Welcome to Kdrama and Ramen!

In 1894-95 a group of rebels rise up to lead the Donghak Peasant Revolution.  Baek Yi Kang is an illegitimate son who has lived his life known only as “So and So”. Now he will join the cause to bring equality to a society ruled by privilege and greed.  As their rag-tag group of freedom fighter stands against the royal army and the militarily advanced Japanese,  Yi Kang fights a much more personal enemy in the form of his father and half-brother.  As communities and families are divided, war rages through the country. And battles are fought not only on the battle fields, but also in the markets and administrative government offices, as everyone steps up to do their part.  

Han Ye Ri as Song Ja In

Song Ja In is a peddler who sells her wares to the highest bidder, regardless of their political affiliation.  Her father is the head of the local peddler group and he has taught her that making money is the only priority in life.  But when she meets and falls in love with Baek Yi Kang, she sees how her position can help bring about social change.  Pitting herself against her own father, Ja In deceives the powerful Japanese forces and offers her support to the Donghak Army.    

As a member of the social elite with money and influence, Song Ja In has plenty to lose by helping Jeon Bong Jun and his soldiers.  But working as a war peddler helps her get a first-hand look at what it could cost their country if the Japanese gain control.  Han Ye Ri was graceful and calm in this role.  She portrayed Ja In’s bravery and determination with a quiet dignity that was never overplayed.

Choi Moo Sung as Jeon Bong Jun

Jeon Bong Jun is the General who leads the Donghak Army.  He is charismatic and devoted to their cause.  As the army makes it’s way through the country, the General is there to meet with the people and share his vision for an egalitarian society where commoners aren’t forced to carry the weight of work.  He sees the potential in Yi Kang and becomes a father figure to him over time.  

 ♥ Yi Kang and Yoo Wol

Baek Yi Kang’s devotion to his mom is seriously one of the cutest mother/son relationships I have ever seen.  Far from some momma’s boy who loves his mother because she waits on him hand and foot, Yi Kang protects her and waits on her with absolute attention.  He refers to her as the woman he loves most and is so proud of her when she becomes the deaconess.  I really loved their scenes together and I admired Yoo Wol’s ability to get past years of mistreatment with grace and strength.  

♥ Baek Yi Hyun

I can’t pass up the opportunity to praise Yoon Shi Yoon for his acting in this drama.  His character was so complex and heart-breaking.  I suspected from the beginning that he would ultimately sacrifice himself for Yi Kang, but even I wasn’t prepared for his dramatic final scene.  The development, or maybe regression, of his character was well played and he gave an outstanding performance.  

Heart-Wrenching Battles

This drama has plenty of battle scenes and they are well done.  It is truly heart-wrenching to watch the Donghak soldiers with bamboo spears getting taken out by the Japanese artillery.  While these scenes are not particularly gory, they paint a picture of the atrocities of war and the massive loss of human lives.  

Beo Deul

As the only female soldier in this drama, I loved Beo Deul for her willingness to jump into the fray whenever she was needed.  I was so sad to see her finally die of her injuries.  And even more sad that her last heroic act to try to take down Yi Hyun ended in futility.  I wish she would have lived to help Yi Kang train the new group of fighters.  I can just imagine her as a no-nonsense leader daring anyone to challenge her authority and keeping Yi Kang in his place with her usual fond humor.  

To say that “The Nokdu Flower” has a happy ending would be to overlook all that these courageous soldiers fought for.  That happy ending doesn’t come until much later.  Maybe because of this, the ending for this series is, at best, open ended.  Yi Hyun kills himself in front of his family, and later his father kills himself and burns their house to the ground.  Jeon Bong Jun and his aides are executed without any of their supporters present. After thinking Yi Kang was dead, he and Ji An have a sweet reunion at their swing where she finally agrees to “be his girl”. But then a jump forward shows Ji An visiting Mung Shim, who has set up on orphanage and is teaching the children there.  She asks if Ji An has heard from Yi Kang and Ji An smiles and says “no news is good news”.  The scene shifts to Yi Kang sleeping on a rooftop.  Yoo Wol is there cooking and taking care of the new group of soldiers,  including Hae Seung and Eok So.  Yi Kang jumps down to welcome Lee Gyu Tae, who has finally joined their efforts.  So I guess we can only hope that Yi Kang and Ji An will survive to spend their lives together somewhere down the road.  

