Fast Paced , Action packed, compelling story

8,5/10 is my rating. This is a 2018/2019 South Korean television series, with 16, 60 minute episodes. Takes place in Spain and South Korea.

Yoo Jin-woo (Hyun Bin) is a well known handsome and successful CEO of an investment company he co-founded with college friends. He is in the process of divorcing his second wife who has caused nothing but trouble for him during their short marriage. He receives an email about a virtual reality game that is poised to change gaming future. Jin-woo travels to Spain to meet Jung Se-joo (Park Chan-yeol) who created the game in the hopes of beating his rival to buy rights to the game. Upon arrival, Jin-woo finds out Se-joo is missing. Since Se-joo is missing he learns he must buy the rights from Se-Jon’s older sister, Jung Hee-joo (Park Shin-hye). There is a problem as Jin-woo is staying in Hee-Joo’s run down hostel and held back nothing in telling her what he thought of the state of the hostel and her personally. He has to swallow his pride and convince Hee-joo. All the while he is testing the game and is learning there may be some very dangerous flaws that are deadly. He also thinks the flaws may be behind Se-Jon’s disappearance. People who die in the game wind up dead in reality and then show up in the game as murderous assassins. Jin-woo discovers this and tries to tell his counterparts at the company but they label him crazy. Jin-woo begins to play the game near obsessively to level up thinking if he can master the game he will be able to prove and expose the flaws and find the young game creator. Hee-joo feels thankful to Jin-woo as the money he paid pulls her family out of poverty. Soon gratitude becomes something more and the two develop feelings for each other.

Spoiler ? This movie really had it all a compelling mystery, great cast, complex character development, an interesting storyline and believable romance. It had a lot of action and was fast paced. There were sad points and not all my favorite characters made it. I loved Hee-Joo’s younger sister, her conversations with Jin-woo were cheeky and entertaining. However, the ending left things up in the air. It strongly seems they left it open for another season. It also made it a bit sad. I would have preferred they wrap the season up and thread some elements into a subsequent season or create another stand alone that has the same central. I really liked and enjoyed this but the ending spoiled it. Still worth watching but it helps I think to know it has a very nebulous ending.

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A great story with lots of layers to the plot

9.5/10 is my rating. This is a 2019 South Korean television series with 20, 1 hr. episodes.

Oh Dong-baek (Gong Hyo-Jin) has always considered her life to be unlucky. Most people would consider single motherhood to be the unlucky part of her life but Dongbaek considers her son, Kang Pil-gu to be one of the few happy events of her life. Dongbaek opens a bar named Camellia in the small fictitious town called Ongsan. Being very beautiful and sweet Dongbaek quickly has many male regular customers who hope she is selling more than alcohol. The attention Dongbaek gets for her beauty makes the women of the town jealous and initially sets them against her. Despite the hardships created from being an outcast, Dongbaek manages to run her business successfully. Though not a place he would normally go one of the town sons and a very eligible bachelor, Hwang Yong-sik (Kang Ha-neul) reluctantly visits the Camellia with his work colleagues and falls in love at first sight with Dongbaek. He starts to frequent the Camellia to be near Dongbaek. Dongbaek is too busy raising her young son to give any thoughts to romance and the sometimes awkward but kind and gentle Yong-sik is not her normal type. Yong-ski is slowly winning his way into the hearts of mother and son when Pil-gu’s father shows up, does the math, and realizes that Pil-gu is his son. Dongbaek had been secretly wishing her ex boyfriend, now a wealthy baseball star, would find her. Kang Jon-ryul is surprised to discover that the girl he never quit loving gave birth to his son and vows to win her back over and gain a spot in his son’s life. Can the love that died be rekindled or is this new love what Dongbaek and her son need? Amidst this love triangle is a serial killer who went dormant for a time but is back determined to kill the one living witness Dongbaek. The mother who abandoned Dongbaek as a child suddenly reappears. And Yong-ski’s motherwho was formerly Donbaek‘s one friend and ally becomes her anti-fan when she learns of her son’s romantic interest. Pil-gu is also not keen on sharing his mother with any other man whether it be the biological father he just discovered or Yong-ski, the local police officer who is his mom’s best defense against the serial killer who wants her dead. Which love can overcome all obstacles?

