Tag: best drama

Posted on

Top Korean Dramas Of 2013

masterssunMaster’s Sun: Korean Drama

Year 2013 has ended and 2014 has began. What were the top and best rated Korean Dramas of Year 2013.  According to several website survey done by Korean Drama fans have picked following Korean Drama Series as top Korean Drama for year 2013.

If drama ended in 2013 then is considered to be 2013 Drama list for voting. However, if a few drama that started in 2013, but will end in 2014 will be part of 2014 drama series voting to make easy voting choice.

There were about 88 Korean dramas that aired during year 2013. Some of them are obviously better and many are not. I did not even realize before writing this post and before research that there were so many Korean dramas were released.  Obviously I have not seen all of them and nor I should.  See below of all drama that aired in Korea on various Television network.

(Scorll Down to see Top Korean Drama Pick for 2013)

88 Korean Dramas Showed in Year 2013

100 Year Legacy (MBC)
Advertising Genius Lee Tae Baek (KBS2)
All About My Romance (SBS)
Answer Me 1994 (tvN)
Birth Secret (SBS)
Blue Tower (tvN)
Can We Get Married ? (jTBC)
Cheer Up, Mr. Kim (KBS1)
Cheongdamdong Alice (SBS)
Childless Comfort (jTBC)
Crazy Love (tvN)
Cruel City (jTBC)
Cruel Palace – War of Flowers (jTBC)
Dating Agency: Cyrano (tvN)
Empire of Gold (SBS)
Family (KBS2)
Fantasy Tower (tvN)
Flower Boy Next Door (tvN)
Glass Mask (tvN)
Goddess of Marriage (SBS)
Good Doctor (KBS2)
Good For You (MBC)
Her Legend (jTBC)
Here Comes Mr. Oh (MBC)
Hur Jun, The Original Story (MBC)
I Hear Your Voice (SBS)
I Love You (SBS)
I Miss You (MBC)
I Summon You, Gold! (MBC)
Incarnation of Money (SBS)
IRIS 2 (KBS2)
Jang Ok Jung (SBS)
Jeon Woo Chi (KBS2)
Jung Yi, The Goddess of Fire (MBC)
KangChi, The Beginning (MBC)
King’s Dream (KBS1)
Lee Soon Shin is a Best (KBS2)
Level 7 Civil Servant (MBC)
Looking Forward to Romance (KBS2)
Mandate of Heaven: The Fugitive of Joseon (KBS2)
Marry Him If You Dare (KBS2)
Maybe Love (MBC)
Medical Top Team (MBC)
Monstar (Mnet tvN)
My Daughter Seo Yeong (KBS2)
My Love, Madame Butterfly (SBS)
Nailshop Paris (MBC QueeN)
Nine: 9 Times Time Travel (tvN)
Play Guide (tvN)
Princess Aurora (MBC)
Pure Love (KBS2)
Queen of Ambition (SBS)
Royal Villa (jTBC)
Rude Miss Young Ae 11 (tvN)
Rude Miss Young Ae 12 (tvN)
Scandal : a Shocking and Wrongful Incident (MBC)
School 2013 (KBS2)
Secret (KBS2)
Shark (KBS2)
She is WOW (tvN)
Short Family (E-Channel)
Sincerity Moves Heaven (KBS1)
Special Affairs Team TEN 2 (OCN)
Sword and Flower (KBS2)
That Winter, The Wind Blows (SBS)
The Birth of a Family (SBS)
The End of a World (jTBC)
The Great Seer (SBS)
The Heirs (SBS)
The King’s Doctor (MBC)
The Master’s Sun (SBS)
The Queen’s Classroom (MBC)
The Queen of Office (KBS2)
The Sons (MBC)
The Suspicious Housekeeper (SBS)
The Virus (OCN)
Thorn Flower (jTBC)
TV Novel – Dear Love (KBS2)
TV Novel – Eun Hee (KBS2)
TV Novel – Sam Saeng (KBS2)
Two Weeks (MBC)
Ugly Alert (SBS)
Unemployed Romance (E-Channel)
When a Man Falls in Love (MBC)
Who Are You? (tvN)
Wonderful Mama (SBS)
Your Neighbor’s Wife (jTBC)
Your Woman (SBS)

Top Korean Drama for 2013:

My picks for best dramas are based on dramas that I have personally seen and liked or disliked, and has some influence by other Korean drama expert and fan forum chats. Without further ado, here are my top pick for Kdrama.

