Eman's K-Drama Favs - (Vol. 1) Hello. It's Eman. K-pop lover and K-drama fiend. I spend about half my "Korea time" watching k-dramas. I think k-drama offers some of the best, funniest, thrilling, and most romantic stories one can find. They offer an experience that is hard to find in Western entertainment. So in that spirit I'd like to offer some recommendations. Here we go. Inspiring Generation (2014) Genre: Period Drama / Action (Martial Arts) Set-Up: A young Korean fighter from meager origins rises up to protect his family and people from powerful enemies during 1930s occupied Korea. Cast: Kim Hyun-joong, Im Soo-hyang, Jin Se-yeon, Yoon Hyun-Min Comment: A great period drama that aspires to be more than a simple fighting drama. Dramatic, tense and exciting, moving and romantic. This remains one of my all-time favorite dramas. Kim Hyun-joong is great as the stoic yet principled hero. Im Soo-hyang gives the best femme-fatale performance I've ever seen in any Korean drama ever. Sexy, dangerous and dynamic, she is absolutely exceptional. The best performance in the show bar none. Jin Se-yeon shines as the pure and devoted romantic interest. Features a sprawling supporting cast that manages to assemble some of the most memorable characters of any drama I've watched. Overall great production values and devotion to depicting the period. Also features an excellent original score. I highly recommend it. Trailer: (Official) https://www.viki.com/videos/1027700v-official-teaser (Fanmade) The Prime Minister And I (2013) Genre: Romantic Comedy / Drama Set-Up: A stuffy, dignified, newly minted Prime Minister and a plucky, young celebrity gossip reporter are forced into an unlikely contract marriage. Cast: Lee Beom-Soo, Im Yoona, Yoon Si-Yoon, Chae Jung-An Comment: Some really hilarious interactions and characters. Beom-Soo and Yoona have great chemistry together. Yoona’s character’s father is so funny and endearing yet heartbreaking. Many of the usual contract marriage trappings, co-habitation, hate each other at first but then come to love each other fare. Overall a great mix of comedy, romance, and drama. One of my favorite rom-coms, and I believe, an entirely underrated one. (NOTE: As you may know if you’ve perused much of this site. I’m a die hard Yoona Addict. This is my favorite performance from her. I think she fits this sort of material perfectly.) Trailer: Feel free to comment! Recommend your own dramas! Whatever! - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - An Official Emanresu™ Thread - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - "The Cuteness Melts The Hearts Of All Men" The Prettiest Actress In K-Drama Boy Groups Suck Anyone Like Taiwanese Dramas? Do You All Like Yeri? Does Everyone Hate Korean Beauty Standards? YES! YES! YES! Favorite "Nostalgia" Hits Spoiler: MORE MOMOLAND - Boom Boom - Show Champion Seolhyun - Mind Bridge - Spring & Summer 2018 What Are Your Groups? From Zero To Hero! 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Your Favorite '99 Liners "I Got So Distracted By Joy's Ass" How Do You Stan? I Just Watched BTS Perform At The AMAs [Appreciation No. 2] Nayoung & Her Chubby Cheeks Complete Me As A Fanboy BTS: A Hipster's Lament I'm In Love With Shin Se-Kyung Someone Tell Me About Kim Lip So I Can Fanboy Properly Favorite MVs That Aren't Because You Think They're All So Gosh Darn Pretty/Handsome Confess To Eman (Anonymously) TWICE - Likey [MV] | A Review By Emanresu The Most Important Group In Your Life How Important Is Physical Attractiveness To You (For Groups/Idols You Stan/Follow)? Idols You Miss Idols And Their Pets I Think I Like Yeri Now The Cutest Idol Ever Thread Prettiest/Most Handsome Person You've Known Personally I Never Thought I'd Get Into... I'm 28 And I Love Tzuyu One Photo That Best Sums Up Your Favorite Idol What's Your Favorite Fancam? Yoona's Short Hair Domination Continues (Eman Live On Location) Play It On Repeat. Your New Obsession. Who Are You Currently Crushing On? 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i actually really didn't like the prime minister & i at all woops....imo yoona's best role was in love rain, i thought she really suited the main female lead's character & the overall aesthetic and vibe of the drama matched well with her acting and visual - although i didn't really like love rain much either.