Oh Han Byul works tirelessly as a PR Representative at Starforce Entertainment Agency.  As the head of the PR team, her job is cleaning up the scandals and messes of her star clients.  Unforuntately, her biggest star also happens to be a friend from her youth who broke her heart when she he was just starting out.  Now the two of them spend their days bickering and antagonizing each other .  Those closest to them suspect their fighting is just a way of covering their true feelings for each other.  But even if that were true, for a celebrity, dating is no easy thing.  Especially if he were to date the one who is paid to  cover up his relationships.  

Kim Young Day as Gong Tae Sung

After volunteering in Africa for a year, Gong Tae Sung comes home with a hero’s welcome.  His one focus is to get his career going again, so he immediately takes a part in a romantic drama.  But while plenty has changed while he was away, his feelings for his college crush Han Byul have not.  When he finally realizes his feelings, he becomes determined to win her over.  But getting her to date him is only his first obstacle.  He becomes increasingly frustrated with trying to keep their relationship secret and finding time to be together without raising suspicions.  

Gong Tae Sung is the picture perfect star. He is handsome, kind, and charming.  But he bears the scars of psychological trauma and emotional pain caused by a mother who put her own fame above the health and happiness of her son.  Luckily for Tae Sung, his Starforce family stepped in to offer him the support and love he deserved.  Gong Tae Sung is largely a subtle and understated character, not unlike other roles we have seen Kim Young Dae cast in.  And he handled it with his usual finesse, but I really enjoyed the few scenes where we got to see him dig a little deeper and show a wider range of emotions.  I suspect we will be seeing more of him in future roles and I look forward to it.    

Kim Yoon Hye as Park Ho Yeong

Park Ho Yeong is a young manager at Starforce.  She used to be a Taekwondo athlete.  She met Yoo Sung while working as a body guard for an autograph signing event.  She is enthusiastic and eager to help her new stars succeed.  She has always had a crush on Yoo Sung but it has taken her years to finally be able to confess her feelings to him.  But she is thrilled when he reciprocates her feelings.  

 ♥ Positive Portrayal

Generally idol dramas tend to paint the agencies as the greedy, selfish machine that uses and abuses their stars.  I enjoyed the fact that this drama actually portrays them in a much more positive and caring light.  The family atmosphere between the staff of Starforce and their actors gave this series a warm feeling that is often missing in this style of drama. 

♥ Drama-Free Leads

This drama took a unique approach for a rom-com in that they allowed the leads to get together pretty quickly without any miscommunication or sacrifice that lead to a big break up, so they could get back together.  This couple stayed strong throughout the whole series and learned to face their challenges together without ever doubting each other or their love.  Some felt that this lack of conflict made their romance seem too comfortable and didn’t provide enough chemistry for our leads but I actually enjoyed just relaxing and enjoying their sweet relationship.

Closure

It was interesting how the writers let many of the plotlines in this drama come to an end without any real closure.  Tae Sung’s mom and Luca are good examples.  Usually there is at least a mention of some of the past storylines at the end of the show, but not for this one.  It was almost like a slice of life style drama in the way it moved onto the next story without really looking back, but it left me wanting a bit more of a wrap up to some of those plot lines.

Start and Stop Stalking Story

Idol dramas often have some kind of stalker story and for some reason they usually don’t work for me.  This one was no exception.  They spent an awful lot of time misdirecting so it seemed like the story was over, but then, wait, it wasn’t actually them.  And then we finally find out who it is and barely remember him from the very beginning of the drama.  He gets arrested with very little fanfare and it’s done.  The pace felt strained and inconsistant and I never really cared about finding out who it was.  And the weird “auntie” maid was not an interesting character at all. 

