The Crazy Ahjummas End of Year Countdown - Best Dramas of 2014

There are just so many dramas out there that I want to talk about.  So many great moments and characters that I learned to love.  How can one just whittle the list down to a small handful of options.  It's impossible.  So instead of doing the usual top 5  I decided to go all rebel and have 7 categories with my favorites listed within.  What?  Dramas are like my children, you can't just pick one over the other.

Kmuse's End of Year Countdown - Couples Edition

This is going to be super quick since I am falling behind and the end of the year is already upon us.  As it is, my best kdramas of 2014 will be my first post of the new year.  So without further ado, here are my favorite couples of 2014 - The abridged version.

Kmuse's End of Year Countdown - Favorite Kdrama Actresses of 2014

It's time to give the ladies their due as we countdown the best female characters of 2014.  I know that I tend to focus on the leading men most of the time (I have been married for 14 years and 3 kids, an Ahjumma needs to enjoy the pretty)  but there actually have been some amazing performances so they deserve their moment in the TCA sun.

Kmuse's End of Year Countdown - The Worst of 2014

I am officially calling 2014 the year of the "blah" drama.  So many of them were not necessarily bad, but they were not really good either.  Pretty much I finished them out of a sense of obligation for my Facebook discussion groups.  So if a drama actually made it onto my "sucks" list, it was pretty gosh darn terrible. 

Kmuse's End of Year Countdown - Best Secondary Characters of 2014

Have you ever gone into a drama and instead of liking the main couple or lead actors, you instead fall in love with one of the supporting characters?  Come on, admit it, it is impossible to not have those warm fuzzy feelings for some of the side characters.  They might have only been on screen a small portion of the drama but your heart and soul are caught and you begin to wish that they were the leads.  I personally am a total sucker for a good actor, especially when they are paired with a good character so here are my top characters/actors that I wish would star in their own dramas.

The Best of the Best......... So hard to choose only five!

So this has been an amazing year for dramas.  At least one drama stood out with every batch and there was never I time when I had nothing to watch.  However some dramas are just a step above the rest.  Usually for me that means that the writers are really good and can write a script that avoids a lot of the standard Korean Plot devices/and or turns them around so they feel fresh and new.
Incarnation of Money

IOM is a drama that is not sure what genre it is meant to be.  Comedy, Action, Suspense, & Revenge were all tossed into a bag, shook up, and out came this amazing drama which had me hooked from start to finish.  Written by my favorite kdrama writers, Jang Young Cheol & Jung Kyung Soon (Empress Ki, Giant, History of a Salaryman), they did not disappoint yet again.  Orphaned with amnesia at a young age Lee Cha-Don (Kwang Ji Hwan- Lie to Me, Coffee House) must face a world run by greed and bribery.  He starts as a prosecutor who is so dirty he even has a nickname in the underworld he supposedly arrests.  However when he regains his memory he sets off on a quest to get revenge against the man who took everything from him.
Why you should Watch it
This show is hilarious and suspenseful and all things wonderful all at once.  Also seeing the various character grow (either stronger or more evil depending on the character) is so interesting.  There is so much gray in all the characters that you dont know if you always support their actions, but you always want to watch more.  This is Kwang Ji Hwan's strongest acting in a drama to date.  He had me gripped from start to finish.  I literally cried when this drama ended and I had to delete it from my watching file on MDL.   I would also like to point out that this is the only top drama that was not on my favorite couples list.  It was so good that the romance did not have to be the focus.

Usually this is where I put a MV for the drama.  However since this drama was not widely spread through the subbed sites it kind of went under the radar (HULU JUST PICKED UP THE SHOW THIS MONTH AND YOU CAN NOW FIND IT FULLY SUBBED IN HD).  So instead I am going to show a clip that every Kwang Ji Hwan fan should enjoy.  Here he is  dancing oh so so so sexy.  ENJOY.

 I Hear your Voice

One of the biggest hits of the year, I Hear Your Voice was an instant success with its mix of comedy and suspense.   A thriller courtroom drama with fantasy and romantic comedy elements. It depicts the story of Jang Hye Sung (Lee Bo Young), a bold, sassy, and materialistic public defender who becomes a lawyer after overcoming poverty and painful memories from her childhood. Park Soo Ha (Lee Jong Suk), is a 19-year-old boy who reads other people’s thoughts and who has loved Hye Sung who since he was eight after she gave her testimony in his father's murder case.   This drama will have you on the edge of your seat as you watch them avoid a serial killer and attempt to overcome their age difference to find romance.  I know I am personally biased towards this drama since Lee Jong Suk is in my top 5 favorite actors, but you will not be sorry if you give this drama a try.  It will make you laugh, cry, and forever be scared of the Jackson 5's song "Ill Be There".
 Why you Should Watch It:
Lee Jong Suk could literally have chemistry with garden gnome statue and make it work for me.  He is just one of those actors that pulls you into his story regardless of what he wants you to believe.  Will I believe that he is a mind reading uber hot orphan who can do Jiujitsu?  Sure I will because I love him regardless of how implausible the plot is.

