Healer Review

10/10

_____________

Overall: 10/0
Story: 10/10
Characters: 10/10
Feels Factor: 10/10
Reviewer: Alyssa

 Can I possibly review this as an 11/10 for characters? 

2015 is KILLING IT so far, and I can't believe how awesome this drama was. I'm still geeking out about it! Actually, more accurately, I'm swooning over Healer. I needed something to take away the pain of Pinocchio being over, and TADA, I got a new favorite drama. Well almost number 1. Number 2? Or 3? It's hard to put kdramas on that kind of scale, but this is up there. I'll compose myself long enough to give you a full review here. 

The Bad: Honestly, nothing about this drama was bad to me. Not a single thing. Not for one moment was I bored, or frustrated, or in any way uninterested. The pace was fast the whole way through, and the life or death situations just ramped this whole thing up in intensity. 

If I HAVE to imagine something bad about this drama, maybe the situations were a little repetitive? The thing is, I loved the plot and situations so much, I didn't care one iota if the girl got kidnapped and put in danger a few times, and then we had to watch Healer kick people's butts and save her. Give me more!! I love that crap. 

Another thing that might have made me pause a bit was that the happy ending was...I don't want to say rushed, but we didn't get to soak in it a whole lot. Yes, spoiler alert, the series has a good ending. But I didn't get to see the bad guys actually get their comeuppance, so I guess that's a negative. We know they lost, and the good guys won, but we didn't get to see the whole thing go down in detail.

The Good: Let's start with the story. The whole idea of this "errand boy" spy person named Healer was just genius. Hot guy who jumps from roofs and can take down a whole gang of thugs in like 30 seconds with his bare hands? Hot. And then throw that in there with your classic "everything and everyone is connected" kdrama plot, and you've got heart, and cleverness, and intrigue all rolled up into the perfect kimbap snack. (If you watched the drama you'll find that hilarious.) 

There was enough of a supporting backstory to make the current storyline feel relevant, and enough bad guy schemes to propel the characters through the plot at an enjoyable pace. 

So moving on to characters, which was hands down the very best part of this show. Ji Chang Wook was just so gosh darn SEXY in this drama, I honestly could not get enough of watching him do...whatever it was he was doing. 

 I mean obviously his role as Healer was unbelievably smexy. I think I can confidently say he is the most swoon-worthy character I've encountered in a kdrama yet. (Yes, even put right up against Do Min Joon the alien!) Look at this guy:

But his character Seo Jung Hoo (codename: Healer), also needed to have a few alter egos. His "bumbling" nerd alter ego Park Bong Soo was so adorable, I honestly couldn't even stand it. The way he would fake being nervous, and stammer his "Y-y-yea. Yea sunbae." CUTENESS OVERLOAD.

I could go on and on about how sexy Healer was, and how they basically created the perfect guy, but I'll let you find out for yourself. 

Our leading lady Chae Yeong Shin (played by Park Min  Young) was also very likeable. Although I don't love her as much as the quirky Chun Song Yi from My Love From Another Star, or other similar leads, she was still adorable, vulnerable, and brave all at the same time. I loved watching her grow. And it was funny because she basically played the same character she portrayed in City Hunter...just better. Like a lot better!

I can't leave out my second favorite character of this show. Ahjumma. 

Hacker, wingman, knitter, and quirky but genius kick butt Ahjumma. She was hilarious, and impressive all at the same time. I am in awe of the attention to detail they put into her character, making her an integral part of the story. She wasn't just a gimmick for laughs--she was a living, breathing, crazy old lady who could take down the government if she was so inclined. I love her. 

And of course, I can't leave out the feels factor. The romance will not disappoint you. They balanced it very well, making it a source of motivation for Healer, but at the same time not allowing it to muddy the seriousness of the supporting plot. It wasn't cheesy or overdone. In fact it was surprisingly natural for something born out of roof jumping, butt kicking, and vigilante situations. Look at how tender he is with her. 

So in conclusion, this drama has it all. For me, anyway. I love a little action, a little romance, and a little intrigue all in perfect ratios. It doesn't come along very often, but I just got two killer dramas in a row this year. Score!

What I'm saying is watch it. Or rather marathon that sucker. Isn't there a three day weekend coming up? All 20 episodes are available!

