Uncontrollably Fond: Kdrama Review

August 18, 2019December 5, 2019 ~ dramaindna ~ Leave a comment

I watched this series right after ‘the heirs‘ primarily because of Kim Woobin. When I first started the series it did not catch my attention. I tried to watch the first episode over a number of days again and again. I skipped off a bit from initial 4 episodes. The background scores in 3rd episode helps a lot.

Image Credit: Pinterest

The story is about Shin Joon Young and Noh Eul who were best friends. Shin Joon Young wanted to become a lawyer but a tragic incident made him switch to acting and singing. Noh Eul, on the other hand is a documentary producer who tries to be righteous however her rigorous conditions sometimes make her behavior unethical. It is when she is asked to film his documentary the two meet again years later and love blossoms.

Image Credit: weheartit

I actually found the storyline good, it is much more intricate then what is visible on the surface. But the title wasn’t all justified as per the story. I really liked the playback of the story of Eul and Joon Young and how they fell in love was touching. However, later on I expected a lot of hardcore romance on their front. To my surprise there wasn’t much. The romance was mainly indirect like Joon Young beating the other guy who said mean things to Eul. And pushing the girl away because he thinks he doesn’t deserve her. ( But why tell her to love you and listen to only you and confuse her when you know you will leave after sometime. This annoyed me a bit) Also, the show felt a little more inclined towards justice and conscious then the love story to be precise and hence I felt the title wasn’t all justified. Even so I still like the drama for dealing with the darker sides of both good and bad people.

Image Credit: weheartit

The plot was good, the present day and flashback went well together which created enough suspense. The back story played exactly when it was needed explaining everything. I liked that bit about the show.

Image Credit: weheartit

I was a bit confused between Joon Young’s moments he imagined in his brain and the actual reality.
Also, light could be shed on how they met and how he developed the friendship and then love. (There were instances but not enough) I really thought I would cry alot as everyone talks of the show like that but I didn’t that much. Something’s really connected and a few scenes did make me teary eyed but I never ended up crying a bucket. There were three scenes that got me on my feet. The one was when he proposes in the concert. It was too cute. The one where Eul tells him the exact time she fell in love. And the one where his mother visits him and he can’t recognize her.

Image Credit: weheartit

Gif: weheartit

I think the beginning was really stretched out. And the end episodes were a little in rush. The show deserved a proper closure. Like he could have made a video on how much he loved everyone, his mother and especially Eul and how he wants them to live afterwards. Also, much could be shown on how the other supporting characters lived afterwards.

Gif: weheartit

Kim Woobin was a obviously a stand out and the reason I continued watching. In every drama of his that I have watched, he plays this jerk who straightens out later on. It suits him but then I want him to able to live his love in a show atleast. I want to watch him in more shows as lead where tradegy doesn’t do away with his happy ever after. Everytime Kim Woobin was acting sick, I could only think about how he must have felt when he actually went through cancer afterwards. For once, I am glad that reel and real life are different for he came out as a winner. Bae Suzy was very prominent in the initial episodes and the ending episodes. In-between, her acting did not prompt a lot of emotion in me.

Image Credit: wehearit

Regardless, the chemistry between Kim Woobin and Bae Suzy was really good and some front end romantic scenes would have helped the show a lot more. You can’t help but fall for Kim Woobin. His acting skills are amazing. He seems very natural whether it’s a sad scene or a happy one. His smirk. Oh god. His smirk is to die for. Everytime he does, I too have a smile on face. I didn’t fully understand some of the supporting roles. However, I liked Jin Kyung’s acting along with Choi Moo-sung.

Image Credit: kdramastars.blogspot.com

The drama ost is one of its biggest bonus. It is very beautiful and profound. ‘Only you’ by Junggigo is a favourite, it’s a perfect mix of romantic and upbeat. The song ‘A Little Braver’ should be a theme song for this drama along with ‘Only You’. All the instrumental soundtrack are also amazing, something you can’t help but listen to. ‘Love Hurts’ by Hwanhee, ‘My Heart Says’ by Kim Na Young, ‘Don’t Push Me’ by Red Velvet’s Wendy and Seulgi, all make an unexplainable sadness and yearning in your heart whereas the song ‘Across The Ocean’ by New Empire makes for a happy beat. Few songs have also been contributed by the two leads. Even if you are not fond of this drama, you wouldn’t regret watching it for it’s soulful music in the least.