I did mention he could have chemistry with anything right?  Check him out looking romantic with a giant stuffed grizzly bear.  I swear some of the photography concepts can be so odd.

Ugly Alert

 Ugly Alert is a daily drama and while it has a solid fan base, it was under the radar for the average drama watcher.  About a boy who takes the blame for an accidental murder committed by his step brother.  Ten years later he is released and meets a lonely Choebal heiress Na Do Hee.  Following the initial trial of admitting that he is a felon they fall for each other and from start to finish continue to support each other through thick and thin.  Combined with an amazing supporting cast of very likable characters, this drama shows us that family can mean more then just blood relations.  And I for one enjoy a drama actually showing this rather then the concept that blood is the only thing worthy when it comes to family.
Why you Should Watch It:
Unlike 99% of other Korean dramas this one has their characters choosing to communicate and let each other know everything that is happening.  It has characters that put others needs above their own and also is the first time I have ever seen a Chaebol Korean family choose the good of people over the all mighty dollar.  Add in a slew of healthy normal relationships that you actually enjoy and some quirky friends and you have 130 episodes of pure gold.  From start to finish I loved this drama and the family that inhabited it.  I know that that many episodes can look daunting, but at only 35 min an episode the time goes by so quickly.

And another reason is that the skinship in this drama is often and adorable.  I found this other great MV but for some reason it would not load so if you want to see some clips of all three couples in the drama check out

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faVzHepOHio.

Secret Love

The most dysfunctional show by far this year, we watch the OTP Min Hyuk and Yoo Jung fall in love despite a whole psychological slew of reasons that they shouldn't.  Taking the blame for killing Min Hyuk's pregnant girlfriend, Yoo Jung serves five years in prison.  Determined to get revenge Min Hyuk stalks her day and night when she gets out.  And what does every good Korean stalker do?  Why fall in love with the person they are obsessed with of course.  Just usually they wait until all the misunderstandings are cleared up first.  Unlike other Korean lead characters, Min Hyuk starts to fall for her while he is still under the impression that she is a murderess.
Why You Should Watch It:
This show makes you cheer for the leading man even though you are pretty sure he should be in prison for his intense level of creepy stalking (seriously in the US he would have been arrested a billion times over for his level of stalking).  I love how the writers always keep us feeling like the relationship is just a tad bit warped and wrong and that we are also a bit of both for hoping the leads get together.  This drama was the eppitamy of guilty pleasure and I loved every dysfunctional minute of it.

     They were so connected in with each other and had amazing timing and chemistry.         

 The oxygen left the room anytime they were together on screen.

Heartless City 

Set in the underground world of Seoul's drug cartel, Heartless City is the story of one man's attempt to win against gangsters and cops alike.  It delves into the dark and cynical life of Doc Son and the workings of a city run by drugs, greed, and violence.  I love that this show is trying to actually bring something new to the drama world.  So often the characters of dramas are toned down bad guys but this drama you see all of the sins of all the players both the supposed bad guys and those.  
Why you should watch it:
The haunting music, the amazing side characters, and a gritty knife yielding hot lead make this drama a must watch.  Not to mention the steamiest kiss/sex scene I have ever seen in a drama.  If you are looking for something different, something that you have not seen already then give Heartless City a try.  I guarantee by episode four you will be hooked.

This is the scene that hooked my for the long hall.  There is nothing sexier then a man in a suit taking down 15 hardened thugs all on his own.  

School 2013

  I know that I said that this was my top 5 but really there is no way I can not have this drama in my best of list.  It was one of the very first dramas of 2013 and if it can stick with you 50 dramas later and still have a major impact on your emotions then that deserves  a ten on my list.
At the start of 2013 two models turned actors (Lee Jong Suk and Kim Woo Bin) starred in an ensemble cast in a drama called School 2013.  Starting out as a story about students going through the rigors of school in Seoul, the plot quickly centered on the relationship between the two best friends turned enemies.   I laughed and cried with them as they went through the trials of betrayal and forgiveness and their chemistry together was tangible.  Never have I wished for two guys to be a couple then these two.   And in my mind they are off somewhere married to sisters and living in a huge communal home staying BFF's forever.
Why you Should Watch It:
Remember how I said Lee Jong Suk could have chemistry with anything???  Well put him together with Kim Woo Bin who has his own brand of macho charisma (it is kind of getting hit over the head with a shovel, you will respond to him regardless of whether you think he is attractive or not) and it is electrifying.  

