Though idols brought me to the drama world, I admit that many -if not most- of their acting have proved a total failure. Just because they have a huge fan base, they get all the lead roles and high rates and give the audience hell. So I was not all excited at starting this but I thought trying a 12-episode series an episode per week won't hurt. I'm glad I did.

Though there's nothing extraordinary about the plot, the drama presented serious and deep issues in a comic way while making us feel the depth of them. Paternity, one-night stands, love, gender, friendship, fate, unemployment, plastic surgery, society's expectations, dreams, talents and the pressure of youth are all portrayed in the drama. The nuggets of wisdom at the end of each episode were so loaded but cute. Though I hate didactic messages, I thought they were to the point with no pressure. Being 24 myself, I related to the struggle of the guys.

The last episode was epic. And the last words of Kim Dong Joon were like a soothing breeze to my troubled heart.

The music was awesome here. The way they'd add classic songs to some ridiculous situations was so hilarious.

Kim Sa Eun was a pleasant surprise -I'm a Super Junior fan so I'm pretty biased to my band member's wife-.

Kim Dong Joon's dialect and terrible sense of humour made the drama for me.

For a light break after watching a sageuk or a melo; this drama would present a great solace.

This is the Currently Watching article I wrote after starting it:
http://mydramalist.com/article/2014/11/12/currently-watching-boarding-house-24

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Something was missing

I liked this show enough to finish it but didn't love it. There was something missing and I cannot pinpoint it. I can, though, mention some of the things I didn't like about the show. One of the themes that ruin a show for me is too many unrealistic visits to hell's gates. I mean, c'mon!!! How many times can a person survive gunshots! I know it's the genre but still.
Another downside was the whole hidden mastermind thing. All the characters, no exceptions, are portrayed as extremely smart. Nobody doubted Director Shim with all the clues! I figured him out in the first scene which I also disliked because I lost the element of suspense.
The biggest flaw was the lack of chemistry. I love both leads and they're terrific actors. But seriously. So Ji Sub had more chemistry with Son Ho Jun and Kang Ki Young than he had in any of his scenes with Jung In Sun.
No chances of rewatching this. Got it off my plan-to-watch list and that's all.

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You finish the film not knowing what exactly happened and what was illusionary. How much of the events were the results of false memories and how much was wishful thinking. A well-written plot full of fragmentations and soliloquies. When passion and curiosity get in the way of responsibility and morals, what would a person do? What is love? And how much of it is obsession and imagination? When life is tying one down and when the pressure of family and providing for it seems unbearable, can we really blame one if they tend to notice other fresh and lovely refuges?

Jang Hyuk looks so young and hot in the film with his fringe down and those muscles. Jo Bo Ah did wonderfully and outperformed all. I applaud her for picking such a hard role and exceeding at it.

I remember that the music fit the film well. The production and cinematography was just perfect. The camera angels added to much to the intensity and sense of loss.

Not for everyone. A contradictory and conflicted account on the human passion and inner conflicts.

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As you might tell from the poster, I started this drama for Kim Min Jong. Kim Min Jong is my favourite actor. Period.

I honestly had no expectations. The drama was poorly rated -as usually the case- and it was not available online. So I started it with absolutely no expectations and ended up loving and Kim Min Jong in it.

So the drama started well but Kim Min Jong had almost no screen time and I was getting restless afraid he had some kind of supporting role or something but they finally set the story and he shone.. Hallelujah!! Chohwa's ultimate happiness.

The drama is refreshingly not about starting relationships but more about ending them. Though of course we have new relationships in the drama, the drama aims to tackle the different ways people manage their break-ups, how they react differently, how they manage their grief and the length of post break-ups. It presents people's contrasted views on relationships, like vs. love and goodbyes. Everyone likes in a way and dislikes in a way, and the drama sets to show us that.

The drama is beautiful in how human and realistic it is. There's love and there's life. People do move on and forget. There's nothing as qualifications and suitability in relationships. You just open your heart to someone. But what comes afterwards is not as easy. Rules of Love show how fickle the human heart is and how crucial it is to treat it carefully.

