Love Rain has been on my radar for a while. I’ve been hearing mix reviews about the drama so I was a little hesitant to watch it right after it was finished airing in Korea. A fellow K-Drama addict, who is crazy for Jang Geun Suk insisted that I should see this. I finally gave in and watched it last weekend. The experience was nostalgic. It reminded me the reason why I love watching Asian dramas and why I so wanted to learn their language.

One of the reasons why I didn’t immediately watch Love Rain is because of its 1970’s era. The first few episodes are really slow and dragging. Moreover, it’s hard to make viewers appreciate it because the target audiences of K-dramas today are mostly teens and young adult. I even had difficulty connecting with the characters in the 1970’s because I’m not familiar with Korea’s culture during that period. What I appreciate in this era was its cinematography. A lot of the beautiful shots of this drama came from the first 4 episodes. The 2012 plot has the typical formula in K-drama now a days. It was only different because of the family issue they incorporated in the story

I was impressed with how well JGK and YoonA played their two roles. They were able to show the difference in the characters and set it apart. You can easily pin point who’s from who without tracing any similarities in their attitudes or mannerisms in their acting.

I was surprised to know that Im YoonA is a member of Girl’s Generation. It’s no wonder I didn’t know because I’m not a fan of K-Pop groups. I listen to Korean songs and I like several singers and power vocal groups but I’m more into ballad than mainstream pop music. I honestly never thought of her as a singer first before an actress because she acts well. Yes, it was a little cutesy here and there but if the scene requires her to act mature, hurt or whatever serious emotion she has to portray, she delivers it—without frills. Just the right emotion needed in the scene. As I’ve said before, not all singers transitioning to acting ends up good. There are few artists who perform well in both worlds. YoonA is lucky to be one of them.

Love Rain is not for everyone. I understand that many viewers think that the plot didn’t work. I’m giving it 8 as overall score for the reason that I simply enjoyed watching it. I admit that there are parts I didn’t like and some are dragging, but then if I go beyond that and see what it really has to offer, it boils down to one thing—it’s a love story. I’m a simple-minded person but with all the dramas I watched and all the contemporary novels I read, I don’t get touched easily—I had that in Love Rain. I felt the pain, the loss, the love. It touched my heart—and that’s what I watch Korean dramas for.

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My Love from Another Star is by far the biggest drama I’ve seen this year. You guys know how I don’t succumb to what’s current in dramaland today, right? I know how popular My Love from Another Star is in Korea and the craze it set off in nearby Asian countries but I never felt watching while everyone is going gaga over it. I started seeing this weeks after it wrap up and I should have finished this weeks ago, however, I did something bad that overshadowed my overall love for the series. Yes, as always I can’t help it, I skipped to episode 21 even if I only have 4 episodes left, and what I found out made me put this off for some time because I felt I was cheated even though I cheated first by sneaking a peek of how it would end.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying I wasted 20+ hours or so of my life watching this, it’s a good drama. I’ll get to what bothered me later on. My Love from Another Star is new to my palate. I don’t always watch aliens as protagonist in romantic plots, not in K-dramas. I wondered how the writers would make it work. I always find the first three episodes crucial as that will be my basis if I’m to drop the series or not. Surprisingly, I never felt like counting the episodes I’m in because the first 6 to 8 episodes flew by like a whirlwind. It’s that good. The series if full of heart, energy, combined with a good sense of humor and bits of uncertainties of what the future lies made this interesting and gripping from start to finish (just don’t cheat like what I did, haha!)

At first the comedy came a little strong for my liking as I’m not used to bigheaded, flamboyant heroines. Although knowing Cheong Song Yi’s character as the story progress made me love her and understand why her character has to be that way in the beginning. She is the heart of the drama. I admire her confidence even if at times she tends to be so obstinate its grating on my nerves. I could go on and on of how annoying she can get but she’s someone who knows what she wants, what she has to do to get it, when to give up, when to fight, when to love herself and when to be selfless. Jun Ji Hyun did a remarkable job portraying Song Yi. I’ve only seen her in My Sassy Girl and I can’t even say if I remember how she acted in that film. In YWCFTS she’s superb. I like actresses who know how to show real emotions without relying too much on the cinematography, the music, and the angular shots to make their scenes effective. This drama proves that she can act and that she’s good at it.