If you saw Healer, what did you think? Let me know in the comments below!

Lie to Me Review

Click the pic for a synopsis!

7/10

______

Overall: 7/10 
Characters: 7/10
 Plot: 5/10
Feels Factor: 8/10
Reviewer: Alyssa 

So here's a telling thing about this drama--I can't remember it very well. I watched a few clips and refreshed my memory, but even then, I'm having a hard time coming up with the details. Why? It's a forgettable drama. That said, I did some digging to find out why I originally gave it 7 stars on my drama list. Here's what I came up with:

The Bad: That plot, though. The writing absolutely killed this drama for me, and I've seen similar reviews. It's like the writers had some good ideas for scenes they wanted in the drama, but they had a hard time building a believable plot with which to support the cute moments. The drama just sort of ambled along, strung together with cute circumstances and some pretty impressive chemistry. But what was the point of this? The cold hero (played by Kang Ji Hwan) did in fact thaw, and the leading girl did become successful in her endeavors after much struggling. I didn't dislike anyone (who could dislike Yoon Eun Hye?), but I didn't have stars in my eyes after the show was over. I found myself going, "Blah, blah, blah, can we get to that coke kiss scene already?"

 This was the drama that I could put down. The one that left me feeling a little unsatisfied, and thus drove me to watch what would then become my very favorite drama of all time--Secret Garden. So maybe I should thank Lie to Me for sending me running to the arms of my beloved Hyun Bin? We'll go with that. Which leads me to...

The Good: The chemistry was there. Although the script meandered, and the "tension" was thin, the chemistry between Kang Ji Hwan and Yoon Eun Hye was SIZZLING. Did I mention that coke kiss? 

 So even though I wasn't sure where the drama was going, or what the point of it all was, I sure enjoyed the ride. Most of it anyway. There were tender moments, and funny ones, and a few gripping plot points that made me do little marathon spurts. And that's why it got a 7 and not something lower. Those scenes that were pieced together somewhat awkwardly where so enjoyable that it was actually worth sitting through the whole thing. And believe me, there have been plenty of "must see" dramas that I just dropped. This one kept me interested through pure. scientific. chemistry. baby. 

The Ahjumma's consensus: If you're in the mood for a hard-to-get guy who is softened by a lovable, strong-willed girl, and you want some great kisses along the way, then give this one a shot. I don't think you'll be disappointed.  

 

Korean Food--Bibimbap

So let's pretend you're a kdrama character. Something has gone horribly wrong in your life, and all those looming catastrophes have finally come crashing down on your head. THE PLOT CONFLICT HURTS.

What do you do? If you were American, you might go for the tub of ice cream. But if you're a k-drama character you grab...

Bibimbap! Of course you do. 

Wait, and let's not forget one of my favorite scenes from Fated to Love You. This had me rolling. Pregnant chick sneaks into the kitchen to stuff her face, and then gets caught doing it. It didn't help that she hid under the table.

I've been curious about how this stuff tastes, because honestly, it looks amazing. It's all moist and chewy, and you can grab giant spoonfuls of it to drown your problems. So naturally, I asked my Korean friend San to help us make some, and he happily agreed that we should try it. The important thing you need--if you can find it--is the sauce that makes it that orange color. Go Ju Jang. I just happened to find it at a pricey market near my house, so we were good to go. Here's how it turned out before we mixed it all up:

Bean sprouts, mushrooms, cucumber, spinach, beef, and egg on rice

After we mixed it all up, it looked exactly like the bibimbap I saw in dramas. And man was it GOOD. Better than I imagined, actually. It's really fresh (depending on the ingredients of your choice of course. Bibimbap just means mixed rice, so if you throw goldfish and doritos in there it probably won't taste the same. Fair warning.), and the spicy go ju jang sauce gave it the perfect kick of heat. I will definitely be making this again very soon!!

Thank you San!!

I think the next food we need to try is that grilled meat that you see characters chowing down on when they're trying to get drunk.

If its good enough for adorable Mi Ho, I'm sure it's good enough for us right? ;)

If you have anything you would like to ask my friend while he's still here, please ask away! I know I've dropped him with tons of questions like, "Do you actually get naked with strangers in the bath houses?" and "On a scale of 1-Fires of Hell, how evil is your Omonii?" Kidding with that last one. His mom is adorable.

