30 Day Kdrama Challenge: Day 11

Day 11: Your Favorite Dialogue

Seo In Guk as Yoon Yoon Jae and Jung Eun Ji as Sung Shi Won

OK, I'm glad this is the last day for lines/dialogue because I'm not good at remembering quotes from shows especially when I'm reading and not hearing it. Anyway, basically all of Reply 1997 is my favorite dialogue. The comedic scenes were quick and smart while the dramatic scenes were emotional and sincere. This drama had a realistic aspect to the characters, story, and script that made it special. Definitely one of my favorite dramas of 2012. Watch Reply 1997 subtitled and free on DramaFever.

2012 Korean Dramas

Happy New Year! It's 2013 now so get ready for a 2012 Kdrama bonanza! I tried to watch quite a few Korean dramas that aired this year, so I hope I have amassed enough information to be helpful to the netizens. I am going to list the 2012 dramas that I watched in chronological order by start of airing date. I will be listing the drama's title, air date, number of episodes, prominent cast members, my own special Korean Drama genres, a description of the drama using a few key words, and whether I think people should watch it or not.

The Moon Embracing the Sun

Air Dates: January 4th - March 15

Episodes: 20

Cast: Kim Soo Hyun, Jung Il Woo

Genres: historical, romance, supernatural, memory loss

Key Words: magical, romantic, epic

Watch it? Yes
with English subtitles DramaFever.com

Wild Romace

Air Dates: January 4th - February 23rd

Episodes: 16

Cast: Lee Dong Wook, Lee Si Young, Jessica

Genres: romantic comedy, sports

Key Words: cute, funny

Watch it? Yes
with English subtitles DramaFever.com

Notes: I tie this drama with Arang and the Magistrate for best ending. This drama ended perfectly.

Shut Up Flower Boy Band

Air Dates: January 30th - March 20th

Episodes: 16

Cast: Sung Joon, Kim Myung Soo, Lee Hyun Jae

Genres: music, high school, romantic comedy, friendship

Key Words: fun, cool, fresh

Watch it? Yes
DramaFever.com

Kpop The Ultimate Audition

March 19th - May 1st

Episodes: 14

Cast: Park Yoo Hwan, Go Eun Ah

Genres: music, romantic comedy, girl pretending to be a boy

Key Words: fun, silly, sweet

Watch it? Yes

Notes: The ending was shortened, but it's still a good drama. Plus, Yoo Chun's brother Yoo Hwan is cute!
Watch it on Hulu

Rooftop Prince

Air Dates: March 21st - May 24th

Episodes: 20

Cast: Park Yoo Chun, Han Ji Min

Genres: time travel, supernatural, romantic comedy

Key Words: funny, romantic, awesome

Watch it? ABSOLUTELY

Notes: My favorite drama of 2012
with English subtitles DramaFever.com

King 2 Hearts

Air Dates: March 21st - May 24th

Episodes: 20

Cast: Lee Seung Gi, Han Ji Won

Genres: romance, political

Key Words: epic, dark

Watch it? Yes
with English subtitles
DramaFever.com

Love Rain

Air Dates: March 26th - May 29th

Episodes: 20

Cast: Jang Geun Suk, Yoona

Genres: melodrama, romantic comedy, melodrama again

Key Words: slow, colorful

Watch it? No

Notes: Geun Suk and Yoona look great together, but this drama is slow-moving and often depressing for no good reason.
with English subtitles
DramaFever.com

Queen In Hyun's Man

Air Dates: April 18th - June 7th

Episodes: 16

Cast: Ji Hyun Woo, Yoo In Na

Genres: time travel, romantic comedy

Key Words: funny, lovable

Watch it? Yes
with English subtitles DramaFever.com

A Gentleman's Dignity
Airing Dates: May 26th - August 12th
Episodes: 20
Cast: Jang Dong Gun, Kim Ha Neul
Genres: romantic comedy, friendship
Key Words: funny, endearing
Watch it? Yes
with English subtitles DramaFever.com