And since we are totally breaking all the rules I am going to add two MV's to showcase this couple.  Did I mention that I Ship them so so so so so much.  Months later when they were on running man (clip 1) I totally squealed along with them as the touched and jumped so cutely because of brain freeze.. 

CLIP 1

 Clip 2

Dramas That Came So Close:

 If this year had not had so many AMAZING dramas, then these three would definitely have made the cut.  I loved each and every one of them and would suggest they get put on your "must watch" list ASAP.
Masters Sun
Great supernatural romantic comedy from the Hong Sisters.  My only complaint is that they could have made use of the OTP's chemistry a little more and given their kiss scenes a bit more sizzle.

Nine
A roller coaster drama that makes your brain hurt trying to figure out all the time lines (but in a good way).  My only complaints is that I really don't like the lead actress (thankfully the male lead was so good that he did not need her to carry much wait in the story) and the ending made my mind go around in circles for days.

Two Weeks
A great drama starring Lee Joong Ki we get to watch a bad guy become a better person because of a daughter he never knew he had.  Combining great action, plot timing, and acting we get everything in this drama.  My only complaint is that some of the supporting characters were not fleshed out very well.  Everyone else seemed just a bit slow compared to the lead.

 The ends my list of the best of the best in the year 2013.  I cant wait to ring in the new year with a dramathon and the beginning of  a new list.  Be sure to check in later this week as I write my last blog post of 2013, The hottest khottie actors of 2013.

Sincerely,
Kmuse

Can I have my 118 hours 30 minutes and 11 sec of my life back???? The Worst Dramas of 2013!

This year has been truly an epic year for horrible dramas.  Not only have there been some really really bad dramas, but they all have the distinction of being in the very very bottom of My Drama List ratings.  To put it in perspective I have rated and watched around 300 or so dramas and all five of these are in the bottom 15 of that list. 

 I am putting out a spoiler warning for the following reviews since there is no way possible to describe how bad they are with out some spoilers.  So beware...... you have been warned.

Basketball 

 Now those of you who have followed me from the beginning know that my first dip into the blogging pool was following the ups (there were not many of them) and the downs of the drama Basketball.  Supposedly about the players that become the first unified Korean Basketball Olympic Team it quickly drowned itself into the drama writing equivalent of a tar pit.  We were forced to watch these characters do really really stupid things, achieve new levels of shallowness, and pretty much achieve nothing in 18 episodes (it was originally supposed to air 24 episodes but half way in the writing was on the wall that this was going to be a ratings bomb and they dropped the number down).  The romance was a joke, mostly because the main actress could not act her way out of a paper bag.  And the writers made her switch between the two guys as if she was the ping pong ball in a game.  It got to the point where I was voting for whichever character I liked least to end up with the twit.  Turns out she ended up with no one.  San ended up tormented for 18 episodes with no upswing.  And Chi Ho kind of sort of stands up for what he believes in...............maybe???  The show ended with a super duper secret plot to use an exploding basketball to create terror among the Japanese (oh and supposedly it was  a suicide mission).  The ball is thrown and????????????????????????????  Nothing.  That is where the show ends.  No redemption, no conclusion, just more messed up What the Heckory that makes us say "at least it is over".  All of the pretty boys in the world cant make this show worth watching.

Knife and Flower (Sword & Petal)

How can one describe the despair I experienced with this drama.  It had all the elements of a great drama.  Good actors (I love Choi Min Soo so so so so so so so much after Warrior Baek Dong Soo and Faith) and it had some of the most stunning cinematography out of any drama this year.  So what went wrong?  First, I have rarely watched a historical drama this boring.  The characters, who on paper and should have been really interesting (It was one of the bloodiest Coup's in Korean history), falls flat.  And instead of action we get a whole lot of staring into the camera (I swear the whole cast must have eye issues from not being able to blink on screen) and lackluster dialogue that made no sense.  I kept thinking that it has to get better but was left disappointed over and over.  Save your 16 hours and instead watch anything else.  This drama was a huge dud.

