Hong Sisters: a voice out of the chorus

twinklelie wrote: XD
I did enjoy YAB too, but like you I never liked Tae Kyung nor have I ever understood the whole fuss about him. And about Mi Nam, dear God, sometimes I was like... are you really that stupid or are you doing it on purpose, seriously ><

BAH! I wasn't too thrilled with him either. I enjoyed Jeremy and Shin Woo!

Sleepninja wrote: BAH! I wasn't too thrilled with him either. I enjoyed Jeremy and Shin Woo!

XD I didn't really like Shin Woo either, actually ^^'
Jeremy is my favorite character in YAB. And I like their manager, so funny XD

Sleepy, I consider you my reference with both "Shining Inheritance" and "MGIAG". :) Therefore, I hope you'll forgive me for addressing you in regard to these two dramas. Why do I compare them? Because Lee Seung Ki, the male lead, plays a very similar role in both, only a little more serious in SI and a little less serious - or, if you prefer, funnier - in MGIAG.
Although I'm not a fan of makjang, Shining Inheritance had depth. Lee Seung Ki's character had reasons to be the jerk he was in the beginning. Those reasons were explored, and explained well enough for the viewer to understand why he fell in love with Eun Sung and why she fell for him. The acting wasn't stellar, but it had a lot of heart.

In MGIAG, on the other hand, everything is treated superficially. In the beginning he's the usual shallow guy and suddenly he is so crazy with Miho he's even ready to give up his life. Why? How? Oh, yes, the zoo. I wished they had had the decency to elaborate, at least a little. She makes absurd plans for their future and he declares himself not ready yet and two days later he's more than ready to shoulder the weight of the world.
The Hong sisters do this every time. They present us with these gorgeous male specimen and a naive female and expect us to fall in love because. I DO understand pure entertainment, I am not such a prig as to only like essay movies (on the contrary, I rarely like those), but I fail to see the attraction when there is NO characterization. Only a sequel of either slapstick gags or people crying all over the place.

Sleepy, don't hate me, LOL. It's just that you always come to my mind in reference to both these dramas. ;)

amrita828 wrote: Sleepy, I consider you my reference with both "Shining Inheritance" and "MGIAG". :) Therefore, I hope you'll forgive me for addressing you in regard to these two dramas. Why do I compare them? Because Lee Seung Ki, the male lead, plays a very similar role in both, only a little more serious in SI and a little less serious - or, if you prefer, funnier - in MGIAG.
Although I'm not a fan of makjang, Shining Inheritance had depth. Lee Seung Ki's character had reasons to be the jerk he was in the beginning. Those reasons were explored, and explained well enough for the viewer to understand why he fell in love with Eun Sung and why she fell for him. The acting wasn't stellar, but it had a lot of heart.

In MGIAG, on the other hand, everything is treated superficially. In the beginning he's the usual shallow guy and suddenly he is so crazy with Miho he's even ready to give up his life. Why? How? Oh, yes, the zoo. I wished they had had the decency to elaborate, at least a little. She makes absurd plans for their future and he declares himself not ready yet and two days later he's more than ready to shoulder the weight of the world.
The Hong sisters do this every time. They present us with these gorgeous male specimen and a naive female and expect us to fall in love because. I DO understand pure entertainment, I am not such a prig as to only like essay movies (on the contrary, I rarely like those), but I fail to see the attraction when there is NO characterization. Only a sequel of either slapstick gags or people crying all over the place.

Sleepy, don't hate me, LOL. It's just that you always come to my mind in reference to both these dramas. ;)

lol I guess you think of me because I'm so vocal about my love of LSG. XD I'm trying to think of it, but I have really bad memory. ( I may have mentioned this somewhere in the threads before.) I don't know why, but my memory is very spotty. I'm trying to recall all of what you are talking about, but I guess I need more to trigger the memory. I would love to answer you truthfully, so I guess I shall have to go back and watch again (lol Not a daunting task in my opinion since it's a series I greatly love). Hopefully you don't mind that my answer isn't immediate.