1. The Heirs:

heir

 

My favorite actors Lee Mino and Park Shin Hye are both in it so I had to watch it and I would say it was best 2013 Korean drama that aired this year. “The Heirs” depicts the friendships, rivalries and love lives of young, rich heirs led by Kim Tan (Lee Min Ho) and a girl named Cha Eun Sang (Park Shin Hye). The series follows a group of privileged, rich, elite high school students as they are groomed to take over their families’ business empires. These wealthy students seem to have everything under control, except their love lives.

2. Marry Him If you Dare:

marryhimThis series also known as Mirae’s choice. Set in the world of television broadcasting, Na Mi-rae travels back in time to prevent her 32-year-old self from marrying news anchor Kim Shin, thus sending her past self down a different path and enabling her to pursue the things she really wanted in life. It was great, except ambiguous  ending that left me and others baffled.

3.  Master’s Sun

masterssun

The story line seemed unique and interesting and so was the drama. Joo Joong-won (So Ji-sub) is the stingy and greedy CEO of Kingdom meets the gloomy Tae Gong-shil (Gong Hyo-jin), who started seeing ghosts after an accident. Their lives take a new turn as they work together to deal with the terror and sadness brought about by the spirits, while delving into a kidnapping incident in Joong-won’s past.

4. That Winter Wind Blows

winterwindblows

This series is based on the Japanese drama I Don’t Need Love, Summer. Oh Soo – An orphan who doesn’t care about anything after the death of his first love, he becomes a high-class gambler and playboy. Desperate to find money to repay a debt or forfeit his own life, he becomes a con artist who sets sights on a new target: Oh Young, pretending to be her long-lost brother.

5. I Miss You

I_Miss_You_-_Korean_Drama-p1

I watch everything that has Park Yoochun, so I had to watch it. High school sweethearts Jung-woo and Soo-yeon were separated in a horrifying tragedy that continues to weigh down on them as adults. Now a guilt-ridden detective, Jung-woo has been desperately searching for Soo-yeon for years, but when he crosses paths with her again, she has already become someone else with a new identity.

6. Answer Me 1994

answeme1994

Going back to past (to 1994). Six young students from Jeolla Province, Chungcheong Province, and Gyeongsang Province room together at a boarding house, while attending a university in Seoul. The boarding house is run by a couple (Sung Dong-il, Lee Il-hwa) with a daughter (Go Ara), exploring kpop and Korean baseball in early nineties.

7.  Two Weeks

twoweeks

This is Lee Joong Ki’s comeback acting series after being discharged from mandatory military service. Orphaned at a young age when his father left and his mother committed suicide, Tae-san became a small-time gangster. After getting falsely accused of murder and learning that he has a daughter with leukemia, Tae-san spends the next two weeks in a life-or-death struggle to save himself and the girl.

8. Secret

Secret

Kang Yoo Hung sacrifices her future by going to prison in her boyfriend Do-hoon’s place after he kills a woman in a hit-and-run accident. But in exchange for her devotion, he abandons her. Refusing to give in to despair, she emerges from prison a stronger woman who’s determined to make a fresh start and live differently. As story unfolds, secrets began to reveal

9. I Hear Your Voice

i-hear-your-voice

Goo Seung-hyun as young kid- He receives a secret ability of being able to read people’s minds by seeing their eyes after witnessing his father’s death. After Jang Hye-sung testifies in court, he swore that he would protect and guard her if he ever meet her again. 10 years later, he meets Jang Hye-Sung, now a public defender and helps her while falling for her.

