Lee Ma Ha is a  struggling idol trainee who continues to pursue her dream after her debut is cut short by a tragic death.  When a former manager comes to Ma Ha and her band mates with the idea of starting a new agency, with them as his first stars, they jump at the chance to perform again.  Meanwhile, Ma Ha's former crush from trainee days, Kwon Ryok, is now the leader of the popular group, Shax.  Ma Ha's renewed bid for stardom repetitively places her in Ryok's path and she quickly finds that her feelings for him haven't lessened with time.  But can the two find a way to be together that doesn't destroy their careers?

Lee Jun Young as Kwon Ryok

Kwon Ryok became the leader of the band Shax on the night of their debut, when his best friend, the original leader, Eun Jo, disappears without a trace.  Three years later, no one has heard from Eun Jo, but Shax has risen to fame and Ryok is a great leader and popular idol.  Ma Ha is someone Ryok danced with in high school, but he didn't stay in contact with her.  When Tea Party begins preparing for their debut, Ma Ha starts turning up in many of the same places as Ryok.  At first, he isn't pleased with having to see her again, but as he watches her, he starts to remember why he liked her before.  Slowly he begins to realize that he has feelings for her, but he is hampered by the fact that he knows nothing about dating and the knowledge that neither of them are allowed to date.  

Kwon Ryok is cold and aloof.  All of his energy goes into promoting the success of his band. He has never been interested in dating before meeting Ma Ha, and he was very hard on Eun Jo when he found out he was in a relationship.  But his feelings for Ma Ha allow him to understand more about what Eun Jo went through, and gives him the desire to find out the rest of the story.  Lee Jun Young was believable as the single-minded idol, but his character was a bit one-dimensional.  Even after he begins to open up emotionally, there isn't much substance to Kwon Ryok.  I wish we could have seen more depth to his character.

Park Ji Yeon as La Li Ma

La Li Ma is a big name star from a small agency that specializes in girl groups.  She is known for being arrogant and rude.  She hopes to date Ryok and tries to get between he and Ma Ha.  Ma Ha spent her time before joining Ji Hak's agency imitating Li Ma and calling herself Li Ma's younger sister.  

♥ Idol Cast

If you are a K-Pop fan, "Imitation" is worth watching for the cast alone.  It's fun to see idols from groups like ATEEZ and SF9 performing.  And we even get to hear some new music from them.  The last episode is a mini-concert that I really enjoyed.  I hope this drama is a starting point for many of them in their acting careers.  

♥ Cupid Boys

I already said I loved seeing so many idols in the cast, but I have to give a special shout out to Choi Jong Ho and Park Yu Ri for their role as Ryok's advisers.  These two were adorable playing cupid and helping Ryok and Ma Ha finally get together.  Especially since it was obvious that they had never actually dated themselves!

Eun Jo and Annie

For a story that formed the foundation for much of the plot, these characters didn't receive enough screen time.  After presenting Annie's death as such a big mystery, everything gets easily wrapped up in an episode or two and everyone just moves on.  Eun Jo shows up on stage for the finale with no lasting consequences.  He isn't there for the final coffee shop scene, so I assume he did go back to the US like he said he would.  It seemed like their characters deserved more, especially since I have seen Chani listed as a lead actor.

Tea Party Romances

I guess now that Ma Ha has proven she can date if she wants to, the other band members just jump right in.  I'm not sure we needed romantic storylines for all of them.  Yoo Jin and Hyun Ji didn't really work as a couple for me.  It was obvious that Hyun Ji liked him in her own shy, quiet way, but Yoo Jin never really seemed that interested, especially after chasing so hard after Ma Ha for so many years.  On the other hand, I actually really liked Lee Hyun and Ri Ah, but they didn't get enough screen time to see them as a credible couple.  Which is too bad because I think they had the makings of a cute one!

"Imitation" ends in one big concert that gives fans a chance to hear each of their favorite idols perform.  It is finally revealed that Annie killed herself because her agency put pressure on her to sleep with rich music producers.  When she eventually refused, they blackmailed her with her own career and Eun Jo's.  Ryok takes charge of Shax's final performance and gets everyone to work together on a song that honors Annie's memory.  And as a surprise, Eun Jo even shows up.  After the performance, we see Shax being interviewed on a much smaller scale, as they have apparently left NOG.  Then everyone from Tea Party, Sparkling, and Shax, plus Li Ma get together at JH Cafe.  So, it seems that everyone is now signed with JH Entertainment and Ji Hak has his hands and heart full.  And the final scene shows Ma Ha and Ryok out on a date in public, so I guess Ji Hak will continue to treat his stars with the freedom and respect they deserve.