I Love Lee Tae Ri

Air Dates: May 28th - July 17th

Episodes: 16

Cast: Kim Ki Bum, Park Ye Jin, JUB

Genres: body swapping, romantic comedy

Key Words: weird, sweet, fun

Watch it? Yes
with English subtitles Viki.com

I Do, I Do

Air Dates: May 30th - July 19th

Episodes: 16

Cast: Kim Sun Ah, Lee Jang Woo

Genres: romantic comedy, fashion

Key Words: playful, colorful, fresh

Watch it? Yes
with English subtitles DramaFever.com

Notes: You'll love this drama, trust me.

Bridal Mask

Air Dates: May 30th - September 6th

Episodes: 28

Cast: Joo Won, Park Ki Woong

Genres: historical, political, action, romance

Key Words: epic, bloody, dark

Watch it? Yes

with English subtitles Bridal Mask

Notes: This drama is long and boring at times, but worth the effort.

Big

Air Dates: June 4th - July 24th

Episodes: 16

Cast: Gong Yoo, Lee Min Jung, Suzy

Genres: body swapping, romantic comedy

Key Words: silly, emotional, magical

Watch it? Yes

with English subtitles DramaFever.com

Notes: The ending did not satisfy, but the drama was enjoyable for the most part.

I Need Romance 2012

Air Dates: June 20th - August 9th

Episodes: 16

Cast: Jung Yu Mi, Lee Jin Wook

Genres: romantic comedy, friendship

Key Words: playful, quick

Watch it? Maybe

Notes: My least favorite drama of 2012.
DramaFever.com

Answer Me 1997

Air Dates: July 24th - September 18th

Episodes: 16

Cast: Jung Eun Ji, Seo In Guk

Genres: high school, romantic comedy, friendship

Key Words: hilarious, fresh, awesome

Watch it? ABSOLUTELY
DramaFever.com

Haeundae Lovers

Air Dates: August 6th - September 25th

Episodes: 16

Cast: Kim Kang Woo, Jo Yeo Jeong

Genres: romantic comedy, memory loss

Key Words: funny, cute

Watch it? Yes
DramaFever.com

Faith

Air Dates: August 13th - October 30th

Episodes: 24

Cast: Lee Min Ho, Kim Hee Sun

Genres: time travel, romance, supernatural, historical

Key Words: epic, emotional

Watch it? Yes
with English subtitles DramaFever.com

To the Beautiful You

Air Dates: August 15th - October 4th

Episodes: 16

Cast: Choi Min Ho, Sulli

Genres: high school, romantic comedy, girl pretending to be a boy

Key Words: young, enjoyable, light

Watch it? Maybe
with English subtitles DramaFever.com

Notes: I recommend this for people who like light, fluffy romcoms, it's not everyone's cup of tea.

Arang and the Magistrate

Air Dates: August 15th - October 18th

Episodes: 20

Cast: Shin Min Ah, Lee Jun Ki

Genres: historical, supernatural, romantic comedy

Key Words: funny, scary, awesome

Watch it? ABSOLUTELY
with English subtitles DramaFever.com

Panda and Hedgehog

Air Dates: August 18th - October 7th

Episodes: 16

Cast: Lee Dong Hae, Yoon Seung Ah

Genres: romantic comedy, baking

Key Words: sweet, funny

Watch it? Yes
with English subtitles DramaFever.com

The Innocent Man/ Nice Guy

Air Dates: September 12th - November 15th

Episodes: 20

Cast: Song Joong Ki, Moon Chae Won

Genres: melodrama, revenge

Key Words: amazing, emotional, dark

Watch it? ABSOLUTELY
with English subtitles DramaFever.com

Full House Take 2
Air Dates: October 22nd - December 13th
Episodes: 16 (2 parts each)
Cast: No Min Woo, Park Ki Woong
Genres: romantic comedy, music
Key Words: cheesy, silly, light
Watch it? Maybe
Notes: This drama is so wrong that it's enjoyable to watch.
DramaFever.com

I am also watching May Queen (aired August 18th - December23rd), I Miss You (started November 7th), and Cheongdamdong Alice (stared December 1st).