Nail Shop Paris

There are not enough words to accurately describe this psychedelic mess of a drama.  My 2nd lowest ranked drama ever, it achieves levels of crappiness that no drama should ever achieve.   I would purposefully watch it late at night when I was kind of punch drunk sleepy so I could get through it.  My drama BFF Angela and I  would always come up with reasons for the plot and I think we finally concluded that it was because all of the writers were drugged out on PCP.  There is no other explanation for these characters.  Said to be a romantic comedy revolving around flower boy nail artists and the happenings around them.  What it really ended up being was a drama about a bunch of nail artists that invaded their clients personal lives (in very very awkward and uncomfortable ways).  With a heroine who is a cross dressing half Gimiho writer who falls in love with the most boring vanilla character ever (oh and he is also a half Gimiho which is why she feels a connection to him).   The only good or interesting thing about this drama is Song Jae Rim as Kay (the B lead) who actually gets the girl.  As a character/actor he is very good but his talent just shows you what a crapfest the rest of the drama/characters are.  So take my advice and burn this drama out of your queue.

Queen of Ambition 

 If I was just going by the synopsis this is exactly the type of drama I love.  Lots of angst, a bit of murder thrown in, high and mighty presidents wife is dragged down because of her horrible past.  All the elements are there to send me into drama heaven.  But then I started watching it and was annoyed beyond bearing.  I don't know what it was specifically.............. it was the actress... 100% it was the actress.................. but this drama just fell flat and failed to grip me from the get go.  Not only does Soo-Ae give a wooden performance (SHE AND THE GIRL FROM BASKETBALL SHOULD GET TOGETHER AND QUIT ACTING!!!!!!!!)  But she becomes so unlikable I don't even want to see her on screen let alone in the drama.  Even the men of the drama were hard to really like.  Both were very "eh" and personally they kind of deserved what the got dating her when she was obviously a mega grade a WITCH.

I Summon you Gold

This drama has the distinction of being the absolute biggest mistake of my drama watching career.  It had so much potential.  I put so much time into watching it.  I actually really liked the first 40 episodes but then it felt like the writers all quit and they had people off the street start to write the scripts. People off the streets that were in the last stages of rabies and totally bat craptastically crazy.  Every character started acting completely different and it just felt horrible having to sit through an episode. If it had ended at 40 I would have given this drama and 8 or 9 overall but because of the awful last episodes I give it a 3 (I actually went back into My Drama List and changed the score so it would be my #1 lowest rated drama of all time......... Yes I was that pissed off).  You might ask why it was so horrible..... well let me tell you a little tell of forty episode of a drama, where you fall in love with the lead male (he had been trapped into a loveless marriage with a horrible women) and he finds his wife's doppelganger/unknown twin sister.  In order to not lose his inheritance he spends 40 episodes having this twin pretend to be his wife.  They live together, fall in love, do everything a good OTP is supposed to do..... And then they have him decide to stay with his psycho wife who suddenly had a change of heart.  And the main female lead stays alone and single supporting her twin and her ex love of her life in their new found relationship.  WHAT THE FLIPPING HECK WERE THE WRITERS THINKING.  Don't make an OTP and then get to the point where you cant see how you can make them get together because of Korea's conservative issues about family relationships.  It is not like you did not know how the Korean society was before you wrote forty episodes into a sister dates her sisters husband drama.  And then you expect us to be ok with it?  Are you CRAZY.  Even the lead male threatened to leave the show he was so upset with the script problems.  You know you have problems when you are at the finish line and even the cast thinks that this is messed up.  Biggest disappointment EVER.

Dishonorable Mention
Marry Him if You Dare - A romantic time traveling comedy that fails at being funny nor romantic.  And the time travel plot feels forced and awkward.  One of those dramas that you don't care who she ends up with since they are all either blah or boring characters that deserve to not be remembered.

She is Wow - Way to ambitious in its attempt to be edgy and clever.  The whole My husband is gay and we are faking that his young lover is really our son back from America while we hide our real son next door with the wife's boyfriend...................oh and then people die..................... is so overdone that you just are shaking your head by the end.  And thanking the kdrama gods that this was only ten episodes and not a full length drama. 

That concludes my Worst Dramas of 2013 list.  Check back later in the week as I list my top dramas of the year as well as the mega Korean Hotties of 2013.

Sincerely,
Kmuse

Favorite Kpop Videos of 2013

Here are my top favorite Kpop MV's of 2013.  They do tend to drift towards the humorous since that is what I like.  So if you are looking for great ballads you should probably search elsewhere or check back for my favorite OST list coming out in the next couple of weeks. 

