Air Dates: November 29, 2019 - January 18, 2020

Episodes: 16

Where to Watch: Netflix

Genre: Romantic Drama

Starring: Yoon Kye Sang and Ha Ji Won

As a child, Moon Cha Young stumbled into a restaurant in a small seaside town.  She met the owner's son, Lee Kang, who gave her a free meal and promised to make her his favorite dessert tomorrow.  He was her first love and her happiest memory.  And his kindness inspired her to pursue a career in cooking when she grew up.  Years later, she runs into a doctor with the same name.

He doesn't remember her, but she knows immediately that it is him.  Embarrassed, she flees.  But when she begins cooking at a local hospice he shows up again, as the new doctor assigned to work there.  Work ing together  to heal the hearts of the hospice patients and their families, they also begin to find healing for their own scars.

Ha Ji Won as Moon Cha Young

Cha young's life changed dramatically when her mother abandoned her at a mall on her birthday.  When that mall collapsed, she was left alone, fighting for her life.  Now, as an adult, she bears the physical and mental scars of her past.  She became a chef to minister to people's hearts through their stomachs.  Working at a hospice, she has an opportunity to feed the souls of people who are hurting.

An old flame is rekindled when her first love is assigned to work there as the lead doctor.

I love Ha Ji Won as an actress.  This role is so unlike her usual confident, tough character.  This character is gentle and quiet.  It gave her a chance to show off another side and show that her talent is multifaceted.  What a joy it was to fall in love with her subtle charm.

Yoon Kye Sang as Lee Kang

Kang's dream was to live in his small seaside town and cook in his mother's restaurant.  But instead, he discovers he is the son of a rich medical family.  He lays aside his own dreams to become the doctor his mother wanted him to be.  When his aunt and uncle get him fired from their hospital, he is sent to a hospice center in the country. At the hospice, he meets a chef who manages to win his heart, even before he finds out that she was his first love.  Through the patients and their families, he also learns how to treat the emotional side of illness and grief.

At first, Kang is cold and distant on the outside.  At the hospice he is given an opportunity to begin to heal his heart.  Through this, he begins to open up to the people around him.  Inside, he hides a generous and caring personality. In my opinion, his character was very realistic and sincere.  His careful personality helped keep the show's tempo moving at a smooth, comfortable pace, without the feeling that things were being rushed.

Jang Seung Jo as Lee Joon

Lee Joon is Kang's cousin. Under constant pressure from his parents, he is pushed to compete with Kang.  But he is drawn to the idea of having an actual relationship with Kang and becoming a success based on his own abilitiy, rather than the meddling of his parents and grandmother.  In the beginning, he comes off as kind of a jerk. But as his character progressed, I found myself really liking him.  It's easy to understand how he feels to be stuck in the middle of his family's drama.

Min Jin Woong as Moon Tae Hyun

Moon Tae Hyun is Cha Young's twin brother.  He and his mother abandoned Cha Young when they were younger, but he came back to find her.  Now he spends his days living off of her generousity and looking for an easy way to make money and take advantage of people.  I heard a lot of hate for his character, but I love Min Jin Woong as an actor, so it was hard to totally hate him.  But the truth is that Tae Hyun is selfish and undeserving of such an understanding and compassionate sister.

Kim Won Hae as Kwon Hyun Suk

Kwon Hyun Suk is the director of the hospice.  His son was also Kang's best friend before he died of cancer.  Kim Won Hae is always a welcome familiar face.  But it was nice to see him in  a role where he had some story line of his own, instead of just supporting the main story arch.

Hospice Theme

After being gutted by Andante, I didn't think I would ever watch another show that took place in a hospice ward.  I even put off watching this one when I heard that would be the setting.  But once I gave in, I really enjoyed the way they handled the hospice stories.  Yes, they were tearjerkers, but they also showed healing and dignity.  It was a perfect backdrop for this special love story.

Emotion Through Food

The way that Chocolate used food to represent love, healing, redemption, and a host of other emotions is appetizing and poetic.  From the first meal that Kang gives Cha Young to the last meals that Kang eats while waiting for her in Greece, every table tells a story.  Even the sound effects of crispy chewing and sizzling cooking enhance the emotional tones.

Character Development

I often say that I appreciate a slow, character driven drama over flashy and exciting shows.  This one did a beautiful job of allowing us to get to know the main characters and understand them.  I felt like the slow development gave the characters a depth that can be lacking in faster moving plots.  Of course, this can't be done without a skilled cast who understands the characters themselves.  Thank you to the cast for bringing these wonderful characters to life and making them feel like old friends.

