I’ve been in a bit of a drama slump lately. So it was terrific that at one stage there were not one, not two, but THREE current dramas I was eager to watch. Yes, folks, the drama gods are smiling kindly upon our Wed-Thurs slot!
If you know me, you might try to guess which one I like the most. And you would probably be wrong. Because I was totally wrong in my own predictions! You might expect me, famously grumpy and unimpressed by fluff, to be most on board with the serious fare, right? At least, that’s what I expected. So wrong!
Of the three, when they started airing concurrently a couple of weeks ago, the first one I would rush to watch would be… Fated to Love You (MBC). The fluffy, derivative one. I know right! So unexpected. It’s Okay, It’s Love (SBS) is coming in a close second for me. Joseon Gunman (KBS) is falling behind. What? How did that happen?
Joseon Gunmen burst so strongly out of the gates, guns ablazing. Those fabulous promotional posters and trailers! The creative team that brought us The Princess’ Man (KSB, 2011)! – not a groundbreaking drama, but very effective. And finally, LEE JUN KI! Merely, the most beautiful man on the planet, who also can act a bit, whatdoyouknow. Which sane drama viewer doesn’t love Jun Ki? Expectations were high, as I settled myself into my couch and reached for my popcorn.
But… alas! Alack! By the time I got to the cliffhanger at the end of Episode Seven, I’m not even sure I can continue any further. The Princess Man also over-used cliffhangers, but somehow they worked for me there. This time round, I just fear that the resolution will be lame. Besides which, I’m just not sufficiently invested to care.
What went wrong for me? There’s nothing obviously wrong with this show. There’s no rank stupidity, no ridiculously head-desking plot-line. (Apart from the fact that people won’t believe the obvious evidence of their senses and too readily swallow his obvious protestations about his identity – but dramas have overcome bigger credibility hurdles than this, so this can’t explain everything). It knows what it is about (angst, not laughs) and it sticks to its story. The props and sets are great, and the acting solid across the board. Why am I so very bored?
I feel I’ve been here and done this. The characters are cardboardy thin, and somewhat dim-witted. The villains might as well have wondered onto the set from a vaudeville. Jun Ki is doing fine (and looking fine), but his character isn’t really interesting to me. He more has things done to him, than he does things. He seems to me to be more a plot place-holder than a living agent with a will. I’ve never been a fan of the simpering Nam Sang Mi (I couldn’t even get through Time Between Dog and Wolf (MBC, 2007)– sacrilege!), but that in itself shouldn’t be such a big deterrent, when all she is doing is delivering what the plot asks of her.
And therein, methinks, lies the problem. The plot is just too slow and too predictable for me. I guess I’m just a shallow thing. I like the unexpected, the slightly quirky. Or if not, can we at least zip along so that it’s all over quickly, please? I have little tolerance for the slow burn, unless I’m invested, and unfortunately in this case I’m not.
For a while, I’ve been surfing the net while watching, wanting to get through episodes just so that I can clear some space on my hard drive, and if that’s my main reason for watching something, I know I’m in trouble. At this point, I think I’ll only be checking out Episode Eight if I am very bored and very curious. And this makes me feel sad. I wanted to like this show so badly!
Next up, Fated to Love You (MBC, 2014). I’m allergic to Taiwan dramas so I’ve not seen the original (though I’m reliably informed that the TW FtLY is more watchable than most TW-drama – maybe I’ll check it out one rainy day). I do like Jang Hyuk, but I know that he is prone to over-acting, and I much prefer him angst-y (see Chuno (KBS, 2010) or Thank You (MBC, 2007)) than cutesy or comic. I’ve never watched Successful Story of a Bright Girl (SBS, 2002), so I know nothing of the chemistry that Jang Hyuk is supposed to have with his co-star Jang Na Ra. And broad comedy is not really my thing. So it was with some trepidation and a fistful of ready snark that I tuned into Fated to Love You.
