The Best Korean Drama Jobs and Careers

Have you ever wanted to live like your favorite Korean drama heroes and heroines? Well, I'm about to let you in on the secret: you have to get the right job! In Kdrama land certain jobs will land you closer to crush and enemy than any others. Let's review your options. (I will mention plot points from the dramas below, but none of them will ruin the overall experience of the show for anyone who hasn't watched these dramas yet, so I won't call them spoilers. I consider them safe.)

1. The food/milk delivery person

This worked remarkably well for Go Eun Chan (Yoon Eun Hye) in Coffe Prince. While she was delivering food, she sneaked a peek at a naked Choi Han Kyul (Gong Yoo). Also, when she had her stint as a milk delivery girl, she captured the heart of Han Kyul's cousin Han Sung (Lee Sun Kyun). Eun Chan actually had many jobs including: barista at Han Kyul's coffe shop, taekwondo instructor, and she also sewed eyes on dolls. Let this be a lesson ladies, the more odd jobs you work, the closer you are to finding your soulmate!

other examples: Can You Hear My Heart?, Shining Inheritance

Song Joong Ki, I Can Wait 2 Years For You

Song Joong Ki as Chul Soo in A Werewolf Boy

Because our beloved Song Joong Ki has left for his mandatory 2-year military service, I decided to write my first profile in my new blog format about him. I have included a resume above with SJK's basic info and his projects (read below for a text version of his projects with links). While he's on a hiatus from making new movies and/or dramas for the next two years, we can all comfort ourselves by watching his previous work. Even if you've already seen everything he's been in, there's no harm in repeat watching, right? Also, you can listen to "Really" and "The Water is Wide" every night before you go to sleep. I strongly recommend his most recent drama Innocent Man if you haven't watched it yet. Of his movies A Werewolf Boy is great if you are looking to cry, and Penny Pinchers is hilarious and sweet. My Friday review this week will be of Penny Pinchers, so look forward to that.

Return to us safely, Joong Ki-yah!

photo source

30 Day Kdrama Challenge: Day 17

Day 17: A Kdrama you've watched more than once

Gong Yoo and Yoon Eun Hye in Coffee Prince

Yes, I am a repeater, and I'm not ashamed to admit it. When something is AMAZING, why would I only watch it once? I will add, though, that sometimes I get really jealous when I think about people who are watching my favorite Kdramas for the first time. I will never get to have that experience again with those dramas. That strong, emotional, almost crazy reaction to watching a drama the first time and really loving it, I only hope that I can find more dramas in the future that affect me the same.

The Best Korean (and Taiwanese!) Dramas to Watch When You Want to Cry

I don't know about you guys, but sometimes it feels good to just completely let go and bawl your eyes out.  This is especially true when you're not crying about something horrible happening in your own life, but about something horrible happening to beautiful Asian actors. I have come up with a list of a few dramas to watch when you are looking to cry your eyes out. So get your box of tissue, roll of toilet paper, or whatever you use to blow your nose ready because it's time to start the water works. Note: this list is a work in progress because I am always finding new dramas to cry about so I will update it periodically.

I'm Sorry, I love You
There once was a hot ahjusshi and a sad woman who looked like a little girl. This drama is the epitome of melodramatic Asian entertainment. If you don't cry while watching this, then I don't think you have a heart. Watch it on DramaFever.com

49 Days
This drama is about what happens after death and death's devastating affect on those who remain living. The beautiful lead actors give heart-wrenching performances and the plot of this drama is so unique that it lays the perfect foundation for complete emotional immersion into the world between life and death. Watch it on DramaFever.com

Summer Fever
This is the first Taiwanese drama that I really loved, and it initiated my Tdrama obsession. I describe this drama as a miracle because it appears, on the surface, to be an ordinary story of young summer love, but it becomes a beautiful account of a woman's struggle to live and love. I cried so hard while watching this one night that the next morning my eyelids were so puffy and crusty that they would barely open. I had to use the cold spoon treatment to lessen the swelling. I promise I'm not being dramatic. Also, I listen to the opening and closing themes from this show almost every night. They are amazing songs. Watch it on DramaFever.com.

Nice Guy
This drama ends up on a lot of my lists mainly because it's so great and all-encompassing. The push-and-pull love story between the two leads is emotionally draining, but their shared fate keeps them together and makes for a glorious tearjerker. Watch it on DramaFever.com.