I will present the characters and the story through the relationships between the main leads:- No spoilers apart from what you find in the synopsis-

Han Jae Min & Seo Hee Won
This couple's story gets the drama off the ground that's why I'm starting with it.
Han Jae Min (Shim Ji Ho) is a young and talented photographer who's in love with his childhood friend Hee Won (Kim Ah Joong). Hee Won is an Elle journalist. She's bossy, arrogant, prejudiced but beautiful. She believes she's always right and talks down to people continuously. She's no more interested in Jae Min and she gives him the cold shoulder. To be closer to her, Jae Min gets a job at the studio she works with.
I didn't like this couple's moments. They were full of negative energy; lies, obsession, back-stabbing and hurting other people. Together, they formed a really creepy couple. But because of them the story evolved.

Han Jae Min & Kim Geun Young
So to achieve his goal and work at the studio, Jae Min decides to use Geun Young (Choi Kang Hee). Geun Young is a naive girl trying to pass the educator's exam. Her younger brother In Soo works at the studio. In Soo is Jae Min's high school classmate and they weren't on best terms. So Jae Min's only way to convince In Soo was through his sister. Jae Min approaches Geun Young. Geun Young falls into the trap.
Despite Geun Young being naive, she's a bright and honest girl. She gives her all when she does something and is dependable. When she finds herself tricked, she doesn't confine herself into a room and cries; she takes action.
Jae Min is childish, arrogant, selfish and irresponsible. He has to have things his way. Jae Min's character is one of the character's I've hated the most in dramas up till now. Not that he's-doing-his-really-hard-bad-role-excellently way. But in the what-on-earth-are-you-trying-to-do-with-this-character-dear-writer way. He has no edge, no charms and no depth. Even after he changes, I still don't like him. A waste of an interesting actor.

Kim Geun Young & Lee Seo Jun
Here comes what made the story, the story.
Talk about one adorable couple in one healthy relationship. It's been a while since I watched such a perfect couple.
So Kim Geun Young falls for Jae Min's trap and starts frequenting the studio. Lee Seo Jun (My Kim Min Jong) is the chief of the place. He's an established and well-known photographer. Geun Young's stubbornness and selflessness catches Seo Jun's eyes and it's no time before he falls for her. He takes a step back because Geun Young is supposedly in a relationship. But till when??
Oh my god!! How i fussed and turned watching Kim Min Jong here. In an interview after the drama aired, the interviewee complimented him at how charismatic he was. But KMJ replied that it was the character not him. Well I don't care. Whether it's the character or him. I'm really bad at splitting these.
Lee Seo Jun is a character that developes slowly; giving us time to think and feel with it. His facial expressions, eyes, hand gestures, posture, the way he lies, sits or stands, when he locks his hands like in a prayer or dreamily looks away. Whatever Lee Seo Jun does shows his mental and emotional struggle. His eyes gives him away; a sweet man unable to forget his past or express himself properly. But a man ready to change. That change got me personally involved and was the cutest things ever. Just laugh at his confused expressions.

Lee Seo Jun & Han Jae Min
I keep reaching a conclusion in life no matter how hard I try not to label things, but a man needs a rival to bring out what he's got.
So the two men share a complicated relationship; employee-employer, seonbae-hoobae and rivals. The push and pull between them was cute. No exaggerated subplots thankfully. Thanks to Seo Jun's maturity, the two could have a good relationship at the end. No bromance, no heated rivalry, again, thankfully.

Lee Seo Jun & Seo Hee Won
Lee Seo Jun has always known about Hee Won's feelings. But he's one straight man. He has nothing to give her so he ignores her completely. Well, I love that straightforwardness but he's gone too far honestly. Though I couldn't sympathise with Hee Won. She's one bitch character who never gets redeemed. One who wants to step on everyone else and doesn't realise she's committing any mistakes. Serves her right.
Made me hate Kim Ah Joong chincha!!

