Kmuse's Current Kdrama Hidden Gems

With so many drama options airing every week, it is hard to choose what to watch.  There are always those that have a ton of buzz (Fated to Love You) or A list actors (It's Okay It's Love) that are in the limelight.  But what of those that have great plots, yet somehow get lost in the shuffle?  That is why I, Kmuse, am here to point you in the direction of the current airing hidden gems.  

The Night Watchman's Journal

This drama is currently my absolute favorite flavor of drama crack!  If you can get past the crazy overuse of CGI in the first two episodes and make it to the adult storyline, then you will get to enjoy a fun romp through the magical history of Joseon.  Does it always make sense? Nope.  Do you sometimes feel like mocking all the characters ?  Yes, it is almost mandatory (with the exception of Jung Il Woo's who is wonderful with his cheestastic smirks and knowing glances).  But despite all those aspects, you will thoroughly enjoy a cult classic style story where you cheer for the good guys, boo at the bad guys (Kim Sung Oh in all his horrible campy villain glory), and laugh at the ghosts.  It is a must watch for someone who just wants to be entertained and maybe does not mind a story that does not always make a ton of sense.

Jang BoRi is Here

I can't believe that I am actually doing this, but I must recant to everyone that I told to skip this drama.  (Hanging my head in shame that I was both hasty to judge, as well as the for the fact that I am recommending a drama all about the cutthroat thug world of Hanbok sewing).  Yes you heard right. Behind the whole accidentally amnesia, losing and adopting of children, birth secrets (a turnip cart full of birth secrets), and goofy leading male antics, is the burning question of who will become the head seamstress of all Korea.  Because there can only be one!  It is Rocky in traditional Korean garb.  But don't be put off by the really odd background world, because every character in this drama does an amazing job of telling their story and making you invested in their lives.  It also contains one of my all time favorite villains, Min Jung.  The fake orphan, adopted daughter, social climbing psycho Min Jung is a bad guy that others should study and aspire to.  For once the evil character in a weekend drama is not over acted (at least not too much) and Min Jung's abilities to create lies at the drop of a hat are beyond impressive.  Min Jung puts every ounce of herself into every lie and you can tell that she has left reality so far behind that she believes her own trope.  By episode 42 I have to admit that I am watching for the joy of seeing Min Jung get what she deserves, which happens to be a lot of forceful slaps (could not happen to a more deserving person).  Oh and there is also the leading girl who has amnesia, lives as a Cinderella type life and becomes the genius of all things Hanbok (but I am really watching it for Min Jung). 

Endless Love

If you like epic historical dramas such as Giant and East of Eden, then this is the drama for you.  With a stellar cast and a pretty solid storyline (albeit a bit on the slow side so you have to be patient for the payoff) it keeps viewers engaged in a "who will she pick" roller coaster as we follow our leading lady Ae In (Hwang Jung Eum - Secret).  I recommend this drama with reservation.  If the heroine, Ae In, ends up with the brother I want her to end up with (the always sexy Jung Kyoung Ho - Heartless City) then all is good.  However if she ends up with the cowardly jerk brother (Ryu Soo-Young- 2 weeks) who is her first love I will downgrade this drama to the depths of "I summon you gold" level.  And for those of you who have followed my posts for a while, know that for me, there is no greater level of negative feelings for a drama that I can go too.  So if you are hesitant, wait a bit for my green light of approval, which is hopefully forthcoming.

Reset

When did Chun Jung Myung suddenly become so sexy?  I vaguely remember him being the young boyfriend in "What's Up Fox" where he was cute enough, but somewhat forgettable.  The years since I last saw him has obviously been spent maturing because he is super smexy as a genius prosecutor who uses hypnotism to get confessions (sexiest use of a pen that I have ever seen in a kdrama).  He runs across a young delinquent played by the always talented Kim So Hyun, (The Suspicious Housekeeper) who is the spitting image of the leading man's dead girlfriend.  With high school hookers, havey cavey legal practices, and lots of sexy pushing of Woo Jin's pen (you will know what I am talking about after watching episode 1) this drama is chock full of mystery and potential.  

 What Happens to My Family

This is actually a newcomer to my Hidden Gems post.  When I started writing, I had not even gotten around to watching any of this family drama, but by the end of this review, I had dramathoned all six available episodes (hence the lateness of this post.....oops).  I usually let family dramas go for a while before I start watching, since at 50 episodes we usually have to get through a lot of slow plot before we get to the meaty part of the drama.  However this time we are slapped upside the head with hilarious hijinks within the first 10 minutes.  Our heroine Kang Seo Wool (Nam Ji Hyun - Angel Eyes) is a country girl (you can probably call her a certified hillbilly) who saves a boy from drowning when she was 12.  Yoon Eun Ho (Seo Kang Joon - Nine, Heirs) promises to marry Seo Wool in twelve years once they are of age and will meet her in Seoul. Twelve years later Seo Wool travels to Seoul for her fiancee and nuptials.  Showing up at his house, she turns Eun Ho and his family's lives upside down.  With a very charismatic main couple and a fun family, this is a must watch drama.