Ban Han Ni is a single 37 years old who is fired from her job as a temporary worker.  Feeling defeated and ready to give up, her life is turned upside down when her 17 year old self suddenly appears next to her.  Confronted with old memories of the bright and confident girl she had once been, Han Ni is forced to reexamine her life choices.  But can she go back to the carefree girl she was after all she has suffered since?  And how can she send her past self back to where she belongs without anyone finding out the truth of who she really is.  Luckily, she finds an unlikely ally in a handsome new friend.

Kim Young Kwang as  Han Yoo Hyun

Han Yoo Hyun is the son of Han Ji Man, the CEO of Joa Confectionary.  Much to his father's displeasure, he has no interest in being involved in the company, choosing to pursue trade certificates in a whole range of skills instead.  When his father gets sick of him drifting aimlessly, he kicks him out to fend for himself.  Out of desperation, Yoo Hyun applies to work in the cafeteria of his father's company without revealing his relationship to the CEO.  But when he finds out his father's eyes are failing and his aunt intends to take over the company and kick them out, he puts aside his own feelings to help his father save the company.  

Han Yoo Hyun has lived the spoiled life of a chaebol.  He is self-centered and arrogant.  But once he is thrown out on his own, he begins to reveal a more charming personality that is gentle and caring.  He wins over his fellow cafeteria staff and stays by Han Ni's side when she needs him.  I love Kim Young Kwang as an actor, but I didn't feel like this role gave him a lot to work with.  The character had some interesting potential but the storyline showed very little of that development and the romantic chemistry felt flat.

Eum Moon Suk as Anthony

Anthony is a famous actor who was in love with Han Ni when she was in high school, and he has never gotten over his first love.  Due to excessive plastic surgery and a recreated past  to hide his real identity, no one knows who he really is.  His last several acting projects have been flops, so he is hoping for a role that will revive his career.  

♥ Addressing Bullying

Past bullying charges against idols and actors is increasingly common in Korea these days.  It's a sensitive topic, and I respect the fact that this drama touched on it.  While I am not necessarily condoning the solution for Anthony's behavior, it's noteworthy that they took on the storyline at all.  Real life cases are often not as clear-cut as this fictional one, but I felt like they were careful to portray the character as remorseful and sincere in dealing with it.

♥Yang Do Yoon

One of the things I really enjoyed about this drama was the heartwarming interaction between Yoo Hyun, his father, and his cousin.  They weren't competitive and it painted a nice family picture.  So I was very disappointed when it seemed like Do Yoon had joined his mother's efforts to oust the other men.  I breathed a sigh of relief when it became clear that it was all just an act to stop his mother from destroying the company.  I'm thankful that Do Yoon was still on the good side and that the men can continue to be a loving family.

Anthony's Milk Problem

Bathroom humor is never my favorite, so this is almost a given at this point.  But seriously, this schtick wasn't funny the first time, and it definitely wasn't funny the third or fourth time!  How many times should we have to see him somehow get milk in his food?  In this case, it was way overdone.  

Plot Holes

Really the whole time travel premise of this drama is one big plot hole.  In the end, neither the grandma nor the shaman had anything to do with how the younger Han Ni got to the present or how to send her back.   And nothing she learned in the present was enough to save her dad's life.  It's true that the younger Han Ni's presence taught the present Han Ni how to love herself again, which is the most important message from "Hello, Me!",  but the methods and explanations for her time travel were messy and full of holes.  

If we can overlook the plot holes, "Hello, Me!" ends on it's strongest point, focusing back on the idea of self-love and forgiveness.  Anthony goes back to being Choon Shik, and pursues a love of cooking by opening a food cart, while also acting as a guardian to any kids that are being bullied in the neigborhood.  Anthony's manager steps up to fill his shoes by becoming an actor himself, and Jung Man takes over as his representative.  Yoo Hyun's aunt ends up in prison for her crimes and Do Yoon takes over running the company. Yoo Hyun gets promoted from cafeteria duty and goes to work in Han Ni's department at Joa Confectionary.  Han Ni the younger figures out how to get back home after her father comes to her in a dream.  After an emotional goodbye, the two Han Ni's walk together through a magic tunnel until the younger disappears.  The two go back to living their indivdual lives, although their experience has definitely left a positive mark, especially on the present day Han Ni.  She has finally forgiven herself for everything that happened 20 years ago and is ready to start embracing her life again.  The drama ends with Yoo Hyun giving Han Ni flowers and her returning the gift with a kiss, so their romance appears to be in full bloom in this happy ending.