This drama ends with a wealth of happily ever afters.  Choi Ji Hoon retires as president of Starforce and is off to enjoy the rest of his life, starting with a trip abroad that hopefully is taking him to Eun Shi Woo.  He leaves the company to Yoo Sung’s capable leadership with some words of “fatherly” advice.  Yu Na finds out she is pregnant and she and Jae Hyun have a “shotgun wedding”.  And now the famous couple is getting offers for luxury baby toys.  Jung Yeol is now a senior manager in charge of training their new recruits.  And though they are still keeping it under wraps, he is dating Bo In.  Ho Yeong has taken the position of Manager Head and she and Yoo Sung are happily dating. Ki Bum is getting lots of exclusive stories and still dating the adorable lawyer, Soo Hyuk.  And our leads have finally taken the big step in going public with their dating news.  While the PR team is hard at work fielding questions about their relationship, the happy couple is off enjoying some much deserved time together. I see lots of weddings in Starforce Entertainment’s future!

Taking place in the fictional land of Arth during the bronze age, two young people carry a fate that will influence the lives of the whole land.  The Wahan tribe lives a peaceful and sheltered life on the plains of Lark.  Tan Ya is the young woman who is their future leader.  Her best friend, Eun Seom, is a young boy who became a part of their clan after losing his mother.  The two were born on the same day and share an important destiny.  When soldiers from Arth find a way down the cliffside to the plateau below, they invade the Wahan village and capture the people as slaves.  Now, in a land governed by greed and outlandish luxury, the people of Wahan fight to survive, without losing sight of who they are and where they come from.  But they will be swept up in a whirlwind of political turmoil that threatens their lives and the future of their tribe. 

Kim Ji Won as Tan Ya

Tan Ya has grown up as the future Great Mother of the Wahan tribe.  But she has never felt like she had what it takes to rule her people.  When they are taken to Arthdal as slaves and her mother dies, Tan Ya is the only hope for their future.  When Ta Gon devises a plan to make her the Chief Priestess, she can only hope that she has learned enough in her years of studying to convince the people that she is the rightful spiritual leader of Arth.  And with that power, she hopes to find Eon seom and take all of the Wahan back to Lark.  

 Tan Ya feels a great sense of responsibility to those she loves.  She doesn’t understand the greed and selfishness that is commonplace among the people in Arth.  She has no desire for earthly materials, but she agrees to help Ta Gon because she has been told that having power is the only way she will be able to find Eun seom and free her tribe from slavery.  I love Kim Ji Won and I enjoyed her portrayal of Tan Ya.  From the sweet-spirited fairy in Lark to the cold, elegant spiritual head in Arth, Kim Ji Won shows both sides of her character clearly and smoothly. 

Kim Ok Bin as Tae Al Ha

Tae Al Ha is the daughter of Mi Hol, who is the chief of the Hae Tribe.  Her father sent her to spy on Ta Gon and his father, but she fell in love with Ta Gon and betrayed Mi Hol.  She is greedy and power hungry, and she sees herself ruling alongside Ta Gon as his Queen.  Al Ha is also the adopted mother of Saya, although she doesn’t really have any affection for him.  He is simply another pawn in her plan to rise to power.  

 ♥ Dual Role

Song Joong Ki did such an amazing job in his dual role of Saya and Eon seom that I actually had to remind myself it was the same actor.  I was blown away by how distinct these two characters felt without making their differences feel forced or overdone.  It’s unusual to have a dual role where both are lead roles and one is not simply an alter-ego.  Eun seom and Saya both have strong character development throughout the series.

♥ Nun Byeol

Knowing that a Season 2 was already planned, the writers did a nice job of introducing Nun Byeol’s character.  I learned just enough about her to feel like I liked her character and look forward to seeing the rest of her story unfold.  Her role as the last known female Neanthal is fascinating and obviously will play a huge role going forward.  I have high hopes that her “duty” to her race will become a  beautiful and moving romance.

Wahan Adjustment

It made me so sad to see the Wahan people buying into the the social values so prevalent in Arth.  I loved their idyllic existence in Lark.  Moong Tae’s story was especially heartbreaking.  I think the guilt over what he did to his friends as well as his actions since joining hands with Ta Gon will eventually destroy his tender heart.  I wonder whether these gentle souls will ever be able to return to their peaceful lives.  

