The King: Eternal Monarch: Episode 13

I didn't expect that The King: Eternal Monarch would be limiting this week's episode into one after dropping bombs the previous week, but of course health is of more importance and should definitely come first before anything else. So yeah, no gripes, anyway this week's episode delivered okay so I'm still good.

For starters, I'm happy that a few of my theories from the previous week had been correct. So basically, those who have had their counterparts killed do show burn marks on their bodies especially during rainy days, and that the ones that the forensic officer have seen prior to Kim Gi Hwan's incident have all been from those who served terms in prison for parricide, probably because their doppelganger's family risks them of getting their secret exposed. Okaaay.

I'm also amazed at how Gon indeed ended up as his younger self's savior as revealed in this episode. Since Tae-eul handed Gon that black clothes, I knew it resembled the one that young Gon's savior was wearing during the coup. Since Luna had Tae-eul's original ID, their meeting also explains how Gon had the ID when he went back in time to save his younger self. Okaaaay.

But... I have to say it was kind of dumb of Gon to not be able to recognize that the woman in front of him wasn't Tae-eul when he had always been declaring his love for her out in the open. I mean, for someone who claims to have loved Tae-eul the way he does, shouldn't he be able to recognize Tae-eul no matter what? Let's take Eun-bi for example. Despite being a kindergartner, she was able to easily sense that Yeong wasn't his brother, and by the time Eun-sup finally got back, both Eun-bi and Na-ri were able to recognize that the one in front of them at that very moment was the real Eun-sup.

Also, what was that about Lee Lim's realization that Gon was his younger self's savior? Apart from overseeing a billboard of Gon, there hadn't been any other hints that could direct Lee Lim to think that way. I mean, you've been to and from the Kingdom for a few years now and have seen Gon's face plastered in billboards for sooo many times, yet you only realize that important fact now? Are you serious?! That was rather lackluster and came across as something that was written only because it was what was convenient for the plot, and for what was about to happen next. Bummer.

But yeah, now that time travel's not just a possibility but is officially out in the open, I wonder how this is going to get explained in the next episodes... We're down to only three more eps until the finale but I feel like there's still a lot of things that needs to be covered and a lot more questions that needs to be answered. I'm not sure if the remaining three episodes are enough to wrap up this complicated parallel universe story, which is probably why I no longer care if the ending's going to be happy, tragic or whatever. At this point, I only want an ending that makes sense. So please, drama gods. Please don't let this show be a waste in the end.

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TAGS: K-Drama, K-Drama Ramblings, Kim Go Eun, Lee Min Ho, Netflix, Woo Do Hwan   Edit

The King: Eternal Monarch: Episode 11-12

I feel like this week had been The King: Eternal Monarch's best week yet, with Episode 11 the best episode it has aired to date, ever. One, that kidnapping scene of Tae-eul was lit. I may not be a fan of this show's romance nor was I delighted with Gon's rescue scene at the end of Episode 11 (I thought that was sort of cringey), but Kim Go Eun is doing fine as Jeong Tae-eul, that's for sure. I love how Tae-eul was no damsel in distress (except when she's with Gon. well 🙄) in this show and that was definitely evident in the way she sneaked past her kidnappers in Episode 11. Even though she was already helpless and was relying on Gon receiving her New Year's message so she could get rescued, she wasn't going down without a fight, and that was such a joy to watch.

Second, I also love how the show has progressed to its latest reveals in spite of it being a slow burn. I love a drama that makes me think and theorize along the way, especially when a theory I've come up with turns out to be correct in the end. That being said, I have a lot of theories for The King: Eternal Monarch right now. One is about the burn marks that show up in Lee Gon's shoulder whenever it's raining—I think these marks only show up to those who went to the Kingdom and vice versa, whose doppelgangers are already dead and/or have been killed. Tae-eul and Yeong never had to deal with a burn mark like Gon's probably because Eun-sup and Luna are still very much alive in both worlds. I'm not quite sure about Sin-jae and Court Lady Noh's case though... It's either Sin-jae's doppelganger is still alive, or Court Lady Noh's doppelganger has died a natural death and it wouldn't count as something that warrants an equivalent burn mark since the balance of both worlds have not been disrupted this way.