Fated to Love You
This Taiwanese drama begins with an over-the-top story about two people who slept together completely by mistake. I wasn't fully convinced of their love at first, but this show took me by surprise. Episode 12 is so sad it will break your heart. Unfortunately the last half of the drama drags on for way too long, but there are enough good scenes in this drama to make up for the unnecessary ones. Watch it on DramaFever.com

Full House
This is one of those unfortunate tales of two people who are forced together, hate each other when they have a chance to start something, and then love each other when it's extremely inconvenient. Song Hye Kyo and Rain make such a gorgeous couple that it's easy to forgive their naivety in the beginning. I cried a lot while watching this mostly out of sheer frustration and sadness for them. Watch it on DramaFever.com.

How to Watch Innocent Man (Nice Guy) in 2 days

Song Joong Ki as Kang Ma Ru and Moon Chae Won as Seo Eun Gi

Let's start off with the facts: This is the second time that I have watched every episode of Innocent Man (Nice Guy) which is 20 episodes long and each episode lasts 1 hour and 4 minutes. There are 48 hours in 2 days. So, 48 hours minus about 21 hours leaves 27 to work with. Twenty seven hours is plenty of time to do other things, I will demonstrate how!

Here's a break down of my Innocent Man weekend

Saturday

8AM- wake up, go to the bathroom, and watch 2 episodes

10:30AM- eat breakfast

11AM- watch 1 episode

12PM- take a shower, go to the mall and get a haircut, eat KFC

4PM- watch 1 episode

5PM- take the dogs for a walk

5:30PM-10PM watch more episodes

10PM-11PM play Tekken on my brother's WiiU

11PM-5AM watch up to episode 12

Sunday

5AM- sleep

8AM- get rudely awoken by a dog, who has no idea that you've only slept a few hours, and then leave room for the sake of sanity

9AM-11AM- sleep

11AM-3PM- watch

3PM-5PM- take a shower and go to the grocery store

5PM-2AM- with intermittent breaks for sleeping, peeing, etc. watch the remaining 5 episodes while crying over the beautiful Kang Ma Ru and Seo Eun Gi (Chae Ki ship 4 lyfe!)

2AM- go to sleep because you have to wake up for work at 6:30AM

Anyway, this is my way of explaining why I haven't posted much lately too. I have been in the mood to marathon, and writing for my blog gets in the way of that. I definitely got a lot more from watching Innocent Man the second time. I cried harder, that's for sure, and I paid more attention because I wasn't focusing on getting awesome screen caps. I don't know if I will be posting much for now because my watching mode has shifted back to what it was before I started this blog, but I will most certainly shift back at some point. So, thanks for reading my blog if you do. 잘 자... good night!

Have your own Innocent Man marathon on DramaFever.com

That Winter, the Wind Blows Episode 1-3

Zo In Sung as Oh Soo and Song Hye Kyo as Oh Young

I am completely hooked on That Winter, the Wind Blows. It has everything that I value in a Korean drama: hot Korean guys, layered plot lines, a romantic coupling that seems impossible at first, crazy rich people, and a very dramatic OST. So far, I am feeling a strong connection between this drama and last fall's Nice Guy (Innocent Man). The first similarity that stood out to me right away is the music. The opening theme music which is used often throughout Nice Guy is almost identical to the music that plays during dramatic moments in That Winter. Other similarities I noticed: the fragile yet strong leading lady, Oh Soo is a man doing bad things because he was wronged by a woman (his mother who abandoned him and ex-girlfriend who sent him to prison) like Kang Ma Roo (Jae Hee, the girl he loved, caused him to spend years in jail), and the muted but vibrant coloring. Maybe I am stretching to compare the two, but that's what I've noticed so far.

Zo In Sung and Song Hye Kyo

In the first 3 episodes that have aired so far Oh Soo was falsely accused of embezzling millions of dollars by a psychotic girlfriend (played by the queen of crazy-eyed girls Seo Hyo Rim), spends a year in prison, is stabbed and beaten over the money, and takes on the identity of his recently-dead friend of the same name. By a twist of fate, his dead friend is Oh Young's long-lost oppa which leaves him an opening to get the money he needs to stay alive. Oh Young is the blind daughter of a dead billionaire. So, from that summary it is easy to see how complicated the relationship between Oh Soo and Oh Young will become.