No Ending

I didn’t start this drama until all 18 episodes had aired, so I didn’t have to go through the long wait between each of the three parts.  And I understand that a second season was part of the writers plan all along.  But even series with multiple seasons usually have some kind of an ending to each season or “chapter”.  It kind of felt like this one just ended without much sense of closure at all.  And the long gap between the two seasons makes it understandable how some fans are impatient with the series.  And now with rumors that Kim Ji Won and Song Joong Ki will be replaced in the upcoming season, I can’t help but join in their confusion and frustration.  

As I’ve said, there isn’t much ending or closure to this drama yet, but here is where our story leaves off.  Tae Al Ha tells Ta Gon she is pregnant and is also the only living person with the secret to making bronze. He proposes to her at her father’s funeral as she dreams of ruling as Queen.  Saya finds out that Eon Seom is his twin, which explains what he has seen in dreams his whole life.  It also explains Tan Ya’s reactions to him.  Later Tan Ya stands before the people of Arth and crowns Ta Gon as the first King of the united country of Arth.  Saya stands by her side with his own dreams of becoming the future King.  Meanwhile, Eon Seom asserts himself as the rightful leader of the Eastern clans and promises to lead them to glory.  Ta Gon gives his first speech to his subjects, declaring a war on the Clans to the East who have not yet joined their united kingdom.  Tan Ya looks at him in shock over this bold declaration, knowing it could endanger Eun Seom.  This will obviously pit Ta Gon and the Daekan soldiers against the Tae and Agos clan that Eun Seom is now leading.  And in a final shot, we find out that Soohana is actually the spy planted by Ta Gon.  I’m sure she will also be important moving forward.  Stay tuned for Season 2, which is expected to be released in early 2023.  

Three siblings from a small town outside of Seoul struggle to find their own path to freedom, love, and happiness.  But between long work days and an hour and a half long commute both ways into the city, the energy to find a life outside of their simple existence seems impossible.  Meanwhile, a mysterious stranger who works for their father seeks peace and healing through the quiet, country life they are so eager to leave behind.  As each of them grows and changes, they will find their own definition of liberation.  

Son Seok Koo as  Gu Ja Gyeong

Gu Ja Gyeong is an apprentice for a sink maker in the countryside.  He also helps the family maintain their farmland.  His full identity and past are a secret that he refuses to share.  But his extreme alchoholism hints at a troubled and painful life.   When his boss’ daughter suggests that the two of them begin a relationship, he is intrigued in spite of his resistance to let anyone get close to him.  As the two get to know each other, Gu begins to look foward to their time together and Mi Jung’s quirky perspectives on life.  But eventually his previous life comes to find him and he is forced to return to the nightclub life he had left behind.  And without Mi Jung in his life, he is again overcome with lonliness and the demons of his past. Rekindling their relationship seems to be his only chance to find true happines.

Gu Ja Gyeong had a dark and violent life before running away from it all to live in the country, where he works himself into exhaustion and drinks away his emptiness.  But the alcohol has begin to take a toll on his physical and mental health.  Son Seok Koo’s portrayal of this character was emotionally touching and subtly sweet.  Every smile feels like a triumphant bit of sunshine.  It’s easy to see why fans around the world were swooning over this character and his troubled heart.    

Kim El as Yeom Ki Jung

Yeom Ki Jung is the middle child.  She desperately wants to be in a relationship, even if it means “loving just anyone”.  When she meets a single dad who is the brother  of one of her childhood friends, she immediately falls for his kind heart.  But his sister and young daughter aren’t happy with their relationship, and do everything they can to stand in their way.

♥ Meaningful Dialogue

The writing in this drama is top-notch and is full of many beautiful monologues and conversations that examine life in deep and compelling ways.  Their unique perspecives gave me food for thought in my own life while also helping me understand more about their characters.  Each of the siblings, in their own ways, had the ability to express their feelings in interesting ways and weren’t afraid to challenge the social norms with their personal beliefs.  And I loved how the long moments of silence also manage to speak volumes.  

