The King of Dramas Final Episode 18

Kim Myung Min as the BAMF Anthony Kim

The King of Dramas episode 18 marked the end of a great drama, and I am sad that it is over. The final episode was OK. I feel that everything was resolved, and I don't feel the conclusion cheated the viewers out of anything. was it a perfect ending? No. The episode had a rushed feeling to it that is reminiscent to the way things were wrapped up in Innocent Man. The drama within the drama aired with great success, but we see very little of this aspect of the show. Gyeongsong's Morning seemed to play a smaller and smaller role in the later episodes of the drama, but it was the main back bone that supported all of the relationships. The focus in these last episodes turned away from Gyeongsong and was placed on Anthony and Go Eun's romance which wasn't significant in the beginning. I wasn't even sure if they would be a couple when I first stared watching, and I found that refreshing.

Oh Ji Eun as Min Ah and Choi Si Won as Hyun Min

Back Hug

As for the other Gyeongsong's Morning couple, I am happy to report that Hyun Min and Min Ah ended up together. They make an attracitve couple, and they have a great balance of sophistication and goofiness. They are definitely as pretty (f not more pretty than Brangelina, the celebrity couple to which they compared themselves). In the final part of the episode we are fast forwarded one year into the future where we see Min Min working together on a CF and looking perfect. And of course, Jung Ryu Won as Lee Go Eun and Kim Myung Min as Anthony Kim, has a happy end through all the tribulations as well.

The King and Queen

After getting into an accident while racing to deliver the tape for the last episode of their drama, Anthony nearly died. He had given up his chance at the possibility to keep his sight via a special treatment in Florida in order to attend to a crisis on the set. I need to stop here for a moment to mention a few strange things. I don't feel like doing the research, but doesn't a flight from Korea directly to "Florida" seem odd? Also, who refers to flying to Florida? Wouldn't you say that you are flying to a certain city or airport? I just thought the whole thing was a bit strange, but I don't really know anything about International flight so I will stop here. Anyway, Anthony almost died, but Go Eun believed in him like he did her, so he was able to muster the strength to wake up. In the end Anthony was presenting the idea that radio dramas like War of the Worlds could become the next big thing. I love that Anthony is such smooth talker. Even with his disability Anthony was still working it and trying to create a "daebak" product. Go Eun and Anthony are the king and queen of dramas. As Go Eun said, "Even though he is just a third-rate producer now, he is still the king of dramas in my mind."

Watch The King of Dramas episode 18 with English subtitles Viki.com

The King of Dramas episode 17

Choi Si Won as Kang Hyun Min

The King of Dramas is nearing its end, and I am dying to know what is going to happen next. Episode 17 had me laughing (at Hyun Min's over zealous attempts at being a serious actor) and crying (about Anthony Kim's impending blindness). The drama within the drama, Gyeongsong's Morning, has been extended by 4 episodes so the World Production crew is racing to adjust according. Unfortunately, Anthony is unsure if his vision will even last until the end of filming. I really do love this show (I think it's one of the best dramas of 2012, see my The Best Korean Dramas of 2012 post), but I think the theme of characters going blind is becoming too commonly used. Just a few weeks ago Full House Take 2's Kang Hwi (played by Park Ki Woong) was threatened with the same tragedy. In the case of Anthony Kim, though, the illness does make more thematic sense than in Full House Take 2. Anthony spent much of his childhood resenting his mother's blindness even to the point of teasing her for it. He was a man who would stop at nothing to create high-rated dramas, but now that he has fallen and began to rise again, he is learning to appreciate life, people, and his mother.

Jung Ryu Won as Go Eun and Kim Myung Min as Anthony

In this episode Go Eun puts the clues together and realizes that Anthony is going blind. Things started to get very emotional when Go Eun confronted Anthony about his loss of vision because it was clear that Go Eun is willing to stay by Anthony no matter what. Since Anthony had been trying to protect Go Eun from becoming involved in his problem and is opposing her attempts at getting closer to him, the tension is high in this final scene. I can't imagine many people watching this episode didn't at least get a bit teary-eyed. I will tell you the exact moment when I lost my shit, it happened when Anthony said, "I won't be able to see your face and where you are standing and whether you are smiling or crying. I won't be able to see." It made me think about how important sight is in human relationships. Not knowing what expression someone has or their body language would make it difficult to read their true emotions. I am hopeful, though, that the "gotony" ship (I just made that up) will stay afloat and survive this storm.