Have a great week!

My Korean Visitor!

Hey there Netizens!

No, I didn't give up on my bog a week after I created it. (Not that I've never done that...you could say I have commitment issues). Actually, I've been distracted by a visitor. And not just any visitor! I have...

A Korean Visitor!

San with my daughter, Lilianna

That's right! My friend San (shortened version of his real name to protect his privacy) flew over from Korea to visit us here in the States. He's currently trying to pass the TOEFL so he can go to college in the U.S. We all thought that maybe if he stayed in America for a month, he would advance his language skills even further. 

But more than his desire to better his English, he's here because he's our friend! It's SO FUN to exchange information with him about what is similar and different between Korea and America. He brought us a ton of delicious Korean snacks, ramen, and even chunky sweaters like they're wearing in dramas these days. He's so nice, and we're all having a great time exchanging cultural similarities and differences. He even consented to watch that new Hyun Bin drama Hyde Jekyll, Me, even though I could tell he thought it was kind of too mushy for him. He's a good sport like that.

We will post more pictures and stories later on, but for now my Kdrama fans...

Is there anything about Korea you would like to ask San? 

  

I figured it might be kind of fun if you, my fellow netizens, had the chance to ask him any questions! It's not every day you get to speak to a native Korean who was born and raised in Korea, and is visiting America. 

Let me know, and the Ahjummas will be back very soon with more reviews and fun posts!! 

 

Which Kdrama to Watch?

When someone says they want to watch a kdrama, but they don't know which one...

I've watched more than 50, and counting. Just shoot me a message peeps, and I'll help you find the right kdrama to fit your mood!

Pinocchio Review

Click the Pic for Synopsis

10/10 
  _________
 

Overall: 10/10

Characters: 10/10

 Plot: 9/10

Feels Factor: 10/10

Reviewer: Alyssa

 

Yes, you are seeing that number correctly. I gave this kdrama a perfect score! I don't do that lightly, either. For me, it was the characters and the acting that really cinched the deal, but the drama as a whole was just so smoothly written and executed. I do wonder if I might be a little amped up about it because a.) it just finished and b.) I watched it every single week religiously starting from episode one. But, then again, I wouldn't have done that if I didn't enjoy it. I'll try to give you an unbiased review. (Although really, if you're reading my reviews, you probably realize that they are skewed far away from the logical side of the spectrum, and a little closer to the amygdala of my brain if you know what I'm saying.)

The Bad: Pinocchio might not be to everyone's tastes, and here's my guess as to why (because I personally can't find much fault with it.) The beginning is a bit of a slow uptake. In fact, I actually wasn't sure if I would continue with it after episode two. Then after episode three I was hooked. Also Dal Po's hair was...wow...

Don't worry he cuts it later.

Also, this drama is very (eerily) similar to I Hear Your Voice, not only because it stars Lee Jong Suk as an intelligent but poor young man with a disturbing past, but also because the pace, intensity, and "search for answers plot" feel familiar. If you did not like I Hear Your Voice, then its probable you will not find this one terribly interesting. And the writers knew it, because guess who showed up in episode 12?

Yup, that's Lawyer Cha from I Hear Your Voice! I got up from the couch and actually whooped and did a ridiculous GEEK OUT dance when I realized they had done a show cross over. He acted as lawyer for one of the main characters in Pinocchio.

Wait why is this in the bad section? Oh right, in case your heart is made of stone and you didn't like I Hear Your Voice and the charming Lawyer Cha.

One other downside might be that this plot centers around reporters instead of detectives, and they aren't exactly out to put people behind bars. It's more about reputation and honor than life and death--although there's plenty of life and death situations regardless. And the middle dragged a little bit for me when the main characters did that thing where they had to pretend they didn't love each other. Classic kdrama move. 

The Good: I'll start with the characters. The main girl, In Ha, was played by the very famous Park Shin Hye. Now, I'm not (or wasn't) a fan of Ms. Park, so I was unsure going into this drama. I mean, have you seen how she kisses? It looks like she's in pain.

But imagine my shock when Park Shin Hye not only played her role as In Ha to perfection (including realistic looking hiccups every time she lied. Props for that.), but she delivered some FABULOUSLY romantic kisses with her leading man!