Yoon Song Ah is a successful marketer for a cosmetic company.  Known for her devotion to the company and  constant hard work, she dreams of owning her own cosmetics brand one day.  Chae Hyun Seung joins the company as Song Ah's trainee.  Hyun Seung has always had a crush on Song Ah, but due to their trainee/mentor relationship, she has never considered him romantically.  Now Hyun Seung is ready to make his feelings known and to try to win Song Ah's heart.

Rowoon as Chae Hyun Seung

Chae Hyun Seung met Song Ah at a job fair at his university, and chose to work at KLAR because he was instantly intrigued by her.  Although he is only 1 year younger than her, Song Ah has never considered him romantically because she is his superior at work.  When Hyun Seung finds out Song Ah is in a relationship with their director, he is disappointed.  But after learning the whole truth about the director's engagement, Hyun Seung decides to use the situation as a way to spend more time with Song Ah, and hopefully finally get her attention.

Chae Hyun Seung is a sweet and optimistic character, even if that makes him a bit naive at times. It also makes him honest and straight-forward in a way that is admirable and endearing.   Some felt that his actions toward Song Ah felt stalkerish and opportunistic, which I guess could be true.  His determination to take care of her does go above and beyond at times, even to his own detriment.  But once Song Ah makes it clear that his actions are inappropriate and make her uncomfortable, Hyun Seung takes a step back and alters his behavior.  Seeing Rowoon take on a more mature role was really fun and I thought he handled it well.  You can see how he has grown as an actor and I found the role to be genuine and charismatic.

Lee Joo Bin as Lee Hyo Joo

Lee Hyo Joo has had an unrequited crush on Jae Shin since they were young.  When he refused to return her feelings, she tries to kill herself in a desperate attempt to hold on to him.  This almost leads to their marriage, until Lee Jae Shin calls off the wedding just weeks before the ceremony.  Now Hyo Joo must learn to live life without the one thing she wanted most.  

♥ The Sisters

To be honest, there were points where the main storyline of this drama dragged a bit and the secondary plots became more interesting.  Hyun Seung's sisters, Ji Seung and Yun Seung, are great characters.  They are smart and complex, and they help drive the episodes when it is needed.  Both actresses did an amazing job of creating characters that the audience could understand and appreciate, even with limited screen time.  

♥Turning the Tables

Song Ah's admission that she has never had to pursue a guy she was interested in was a bit arrogant for me.  So I was thrilled when she came home from her work abroad and suddenly had to be the one to win Hyun Seung back.  Hyun Seung deserved to be shown some appreciation after all he had gone through for her, and I liked that they finally turned the tables in their relationship.  

Ha Eun Never Ages

Okay, this may seem a bit petty but at that age, after three years, Ha Eun would have aged quite a bit.  I love this young actress and so a part of me was glad they didn't change her out. But still, it is not at all realistic to think she would look the same after that amount of time.  Even Song Ah had a longer, more mature, hair style.  But for Ha Eun to look exactly the same after all that time just isn't realistic.  

Serious Problems

Kdramas often have characters whose pyschological problems border on the extreme, but I found the characters of both Hyo Joo and Song Ah's mother, Wol Sun, to be a bit disturbing in their severity.  These women have some very serious issues that need to be dealt with more than just by self-reflection.  There is a fortune's worth of therapy in these two roles.

"She Would Never Know" does an okay job wrapping up the stories.  Ji Sueng and Jae Woon are in the process of getting married, although they still have some communication issues to work through.  Yun Seung and Woo Hyeon, in contrast are on their way out of their marriage.  Ha Eun isn't taking it well, but the couple have promised to work together to make it as smooth as they can for her. Hyo Joo and Jae Shin are both learning to stand on their own.  They were even able to meet and have a friendly conversation with no lingering attachments.  Song Ah's mother is spending time with friends and focusing on her own life, instead of Song Ah's .  And after working hard to convince Hyun Seung that she still loved him, Song Ah pops the question while randomly standing in a crosswalk.  The series ends with the happy couple posing for wedding photos.  

Welcome to my Pasta - Unspoiled Review.  A young women who dreams of being a chef in a fancy Italian restaurant struggles with a new head chef who doesn't like women in his kitchen.  As much as he criticizes everything she does, he also sees her potential.  While she has a lot to learn about cooking from him, he has a lot to learn about kitchen politics and building a team.  Together will try to turn their restaurant, La Sfera, into a successful and thriving business. 

