Sweet Stranger and Me (The Man Living in Our House) #review

Woorijibe Saneun Namja / 우리집에 사는 남자

Released -  Oct - Dec, 2016
Episodes -  16
Network - KBS2
Writer -  Kim Eun jung, Yoo Hyun sook (webtune),
Genre -  Family, Comedy, Romance
Original -  Based on 2015 webtoon (same name)

CAST

SYNOPSIS

Hong Na ri, a flight attendant, returns to her hometown to visit her mother's grave. There, she sees a young man. Go Nan gil introduces himself as her father. He now lives in Na ri's house and runs her mother's small dumpling restaurant.

REVIEW

This did NOT start out great and I was tempted to drop it after the first two episodes.

Jo Bo ah's Do Yeo joo and Kim Ji hoon's Jo Dong jin made me angry and had me thinking this would be another melodrama about infidelity and how simple it is for vacuous bitches to steal someone's lacking-character man.

It was also really eerie to keep seeing little Lee Eun sul all grown up as Soo Ae!

Lee Eun sul                                                                                    Soo Ae                               

Also, the annoying recaps seemed to go on and on and on . . . at the start of almost every episode, and then in the middle when one of the characters 'remembers' something...

Annoying and pointless.

Imagine trying to read a novel written this way (and yes, I've read a few, actually) where the author rewrites a scene you've just read, or that you've read a few chapters back again and again until you want to throw the book at a wall or stop reading the story or delete it from your Kindle.

The director also chose to chop up the story, which makes no sense and throws off the viewer who is trying to understand what is going on.

Wouldn't it be better to give the viewer a REASON for jumping around instead of just skipping 2 or 4 incidentals and then going back to cover them 3/4 of the way through an episode?

A lot of why are we here when we were there just a minute ago? type directing that I'm not fond of and will never grow to like or understand.

THEN they threw the creepy stepfather/daughter thing into the mix and I was like no, just... no.

And, AGAIN, this is another KDo that stars super-sexy, sexy, syrupy-voiced Lee Soo hyuk NOT as the leading man but as another second.

Another second who didn't manage to give me a moment of 2nd Lead Syndrome.

Lee Soo hyuk as Kwon Duk bong

However!

The reason I rated this as high as I did is for one reason only.

Despite all of these issues, as the story of a jilted lover who returns home to find peace and answers but instead discovers her ultimate fate, the plot became more interesting.

I stopped constantly comparing Soo Ae to little Eun sul, and the infrequent clashes between Soo Ae's Hong Na ri and her unfaithful Jo Dong jin weren't as in-your-face as I had anticipated.

The stepfather/daughter thing, though? That took some time to get over and try to ignore.

It became interesting to watch Na ri and Go Nan gil get to know one another better and slowly become drawn to one another.

I especially liked how the writer handled the infidelity issue.

Little Miss Special wasn't rewarded for her bad behavior, and Mr. Thinks-He's-Hot-Stuff ended up in a pile of remorse and regret instead of being able to strut his stuff in the hurtful aftermath.

But, that wasn't the gist of this story and it ended up being dropped entirely after only a few episodes in.

What really mattered was the little Dumpling Shop currently being run by Nan gil, a boy who grew up in an orphanage who befriended Na ri's mother and was always secretly in love with Na ri.

This is the second KDo I've watched where single men are permitted (somehow) to 'adopt' children, which is highly disturbing for an American to try and grapple.

This guy adopts tons of young boys and raises them to be gangpae for his debt collection company fronting as a lender while dipping into all kinds of illegal activities.

After Nan gil ends up behind bars, he's a changed man upon release and runs back to his 'mom', Na ri's mother, to help at the Dumpling Shack.

I can't really say anymore without giving away too much, but there is a ton of intrigue, plot development, and a very slow but strangely fulfilling romance between Nan gil and Na ri.

And like most every KDo I've ever watched, there are a ton of aside characters with their own stories and problems, and extended family members who aren't all worth bragging about and who manage to ruin things for their children.