On the other hand, Do Min Joon is the face of the series. Come on, admit it. He is one hell of a hot leading man. There is something in his character that is so swoon worthy I can’t even point it out or maybe I’m just so smitten with him I don’t want to think and I’ll just look at him without blinking an eye for hours. All I can say is he is extraterrestrial-ly charming. *sighs with dreamy eyes* Kim Soo Hyun killed me with his oozing appeal. I first seen him in Dream High, though I find him so boy next door in that drama and he look so young and innocent. The years had been good for him and he proved that he can be the next big thing in Korea. I know he is a good actor but his performance in YWCFTS is amazing.

The chemistry of the leads also played a big part of why their tandem worked. We can all agree that they look good together, yes? Let’s also add that they have a marvelous supporting cast. The cinematography and OSTs are also great. One of my favorite scenes/places in the drama is Min Joon’s library. I was (and still) drooling with envy. The bookish junkie in me wants to have that library! I can spend hours, no, days in that place without getting bored! Having Kim Soo Hyun with me is a bonus. Although if it came to a point that I have to choose between Soo Hyun and the library, the latter would win a hundred times over. What? I’m a bookwhore through and through. Books will win by default.

I enjoyed 90% of My Love from Another Star that I’m almost willing to overlook some of the plot holes but the ending didn’t sit well to my romantic-comedy bubble and that was somehow a deal breaker. I know it’s stupid asking for a happy-ever after to a drama where science fiction plays a big part. It was actually the most logical ending for the drama but I just felt it was so unsatisfying. What happens after that? I don’t want to spoil you with my rants, let’s only say that it may have worked for everyone but I am one of the minority that has reservations with the ending. The villain arc of the drama was also given so much attention that they left the mystery of Do Min Joon’s backstory unanswered. We didn’t know much of where he really came from, what’s the deal with his planet and so on. We knew that he is an alien, he came from another star, he has to go back after 400 years on earth if not he will die and that’s it. Knowing these things would have helped us understand Do Min Joon’s world.

In a nutshell, My Love from the Star is fun to watch. It has the formula of making it big and it did. Did I mention that it has one of the best kissing scenes I’ve seen this year? Go on, watch it!

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I don’t know how “big” this comeback is for the Hong Sisters because I didn’t watch Big (which I wouldn’t dare watch after the horrendous reaction of the drama community) but I do know how they tend to make impressive episodes at the beginning but would wane as it goes by. Master’s Sun started out fine, great even, the premise is something I get easily interested with but somewhere in the middle, the drama lost its magic. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying it sucked. I’m just big with how emotionally invested I am in a drama to say that I really enjoyed it, Master’s Sun failed to do that. I know, it has numerous warm episodes but it didn’t reach my dramatic threshold. Another reason is I was out of dramaland for some time there isn’t much to compare it with. In fact, it’s the first series I watched after 6 months of being away from civilization.

I wasn’t swept away by Master’s Sun but it still has redeeming qualities worthy of giving it 3 Kiss Marks. One of the things notable in the drama is its character development. Joong Won and Gong Shil went through substantial changes as the story progress. Joong Won’s transformation is exceptional. It was fun seeing him change from a cold-hearted, calculating business man to a warm, in love and occasionally weird guy. The Hong Sisters did a marvelous job in leaving no character undeveloped.

The cast also delivered a superb acting. I was so amazed with So Ji Sub. He acted Joo Joong Won so well, I’m speechless. Gong Hyo Jin was amusing every time another spirit comes into Tae Gong Shil. The drama doesn’t have a strong conflict. The villains are subdued; they didn’t really create ruckus which I kind of liked because most of the time I want to kill them or I want to pull my hair out because they’re overpowering the lead characters. The ghosts aren’t really that scary. It was the build up that actually made them effective. The soundtrack is lovely.

