"Taking Responsibility"

  A common theme in dramas, it can refer to something as simple as paying for dry cleaning or damages to property. More commonly, it refers to a lifelong commitment to marriage after getting someone pregnant (or sometimes after a one-night stand).

Reasons I LOVE Scent of a Woman

A (mostly) pictoral essay.


  First things first. If you don't know about this, you should.

Such a gorgeously shot and smoldering tango scene has never been witnessed in a drama.
  Secondly, Kim Sun Ah and Lee Dong Wook. Kim Sun Ah was already pretty much my favorite Korean actress, but this drama made me fall madly in love with Dong Wook. This love was only deepened by Wild Romance and The Recipe, btw. Both are great actors, and their chemistry was incredible. Crackling, I tell you, crackling!

I Love You Review

  This was my first exposure to kdrama, the first delicious sip that led to my current and abiding kdrama addiction. I had recently been interested in trying to find out more about international tv, since I love international cinema and love to be exposed to other cultures. It was late one night, and I was flipping through the cable channels—you know the ones past 100 on basic cable that almost nobody watches? It was then that I saw this

You're Beautiful Review

So. Much. Pretty.

  I know it's kdrama blasphemy, but I hated You're Beautiful. This isn't an unusual response from me with things other girls typically love. For instance, I also hate Jane Eyre and Little Women with a passion, something my usually like-minded friends just can't grasp. When I first started watching kdramas, I found it intriguing that heroines weren't always smart/pretty (see Mischievous Kiss), but I found Go Mi Nyeo to be absolutely mind-boggling, and I swear my IQ dropped just watching her. The only things she had going for her were her ability to sing and her crush on Hwang Tae Kyung. My feminism hurts just thinking that loving a guy is the main thing that defines this woman.

The King 2 Hearts Review

  This drama is packed with great stuff—romance, political intrigue, comedy, action, and frankly some of the best non-asian actors I've seen in a kdrama. (Most of them aren't actually good actors, but most "foreign" actors I've seen in kdramas have been terrible, and these actors are somewhat decent. . . mostly.)
  One of my favorite aspects of this drama is Ha Ji Won's character Kim Hang Ah. She's a tough-as-nails North Korean drill sergeant who has to deal with South Korea's crown prince/Peter Pan/playboy Lee Jae Ha (in a world where South Korea has a nominal monarchy). Are we surprised that Ha Ji Won is playing a tough chick? Not in the least, because she's awesome at it, but this girl has a squishy center.

My Girlfriend is a Gumiho Review

  To be honest, I'm not always a fan of the Hong Sisters' dramas. This drama had been on the back burner for me for a long time—I had some desire to watch it, but needed a little push to start it. That push came (happily) from a combination of my current frenzy over Big and a newfound love for Lee Seung Ki after watching King 2 Hearts. And I'm glad I finally got that push.
  It's not a perfect drama, but despite that, I really enjoyed it. How can you not swoon over Lee Seung Ki's adorable dimples? How could I resist the delightful twist on a Korean fable/fairy tale? (I'm a total sucker for good fairy tale adaptations, even if I'm not very well versed on the story.) And the Hong Sisters are generally quite good at writing comedy. I also loved the mystery interwoven throughout the story, which added a nice tension and some conflict to the plot.