Let's just call it 'typical' and leave it at that.

The romance was believable, but Na ri tended to behave manipulative and a little too bossy for someone her age, which was a minor let-down.

However, she did manage to possess just enough redeeming quality in her character to make me want to root for her and Nan gil.

Nan gil's badass performances were sexy, thrilling, and poetically sad, which helped to draw me to him and make me want to see him end up happy.

Lee Soo hyuk did a marvelous job portraying a high-fashion attorney against his family's fortune and bad habits who starts out wanting one thing from Na ri and then another before ending up in an altogether different place at the end.

The ending was about 30 minutes worth of recap and pregnant pauses but still managed to work itself out -- as did all of the minor characters and their issues.

I watched this in two days, which says something about the dynamic content of the story, so I think you'll find it just as interesting if you give it a chance to prove itself.

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Uncontrollably Fond #review

함부로 애틋하게  /  Hambooro Aeteuthage

Writer -  Lee Kyoung hee
Genre -  Romance, Melodrama
Network -  KBS2
Episodes -  20
Released -  Jul - Sept, 2016

CAST

PLOT

Shin Joon young is an intelligent and attractive actor and singer. No Eul is a Documentaries PD who values money over justice and kisses up to those with more power than her.

REVIEW

The No Rating is no joke.

Finished watching last night and still don't know what to do with this drama today !

I've come this close to being at a complete loss before yet always managed to pull through, but not this time.

This time, I am torn between giving it a bad review and low rating and giving it a favorable review with a low rating.

Either way, it is likely that I don't want to low-rate this one despite its being completely deserving, and for a number of reasons.

It had no plot.

It left me so empty inside that I didn't know what to do or how to feel when it finally ended.

There was no romance.

None.

There were no happy or relieving moments in all 20 episodes.

None.

It is obvious (now) that my only interest in Uncontrollably Fond was that it starred Kim Woo bin, whom I am always anxious and happy to see grace a screen for any amount of time.

As I suffered in this confusing dilemma, I thought about getting rid of my star ratings system and using words or emotion to rate future dramas.

I'm also still working on the creation of a Vlog, but both are immaterial to this post.

So, let's do this instead.

The HEA -  

Because it didn't occur, but what turned out to be a shocker was my inability to shed a single tear throughout Episodes 19-20.

The Eye Candy - 

Because it starred Kim Woo bin.

Actually choked on my fountain Diet Coke when this scene occurred in Episode 4, and then as I had to wipe off the drool, it took awhile more to get my eyes back inside my head.

Please, towel, DO fall down!

Was it Cinderella-ish? No, because both leads stem from lowly backgrounds and then both grew to become self-sufficient; though Joon young made more of himself as a Pop Idol extraordinaire.

The Melo in Melodrama - 

Or, should it be the Drama in Melodrama?

Hard to say because this offered an abundance (overload) of both with hardly any relief effort on the part of the writer or director.

The Cast - 

Because while the story itself proved less than memorable or desirable as a 20-episode watch, the folks attempting to make it great did their best to intrigue me and make me want to root for them.

Which is the major issue, now that I think about it.

I gave up hope of seeing anyone happy after awhile because I knew NOTHING would go right or well for any of the players, which is a huge turn-off in my book.

The characters deserved something yet the writer/director gave them nothing.

The Cliché Factor - 

Brain Tumor, Car/Pedestrian Incidents, Chaebol shenanigans, Dishonesty disguised as Love, Catty Bitch vs Poor Chick, Insurmountable Debt, Orphaned, Getting Pregnant Early is the Devil Incarnate, Wide-Eyed Kissing, Selfish Parents.

Those are all I'm able to recall right now, but believe me there are dozens more.

And, as Fond began to unfold, I started to recall a Japanese drama, Beautiful Life, that starred Kimura Takuya as a carefree hair stylist who meets and falls in love with a wheelchair-bound free spirit.

