Lucifer (4.5)

It all started when young Hae In touched a ball that bounced on her way. She discovered then that she was different from others- special- when she saw images of a young man being stabbed. She didn't saw the face of the attacker, only of the victim. She was the first to run to the crime scene but when she reported what she saw to the police, they didnt believe her. She learned then not all can accept her 'gifts'.

Twelve years later, Detectives Kang Oh Soo (Uhm Tae Woong) received an anonymous delivery containing a 'judgement' tarot card and his family's lawyer-who received the same card- was murdered. His senior brought him to meet Seo Hae In (Shim Min Ah) to get inside help of the criminal minds. Oh Soo investigation led him to the incidents that happened twelve years ago, and one by one the person in that case were brought together. Oh Seung Ha (Joo Ji Hoon) was a successful attorney, he sometimes take pro bono cases and help his underprivileged clients.

This is another revenge story about two men who were predestined to confront each other over a tragic incident that happened when they were young. It strongly emphasize that in this world although God predetermined our fate, but mankind have the chance to change his destiny, by making the right decision. The choices we made in our single step, although it start as a small ripple in the water, can became a wave that change the shores. There was no clearcut who was the good guy and who the bad was, everyone of us are capable to do the same act given the circumstances. Then, there is the issue of forgiveness, is it forgivable if it was unintentional, an accident?

The first three murder was so ridiculous to be orchestrated by an outsiders. Many scenarios could happen- not the one planned- and for the first two victims he didnt give them a chance to redeem themselves. To me rather than appear cold and calculating, Joo Ji Hoon appear to be so wooden, yeah like a wooden puppet in a wire, with only blank face. The only time I applaud his acting skills was when he try to keep him his blank face in check, and try not to cry or appear sad. He didnt impress me much in Goong, I hope in future he would take more challenging character, more carefree and doesnt walk as if he had a stick tied to his back. I dont know why he received praises for this drama, did I miss some episodes, some scenes??? While Uhm Tae Woong was a vast improvement from Resurrection. This drama makes me think, whose life is worse, Seung Ha with hatred and revenge in mind or Oh Soo with guilt forever haunting him? I think I would rather live with hatred rather than guilt...

Spoiler Alert!!!!

It takes no genius to guess the ending of the drama though, you know both lead character will have to die. But unlike Memories in Bali, I like the ending scenes. Seung Ha saying that it isnt Oh Soo he couldnt forgive anymore, its himself; and Oh Soo pleading to Seung Ha to live life to the fullest. I pity Hae In, who like 12 years ago was the first one to found them. Her gifts is meaningless in that she couldnt save any life, not even the two guys she cared about.

• Name: 엄태웅 / Uhm Tae Woong (Eom Tae Woong)
• Birthdate: 1975-Apr-05
• Height: 181cm
• Weight: 70kg
• Star sign: Aries
  

• Name: 주지훈 / Joo Ji Hoon (Ju Ji Hun)
• Real name: Ju Young Hoon
• Birthdate: 1982-May-16
• Birthplace: South Korea
• Height: 187cm
• Weight: 68kg
• Star sign: Taurus

Name: 서준영 / Suh Joon Young (Seo Jun Yeong)
Real name: 김상구 / Kim Sang Goo
Birthdate: 1987-Apr-24
Height: 178cm
Weight: 65kg
Star sign: Taurus

Get Karl! Oh Soo Jung (3.5)

Oh Soo Jung (Uhm Jung Hwa) was popular since high school because of her beauty. She can pick anyone to marry but she choose Go Man Soo (Oh Ji Ho) - a fat guy - who has passed the two test to become a lawyer. On the day of their wedding Man Soo informed Soo Jung that he had failed the third test, but he will try again next year. However, Soo Jung decided to run away from the wedding and accept another of her beau offer - to go and study abroad with him. She called up Man Soo from the airport and when Man Soo said he will die without her, her answer was simple, 'then go to hell'.

