Drama Review: Heartstrings

I had been meaning to watch this drama for a while now, especially after watching Jung Yong Hwa be a little bit boring in Marry Him If You Dare. I had heard mostly mediocre (verging on bad) things about Heartstrings (the Korean title is You've Fallen for Me) but I wanted something simple and not too involved to watch at night for fluff, and Heartstrings basically delivered all of that.

I'll preface the body of this review by saying I think I observe and care about very weird things in dramas/other shows/movies, but hey, if I didn't have anything different to say than everyone else, why write it right? Also, it has now been a few months since I've actually watched the drama so I have probably forgotten a lot of what I was going to say by now. #irresponsibleblogging

Anyway. Heartstrings. For those who are not familiar, it's set in a performing arts college. Park Shin Hye plays Lee Gyu Won, a traditional Korean music major specializing in the gayageum, which is a Korean string instrument. Gyu Won's grandfather is a renowned traditional Korean singer, so she has a lot to live up to. Jung Yong Hwa, who I always like despite his sometimes-subdued acting, plays Lee Shin, the campus rock star who actually has his own fangirls. But really, does that actually happen anywhere? Actually...I guess every campus does have that one really hot guy all the girls ogle a little bit. But not to the extent that the girls do in this drama.

There are a couple of side plots, including the romance of the hotshot record producer/guest school musical producer Kim Suk Hyun (Song Chang Eui) and dance professor Jung Yoon Soo (Yi Hyun), and dorky Yeo Joon Hee's (the hilarious Kang Min Hyuk) crush on campus star Han Hee Joo (Kim yoon Hye), but the main storyline is the school's big anniversary show, and how the characters all pull together to make it happen. And Gyu Won and Shin fall in love and stuff, giving a bit of closure to second-lead diehards from You're Beautiful.

I think the negative reviews I heard about this drama stem from the fact that it employs tons of cliches. As much as I don't want to just compare anything musical- and school-related to Glee... it's kind of like Glee, minus any gay characters and outcast humor. Instead, it does include Hee Joo's struggle with an eating disorder, and colors her story a bit to elevate her beyond just the school bully. (Instead, her mom is.)

Not sure if anyone is still dying to see this drama, so I won't go into too many more plot details I suppose, but basically it fulfilled my mood at the time for a fluffy, emotionally low commitment drama. I loved the overall look/style of the show, and the fact that it had a more realistic storyline in relation to many other dramas. No eyeball cancer or amnesia here. Not many dramas are set in college, either, and since I'm not really interested in high school dramas anymore (with Answer Me 1997 being the exception), it was nice to see the actors playing characters their actual age.

I always want to like Park Shin Hye more than I do. She's cute, and she always has such nice hair (see: this drama and Heirs). She also has really cute outfits in Heartstrings, and basically I just want to look like that all the time. But I feel like her acting is mostly a touch removed from the present, and she's kind of just smiling prettily, crying loudly, or pouting childishly. Honestly, for me, she was at her best in You're Beautiful, and her work after that has just been not that great. Jung Yong Hwa is also not the best actor there ever was, but he makes it work, and I find him pretty likable anyway. The chemistry between these two didn't gel all the way for me, though those coffee scenes were pretty cute. And of course, Yong Hwa gets to be a rock star in this drama, so he's on his home turf.

For those in the mood for some light, attractive entertainment, go ahead and check this out if you have the time. If you're looking for something that will really grab you and ignite them ~feels, you'll do better to turn elsewhere. Meanwhile, I'm just finishing up I Need Romance 3, so look out for a recap of that once I'm through!

Emergency Couple Final Thoughts

Credit: DramaFever

I know I am shamefully late with this post, but even though it's been almost two months I do want to finally throw a quick post up to wrap my Emergency Couple viewing experience. 

Overall, I really enjoyed this drama and I was sad to see it end (partially because the ending was kind of unsatisfying). To be fair, it would have taken a lot for me to not like this drama, considering I love both the leads. They both filled their roles very well and I thought they had pretty good chemistry. It was great to see both Song Ji Hyo and Choi Jin Hyuk play lighthearted characters for a change. The supporting characters were pretty good too - even Chang Min's mom grew on me by the end. Well, ok, she didn't actually grow on me, but she was less awful. I especially liked Professor Shin, and the most important side character in the drama, all the actresses' creamy orange lipstick...more about my crazy beauty products hoarding spree in a later post.