Spoiler ? I really liked this series. Gong Hyo-jin is a very talented actress and I have enjoyed her performances in “Master’s Sun” and ”It’s okay That’s Love” to name a few. The young actor stole the show multiple times with his vigorous defense of his mom. I loved Yong-sik he was everything a nice man should be. I enjoyed seeing Hyo-jin’s life improve and flourish as she gained friends and experienced love. Trying to solve the mystery of who “The Joker“ serial killer was added a very exciting element. I loved how the community was cautious of outsiders but had each other’s backs. It was entertaining and heartwarming. There were some sad moments but the balance was happy. It ended well wrapped up and happily. Highly recommend this one.

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Rare modern arranged marriage

8/10 is my rating. This is a 2004 South Korean romance movie 115 minutes in length.

The movie is about a 16 year old high school student and the boy she grew up around. Both the girl Bo-eun (Moon Geun-young) and the boy Sang-min (Kim Rae-won) really love the grandfather enough to grant his wish to see them married before he dies. Their marriage also fulfills a pact Sang-min’s grandfather and Bo-eun’s grandfather’s made with each other during the Korean War which was to unite their families through marriage. Bo-eun wants to please her grandfather but, despite the marriage, continues with her high school life by dating her crush, the school’s star baseball player, Jun woo. Sang-Min actually loves his young wife and ignores her hurtful behavior realizing she is extremely young and was not ready for marriage. Things are further complicated when Sang-min does an art internship at Bo-eun’s school and the two agree to hide their relationship. Over time Sang-min’s patience and kindness toward Bo-eun to cause her feelings of resentment fade and she remembers the love she felt for the boy that was always b her side.

Spoiler ? I really liked this and thought it was cute for what it was. In movie form the story felt very rushed but I am more used to the deep character development and evolutions that occur in tv series. My mother was 15 and my father 18 when they married and I married my husband at 18 so that part was not strange for me at all. Just 35 years ago it was not at all strange even in the western world to have a young woman date or marry someone several years older. I saw Moon Geu-young in “Mary Stayed Out All Night” and enjoyed her performance in that role as well. Seeing this one cleared up why she is known as “Korea’s Little Sister“ as she did seem incredibly young in this one. I enjoyed it despite it feeling rushed.

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Unique in that it is about older couples (late 30s/early 40s)

8/10 is my rating. This is a 2012 South Korean drama with 20, 60 minute episodes.

The story centers around four men who have been friends since high school.