Eight years later, Soo Jung was found running a custom made jewellery shop for an absentee owner. She was still single and looking for a suitable husband candidate. But those who met her requirement wouldnt want a 35 years old spinster, they prefer younger woman. Soo Jung found out that Man Soo had come back to Korean and was now a rich world renown golf player. Soo Jung decided to get back with the now slim and handsome Man Soo. She told him that she was still in love with him. Man Soo, knowing her materialistic tendency and was 'once bitten, twice shy' decided to test Soo Jung. He would like to find a wife who was with him for richer and poor. He hired his agent's cousin, Jung Woo Tak (Kang Sung Jin) to become his rich sponsor and to seduce Soo Jung away from him. He told Soo Jung he was in a lot of debts now. Soo Jung change face, she was so shameless that she even ask for Man Soo's help in getting to be Woo Tak's bride. Man Soo was so mad, that he told Woo Tak to get Soo Jung to agree to marry him and then abandon her in the altar, just like she did to him 8 years ago.

There is also Yook Dae Soon (Park Da An), Soo Jung's assistant and who she brought to live with her. (The first inkling that underneath the tough exterior hide a soft heart). She was at first a non-looker, always humble and then Man Soo came and being kind to her, it awaken the ambition to be his wife. I was rooting for her at the start, but when she became manipulatuve and deceitful in order to attain her goal, then sorry! she became the skinny b*%#^ who wont get her happy ending. The later half of the series start to show why Soo Jung became the cold materialistic person she was. You start to sympathize with her, identify with her, that you would do the same if in her shoes.

Hmmm...wat am i saying? That I could be like Soo Jung, hurting the person I love for money, would never be like Dae Soon, doing every underhanded things I could to get the person I love? Euwww... to simplify things like that, it doesnt sound nice

The first time I saw Oh Ji Ho was in Autumn Shower, his look is so different from other typical korean drama heroes. So dashing, so mature and then there are his dimples! Truthfully, in real life if I saw a guy with chinese/korean/japanese eyes I wont find them attractive - it's just that when they smiles, their eyes dissappear!!!! But on TV, they look fine... even super fine for some
Oh..I really like Soo Jung's younger brother (Ahn Yong Joon), he's such an adorable pest ^_^ I think he's going to be one of the top leading men in future korean drama.

Flowers for My Life (5)

I had no desire to buy and watch this drama when I saw it on shop's shelf. I pick up the boxset, read the synopsis and put it back. The hero had a terminal disease. I dont want to watch another sad sappy Autumn in My Heart. But then I read Dramabean's blog, on how hugh she rated this drama, how satisfying it is. So after I finished up Evasive Inquiry Agency, I called up the cds shop in Kiulap and told them to save this boxset for me ^_^ After H.I.T, I'm their most loyal customer- you couldnt find any better deals anywhere else...

The story started with Na Ha Na who since she was still young and dont know the use of money was already in love with money. Since her father run a funeral parlour, death dont affect her much, to her its just a business venture for her family. She went to Seoul in search of her fortune and there she found out the fastest way to get large sums would be to marry a young bachelor who is gonna die soon and inherit everything.Where else to handpick this bachelors but in a hospital? I love the way Hana single minded purpose and how focus she was in obtaining her goal. She study to be a nurse and there she met Yoon Ho Sang.

Yoon Ho Sang led an aimless and troublesome life. He landed his family in a poorhouse because he become a guarantor to his friend who couldnt pay up. While he's working as deliveryman, he met Wang Dae Park, a rich guy who asked him to change identity with him for awhile and stay in the hospital. But Wang Dae Park died trying to save a child that night. Not knowing the fate of the person who he was impersoanting, Ho Sang stay in the hospital and done some medical checkup. There the doctors found out that he had Pancreatic Cancer, a silent and slow killer. Before the doctor can tell him that, Ho Sang check himself out of the hospital.