And guess what? Yup. I loved it. It is silly, and I like it. After a very rocky start (let’s just all forget all about that super weird opening scene with the shirtless shampoo ad, shall we?), I somehow manage to put up with the slapstick. I’m trying to figure out why, but I’m not sure I can say, the show is just so charming and easy to swallow I popped it into my mouth and it glided down my gullet before I knew it. But I think it has something to do with its move-right-along pace – again, I’m have the attention-span of a goldfish and I really don’t do well with shows that drag things out. It is full of cliches and unashamedly gratuitous set-ups, but somehow manages to avoid the ones I hate the most, like the evil in-law. Or the Stupidity of Bad Rich People. For instance, how refreshing that grandma-in-law saw the worth of the wholesome and genuine Kim Mi Young at once. And while we can not do without misunderstanding, which is the very bedrock upon which this type of romcom plot is built, for a good many episodes at least it was not at an unacceptably egregious level.
But mostly, it’s the charm of the actors. Choi Jin Hyuk is one gorgeous specimen of a man (surely he’s in line for more leading man roles and shouldn’t be doing much more second lead). Fortunately the script does not require his second lead to be too histrionic or obnoxious, he just frets and smoulders quietly, which is very pleasing to the eye (and ear – that voice!). Jang Hyuk is, as predicted, over-acting like the survival of the planet depends on it, but at least that’s being true to the script as a larger-than-life character.
But it’s Jang Na Ra who has captured me. This is my first experience of her and I find her entirely charming. Her door-matty character can be so annoying, but her under-stated and sincere acting manages to make her relate-able. It is her personal story that keeps me watching and invested. I’m interested in her dilemmas and moved by her troubles. I think I’m particularly touched by the loneliness of being trapped in a situation and the courage it takes to deal with something so hard you can’t even disclose it to anyone. It’s to Jang Na Ra’s credit, and the credit of a script that has just managed to stay on the right side of ridiculous, that I’m on board with Kim Mi Young. I’m not that much interested in watching Lee Gun – his is just an unbelievable caricature, and if I don’t feel like drowning him in a pond for a bit of peace and sanity, I count myself lucky.
Sadly, in the last couple of episodes, I feel that Fated to Love You may have jumped the shark for me. Suddenly, I feel annoyed by the slapstick (which I tolerated well enough before). The plot does not make sense (but did it ever?). Most of all, I seem to have lost interest in Kim Mi Young now that she seems to be consumed by noble idiocy. Maybe this is the problem with falling irrationally in love – one might just as suddenly fall out of it? Suddenly, I feel out of love with this show. I feel that the over-acting is all over the place, the slapstick has gone way out of control, the plot has, er, lost the plot, and nothing makes any sense.
I’ve heard that the Lee Gun character is much more of an asshole in the original TW version. Maybe that’s the problem? With Lee Gun being so wonderful and all here, all the angst just doesn’t make any sense. Why is Kim Mi Young still flapping about? Just grab this guy who obviously adores you, whose firstborn you are carrying, end of story. I wonder whether the K version has shot its own plot in the foot by not daring to have Lee Gun be anything less than lovable.
I’ll probably keep watching this show, just because of banked goodwill. But I fear that the honeymoon, bright and happy though it was, may be over.
Which leaves us with It’s Okay It’s Love (SBS, 2014). I’m counting on you, don’t let me down! I know it has opened to mixed reviews, but so far I’ve liked the first two episodes. Yes, Jo In Sung is playing the same character again (look at me! I’m so cynical. And twisted. And magnetic. And I know it. But it’s okay, I’m sexy). But what do we really expect from the man who practically invented hamming? (In a recent Running Man game of charades, Lee Kwang Soo stuck his fist in his mouth and his partner immediately guessed “Jo In Sung!” HAHAHAHA!!!)
(The Running Man meta in this show, by the way, is through the roof. Which is entirely gratuitous, but I can’t help but feel pleased. Lee Kwang Soo is of course a RM regular, and in one episode he and guest Gong Hyo Jin were teamed up as a “drama love couple”, which everyone thought a great joke. In Episode Two of IOIL, the house-mates are watching an episode of, yup, Running Man.)
This show is different, and I really like that. I like the quirky choice of soundtrack. I like its unconventional subject matter. I’m okay, so far, with its pretentiousness, because I’m finding it intriguing. I’m even intrigued by the pairing of Jo In Sung (over-acting) with Gong Hyo Jin (under-acting) – it’s not an immediate hit, for me, but I really want to see how this pans out. I’m even finding Jo In Sung rather amusing, and I can’t wait to see how far he can push the boundaries of self-conscious and self-referential acting, haha!