?Kim Do-jin (Jang Dong-gun) is handsome and after several failed business attempts also successful. He has had serious relationships in the past but is not looking for that now and is enjoying his 40‘s by playing the field. That is until he has a chance meeting with a girl who is radically different than most women in his life, Seo Yi-soo (Kim Ha-Neul). Yi-soo teaches High School kids and her devotion and mentoring goes above and beyond resulting in her turning around some troubled youth, such as Kim Dong-Hyun (Kim Woo-bin), a troubled young man that Yi-so frequently extricates from trouble. Dong-hyun has a crush on his kind, beautiful and intelligent teacher and several of his conflicts with others are, unknown to Yi-so, in defense of her. Yi-soo’s devotion to her young charges leads many former students to go on to do great things, and garners fierce loyalty and friendship from both current and past students. Im Maeri was Yi-soo’s student and is now more of a trusted friend. She also is the umpire for many of the men’s baseball games which is how she has stayed close to Do-jin’s friend and business partner Im Tae-San (Kim Su-roj. Do-Jin loses his heart to this beautiful and unique woman. However, Yi-soo has no interest in someone living their romantic life so frivolously and Do-Jin discovers Yi-soo secretly loves one of the four best friends, Im Tae-san. Not able to put his feelings aside so easily, Do-Jin finds himself in the novel position of loving someone who does not love him back and he is determined to replace Im Tae-San in Yi-so’s heart. Due to stressful events in the past, Do-Jin developed memory problems when stress so he carries a special pen that is always recording audio (this is the center of many comedic moments).
?Betty is Do-jin’s car. Do-Jin’s love for his car easily surpasses his love for most people.
?Im Tae-san meets Yi-soo's roommate through Yi-soo and begins dating her. Hong Se-ra (Yoon Se-ah) Is not only Yi-so’s roommate but also a close friend so Yi-soo keeps her feelings a secret. Se-ra is a pro golfer who has never made it on her golf skills and relies on her beauty to have some notice in the world of golf. Tae-san heads up the construction part of the architectural firm and his muscular body mixed with a kind demeanor appeals to many women.
?Choi Yoon (Kim Min-Jong) is a lawyer who represents his friends, as they need it, with their architectural firm. Im Meari Yoon Jin-yi) is his Tae-san’s younger sister who has had a very blatant love for Choi Yoon from a very young age. Im Meari has known her brother’s three friends her whole life and is treated like a little sister by all. She recently returned from studying abroad in America. Im Meari’s relentless pursuit and undying love has slowly chipped away at the ice that developed in Choi yoon’s heart after hus wife’s death four years before. He buries his feelings and repeatedly turns Im Maeri away to not damage his relationship with Tae-san who has made it clear he considers his sister off limits.
?Lee Jung-rok (Lee Jong-Hyun) is a flirt who drives his successful, rich wife, Park Min-sook (Kim Jung-nan) to the brink of divorce. She is their landlord and a huge investor in both the architectural and law firms so the friends are constantly trying to hide Jung-roc’s misdeeds to keep Min-sook happy. Jong-roc owns a restaurant and bar and it is a place where Jung-roc encounters many women,
?Colin (Lee Jong-hyun) is the son of the four men’s mutual love interest in their twenties, Kim Eun-hee (Park Joo-mi). Colin was born in America but comes to Korea in pursuit of his biological father. He believes one of the four friends is his father and has come to learn which one. He has chance encounter with Yi-soo who immediately recognizes him as a student and treats him as such and Im Meari who he develops an interest in.

Spoiler ? I found it refreshing that this drama was around characters that were a little older than your typical drama. The central story, in a romantic sense, is really good and I could see the two falling for each other even if it was real life. It was surprising to me that the other romances the drama had a lot of focus on, that it was much harder to see how those couples fit together. The pro golfer, maybe it’s just a personal bias, but she just didn’t seem to have much depth and she seemed pretty selfish most of the time. The story includes a vague allusion that there could be reasons for selfishness and lack of depth but they never really get into it so I did not have any understanding for her character. The relationship between the young sister and one of the friends is also really hard to understand because you only really get to see him pushing her away and not what made her develop feelings for him in the first place. Ironically for me anyway I could more see her with Colin because you got to see them have a bit of a relationship. Same with the friend who has a rich businesswoman as his wife. I got to say I really loved her character. She seem brusque on the surface but did so many kind things for the friend group and for other people that she was one of the people in the drama that I wanted to see happy. So the side romances for me were not all that compelling and I found each time it switched focus to that I was just waiting for it to get back to the main couple or the friendship storyline. There were also times when things would be happening that the friends were talking about that I did not get what was going on or how it had any significance in building the characters or to any of the storylines. That seem to happen more early in the story and I was happy later on that I felt less lost on the points of something. I also had a bit of hard time with who they defined as really attractive among the friends and their romantic interests because I am not sure that everyone would find those people universally physically attractive. Usually when somebody is really attractive most people would agree.

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So much fun to watch I was sad when it was over

9.5/10 This is a 2020 South Korean television supernatural drama with 12, 70 minute, episodes.