10. Cheongdamdong Alice

cheongdamdong-alice

Han Se-kyung is an optimistic girl living her life with the belief that “hard work is my strength. The Korean president of Artemis, a famous luxury brand. Although he was born into a rich family, he is estranged from his father and built his company based on his own hard work. He says he will never trust women again after getting hurt by one; actually, he desires true love more than anybody else.

Which are your Favorite 2013 Korean Drama?

Posted on

Boys Over Flowers Korean Drama Review

 Boys Over Flower:

I did not know the hype of boys over flower so much when I started out watching Korean Dramas so It was not my first watched nor it is my most top favorite Korean drama. So, why I am writing about it? Boys over Flowers created a Korean wave and made a culture impact that still visible since 2009, when it was first aired.

The show  starts with bulling and blood in high school, where a kid is ready to die to avoid all F4’s bullying. There seemed to be no signs of law and order or good teacher, adult to stop all of these atrocities. I thought I would stop it but after watching 2 episodes I got hooked and curious enough to see the end, so I invested over 25 hours to watch this and I can say I was not disappointed. The bully and all characters grows with time and you can understand loneliness around all richness and money.  F4, flower four boys are surely handsome and easy on eyes which surely helps female fan base like me.

If you are fan of Lee Min Ho, then this is show for you. The guy has charm and he makes his character alive, one can feel his pain and agony. I did not care much for the Jan Di’s character, as she hardly shows any feeling or care towards Goo Joon Pyo. I like the character played by Kim So Eun as Jan Di’s best friend Chu Ga Eul. She could have been a lead lady, she is pretty, holds her dignity while caring for a guy and is level headed.

Buy Boys Over Flowers With English Subtitles

Cast:

Koo Hye Sun as Geum Jan Di
Lee Min Ho as Goo Joon Pyo
Kim Hyun Joong as Yoon Ji Hoo
Kim Bum as So Yi Jung
Kim Joon as Song Woo Bin

Kim So Eun as Chu Ga Eul (Jan Di’s best friend)
Kim Hyun Joo as Goo Joon Hee (Joon Pyo’s elder sister)
Lee Hye Young as Kang Hee Soo (Joon Pyo’s mother)
Han Chae Young as Min Seo Hyun (F4’s best friend/Ji Hoo’s ex girl friend)
Lee Min Jung as Ha Jae Kyung (JK Group’s CEO’s daughter and Jun Pyo’s fiancee)
Lee Jung Gil as Yoon Seok Young (Ji Hoo’s grandfather)
Jung Ho Bin as Jung Sang Rok (Kang Hee Soo’s Chief Secretary)

   
Geum Jan Di (Koo Hye Sun)

As I mentioned earlier, Jan Di’s character confused me a bit. When I see her pictures on internet, she looks pretty but during most of the show she looked not so pretty most of time, sometimes she looked cute but never pretty enough comparing to other korean Drama heroine. She was about 25 when this series came out as a highs chooler, she was older compared to all F4s, but being small and petite worked in her favor.

I also could not fathom that why all the guys either was loving her or wanting to protect her. Her character came across as confused and occasionally heartless, especially when Lee Min Ho character did so much her and her family, she kept on thinking of Yoo Ji Hoo instead. At first shown as feisty female, who can kick ass. However, as show progresses, she becomes typical Korean cliche heroine who ends up crying a lot and not fighting much. I am not against crying females, as I cry myself at littlest thing but then again, I am not trying to pass a kickboxing champion too.