 ♥ Adult Relationships

The realistic relationships in this drama were well-written and relateable.  The way that the Yeom family took each other for granted is so normal in our busy lives.  Tae Hoon’s inability to stand up to the women in his family, while frustrating, made perfect sense in the context of all their family had been through.  And the romance between Mi Jung and Mr. Gu was just so touching and beautiful.  Of course, enabling an alcoholic may not be the best strategy, but I loved her ability to love him completely without ever trying to make him change.  She was able to make him feel the kind of peace he had so deperately been searching for. 

Ki Jung’s Boss

In the beginning, I was really happy for Ki Jung when she started dating Tae Hoon, but I also loved the unlikely chemistry she had with her boss, Lee Min Gyu.  It was obvious that Min Gyu was falling for her and her habit of always saying the unexpected.  But once she starts seeing Tae Hoon, Min Gyu just disappears, which was a little disappointing for me.  I would have like to at least see their friendship continue, and I’m sure he could have given her plenty of dating advice!

Chang Hee’s Relationships

I loved Yeom Chang Hee’s character and felt like it was easy to understand why he would feel the way he did in most situations.  But his romantic storylines were a bit puzzling.  In the beginning, he had a girlfriend, who we see take the train to their town after their break up, just to see what it was like.  But after all that effort, she never reaches out to him again.  It just seems like she must still care about him, so I thought it was weird that she didn’t do anything to rekindle their relationship.  And then we had the cute girl at work who kept openly flirting with him.  Although he was obviously interested in her, he seemed to give up after the ride home got ruined.  And after both of those, he randomly proposes to Hyun Ah.  I guess it just seemed like he didn’t have any idea what he wanted, which is probably why he ended up alone in the end.   

As with many slice of life style dramas, “My Liberation Notes” doesn’t give us a lot of real endings.  More like the hope that life will go on for these amazing characters, and they will live on doing their best.  Most excitingly, even though Mi Jung has quit her job and got a new one, The Liberation Club has decided to resume activities until they find the liberation they are looking for.  I love that!  After their mother’s sudden death, their father remarries, and he and his wife live alone in their old house.  The siblings are living together in Seoul. Ki Jung and Tae Hoon have decided to get married when his daughter turns 20.  They have plenty of rocky years until they reach that point, but I hope they make it.  They both deserve it.  After his spontaneous proposal to Hyun Ah, she and Chang Hee date for awhile, but ultimately break up.  Chang Hee blames their break up on the fact that he is finally doing well and she needs someone as broken as her. But he has no animosity and tells her that if she ever wants to come back, and he is still single, he will take her back.  After accidentally stumbling into a class for aspiring Funeral Directors, Chang Hee seems to have found his path for the future.  And Mi Jung and Mr. Gu finally see each other after a long seperation.  They have no empty promises for the future, but they are enjoying  being together.  The final scene shows him taking his money stash and heading out, although where he is heading is left open to interpretation.  But we also see Mi Jung waiting, presumably for him, which gives all us shippers real hope that he is coming to her.  And that is where they leave us!

A young man tries to stop a random stranger from killing himself, but after falling into the river with him, he ends up in a coma.  But his good deed does not go unnoticed.  A team of grim reapers who are part of the Crisis Management Department, tasked with helping people who are ready to try to take their own lives, steps in to offer the young man a deal.  While in a coma, they ask him to help serve on the Crisis Management Team.  If he agrees to the deal, he can wake up in 6 months, but if he refuses, he will remain in a coma for 3 years.  Now as a temporary reaper, he will meet desperate people who are faced with seemingly unsurmountable problems.  Can he and his new team mates find a way to rekindle hope in their weary hearts?

Rowoon as  Choi Joon Woong

Choi Joon Woong is desperately looking for a job to help support his mother and sister, but his lack of connections continues to disappoint and frustrate him, as he loses to less qualified applicants consistently.  When an accident puts him into a coma, he is approached by a team of grim reapers with an opportunity to work with them for six months while his body rests in bed.  He is hired on to the Crisis Management Team, where he and his team mates step in to help people considering suicide.  But living as half human and half spirit has its challenges.  And while he will be forced to forget his time as a reaper once he wakes up, his work is bound to have an impact on his heart.  