This drama did fizzle out a bit for me by the end, and I felt like they could have upped the dramatic stakes in the last two episodes especially. I guess the more realistic approach they took was much better than adding the typical drama ending with some crazy ailment befalling one of the leads, or a random and sudden study abroad trip that causes the leads to separate for three years and then reunite with slightly different hair styles to denote time lapse. Bah. Still, Emergency Couple was easy to watch, even if it lacked much of the heart-stopping ~feels typically associated with kdramas. I don't know if I'll be re-watching this one with so many other good ones out there, but I am glad I watched it as it aired and had the experience of writing for the DF Drama Club. (Check out all of the DramaFever Drama Club's posts at DF News.)

One more personal Emergency Couple-related note: I loved Ji Hyo's hair color in the drama so I decided to dye my hair a nice cool red shade too. It's been a bit of a journey to arrive at the proper care for my new color so I'll do a post a bit further down the line when I've actually figured it out for myself!

Emergency Couple Midway Check-In

Credit: E News and DramaFever

Ok, this is a little bit past midway now, but time just seems to fly and before I knew it, we were at episode 14 and 15, aka 3/4 of the way into this 20 episode drama.

I gotta say I am loving this drama, which should come as no surprise given the fact that I loved both leads already, and how perfectly the drama fits into my self-made "urban professional romantic comedy" genre that I mentioned in my DramaFever Drama Club post. Emergency Couple is a little bit I Need Romance, a little bit Grey's Anatomy. After all those dramatic rich guy/poor girl dramas involving extraordinary/unrealistic circumstances, this quiet, grown up drama about divorcees finding their way back to each other and (hopefully) falling back in love is something different and a little more genuine and complex.

I am a little concerned though, because given the fact that we are 3/4 through with the drama, only 1/2 of the couple is back in love with the other. Chang Min's feelings for Jin Hee reawakened a few episodes ago now, but Jin Hee hasn't shown any obvious signs of reciprocating. In this week's episodes, she even outwardly told him they couldn't possibly get back together because of all the old fights and family feuds that would be restarted. Something about those close shots on Jin Hee's face as she remembers all the happy and sad times tells me that her feelings aren't so simple.

I've come to really like all the characters, even the ones who seemed to be annoying in the beginning. I thought the other interns would all be super annoying, especially the married couple, but they're actually turning out to be normal - especially Ah Reum. I thought she would be another crazy 2nd female lead, but she's actually been much more likable. The biggest surprise of all is Chang Min's umma - this actress drove me absolutely crazy (in the bad way) in Heirs, and also much of the first half of Emergency Couple. When she appeared in Emergency Couple I thought I was going to rip my hair out having to watch her play a psycho mom again. But then, a miraculous thing happened...last week, I actually felt bad for her character. Any drama that can lessen my annoyance with the psycho mom in general, and this particular psycho mom, is a well-done drama indeed. Jin Ae and Kwang Soo are turning out to not only be not irritating, but quite charming.

There's a lot of ground still to cover in the remaining four episodes of the drama. Jin Hee still has to come to terms with the fact that she and Chang Min are meant to be! Also of course there are some side stories. Hopefully Ah Reum gives Yong Kyu a chance, or he gets over her and empowers himself. And hopefully Jin Ae and Kwang Soo get on their feet too. And Chun Soo and Ji Hye need to get back together too.

I'll be watching faithfully for the next two weeks, clutching my Eeyore and teddy bears puppies! Can't wait to see how this drama plays out.

My Liebster Award post!

Zombie Mamma, who I wrote with for the Marry Him If You Dare drama club on DramaFever News, tagged me for a Liebster Award!! I must confess, I haven't heard of this before but it's such a lovely idea so I'm very honored to participate. Here are my answers to the questionnaire =)

1. What was your favorite drama of 2013?

So...up until fall of 2013, I was a serial marathoner. I would wait until shows were completely finished, see if people still thought they were good months later, and then watch them. The only dramas I watched in 2013 that were made in 2013 were Heirs and Marry Him If You Dare - neither were stellar. Running Man isn't a drama, but it's the Korean show I became absolutely OBSESSED with in 2013, so I guess that's my best answer! 

2. If K-Pop is your thing, which artist/group is your all-time favorite? Which song and/or album of his/hers/theirs is your favorite?

I haven't followed kpop much, but I think the genre as a whole is pretty fun so I listen sometimes. I loves me some Big Bang. 

3. If you were to star in your very own noona romance drama, who would  be the younger man to steal your heart and how would he do it?

Hm. I think all of the actors I like/know are actually just about my age or older...I don't think I know any who are younger. 