#1 Swings featuring Seo In Guk - Would You
With its Jazzy slow rap and amazing Vocals sung by my #1 Bias Seo In Guk, this song and MV easily earns a spot on my favorites list.  The colors visually pop off the screen and the story of a man bringing gifts to a picky injured girl is entertaining.  And did I mention Seo In Guk is in this MV!!!!!!!!!!!  He is so beautiful and charismatic.  I can and have watched it over and over again.

Would You MV

#2 Miss A - Hush Hush
This wins my vote for sexiest female MV of the year.  With the group dancing  (in very odd locations................ subway, empty store, bathroom/shower stall which I find as being kind of an weird/icky place to dance) to a wonderfully up beat song that gets stuck in your head.  I also like that unlike many other female groups, they looked like they were really dancing and not just roboticly copying each others movements.  I also appreciate that they decided to do a sexy MV without actually having that random one guy theme that so many of these groups go with.  Nothing is more distracting to a song/MV then watching a group of women/men all dating the same person.

Hush Hush MV

#3 MBLAQ - Smoky Girl
This was actually my first introduction to MBLAQ since I am fairly new to the whole Kpop scene.  I remember seeing posts about their "comeback" song and how amazing the MV was going to be.  And I for one was not disappointed.  Bringing a mature smooth dance club vibe, the MV and the five singers slipped their way into my favorites list.   I love the black and white theme and even the pop of bright pink courtesy of Thunder's hair.  And their wardrobe was beyond sexy and for once consisted of normal clothes.  Even months later I still am happy to hear it on my song rotation and their MV makes me want to go clubbing with a paint ball gun.

Smoky Girl MV

#4 Im Chang Jung - “Open the Door”

This is one of those MV's that is so epic you just want to share it with everyone (kpop fans and non kpop fans alike)  I was so impressed with this MV that I made a post just to share it earlier in the month.  It is so funny and filled with a whole truckload of cameo's (Super Junior's Heechul, U-KISS, Kim Soo Ro, Kim Jae Dong, Cho Dal Hwan, Jung Sung Ho, Yoon Da Hoon, Bobby Kim, DJ DOC, Solbi, Choi Daniel, Lee Jong Hyuk, Yoo Se Yoon, and more).  I joked with my mother that you truly have become Korean obsessed when you can start to enjoy trot.  I guess after three years of dramas I am there sine I even enjoy listening to the song.  So please enjoy Im Chang Jung “Open the Door”.

Open the Door MV

#5 Heo Young Saeng -The Art of Seduction -
Prepare yourself for a fun video full of very bright sets and an even brighter wardrobe.  Add in a fun storyline of one fan's fantasy/ kidnapper reality and you have an awesome MV.  Musically it is an all right song but mixed with the MV it becomes one of my favorites.  I imagine that many a fan has had similar fantasies and it is hilarious to see a stalker fan and Heo Young Saeng  live  in her fantasy world.

The Art of Seduction MV

#6 B1A4 - Whats Happening 

This is one of those videos that you watch and then watch again and you are still left wondering "What the heck did I just watch"??????  A mix of super cute and super weird it is one of those MV's that you have to just sit back and enjoy without asking any of the hard questions like: What are they doing?  What kind of house is that?  Why do they have plastic Barbie neighbors?  Where the writers drunk when they came up with this concept (the answer is yes yes they were very very drunk).  It is especially a great MV if you have a younger child/friend/sibling you are introducing Kpop to.  My 11 year old LOVES this MV.

Whats Happening MV 

#7 Exo - Growl
Boasting some of the most innovative camera work in an MV this year, Growl makes a group dancing in a empty room interesting for once.  I usually am not a fan of the empty room/dancing MV's but this one combined a great song, an awesome one shot rotating camera, and some amazing dancing into one hugely successful experience. 

Growl MV

#8 Lee Hyo Ri - Bad Girls
Girl power done right is the theme of this MV.  Following the life of one girl from birth to adulthood we get to enjoy a fun spunky storyline and a very upbeat song.  Not to mention some awesome makeup and equally Dabaek eyebrow action.

Bad Girl MV

#9 Kim Hyun Joong - Unbreakable
So I totally watched this MV for its amazing hip hop vibe and artsy visuals.......... You know the visuals that are shirtless and sweaty and dancing.  I declare that this is hands down the "hottest" MV of the year and Kim Hyun Joong makes us all want to push the slow-mo button and appreciate his many assets. So here is Unbreakable....be prepared to have the urge to rewatch it over and over.  You know so you can understand the deep and important message that the MV is trying to portray.