At night a pop up outdoor drinking bar appears in Seol. It offers free food and drink to clientele. The bar keep, Weol-ju (Hwang Jung-eum), has a mission to resolve grudges for 100,000 people and it has taken hundreds of years but she is very close to the finish line. Only problem is at the rate it normally takes to sort out who has a genuine grudge and resolve it, her time will run out. Her loyal bar manager, Chief Gwi (Choi Won-young), uses skills he gained as a former afterlife detective to help her resolve cases. A chance encounter with a young man, Han Kang-bae (Yook Sung-Jae) that has the unique ability to have people tell him their innermost concerns after he touches them, seems to be the perfect fit for their mission.
Spoilers** I liked this one, so much. I found it interesting the whole way through. The cases they had were interesting. I liked the supernatural aspects and a love that lasts so very long. The Sung-Jae character was so nice and sweet I loved seeing him have some happy times after being an orphan. I have loved Hwang Jung-eum in everything she has played in. She is an amazingly talented actress. I was surprised how pretty she is with long hair and red lipstick. She looks pretty with shorter hair too but the long hair, was just a level up. I wasn't sure why their younger selves were played by other actors. I loved the whole concept of the mystic pop up bar. This one was magical on par with Goblin for me. It was a world I hated leaving. The only very slight detractions for me is I wish Sung-Jae had retained his abilities and just learned to control them. I also wished that Chief Gwi and Weol-ju had been able to be human because with them being supernatural and Sung-Jae not it means they will have to lose him at some point. It also felt like they could tick off the gods and just disappear sometime. I wanted to know what happened with Sung-Jae's girlfriend too after she was fighting all the evil spirits to save him. But those are all very minor points. It really ended well. If you love supernatural and unique storylines I highly recommend this. Also a couple of great love stories.

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Not a fan of the ending

7/10 is my rating. This is a 2019 South Korean drama with 40 episodes. Each episode is 30 minutes. Uhm Da-da (Bang Min-ah) decides to interact with a humanoid robot named Zero Nine/Young-goo (Yeo Jin-goo) as the ideal boyfriend. Da-da is a special effects make-up artist who has been burned by love to the extent that she feels her heart cannot take any more. Her past boyfriend, Ma Wang-jun (Hong Jong-hyan) is not sure he is done with their relationship but Uhm Da-da may be over the mercurial nature of human emotions and the stability of unwavering love may be more her style. Or is it?

Spoiler ? I liked this series at the beginning. It was fun to get insight on the life of a special effects makeup artist. I love movies around artificial intelligence as it is our immediate future. I liked the relationship between the leads and this is one where I did not feel bad, at all, for 2nd guy. The end completely spoiled it for me as I felt like evil won the day. There is a maybe moment at the end but you really cannot tell for sure who it is she sees. I like happy well wrapped up endings. This ending is neither. I feel irritated every time I see the title or images because it could have been good but was destroyed by a horrible ending.

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Very predictable and just okay

7.5/10 is my rating. This is a 2006 Korean romantic comedy movie that runs for 120 minutes. It is based on a Japanese manga entitled “Kanna’s Big Success.”

Hannah King is a ghost singer for popular K-pop idol Ammy. She is overweight but has a beautiful voice. She further uses her musical talent to make money as a phone sex operator. Hannah is in love with the music Director, Han Sang-jun, and thinks he might return her feelings despite her unattractive appearance. The Director is very handsome and seems to be very nice and pays a lot of attention to Hannah. One day, when she is about to confess her feelings, she overhears a conversation between the producer and his star. Ammy played a mean trick on Hannah and Sang-jun was telling her not to do that because they needed Hanna for her voice. To Hanna‘s dismay she hears him tell Ammy that they are just using her and he doesn’t really care if she hurts her feelings just not to do it in a way that she would leave. Hannah is devastated and decides to disappear and get a complete makeover with plastic surgery. The surgeon, Lee Kong-hak, at first does not want to because it is so drastic that it would put her life in danger. Ironically, the plastic surgeon is one of Hannah‘s phone sex customers so she is able to bribe him to do it despite his better judgment. While Hannah is gone Ammy’s career flounders because while she is pretty and able to dance she’s not at all able to sing and they cannot find anybody with the same level of voice talent to replace Hannah. After a year of healing, Hannah reemerges as Jenny an Korean American from California. She decides to audition as Amy’s ghost singer again but her beauty lands her her own contract. She no longer needs to hide behind the curtain. Her change was so drastic that no one recognize her at first not even her best friend, Park Jung-Min, . At first it seems she will get everything she wants. But beauty and fame do not wind up being all she thought they would be. Does she still want the love of a guy who couldn’t love her for who she was?