Lee Joon Ending

After making us all come to like and feel sorry for Joon, I wish they would have given us some closure to his story.  He is left with no love, job, or family.  I could understand leaving some of the story open ended, but it would have been nice to see that something was turning around for him.  Yes, there were hints with the woman in the ambulance and the fact that he jumped in to treat her, but I wanted just a bit more.  He went through too much to not get a little happy ending.

Unresolved Lie

The drama missed such an important opportunity in leaving the truth about Kang's mother's death unresolved.  This is a bond that the lead couple shared.  Cha Young deserves to know that the woman she is so grateful to was actually Kang's mom.  And how can we expect them to build a stable relationship without getting such a pivotal event out in the open.

Cha Young Running Away

As much as I loved Cha Young's character, I didn't get why she would run away in the final episode.  She had finally reunited with her first love and things were on the right track.  It didn't make sense for her to just pick up and run back to Greece indefinitely.  Cha Young had stood strong through so much adversity.  She was a quiet fighter not a runner.

Overall, I felt like the ending was good.  Obviously, with the exception of Joon's story and Cha Young's momentary character shift.  It's hard to argue with a happy ending against the beautiful backdrop of Greece.  Most of the secondary storylines finished up as we went along.

So we really just needed to find out how our lovely couple get back to that overlook we saw them in at the beginning.  Like the rest of this series, the ending is understated but satisfying.

I really loved this drama.  It has a great cast with amazing chemistry.  So much so that fans have had a hard time moving on now that it is finished.  This drama is strong all around.  There is plenty of romance, some political conspiracy, and lots of comical moments that lighten the mood and give depth to the characters.  The cinematography provides some beautiful scenery, from North Korea and Switzerland.  I guess it does ask you to suspend your disbelief from time to time, but the charm of the story makes it worthwhile.  Definitely give this one a try.  I think you'll be happy you did.  I give Crash Landing On You a 5 out of 5 ramen.

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Air Dates: March 27 - May 16, 2020

Episodes: 16

Where to Watch: Viki

Genre: Romantic Comedy

Starring: Eric Mun and Go Won Hee

A world-famous chef retires to a quiet, country town after a tragic accident kills his parents.  When a stranger wanders into town with no memory of who she is or where she is from, she comes to stay with him.  But when their home and the whole town are threatened by a major fashion corporation, the two of them team up with the town's people to try to save it.  And in the meantime, they may be able to rediscover the passions and talents they had left behind.

Eric Mun as Moon Seung Mo

Chef Moon is a successful international chef.  He travels, doing pop-up restaurants around the world.  He has lived his life doing what he loves;  traveling and cooking.  He has avoided roots and responsibilities, knowing he had a home to go back to whenever he felt lonely.

But when his parents are killed, and a mysterious young daughter shows up at his door, he is forced to reevaluate his life.  He puts down roots in a quiet village, where he meets a woman with no memory and learns the value of family and community.

Go Won Hee as Yoo Yoo Jin

Yoo Yoo Jin, know as Bella, is a driven fashion designer with a scarred past.  A trauma from her youth left her with a fear of camera and flashing lights.  So she never shows her face or does interviews.  She is emotionally closed off and selfish.  But when is involved in a car accident and wakes up with no memory, she becomes a totally different person. 

Suddenly she is part of a loving community, where she experiences the give and take of a true family.  But what will happen when she finally remembers who she is really is.  Will she be forced to give up everything she has come to love to go back to her previous life?

Go Do Yeon as Kim Sul Ah

Kim Sul Ah is the true star of the show.  She is a smart young girl who claims to be Chef Moon's daughter.  She is alone in the world until she comes to live with him.  She is bright and enthusiastic.  She quickly wins over the whole village, as they all chip in to care for her.

Ahn Nae Sang as Im Chul Yong

Im Chul Yong is the villian.  He is the son in law of the chairman of Donghan Group.  He is greedy and power hungry.  The only thing that matters to him is taking over Donghan Group from his aging father in law.  And he will go to any lengths to accomplish it. He is responsible for the deaths of Yoo Jin's mom and Chef Moon's parents.  He is also behind the plan to destroy their village.

Kil Hae Yeon as Jang Sun Young (Madam Jang)

 Madam Jang worked with Yoo Jin's mother.  When she died, Madam Jang took Yoo Jin in and raised her to be a successful fashion designer.  She loves Yoo Jin in her own way, but she appears to be more interested in success than filial love.

Found "Families"

I love the way Chef Moon, Sul Ah, Yoo Jin, and Chef's best friend Da Hoon settle into a happy little family.  It was fun to watch those relationships grow and gel.  For people who had all lived pretty solitary lives before they came together, it was rewarding to watch them become a real family.