I also think the location of the burn marks have something to do about the doppelganger's reason of death. Lee Lim's mark show on his neck, and in Episode 1 it was shown how he killed his doppelganger by breaking his neck. But then again this theory could be wrong as at the end of Episode 12, the stable worker's burn mark was shown in his stomach. If I remember correctly, the murder of the stable worker's doppelganger was the same case that Tae-eul was working on during the first two episodes of The King, and that the stable worker's doppelganger seemed to have died from a blow to the head and not to his stomach. I'm also not sure about Lee Gon's younger counterpart in the Republic—I'm not quite sure if the young Lee Ji-hun was stabbed by Lee Lim at the same location where Gon has his burn marks so again, this theory could be wrong.

Apart from these, I'm also curious about who saved Gon from the coup when he was just a child. I think the show is hinting at a possibility of time travel given Tae-eul's remark about a royal cloth that's still in the works in Episode 12, which Gon had supposedly been wearing in a brief visit to her during an earlier episode. Should time travel be among the active mechanism that makes The King work, could it be plausible that Gon's savior was actually himself? I mean, the build of young Gon's savior likely matches that of Lee Min Ho (ala City Hunter), and apart from Tae-eul, he's the only other person who has an attachment to Tae-eul's ID to be carrying it around like that. Hmmm. Should this theory be correct, I wonder how this will play out and how it would affect the story as a whole.

And what about this kid whom Luna has constantly been talking to since the previous episodes? He mentioned to Tae-eul that there is only one of him in this world, that he warns the people of danger, and that he's restoring the balance. Does that make him a deity, then? A deity like the one who had been possessing Deok Hwa's body in Goblin? Hmmm. That's also an interesting point.

Aaaaand regarding the cliffhanger in Episode 12 about Court Lady Noh's question to Tae-eul, I think it could either be a trick question to get Tae-eul to open up more, or it could be that Court Lady Noh really was from the Republic and has crossed over to the Kingdom as June 1950 refers to the date of the Korean War which has happened in the Republic. Should the latter be the case, can it be assumed that the Manpasikjeok has been used by rulers before Gon's father to travel to and from the parallel worlds? Has there been a mention of this in previous eps? Otherwise, why would Court Lady Noh be sooo understanding of Gon's disappearing stints when he's supposed to be a king, right?

Despite Court Lady Noh's intriguing position though, I think the real cliff hanger for this week is Prime Minister Koo and her burn marks. I knew it was her that Tae-eul was tailing in Episode 11 when she went to the department store to buy heels for herself. Heels are a trademark of Prime Minister Koo, and that reaction she had when she ordered her drink and met Yeong at Na-ri's milk tea shop was already a key take away about her identity. What I'm wondering now is the reason why she had to cross over, and why Koo Eun-a had to be killed too at the same time.

So yeah. This is the reason why I continue to enjoy watching The King: Eternal Monarch despite the unending backlash—I'm still curious about the story, the parallel world's mechanism, and the mystery it has built-up since the beginning of the show. Sure it may not be flawless, but all this curiosity is already a good enough reason for me to continue watching The King through—up until the end. I hope the takeaways in the finale would be worth the headache that this show has brought, and that it wouldn't be too lackluster nor disappointing for a show that's been too hyped. 🙂

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TAGS: K-Drama, K-Drama Ramblings, Kim Go Eun, Lee Min Ho, Netflix, The King: Eternal Monarch, Woo Do Hwan   Edit

Random Thoughts on Hospital Playlist

I tried to stay away.

I told myself I wouldn't be watching Hospital Playlist until it gets completed because so far that's how I have enjoyed some of Shin Won Ho's dramas such as Reply 1997 and Prison Playbook, but after seeing several clips about the show, the temptations grew harder to resist day by day.

This is your fault, Jung Kyung Ho. You too, BFF Band.

So far I like the drama. I like the same heartwarming experience I used to get with PD's previous shows. I like the lessons and realizations that go along with it, and I like the relationship there is between the five doctor friends.