Kim Geun Young & Seo Hee Won
Guess what this relationship is about?! One lovely girl snatched the two men the proud beauty thought she had in her hands. How would the beauty react?! That's what Hee Won did to Geun Young.
What I liked about these two is that Geun Young never felt intimated because of Hee Won. Not after she woke up to the situation she was in that is. And at the same time never stooped to Hee Won's level. I kept applauding Geun Young.

here are negative things about the drama of course. It's a 2005 drama. So talk of weird fashions and styles, OSTs without dialogue and some dragging. The drama was set in a studio and revolved around photography but didn't really teach me anything new about the field.

And ah!! Kim Min Jong should never rap.

I learned so many things about relationships in this drama. I loved the OSTs and the acting of the main couple. I enjoyed the drama completely and it was a nice journey. Will definetly re-watch Kim Min Jong's parts one day.

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Maids is the type of dramas you'd be looking for a reason not to watch but it surprises the heck out of you and gets you hooked. Yes it was so good. Maids is a saguek which tackles slavery, classes, women's roles, political corruption, ambition, power, love, family, freedom and survival. It basically presents all the human questions in an intriguing manner that leaves you helpless. You find yourself forced to look for answers knowing you'll end up empty handed. You can't completely hate anyone-two people excepted-. You'll sympathise, empathise, cry, shout, pull your hair, throw things and smile through your tears. You'll have many WTF moments. But you'll love every second.

The story revolves around slaves; those who born slaves and those who fell into slavery because of ''treason''. Is a slave a human? Much less a citizen? Nobles treat slaves like chess pawns, toys and objects while slaves should treat them like their ''parents''. If a master commits a crime against the slave, the slave can't accuse their masters. It's another crime.

Slave realising that law, tradition and the world is against them, they can't but bond together. They cover for each other and save one another. They avenge their comrades. Though at times they cannot but abandon each other to save their own lives or those they love, we see them regretting and begging for forgiveness then getting along again. They're humans, in the true and naked nature of a human; contradicted and selfish but caring and loving.

Power is emphasised in the drama. The historical era is a sensitive one. It's the era of foundation and royal family members are fighting over the throne. There's no care or love left between them. There's only power and the throne. A son exiles his father. The father kills his sons. And the story goes on. What connects them is the desire to get rid of each other to secure the throne. ''A monarch is not a human''; is what King Taejong replied to his father (King Taejo)'s question on how he could do what he did to his family.

Beneath all the agony, the political agendas and the selfish ambitions lies love. Love here is different from romantic stories in other dramas. How can I express it?! Deeper? More human? More real? Though nothing could stop them, they tried to stop. To be able to survive, to help the people they care about survive, they tried to stop. There was so much between them -I'm talking about all stories here-; social class, ideology, memories and future. They were aware of all that and they knew life was stronger than they were. So they did try to stop, to escape, to lie and to deceive. But nothing worked. For them that was Fate and it was stronger. But that was Love and that's why it won.'' Relationships are like this; if one side doesn't let go, it never ends.''

The role of gisaengs is also presented here; how they actively participate in the behind scenes of power games. And I was disappointed when the gisaeng here (Ga Hee Ah) started as strong and ambitious then faded away.

Special things about the drama:

Put the superb acting and the BEAUTIFUL love story of In Yub and Moo Myung aside; there were so many cute and lovely things about the drama.

First; the hairpins. Well, I know I shouldn't mention this the first thing but man I always stare stupidly at the hairpins in all dramas. They're just so fascinating!

Park Chul Min's role here is serious. Still, he couldn't help being funny. I enjoyed his moments here. He was as brilliant as always.

All the supporting actors were cute but my favourite was Yang Seung Pil who played Ba Woo (Eun Ki's servant). He looks so much like Kim Kimbum I would stare at him whenever he's on screen.

The best thing about the drama was Sa Wol. I love Lee Cho Hee. Wherever she is she always gives me a warm feeling. She's funny, cute and talented. And I can see her talent growing and getting more noticed. As Sa Wol; she was the sister and the friend of In Yub. Without her In Yub wouldn't have made it through all that torture. Her love, loyalty and dedication were so touching. And she made me cry all through. At the end she broke my heart and I still cry whenever I see photos of her. God she's a sensation.

