Skip-beat!

Other title: Extravagant Challenge
Taiwanese title: 華麗的挑戰

Aired on FTV, GTV
December 2011 - April 2012
15 episodes


Main cast:

• Ivy Chen as Gong Xi 宮囍
• Choi Si Won as Dun He Lian 敦賀蓮 (dubbed by Xie Kun Da ep.1-2, Nylon Chen ep.3-)
• Lee Dong Hae as Bu Puo Shang 不破尚 (dubbed by Darren from 浪花兄弟The Drifters)
• Bianca Bai as Jiang Nan Qin 江南琴
• Jin Qin as Du Jin 杜金
• Ada Pan (潘慧如) as Yuan Yang 鴦鴦
• Allen Chao as Luo Li 羅

Notes:
1) I haven't read the manga this drama is based on and I haven't seen its anime adaptation.
2) Both male leads are from the boy band Super Junior.

Review: +

Title: I'm not sure what Skip-beat! is about. I can get Extravagant challenge since the Girl sets out to succeed in the entertainment.

Girl: Kick-a. She's kind and selfless. She's also really determined in achieving her goal. She's a naturally gifted actress and we can see it instead of only being told she is. Kudos to Ivy Chen because she nailed the bubliness of Gong Xi and her seriousness when she's acting. (+) At first, I was annoyed but then I got used to and she was developed so I ended up not caring that she is the kind of character that is totally unrealistic. She acts crazy. Mini CGI Gong Xi ghosts actually materialise when she gets in angry/want something mode!

Boy: We don't know much about him. We just know he's a great actor, he's very serious about his work and slams whoever he thinks is not. He's cool and keeps things for himself. However, when he opens up, he's quite cute. (+)

Relationship: Believable and cute. You know when in the review of Heartstrings, I said that the falling in love was too sudden and unearned? Here, it's really gradual, progressing touch by touch. (+)

Plot: The relationship isn't the main story: Gong Xi's journey is. I must say that you can see that it was adapted from a manga because you notice the big arcs and the transitions in between. As such, the journey consists mainly but not exclusively of challenges that Gong Xi takes up one after another. Likewise, secondary characters appear for an arc and then either are never heard of again or just randomly pop up at one point. This is more a remark than a criticism. Besides, the arcs are really interesting. I'm not sure it depicts accurately the way it is in real life but it makes acting as suspenseful as a life or death situation. It even makes want to see the imaginary final product (movie or music video). Finally, each acting challenge feels different form the one before. (+)

But a real problem stems in part from the fact that it is adapted from an ongoing manga and doesn't cover all of it. Though the end is okay as for the state of the relationship between the leads, there is a revelation near the end of the drama that is quite important but hasn't been developed or resolved by the end. I wonder if they could have avoided introducing it because it was frustrating.

I have another beef with the drama, it may be the one that made me give it a + and not a Fav: a great deal is made about characters not being able to LOVE. I could bear it but it was a bit annoying because it didn't make much sense to me. Actually, I can understand it in Gong Xi's case, because it was given a reason (though she's capable of love but not of the romantic kind, which is kind of weird). But other characters are also deemed unable to love which comes out of nowhere and is not properly explained. It could have interesting to explore why they didn't want to love but being unable to love? And for these other characters, it seem that it's not only romantic love... Confused? Well, it was confusing. (-)

Other characters: Most of them were great. I will only talk about the main ones.
1) The other boy. Gong Xi's ex-boyfriend who exploited her. He's the one who is the origin of the whole premise. His main characteristic is that he is self-absorbed and so is a douche. But in the end, they managed making him a little likeable. (+)
2) (Slight spoiler. Underline to see) The rival who slowly becomes the best friend. Her transformation from confident, no-nonsense, every-actress-for-herself to reluctant companion then BFF is well handled. She just has one pointless storyline. (+)
3) Boy's MANAGER!!! Sorry for the all-caps but he stole the scenes he was in. He was cute, funny, kind. (+)
4) The President of the entertainment company. He can afford every excentricity and believe me, he doesn't hold back! He doesn't know what too much means. It's amazing, you have to see it. However, I didn't like this character at all. I don't know if it is bad translation but I didn't get the meaning of most of what he says, maybe it's linked to the fact that he has to do with the whole "unable to love" thing. (-)

Funny factor: Pretty good. I will need to watch it again to be more precise.

Music: Two words. Love. Want.

Bottom line: Writing this review, I realise that I may want to watch it again. Perhaps, I will then bump the mark up to Fav. I would recommend it. The actors are all great (though the dubbing is annoying), the plot is exciting and suspenseful and it's cute.
If there is a second season, I will update this post and I could change the mark too.