That's okay! Different strokes! I also loved her in Love Rain but I wasn't fond of the male lead in that so I have a love/hate relationship with that drama. Honestly if they would have had a different actor it would be one of my favorites.
I have yet to watch Inspiring Generation despite the fact that pre-scandal Kim Hyun Joong stars there. I've heard his acting was really good here after watching some dramas were his acting was burned to ashes (I still love Playful kiss and BOF regardless). I may have to seriously consider watching it if you're recommending it. And I agree with Prime Minister and I. I really enjoyed watching it. I recommend Signal, it is a solid drama from beginning to end. It keeps you on the edge of your seat all the time. One more happy ending- A story about finding one more happy ending after a series of failures mainly in love and relationships. The friendship of the four female leads reminds me of Sex and the city, minus the sex. Sooyoung's bf stars there and he steals hearts with his acting. A very good cast. Sassy go go - more of a juvenile series, it's very entertaining. A good show to fall for Apink's Eunji. Andante- Haven't finished this one but it is set in a town where people help others in their last days and where everything seems to revolve around those terminally ill, it's very interesting. I wont say more to avoid spoilers. EXO's Kai stars here.
I cringed so much at the opening scene that I never watched the drama. My kdrama loving friend didn't like it because of Yoona. Is it any good?
oh yeah, i really didn't like the male lead as well....his acting isn't terrible but just the character he played was just a really big turn off - i could barely finish the drama because of him. he was also the mc of produce 101 season 1 and i couldn't stand him, i had to skip/fast forward all the scenes of him - maybe i just don't like him in general lol. i thought the drama was really generic, the plot was really cheesy as well - it doesn't really stand out from other romance dramas. yoona's acting was so-so in the drama, both characters she played had little to no depth to them - the male lead as well wasn't a terrible actor but his character was just really off putting. if i had to describe love rain in one word it's mediocre :/ there are a lot better romantic dramas that are more worth your time.
As I said I'm conflicted. I really dislike the main actor's character so that was always hindering my total enjoyment of the drama. That said, I think it overall is enjoyable and has a great mix of comedy, fun hijinks, romance, and heartbreak. It's really two stories in one, but I won't spoil anymore in case you watch it. EDIT: I actually very much enjoyed Yoona in that drama. As @Mynty noted, her character doesn't have a lot of depth. But it's still my 2nd favorite performance by her of those I've seen. (I still need to watch her most recent drama though.) You'll have to take my feeling on her with a grain of salt though as I'm sure my love of Yoona factors into my assessment. I tend to enjoy her in most dramas.
I see you mention not liking the male lead in love rain. I watched him in You're beautiful and I was in love but I have never been able to bring myself to watch any other drama where he stars. I've also read that about Yoona's character in that drama.
I've only seen Kim Hyun Joong in this drama. I loved his character and thought he did an exceptional job. Based on his performance here, he ranks as one of my favorite male leads. I tend to have a less is more approach to male leads. I prefer male lead performances that are more understated. "Man of few words" type characters. With that territory sometimes comes accusation of "wooden" acting, but I didn't get that feeling from him. I read that his scandal really turned his career upside down. Which is disappointing, as I'm rather fond of him as an actor.
His scandal is far from being over and now there's a child in the middle to make matters worse because he didn't ask to be born and he is the one getting the worst part out of this. Yes his career was promising before the scandal but now he would need a miracle to reach his former glory. Things were messed up pretty bad between these two. He has continued to work but I don't know if he has any fans left. He was my first Korean crush and bias
Signal is on my "watch it you asshole" list I just haven't ever gotten around to it lol. I've heard wonderful things so I look forward to it. Re: Sassy Go Go/Eunji I haven't seen that drama but I've seen her once before. She plays a supporting character in my favorite drama of all time That Winter The Wind Blows. I really enjoyed her in that and thought she did a great job! I haven't seen the others either but I'll add them to my list.
@soshilovelife Another tidbit about Inspiring Generation. The drama features one of my favorite original songs of any k-drama I've ever seen. It's an uplifting exhilarating orchestral piece that acts as a the inspirational "theme" for the series and is featured throughout. It is perhaps in my Top 5 favorite musical selections of any drama ever. But for whatever reason it was not released with the Original Soundtrack. I've searched and searched and searched online to find it. A rip. Anything. But I have yet to locate it. If you ever watch it I'll point it out.