If anyone has any questions as to where you can watch any of these dramas online, feel free to ask in the comments or post a message on The Crazy Ahjummas FB page.  I am always happy to help other kaddicts with their addiction.  

Kmuse

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Kmuse's Top 5 Kdrama Countdown - Villain Edition

I know that I have not been doing my weekly top 5 countdown where I let you all know my favorite kdrama moments of the week.  Unfortunately real life and a whole bunch of vacations have interfered, however until I can get all caught up (which might be a couple of weeks) I decided to amend my past format and start doing themed countdowns.  This week you get to find out who my favorite villains are from the current airing dramas.  Who will win?  A scheming mother, a crazy magician, or maybe just a psycho 2nd lead? Come join me as I count down my favorite people who I love to hate!

#5 Min Hye Rin (aka The Iron Butterfly) - Endless Love

I originally thought that the bad guy was Park Young Tae ( the person who actually killed the heroines mother), but it turns out that the real villain of the drama is Hye Rin.  Wife of the current prime minister, her greed for power knows no bounds and she will do literally anything to further her goal of becoming the First Lady.  Even having the heroine, In Ae,  arrested, tortured, raped, and impregnated, so that her son will stop his infatuation with the delinquent actress.  And that is all without knowing that she is really the daughter of her husbands first love (the daughter she had ordered killed along with her mother 26 years earlier).  All of these things put her firmly in my best evil villains list.

#4 Kang Se Ah - Marriage Without Dating

 She is the worst kind of ex girlfriend, the kind that can not understand rejection and the word "NO".  While all the other characters have slowly grown on me (even ex-boyfriend with the peter pan complex), Se Ah's narcissistic entitled rich girl ways continue to drive me batty.  I don't care if it makes you unhappy to see your ex move on, it does not give one the right to ruin his life 3 years later.  My advice is go to a therapist and learn to get closure because right now you just coming across as bat crap crazy. 

#3 Merchant Choi (aka The Leader of the Gunman) - The Joseon Gunman
Choi Won Shin not only is an amazing bad guy, but a character that I love almost to the point that I can't hate him.  Merchant Choi is stuck in a situation where there are very few options. He either follows the directions of the evil nobleman, or he and his daughter will be enslaved and lose everything.  So in order to survive, Merchant Choi aligns himself with the strongest side and sets about eliminating their roadblocks.  Unfortunately one of those roadblocks was the hero's (Park Yoon Kang) father.  Personally I am still hoping that there will be some kind of redemption for him and we can see he and his daughter get a happy ending away from political scheming. 

#2 Sa Dam - The Night Watchman's Journal

Does he overact to the point it is almost comical?  Yes he does.  Does he have the classical evil villain vibe that is missing only a cape and a twirling mustache to become a cliche?  You bet ya!  And yet I can't get enough of Kim Sung Oh playing this over the top evil magician.  At this point I really have no clue what is going on except he has A serious love for his stone dragon and large staff/costumes, yet I am highly entertained through every episode.  It could be because he plays such a good opposite of our flamboyant hero Lee Rin.  Whatever the case, I say bring on the Liberace themed costumes and the evil cackles since I am waiting impatiently for the new episodes each week.

#1 Yeon Min Jung - Jang Bo Ri is Here

Do you ever wonder where evil mother-in-laws come from?  I am pretty sure it is from aging people like Yeon Min Jung.  Greedy and narcissistic to the nth degree, Min Jung lives her life hopping up the social ladder by stepping upon anyone and everyone.  If there was a gold medal for lying I can guarantee that she would win first place.  Unlike other evil villains, her lies sound so believable that I am pretty sure even she believes them.  Min Jung also does not let confrontation or surprises divert her from her evil goal, when confronted she is quick on the uptake to make up another lie to cover herself.  Her amazingly psycho character is the reason I am so excited to watch this drama each week, and I can't wait to see her fall into a pit of her own making (I am even thinking of looking up this actress and watching some of her other work, I am enjoying her acting so much).  

This completes my favorite bad guy segment.  Did your favorite make the cut?  Feel free to comment about your secret love for evil in the comments or be sure to like us on FB for more kdrama discussion and updates.

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Kim Ji Hoon and Oh Yeon Seo's sexy pictoral in Singles May 2014

It looks like using a photo shoot to show the chemistry of an OTP (One True Pairing) is starting to catch on.  Just like the cast of A Secret Love Affair, the two leads from Jang Bori Is Here! are also getting close and personal.  Is it just me or does Kim Hi Hoon look slightly different then he did a year ago in Flower Boy Next Door?  Still sexy, just different.