A story of redemption

Although so many of my fellow MDLers have focused their reviews and dissatisfaction on holes in the plot and the female lead, I want to take a different view of this charming and sometimes beguilingly beautiful story. While so much of the focus is on the title character, Kokdu - the God of the Afterlife - played by Kim Jung Hyun - the real story is the touching search for love, redemption, and self-acknowledgement of Dr. Han Gye Jeol, persuasively acted with conviction, passion, and emotional range by Im Soo Hyang. She is a highly capable and caring doctor but came with the wrong credentials - a graduate of the least regarded medical school and parents that died when she was young. Stymied in every aspect of her life plus carrying a huge burden into her current life from her past lives, all deeply twined together with Kokdu, she still strives to be the best person and physician she can. Her honesty as a character and an actress kept this drama alive for me. Her quirky, silly side also was effective as a sort of sweet defensive mechanism. And when she finally accepts the truth of who Kokdu is and who she was, this drama - with a few nods to the even greater Goblin - becomes compelling.

I know that Kim Jung Hyun has a deservedly large fan base here but I found his acting, despite its immense vitality, verging on caricature. Perhaps this to make his transformation when he was finally able to admit his deep love for Gye Jeol feel more real.

And those strange plot holes - Ok Shin and Gak Shin are described as the God of Greed and Goddess of Rumor, respectively, but their deity seems limited and their roles as these gods seems left ignored and undeveloped. Kokdu's powers are vast but limited in several fundamental aspects. And who exactly is the strangely ambivalent Grandma Goddess.

Similarly the secondary story - the evil Kim Pil Soo playing a cardboard villain though well acted - is underdeveloped. On the other hand, the love of Han Gye Jeol's brother, a police detective, and Tae Jung Won, a doctor who was a one time friend of Han Gye Cheol is sweet, charming and everything a secondary love story should be.

Perhaps if re-watch Kokdu, these plot holes will disappear. In any case, knowing how beautiful the last four episodes are will help me get through a few of the less ideal parts. But if you like the fantasy genre, this is a very enjoyable drama with some very touching moments. I'm going to look for other dramas with Im Soo Hyang - she was superb!

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Shakesperean perfection

I was both happy and sad to reach the conclusion of this heartwarming and superbly acted drama. As all the interwoven stories reached their satisfactory conclusion, I was reminded of how Shakespeare brought all the multi-faceted strands of his eternal tales to their inevitable end. So many Korean dramas, including many of my favourites, leave too much unexplained or end in a way which does not live up to the excellence of everything to that point. 'Her Private Life' is a uniquely happy exception. While the 'fangirl' thread - and how two mature young woman and their families deal with it - is considered by some to be the main point of the story. I would disagree: it is about reconciliation and family; negotiating the difficult paths of self-discovery. As someone who was adopted, I was particularly attuned to the search for family. And one is given many opportunities to think about the truth of art.

The mix of romance and comedy is perfectly balanced: I was happy that the protagonists did not let misunderstandings - a natural part of life - linger too long to create unnecessary tensions. (How often do I find myself asking the screen - why doesn't he just explain what happened to her!)

Others have commented on the remarkable chemistry of Park Min Young and Kim Jae-Wook, I couldn't agree more. They are one of the most mature couples in Dramaland with a level of understanding, fun, and forgiveness when necessary. Their back stories - lost memories, recovered at precisely the right moment and their reaction to those memories - only reveals the depth of their characters and the characterisation of these superb actors as well. I admit to be being a particular fan of Park Min-Young's - just something about her in every drama to which she lends her extraordinary beauty and smile.

The secondary cast is superb as well, in particular Kim Mi-Kying - the amazing hacker in 'Healer' as Park Min Young's mother and the exasperating but very funny Kim Sun-young as the bizarrely eccentric head of the cultural foundation that runs the Art Gallery at the center of the story.

I will rewatch 'Her Private Life' to relive the experience of these wonderful characters.

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Uncontrollably moving

Many of the reviews on My Drama List of 'Uncontrollably Fond' stress the aspect of melodrama noting that much of the emotional weight of the drama is created by exaggerated situations. Contrary to my fellow drama lovers, I was struck by the characters, not in the least one-dimensional - and how the writers took stereotypical archetypes, the celebrity male and the downtrodden but hardworking female - and developed the story around their response to each other and their different but equally difficult circumstances.

How a 28 year old celebrity on top of the world deals with a death sentence from a deadly disease is believable and touching. The way he deals with the sure realisation that his time is limited, the growth he achieves as a human being during that short time, and those few days and weeks of total happiness with the woman he loves makes his gentle death beautiful and true. Kim Woo-Bin acts this complex character with a perfect balance of bravado and subtlety. The moments where he rebels against his cruel fate are few but powerful; his acceptance of his fate also allows him to do whatever it takes to express his love for No Eul, played by Bae Suzy. Her character is even more complex; her striving for acceptance and success as well as her desire to punish her father's murderer show Bae Suzy's confidence and range. I don't know why several other reviews find her acting sub-par. I found her performance detailed, strong, and fully credible.