Spoilers after the jump! I actually don't have much to add.

Secret Garden

Korean title: 시크릿 가든

Aired on SBS - Winter 2010/11 - 20 episodes

Main cast:

Hyun Bin as Kim Joo Won

Ha Ji Won as Gil Ra Im

Yoon Sang Hyun as Choi Woo Young/Oska

Kim Sa Rang as Yoon Seul

Lee Philip as Im Jong Soo

Lee Jong Suk as Han Tae Ssun

Yoo In Na as Im Ah Young

Kim Ji Sook as Moon Yeon Hong

Park Joon Geum as Moon Boon Hong

Kim Sung Oh as Kim Sung Woo

In supporting parts:
Hello "Bad guy" from Capital Scandal!
Hello "Director's friend" from Heartstrings! :)

[2020 July 18th edit : I just did a rewatch, and I have thoughts. I'll just add them in italics. My perspective have changed in 8 (!) years and I'm less enthused.]

Review: +

Title: I think it refers to the name of a place in a drama but I don't think it matches the drama.

Girl: Kick-a. Like, literally. She's a stuntwoman and it's glorious to watch the action scenes. She also has a cute side and the actress does a great job. I used to not get "girl crush" but now I do :). (+)

Other girl: I like her but I don't really know what to think of her. Is she supposed to be nice or mean? Is she doing everything out of resentment? (-) [Bizarrely, I actually like her more now and I understand her motivations. It's not her fault that she is trapped in a bad storyline.]

Boy: Arrogant and cute. He has his weaknesses and quirks which is sometimes funny and also gives him some personality. (+) [As someone who is now in the workplace and who know people who got severely depressed after being harassed at work, I was uncomfortable with how badly Boy treats his employees. Moreover, he's never really called out on it and never apologise for it or shown to have changed his ways.]

Other boy: As I said in another review, I don't know what is my problem with the actor Yoon Sang Hyun. He's a good actor and everything but... there's just something off. Anyway, back to more objective remarks: his character is interesting. He's funny (like saying cheesy things and being self-aware about it) and non-confident while being a huge star. Also, I really like his relationship with Boy. [I like him less now. I feel that he only has two modes: screaming and moping. It's too bad because his character of an aging Hallyu star, like Girl's, is not common in dramas.]

Relationships: The main couple has an insanely hot chemistry. Just for them, it was almost a Fav. (I think I remember from Sam-Soon that Hyun Bin is good with chemistry.) Anyway, it makes possible to overlook some of the stalkerish and borderline offensive stuff happening because it's obvious that she is sensitive to his courting. Their dynamic is at the same time cute and hot. (+) [This is the biggest change after my rewatch, I felt less chemistry and was more sensitive to the lack of respect for physical boundaries and the possessiveness. I kept thinking: "what if someone behaved that way with me, I would hate it." It only works if you watch it as fairytale like.]

Alas, there is another relationship happening at the same time... and I don't know what to make of this one. It's too melodramatic, it's simultaneously clear and not clear why they broke up and it's devoid of chemistry. I didn't care about them. Also a lot of their story is showed in flash-backs, not in chronological order, so it doesn't help to understand their relationship. (-) [This hasn't changed. This relationship is still a disaster. I forwarded almost all their scenes. I also realised that there is no progress, no evolution whatsoever between them for a good part of the runtime.]

Plot: The plot with the main couple is great. I love it, I love almost everything that happens. I can't really develop because I don't want to spoil and it's a drama for which spoilers should be avoided. (+)
But I didn't like the storyline with the mother. Not only it is a cliché (something I can be OK with if done properly) but it was annoyingly repetitive. (-) [This bothered me less now.]
The storyline with Other boy was okay. But I didn't find it as engaging as the main storyline.

Other characters: Family: I didn't have any interest in his family. As I said, it is one weakness of this drama. Friends: Very good. All of them were funny and nice. Bad guy: There isn't any bad guy per se, but I like the character that is the closest to being one.

Funny factor: Pretty good. Characters and situations and recurring jokes.

Music: It was ok. [On rewatch, I noticed the musical theme associated to the other main relationship and disliked it.]

Bottom line: I so wanted this drama to become one of my Fav! Because I loved the main couple and their story. Unfortunately, a not-so-great B-storyline/couple and an annoying, repetitive plot device with the mother makes it only a Plus. (Which is also good). I would recommend watching it and fast-forward some scenes. ;)
[I still really like this drama !! Its strengths: it's funny, there are strong characters (though some are kinda wasted), there are surprises (I won't reveal any of them though one is spoiled in every synopsis) and the end is satisfying.]