Song Hye Kyo is so perfect at portraying the beautiful sad girl (see Autumn in My Heart and Full House) that I feel like the role of Oh Young was written for her. Whereas Moon Chae Won as Seo Eun Gi in Nice Guy had a bitchy bite to her that made her soft-hearted love for Ma Roo slightly hard to believe at times, the sadness in Hye Kyo's eyes makes it seem like the lonely Young will be open to trusting her fake oppa.

Zo In Sung, on the other hand, makes up for the bitchy bite that Hye Kyo is lacking. Though I love Song Joong Ki as Ma Roo, his extreme self-sacrificing pissed me off sometimes. The whole reason Ma Roo got himself into the intial mess of being accused of murder was because he took the fall for Jae Hee. I don't see that personality trait in Oh Soo at all. He appears to be much less of a "nice guy" than Ma Roo, and his aim to entangle himself in Oh Young's family problems is not for revenge, but because he needs the money to save himself. It's too early to predict how he will evolve throughout the course of the story, but I hope that he doesn't become unbelievably selfless for Oh Young's sake. Loving her is one thing, but taking it the extreme kills the sincerity.

Jung Eun Ji as Moon Hee Sun

Kim Bum as Park Jin Sung

The lighter side of That Winter is brought to you by Jung Eun Ji (Reply 1997) and Kim Bum (Boys Over Flowers). They act as Oh Soo's side-kicks that are aware of his true identity. Kim Bum is adorable and silly and he looks like a cute little elf when standing next to the over-six-feet-tall Zo In Sung. Eun Ji portrays a spunky florist who has been keeping tabs on Oh Soo ever since he dumped her older sister who subsequently died in a motorcycle accident. At this point in the drama they are helping Oh Soo in pretending to be the deceased Oh Soo. I doubt they will contribute much to the overall plot, but only time will tell.

Watch That Winter, the Wind Blows with English subtitles DramaFever,com

The Best Korean Dramas of 2012

Wow, I can't believe it's 2013. I've been watching Korean Dramas for nearly a year now, but I feel like I have only begun to scratch the surface of this crazy Kdrama world. I tried to watch as many of the Kdramas that aired in 2012 as I could. See my "2012 Korean Dramas" post for information about the dramas that I watched. Now, I will list the best dramas that I watched from this year. This is similar to my "The Best Kdramas of 2012 (preliminary)" list, but I did make a few adjustments


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).

Park Yoo Chun and Han Ji Min

Watch Rooftop Prince with English subs DramaFever.com

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.

Song Joong Ki and Moon Chae Won

Watch The Innocent Man (Nice Guy) with English subs DramaFever.com


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.

Lee Jun Ki and Shin Min Ah

Watch Arang and the Magistrate with English subs DramaFever.com


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.

Ji Hyun Woo and Yoo In Na

Watch Queen In Hyun's Man with English subs DramaFever.com

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 DramaFever.com

6. The King of Dramas

The King of Dramas is not finished airing yet, but it is a great show and I wanted to it to my list. I was skeptical about watching it at first because he premise sounded boring and cliche to me, but I was very wrong in that assumption. This drama is exciting, hilarious, and has a subtle, sweet romantic side to it. There are only a few episodes left, and, as we all know, the ending could ruin the show (i.e. Big). I am adding this drama to the list, though, for the episodes of it that aired during 2012, and hopefully the final episodes will prove to be just as awesome.

Kim Myung Min and Jung Ryu Won

Watch The King of Dramas with English subtitles Viki.com

What were your favorite dramas of 2012?

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.

The Innocent Man (Nice Guy) Final Episode 20

Song Joong Ki as Kang Ma Roo

I feel like I can die happy after watching The Innocent Man (Nice Guy) final episode 20. I have been stressing over what tragedy will torment my beautiful Ma Roo-sshi and Eun Gi-yah when this show ends, but my fears were unfounded. I know I am being dramatic about this, but I am in a very vulnerable state right now because I literally just finished watching it. As I went back quickly and gathered a few screen caps of the final scene (through which I wept loudly) I began to cry as I watched it again. Will I be watching The Innocent Man a second time? ABSOLUTELY.