Gong Hyo Jin as Seo Yoo Kyung

Seo Yoo Kyung has worked as a kitchen assistant at La Sfera for 3 years and has finally been promoted to chef.  But a new head chef shows up suddenly and tries to fire all the women, including her.  But the new chef is no match for her stubborn desire to finally get a chance to cook pasta.  Over time, she falls in love with Hyun Wook and they agree to date in secret.  When La Sfera puts together a team to compete in a cooking contest, Yoo Kyung is made their substitute.  When Ho Nam suffers an injury during the competition, Yoo Kyung steps in and saves the day.

Seo Yoo Kyung is quiet and eager to please.  For 3 years, she has worked tirelessly and never complained.  Her skills as a peacekeeper are exactly what Hyun Wook needs to hold everything together.  Yoo Kyung is able to see a softer side to Hyun Wook and she understands that his critical attitude is because of his desire to see them all succeed.  No one plays the meek female protragonist with a nerve of steel quite like Gong Hyo Jin.  This role is perfect for her and even though I sometimes wanted to scream at Yoo Kyung for not sticking up for herself more, Gong Hyo Jin was able to show her strength in other ways.  

Alex as Kim San

Kim San is secretly the owner of La Sfera, but he pretends to be just a devoted customer.  He has had feelings for Yoo Kyung since she started working there, but she has no idea he is interested in her.  When he realizes that Yoo Kyung and Hyun Wook have feelings for each other he decides it's time to be more direct about his own feelings.  

Jo Sang Ki, Heo Tae Hee, Baek Bong Ki, and Lee Hyung chul as the Local Chefs

For these guys, La Sfera is their home turf.  They have built their careers in this kitchen and they don't like having a new head Chef who insists on changing everything.  Nothing would make them happier than seeing Hyun Woo fail and leave their restaurant.  

♥ Lead Chemistry

Hyun Wook and Yoo Kyung have an irresistable chemistry that I really enjoyed.  From the moment they first meet in the crosswalk, there is a romantic tension that feels real.  True chemistry is best, not just in the romantic moments and kiss scenes, but in every exchange, and I felt like these two had that.  Whether he was giving her a cooking lesson or yelling at her for making a mistake, they had a connection that was apparent in their timing and body language.

♥ Food as Eye Candy

Food and cooking scenes make up a large portion of this drama, and I really enjoyed seeing all the amazing dishes they made.  The colors and beauty of the food arranged on the plates were fun to look at it and admire.  Also, getting to see some of the techniques they used, like binding up the meat, was interesting.  I just wish I could go to La Sfera and try some of them!

Treatment of Women

Poor treatment of women is a big part of the plot of this drama and I understand that it was done to make the story interesting and the Hyun Wook does come around quite a bit by the end, but sometimes it got to be a bit much episode after episode. Playing to those kinds of stereotypes is a trope I don't really love and it seems like all of the ladies in "Pasta" deserved better treatment than they got. 

Philip and Byun Jung Soo

Byun Jung Soo's crush on Philip was kind of cute and they played with it a little bit.  It seemed like they were going to put them together eventually, but then they just kind of dropped the storyline.  Because both characters were so eccentric, I think it could have been an interesting pairing, so I was disappointed they didn't pursue it more.

Dramas like "Pasta" are great because it's pretty much happy endings all around.  There are no villains awaiting punishment and no characters left to deal with their bad choices.  San and Chef have come to an agreement that they will run the restaurant together, making all the decisions as a team.  The home La Sfera team who won the competition are on their way to study in Italy, including Ho Nam, who is back in his rightful position.  The Italy team are here to stay and went out for a drink with Sae Young to apologize for being so hard on her.  San and Sae Young have decided to continue as friends, even as San encourages her to settle down and have some kids.  With half of their kitchen team heading to Italy, Chef visits the female chefs he had fired and invites them to come back and be a part of La Sfera again.  Our love birds also got their happy ending.  After watching several food related dramas in the past, I was prepared for Yoo Kyung to take the opportunity in Italy and leave Chef waiting for her.  I even thought that he might take the job offer to go with her.  But in the end, Yoo Kyung decides to stay and asks Hyun Wook to get an apartment with her.  With this couple, nothing happens without a bit of contention.  Now that she is staying, Yoo Kyung wants to know which stove will be hers.  In other words, will she get to go back to the pasta line that she loves.  Hyun Wook refuses to get her a straight answer, but honestly it seems like he is just trying to get a rise out of her.  In a huff, Yoo Kyung storms out of the kitchen with Hyun Wook following.  And then it ends, right where it started, in the middle of their crosswalk, in a replay of their initially meeting; minus the goldfish and ending in a playful kiss!