Going home to met his mother, he found out that they are holding a funeral for him. His family received a house as compensation for saving a child's life. Thinking only by him being dead, that he could contribute something for his family at last, he decided to remain dead. He planned to met the girl he had a crush during his schooldays. She lived outside Seoul, Chuncheon to be exact.

Hana mistakenly thinking he was a rich guy, follows him. It turned out Chuncheon was her hometown. Several incidents led to Ho Sang have to stay and work at Hana's father funeral parlour. Also working there was Go Eun Tak, a young man with a purpose of his own. It was funny at first how the two guys trying to dump Hana on each other, but later on both fall for Hana. I do think that the second hero and heroine was much more good looking than the leads, but still I dont think it will suit them to switch roles ^_^ Its just that Kang Hye Jung looks so young that she can be mistaken for a teenager

It was touching to see even when her motives was materialistic how earnest Hana was in taking care of Ho Sang. What I really like about this drama is it just didnt potray sadness and helplessness too much. Ho Sang wasnt self-pitying himself, he was not distress. He was more worried about his loved ones that he will leave behind. At one moment it makes me laugh, and another shed tears. I dont know how to put it in words on how much I like this drama (maybe if you read Dramabeans' blog ( http://www.dramabeans.com/2007/05/flowers-for-my-life-i-came-in-search-of-flowers/ ) it would make more sense), or maybe I am biased because I can relate to this in real life.

Name: 차태현 / Cha Tae Hyun (Cha Tae Hyeon)
Profession: Actor and singer
Birthdate: 1976-Mar-25
Birthplace: Seoul, South Korea
Height: 175cm
Weight: 65kg

Name: 강혜정 / Kang Hye Jung (Kang Hye Jeong)
Profession: Actress
Birthdate: 1982-Jan-04
Birthplace: South Korea
Height: 160cm
Weight: 46kg

Name: 김지훈 / Kim Ji Hoon
Profession: Actor
Birthdate: 1981-May-09
Birthplace: South Korea
Height: 177cm
Weight: 61kg

Name: 공현주 / Gong Hyun Joo (Kong Hyeon Ju)
Profession: Actress
Birthdate: 1984-Jan-07
Height: 171cm
Star sign: Capricorn

Three Daddy and One Mom (Ep 3 and 4)

Name: 조현재 / Jo Hyun Jae (Jo Hyeon Jae)
Profession: Actor
Birthdate: 1980-May-09
Height: 181cm
Weight: 65kg
Star sign: Taurus
Blood type: A

Name: 재희 / Jae Hee (Jae Hui)
Real name: 이현균 / Lee Hyun Kyoon (Lee Hyeon Gyun)
Profession: Actor
Birthdate: 1980-May-25
Height: 178cm
Weight: 63kg
Star sign: Gemini
Blood type: O

Name: 신성록 / Shin Sung Rok (Sin Seong Rok)
Profession: Actor and singer
Birthdate: 1982-Nov-23
Height: 185cm
Weight: 78kg
Star sign: Sagittarius
Blood type: A

Name: 유진 / Yoo Jin (Yu Jin)
Real name: 김유진 / Kim Yoo Jin (Kim Yu Jin)
Nickname: Panda
Profession: Singer and actress
Birthdate: 1981-Mar-03
Birthplace: Seoul, South Korea
Height: 160cm
Weight: 47kg
Star sign: Pisces
Blood type: A+

Hahah....thought Shin Sung Rok will be the oldest, but he was the youngest of them all!

Episode 3 - After founding about the tape, they try to subtlely advise Na Young to have an abortion but Na Young wouldnt hear of it. Na Young was checking her finances and found out her late husband had make a large withdrawal on the day of his death. She asked his freinds if they borrowed money from him and they told her they didnt. She also found out that she wont receive any work insurance from her late husband's company she he died on his off day. That makes her curious more because he told her he had to go for work-related issue. Seeing that her finances is depleting, she went out in search of work, and found a job selling children books door-to-door. She wasnt successful in selling a single book, in fact she fainted at the end of the day. She was rushed to the hospital and the 3 guys feels so guilty about taking less care of Na Young that they agreed to secretly pooled their money to raise the baby. Kyung Tae asks his mother advise about what nourishment foods for pregnant women, Gwang Hee asks advise from pregnant woman he met in subway train, the three of them cleaned her apartment and decorate it to welcome her Na Young home from the hospital. They recorded a lullaby song for the baby that Song Min intends to do. They take turn accompanying na Young to pre-natal classes, which they registered for her. Then, Na Young calls them in the middle of the night when she thought that she was due to give birth!!!