4. Who is your all-time favorite K-Drama/K-Pop star/group? Why?

Favorite kdrama: Coffee Prince 4 lyfe 

Favorite kpop star/group: Big Bang

5. If you could spend a day hanging out with your ultimate bias, who would it be and what would you do?

Oh boy. I have never had to pick just one before. Maybe Hyun Bin? Or Gong Yoo because he seems goofier haha. It would be fun to just hang out in Seoul and do Seoul-ish things, like shop and go to a spa and eat and hang out in coffee shops. And cat cafes. All the cat cafes. Is that a boring answer? 

6. If you could visit South Korea, would you be more interested in exploring the country as a whole or would you rather visit all of your favorite drama locations? Why?

I was lucky enough to go to Korea last spring! It was amazing and I really want to go back again soon. I would definitely prefer to see the country as a whole, because you'll see many drama locations/places similar to drama locations along the way anyway. Korea is pretty small country, and they make a TON of dramas haha. 

7. Which do you enjoy more: Watching all the newest dramas, even if it means waiting a week to find out what happens next or waiting until a drama has finished airing so you can marathon the entire drama in one go?

As I mentioned before, I used to marathon, but recently started watching a couple series as they come out. I think it depends on what I'm going after - marathoning is a much more solitary experience. I go into hibernation mode and just watch all of it in my pajamas so it feels kind of like a mind cleanse. Watching shows as they come out is not bad, but it's most fun when you have friends watching it too to squeal about it every week. I must say, I missed the boat catching My Love From Another Star as it aired, and am really regretting it since everyone was talking about it and I had to remain spoiler-free. 

8. In your opinion, which K-drama has the best kiss scene and which has the worst?

Mmm. Best off the top of my head is maybe the piano kiss in My Lovely Samsoon? Worst is anything with Park Shin Hye. 

9. What is the most played song on your iPod (or equivalent) right now?

I've been playing a lot of Leessang lately because it's the newest thing I have. Listening to music in a language I don't understand is helpful for drowning out the noise/falling asleep on the bus 'cause I don't get distracted by the lyrics. 

10. If you could interview any Hallyu star, who would it be and what would you ask?

Uhmmm. Does the entire Running Man cast count? I would ask them if I could be their collective best friend/honorary 8th member. 

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So the Liebster Award rules dictate I'm supposed to nominate 10 more people...but embarrassingly I actually do not know 10 more people. I know a couple, most of whom have already been nominated it seems. So...I nominate Sagedandconfused and The Bot Experience, my fellow Emergency Couple drama clubbers! And anyone else who is reading this who has a blog that's just starting up!

Here are the rules: 

1. Each nominee link back the person who nominated them.

2. Answer 10 questions which are given to you by the nominator.

3. Nominate 10 other bloggers for this award who have less than 200 followers.

4. Create 10 questions for your nominees to answer.

5. Let the nominees know that they have been nominated by going to their blog and notifying them.

My questions (some of which I have borrowed from previous Liebster questions because my brain feels drained at the moment):

1. How did you find out about k-dramas and what was your 'gateway drama'?

2. What Korean food do you always see in dramas that you really want to try?

3. What would be the first thing you would do if you had a day in Seoul? 

4. If you could travel through time to hang out on any drama set for a day, which one would it be?

5. Where do you think the kdrama industry has room to improve?

6. What impact has kdrama had on your life (besides hours of gleeful entertainment and eye candy)? 

7. Which is your favorite drama kiss?

8. Have you ever converted any of your friends/family into drama lovers?

9. If you were the star of a kdrama, what would the plot be? Who would be the leading man? The second lead? 

10. What other kinds of TV shows and movies do you like besides Korean stuff? 

Emergency Couple Drama Club on DramaFever News!

The tvN drama Emergency Couple is going into its third week! I am currently writing for DramaFever's weekly Drama Club discussion on the series, so Korean drama fans can catch up with all of our posts starting here with week 1, part 1.

I've been excited about this drama ever since I found out Choi Jin Hyuk and Song Ji Hyo would be starring in it together (I'm still relatively new to the kdrama fandom so knowing and liking both the leads is new to me). I knew Choi Jin Hyuk from I Need Romance and Heirs, and Song Ji Hyo from my current obsession, Running Man (well, and Goong, but let's not talk about that). It's funny that I have been getting random pangs of nostalgia for my Grey's Anatomy days, and here is the perfect thing to give me a hint of the medical drama without the crazy musical episodes and plane crashes that kill of half the cast, or whatever. Having seen episode 4, the drama is definitely doing well so far and I'm looking forward to seeing how everything works out!

I'll generally try to save my drama raving for the drama club but I'll try to do a halfway and ending check in here at my home base. =)