Eric Mun

This was Eric's first project in 5 years, and although it was no Another Oh Oh Hae Young, it was great to see him back on the small screen.  He has a certain charisma that is always a joy to watch.  Here's hoping that we won't have to wait another 5 years to see him again.

Villagers

Besides the family within Chef Moon's house, the villagers represent an extended family.  They all pitch in to help take care of Sul Ah, the restaurant, and Donghan Group.  There were too many to write up individually, but this supporting cast carried the story whenever things got too slow.  Each one added their own flavor to the mix and I liked the diversity they brought to the story.

Disappearing Anorexia

Lots of fans have complained about this, so it probably isn't new to you.  But the handling of anorexia as a problem that just disappeared with Yoo Jin's memory is just not realistic or a fair representation of such a serious condition.  It seems kind of pointless to have included it at all, when it is really only discussed the first episode.  I wish they would have just skipped it all together if they weren't going to treat it more seriously.

Scattered Themes and Plot Hole

I think the biggest issue with this drama for me was the writing.  The cast did the best they could with the material.  But there really were some glaring issues with the story as a whole.  Serious mental issues that just disappear, a reference to an ex-wife of Chef Moon's who we never hear about again,  and a lack of any clearyly defined genre or theme left me feeling like this drama was just missing something.

Crazy Im Hyuna

Im Hyuna is the daughter of Im Chul Yong.  She is obsessed with Bella and idolizes her.  I get that , but the character just doesn't make a lot of sense to me.  Her obsession is pathological.  So, is she certifiably crazy?  And if so, how did she end up so twisted?  More importantly, how does she just turn it off toward the end of the drama and become totally lucid and sane.  Is she crazy in the same way Yoo Jin is anorexic?  It just goes away all by itself.  I don't really know, but I couldn't really make much sense out of her motivation and true mental stability.  The character just didn't really work for me.

The ending was a lot like the rest of this drama.  I was happy that they did tie up a few of the storylines.  Yoo Jin is back and obviously intends to stay and put down roots, since she gave Sul Ah her necklace.  Da Hoon is in husband training, which seems to make everyone happy.  Madam Jang and Im hyuna are carrying on the designing business together.

And the village and restaurant are here to stay.  In terms of the simple storylines that were explored, things ended on a good note.  There's no grand ah-ha moment  or even a very enthusiastic welcome home with our main couple.  Things just kind of coast in for a nice, quiet happy ending.

 This isn't a great drama, but it is a good one.  It's a good if you are looking for a little breather from some of the more complex and intense dramas out there.  It's not that the storyline is always light and fun, but it's fairly simple.  The leads are solid although the chemistry is a bit understated.  The writers seemed to struggle with what kind of a show they were writing.  Was it a food show or a show about fashion.  Was it romantic comedy or drama?  Was it predictable or totally illogical?  The answer is that it was all of these at some point but never chose one to focus on.  But with those flaws in mind, I did enjoy watching, and Eric Mun is always worth my time!  I give this drama a 2 out of 5 ramen.

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Air Dates: December 12, 2019 - February 16, 2020

Episodes: 16

Where to Watch: Netflix

Genre: Romantic Drama

Starring: Hyun Bin and Son Ye Jin

Crash Landing On You is about a South Korean heiress who is in a paragliding accident.  She is forced to make an emergency landing and finds herself in North Korea.  A North Vietnamese military officer finds her while on duty.  Worried for safety, he agrees to help her find her way home.

Of course, that proves to be more difficult than either one of them thought.  As they start to develop feelings for each other, the idea of succeeding becomes more and more bittersweet.

Hyun Bin as Ri Jung Hyuk

Ri Jung Hyuk dreamed of being a famous pianist when he was young.  So his brother, Moo Hyuk chose a career in the military to follow in their father's footsteps.  But when Moo Hyuk is killed in an "accident", Jung Hyuk gives up his dream and becomes a military officer.  He is quiet and a bit aloof.

The men under his command respect him but keep their distance.  The women in the soldiers' village flirt and vie for his attention.  His life feels lonely and disappointing, until he runs into a South Korean woman while on patrol.

Son Ye Jin as Yoon Se Ri

Yoon Se Ri grew up as the illegitimate daughter of a rich businessman.  Her stepmom raised her along with her 2 stepbrothers.  None of them have ever had any affection for her or treated her like she belongs.  Because of this, she has spent her life trying to be successful and prove that she is a worthy person.  She creates her own company called Se Ri's Choice that sells fashion and beauty products.  Even though her life has lacked love and suppport, she has lived  pampered and spoiled.  After a paragliding accient, she wakes up in a tree in North Korea.  The land and people are rough and far removed from so many of the luxuries she is accustomed to.