The Perfect Korean Drama

This summer I started to jot some ideas down for what I would like to see in a Kdrama. I never really went anywhere with it, and I only listed out a few bullet points, but I have been wanting to elaborate on that idea for months. Since the holidays are nearing and things are slowing down at work, I decided that I will start creating my idea of the perfect Korean drama. I don't know how far I will go with it, but I feel ambitious about this project at the moment. I will post continuously as I come up with more. Now, clearly it will all be written in English by an American person, so I guess it would be more accurate to say that I will be writing a Korea-style drama, and, obviously, it will star my favorite Korean celebrities.

Here are my ideas so far:

• I want to see Onew in a Kdrama, so he WILL be in mine. That's the first and most important idea that I came up with. I think that Lee Jin Ki is adorable and funny, and I want to see him in a Korean drama ASAP. He will also have at least 2 songs on the OST.

Lee Jin Ki aka Onew of SHINee

• I need Moon Chae Won. What female Kdrama fan wouldn't go gay for Moon Chae Won? Anyway, I digress. In my drama Chae Won will play an actress, and I want her to refer to the Chaeki ship in a funny way. 

Moon Chae Won as Seo Eun Gi

• Song Joong Ki will make a cameo appearance. Now, I should be saying that I want him to star in my drama, right? Well, I think that it would be cooler if he made a cameo as himself and has an encounter with Moon Chae Won who is portraying an actress who has a crush on him and wants to work with him, but she isn't making progress in the acting world yet.... something like that.

Song Joong Ki as Kang Ma Ru

• Lee Min Ho will be the lead and will have sexy kissing scenes with Moon Chae Won. This seems so obvious to me that I didn't even list it first. So, to clarify, I want Onew in my drama, but I don't foresee him as a lead actor, not yet anyway.

Lee Min Ho

• I want the drama to start in Seoul, but end up in the country. I love the beautiful scenery and the interesting country-folk characters.
• At first I thought I wanted a supernatural element (because I enjoy them) like in those time-travel or body-swapping Kdramas (see Rooftop Prince and Secret Garden), but I changed my mind on that, at least for now. The great thing about a Kdrama is that the supernatural element could also come in later.
• I want it to be funny and dramatic, but not depressing. What really turns me off about some romantic comedies is that they get too dark and sad around the end. Some dramas balance this well (like Dream High and Coffee Prince) while others make it unbearable (my example is Starts Falling From the Sky, it became way too depressing and not funny).

Here are some dramas that mine will be inspired by: Invincible Lee Pyung Kang, My Girlfriend is a Gumiho, Innocent Man (very slightly), The Vineyard Man, Answer Me 1997.

Shin Min Ah and Lee Seung Gi in My Girlfriend is a Gumiho

This is all I have for now. I came up with most of this while I was writing it, so some of it probably won't make sense to anyone except for me (even then...), but I hope to work things out as I forge ahead in my grand project. Bookmark my blog and keep checking back to see what crazy things develop in my mind as I try to create the perfect and best Korean drama.

The Best Kdramas of 2012 (preliminary)

So, the year 2012 is nearly over, and it is time to look back and begin to make judgement. I started watching Korean Dramas early on this year, therefore, I am new to the game. I have made my best efforts to catch up on the classics, but there is so much to watch and only so many hours in the day. What I am going to do now is make a rough guess at what will be my favorite dramas from 2012. Obviously I didn't watch every single drama that aired this year, so my judgement must be taken with a grain of salt. It is fun to make lists, though, so I will lay down the best Korean Dramas of 2012 here. Please weigh in with your favorites in the comments section.