Unbreakable MV

#10 GD - Who You
 I had a hard time coming up with a 10th song that I really loved. So I decided to get some help from my awesome Kpop/Kdrama group on FB.  We had a poll and they voted and GD's "Who You" wins!  I personally had not seen this MV til now and was surprised at how cool it was.  I love the concept of filming the whole video in front of a live audience and it goes to show you how talented he is that he can perform this way and not have any hesitation.  He truly is a visionary.

Who You MV

So that concludes my Kpop segment of my favorites of 2013.  Be sure to share the love since that is how we spread the word on how fun Kpop and Kdramas are.  Nothing better then getting your BFF or family members hooked on your Kobsession.  Have a wonderful Christmas and check back for My lists for least favorite dramas of 2013 as well as favorite actors.

Merry Christmas,
Kmuse

The Top Couples of 2013

There is nothing better then starting a drama and realizing that actors have amazing chemistry with each other.  It can make a break a good story.  This year there has been some truly exceptional performances and I had to really make some hard decisions on who was my favorite.  Surprisingly two of my top picks were not traditional OTP's, but when the bromance outshines the romantic storyline then you have to give them props.  WARNING THERE MIGHT BE SPOILERS IN THE MV'S.

#1 School 2013 - Go Nam Soon and Park Heung Soo

 At the start of 2013 two models turned actors (Lee Jong Suk and Kim Woo Bin) starred in an ensemble cast in a drama called School 2013.  Starting out as a story about students going through the rigors of school in Seoul, the plot quickly centered on the relationship between the two best friends turned enemies.   I laughed and cried with them as they went through the trials of betrayal and forgiveness and their chemistry together was tangible.  Never have I wished for two guys to be a couple then these two.   And in my mind they are off somewhere married to sisters and living in a huge communal home staying BFF's forever. 

Bromance Forever

#2 Kings Daughter Soo Baek Hyang - Solnan & Crown Prince Myung Nong 

Find a feisty street smart heroine (not to mention she is an unknown princess) and add a ruthless picky crown prince, throw them together and watch the sparks fly.  The storyline is addicting and this couple has some amazing chemistry together.  Not to mention some seriously messed up problems they have to overcome as a couple.  Being royalty is never easy, and royalty in love is even harder.  But these two have more guts and toughness then any ten other couples so I am crossing my fingers that they can make it work.

Our OTP's first meeting.  She fakes crazy and pretends that he is her husband to escape from her family's killers.

#3 Heartless City - Kim Hyun Soo & Jung Shi Hyun

 Deep undercover, cop Jung Shi Hyun uses Kim Hyun Soo as an in into the drug underworld of Seoul.  But from this lie a deep and unbreakable friendship is forged that nothing short of death can severe.  They are closer then the supposed OTP could ever be and, always supporting each other, they take on cops and gangs alike in their attempt to rule everything.   And it does not hurt that they both look amazing while doing it.
Epic Bromance MV Heartless City (never get tired of this video..)

#4 Secret Love - Jo Min Hyuk & Kang Yoo Jung

The most dysfunctional OTP by far this year, Min Hyuk and Yoo Jung fell in love despite a whole psychological slew of reasons that they shouldn't.  Taking the blame for killing Min Hyuk's pregnant girlfriend, Yoo Jung serves five years in prison.  Determined to get revenge Min Hyuk stalks her day and night when she gets out.  And what does every good Korean stalker do?  Why fall in love with the person they are obsessed with of course.  Just usually they wait until all the misunderstandings are cleared up first.  Unlike other Korean lead characters, Min Hyuk starts to fall for her while he is still under the impression that she is a murderess.  You have to give the writers and actors props for being able to make us want this couple together even though many of their scenes were slightly messed up and violent.  
[MV] Secret Love- No One Else

#5 Ugly Alert - Gong Joon Soo & Na Do Hee

 Jumping from our most dysfunctional couple we now get to talk about the most stable couple I have ever seen in a Korean drama.  Ugly Alert is a daily drama and while it has a solid fan base, it was under the radar for the average drama watcher.  About a boy who takes the blame for an accidental murder committed by his step brother.  Ten years later he is released and meets a lonely Choebal heiress Na Do Hee.  Following the initial trial of admitting that he is a felon they fall for each other and from start to finish continue to support each other through thick and thin.  Unlike 99% of other Korean OTP's they communicate and let each other know everything that is happening in their lives so as to avoid the major pitfalls of most relationships.  They are what every couple wishes their relationships to be and it was a pure joy to watch.
Compilation of some super cute cheek kisses 

This concludes my favorite OTP's of 2013.  We are already seeing some amazing couples shine in the new year.   Pretty Man, My Love From the Stars, and Prime Minister and I are totally sizzling with chemistry so I see 2014 continuing Korea's tradition of putting out couples that we love to love.  See you next time when I discuss the years top melodramas.