Owh..Su Hyun found out that his manager's has a daughter who own an art gallery. He try to attract her attention by going to the gallery and act like he know a thing about art, but in the end only making a fool of himself ^_^ He's so adorable even when is being stingy. Hehe..he warned Na Young to get healthy and give birth normally, cause a c-section costs is more expansive and then he was peeling a pear for Na Young, and eat off from the skin, which he had peeled too thick.

Episode 4 - Started with the nurse telling them its only false alarm. Na Young was several days past her due date and she started to get worried. And when she experiencing some pain, she hesitated to call the guys again, scared that it will be another false alarm. So she took a taxi and the taxi driver took her to neaby hospital (which just opened! with nervous doctors and nurses!)

The birthing scenes engrossed the whole restaurant (We were celebrating my nephew's birthday at a restaurant and I asked the waitress to change their tv channel to KBS ^_^). Finally, the baby was born, a cute baby girl! Sigh...it makes me want a baby of my own! I try to find a picture of the baby but couldnt find one....

Evasive Inquiry Agency (3.8)

Hmmm...this is the first time that I'm lost for words on how to describe a kdrama. Evasive Inquiry Agency aka Sloppy Inquiry Agency was not addictive that it makes you cant wait for what's next in the next episodes, but its not boring jua - coz its not your typical korean drama with its love-triangle-compliaction and stuffs.Ok, lets try this...in a neighbourhood lived Moo Yeol (Lee Min Ki), a taekwondo instructor; Yong Soo (Ryu Seung Soo) a comic book shop owner and Hee Kyung (Ye Ji Won) a fortune teller/tarot card master. Something comes up that makes Moo Yeol and Yong Soo accompanied Hee Kyung to an abandoned basement apartment in their neighbourhood to evict the restless spirit who lived there. Accidently, they found gold bars in a leaf shaped and a corpse of a grave thief. This brought Eun Jae (Lee Eun Song) to them. Eun Jae was claustrophobic and had blocked childhood memories of that place that she wants to regain back. Her father, who owns the construction company that build the building had died when she was 10, and she become the squabble between her uncles who wants control of her fortune -thus she becomes a cold and distant person. she hired the three of them to investigate the treasure myth about the hidden gold leaves.
Moo Yeol falls in love with Eun Jae at first sight that he would do anything for her. Yong Soo is a lazybums who passes his days with no dreams nor hopes but gets involved in the gold hunting simply for fun. He actually get this way, because the prodigal son, his brother disappeared 17 years ago on his birthday to buy him a cake. His mother blames him and pushes him away, and he also blames himself and in a way punishing himself by living not to his full potential. While Hee Kyung was fake a 'ghost whisperer' and unlucky in love. During the investigation, a handsome stranger, Baek Min Chul (Park Hee Soon) comes to her rescue, and she started to date him and to later found out that he had been usin her to get inside information. But that was his initial motives, but he was starting to feel affectionate with Hee Kyung comical and klutzy ways.
To say that this drama dont have love story, it does. Its just doesnt revolve around the budding romance of Moo Yeol and Eun Jae, or Hee Kyung and Baek Min Chul. Thus are just the side dishes, the main course is the investigation which brought some 'surprising' outcomes with their orthodox way. Will they found the treasures? Can they keep it a secret from the country?
I wish that in the end, they showed that Hee Kyung will forgive Min Chul and they are together. There are something about this ajussi that even though he's a mean guy, you just sympathize with him...maybe its in his sad eyes....