Eun Ki's change of character, the hate and anger in his eyes, his dented pride, his broken heart and how it all turned him into a 'bad' guy trying to get his woman back was epic. Eun Ki's character was the most intriguing. He buried the kind and carefree young scholar under the vengeful one and he did a great job at being an arsehole. I applaud you Kim Dong Wook.

I loved how the bad people got what they deserved. No silly redemptions. '' It's just that simple. There is evil. And there is good.''

The best moment in the drama was when Moo Myung saved In Yub and they fled on a horse. He pulled down his mask and gave her a look. And oh my!! It was the most beautiful look ever and it summarised all his love and care for her. It sent butterflies down my stomach.

Disappointing things about the drama:

Man Wol:

(spoiler alert)
This was the most intriguing thing for me. I couldn't make up my mind about it. I thought it was a slave organisation to emancipate slaves and abolish slavery. It clicked to all those radical beliefs I had in college and the rebel in me was struggling because I was on In Yub's side and they did ruin her life. Still I kept thinking about the great cause and whatever. In Yub as well was an arrogant noble and that didn't help. But when it turned out to be consisted of people trying to personally avenge themselves and bring an extinct nation to life, the image shattered into pieces. I was really disappointed. All the thrill and mystery of the organisation vanished. That was a big let-down.

King Taejong:

By the way the actor playing King Taejong is Ahn Nae Sang. Yeah Great Ahn Nae Sang. And what was the role exactly? Not main, not supporting, not cameo, not anything. I was really exasperated. You don't do that to a veteran and talented actor. Seriously!

Music!

There was no OSTs! Yeah I mean it! Imagine! No OSTs!!

WTF moments (excuse my French!):

It's been on my mind for a while but, why on Earth didn't noble couples sleep in the same room? I mean, what was that all about?

The drama is laden with deep thoughts and controversial questions. Everyone chases the truth but is everyone ready for its burden? How can we know a person? Or more precisely, can we at all? People manage their grief and break-ups way differently. Nobles want to always win. 'They cannot afford to lose anything; because they're nobles.' How much of our beliefs and memories are true? How deceived are we in some things? Why do people seek revenge? And then what? Can people get reborn and lead new and maybe better lives under worse circumstances? Is life about surviving no matter what? As long as we're alive, can we achieve everything we dream of, or at least hope? What's Heaven's will? What about human will? Does karma exist? How valid is the saying; what goes around comes around?

Maids is about the journey of the life of each of us, through good and evil. It's about how we deal with troubles, heart breaks and epiphanies differently. It's about us.

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For the first half an hour of starting the film I kept wondering if I was doing the right thing. Jang Hyuk and Lee Bum Soo looked too lost and I didn't see the story but it got so much better I ended up loving it.

So Ki Tae (Jang Hyuk) and Cheol Su (Lee Beom Soo) are best friends always sticking together. Both are poor, unemployed, clumsy, naive and aimless. They smoke and chase girls all day. One day they get stuck into some gangsters' drug operation. First they try to only save their skin but then their companion Meg (Jeon Hye Jin; Lee Seon Kyun's wife) inspires them to try to win something out of the situation. And the chase begins.

Though the plot is nothing new, the hilarious chasing scenes are priceless. It's so adorable how they always get caught no matter how hard they try. And it's amusing to see them hanging in and inventing ways to survive though their life is practically worthless. I loved how they always stick together and help one another.

Their hairstyles, funky clothes and bad language all show vulgar useless guys roaming around the neighbourhood; the guys you'd never want to live next to. But here you cannot but love them. Wonder why!

Son Chang Min here plays Min Cheol; the ambitious gangster who gets involved in a crazy chase between him, drug dealers and the police because he wants to get acknowledged by his boss. How that role suits him!

If I want to mention certain scenes I'll ruin it for you. Just remember Jang Hyuk and Beom Soo under drugs and the bar scene with g.o.d playing in the background -2002 film after all-.

The stunt car chasing scenes were so well-made and hilarious I enjoyed them.