1. Rooftop Prince

I genuinely love this drama. Mickey Yoo Chun and Han Ji Min make a beautiful couple. I find it to be a hilarious comedy and an emotional romance all rolled in to one. I am a sucker for the ever-funny scenes that take place when a person from the past is thrust into the modern world and bombarded with the substantial advancements of technology since their time. I think Rooftop Prince is by far the best of the time travel dramas that I have seen (Faith, Queen In Hyun's Man, and 3 episodes of Time Slip Dr. Jin).

Mickey Yoo Chun and Han Ji Mia

Watch Rooftop Prince with English subs http://www.dramafever.com/drama/4101/1/Rooftop_Prince/

2. The Innocent Man (Nice Guy)

The Innocent Man (Nice Guy) become a big part of my life for a while (as sad as that sounds). I originally had planned to watch it when it completed airing, but I started this blog on October 20th and decided I need to write about this show because it is daebak. I watched the first 14 episodes over the course of 2 or 3 days (it's all a blur now) and began my screen cap/ blog writing fury. Now that it is over, I feel an emptiness. I am not loyal enough to say that I won't be able to fill the emptiness left by The Innocent Man (Nice Guy), but it might take some time to be replaced in my heart. Song Joong Ki is amazing as Kang Ma Roo because he has an angelic baby face, but does some very bad ass things in the show. Also, I fell in love with Moon Chae Won while watching this drama. She is gorgeous, and I love when she gets to act strong-willed and ferocious.

Moon Chae Won and Seo Eun Gi

Watch The Innocent Man (Nice Guy) with English subs http://www.viki.com/channels/7995-nice-guy

3. Arang and the Magistrate

Arang and the Magistrate is one of the first dramas I wrote about. Watching Korean Dramas to write about them is a very different experience than just watching them, I believe. While I am much more efficient with my time when I watch a drama without worrying about what to write about it, I feel that I get a better insight into the drama when I stop and think about it. With Arang, I was able draw out many beautiful ideas and lessons from this drama during my writing process. It really makes me think about the power of desire and will and how considering other people can be the most rewarding way to live.

Shin Min Ah and Lee Jun Ki

Watch Arang and the Magistrate with English subs http://www.dramafever.com/drama/4133/1/Arang_and_the_Magistrate/


4. Queen In Hyun's Man

Queen In Hyun's Man is one of the best love stories I have seen in a Korean drama. Maybe not everyone will agree with me on that, but that's okay. I think that the love between Kim Bong Do (Ji Hyun Woo) and Choi Hee Jin (Yoo In Na) is pure and sweet. Unlike some Kdramas where the main couple starts off with
a relationship of hate and hostility, they were never tarnished by that dirty feeling of "are these people masochists or what?" that I get from some couples. As a time travel drama, it is almost (but not quite) as amazing as Rooftop Prince. I don't really like to compare these two dramas too much, though, because I think that they each have their own individual spirits. Queen In Hyun's Man is a must-see drama for any Korean drama lover.

Yoo In Na and Ji Hyun Woo making out!

Watch Queen In Hyun's Man with English subs http://www.hulu.com/queen-and-i

5. Reply 1997

Reply 1997 (Answer Me 1997) is a treat. Sung Shi Won (Jung Eun Ji) is such a spunky, relatable female character that it is impossible (for people with warm blood) not to love her. She lives in the world of super fandom and worships her kpop idol with an extreme (almost dangerous) passion. This drama features an array of interesting and well-developed characters that interact flawlessly with each other in their realistic environment spanning from the late 1990's up to present day. The ending has a sweet twist that is both funny, and romantic (clearly, I love that combination), and there is really nothing but joy, youth, and fun (with some tears too) to be had.

Seo In Guk and Jung Eun Ji

Watch Reply 1997 with English subs http://www.viki.com/channels/9462-replay-1997-answer-me-1997

Honorable mentions: I do, I do and The Moon That Embraces the Sun

Right now I am watching Bridal Mask which seems to be another contender for my 2012 list. I am also watching I Miss You and May Queen too. I will try to get a few more Kdramas from 2012 in before the end of the year so that I can come up with a more accurate judgement of the dramas of this year. Please, please, please tell me if there is something great from this year that I should watch.