Single Dad In Love

The drama was showing on KBS World 2, but I keep missing watching the episodes, so I planned to buy the boxset once it became available. Only the last few episodes no one dares to say its boring and changed the channel, since my mom was also watching it ^_^

Its a story of a single dad Kang Poong Ho (Oh Ji Ho), who raises his 7 year old son alone after being abandoned by his first love, Yoon So Yi (Kang Sung Yun). So Yi went to US to pursue her dream of being a pianist leaving Poong Ho and their son Kang San (Ahn Do Gyu) . By day Poong Ho works as a pest exterminator and by night he is a pugilist/boxer. Jeon Ha Ri (Heo Yi Jae), is a medical student from a wealthy family who falls for Poong Ho. She secretly teaches San, how to play the piano. As it turns out Ha Ri was the daughter of So Yi's fiancée.

When Poong Ho eventually found out this, he vowed not to see Ha Ri again, but when So Yi and her fiancee confront him and told him not to see Ha Ri, he told them he will not stop seeing Ha Ri. Fate, makes him kneel down to So Yi's fiancee, Jeon Ki Suk (Park Chan Hwan) who happens to be the best tumour surgeon when San was diagnosed with brain tumour. He promised Ki Suk then that he wont see Ha Ri again and anything else as long as the doctor save San. When So Yi showed concerned for San and gave Poong Ho some money, he mocked her, saying is her concern really for San or for herself that her fiancee gonna find her secret - San is her son.

San survived the surgery and on the road to recovery. Ki Suk who sympathize with Poong Ho's and seeing how miserable his daughter is without seeing Poong Ho and San relent and doesnt forbid them to meet. I missed the part where So Yi's secret was found out and she broke off her engagement and plan to go back to US. Then, Poong Ho realised he also have brain tumour. In the case that he won't survive the operation -he tried to make his son get closer to So Yi and accept her as his mother.

Spoiler Alert!

This is when I change my mind and wont bother to buy the boxset, they left the ending hanging!!!!! Will Poong Ho survived the operation? Will he get back with So Yi? Or will he choose Ha Ri? Arghh!!!!!!!!!!! I hate unfinished story!

Three Daddies with One Mommy (Ep. 1 & 2)

I was elated when I read that Jo Hyun Jae had a new drama "Three Daddies and One Mommy". I dont care if the storyline is nice or boring, I just wanna watch it. Then I was browsing through Guides Menu @ Astro Channel and saw that this drama will replace Hang Gil Dong next week! Wah, cant wait for it!
The synopsis are "Na Young a widowed-29-old-single-mom, goes through the baby care with help of her late husband's three best friends. Na Young, born with natural optimism and somewhat recklessness, just lost her husband and depends on these three distinctive characters. Su Hyun is a competent fund manager and most successful among friends, but most narrow-minded and stingy. Gwanghee is a handsome cartoonist with good taste of fashion, but an ultimate cynic. Kyung Tae is a young and good-looking detective, but too shy to speak in front of girls. Three guys at first feel burdensome when Na Young asks for support. As time goes by, however, they start to feel a deep emotion toward the baby and to Na Young as well."


Hmmm... I think its either she dont she choose any of them, or between Su Hyun and Gwang Hee, with the winner being Su Hyun! ^_^

The Four Main characters:

Song Na-young (Eugene) is an irresistible widow dashing this way and rushing that. "I am happy as a woman? Why? 'Cause I can be a mom!" A bit strange and somewhat insecure, she makes men want to take care of her. She always is babbling and playful but after her husband's death, she feels lonely and empty without anyone she can talk to. Na-young wants to be a strong working mom and she happens on her talent to become a consultant of designing apartment buildings. (I dont know why people adore her so much? She looks so 'fake' in Save The Last Dance ...) Choi Gwang-hee (Jae Hee) is a cartoonist who likes girls but doesn't like the idea of marriage and detests children. He is a handsome but cynical guy who is fashionable, looks lonely and it seems there's something about him. So he is popular among girls. However he is full of strange ideas. He is a cynic who seeks love affairs but doesn't know true love. (Didnt make an impression in Sassy Girl Chung Hyang or Witch Yoo Hee - so I witheld my judgement for now)
Han Su-hyun (Jo Hyun Jae) is a succeeding fund manager but skinflint who wants to be the top 1% richest man. He is most successful among his friends but still has a long way to go. Step1; Searching for a millionare's daughter. Step2; Marrying her. Step3; Having an adorable daughter baby. He never loses his money and plays hard to reach his goal. But that's all gone to hell. Though he ignores poor girls, he falls in love with Song Na-young who is penniless. (Its the first time he's in a less serious role, so who cares if he's a materialistic guy here...still rooting for JHJ :P)
Na Hwang Kyung-tae (Shin Sung Rok) is a man who is a powerful detective in solving cases but trembles in front of women. "I want to get married. I want to have a baby as well. No matter what they say I am the dad. And there's no reason not to be her husband." He is hansome, but naive and shy in front of girls. Even though he likes babies and is willing to have parental leave, Na Young's baby cringes with him around. He wants to introduce Na-young and her baby to his mother as soon as possible. (Now that i see this picture I recognize him as the irresponsible asshole who leaves his girlfriend in 'Thank You')

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In these two episodes it tells the story of four very best friends, Sangmin, Su Hyun, Kwanghee and Kyung Tae. Sangmin got married to Na Young (to Na Young it feels like she marry the four of them), and after three years of trying to get a baby, the blissfully married couple starting to get frustrated. Both born in a broken family- the only family Na Young have is her irresponsible father and Sangmin is his three friends- Na Young really really wanted a baby. Sangmin feels its his fault since its his sperm that was the problem, conned and blackmailed his 3 friends in their drunken state to donate their sperms - without Na Young knowledge of course. After they donated their sperms, they had come to their senses and pleaded with Sangmin not to go ahead with his plan. Sangmin promised them that he wont use their sperm-so they rest assurred. And finally the good news, Na Young is finally pregnant!

Sangmin was very tentative to his wife and began building his baby a crib and rocking horse. Then a call from his father-in-law, he had to make overnight trip without telling his wife the reason for his sudden departure. He ask his friends to look after her when he was away. Na Young was having a cold and since she is pregnant she cant take medicine, so Kyung Tae calls his mother for advise. He was told to soak a very big pear with honey and when the juices come out to give to Na Young. He calls Su Hyun and Gwang Hee who was on the wasy home to buy those things. Being stingy, Su Hyun didnt buy the most expansive pear ^_^

So at home, while Na Young was sleeping, they struggled to peel the pear as thin as possible, as to waste little and pour in the honey. When they gave it to Na Young, she complained that it was too sweet. Su Hyun feels offended then said that she should be grateful that they are taking care of her. Na Young replies that it would amke them even, since she take care and fed them many times. Su Hyun tells her then that they thought that her cooking was terrible. Na Young says that she would tell sangmin when he get back. Kyung Tae want to make amends, ask Na Young if she wishes to eat anything, they will get it for her. She then asks them to buy foods in the middle of the night. Su Hyun was the most disgruntled of the three to had to go through all this trouble for her.

Then, tragedy struck....Sangmin was killed in a car accident. All four of them was devastated. Na Young was so lucky that Sangmin had this three bestfriends who was also there for her. The three of them take care of the little details that need to be taken care of like registering for his death, closing his bank account, packing all his things in the office. It was then they found a video tape Sangmin had make for his future child, in it he recorded that he wants the baby to respect his three 'uncles' because if it wasnt for them, he/she wouldnt be born....so did Sangmin use his own sperm or his friends????? Cant wait for next week!!!! Oh...next week 'Single Daddy in Love' will be finishing...and replacing it will be 'Formidabel Opponent' with Chae Rim...oh cant wait!!!! but I might have to watch the 3am show :(