There are some nude and sex scenes; not much and in a funny way.

The music suits the chasing and foolish atmosphere.

In all the film is a cute break after watching some painful and heartbreaking work. Watching young Jang Hyuk, Lee Beom Soo and Son Chang Min is a pleasure by itself. And with good production and an interesting plot, we have a very good movie.

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Wow!! I didn’t see that coming!! Is all I can see after finishing this film.

Choi Yeon Gi (Invincible Cha Seung Won) is a hot tempered diligent prosecutor who chases the truth till the end. One day he takes charge of an appalling crime of a young and beautiful woman. Prosecutor Choi starts digging in the case, the more he digs the more discrepant the results are. Faced by the complexity of the case and the big obstacle of having the investigations broadcast to the whole nation; Choi Yeon Gi find himself in a tie. When everyone else believes the case is solved; only Prosecutor Choi doesn’t.

The film starts as a typical investigation and mystery film but as it goes; it gets more intriguing, more enigmatic and more interesting. Cha Seung Won’s moments with Shin Ha Kyun –acting the main suspect; Kim Young Heon- are so mystifyingly nerve-wracking. The deep questions he throws at his boss (Sin Goo) and the cynical but meaningful arguments with his fellow prosecutor Sung Joon (Ryu Seung Ryeong) are priceless. The ending is astonishing and I never saw it coming.

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I'm not going to touch on the synopsis because each story has its own and they're published on every website. I added it to my watching list long ago because of the gorgeous cast. When I read many hateful comments I hesitated a bit. Honestly I don't like such works that have different stories but I decided to watch it and I'm glad I did. There's a depth to each story; at least four of the five. The fact that the very general concept in love can be interpreted in so many way and is as personal as height and weight is amazingly depicted. It's all called love; your version, their version and my version. There's no one definition and there's no wrong or right. And as Jang Hyuk says in the first story: '' I'm loving sex not because it's sex but because it's her I'm having sex with.'' I loved the film in every way. There's nothing complicated about it. It touches the inner and shows us what we say is not the definite true but it's what we opt to see.

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If not for the fact that Park Yong Ha is the second lead, this drama might have been an easy light journey. A typical love story with all the cliche themes; bad male lead (turns out to be good hiding his scars behind a mask. You know!), adorable and caring but disregarded second male lead, bitch second female, chronic illness, family objections (money envelops and all), misunderstanding, etc.. The drama is an old one and after all the numbers of dramas I watched, it had nothing to add to me. But the acting was great. There were many funny moments and other touching ones. Of course I got annoyed to death at all the bitching.

The difficult part is that I watched it for Park Yong Ha and broke my heart over him. Whenever he was on screen I'd start crying. So I enjoyed the drama when he wasn't on screen because I was busy sobbing when he was on. It's a hard journey for PYH's fan.

If you're still a new to dramas you may watch this and enjoy it, or if you're a fan of old dramas -which I doubt anybody is-. You can watch it while doing something else as well, that'd solve the problem.

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I hate the 1980s period of Korean history so much but I find myself always watching or reading anything about it. I'm a masochist, am I not?!

The cast was another reason why I started this. The acting was superb in every single aspect. A heartbreaking story. You'll hate the whole existence after watching this.

You know those misanthropist moments when you feel ashamed being a human, watching this will leave you in that state again.

What is power? What is the power of politics that make people murder each other? What's politics that turn brothers against each other? What is a rebel? and who is the judge? Who's in the right and who's in the wrong? What's being a patriotic? Is standing for your people a crime? What's a human? What's humanity? Is life worth all the heartbreak we go through? Does anyone deserve to die? What about the people who stay behind? Who will heal their wounds?

2 hours of crying, 2 more days of depression; the result of watching this in the best scenario possible.

I will not re-watch it as long as I'm in my right mind. Won't recommend it for heartbroken people. Perfect portrayal of pain and human desperation.

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Cha Seung Won!! Shall I end here?!

This is a total different performance of him; every performance is totally different though.