When she goes to Macau to meet Goo Jun Pyo and he breaks off the relationship, she is sad for moment and then she goes off to site seeing with  Yoo Ji Hoo all around and shown smiling and happy while Goo Jun Pyo who broke off the relationship looked more pained and in love compared to her. It bothered me much and felt she did not deserve the love if she was not willing to work hard for him to show her emotion. But of course, this is modern take on Cinderella so story revolves around her and we wish for her to succeed and find happiness.

.
Goo Jun Pyo (Lee Min Ho)
When this drama came out, Lee Min Ho was a newcomer and this drama made him the star loved by many people in Korea and Japan. He is one of the reason I wanted to watch and find out about all hype about it.
I did not care much about his curly hair style or unique fur wardrobes that he wore. He is handsome, tall and can act just by showing his eye expressions. He made the bully character likeable. I like scenes where he spends time with Jan Di’s family, has a sleep over, makes Kim Chi and so on. He is nice guy, innocent child inside hiding behind cold, angry persona. He did well to show that, at least to me and my friend.
If you want to know more about star necklace he gives to Jan Di, see here: Boys Over Flower Star Necklace
 
Yoon Ji Hoo  (Kim Hyun Joong)
Someone wrote that out of all F4 Ji Hoo was most beautiful! Apart from Jan Di and Jun Pyo, he had biggest part and being part of love triangle. I heard he was offered the role of Jun Pyo but he chose Ji Hoo Role instead. I can see why, his character has many things that are positive, he plays music well, he is actually one of F4, who does not take part in bullying much and helps Jan Di many times and becomes friend and protector of her over the time. I like scenes with grand father and family issues that we all face regardless of how rich or poor we may be.
He hair style and color reminds me of Kang Jun Sang of Winter Sonata and he laughs and has similar mannerism as well.
 
So Yi Jung (Kim Bum)
Kim Bum had a big role and it was nice to see his character of playboy who is really good guy lost somewhere surprised me. He is cute and has a nice smile, however it was hard to imagine as a playboy and heartbreaker, as he looks innocent and young to be bad. That just me, I still enjoy his character and his talent at being a potter.
 Don’t they look cute Together?
 
 I liked to side love story of him with Ga Eul that developed slowly but surely. I think these two supporting character had more love and chemistry together compared to main lead, don’t you think? I wanted to know more about them and their life.
 
Song Woo Bin (Kim Joon)
 
Woo Bin seemed more Americanized and said Yo Yo,. and Wasss up type of things. We know he is from the mob family and handsome but we do not get much know much about his life outside of F4 and friend circle. It’s too bad, it would have been nice.Other Characters:

Goo Jun Pyo’s Mom was one nasty lady, as Jun Pyo called “Old hag” (at least in english translation, I am not sure what does it mean in Korean, is it same?) She is so ruthless to break Jan Di’s family and her so her son can be married to rich. I hated her, that means she was good at acting as nasty lady.

Goo Jun Pyo sister had a small role but whenever she came, she left a impact as a loving sister who wants to do right thing and not afraid to share what she thinks. She becomes big supporter of Jan Di as well.

Jan Di’s parents are big money minded, poor parents who do not plan things well and leave kids alone more often than they should. One thing is for sure, despite all their shortcoming, they seemed like a family who loved each others, including Jan Di’s little brother.

Ga Eul, Jan Di’s best friend was cute and much more level headed compared to Jan Di. I liked how she held on to her dignity while liking Yi Jung.

Lee Min Jung as Ha Jae Kyung was likable in some sort of way. She seemed so much more fitted and similar to Goo Jun Pyo’s Character, in some other time, they might have been perfectly fit for each other but it was not meant to be for this one.

Many other supporting characters with small roles were great. While this show is not Oscar worthy in acting part, for entertaining in super duper and 100% great. As I said, I could not stop watching, it was not love story that held me but it was charm of all F4! They all wore suits, and nice clothes and looked great in even crappy designer clothes somehow.

F4: Flower Four or Fabulous Four?

Buy Boys Over Flowers With English Subtitles

Have you watched it? What did you think of it/