Overall, it’s a drama you’ll easily love and enjoy. It would only depend on what you are looking for in a drama for you to truly appreciate it. I may not have liked it the way I expect it to be but I would gladly recommend this because it was well made. The Hong Sisters are known in creating epic romances, Master’s Sun is one of them.

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It’s been a while since I watched a drama without skipping some or probably most of its chapters. I think the last Korean series I watched without missing even one episode was Boys Over Flowers. Perhaps it’s out of habit. If the story gets too boring and dragging, I can’t help but resort to my fast-forwarding syndrome.

Heartstrings (You’ve Fallen For Me) was a surprise. I don’t have any expectations before watching this. All I know is that the leads were in He’s Beautiful and I was curious how Park Shin Hye would look as a normal heroine. I thought this was just one of those series I’ll end up skipping half of it but to my amazement I didn’t even miss a single episode of this drama. And I even spent 17 hours watching this series straight.

The plot was pretty normal. It’s not over the top and can even be considered plausible. There’s nothing exceptional with the story but the directing, soundtrack and the cast’s performances made this drama revitalizing and a whole lot of fun.

What I appreciate most in this drama are the character development, back story and the story flow. It wasn’t dragging since the biggest conflict in the story was immediately presented and resolved in the first 6 episodes. It also had strong back stories for the characters not only for the hero and heroine but for the secondary characters as well. It’s nice getting to know the people in the story bit by bit.

Jung Yong Hwa and Park Shin Hye have a very refreshing chemistry. It’s one of the things you’ll initially notice in the first few episodes of the drama. The setting is a plus too. It was very nice that this was filmed in spring which made the scenes pleasant to watch. And it added up with the drama’s romance.

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It's not every day that I get to watch a film that would make me laugh out loud then scares the hell out of me in a matter of seconds. This movie has the right amount of romance; comedy & creepiness that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

This is a unique find. Koreans are good in making horror and romantic-comedy films, mixing them both in one movie is a brilliant idea. Though it's not easy to execute since these factors should not overpower the other and the quality of both genres should be maintained and evident in the film. This is what I liked most in this movie. The scary scenes are eerie and startling. The romantic-comedy scenes are simple yet effective. Hwang In-ho did a good job in balancing these genres in Spellbound.

It’s been a while since I purely enjoyed watching an Asian Romantic-Comedy film. In fact, this is now on top of my recommended Asian films. So if you're tired of watching the same movies you always watch, Spellbound is nice way to clean up your palette.

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I watched a lot of Korean and Taiwanese dramas but there’s never a series that made me cry from start to finish–not until Cinderella’s Sister. I literally cried a river while watching it. The first four chapters were intense but then when I get to Chapter 10 onwards–the scenes were unbearable. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not in a negative way. It’s unbearable because it would turn your emotions upside down and you really can’t help the tears from falling.

I didn’t give it a full ten since there were instances that I want to drop the series due to the fact that its agonizing to watch and their problems are just running in circles, which could have been easily resolved if they’ve been honest with each other. I remember this was a melodrama so some twist and turns are expected.

If you ever plan to watch this, better prepare a box of tissue with you since by all odds you’d need that.

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If I remember it right, I first watched this series 6 years ago. Well, I was looking for something to watch last weekend and I happen to see my copy of this drama so I decided to watch it again. I still find it funny and amusing but I guess I’m way passed my teenage years to go gaga over cheesy-predictable storylines.

Most of the scenes and the actors’ performances are exaggerated. The plot is bearable but the acting of the characters just ruined it. Rianie Yang‘s strenuously cute, bubbly and over the top acting is very annoying! I might have found it cute 6 years ago but now it’s a pain in the eyes. Mike He‘s no different. God, I can’t for the life of me understands why I liked this guy so much before. His domineering, rich, high-maintenance, character is overrated. And the devilish grin? Ugh. It makes me want to puke out of disgust.