If you haven't watched it, please do, compare the two, and see which you prefer.

Now for the fun stuff.

Not sure if this was deliberate, but Joon young asked a few questions that I felt compelled to answer.

Yes!

HELL Yes!

Um ...

I ask Myself that Same Thing almost Daily, Darling

He also liked talking to himself, ABOUT himself.

Affirmative

I wouldn't use the word Shabby to describe what you see in the Mirror

Which brings me to an eerie Korean Drama conundrum that occurs in most every drama or movie about a 'star'.

I just find it disturbing and creepy to be surrounded by a lot of artwork that centers solely on 'self'

Kind of like living in a house of mirrors, isn't it?

Everywhere you turn, no matter where you look, there you are, staring back at yourself.

Eating, cooking, relaxing on the sofa in front of the TV, taking a piss, and trying to get a good nights' sleep.

I don't get it and don't want to believe that the real stars of these dramas actually do surround themselves with . . . themselves.

And, yes, I am fully aware of the fact that a majority of the artwork comes from their adoring fans -- but not all of it, and certainly not the photography!

Second Lead Syndrome - 

String bean wasn't a bad second and he wasn't the greatest, either.

Im Ju hwan

It never worried me that No Eul would want him more than she would want Joon young.

But, he did play an interesting character with just as many flaws as anyone beneath his station in life.

Which brings me to the 'running theme' that I failed to capture on screen but need to mention in this post.

"Someone Like You"

Great Van Morrison tune, btw




But, for the purpose of the drama, it was meant to imply status, and that just made me laugh.

Anymore, it runs along the same lines as racism to include racist remarks like "Those People" and "Minorities"

The Star-Crossed Lovers - 

Pretty sure all but the last two are large enough to use as background wallpaper (at your disposal).

I liked them together.

I just didn't like the situation(s) the writer/director forced on them to make this such a dry, lifeless story and a major let-down.

And, maybe I'm wrong to want to watch a story that unfolds naturally and with a tad more realism than I'm always forced to have to endure instead.

Does anyone else yearn for a 'true' romance story to occur between their two favorite stars?

Boy meets girl, sparks fly (or not), they slowly get to know one another better when a few life curve balls come their way to liven up the plot (true romance), they work through the issues and end up in bed together.

The End.

And by romance, I mean bells & whistles, hearts & flowers, chivalry on his part, honest (soulful) affection on hers, LOTS of touchy-feely to cement their inner emotions, and mature resolve in the face of adversity in order for us, the viewer, to feel good (and justified) about rooting for them to survive.

If this had been written by me, I'd have had No Eul get pregnant as a legacy token of her TRUE LOVE for Joon young.

Loved this guy's hair!

Jung Soo kyo

And the pretty baby boy wasn't all bad, just way too baby boy for my taste.

Lee Seo won

So, that about sums up my opinion of  Uncontrollably Fond.

Better Luck Next Time, sir Kim Woo bin!

Here are a few more images (which, too, are likely to be large enough to use as a BG).

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Master: God of Noodles

마스터-국수의 신 / Maseuteo - Guksuui Sin

Formerly known as -  Time of the Beast
Aka -  The Master of Revenge
Based on cartoon series "Kooksooui Sin”, pub 2011 to 2013 in Joongang Newspaper
Genre -  Suspense
Writer -  Park In kwon (cartoon), Chae Seung dae
Episodes -  20
Network -  KBS2
Broadcast -  2016, Apr to Jun

CAST

Kim Jae young   Lee Sang yeob   Jung Yoo mi         Cho Jae hyun    Kong Seong yeon       Chun Jyung myun     

PLOT

Since childhood, Kim Gil do knows how to steal and imitate other people. To hide his secret life, he kills, lies, and blackmails his way into a prestigious family known for their Korean noodles restaurant.