After the jump, a more complete review with spoilers!

Marrying a Millionaire

Other Title: To Marry a Millionaire
Korean Title: 백만장자와 결혼하기

Aired on SBS - Winter 2005 - 16 episodes

Main cast:

Kim Hyun Joo as Han Eun Young

Go Soo as Kim Young Hoon

Yoon Sang Hyun as Yoo Jin Ha

Son Tae Young as Jung Soo Min

Jung Jin as Jung Sung Shik

Rating (from memory): -/+

Title: Makes sense. It's the name of the real-TV show that is prominent in the drama.

Girl: For me, she's the biggest weakness of the drama. I hated her the first time I watched it. It was better the second time. On the paper, she's good: she works hard to support her loser family but I think I have a problem with this actress because even when she's supposed to be nice, I get mean vibes. (-)

Other girl: (Hello love square!) I like her. She's doing bad things to prevent the main couple to get together but she's soft and I buy her love. She knows what she wants.

Boy: He manages to be cute and hot. He's a rare type of lead and I want to praise the actor (Go Soo) for making him work. He's hard-working, loyal to his family but he also lacks confidence. He has a complex for not being intellectually bright. But he's so eager and yes, charismatic that you can't help but cheer for him. (+)

Other boy: I don't really like the actor so it's harder to like his character. And... I don't remember much about him so...

Relationships: The building to the love square is good. (+) But I have some qualms about the main relationship. His love seems childish and it makes him kind of childish too and her appear as a meanie. Why does he love her again? (-) I wasn't as struck by it on a second viewing and that's why this drama is not a Minus. Also it gets better.

Other characters: Her family is annoying but then her step-mother gets some depth and her step-sister is a comical relief. The sidekicks are pretty funny too. His family... well, I want to slap his older brother but his younger brother is cute. His relationship with his family is slightly interesting. The bad guy is a good sneaky bitter rival (the actor helps too)- I don't like him but I'm not annoyed by him.

Music: It hasn't stuck with me.
Funny factor: Apart from some minor character, not really.

Other points: Parts of the drama take place in France and they really shot there so it's nice!
It's also interesting to see the world of behind-the-scenes in the drama.

Bottom line: Plot is good, there are some clever ideas, Kim Young Hoon is a great character BUT I found myself more engrossed in his story and growth than in his relationship with Han Eun Young. It's still enjoyable but when a romance drama doesn't make you root for the main couple, it can't be a Plus.


Some more thoughts (not much) after the jump!

Love Contract

Taiwanese title: 愛情合約 (爱情合约)

Aired on TVBS-G
Summer 2004
20 episodes

Main cast:

Ariel Lin as Cheng Xiao Feng

Mike He as Ah Ken aka Liu Jian Dong

Bryant Chang as Ah Kai aka Lin Kai

Sa Sa as Li Xin Lei

Lai Zhi Wei as Xiao Bai aka Zhang Yuan Bao

Lin Yi Hong as Mu Tou aka Lin Song Bo

Phyllis Quek as Cheng Xiao Yun

Review (from memory): -

Title: "Love contract" makes sense, there is a love contract in this drama. I don't know about the Chinese title.

Girl: Xiao Feng is definitely strong. She's also very complex and sometimes, it's hard to understand her. She's hard on people and though deep down she cares about them, she is so bossy that I wondered how she still has friends.

Boy: I think Mike He is one of the most handsome drama actors. His character Ah Ken is the dreamy silent, taciturn type.

Relationship: Believable and interesting. They both are people that are hurt and don't open much to others and it's beautiful to see their love blossom despite her efforts.

Friends: He doesn't have many friends but she has. I liked all of them except the one who pined for her. I wish he didn't. It made him pathetic.

Family: Her family is a mess and that's one of the explanations for how she is. His family, well, is a tragic story.

Music: I forgot about it. It doesn't mean it was bad since I watched it a long time ago.
Funny factor: Some of her friends are an occasional comical relief but it's not a comedy.

Bottom line: Most of the things I said are positive because it's mostly a GOOD drama. But it's a drama that is permeated by sadness and melancholia. You have a sense that most of the characters are unhappy. They live because that's how it is.

After the jump, I explain more what I disliked. Don't look if you don't want to be spoiled.