There’s no question with Mike and Rainie’s chemistry together. I still had those occasionally kilig moments when I watched it. I just don’t find them cute anymore. I’m not saying I won’t watch their present dramas. I would still give it a try but if by any chance their acting is still the same after so many years in the business, that’s the time I would have to say enough. I’d rather spend my valuable time with worth-watching series.

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I never thought I'd finish this after my initial impression when I first watched its 2 episodes a few months back. I tried watching this after Heartstrings and I can't help but compare the characters so I ended up dropping Dream High because of my partiality with its cast. My boyfriend, was the one who pushed me to watch this series. I decided to finish this a month ago.

Having KPop artists as cast was a turn off. It was one of the reasons why I dropped the drama the first time. I know you think it's a lame reason considering most singers and group band members are transitioning to acting and I've probably seen them in one drama or so. I even watched Heartstrings. So what's wrong with Dream High's cast? Well, it wasn't really their fault, I just got tired of watching pathetic acting skills and Dream High's main casts are all newbies in the drama scene. My prejudices got the better of me so it took me 6 months to finally pick this up and continue where I left off. I'm glad I did. I'm not sorry I did not watch it sooner (I would have ended up giving it a low rating), it was worth the wait.

I thought this drama is gonna bore me to death but after watching 4 episodes straight, I found myself clicking the next episode right after the other, oblivious of the time and totally immersed with the story.

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Love 911 has the typical Korean romcom formula. It isn’t cheesy, it has the dramatic factor common in Korean films and dramas, and it has the comical scenes that would make you roll with laughter. The plot isn’t as strong as I expected it to be but the main problem is that the leads have no chemistry. They don’t have the spark or the pull that drives the viewers crazy with giddiness. It was one of the reasons why I find the film mediocre.

Because I had a background in medicine, though not as extensive as doctors, there are things that are medical related in the film that I feel implausible. I know misdiagnosis happens but the way it was presented in the film seems unlikely. There are also so many issues left unresolved at the end. Pfff. I really wanted to like this. There are scenes that are good; the writers generally had an idea of what they wanted in the film. It was just poorly executed.

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Love Keeps Going is the third Mike He drama I’ve seen since I started watching Asian Dramas. I first seen him in Devil Beside You then in Why, Why Love and I want to strangle myself for giving him the chance to redeem himself because right now I literally want to slap him.

I kind of liked this at first. Mike He and Cindy Wang‘s team up is something new. I got tired seeing Mike with Rainie Yang so being paired with a new love interest is enough to pique my interest in giving this drama a chance.

Mike’s role is the usual stereotyped, arrogant, rich, high maintenance character he frequently get cast into hence I assumed playing this role is a piece of cake. Well, I expected too much.

In the first few episodes of the drama, his acting was over the top. I was hoping that his acting would come naturally since he played a similar role in most of his dramas. I did say he always gets this rich-bad-boy-facade role, right? I wish he’d come to his senses and get a new role that’s out of his comfort zone. He should challenge his self more! I’m getting tired seeing him play the same roles over and over again.

Cyndi Wang didn’t do better. She’s also overdoing it in the first few episodes of the series and her role doesn’t fit her. Though she’s far better than Rainie Yang when it comes to acting, there’s still a lot of room for improvement. This is the first drama I watched with her as part of the cast so I don’t have much to compare her performance with.

It was a good thing that Cyndi Wang and Mike He have a good chemistry together. They looked good as a couple and if not because of this I would have dropped this drama half way through.

If you’re a fan of Mike He and would enjoy by merely seeing him, go ahead. I won’t stop you. Watch it for all your heart’s content.

But as for me this drama nailed it.

I Love my sanity so I’ll keep going and leave Mike He behind. I’m not going to watch any of his dramas again. Ever.

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They Kiss Again is the only drama I would never get tired of watching. This is the fifth time I’ve seen this series and every time it never fails to amuse me. I fell in love with their love story & relationship over again. ISWAK 2 is undeniably my favorite Asian Drama of all time.