Kim Ah-joong as Kang Han-na / Jenny
Joo Jin-mo as Han Sang-jun (Director and Han-na’s one sided love interest)
Kim Hyun-sook as Park Jung-min (Han-na’s best friend)
Lee Han-wi as Plastic surgeon Lee Kong-hak
Ji Seo-yun as Ammy

spoiler ? I like the premise of this and found it interesting. What I wanted to see though was more of a revenge plot line. It really wasn’t that it wasn’t like she decided to have him fall in love with her and then dump him. She also didn’t elect to make it big using her beauty just to show people. I don’t know how true to life it is but it is a bit ironic that cultures can be so hard on ugly people and fat people yet equally hard when they take drastic measures to try to change it. Makes it a bit like dammed if you do damned if you don’t. I know in my culture plastic surgery is mostly accepted especially for certain professions the only thing I think there’s still a bit of a stigma against breast changes. Not as many people elect plastic surgery as there isn’t as much pressure in general to be perfect unless you’re in a job such as modeling or acting. I did not feel like it was much of a romance because it was pretty clear she would never get back with the guy and it would’ve been disappointI got if she would have. I would’ve liked it better if another guy had emerged and loved her for who she was and there was a big confession or something like that. I liked that she changed the axis of her success by being honest about her surgery and carrying her career on the merits of who she was in general. But I really wanted to see a romance and it just really wasn’t an element in this.

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I didn't like it as much as many reviewers - good not great

7/10 is my rating. This is a 2011 South Korean movie spanning 123 minutes.

A young college man, Gyun-woo (Chae Tae-Hyun) spends his time hanging out with his friends, chasing girls and avoiding his mom’s attempts to set him up. One day he sees a girl (Gianna Jun) over the line while waiting for the train and saves her from tragedy. They board the train and he realizes she is very drunk. She makes a scene on the train insisting that a young guy move and offer his seat to an elderly gentleman. Gyun-woo thinks that he really does not like drunk girls. Things settle a bit and the girl drunkenly sways to the motion of the train while standing near the elderly man. Gyun-woo watches in horror as the girl begins to gag and it is apparent she is going to vomit. She tries to hold back but ultimately vomits all over the elderly man. Just before passing out she gestures Geun-woo’s way and calls him honey. No-one believes him despite his repeated denials and he winds up taking responsibility for her. He piggy backs her to the closest place she can sleep it off- a hotel. And that is the start of a rather crazy relationship.

Spoiler ? So many people liked this movie that I gave it a shot. I did not think it was that good. They never seemed to really get together even in the end. The way she treated him was often just mean and her physical violence toward him was abusive. I understood a little why she was acting so crazy but her behavior toward him was inexcusable. Not meeting at the agreed time was rude and flakey. NI did like the twist where a relationship was revealed I was not aware of. I did not find it very funny. The ending left a lot up in the air. A mediocre movie.

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Mostly light but does have some sad moments

8/10 is my rating. This is a 2005/2006 South Korean drama with 16, 45-60 minute, episodes.
Joo Yoo-rin (Lee Da-hae) grew up with a father whose gambling, swiindling, lying results in a lifestyle of constant moves. She is a native of Jeju Island but has spent many of her years in Japan, China and many other places on the run from either her father’s gambling debts or the fallout from the latest grift. She often bears the brunt of her father’s deeds and has learned to lie and scheme herself to survive and to repay her father’s many debts.. By chance or perhaps fate Yoo-rin encounters Seol Gong-chan (Lee Dong-wook) while running from some gangsters. Two worlds collide when Gong-chan (sole heir to a hotel chain) discovers Yoo-rin speaks multiple languages and he just so happens to need an interpreter. He hires Yoo-rin to Interpret for visiting Chinese businessmen. During her as interpreter, YAvisiting one of Gong-Chan’s vacant mansions. When the short term job is over, Yoo-rin decides her homeless situation can be solved by secretly staying in Gong-Chen’s vacant mansion. which sets them up for another hilarious encounter. Gong-chen is a bit distracted by his grandfather’s failing health and a search for a lost granddaughter which will fulfill his grandfather’s deathbed wish.
He is not having luck finding the granddaughter and is worried his grandfather will die with regret. A passing comment that Yoo-rin resembles the lost niece results in Gong-chen thinking up a way to utilize his home invader’s unique skills -playing the role of the lost granddaughter Seo Jung-woo (Lee Joon-gi) is Gong-chan’s friend since childhood and is also heir to a fortune. He encounters Yoo-rin and protects her from the gangsters. It is love at first site for him as he has traveled the world and been with many women yet never met anyone like The mysterious Yoo-rin. Kim Se-hyun (Park Si-Yeon. is a rising tennis star and the girl who broke Gong-Chan’s heart after leaving him to pursue tennis. She is back to win his heart back and is not happy with the growing attraction between aging-chan and Yoo-rin. Grandfather,energized by seeing his “granddaughter” makes a miraculous recovery and now it seems Yoo-rin and Gong-chan may be locked in their lie.