Image Credit: weheartit

Overall, I would still say that if you like a subtle romance that could still make you cry a bucket then this drama is for you.

Image Credit: weheartit

This drama teaches you that you can correct your mistakes, you can seek justice and even love within a limited time as well. It is a matter of choice.

Why Watch it?

If you are a fan of subtle romance with other subplot taking the mainframe
If you are a Kim WooBin fan, he has done his very best here
If you are a Bae Suzy fan, the chemistry between the leads is really good
If you wish to watch something sentimental that could make you cry or if you like bitter-sweet endings
Amazing Ost

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Ton Ruk Rim Rua (sometimes, what you look for is right in front of your eyes)

July 29, 2019May 6, 2020 ~ dramaindna ~ 2 Comments

Getting married thrice in a drama is crazy, right? But getting married to the same person in a drama thrice is even crazier!

This was the pulling point for me in drama. This thai series followed right after Kluen Cheewit. I really admired both Mark Prin and Yaya Urassaya and wanted to watch more of their dramas. This drama flashed in my YouTube recommendations. The drama has 11 episodes so I thought I would be able able to finish it very quickly.

The series name ‘Ton Ruk Rim Rua’ stands for ‘Love started at the fence’ and also ‘True love by the door’. It stars Mark Prin and Kimmy Kimerbly together for a 3rd time. Initially since I was not completely over Kluen Cheewit, so I kept thinking that Yaya and mark fit better together. But after watching this show and other shows with Mark and Kim as leads I realised that there is some easiness about their chemistry, it seems natural especially in this drama and it’s understandable since this is where their love for each other started blooming.

Ton Ruk Rim Rua Kob and Bua — Image Credit: asianfuse.net

The story is about two childhood best friends, Kasidth (Kob) and Nalin (Bua) who are neighbours and share the same fence. They are married off in their late teens as it was Kob’s grandmother’s last wish. Later on, they are divorced. Kob realises he has always loved Bua and comes back from US for her. Bua, on the other hand already has a dream man in her eyes. For Bua, Kob is just this guy best friend with whom she has spent most of her life, getting teased and finds him nothing but irritating. The story is about friendship and love, how we can mistake one for the other, and how sometimes what we look for is not far far away but close by.

Coming to the characters, I love Kob’s character. Mark himself has admitted it that he is very much like Kob in real life and it actually shows in his effortless acting on screen. What I love about this drama is that the main lead himself is providing comic relief. He is a mix of funny and romantic. He doesn’t take life so seriously until it comes to Bua. He supports Bua in all her endeavours. He is ready to do anything just for the sake of her happiness, even let her go.

Bua is a workaholic, who only has eyes for her career and her dream man. An interesting thing I observed while watching the drama was, there were many comments about Bua being selfish, blind to Kob’s love, stupid and what not. I am no PR of the drama yet I wish to clarify that you need to understand where the character is coming from. When you are best friends with a person all your life, it is difficult to take the care, love and affection they shower anything more than friendship. What’s worse is your fear of reading into something that isn’t there or fearing your friendship will be jeopardized due to your love.

Kob and Tangkwa — Image Credit: kenh14.vn

Similarly, the character of Twangkwa may seem selfish and evil (and she was at some places) but her obsession with Kob got the better of her. She did not want to harm Bua, she just wanted her to be away from Kob. In the end, you realise how vulnerable she is and her strength in finally letting him go. She is a girl who just wanted to be loved by a guy.

Tin is a character that we hardly see in real life. He is Bua’s boss and her dream man who eventually falls in love with her. He’s all goody good, very mindful and understanding. His progressive thoughts only add to the charm of drama.

One thing I really like is that Kob’s parents do not gloat of their son. They are accepting if not supportive of Bua’s decision even though it hurts their own son. They let the children make their own decisions.

The ost of drama is amazing and is definitely one of the main highlights of the drama. ‘Kon Diew Tao Nan’ has become an all time favourite. The lyrics, the music resonants so much with everything going on in the drama. Even the background music is very beautiful redefining all emotions sailing throughout an episode.