Choi Joon Woong represents the human element within the reaper team.  He is compassionate and insightful.  And it was fun to explore the world of Jumadeong through his eyes.  I enjoyed seeing Rowoon in a role that went beyond the handsome love interest, and I thought he showed a lot of growth as an actor.  Although I wish his character had a more consistent personal story arc with a bit more depth and development. 

Yun Ji On as Im Ryung Goo

Im Ryung Goo is also a member of the Crisis Management Team.  In his last life, he adored his single mother, who gave up everything to raise him.  But a misunderstanding with him drove her to kill herself and break their thread of destiny.  Now Ryung Goo completes each work day right on time, so he can go out and look for the mother he lost.

♥ Business Feel

The mix of turning spiritual beings into corporate workers was a unique twist that gave this drama its own feel.  The elaborate world of Jumadeong was turned into a giant office building, complete with computer crashes and department transfers.  It was an unexpected way to portray the afterlife and I appreciate the fresh interpretation.

 ♥ Life Savers

Another unusual twist the writers used was turning grim reapers into people determined to save lives rather than just gather souls.  This worked especially well on the cases where the Crisis Management Team and the Escort Team were both called to a scene to work together.  It gave the reapers more complex roles and personalities that made the stories more interesting.  

Goo Ryun Backstory

I liked Goo Ryun’s past life story and it’s impact on her present day life because of working with Park Joong Gil.  But I didn’t think the pacing was handled very well.  A more gradual telling of their story between their team cases would have made the whole series feel a bit more cohesive and smooth.  Instead we get random bits and pieces that don’t make much sense and then a sudden rush to tell their entire history at once.  I think including a bit each episode just would have kept us invested in their relationship and mysterious past.

Choi Joon Woong

I felt like this series set us up to expect Choi Joon Woong to have some big personal trauma of his own to tie him into his work with the Crisis Management Team.  Like Goo Ryun, it seemed like the Jade Emperor would have had a specific reason to allow Joon Woong to work with them.  He does save his best friend and meet his potential soul mate, but none of that had the same heavy feeling of destiny that all the other characters had.  

The ending for “Tomorrow” fell a bit flat for me, but it all ends kind of happy.  Park Joong Gil finally remembers his past with Goo Ryun and the two decide to live peacefully. while agreeing that none of that has anything to do with who they are now.  The Crisis Management Team overcomes the threat of being disbanded, and becomes a full-time department in Jumadeung.  And Choi Joon Woong goes back to his life with no memory of his time as a reaper.  But he has changed from the experience.  He finally has a full time job and feels compelled to step in when a fellow worker is being bullied.  And He is also still a Cho Hui fan, who invites his co-worker to go to the concert with him.  It’s hard to imagine how he and Cho Hui will meet again, but destiny appears to be right on track.  

Do Bae Man became a military prosecutor after a wealthy sponsor made him an offer he couldn’t refuse. Now, with his military retirement just around the corner, he is thrilled to be going back to civilian life.  Cha Woo In is the prosecutor sent to replace Bae Man.  She became a prosecutor to seek revenge on those responsible for the death of her father. When Bae Man finds out that Woo In’s fight involves his own past as well, he agrees to join forces with her to take down a corrupt ring of military officials.  

as Jo Bo Ah as  Cha Woo In

Cha Woo In has spent years planning the perfect revenge.  Now that she has finally become a military prosecutor, her goal is to legally try all of those who were behind the plot to kill her father and finally see justice done.  But while she knows that Bae Man’s parents were also victims, he doesn’t remember anything from that time and believes his parent’s death was just a random accident.  Woo In hopes that if she can show Bae Man just enough, he will begin to regain his memories and want to help her in her plan for vengence.