Spoiler ? I really like parts of this movie but didn’t like other aspects. It was almost cringe worthy in the beginning some of the lies Yoo-rin was telling and sort of hard to watch. I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to like the couple together because I’m just not one that likes lies. However after the first couple of episodes, it calmed down a bit and some character development happened and I saw a whole other side to Yoo-rin’s character that made how she was more understandable. I found myself very angry at the past girlfriend for leaving Gong-Chan like she did and it seemed like he accepted her back too readily. I really liked his best friend and I actually liked him together a lot with Yoo-rin they were a lot alike in many ways and he was always rescuing her. Towards the end I had a hard time understanding why the grandfather couldn’t forgive her easier because she had saved his life and they all loved her so much and she lied to them but it wasn’t her choice to do so and they had a really good reason. I also didn’t like that they found the actual granddaughter towards the end and it really added nothing to the story. I thought maybe she would’ve been a character that we had seen but she was a whole new character and we didn’t even really get to know much about her at all to be able to cheer on her relationship with the grandfather. It felt like a missed opportunity for a plot twist. I guess coming from a family with someone who is adopted it just makes no sense to me that someone you love that deeply would not become the same as family to you. To me family is not so much about the blood but more about the relationship. And they spent a large part of the story showing how that type of relationship develops between Yoo-rin and Gong-Chan’s family members. I loved the friendship between Ging-Chan and his best friend and I’m glad that the competition over the girl did not ultimately tear their friendship apart. Their friendship reminded me of the friends in “Boys Over Flowers”. I felt like the ending was a bit rushed because we had waited so long to see them get together and some of the other story elements resolve but all of that really happened in the last half of the last episode and we only saw them together the last 10 minutes or so. I would’ve rated it higher if the ending had felt less rushed. I was really surprised that 3/4 of the way through I was having tearful moments because the story got really sad in parts. That was a surprise. It had been so comedic through most of it but having such heavy, sad moments was a real change. I also liked the relationship she developed with the entire family and felt sad towards the end when they basically turn their backs on her although they did go to bat for her later with theGrandfather. But you didn’t get to see the reconciled relationships very much because it ended so quickly. It was good and I would recommend it just not as a top choice. It is an older drama and it’s amazing how you can tell by the filming and the way people act without even knowing that ahead of time.

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Unique in one Character Speaks English and Others Answer in Korean - predictable yet cute

8/10 is my rating. This is a 107 minute South Korean romantic comedy movie that goes also by an alternate title "Seducing Mr. Robinson". It was released in 2006 and is unique in one character speaks mostly English throughout the movie while others speak back to him in Korean.

Min-June (Uhm Jung-hwa) is a hopeless romantic who gives all her heart to each relationship only to be hurt when the guys reject her. On the eve of her latest break up she stumbles into traffic and is hit, ironically, by a man that turns out to be her new boss. When she explains why she was not paying attention, Robin Heiden (Daniel Henley) is full of advice on the game of love which he sees as a win or lose power struggle between the couple. Desperate to change the outcome of her relationships Min-june originally listens to Robin until she decides that his methods are not for her.

Spoiler Alert ** I liked the unique quality of him speaking English and her, and others, speaking South Korean. It was cute if predictable. As short as it was there was little time for much depth to the story. It reminded me of the United States movie "He's Just Not That Into You". I forgot I had seen this actress in "Witch's Romance" and really liked her in that. If your expectations are not too high, and you are okay with little complexity or character development, it is good for what it is.