But in the company of the North Korean captain and his troops, she learns about love and acceptance.  And she begins to gain a new perspective on what's really important in life.

The chemistry between this couple is no joke.  And as they get to know each other, they discover that fate may have played a major hand in bringing them together.  But how do they build a future where it will be impossible for them to contact each other once Se Ri returns home?  Can they overcome cultural differences and a divided homeland to find happiness?

Kim Jung Hyun as Goo Seung Jun

Goo Seung Jun is our con man with a conscience.  Seung Jun cheated Se Ri's brother out of a large sum of money and tried to marry Se Ri to take her portion of the family money.  When he is caught,  Seung Jun hires someone to help him relocate and hide in North Vietnam.  In the beginning he is rude and selfish.  But as he starts to learn about love and friendship, he becomes quite sweet.  This is one of those characters designed to break all of our hearts.

Seo Ji Hye as Seo Dan

Dan is the unfortunate second lead.  The families have arranged for her to marry Jung Hyuk.  But it isn't all a random arrangement.  Dan has had a crush on Jung Hyuk since they attending the same school when they were younger.

But Jung Hyuk never noticed her and isn't even aware they have a past.  Dan knows she is in trouble as soon as she sees Jung Hyuk with Se Ri.  She does everything that she can to keep them apart and force Jung Hyuk to follow through with their wedding.

North Korean Soldiers

Because North Korea's conscription is so long, it is natural that men serving together would become family.  This group of guys is so fun.  They find out that Jung Hyuk is helping Se Ri to get back home, and jump in to offer help and support.  At first, they don't know what to do with a modern South Korean woman who is strong-willed and independent.  But as they all get to know each other, they become protective brothers to her.  Their different friendships are so cute.  Each one has their own special relationship with her.

Women in the North Korean Village

These women all live in the village used for military families.  That means they are all married to the men who are serving.  Which doesn't keep them from flirting with Jung Hyuk!  When he announces that Se Ri is his fiancee they are all shocked  At first they hate her for being their competition.  But she wins them over  with beauty and style advice.  Eventually they accept her as part of their community.  This also brings them closer to each other.

North Korean Insights

The scenes that took place in North Korea were fascinating.  It's so interesting to get an idea of what life is like there.  I couldn't even imagine what it would be like to live in a place like that, so I really enjoyed getting a small peek into it.

Cast Chemistry

The whole cast is phenomenal.  The chemistry between the leads was so sweet to watch.  But the supporting characters are also amazing.  It's a large cast, and I feel that we get to know a little bit about each character individually, which I loved.

Beautiful Scenery

Visually, this drama is stunning.  From the small villages of North Korea to the beautiful lake side of Switzerland, it is all a gorgeous backdrop for  the story.

Seung Jung/Dan Ending

I think most fans agree that Seung Jung's death was heartbreaking. They could have easily found a way to let him settle in North Korea with Dan.  He fought so hard to straighten out his life and become a good man.  I would have like to see him rewarded for that.

Se Ri's Family

In my opinion, Se Ri's family were the only weak link in the characters.  They were villians, but not even close to being bad enough to compete with Cheol Kang.  They just kind of fell flat for me.

Unrealistic Event

I know that Dramaland is not real life.  And I don't mind suspending my belief for the fun of the story.  But there are definitely some far fetched scenarios.  From paragliding through the middle of a tornado to tiptoeing back through the DMZ.

Overall, I felt like the ending was strong.  Obviously, with the exception of Seung Jun.  After all the talk about fate and destiny, they resisted the urge to wave some magic wand and give them a happy life, just like any other couple.  The ending has a bittersweet feel.  They do get a happy ending, but it has it's own unique twist, just like them as a couple.

It is a little sad to think that Se Ri will never see any of the wonderful friends she made during her time in North Korea.  But when I think of our happy couple, walking the shores of the lake in Switzerland once a year, all is right in my heart.

I really loved this drama.  It has a great cast with amazing chemistry.  So much so that fans have had a hard time moving on now that it is finished.  This drama is strong all around.  There is plenty of romance, some political conspiracy, and lots of comical moments that lighten the mood and give depth to the characters.  The cinematography provides some beautiful scenery, from North Korea and Switzerland.  I guess it does ask you to suspend your disbelief from time to time, but the charm of the story makes it worthwhile.  Definitely give this one a try.  I think you'll be happy you did.  I give Crash Landing On You a 5 out of 5 ramen.

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