Lol, couldn't have picked a better time to revive such a topic xD I'm definitely one of those that's a fan of the Hong Sisters, but I also completely get why people would not like them. I even agree with your points up there to an extent. I don't know if I've ever watched a Hong Sisters drama where I haven't winced at the female lead for those very reasons you listed. But that type of character doesn't always bother me and I don't get the message of "be a good-hearted dunce gets the hunky rich guy". I can totally see why one would, though. I think the Hong Sisters are being feminists in their own odd way by trying to emphasize that having a good heart will bring you love and happiness, not looking perfect, acting perfectly, being bred perfectly, or being educated perfectly (all expected and important things in a society that values appearance). I wouldn't be surprised if the Hong Sisters grew up expected to fit a certain perfect female mold, but just couldn't. Why do they have to go to such an extreme and make the perfect woman an evil snake and make the good hearted woman not just uneducated but stupid, clumsy, and looking like she gets her clothes from the local bag lady and her hair done by a family of rats? I haven't the slightest idea. As to their appeal, well, I can't really speak for the general pop, although I have my theories, but I can say my own personal reasons. I admit, I wouldn't be surprised if a large part of it is because I saw several Hong Sisters when I was first starting out in drama land (My Girl, You're Beautiful, Couple of Fantasy and Delightful Girl) when Korean dramas were all bright and shiny and new before I got to my current state of being quite critical. If I went back and watched them now, I might think differently. The Greatest Love didn't even feel like a Hong Sisters, somehow. And my main reason for adoring that was the fascinating male character. In Hong Gil Dong, I didn't care for the romance too much, but again, I adored Hong Gil Dong himself and the story surrounding him. So I guess I'd say I like how they write male leads. Plus, I don't really expect much out of a Hong Sisters except for a purely entertaining romantic comedy. To me, they're the perfect writers for a rom-com when you just want to shut off your brain, have some laughs, maybe drop a tear or two, and feel warm and fuzzy. Gumiho, on the other hand, I didn't care for. Just never felt much attachment to anything. And the second female was way too outrageously bad. But Big? Big is a different story altogether. Most of the characters were childish, selfish fools. The female lead was way beyond my level of tolerance for stupid. Past Hong Sisters' female leads I would have referred to more as naive, gullible, air-headed, scatter-brained, or a combo of the above. This chick was just plain stupid to the point where I had a hard time believing she was actually in love with her male lead. She was so easily swayed and persuaded, such a spineless, wishy-washy mess that I wanted to literally strangle her. I had doubts they'd last because she'd probably think she was in love with the next guy who persistently pursued her. -deep breath- I need to stop, 'cause I'm rambling way too long. I just have so many issues with this thing -_- Anyhow, I totally understand not being in popular boat as that happens to me often xD Majority of people seem to think Titanic is one of the great films, but I have an entire soap box dedicated to how much and why I hate that film. I also do not understand the Jang Geuk Suk popularity o.O But anyhow....I tend to babble....

Also! Because I haven't taken up enough space yet:

amrita828 wrote:
P.S. Why isn't Kim Do Woo such a popular scriptwriter? The one who wrote Kim Sam Soon, Me too, flower, What's up fox.
Or Kim Eun Sook: Secret Garden, Lovers in Paris, The City Hall, On Air, A Gentleman's dignity.
Mysteries of popularity.

Huge mystery O.O I've always been baffled as to why City Hall isn't touted as one of the must-sees like most Hong Sisters. And apparently a lot of people didn't like Me Too, Flower nor did it do well in Korea. I don't know about anybody else, but I adored it. One of my faves. Popularity is an odd thing...

Sleepninja wrote: haha So I'm not the only one who isn't madly in love with Kim Hyun Joong? That's good, I feel less lonely. :p

Count me in on that less lonely group. I found him quite charming in his Lucky Guy MV, but other than that, I'm lost o.O He's kind of in the same category as Jang Geun Suk and Jaejoong. I just don't get it at all xD

I just messaged Nina and C4U. I'm hoping they can help trigger my memory. T-T

@gooseberry I like JaeJoong, but not overly so. I love DBSK and JYJ, which means I love all of the members.

Jang Geun Suk......ack IDK Sometimes I like him, most of the times he just amuses me with his offness.

KHJ He's a talented singer, but I would not call myself a fan. I don't really listen to his solo works and I don't follow his dramas. (Meaning: If I'm watching a drama he's in, it's not because he's in it). lol I don't dislike him, I just don't feel anything at all in regards to him. I do love SS501 though. :D