Moo Myung makes three friends in an orphanage, and he and two others are affected by Kim Gil do's ruthless actions. The three have their own way to avenge Kim Gil do, but Moo Myung is determined to become the master of noodles. ~~yours truly

REVIEW

Anymore, when I see 20 episodes for a Korean drama, it is a dead giveaway that the extra 4 won't be necessary to the plot.

20 instead of 16 tells me that the Producer and writer(s) have caved by allowing the viewers to decide what comes next . . . or they assume that their interest must be piqued four more times.

So they drag out what could be a terrific thriller -- beating to death not just the story itself but the viewer as well.

It wasn't necessary, but I still found myself riveted to each episode and overly curious to find out what lay ahead for our intrepid avengers.

I thought this would be one in which I would/could skip every odd or even episode just to get it over and done with, but that didn't happen.

This could have wrapped up nicely at 16, leaving the writer(s) to devise a better ending and the viewer less time spent waiting for them to conclude with the obvious -- which occurred for me after episode 10.

So, instead of going into excessive detail about this one, let me tell you what was good (and bad) about God of Noodles.

THE CAST

Superb.

Everyone worked well together and gave the impression of wanting to be there, wanting to get into their parts, and liking one another off-camera.

My only gripe was Kong Seung yeon's Kim Da hae -- too bitchy, bull-headed, and annoying even if she had her reasons.

Kong Seung yeon as Kim Da hae

Hell, a majority of the characters in this story had their reasons, believe me!

She was the only one who behaved childish, rebellious, and immature throughout and, of course, the only one to receive a majority of the attention, love, and romance -- not fair.

THE PRODUCTION

A big miss.

The writer(s) and probably the Director, if not the Producer, tended to skim over what should have been dwelt upon and then over-killed the unnecessary.

Why was the wife of the wicked Master as caustic, vindictive, and shrewish as she behaved?

Sure, we know what he was like prior to his barging into their lives, and yes, it is a given that the marriage would suffer on some level, but it would have been nice to at least be given a glimpse of what that marital angst included.

Because, if Master was such a terrific quick-change artist, someone capable of worming his way into this prestigious family without batting a lash, then it stands to reason he is capable of pulling the wool over not just the old man's eyes but his wife's as well.

Were they ever happy together? How had she truly felt about this arranged marriage that culminated in 'the winner of a noodle making contest also becoming the husband of fair maiden'.

Jinjja?

THE SUB-PLOT

C'mon.

Buckwheat Noodles?

A 'god' of buckwheat noodles.

This is a product you can buy in any grocery store for less than $3, yet I'm supposed to believe that in Korea it is world-class cuisine.

SCENE STEALER'S

There were two.

Jo Hee bong as Dokku

Lee Sang yeob as Park Tae ha

Both men deserve much of the credit if this received rave reviews over there because both men anchored this story and made it worth watching for 20 episodes.

But again, there were issues even with these two -- but only because of their characters as written.

Dokku is a downtrodden hard ass who's motto is never to kill, only hurt or maim.

And, speaking of maiming, if we are to believe that Dokku intercepted Kim Gil do's hit on his former chauffeur/bodyguard, then what was the cause of his eventual limp?

Dokku came to the rescue of these grown kids a number of times, and it was always a pleasure to see him enter the picture.

Park Tae ha lived in the shadow of his drug-addicted father who ended up being executed for his involvement in a double homicide.

Tae ha knew who his father had murdered, befriended their daughter in the orphanage, and when she ends up on the wrong side of the law, Tae ha takes the fall as a way of exonerating the past -- even if it never worked out that way.

He was puppy-dog cute, mild-mannered to a fault, and just as determined to be there for his three orphanage buddies, which cost him dearly in the end.

If you are able to suspend belief when watching something besides romantic fluff, then this will be right up your alley.

If you are like me and expect a lot more credibility in a power-driven suspense story that surrounds things like murder, plotting to murder, psychotic personalities, politics, and food then you will be disappointed.

LOOK-ALIKES

SPELL CHECK

It is defenSe, people.

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