The villains are exactly that though at least one, Choi Hyeon-joon (Yu Oh-seong) redeems himself. The secondary parts, their stories, loves, deceptions, and daily lives are effectively portrayed and help add color and detail to the story.

As effective as the OST songs are, even more compelling is the orchestral soundtrack which knits scenes together enhance the emotions being portrayed. It is one of the best scored dramas precisely because the music is not just about the songs, well done and effective as they are.

This is one of those dramas which got better and better. I'm not a crier but the last episode brought on the tears. I'll definitely rewatch this.

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Fascinating take on time travel

Unlike most time travel dramas which assume a ripple in the past will change nearly everything in the future, Alice takes a more intriguing multiverse dynamic to spin its story. It would seem that you can be alive and dead in different realities that appear to be the same reality. Perhaps I haven't explained this well and truth be told, I've only seen 3 episodes but I am completely hooked. The characters are richly drawn and well-acted and the implausible premise become plausible thanks to fine writing. Kim Hee-Sun is predictably superb as the main time traveler but the complexity of her relationship with her son (in one reality) who suffers from an inability to feel emotions makes for some very dramatic moments. The chemistry with her son, well played by Jee Won and their quest to understand the truth that surrounds them is powerful. I'm not a binge watcher, so it will be a few weeks till I finish Alice but it is taking me on a very promising journey.

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A well told story impeccably acted, beautifully directed and with unusually good cinematography

Tackling the difficult subject of gays in Korea, Sweet Munchies starts with the unusual premise of a talented chef (Jung Il-Woo) pretending to be gay to earn the money he needs for his father's medical bills and to keep his restaurant. When a young contract PD (Kang Ji-Young), a regular customer at his bistro, says she needs a gay chef, the chef agrees thinking it would be a one time way to earn money. His affection for the PD leads him to continue when the show is successful, leading to several misunderstandings which are given their full due as all the characters explore their own identities and in the end their reaction when all is revealed. The acting is stellar and enhanced by the use of beautifully filmed closeups that linger on the actors' expressions. The soundtrack fits perfectly with the rhythm of the drama and its unfolding of the story. When the Chef and the PD have their kiss, the sounds of distant jazz make this powerful and passionate moment even more memorable. So are the moments of long silence. My guess is that this drama will reveal even more on repeated viewing. Bravo to the cast, writer, director, and cameramen.

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Healing, .love, and perfect chemistry

There are many characters in Korean dramas that I would aspire to be because of their fundamental goodness, compassion, empathy, and kindness. Han Dong-Jin, in 'Call it Love' might go to the top of that last. His steadfast love turned desire for vengeance in the female lead, Shim Woo-Joo, brilliantly acted by Lee Sung Kung, into love, forgiveness and understanding. This healing is transformative across all the characters, grudgingly perhaps by the villainess, but even she is able to wish Shim Woo-Joo a good life. It's rare enough for chemistry this perfect to exist among the male and female lead but here is carries over to all the couples. The transformation and healing wrought by love permeates this quiet but powerful drama, one that will melt your heart. The cinematography is rather special as well, highlighting the moods of the characters and I appreciate that the OST is not just a play-list of popular songs but uses orchestra and piano to help create and sustain the moods. Call It Love is one of the most soulful dramas I have seen and it will linger with me for a long time.

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Love Conquers All (in the end)

I’ve just finished watching Queen For Seven Days and now, an hour later, am still shaken by the beauty of its ending and the extraordinary character poignantly played by always superb Park Min Young. If anyone fantasizes about being a royal or serving a royal court, this drama should disabuse them of that notion. Early on, I thought that the old adage ‘Love Conquers All’ was not true in the face of power politics but by the drama’s touching conclusion, my faith in the power of love was restored.

Even more than Yeon Woo Jin, who played the Grand Prince, later the King, Lee Dong Un as his older half brother, the tyrannical King Yeonsangun, was more impressive, creating a three dimensional character of a tragic and fatally flawed son, brother, and ruler. I don’t often cry but his death scene, reconciling with his brother, and seeing his father, the late King calling to him, brought tears to my eyes.

Perhaps it was the intent of the writers but Yeon Woo Jin came across as weak, compared to his wife, and without benefit of reading history, one might wonder what kind of King he became. But his beloved Shin Chae Kyung, taught him both the meaning of real love and gave him the power to endure to the end.

All the parts are well acted, in particular Yeom Hye-Ran (who often appears in dramas with Park Min Young) as Lady Shin’s nanna, Jang Hyun-Sun as the loyal to a fault Vice-Premier and father of Lady Shin, and Do Jiwon who plays the Dowager Queen.