And I like Chae Song Hwa. A lot, lot, lot.

So yeah. Hospital Playlist is a pretty good watch. At times though, I feel it isn't as strong as how Prison Playbook came off strong for me. I can't pinpoint exactly what's off or missing, but nevertheless, the show's a pretty good watch.

I think I can smell withdrawal symptoms on my end as early as now, too. Screw you, Kyung Ho.

PS. Hospital Playlist has a lot of really good OSTs. Plus the fact that the BFF Band covers most of these songs as a form of their "hobby" was amazing. I like In Front of City Hall Subway Station and Aloha the most, but Joy's Introduce Me A Good Person has been stuck in my mind for quite some time now. I'm pretty sure I already heard it in a drama somewhere... I was suspecting Marriage Not Dating but I haven't had any luck at finding proof for that. I've already whacked my brain too, but I still can't remember where the fudge have I heard it. I even tried googling, but still haven't found answers. Where oh where...

Anyway, here's the MV for the second OST sung by Joy, in case you might have an idea where the song had been used for apart from Hospital Playlist. Thanky! 😊

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TAGS: Hospital Playlist, Introduce Me A Good Person, Jeon Mi Do, Jo Jung Suk, Joy, Jung Kyung Ho, K-Drama, K-Drama Ramblings, Netflix, Red Velvet, tvN   Edit

Review: One More Happy Ending (2016)

Once upon a time, there was an angel named Han Mi-mo, a sweet and bubbly girl who, together with four others, form the washed-out idol group called Angels. However, after her fall-out with one of the members, the group got disbanded. This led Mi-mo to thread on another path and being a divorcee herself, has decided to run a matchmaking agency for divorcees like her. Will her matchmaking prowess be effective enough though when her own chance at a brand new love finally begins to present itself?

Image via MBC.

One More Happy Ending may not be among the best romcoms that I have ever seen, but nonetheless, it delivers. It has just the right dose of comedy and heart, and serves as a great ice breaker from all the heavy melodramas, crimes, and mystery thrillers I've seen in a while.

❀ RAVES ❀ »•»

1) Jung Kyung Ho. I was in a binge watch spree after seeing Jung Kyung Ho in Prison Playbook, and when I found out that Jang Nara starred alongside him in this drama, I became all the more interested to binge watch. Kyung Ho was charming as Song Soo-hyuk. He was able to bring out various facets of Soo-hyuk's character compellingly well. What I loved about Soo-hyuk was how thoughtful and selfless he was, a snark contrast to his best friend Hae Joon who was obnoxious, selfish and downright cold. Soo-hyuk's selflessness is evident in how he has always put Mi-mo's feelings and happiness first above anything else. It didn't help that he was also such a great father, despite being a widower and a single dad. I think this is what I loved best about Jung Kyung Ho playing Soo-hyuk-his realistic portrayal of an adorable man and at the same time a loving father to Min Woo.

One of my favorite Jung Kyung Ho moments in this show was how he was like Mi-mo's knight in shining armour during the egg throwing scene in Episode 10. When Mi-mo got tangled in Seul-ah's miscarriage issue and got attacked by the actress' fans, it was sooo endearing to see Soo-hyuk use his body to shield Mi-mo from the attack. He was evidently concerned about the effects of this incident in Mi-mo's emotional well-being that even after driving her home and advising her not to think about anything else, he angrily stormed at Mass Punch's office too, and then raged both at his boss and the reporter who was responsible for creating this whole mess.

And this:

In Episode 6, as Mi-mo was interviewing a client who happened to be a single father, we get a glimpse of how it had been like for Soo-hyuk to raise Min Woo alone. It sure wasn't easy, but I seeing those flashbacks of baby Min Woo and his dad was definitely moving. Jung Kyung Ho did great in portraying young Soo-hyuk's struggles as an inexperienced father, which just made me adore him even more.