So, Wed-Thurs has been somewhat mixed for me. But at least I’ve something to watch and write about again, right? Better than nothing at all.
How about you? Are you feasting on Wed-Thurs too?
I’m only watching Fated to love you and loving it so far. But I love Lee Gun so that makes everything easier. I’m really invested in the OTP and I’m glad the male lead is not a typical jerk because I hate that trope. These characters are much more human. Lee Gun might look like a cartoon and act manic but he has many layers. Well, I guess Jang Hyuk acts to my taste cause I’m finding him wonderful. Regards.
Yes, Jang Hyuk does haughty-with-a-heart-of-gold rather well. š
I agree with you totally, my friend. It’s been years that I have something to watch( WANT to watch raw ) every day . Dear Drama God, THANK YOU .
For Mon & Tues, I have King of High School – it’s not perfect( far from it) but OMG, every week I find myself jonsing to watch it, cheering for our illogical OTP.
Yes, I have joined the mass audience ( & our @ samsooki( for HIS JNR., hehe)) for FTLY . I have LOW expectation ( NEVER watched a drama from either Jangs) & just enjoying the over the top fluff.
I end my week with Marriage, not dating… so far , not bad ( crosses fingers) I just watch it for( more) fluff so it’s all good.
As for IOIL … barely tried it -meh…don’t care either way….
But, I’m not complaining since LITS, & I’ve watched PLENTY of turkeys ( Big, Angel Eyes ( GHS, what happened to you???)) I’m grateful to The Drama Gods and prayed that the quality remains HIGH …. Take care, my dear chingu
Unni! *waves*
Yes, it’s nice isn’t it, to have so much we can enjoy.
Yes, FtLY has been fun (mostly), and I’m so relieved to find that I can still enjoy fluff and haven’t totally turned into a monstrous Grumpy Cat, haha!
I’m watching Temptation and I’m enthralled with that. I like it almost as much as Secret Love Affair. I adore Kwon Sang Woo, that’s why. I even just finally dragged myself to watch Queen Of Ambition because i couldn’t stay away from another delicious KSW performance just because icky, unwatchable Yunho was in the cast. lol
I loved your review – thanks for writing it. š
I am watching Fated to Love You and saving Joseon Gunman for later. I’m glad I don’t have to choose one over the other.
I’m watching all three and they’re all so good I can’t put them in organized ranks. But I do agree that ‘Joseon Gunman’ is disappointingly behind the other shows.
‘Fated to Love You’ brandishes its gag (and slapstick) comedy like a weapon, so the more the silliness, the more the fun. It’s not a silly show, it’s a show that embodies silliness. Haha Did that make much sense?
Then there’s ‘It’s Okay, That’s Love’ which I can’t help but absolutely adore because of the refreshing concept and all the craziness involved. I like psychology and I love people that are a little bit mental (they’re always fun to hang out with). I did not consciously think the show was a tad pretentious, but now that you mention it, I can see that it is sometimes.
But I still enjoy the debates and the discussions about what qualifies as wrong or a perversion and what doesn’t. It makes me rethink a lot of my beliefs and I hope that’s what it does with the Korean audience too. They have a lot of problems with open-mindedness so I wish this closer examination of “mental” patients makes them revalue their fixed prejudices.
And behind those two, ‘Joseon Gunman’ falls for being too deliberate and too slow in pace. There’s this feeling about the show similar to watching a pendulum swing right-and-left, right-and-left, right-and-left without much progress. I can’t think of any major points that are lacking about the drama except for its blandness, perhaps.
I’ve been out of drama-watching action for a while. But the current state of play is:– Gave up on Joseon Gunman some time ago (Sorry, Junki! I still love you anyway!). Persevered with Fated to Love You up to ep14 but don’t think I can be bothered to finish it now (my drama friends tell me not to waste my time, it jumped the shark many episodes ago). Will pick up I Love You It’s Ok, it’s the only one who seems to have kept its viewers (love it or hate it) to the end.