There's just something about this drama. I like it, but I'm not entirely sure why. It's not the acting, which is okay but not great. It's not the writing. (Again, decent, but nothing special.) And it's definitely not the directing, which is usually quite heavy-handed. (Actually, I blame most of Horse Healer's faults on the directing.) Although I'm unfamiliar with many of the actors, those I have seen before are not showcasing their talents in this particular drama.
But despite all its faults, there is something that I find very engaging about Horse Healer. And maybe I should blame that on the director as well. I'm not entirely sure what that ineffable something is, but for now I'm hooked. I can't say that I love this drama. Nor do I feel like it's drama crack. But I enjoy watching it, and I find myself looking forward to the next opportunity to watch more.
Seriously, what is WITH this show? The promotional material explained that it was going to be a drama about a man in a mental institution who is broken out by the daughter of a loan shark who needs him to help her take over her mother's operations. It's written and directed by the same people who brought us the awesome and unpredictable History of the Salaryman. It stars Kang Ji Hwan, who makes everything he's in sparkle and shine, even if it's not very good. It also stars Hwang Jung Eum, who easily won me over in Full House Take 2 despite my great reluctance to like anything about that show. There's also murder, intrigue, betrayal, and murder. This drama should be amazing, right?
The penultimate episode. Finally, a little honesty up in here.
Episode 9: The Roller Coaster Ride of a Woman's Friendship! Tears of the Slap?! (What does that last part even mean?)
I went into this drama with a lot of trepidation. I couldn't help feeling that the premise left me doubting that I would like it, since it made this drama sound so much like it was trying to set feminism back 100 years. I worried that Han Se Kyung would be the antithesis to independent women everywhere, and that this drama would mostly promote materialism, greed, and shallowness. I was never happier to be proven wrong.
I'm finally back to the world of the blogging! I guess I just have to acknowledge that the holidays are really over and get back to normal life.
I did use some of this time to marathon another jdorama—Guilty Akuma to Keiyakushita Onna—which also stars Kanno Miho and Tamaki Hiroshi, but is a dark revenge drama. It's not my usual thing, but it's good, and compelling. Thank you to Anonymous, who recommended it to me. However, after watching so much heartbreak between Tamaki Hiroshi and Kanno Miho, it's great to get back to the happier and lighter story of Kekkon Shinai.
Some of you may have noticed that it's been a while since I posted anything. Like a month. Don't worry, I didn't die, or get sick (a cold doesn't really count), or have anything dramatic happen. I've just had a severe case of the lazies since Christmas.