Not one or two, but several kisses at that. One of the things I loved best about this drama was its ability to balance the intensity of its gripping plot with the sweet romance that we all wanted to see. They managed to focus on both without detracting from either one.

As for the plot, let me throw this out there. What if there was a plot based not on misunderstanding, lies, and near misses, but on truth, the consequences of making good decisions, and the struggle to be honest with those around you? TA DA. I give you Pinocchio. This was the opposite of the plot line that I hate the most. I detest lies and misunderstandings used as conflict. What I found incredibly intriguing was conflict that came from the main characters always choosing the right path, but having to deal with the ripples those steadfast morals caused. Fascinating, and absolutely refreshing to me.

I would love to see more heroes and heroines being honest with each other, and facing their problems head on like In Ha and Dal Po did. Right on, guys!

In the end, its all about the feels factor. For me, this drama gave me all the right emotions, and I was left satisfied and even triumphant on behalf of the characters.

My final opinion: If you're human, you've got to like this one.

I Hear Your Voice Review

Click the Pic for Synopsis

 9/10

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Overall: 9/10

Characters: 9/10

Plot: 9/10

Feels Factor: 9/10

Reviewer: Alyssa

 This is one of those incredibly solid, satisfying dramas that totally deserves all the hype it got. I remember watching this, and being on the edge of my seat for almost all of it. This is one I would call a BUTT CLENCHER.

The Bad: It might be a little bit slow to start. You have to invest at least two or three episodes into this drama in the beginning before it fully hooks your interest. Not that it's boring in the beginning, but there's a lot of set-up that has to take place, and all of it is important.

Another downside, since there is a lot of legal drama involved here, is you can't really know if this is entirely plausible plot-wise or not. I kept getting this feeling like maybe they were making up laws and stuff. I was suspicious of that.

But since I can't say for sure, it really didn't bother me that much. They probably made up stuff. Who knows? (More to the point, who cares?) It's not like I watch dramas for their gritty portrayal of the real world.

Another downside for me that made it just too hard to give it a 10 (even though I was really very tempted), was the rare skinship. I mean, these two lived together, and they obviously liked each other. But it wasn't until the very very end that they started to hug and stuff, and I just wish there was a teensy bit more of it.

And lastly, I had to get over my aversion to the noona romance. This was my first noona romance, and it wigged me out that not only was the leading lady quite a bit older than the main guy, but he was still in...High School...

They pulled it off somehow, and then I got over it because our main man, Park Soo Ha, was such a capable guy that the age difference sort of melted into the background.

The Good: First and foremost, Lee Jong Suk completely impressed me. He played the part of Park Soo Ha so well, and I sort of actor stalked him after this because I was so pleasantly surprised by his acting. I remembered him from his small role in Secret Garden, but I guess he matured a lot since then! His chemistry with Lee Bo Young (who plays Jang Hye Sung)  turned out to be entrancing.

I liked that Park Soo Ha loved and respected Jang Hye Sung for many years before he met up with her again. Not only that, but she was the cold one, and he was the character that needed to thaw her out and bring out her compassionate side again. That felt really different and fun to me!

Oh, and I can't believe I haven't mentioned it yet, but Park Soo Ha can hear peoples thoughts. He can read minds, yo! How cool is that? If a writer throws in a supernatural element to a drama, then chances are I'll be all over it. And if you're anything like me, then you're probably thinking, "Well what kind of antagonist could present a challenge against a guy who can read minds?"

My friends, I give you this guy.

 He ramped up the villain creep level to 11. THIS. GUY. is so dastardly, I actually convulsed on the couch in outrage several times. And it was brilliant! (His acting. Not my convulsing.) I don't know about anyone else, but this is an antagonist that will always stick out in my mind are particularly evil. He made an impression on me, and he's the reason this drama flew by at an incredibly speedy pace. From start to finish, I had to find out what would happen, and if our two main characters could overcome the obstacles.

Also, I canot forget that Yoon Sang Hyun played an entertaining character as well.

If you've seen Secret Garden, then you'll be like me and shout "OSKA!!!" at the screen.

In the end, this drama turned out to have basically everything I could ask for. Action, supernatural abilities, romance, and a well-written script.

My verdict is that you have to watch it. It's entertainment at its best!