2) The Funny. One More Happy Ending has a cute dose of funny (and silly) incorporated in it, adorably sprinkled here and there through half of its entire run (the latter episodes got a little bit of angsty, in a way). Its light-heartedness, combined with a few ridiculous yet endearingly hilarious comical scenes, were among the things that I loved most about the show. Plus, Jang Nara and Jung Kyung Ho not only has abso-fuxxing-lutely chemistry, they complement each other comedically well, too.

Mi-mo and Soo-hyuk's drunken marriage hijinks in Episode 1 was really ridiculous in all sense of the word, yet it was also amusingly hilarious. I love Kyung Ho and Nara's portrayal of the leads' hangover state, it was amusing to see them switch from being "happily married" to being suddenly horrified while screaming "Oh my God what did I do?" in panic.

And this:

I can't believe how silly this is but I sort of rolled on the floor laughing in Episode 5 when Soo-hyuk doused Mi-mo's face with water and then empties an entire pitcher over her head just as Mi-mo's hat unexpectedly caught fire after awkwardly testing a few magic tricks she has learned from Dong Mi at Soo-hyuk.

3) Geun Hak and Da Jung's Arc. Baek Da Jung was among the "fallen" angels, whose marriage was threatened by a divorce. She also seemed to have had a bit of inferiority after she had given birth, and because of this, felt a little less loved all throughout the years. This takes a toll in their relationship, and Geun Hak and Da Jung grew so far apart to the point where they no longer sleep in the same room nor in the same bed. In the end, it was so gratifying how Geun Hak and Da Jung has taken a shot into rebuilding their relationship. How they were able to overcome this phase in their relationship and at the same time find healing in Da Jung's severe health condition were among the best aspects of the show for me, and fits the title "One More Happy Ending" to a T.

4) Song Min Woo. This kid is a very good example of parenting done right.  Even if he has been raised by a single father, I love how Min Woo was such a bright and mature child for his age. He was just as thoughtful as his father was, and I love how observant and perceptive he was of his father's well-being and emotional health. It's evident how well adjusted he is to his father's situation, and it was absolutely adorable to not see Min Woo complain the least bit about it.

❀ RANTS ❀ »•»

1) Goo Hae Joon. Hae Joon has got to be one of the most annoying second lead characters to have sprung to K-Drama life. Nothing against Kwon Yool, though I don't find him as handsome as he is supposedly described. This is probaby why I do not get where the adoration for him of women in this show technically comes from. Rather than swoon-worthy, I find Hae Joon super obnoxious and selfish. He's self-centered and inconsiderate, and doesn't really take into account the feelings of those around him, as seen in how he has treated Mi-mo. 

2) Han Mi-mo. Although Mi-mo was quite a fun character, there were times when she felt somewhat superficial for me. For one, I hated how she impulsively declares she has fallen in love like it's nothing serious. I also didn't like how she kept going 'round the bush in some parts of the show, thus repeatedly ignoring her own feelings in the process. She had this bad habit of not thinking about the repercussions of her actions and decisions prior to realizing it, making her not really naive in my eyes but just plain superficial.

Since Mi-mo was a divorcee and also had a fair share of failed relationships such as what was shown in Episode 1, I find it somehow ridiculous how she nonchalantly says she's in love and has found the one in Hae Joon's being, as portrayed in that hospital scene in Episode . For someone who had her heart broken for a number of times already, she sure jumps in the water feet first like it was nothing.

3) Less Screen Time for the Actual OTP. It was sort of glaring how the show spent quite more than half of its run with Mi-mo and Hae Joon's relationship as this led to Jung Kyung Ho's character getting a little less screen time with Nara when he's supposed to be the main OTP. I would have appreciated it more had the show shifted focus on Soo-hyuk earlier instead, because this means his feelings and his relationship with Mi-mo would have been highlighted even more.

❀ RULING ❀ »•»

Save for the mid-series drag, angst, and quite a few flaws in writing, One More Happy Ending is a light-hearted watch that very well serves its purpose of delivering a romcom drama. Both Jung Kyung Ho and Jang Nara were great in this show, and there's also a lot of unexpected lessons you'd get to learn from it. It lives well with the title's promise of a happy ending, too, making it a show that's perfect to try when you're feeling down and in need of a sweet and uplifting boost.