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Not a typical revenge on the ex story

9/10 is my rating. This is a 2014 South Korean television series spanning 16, 60 minute, episodes.
Na Ae-ra (Lee Min-jung) grew up believing she was born to be only pretty and not smart. While working at her family's restaurant, she falls in love with Cha Jung-woo (Joo Sang-wook), a geeky engineering graduate student studying to enter a civil service job. Na Ae-ra wants to become a housewife, and after Jung-woo promises that she will be, they get married. During their 100th day wedding celebration, Jung-woo announces that he has quit his job because he has an idea for a business. Jung-woo's businesses keep failing and Ae-ra struggles to keep them afloat by working multiple jobs. After secretly suffering a miscarriage from the stress of being the sole breadwinner and living in poverty, Ae-ra divorces Jung-woo after four years of marriage. Three years after the divorce, Ae-ra discovers that Jung-woo has become fabulously successful and wealthy, while she is still paying debts that accrued during their marriage. The fun begins when Ae-ra schemes for revenge, with Jung-woo believing that Ae-ra wants him back because he has become wealthy.

Spoiler ? This was not at all what I expected. I thought the ex-wife would be coming from a position of power at the outset and she really was not. I should be used to the premise not fully giving me insight into the complexities of the story line. it is part of what I love about Asian dramas. From synopsis I expected this to be similar to some American shows I have seen where exes get revenge - and it was not like that at all. I was also surprised at the sympathy I felt for the "villainous" characters and the unexpected evolution of some. I liked the way it explored the many levels of miscommunication that can go on in a marriage and the qualities that someone who should know you better than anyone might fail to see. It was moving, complex, but still light and refreshing.

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Unexpectedly good

8.5/10 is my rating. This is a 2018 Chinese drama with 24 episodes that are 45 minutes long.

He Xie (Lin Bo-Hong) has a hit manhua entitled “Crystal Love”. Over time his control of his own creation is fading as he fails to come up with new content. His publisher is on the verge of having other authors publish stories under the title when He Xie is involved in a car accident under a billboard of the villian Lu Zixing, (Li Hao Fei) from his manhwa which results in him being sucked in to the story. He finds out that he must turn the evil villainess around and plug the many plot holes in his story in order to return to the real world. Lu Zixing likes the male lead of the manhwa, Gong Cheng (Huang Jun jie), and to change the end and the characters, He Xie must keep Lu Zixing away from Gong Chen so the romantic interest, Pei Encai (Huang Yi Lin) can win Gong Chen’s love. He Xie forms friendships and falls in love in this world of his making but finds there are consequences to staying.

Spoiler ? I unexpectedly liked this more than I thought I would. I am not a huge C Drama fan because I find many of the female leads to be kind of whiny and needy. For me that was the Pei Encai character - she had some moments where she was okay but most of the time, I just found her behavior irritating. Not the same for Lu Zixing she was spirited and took action when it was needed. I would have loved to see her together with Gong Cheng because he was so sweet that I could see the two personalities balancing each other well. I found the premise to be really unique and it held my interest to see how things would resolve and develop. I liked the friendships that formed and thought all of the characters were really well developed. It ended well - I like when things are "wrapped up" but I did not completely understand what had changed enough for him to stay. But I liked that he was able to stay and it did not end leaving you hanging or on a note of sadness. For a Cdrama it is one of the best modern I have seen and I would recommend it. I still prefer Kdrama though so it rates below the best Kdramas I have seen for me.

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Edge of your seat suspensefull

This is a 2020 romantic crime drama with 32, 30 minute, episodes.