Sincerely,
Kmuse

2013 - What happened to the Comedy genre this year?

I am just warning you all that I was not feeling very witty today while I was writing this.  Ironic since this is a list of my favorite comedies.  I have to imagine that this is what all the kwriters felt like this last year because I have just one question.  What the heck happened to the Romantic Comedy genre in 2013????  Did Korea forget how to laugh and be romantic at the same time?  Looking back I am amazed on not only the absense of humor but in the poor quality of many of the dramas that were catagorized as "comedies".   The several that I did like tended to be a mix of genre's not straight comedy.  For example, I loved I Hear Your Voice and yes it did have some truly funny scenes but the majority of the show was about them dealing with a Serial Killer and him trying to destroy/kill them.  Amazing drama, but not really one where I am laughing all the time.  Be aware that many of these could be slotted into multiple genre's.   However this is a best & worst list so I added these in because they made me laugh more then cry. 

WARNING: THIS BLOG CONTAINS SOME SPOILERS - ESPECIALLY ABOUT THOSE THAT ARE MY LEAST FAVORITE LIST

Favorites
All About My Romance 

This drama was a sleeper drama and many people had not even heard about it let alone watched it.  However it earned a spot on my list because not only was it a really really sweet romance, but it actually stayed pretty consistent from start to finish.  Kim Soo Young (Shin Ha Kyun - Harvest Villa, Brain ) starts to date Noh Min Young (Lee Min Jung - Big, Smile You) and both actors for once really work.  I know a lot of people hate Lee Min Jung but I promise she is much much better in this drama.  For once she is allowed to act like an adult and the cutesy stuff is eased way back.

Belonging to opposite political parties they are forced to hide their budding romance.  It is full hijinks and cute moments and is one of those dramas that just made me smile.  If you plan on watching expect a lot of political talk but if you can get past that then you are in for a great drama.

 Cute OTP

Flirting like a politician.

Incarnation of Money

 IOM is a drama that is not sure what genre it is meant to be.  Comedy, Action, Suspense, & Revenge were all tossed into a bag, shook up, and out came this amazing drama which had me hooked from start to finish.  Written by my favorite kdrama writers, Jang Young Cheol & Jung Kyung Soon (Empress Ki, Giant, History of a Salaryman), they did not disappoint yet again.  Orphaned with amnesia at a young age Lee Cha-Don (Kwang Ji Hwan- Lie to Me, Coffee House) must face a world run by greed and bribery.  However when he regains his memory he sets off on a quest to get revenge against the man who took everything from him.
Kwang Ji Hwan is amazing in this drama!  I have always enjoyed him as an actor but he really proves his abilities when he switches from a comedic buffoon to seriously dangerous in a blink of the eye.  And he rocked some seriously bad hair and that takes talent.   Add  a great supporting cast you get great scenes over and over.  I would highly suggest this drama to anyone since it is such a mix there is bound to be something that hooks you into this drama.

Incarnation of Money Trailer

I Hear Your Voice

One of the biggest hits of the year, I Hear Your Voice was an instant success with its mix of comedy and suspense.   A thriller courtroom drama with fantasy and romantic comedy elements. It depicts the story of Jang Hye Sung (Lee Bo Young), a bold, sassy, and materialistic public defender who becomes a lawyer after overcoming poverty and painful memories from her childhood. Park Soo Ha (Lee Jong Suk), is a 19-year-old boy who reads other people’s thoughts and who has loved Hye Sung who since he was eight after she gave her testimony in his father's murder case.   This drama will have you on the edge of your seat as you watch them avoid a serial killer and attempt to overcome their age difference to find romance.  I know I am personally biased towards this drama since Lee Jong Suk is in my top 5 favorite actors, but you will not be sorry if you give this drama a try.  It will make you laugh, cry, and forever be scared of the Jackson 5's song "Ill Be There".

I Hear Your Voice Trailer

Romantic Cuteness - Seriously who would not love LJS's smile!