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TAGS: Happy Ending Once Again, Jang Nara, Jung Kyung Ho, K-Drama, K-Drama Reviews, Netflix, One More Happy Ending   Edit

Review: Rebel: Thief Who Stole The People (2017)

Rebel: Thief Who Stole the People is a 30-episode historical television series that depcited the life of Korea's beloved Robin Hood hero, Hong Gil Dong. It is a tale that upholds Gil Dong's journey as Joseon's first revolutionary activist, one that will surely keep you riveted for the next hour and more.

Image via Top Star News.

Sageuks are the kind of shows that hold a special place in my heart because apart from the historical knowledge that I gain from watching it, this is also the kind of show that my entire family likes to watch. Suffice it to say that my family and I have already come across a lot of saeguks in our years of drama viewing. Despite the numbers, only a few made it so close to my heart, such as Jewel in the Palace, Jumong, The Princess Man and Scarlet Heart. With the birth of Rebel in the small screen though, I think I have just found yet another gem to add to my list. 😉

❀ RAVES ❀ »•»

1) Tightly Written Plot. Rebel accounts for a well thought-out story that has effectively laid the groundwork for the entire show straight from the get-go. Because of this (and Kim Sang Joong's helluva awesome performance as Hong Ah Mo Gae), we were able to understand more about the characters' plight and journey, specifically that of Hong Gil Dong. Apart from this, there was also a lot of meaning to everything that's happening in the drama, so much so that no sublpots are wasted. Instead, these subplots were what helped us see a clearer picture of how one point connects to another, making the show come full circle in the end in varying degrees of intensity. 

Hong Gil Dong's journey as the thief who stole the people wouldn't be as engaging, dramatic, inspiring or even powerful had it not been for his father, Hong Ah Mo Gae laying the groundwork for his son's future. Ah Mo Gae's battle against slavery and oppression, added by Gil Dong's realization of how cruel the world was for people who doesn't wield power were among the perfect driving force that led Gil Dong to become the rebel who fights for a life stripped off of injustices. If not for Ah Mo Gae's hardships and sacrifices as well as Kim Sang Joong's stellar performance, Rebel wouldn't be as moving nor as heart tugging as it did.

And this:

One of the things that had amazingly caught my attention for this show was how clever it was in presenting itself through its title. This is the reason why I love Episode 28 so much for how it has lived up to the show's title of stealing the people. How Gil Dong rose to battle (and glory) despite the excruciating pain he was feeling for shooting his beloved wife himself spoke volumes regarding his growth as the rebel loved by the people. He was all that King Yeonsangun never was, and his courage as well as his genuine concern for the people paved the way for him to win allies and lots more people to his side.

Gil Dong: "The Hong Ah Mo Gae blood that flows through my body is more passionate and precious than any general. Only those with blood that is as passionate and precious as the blood that runs through me can join this great fight. What blood runs through you? Who among you will join me?"

2) Consistent Intensity. I mostly stay away from shows that are about 30 episodes long or more, because I somehow feel that I just don't have the patience (and time) to sit through it without forgetting something or losing my interest along the way. This happened to me in Six Flying Dragons, and because I binge watched that show months later after it has been aired, I found myself jumping right through the ending and then dropping it altogether afterwards. I might try and pick it up again some other time. In that sense, I appreciate how, despite being a little bit imbalanced with the pacing (mid-series dragged quite a bit), Rebel's intensity never got watered down throughout its entire run. It was amazingly written and was consistently intense that I wasn't the least bothered of a 30-episode long show.

3) Emotional Journey. Rebel has a knack in drawing its viewers through a spectrum of emotions. The emotional build up of this show has a nice intensity to it and will draw you and gut in you in ways you didn't expect. In fact, one of the shows greatest strength for me is how it is able to inflict varying emotions all too well, one that doesn't just feel raw but also feels genuine that you cannot help but be deeply drawn to the show yourself.

