This short, 3 episode drama has material to fill out a much longer one. Chances were, if it did though, my rating would plummet ;) "Page Turner" is an allegory. The term is used as a symbolism for a character facilitating your dreams and ambitions, or hindering them. Granted, one could normally argue a "page turner's" role is hardly worth mentioning - they just turn sheets of music - but they hold a lot of power in their hands than you might think. The best bit about the "page turner" allegory was that Yoo Seul's mother (a typical pushy stage mom) who made her daughter try and sabotage a rival's chances (Jin Mok) at a competition, helps him at the end by being his page turner. Beautiful.

The parents clearly had their own drama going in the background, which could've been expanded, particularly about Cha Shik's father's existence, but since this focused more on the children (Yoo Seul, Jin Mok and Cha Shik) I wasn't complaining. Like I said - extend the drama, and you risk losing me. As it was, I felt wishy-washy about the drama (particularly the first 2 episodes, and halfway through the third), but felt kind enough to give it an 8. I already know about Kim So Hyun, but it's Ji Soo that came as a surprise to me (I know you're throwing vegetables, right?)

Ji Soo? What were you so surprised about, you ask? Don't you know he's a mega superstar TO BE?
See the only drama I saw him in before this one is "Sassy Go Go" and he plays quite a moody, virulent character in that one, that I didn't expect him to play a big-hearted, slightly comical Cha Shik, who wears his heart on his sleeve here. His actions reduced me to laughter a lot of the time, particularly when he's speaking with a helium voice and I know this is terrible...but how he got injured at the pole-vault competition...

So it was the final half hour that bumped up my score - it was unpredictable.
Typically, the underdog always prevails, but sometimes the underdog helps out the totally fed-up, broken-hearted top dog^^

Also extra note! You know that homeless guy that kept popping up, not saying anything? I thought he was Cha Shik's dad! LOL. Funny times. Also, I'm not going to sit here and pretend piano recitals excite me and the music played excited me - but it was good. Glad I watched it :)

Read More

This is the staple of my taiwanese dramas - meaning it's my favourite adaptation of Itazura na Kiss and one of my overall T-drama favourite, despite giving it a score of 7.

The acting is good, but I just loved the Joe Cheng/Ariel Lin pairing. Delighted they came back for a sequel, and I'm egging myself to watch it right now! :D Their first kiss, in this drama, is my most favourite kiss I've watched in any asian drama. Not the one in the rain. The one that came out of the blue :P

After that scorcher, I was a little bemused to find they don't kiss each other again, till 2 years later (the drama lapses over a period of time.) I didn't even realize it was 2 years!

By all rights, I should hate this drama. Xiang Qin is the female embodiment of a woman, who lives to please her "husband." Her career choice, her life ambitions, revolves entirely around a guy, which will make any feminist turn in her grave.

But Ariel Lin's charisma...her sweetness and naivety...only this girl can pull it off. Eventually I realised being a feminist, is about giving females THE CHOICE, not begrudging them if they want to do something opposite to you^^

The plotline is a little absurd...but it works. And I have such a soft spot for this drama, and recommend it to all. I admit. I did skip scenes throughout, just here and there. But c'mon! It had 30 episodes. For the sake of my sanity, I fastforwaded to the "juicy" bits when my patience ran thin.

Lots of LOL moments. I'm no longer a teenager (but I was, like, when I initally watched it 2 years ago before taking a hiatus) and the rush of giddiness, almost made me feel 14 again. Golly. What a scary thought!

(Kidding, any 14 year olds out there.)

Joe Cheng has mentioned a 10th year reunion of ISWAK in 2015, so I'm itching for that time to come.

Read More

I found the 1st episode rlly amusing, but I think it was part to shell shock. When I get surprised, I laugh. When FL Yui-chan is in the bar, lamenting about a lost love, and it's filmed in fish bowl POV, where she's feeding a mystery person at eye level etc - and then u find out she's mourning her DOG - i was so surprised, I burst out laughing. The laughing ctd, when she tripped CEO up, and he declares his love for her the next day, while wishing to be her slave. Whenever she kicks, presses him to the ground with her foot, body-threw him, he appeared more and more besotted. So when I watched 1st episode, I told myself I was alright with it, coz it was comedic. He appeared to get off on being man-handled and humiliated and degraded.

By ep 2, I was no longer laughing.
At the end of the day, when he turned up outside her flat in 3hr wait with roses, he is a creepy stalker. Yet, he is also opening himself up to a lot of abuse. If he gets off on being slapped around, there's a point I stop laughing and feel sorry for him. Oc, this drama doesn't ask us to feel sorry, it's just Japanese drama and not everyone has to be "fixed" of their hang-ups but just because someone wants to be slapped around, doesn't mean people should oblige. Till what point will he be someone's b%^&. I know masochism is a thing, and FSOG was a thing, and BDSM is a thing, but ok.

The FL appears very irked by being made his master, and tries to dissuade him, and when she inflicts violence, I don't think she's a bad person per se. I don't think she's strong, or whatever ppl laud her as. And I know she's been thrust into this role unwillingly.

But at this stage, neither of leads are super likeable
BUT since this drama is 25min long x 6, I vowed to finish it, and also it#s not that boring. I felt like I was on an acid trip, where situations and scenes are so absurd, like painting a face with ketchup and hanging out in a tree etc, sliding face down a banister (honestly never seen THAT before, the way he did it) and THAT is an appeal so that also helps me keep watching.

I think the opening titles and song is kinda catchy. Simple, effective and i never miss it. easily the best of each episode

Overall, i don't regret watching it
Even if I gave it a 1
It just didn't turn out as funny as I hoped

Read More

The first two hours had the hallmarks of a fabulous movie. Very sweet. Do you know I have a thing for werewolves? ;)

I enjoyed the bits of Suni pouring over "The Dog Training Encycolpedia" and teaching him all sorts of tricks.

The last 40 minutes was a little surreal. Suni's very possessive landlord (the rich guy who kept turning up, saying "This is my house!" and attempting to assault her) is dead-set on getting Cheol shot. I was a little bemused of how he set that up, especially the bit where he goes into Cheol's cell, and says, "Suni doesn't like you. She hates you. Go find that guitar!" and off Cheol goes, as if he understood that perfectly.

The story became sweet after that, but the ending had elements of confusion. Did she have a vision or was it real?

But what a lovely movie. I AM IN LOVE WITH SONG JOONG KI. There was a period, where I saw him as that metrosexual, happy guy incapable of serious but MY! He has really come along in these past few years.

Two thumbs up. Watch it!

Read More