The Reality of Women

The Masters Sun

 Probably the most traditional comedy of the year was the Hong Sister drama The Master's Sun.  The story of Tae Gong Shil  (Gong Hyo Jin - Greatest Love, Pasta) who's life is falling apart because she is able to see Ghosts.  When she discovers that the ghosts disappear anytime she touches Joo Joong Won (So Ji Sub - Ghost), she becomes determined to stay close to him regardless of the costs.  While this drama has its share of spooky pop out at you ghost, it is more a romantic comedy then a horror drama.  Filled with witty sexual innuendos and classic physical comedy we get to laugh along with the characters. And if the laughs taper off a bit towards the end of the drama we can forgive them since it was so funny at the beginning.  The following is one of my favorites scenes where Gong Shil wakes up in Joong Won's bed and he proceeds to tell her about his sleepless night because she kept getting possessed by various ghosts.
Masters Sun Possession.

Least Favorite

I have to imagine that this is the picture that all the writers looked at while they wrote these dramas.  Instead of funny all of these following dramas were just a painful jumble of bad writing, bad characters, and just everything that is bad.......  Even those that started out funny evolved into sad serious emo dramas that still made no sense.

Cheongdamdong Alice
This drama looked like it was going to be so cute.  And even if Moon Geun Young is the Debbie Downer of dramas I had high hopes.  Park Shi Hoo's character looked like he was going to make up for her somber performance.  He was everything I loved in a character..... crazy, egotistical, and well just more crazy.  But then everything took a turn for the serious and MGY's character just became even more unlikeable then she already was and PSH's character lost all his sparkle.  This possible comedy became so blah that I just stopped caring about any of the characters and was just praying that it would end. However we at least got this cute dance scene out of it.........  the best 40 sec of the whole drama.

Flower Boy Next Door

Another drama that should have been a smashing success as a comedy.  It had Yoon Shi Yoon as the lead - a quirky man child who loved life and fuzzy animal hats.  Park Shin Hye (this was before I fell out of love with her due to her inability to have a romantic scene with a man) was the cute shut in stalker who stares at a hot neighbor from her window.  Add a great cast of cute sexy men and where could you go wrong?  Obviously when you decide to drop the funny and make it a sad drama with a very depressed heroine and an emotionally stunted bipolar hero.  I know there are people out there who loved this drama saying that it "had depth".  I personally would have liked less depth and more cute hijinks between the leads.  The constant crying did not do it for me. 

Nail Shop Paris
There are not enough words to accurately describe this psychedelic mess of a drama.  My 2nd lowest ranked drama ever, it achieves levels of crappiness that no drama should ever achieve.   I would purposefully watch it late at night when I was kind of punch drunk sleepy so I could get through it.  My drama BFF Angela and I  would always come up with reasons for the plot and I think we finally concluded that it was because all of the writers were drugged out on PCP.  There is no other explanation for these characters.  Said to be a romantic comedy revolving around flower boy nail artists and the happenings around them.  What it really ended up being was a drama about a bunch of nail artists that invaded their clients personal lives (in very very awkward and uncomfortable ways).  With a heroine who is a cross dressing half Gimiho writer who falls in love with the most boring vanilla character ever (oh and he is also a half Gimiho which is why she feels a connection to him).   The only good or interesting thing about this drama is Song Jae Rim as Kay (the B lead) who actually gets the girl.  As a character/actor he is very good but his talent just shows you what a crapfest the rest of the drama/characters are.  So take my advice and burn this drama out of your queue.

7th Grade Civil Servant

I am a HUGE HUGE HUGE Joo Won fan.  Up until this point he could do absolutely no wrong..... until I started watching this drama that is.  (I would just like to say that I thought even in this horribly written drama Joo Won still was amazing.  His character was likable and believable and I blame the writers and other actors for everything else that went wrong to make this such a bad drama).  I am not sure what the writers were going for?  Was it a satire of the Spy movie genre?  Was it meant to be a comedy and the acting was just so bad (EXCEPT FOR JOO WON) that it came out wrong?  Whatever the reason this drama made you laugh at it, not with it.  

Final Thoughts:

This concludes my list for my favorite and least favorite comedies of 2013.  However, there is a glimmer of hope for the kcomedy genre.  In the last month several really funny dramas have started, I did not add them to the 2013 list since they all overlap heavily into 2014 but I just wanted to give them a shout out. Pretty Man (you can catch my recaps of this drama on our blog), The Prime Minister and I (contract marriage hijinks), Let's Eat (Cable quirky food and single life comedy), and Potato Star 2013Qr3 (daily large cast family comedy) all provide a plethora of laughs and have made my weekly watching a lot more enjoyable.  Lets cross our fingers and hope that they and future dramas are better written and can keep us laughing.

Sincerely, Kmuse