Ga Ryung's bravery and sacrifice as well as Gil Dong's rise as the general for the people will forever be etched in my heart as one of the most emotionally gripping roller coaster ride of an episode I have come across in a drama. I feel like a crazy moron from crying haplessly for Ga Ryung's dire situation, shouting proudly at Gil Dong's courage, smiling gladly for the Sugwidan's unexpected revolt, and then crying haplessly again for Ga Ryung's life. Drawing out those whirlwind of emotions for just an episode was definitely outstanding, and I will forever laud Rebel for being able to wring my heart cleverly like that.

4) Yoon Kyun Sang. I think Yoon Kyun Sang was perfectly cast as Gil Dong in this drama. Not only does he have the build of a Mighty Child, he also had that charisma and bravado that perfectly fits how the Mighty Child was depicted in the show. But the best thing that Yoon Kyun Sang did which made me wow at him in this show was how nuanced and deeply layered Gil Dong has become because of him. Gil Dong started off as someone selfish and uninterested, which was why I was so amazed at Yoon Kyun Sang's skills of bringing Gil Dong's character to life that instead of being annoying, in the end Gil-Dong became an undearing character that didn't just care about himself anymore.

5) Acting. I never expected to sing praises like this for the acting in this drama, but truth be told, everyone did marvelously in this show. Special shoutout goes to Kim Ji Suk as King Yeonsangun and Kim Sang Joong as Hong Amogae. For starters, Kim Ji Suk was amazing as King Yeonsang. The last image I've had of Kim Ji Suk was the goofball best friend of Eric Mun in Another Oh Hae Young, and I didn't expect how, from being wacky, he'd turn into an evil, violent and crazy sick king believably good. Props to Kim Sang Joong too for playing Hong Ah Mo Gae's character to a T. Ah Mo Gae was magnificently everything all at the same time-he was a loving and determined father, a helpless slave as well as a strong leader. He was the driving force that helped set the show in motion, and his life death, added by a brilliant legacy he's left for Gil Dong, was among the best acting to have ever happened in the show.

6) Dynamic Female Lead. A dynamic, well-balanced female lead such as Chae Soo Bin's Ga Ryung is a rare find in dramas, which is why I laud Rebel a lot for introducing another lovable female lead that will surely go a long way in the history of K-Dramaland. Ga Ryung was the kind of lead that was bubbly but has spunk, one that never lost its charm despite the hardships and painful experiences that she had experienced. It didn't help that Ga Ryung was very very brave too. She's not one to mope and cry helplessly in a corner. Rather, Ga Ryung remained unwavered to her support for Gil Dong, and served as a steadfast pillar for his beloved husband.

7) Attention to Detail. Being a sageuk, an entire lot of historical references are shown to us during the drama's entire stretch. There's the story about Joseon's most tyrannical leader, it's very first revolutionary activist, etc. But the detail which turned out as the biggest standout for me was the show's portrayal of gisaengs-how they were depicted as of art and not just mere courtesans. Because of this we get to see stunning historical dances as well as fantastic classical musics, plus a pretty Lee Ha Nui to boot.

❀ RANTS ❀ »•»

1) Mori's Arc. Although I love how the show brought Mori back to the light, I can't help but rant at how less his character had been explored in this show. If anything, Mori was among Rebel's most interesting characters for laying him out as someone not entirely bad, but probably just someone who's out of choices to consider. We see him be conflicted by a lot of things that come across him as wrong, yet even if he knows deep inside that what he was doing was wrong, he can't just walk away from it nor from the king and the officials that he had been serving. In this regard, not being able to fully exlore Mori as a character felt like such a waste.

❀ RULING ❀ »•»

Although not with flaws, Rebel was a rare gem, the kind that doesn't just wow you in the beginning but stays consistently intense up until the end. On paper it may come across as just another retelling of an age old classic, but on screen and in the hearts of a lot of drama fans, Rebel is more than just a simple retelling-it is a well-written drama with an outstanding story and fantastic acting. A satisfying watch by and large.

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TAGS: Chae Soo Bin, K-Drama, K-Drama Reviews, Netflix, Rebel, Rebel: Thief Who Stole The People, The Rebel, Yoon Kyun Sang   Edit