All in all, it is a light-hearted drama, there are few progressive points in the drama combined with some usual regressives. Although, the plot has it own twists that were beyond me, for instance, getting married to keep your job. It does make a compelling watch primarily because of its underlined theme of friendship and love and the chemistry between Mark and Kim. It is bound to make you blush, cry, cringe and laugh and relate it to the friendship and love you have in your life.

Why watch it?

The chemistry between Mark and Kim
If you like light hearted best friend turn to lovers drama
Amazing Ost

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K-Drama Review: Descendants Of The Sun (Similar battles, different battle grounds)

June 6, 2019May 18, 2020 ~ dramaindna ~ Leave a comment

The one that took over the world. If you ask any kdrama fanatic this one is bound to be not only on their viewed list but also their favourite list. Worry not if you are new to this kdrama universe as this is a great one to begin with. Descendants Of The Suns, or DOTS as it is called. The title seemed so majestic, one could believe it is mythological one. However upon researching the plot (Yes, I am that kind! The spoilers don’t bother me much. Yes, we exist!) and completing the drama I realised title has its own significance in the contemporary world.

Although it was not my first Kdrama (Boys Over Flowers was, just like for many many people out there), it did feel like a first. I don’t know why. I don’t even remember how I came across the drama, maybe because it topped all the charts? It certainly was a different experience altogether maybe because a lot of time had passed by from Boys over flowers days. For those who have already watched it, hold your breath! A sequel is in planning.

It starts of on what I would say is a different and difficult note. It’s hard to get the inital scenes in the first go and picture a (spoiler alert!) love story. Then it proceeds good a few episodes, it does get me excited at some points. The ost had caught hold of me by then. It seems to stretch a little around episodes 6-9. However the earthquake scenes had been well choreographed, they seem very realistic. The drama picks up real good in latter half. The direction is really amazing even if the episode as a whole wasn’t as entertaining as the next one. There are so many technicalities involved which you can see and there are some that you can’t. I feel it is made that way, some to see and some to understand/decipher. It’s not a 1dimensional drama where things are black and white like they are in many dramas. There are tiny tiny intricacies like after the male and female lead kiss and return back to base, a new scene opens when the light bulb comes to focus in the shape of heart. (Because the love has started to blossom!) The Song-Song couple (male and female protagonists) are married in real life, I was so happy when I found this half way between the drama it made watching the rest of it so much better for me.

Some scenes are real amaze. They get you on your feet. Adreline runs through the entire body. Like the one where Lee Chi-Hoon was bitten. It really made me scream. Other scenes made me smile and laugh and smirk and diss and cry as well (only a tiny bit). I loved the theme music and few songs as well. It’s not all serious, comedy has been carefully crafted at pin points as well. For instance, all the soldiers dancing on Red Velvet songs, the hospital scene where Captain Yoo arrives in the bed just after shootout.

Coming to the characters, I think all have done a fantastic job. Right from Captain Yoo, Doctor Kang to the cafe girl, Valentine. Each character had it’s place. The supporting actors have put an equal foot with the leads. One thing I like is the representation of female characters from Doctor Kang, Lieutenant Yoon, Senior ER nurse Ha Je-ae, Fatima and Valentine. They may be supported by the male characters however they make their own decisions and bear the consequences.

And how can one not fall in love with Yoo shi Jin’s charisma? His fun side and his intense side. Even though the drama has some fine actors as a cast, personally for me Song Joongki was the takeaway.

I like the fact that the characters draw towards realism. With a soldier who isn’t self sacrificing at all times and a doctor who has compromised due to money issues, another who is scared to save a patient because he fears for his own life. It also shows some backend reality of professions. For soldiers, it is not guns and action always many a times it is paperwork (lots of it!).

The concept was good as well, the views of two parallel yet opposite professionals on life. Doctors and Soldiers have similar battles but different battle grounds. It is very interesting to see them come together, and meet at crossroads.

Image Credit: Pinterest

The only major issue I found as an audience is that they are never able to finish the movie that lead was watching as a date.

Overall it was a very different one. It’s the one that married my emotional self to Kdramas.

Why watch it?

If you are into action coupled with some romance
To explore some good acting
The chemistry between song-song couple
A great plot with beautiful ost

Continue reading “K-Drama Review: Descendants Of The Sun (Similar battles, different battle grounds)” →