Watch The King of Dramas episode 17 with English subtitles http://www.viki.com/channels/9887-king-of-drama/videos/84725

The King of Dramas episode 15

Kim Myung Min as Anthony Kim and Jung Ryu Won as Lee Go Eun

Episode 15 of The King of Dramas introduced the beginnings of obvious mutual attraction between Go Eun and Anthony. Their magnetism was an underlying theme throughout the earlier 14 episodes, but they have both come to realize it now. I love the subtly and reality of their relationship. Anthony, whose mantra is that one should be able to abandon their own father to make a successful drama, is slowly starting to understand that people are more important than ratings. These two characters aren't compromising everything they dream about to love each other, they are just two people who like each other more as they get to know each other. Although this episode ends with Anthony missing an important meeting that could skyrocket the success of his production company because of his desperation to get a sick Go Eun to the hospital, I hope that in episode 16 he can find a balance between the pursuit of his dream and his affection for Go Eun.

Choi Si Won as Kang Hyun Min

Oh Ji Eun as Sung Min Ah

I am also curious to see how the relationship between Hyun Min and Sung Min Ah develops. They are so different from each other; Hyun Min is greedy and childish while Min Ah is sophisticated and calculating. I love their antics, but I don't see how they could come together romantically. Clearly Min Ah is still in love with Anthony, but Anthony is falling for Go Eun. Min Ah's efforts to tie herself and Anthony together with the production company contract didn't even work. So, I imagine that she will be single at the end of this drama. We'll have to wait and see if another ship is formed, the Hyunah ship.

Yes, this is what I am doing on Christmas morning, just writin' for my blog. I wish everyone who is viewing my blog a happy and warm holiday season. I will post again on New Year's Day with my Best Korean Dramas of 2012 final list!

Watch The King of Dramas episode 15 with English subtitles http://www.viki.com/channels/9887-king-of-drama/videos/84354

The King of Dramas

I am not completely caught up with The King of Dramas yet (I am on episode 9), but I had to post something because I can't contain it. I LOVE LOVE LOVE this drama. It is very interesting to watch a dramatized show about the making of Korean Dramas. It's so very postmodern. I never really know what to expect with each new episode (yes, their will be someone trying to stand in Anthony's way to stop Gyeongsong's Morning from airing), and I am hooked. In fact, I watched 7 episodes over the weekend. But, I almost didn't watch this drama because it looked boring, so I wanted to post this in case anyone else is on the fence.

Kim Myung Min as Anthony Kim

Kim Myung Min is Anthony Kim the aforementioned King of dramas. He will do anything to succeed, which caused his own downfall when someone died during the making of a popular drama. Now, he is trying to make his comeback, and is slowly learning that people are just as important as statistics and ratings. I love Anthony. Even though Myung Min is quite a bit older than me (16 years older, to be exact), I think he is sexy and a badass.

Jung Ryu Won as Lee Go Eun

Jung Ryu Won is Lee Go Eun the newbie drama writer who became unfortunately linked to Anthony during the making of Elegant Revenge (the aforementioned drama that started Anthony's downfall). She is spunky, smart, and awesome. She is learning from Anthony how to balance her empathy with his coldness to become successful in the drama world. She doesn't take crap from Anthony, and fights for her script every step of the way.

Choi Si Won as Kang Hyun Min

Choi Si Won is hilarious as Hyun Min. I would love to know if he got the inspiration for this character from some celebrity he knows (a member of Super Junior maybe?). I know he didn't write this character, but he can portray the snotty, stupid, and greedy Hyun Min perfectly. When he whines to his mom or demands to be deemed the main lead of the drama, I never once felt that he was a caricature of celebrity, it feels very genuine in a strange way.

I can't wait to watch more of this show, so I am going to end this post here, and I will write more later!

Watch The King of Dramas with English Subtitles http://www.viki.com/channels/9887-king-of-drama