Welcome to my True Beauty - Unspoiled Review. A high school girl who has been bullied for being "ugly" consults youtube to learn how to apply makeup.  With a bit of practice and a tranfer to a new school for a fresh start, she becomes a beautiful and popular girl.  Her biggest fear in life is that someone will discover how she really looks under her mask of makeup.  So it is just her luck that the only person from her school who has seen her without makeup is the guy she likes.  Can he convince her that she has been beautiful all along and that true beauty comes from within?

Cha Eun Woo as Lee Su Ho

Lee Su Ho has never had an easy life.   So when he meets a girl at his local comic store who shares many of his interests and isn't intimidated by his serious personality, he falls for her immediately.  Their relationship is blooming when Su Ho's estranged father collapses while on a business trip to the US.  He rushes to be by his side, while trying to maintain a long-distance relationship with Ju Kyung.  But when the pressure of separation begin impacting her health he makes the difficult decision to break up with her for her own good.  When he finally returns to Korea, he is determined to win her back, no matter what it takes.

Cha Eun Woo continues to grow as an actor and this role really gave him a chance to spread his wings.  Su Ho's troubled childhood left him with a reserved personality which was often mistaken for cold and unfriendly.  But his scenes with Ju Kyung and Seo Jun gave him an opportunity to show another side of himself.  This bromance was everything!  From the current times with Seo Jun to the memories of when Se Yeon was alive, there are fights and there is bonding and it is all so fun to watch.  And, of course his chemistry with Moon Ga Young made the love story one that will be remembered.  

Im Se Mi as Lim Hee Gyung

Hee Gyung is Ju Kyung's older sister and an employee at the production company where Seo Jun eventually begins singing again.  She falls in love with Ju Kyung's homeroom teacher and pursues him relentlessly.  She is brave, tenacious, and a whole lot of fun.  The role-reversal between her and Jun Woo was really cute to watch.  Hee Gyung was blunt, unsentimental, and straightforward through their whole realtionship and it made her a very memorable character.  

♥ First Kiss

This is such a small detail but I absolutely loved the fact that Su Ho and Ju Kyung's first kiss happened while she was "bare-faced".  It was a very sweet way for Su Ho to confirm the fact that he loved her, whether she was wearing makeup or not.  All the delays and misunderstandings came to a perfect conclusion and made a perfect start for their romantic relationship.

♥ Seo Jun's Sacrifice

Oh Seo Jun.  Where do you even start with this one?  He had so many wonderful moments through the course of this drama, but for me the sweetest moment was when he lied to Ju Kyung and sent her running to Su Ho, while obviously breaking his own heart.  Through the entire drama, Seo Jun always put Ju Kyung's happiness above his own, but in this moment it is more clear than ever.  He was a gentleman and a true friend right up until the very end, and that is why fans everywhere fell so hard for this amazing character.  

Su Ho's All or Nothing

So, I have complained about this before, but I think it bears repeating.  Su Ho disappeared to the US for 2 years without once being able to get away for a short trip home?  And then, just as suddenly, he comes back to Korea and declares he is never leaving again.  "Bye dad.  It was nice.  Enjoy your time in rehab."  It all just seemed a bit extreme to me.  And then, once back, Su Ho goes to find Ju Kyung and expects her to welcome him back like nothing happened.  I was glad he came back and of course I wanted him and Ju Kyung back together, but the pieces didn't quite fit right and felt a little clunky.  

Rushed Ending

Really both of my other negative points hinge on this one simple truth.  The ending was just too rushed.  In 2 episodes, they tried to cover the 2 years Su Ho was gone, as well as his return and their reconciliation, not to mention bringing closure to the other characters.  I think using a few more episodes to tell this important part of the story would have made it feel more smooth and complete.  Besides the fact that we see very little of Seo Jun during these episodes.  As one of the leads, it would have been nice to see more of him in his new life.  

Well, if you have been reading until now, I've already given away most of my thoughts on the ending.  While I did feel like it was a bit rushed, it did manage to tie up most of the loose ends and give lots of happy endings.  Ju Kyung's father finds a way to use his love of aromatherapy to bring some money into the house.  Hee Gyung and Han Jun Woo get his dream wedding.  Soo Ah and Tae Hoon get back together and even Hyun Gyu is dating. Ju Young is still trying to convince Go Woon to date him, but he is definitely making progress. Su Ho and Ju Kyung have settled into a nice, comfortable romance with lots of late nights at the comic store.  Ju Kyung is living her dream of studying cosmetology.  In her private life, she has learned to use less makeup and embrace more of her natural beauty.  And Seo Jun is finally making his debut as an idol.