Talk of the type of teachers I hate the most transforming in my most respected type! Talk of honesty and pure intentions winning over people's hearts!! Talk of adorable kids and a teacher who shut himself off but those children broke his defenses!! Talk of my 2-year experience in teaching elementary students!! That's the film..

I cried buckets; I just couldn't. I don't know if it's because of Cha Seung Won, being a teacher or the greatness of the film but I was so touched.

The song the kids sing at the end of the film then the ending track are so emotive. A must watch film!!

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I started this with half of my mind set t0 drop it right after the first two episodes. The teasers were not encouraging, my most trusted drama eonnis didn't like the 1st two and I loved Beethoven Virus sooooo much not any classical music drama satisfies me anymore. But I started it for Joo Won and I'm so glad I did. I enjoyed every single moment. It was cute, fresh, lovely and full of awesome music.
Yes I started the manga before the drama but dropped it after few chapters to focus on the drama. I don't normally watch Japanese so I didn't watch that version and glad i didn't. I hate comparing and I have it as a rule not to watch different versions of the same thing if I don't have the original to compare with. Anyhow the Korean Tomorrow's Cantabile was a lovely experience for me.
It was touching watching Cha Yoo Jin maturing and growing ; though I didn't like his personality till the end. Seol Nae Bal was too clumsy at the beginning; stayed clumsy but a bit less and I liked her honest and innocent self. Il Rak was a sweetheart; Go Gyeong Pyo is always is. Lee Yeon Ho was the scent of elegance for me. But the best thing about the drama was Franz; especially when he'd say: Baby.
The drive to succeed and the urge to dream is wherever and whenever touching to me and i'm so attached to Dream and ambition dramas. It'd have been great if i watched such dramas when i was in college. This drama and other similar ones help me update my dream list and recharge my energy.
The music was epic; every piece and every performance.

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Sageuk, investigation AND Cha Seung Won?! Well, too tempting for me.

Won Kyu (Cha Seung Won) is a young, diligent, upright and idealistic detective. One day he’s sent to an island to investigate an arson case. Given his all to solve the case, much more gets revealed. The young detective finds himself stuck in a serial killing case with grudges, vengeance and superstitions surrounding him. The more he digs, the deeper he sinks into the mud of the horrific tale. Though he solves the case and though the world seems fine on the outside, Won Kyu’s world completely alters. His ideals and what he always believed true scatter in front of him. Though living, he’s not alive anymore.
The film is a genuine investigation film set in the 19th century. The plot is well-written and the twists are so interesting. Once Won Kyu takes the case you can’t take your eyes off. The lighting, sounds and effects are awesome. The abominable crime scenes are so realistically depicted I couldn’t but close my eyes. And Cha Seung Won! His superb acting gives the film a different and more fabulous air; biased as I am.

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I don't think I'm the only one who has started this because of Choi Siwon! Though his appearances were short and he almost had no dialogue; he was so cute.
Well, after completing 126 dramas and watching 40 in the mean time, a 2005 drama wouldn't bring much newness; but though they didn't surprise or impress me at all, I enjoyed the drama.
It's about the most childish couple I've ever watched. They're so cute and loving though. I understand now why married couples fight all the time but stay together after all.
I'm not a big fan of Ryu Soo Young but his role here was adorable at times so I liked him a bit. It's my introduction to Park Sun Young and she's really good; surprising me!!
I got to know Lee Joong Moon for the first time as well and fell for him -obviously- but was disappointed when I checked his drama list!
The supposed second female lead Park Eun Hye got on my nerves throughout the drama, ohhh goosebumps!!
The sweetest part about this drama was the love triangle between Lee Sang Woo and Ahn Nae Sang to win Jo Eun Ji. I'm loving Jo Eun Ji in The Greatest Marriage now (Park Seon Yeo; Jo Eun Cha's insane ex) and I really liked her here. Lee Sang Woo acting a mute chef was just the most adorable person ever. He always is anyway.
The epilogues here are so interesting. The comedy and the sound effects are cute. It's a good introduction if you're new to kdramas or ro-comedy or if you plan to knit while watching something -like i did-.

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