One of the things I liked in this drama is Ariel Lin & Joe Cheng‘s tandem. They click. Their chemistry is captivating and they play their roles very well. Ariel’s portrayal of the not-so-bright but sweet and loving Xiang Qin blends with the brooding, arrogant, serious character of Zhi Shu which Joe played with flying colors.

I had so much fun rewatching this drama for Drama Rerun. My emotions are a riot like the first time I’ve seen it. I still laugh over Xian Qin’s funny and stupid antics. I still swoon on scenes I love best. Heck, I still cry in every bump & drama these two had in their marriage! Nothing changed. TKA still gives me an emotional roller coaster ride.

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Second time to watch Autumn Concerto and I’m still drooling whenever I see Vanness Wu‘s body! I have to say my reaction I had now compared to when I first watched it is fairly different. Yes, I still love it but there are just things I can’t make myself not to notice. This time my gushiness as a fangirl isn’t enough to make little flaws pass.

Gosh. I’m totally captivated. Not by the drama but by Vanness Wu! I want to hug that delicious body! Yum. Haha. What? I’m still a fangirl you know. I can’t stop it. Haha. Seriously, I can say that my love for this drama isn’t as profound as when I first seen it. One of the things I let pass before was the plot. It’s almost similar with our local teleseryes. I don’t know if that’s a plus or what but I’m certain I’m not a fan of overly dramatic scenes and utterly stupid storylines.

Autumn’s Concerto‘s story is promising. I know the plot is nothing new; it’s one of the most used and abused storyline in our local dramas. But this drama had so much potential. They happen to choose the right cast for the characters and the kontrabidas (villains) are not as evil as the kontrabidas we have here. It was nice, really, but there are some parts of the story I can’t tolerate.

I enjoyed the first six episodes of this drama. It was interesting and the kilig moments are there. The story slowed down in the next few episodes and it picked up pace after Guang Xi had remembered his past. This was a long drama. I personally think that the story would fit in 12 or 16 episodes. Stretching it to 21 Episodes is just probably because of the ratings.

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I waited for the series to end in GMA 7 before making this review. I watched the original Korean series with English subtitle but I didn’t enjoy it. I don’t know if it was the actor’s or actress’s voice or the subtitle but I really didn’t find the series appealing. So when I saw the teaser from GMA 7 a few months back, I decided to give it another try. I watched Hyun Bin from the series My Name is Kim Sam Soon and I love him ever since. That’s why watching it twice was not a bad idea.

I wasn’t disappointed. I liked the way the Filipinos dubbed the series. The “kalye” language they used was very appropriate for our culture and made the series more natural. I definitely love the “saltik” term Jamie used to call Owen. It became an endearment. (How was that possible? You should watch the tagalized series.)

Secret Garden was one of the most popular drama series to hit mainstream Korea. It has high ratings and continued to be on top of the charts till the last episode. I won’t argue with that. It was really funny. I understand why the Koreans loved it because after watching the tagalized version, I fell in love with it too. I thought that the series was like a Korean remake of the movie It’s a Boy Girl Thing (2006). I’m not saying it was the same but I think the concept was derived from this movie. The Koreans just expanded the concept and made the story suitable for Asian audiences.

Hyun Bin’s portrayal of Owen’s character was very smooth. The acting was very natural. On the other hand, Hai Ji Won’s acting may not be impressive but she improved very well since she started in the business.

Hey, wait up! It’s not all negative. There are a couple of things I love from the series.

First, Owen’s trademark track suit. That sequenced blue track suit was probably the most popular item ever copied and mass-produced in Korea. It looks funny in Owen but it looks adorable in Hyun Bin. (The analogy is difficult to explain. Ha-ha)

Second, Owen’s attitude with love. If there’s a guy out there like him, pwede akin ka na lang? (Can you please be mine?) He fought for what he wanted. He didn’t give up on love. Even if Jamie threw him out, physically and emotionally hurt him—he stayed. He showed the cold, afraid and aloof Jamie what it means to love and be loved.

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