I’ll have to be a contrarian on the soundtrack. Even though the songs chosen are beautiful and well sung, modern pop songs don’t fit - for me - a historical drama. The music should reflect the sensibilities and aesthetic of the time portrayed.

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Compelling, literate drama with superb acting

This hauntingly beautiful drama seems to have divided the community. I can't imagine why. It is a well written, highly literate tale of love and redemption aided by superb acting and unusually strong chemistry between the main and secondary leads. The musical score - even more than the songs - lingers in my memory. Doom At Your Service compels careful watching and even more careful listening. It is appropriate that Tak Dong-Kyeong is a literary editor: the writers have created a novel where nearly every line has something important to say.

Park Bo Young is perfection as the heroine who faces a deadly disease and an even more difficult decision. Her character gives comfort, hope, and strength. Like the best K-Dramas, this one will help you on your own road, whatever decisions lie before you. She is a pleasure to watch, completely natural and believable, and her interaction with Doom - well acted by Seo In-Guk- is one the strongest and most powerful I have encountered.

The memorable music in many dramas - Goblin, for example - is the songs that help enhance and underline the story. In Doom At Your Service, there are long sections - particularly in the last episode - of orchestral music that tug at the heart as well. The cinematography adds to the romantic and mysterious atmosphere the writers have created. (I enjoyed the small reference to 'Hotel del Luna' which shares a few points of communality with Doom At Your Service.)

In short, Doom At Your Service goes on my list of very favorite dramas. As soon as I watch another drama with the lovely Park Bo Young, I will watch Doom again and I hope you will too!

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Compelling story with a good heart, great acting, and magnificent effects

I just finished Lovers of the Red Sky and cannot understand the number of very negative reviews generated by this enjoyable and beautiful drama. Perhaps I am more easily pleased than most but I found the story to be compelling and fascinatingly multi-faceted with a good heart beating under its skin. I enjoyed the complete acceptance of interaction between humans and immortals without a trace of skepticism to be refreshing. And art at its very center - the power of art, the divine gift of a great artist to be a beautiful unifying thread. The power of art to overcome evil, to bring joy, beauty, harmony to life is a powerful undercurrent to this well told story.

The acting was good across the board though I've never been a fan of the twitching lips and nostrils that seem to be cliche motions for the bad guy! More importantly, the chemistry between the artist and the astronomer was powerful, poetic, and palpable. It was wonderful to see their love blossom and them living happily ever after.

The ambiguous ending with the forces of the good prince and his evil brother attacking each other reminds us that the battle between good and evil does not end and even as our hero and heroine live happily and happily far away from the strife in the capitol, that battle still rages and at some point may even touch them again.

It's a beautiful story, worth telling, worth experiencing.

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Heart warming and engaging

I hadn't planned to write my thoughts about this delightful and heart-warming drama till I read so many of the negative comments by fellow Mydramalisters. Many of them found the cases uninteresting but this is not, emphatically about the law but rather about how the law impacts the lives of attorneys and one extraordinary lawyer in particular who happens to be autistic. It is about tolerance and acceptance, family and community. Needless to say, Park Eun-Bin is completely convincing as Attorney Woo. You would have to have a heart of stone not to be touched by her story, her life, and her funny, quirky personality. Are autistic people disabled? Or are the abled differently.. This drama might lead you to think the latter. I also enjoyed the soundtrack, not based on songs, but variations on the opening theme. I can't wait for Season 2.

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One of the most delightful, charming, and heart warming Romance series

I decided to watch ‘Love in Contract’ as it starred Park Min Young, my favourite actress, and the premise looked intriguing. After seeing so many negative reviews on MDL I was prepared to be disappointed but found myself smiling, engaged and entranced till the last moment of the last episode.

So many K-dramas are driven by situations created by information not shared between the main characters. I was particularly delighted at how open Choi Sang-eun (Park Min Young) and Jo Ji Ho (Ko Kyung Po) were with each other saving hours of unnecessary tension. Considering some of the complicated plot twists, I thought the writers did a wonderful job of making all the strands of the stories make sense. This was aided by first class acting from top to bottom.

What can I say about Park Min Young except that if anyone on the planet has more beautiful and radiant smile, I’ve yet to see it. She lights up every scene she plays whether comic or serious. If I could be like any K-drama character, it might be Judge Chung Ji Ho for whom kindness and integrity would appear to be instinctual.

For me this was not only a comedy but a healing lesson in empathy, being true to oneself, and to the ultimate moral superiority of honesty.

As a musician, I was struck by how a few piano chords could summon up the depths of the love between Sang-eun and the Judge.

I imagine I will be re-watching this feel good story again and likely soon. My thanks to everyone involved in this.

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