Tae-Pyeong (Ok Taec-yeon) has an ability he never asked for and does not like. He is able to see the events and people that exist in the moments leading up to a person’s death. Tae-Pyeong, allows few to get close to him and lives in a mansion with his mentor/Teacher/ surrogate father, Baek (Jung Dong-hwan) and Attorney Lee Yeon-Hwa (Ryu Hye-rin). Tae-Pyeong keeps to himself as he has found that he is unable to help change any of the fates he sees. When a serial killer known as the Midnight Killer abducts a girl Tae-Pyeong had just seen, he finds himself pulled into a very convuluted crime. While Tae-Pyeong helps the police with the investigation, he is stunned when he meets Detective Joon-Young (Lee Yeon-hee). She is the first person that he can't foresee their death. It is comforting to look at someone and see normal things rather than a disturbing prophetic vision. Tae-Pyeong and Detective Joon-Young frantically work together to figure out how the past has influenced the present in order to stop a serial killer dubbed the Midnight Killer.

This was edge of your seat suspenseful the whole way through. spoiler alert ** his ability to see the moments before death was very useful to the police, once they believed him. There was a lot around the topic of nature versus nurture in regards to the serial killer. Therewas an attempt to shed the serial killer in a sympathetic light but he was completely remorseless and blamed others for his actions the full way. The story was interesting and compelling and there was depth to all the relationships. Thoroughly enjoyed and would highly recommend.

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Would have rated higher except for a really disappointing scene

8.5/10 is my rating for this 2012 South Korean romantic comedy that has 16, 60 minute episodes.

It is hate at first site when Yoo Eun-jae (Lee Si-Young) first directly encounters the star professional baseball player Park Mu-Yeol (Lee Dong-wook). Dong-wook is the bad biy of baseball and known for playing a bit dirty. Eun-Jae is a die hard fan of Mu-yeol‘s rival team and is convinced Mu-yeol is responsible for cheating her favorite team out of a win. When words come to blows between Mu-Yeol and Eun-jae’s father, Eun-Jae deploys her Judo black belt skills to teach hot headed Dong-wook a lesson. Unfortunately the brawl was captured on video and to avoid scandal for both the company where Eun-Jae is a bodyguard as well as to protect Dong-wook’s professional career, Eun-Jae must agree to be Dong-wook’s bodyguard so the can attribute the incident to self defense practice. Hilarity ensues as they each try to get one up on the other. Time starts to show them they are more than just a match in temperament and sport enthusiasm. Can an anti-fan learn to love the object of her dislike?

Having seen Lee Dong-wook in Goblin, I was excited to see him in this different type of role. The mustache was a surprise but actually looked really good for the part of a baseball player. It is one ofthe more comedic dramas I have seen and I was giggling right along. Spoiler alert ** There is this part though where they get in a physical altercation and I cannot think of a way they will be able to make that okay. I am never ok with a man physically hurting a woman unless his life is in danger. After they get back into their amusing bicker and such but, for me, that part was disturbing and unnecessary. After that incident their relationship became very cute. They toward the end they both get in a fight and another guy in the friend circle beats her up. I was not ok with that either. It was like the producers were like she is a bodyguard so it is ok for the men in her life to hit her. I disagree. Never think it is ok. Around those two it was really cute and ended really well. The “robot” couple/side romance between her friend and the team manager/secretary was super cute as well. It ended really well. I would have rated it higher but for the two violent scenes mentioned. Still well worth the watch.

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Thrilling and fun to watch

This is a 2013 paranormal romance thriller written by the Hong Sisters. It has 17,60 minute, episodes.

As a rich but emotionally cold chaebol, Joo Joong-won (So Ji-sub) seems to have it all. He doesn’t realize what is missing until his fate takes a turn and he encounters Tae Gong-shil (Gong Hyo-jin), who unwillingly sees ghosts. For some reason, quite by accident, Ging-shil discovers that when she touches Joong-won her nightmarish encounters with ghosts goes away. So she strikes up a bargain to help Joong-won recover a lost fortune in exchange for being allowed closely by his side.

Spoiler alert ** I love the character Gong-shil. It would be absolutely horrifying to see the things she does and have no idea how to make it stop. It is a bit reminiscent of the American movie “The Sixth Sense”. Like that movie she sees dead people and if she solves a problem they can go on. The thing is she does not have the courage to face them until she discovers her magic bullet which is Jon-won whenever she is around him the ghosts are at bay. At first he wants nothing to do with this odd girl but as he begins to understand more about her he starts to care and genuinely wNt to help. Two different people who compliment each other. It was exciting and entertaining and is one of my favorite.

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