Kang Ma Roo and Moon Chae Won as Seo Eun Gi

When this episode began with Eun Gi rejecting Ma Roo's prosal to run away together, I started to feel doom. Things seemed to get worse and worse in the first half of the episode (I really loved Ma Roo's speech to Han Jae Hee about wanting to live) as Ma Roo began to look like death, and Jae Hee continued to stand her ground about not taking responsibility. That all turns around, though, as Eun Gi learns about Ma Roo's ill-health and runs to him. This is when the ending really begins. Finally, my question is answered about the tunnel collision, also. Ma Roo wanted to end his painful existence and saw a chance in Eun Gi's punishment. How these two came to find love within each other is a beautiful miracle. And I, swear on the Bible, just cried as I wrote that last sentence.

Eun Gi and Ma Roo

In the concluding scenes of this glorious final episode (Han Jae Hee turns herself in, Jae Gil and Choco end up together), we find Eun Gi working at a bakery in a beautiful spot overlooking the river and Ma Roo was a Doctor just down the street. We also discover that after Ma Roo's surgery he lost his memory (this is not the eye-rolling type of memory loss typically found in a Kdrama, it is Ma Roo's chance at a new life and what he had prayed for). Eun Gi and Ma Roo circle around each other like cautious children who have crushes, and it is so lovely to watch the innocent new relationship develop. What I love about that end is that Eun Gi, who remembers all the pain from the past, is able to forgive and trust again (a divine miracle for what she experienced), and Ma Roo is able to erase the guilt he carried for everyone throughout his whole life and find happiness. "Now, I am happy," Ma Roo says. Now, I too, am happy.

Couple rings ^__^

Also, did everyone notice he was smiling during the episode 20 intro?

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Watch The Innocent Man (Nice Guy) final episode 20 with English subtitles http://www.viki.com/channels/7995-nice-guy/videos/81649

The Innocent Man (Nice Guy) episode 19

Song Joong Ki as Kang Ma Roo

I feel like we are standing still. There is a quiet terror pacing through the veins of this show, and it keeps me on edge even if nothing much seems happen. In the first part of episode 19 of The Innocent Man (Nice Guy) Kang Ma Roo baits Han Jae Hee to turn herself in by offering himself up. My brain was expecting this at the end of episode 18, so I wasn't surprised. The scene still got a reaction from me, though, because I my heart is pained by Ma Roo's agony. He is so weighed down by the tremendous guilt he feels toward everyone (Han Jae Hee, oddly enough, Choco, Jae Gil, Eun Gi, maybe every human except himself?) that he doesn't even have the will or desire to get the surgery to save his health and life.

Kang Ma Roo

So, as Seo Eun Gi is burning inside with hatred toward Ma Roo and Han Jae Hee, Ma Roo is throwing gas on the flames. He tells Jae Hee to come to him, not for love, but out of the guilt he feels for taking responsibility for the murder. I'm sorry, but this doesn't make sense to me. I realize Ma Roo is a character in a melodrama, but asking me to believe someone would feel guilt over someone's descent into evil because of their own greed and wrongdoings is complete bullshit, even for a melodrama. Don't misunderstand me, though, I still love Ma Roo. I just can't comprehend that level of responsibility and empathy for others, I guess.

Ma Roo and Eun Gi

When this episode came to a close, Attorney Park was lying in the hospital bed for threatening to expose the truth about Eun Gi's father's death while Jae Hee, who is living in Ma Roo's old house, is claiming that she will never turn herself in until Ma Roo gives her his heart. I had naively thought that when Jae Hee realized what a pathetic person she is for allowing these men to take responsibility for her mistakes, she would choose the right path. But of course, she doesn't. I also thought that after Jae Hee demanding Ma Roo's love in exchange for taking responsibility for the murder, he would give in. Fortunately, at least at the end of the episode, he didn't hand himself over, and instead approached Eun Gi for a head-leaning-on-shoulder moment and a let's-run-far-away-together moment. Ahhhh, Kdrama cliches!

Also, I want this....

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Watch The Innocent Man (Nice Guy) episode 19 with English Subtitles http://www.viki.com/channels/7995-nice-guy/videos/81600

The Innocent Man (Nice Guy) episode 18

Song Joong Ki as Kang Ma Roo

The Innocent Man (Nice Guy) episode 18 feels like the beginning of the end. It seems as if things are starting to come to a head, and truths are about to be exposed. What I am personally looking forward to the most is the inevitable downfall of Han Jae Hee. After watching her get drunk, consider leaving everything behind for Ma Roo, and then cry on his shoulder in the park (we'll talk about that in a moment), I was feeling really angry. I understand that she is a twisted person who is desperate to escape the gutter she lived in in her past, but I think she is a complete snake, and I don't believe her words or tears. Eun Gi, on the other hand, is being completely destroyed by this ill fate.

