Jun. But thats about it. Maybe I didnt understand something, but I really dont get what is so legendary about this drama. So my rating is 6 out of 10.

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The Heirs

The Heirs is at its end! And suprisingly it ended well! I am kidding...

So The heirs, what can I say? It was good. What else could it be when there are Lee Min Hoo and Park Shin Hey together!!

But, there is a “but” and not just one..., unfortunately. 

Maybe it was my mistake, but I didnt look up any information about this drama beforehead. So I was quite surprised to see Lee Min Hoo, who has played for example an architect (Personal taste) or a worrrior (Faith), as high school student from a rich family again just like in his debut Boys over flovers. That was quite a disepointment. But the character was different and I has to say that he was great in this role!! As was Park Sin Hye!! I really like her! She is a perfekt “good girl” and she prooved it yet again. I am afraid that she cant play anything else with her “deer” eyes, but I dont mind, she is very good in this kind of roles. Tree of heaven, You are beautiful, Heart strings in all of these she is the same girl, but a good one!

I really liked the beginning, the fact that it was really filmed in California was amazing and refreshing! But my enthusiasm faded off as the story became very familiar. I know it has to end well and the bed guys have to be punished. I am not complainig about that. But it was pretty much remake of BoF! 

To be even there were two very interesting features: First of them is Tans mother (the real one). The character was the most interesting I think, so shellow while so deep. Locked in a golden cage, suffering for her son. I was so proud of her when she decided to leave.

And the second one is Won, Tans older half brother. He was the one with the real fate. He got the sad ending. He is the sacrifice. He gets the post he was longing for, but looses his love and has to marry to ensure the company. He secificed his life for Tans, who he ever hated. I think that is the real message.

The Heirs is very good drama and I recommend it, although I wasnt satifited with it. My rating is 8 out of 10.

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Faith

Hello my dear drama lovers!

One of my all time favourite dramas is Faith. I think it is a very good combination of history, love story, fiction, action and, of course, intrigue :-)). It was second drama with Lee Min Hoo Ive seen. The first one was Boys over flowers (his debut). I wasnt a big fan of him after BoF, but after Faith I am standing in the first row!!!!! He was sooo awsome in Faith!! And Kim Hee Sun was wonderful too! I love her!

I dont want to spoil, if someone hasnt seen it yet. Even though I cant imagine someone hasnt seen it yet :-)). So I just say that I love it! The plot is interesting and very catchy, the characters are great and alive, action scenes are perfect and I personally welcome the supernatural aspects of it. Even the costumes were great! Not every historical drama has such beautiful costumes. What is worth of pointing out is that the female heroine is older then the male, which is very unusual. It is one of the things that make this drama unique!!

So if you havent watch it yet, lets do it!!! It is definitely worth it!!! Here it is :-). And my rating is 10 out of 10!!!

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Hi, so today Ive started to watch Winter sonata, I saw first two eps. This drama used to be very popular in Japan and now is legendary! My reaction after few minutes was: "Hey, it is very similar to Tree of heaven. It is like the same drama!!" And, indeed, Winter sonata, Tree of heaven and Stairway to heaven belong together. Ive seen Tree of heaven, because I really like Park Shin Hye. But I am not very keen on this kind of drama, they are too sentimental. So far I know they may be siblings!! Lets see what happens next!!!

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Next!!!

Right now Iam watching two ongoing dramas, The Heirs and Bel Ami. So I will report about them and I decided that Ill start watching Winter Sonata, which is a legendary drama, I shouldnt miss it :-)). And there are many dramas I watched so far, so there will be reviews! 

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Secret Garden (2011)

I just finished watching k-drama Secret Garden. It was good,not top 5, but maybe top 10. The plot is interesting and action scenes are amazing!! Sometimes it is a bit slow and not so “juicy”, but thats the problem of many dramas. I really liked Ha Ji Won as the female lead. It was first time Ive seen her and I am looking forward to se her again! My rating is 8 out of 10. 

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Comrades (2010)

My first encounter with k-drama! Honestly, sometimes it was quite painful to watch. But at the end I cried like sentimental ahdjumma :-D. If you dont like series and movies with war theme, dont watched it, thats my recommendation! But for me it was an entrance into the world of k-drama and it wasnt so bad! My rating is 5 out of 10.

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What is drama?

Korean drama (한국드라마), k-drama for short, refers to televised dramas, in a miniseries format, produced in SouthKorea. Many of these dramas have become popular throughout Asia, with growing interest in other parts of the world. K-dramas have contributed to the general phenomenon of the Korean wave, known as Hallyu (한류), and also "DramaFever" in some countries. King of Baking, Kim Takgu received over 50% of ratings, while Moon Embracing the Sun received over 40%

.

Flagship Korean dramas typically run from 16 to 20 episodes. Occasionally, historical epics stretch for 50 to 100 episodes, in a single season. Sometimes, if a show is popular, networks extend them. Goong in 2006, for example, was extended from 20 to 24 episodes. Since each episode usually runs for about 60 minutes, one of the shorter 16-episode K-dramas might consume about 960 minutes of air-time. 

The broadcast time for flagship dramas is 22:00 to 23:00, with episodes on two consecutive nights: Mondays and Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, and weekends. Different dramas appear on each of the nationwide networks, Seoul Broadcasting System (SBS), Korean Broadcasting System (KBS), Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) and on the cable channels, Joongang Tongyang Broadcasting Company (jTBC), Channel A, tvN, and Orion Cinema Network(OCN).

The 19:00 to 20:00 evening time slot is usually for daily dramas that run from Monday through Friday, and weekends. Dramas in these slots are in the telenovella format, rarely running over 200 episodes. Unlike the American soap operas, these daily dramas are not also scheduled during the day-time. Instead, the day-time schedule often includes reruns of the flagship dramas. The night-time dailies can achieve very high ratings. For example, the evening series Temptation of a Wife peaked at 40.6%, according to TNS Korea.

Korean dramas have also spread overseas with several on demand streaming services which legally license Korean dramas. For example, the company DramaFever, which was founded in 2009 during the Hallyu Wave, reports a catalog of over 13,000 episodes, or gooddrama.net.