Heartstrings

Other title: You've fallen for me

Korean title: 넌 내게 반했어

Aired on MBC - Summer 2011- 15 episodes

Main cast:

Jung Yong Hwa as Lee Shin

Park Shin Hye as Lee Kyu Won

Song Chang Ui as Kim Suk Hyun

So Yi Hyun as Jung Yoon Soo

Woo Ri as Han Hee Joo

Kang Min Hyuk as Yeo Joon Hee

Lee Hyun Jun as Hyun Ki Young

Im Se Mi as Cha Bo Woon

Review:  -/+

Title: Makes sense :"You've fallen for me" is the name of a song featured and "Heartstrings", well, there are romance and music.

Girl: She's kind, talented. She starts "amazing"(+) then unfortunately becomes "annoying"(-). It's ironic because the main supporting female character starts "annoying" then becomes great.

Boy(s): I want him! Them. The male leads are handsome (yes, I know it's not a surprise) and have a pretty voice. Despite some inconsistency in how Lee Shin is portrayed, he is basically perfect. And Kim Suk Hyun is just awesome. Awesome.

Relationship: The falling in/out of love wasn't very well-handled (-) but some very common cliches were avoided which was great and original (+).

Other characters: There are A LOT of other characters. Most of them are interesting (+) but they get backstories in a way that made me keep waiting for when this will get important in the plot and it never happens. So it feels like a waste of time (-).

Also (-) for the bad guy. He has a backstory and is good at hindering the main characters but something doesn't work with him. In the end, he's just not compelling. He's pathetic and it's not even tragic.

Music: Gimme the OST. (+) Bonus: Korean traditional instruments. Their sound is beautiful.

Funny factor? It's funnier than most "comedy/romance" dramas. I actually laugh several times. There are many good comical characters and also some recurring jokes that work. (+)

Bottom line: This drama had so much potential: The characters are interesting and mostly cleverly developed, it's funny, it's original and I love the musical set-up storyline BUT besides the issues I already mentioned, there is a late development that is so unnecessary that it feels like it was a blatant way to fill another episode (so annoying) and I wish the set-up of the musical was more prominent.

It's not a drama I couldn't stop watching but at least I finished it. Also episode 7 is a drag. If you watch this drama, I think you'll like it and laugh and swoon but don't expect too much and be prepared to be mildly annoyed by the plot and the characters.

 

After the jump, there is a review for people who have watched it.

How I review

The titles, cast and other general information are from DramaWiki.

How I will rate:

DNF: Did Not Finish. Could be because I got busy but if I didn't bother to finish it, it was probably because I didn't like it very much anyway. However, it does not mean that it's worse than a Minus.
- Minus: I did not like it.
-/+ Minus/Plus: It was okay. I liked it but it had issues.
+ Plus: I liked it.
++ Plus Plus or Fav: One of my all-stars. A favourite of mine. I love it. It was great. Do I need to go on? I could! However, it does not mean that it's perfect and that everyone will love it. It won't be a masterpiece. But, in the end, it works.

Criteria:

Title: just for fun, it does not bear on the rating but sometimes I just don't get it.
Girl: Annoying (weak and whiny) or Amazing (kickass)? and Other Girl (if relevant)
Boy: Why does she like him? or I want him! and Other Boy (if relevant)
Relationship and/or Plot: Credible? Interesting? Bad clichés?
Other characters: Awful/great family? Friends? Bad guy?
Music: Forgettable or OMG what's the name of that song and where can I find it, I want to listen to it all day for the rest of my life??
Funny factor? Coz I like funny.
Bottom line: Random stuff I haven't mentioned and a conclusion.

And of course, after the jump, a more detailed review with spoilers for people who did watch the drama.


You will notice that I don't provide a synopsis. One of the reasons are that official synopsis are often bad (my opinion) and don't help to make a decision about watching it or not. Second, it can make you have some prejudice. For example, I didn't want to watch Buzzer Beat because I have no interest in basketball (yes, it was stupid!). Ultimately, I think I don't care about what are these people's jobs or what's the premise as long as the execution is good, the plot well done, the main characters likable, well, you know the criteria...


I also have to say that I will review dramas that I watched some time ago therefore these ones won't be as precise as the "new" ones. I will always mention when I review from memory.

How do I choose a drama?

This is often hard. What I usually do:

First, I look at the most watched or the best rated or the suggestions on Asian dramas sites.
Then, I look at the genre and at the synopsis (which is often quite bad and doesn't give you any idea at all but whatever).

At one point, I got obsessed with an actor (maybe you'll guess which one from my drama list ;) ) and started watching dramas because he was in them. That's another technique.