Moon Chae Won as Seo Eun Gi

Eun Gi is trying with all her might to hate Ma Roo for using her, but she can't find the strength to overpower her heart. And, since Moon Chae Won is such an amazing actress (I love her !), the pain and the division of her heart and mind is visible in every movement Eun Gi makes and every word she speaks. When she sat on her bed listening to hers and Ma Roo's song while they both sat quietly on the phone, that's where the tears started to flow from my eyes. I know that this love story is following the typical "why can't they just be together and live normal lives and not have such a screwed up web of misunderstandings and evil people trying to separate them?" theme, but I still find myself heartbroken over the fact that Eun Gi and Ma Roo can't simply be happy together and make beautiful Korean babies together.

Ma Roo and Han Jae Hee

As the episode came to a close, I found myself feeling confused, disturbed, and queasy. I don't know what Attorney Park told Ma Roo (about Eun Gi's father's death?), but we see Jae Hee crying on his shoulder in the end. I hope that Ma Roo is plotting something to take Jae Hee down because that bitch needs to be knocked off her pedestal. Also, if I don't find out what is going on with Ma Roo's health soon, I am going to throw a BF (that's a White Chicks reference for you). Next week should bring some major drama, and answers, I hope, because the last two episodes will air!

My Picasa edit

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Watch The Innocent Man (Nice Guy) episode 18 with English subtitles http://www.viki.com/channels/7995-nice-guy

The Innocent Man (Nice Guy) episode 17

Song Joong Ki as Kang Ma Roo

Eun Gi is back! And you best believe that bitch is pissed. I have to admit, though, that I am happy she has returned. I love Moon Chae Won, but I especially love her as the bitchy Eun Gi and not so much as the air-headed Eun Gi who trusted everyone. Episode 17 of The Innocent Man (Nice Guy) is all about the wrath that Eun gi is bringing back with her returned memories. At the beginning of the episode, the last scene of episode 16 was replayed, and it still gives me chills. The whole 17th episode is frightening, though.

Moon Chae Won as Seo Eun Gi

Eun Gi's act of pretending to still be the lost and sweet girl is like watching a sociopath prepare to slaughter an entire family, and this is precisely what Eun Gi has in mind. She wants to get her revenge on the Kang Ma Roo that pretended to love her as deeply as she loved him, but slapped her across the face by telling her that he would do anything to get Jae Hee back. This whole situation has my heart ripped in two. On one side, I want to say, "you go girl" to Eun Gi because she has every right not to trust Ma Roo based on the things he said and did while she was starting to fall for him. On the other side, though, my heart aches for Ma Roo. He has had such a dismal life, and fucked up his chance at being loved by Eun Gi (at least for now?). I also feel bad for Attorney Park. He tries so hard to take care of Eun Gi, but it seems that she would crush him like a bug under her heel, if necessary.

Ma Roo and Eun Gi

Now, as for that non-existent wedding, I knew right away that Eun Gi was the one who passed the story about Ma Roo and Jae Hee on to the media. I think Ma Roo knew too. His worst fear is becoming a reality as Eun Gi becomes an angry monster seeking to destroy. Clearly, to us viewers, what she believes of Ma Roo is not the case because she is his new single-minded motivation for living. The question, for me, is: will Ma Roo want to keep living now and get the surgery? I am concerned that he will choose the wrong path and do something tragic for Eun Gi's sake. As this episode ended, Ma Roo reveals to Eun Gi that he knew she remembered everything even before the wedding. From what I can tell in the preview for episode 18, the shit has hit the fan. What Ma Roo is thinking by kissing Jae Hee, I am not sure yet, but I imagine that there will be tears.

Ma Roo

Oh, and we get to see the title in the show during this episode in Eun Gi's notebook that she used while trying to regain her memories...

The nice guy never seen anywhere in the world

My Picasa edit for this episode! Moon Chae Won is my lover ;p

Watch The Innocent Man (Nice Guy) episode 17 with English subs http://www.viki.com/channels/7995-nice-guy/videos/81304

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