Cha Woo In is tough and smart.  She never backs down from a fight or from doing what’s right.  But she is also ready to wait for the perfect moment to strike.  Losing her dad and his company has left her bitter and willing to do whatever it takes to bring down the evil people who caused her pain.  I liked Jo Bo Ah in this role.  She has enough spunk and bravado to carry it off.  Her alter-ego, the red haired woman, was tough and no-nonsense, but even as regular Woo In, she has a sparkle of tenacity that makes you root for her.

Kim Young Min as Yong Moon Goo

Yong Moon Goo is Hwa Young’s personal lawyer and gopher.  He babysits her adult son, covers up her crimes, and gets rid of anyone or anything in her way. He is also the one who hired Bae Man to do their dirty work in the military courts. But as the tide begins to shift, he sees an opportunity to double cross both of them and gain even more power and wealth for himself.

♥ Kang Ha Joon

Kang Ha Joon was great as the third wheel.  His friendship and devotion to Woo In was sweet to watch.  And even though he was romantically interested in her, they didn’t overplay that angle.  It was great that Bae Man was the one who refused to believe he would betray them, and their moments of akward friendship were perfect.  As a support character, he played a vital part in the team’s overall success and I enjoyed his character.

 ♥ Yoon Sang Ki

Yoon Sang Ki was a fun, comedic character who managed to be entertaining without pushing things too far.  His “man-crush” on Bae Man was cute, and his rap competition just ridiculous enough to make me giggle.  And just when I thought his character might lack any real substance, he tells the story of how he came to work under Bae Man.  Yoon Sang Ki didn’t have a lot of scenes, but I felt like he made the most of the ones he had.

Noh Hwa Young

Noh Hwa Young’s character left a lot of questions unanswered.  I understand that she was a woman trying to succeed in a man’s world, which would be obviously difficult and frustrating.  But her savage cruelty went above and beyond frustration.  What was it that turned her into such a heartless mother and  leader?  What happened with Tae Nam’s father?  And most importantly, how did she lose half a finger?  Just saying she was a mean, terrible person didn’t seem like enough to me.  I would have loved a bit more insight into her character and how she got to that place.

Detective Do

I thought Detective Do’s character was very cute and I loved her love story with Seo Joo Hyuk.  But I find it hard to believe that a trained police detective never picked up any of the clues that Bae Man’s parents were murdered.  It just seems like she would have had questions about how quickly the whole story was buried.  And even if Bae Man didn’t remember what happened, there should have been reports about Hwa Young showing up at the scene to save him.  It never occured to her that something might be a little fishy about the whole situation and that seems weird to me.

“Military Prosecutor Doberman” ends much like any revenge drama would.  All the bad guys still left alive get their chance to stand trial.  Noh Hwa Young is sentenced to the death penalty while Yong Moon Goo gets 15 years.  Unfortunately, Ha Joon is also forced to serve, but luckily his sentence is fairly light.  Tae Nam wakes up from his coma and decides to spend some time out of the lime light, soul searching.  After a year, we see Ha Joon being released.  He goes to see Bae Man, who is still working as a military prosecutor.  Ha Joon tells him he is leaving for the US and that Woo In is coming home today.  Ha Joon heads straight to the airport where he meets Woo In, who just landed.  The two have a brief catch up and agree to stay in touch.  Back at the military base, Bae Man goes out for some fresh air.  Woo In walks casually up to him, and tells him she has an offer he can’t refuse.  So Bae Man’s life has come full-cirlce.  He goes in for a kiss before the scene cuts away.  

In 1998, Korea is suffering financial devastation due to the IMF Crisis.  In the midst of that struggle, two young people have their lives radically changed and their dreams for the future threatened.  But in a world of uncertainty, they form a friendship that will support and carry them through the next three difficult years, as they grow into adulthood.  Na Hee Do dreams of becoming a nationally recognized fencer, despite her school having to cut their team for lack of funding.  Baek Yi Jin has to drop out of college, but he hopes to find a job and earn enough money to bring his family back together. Both of them will have to have patience and strength if they expect to achieve their dreams.  But thanks to their deep connection, at least neither will have to do it on their own.

Nam Joo Hyuk as Baek Yi Jin

Baek Yi Jin is a carefree college student from a loving, wealthy family until his father’s company goes bankrupt and is forced to go into hiding from aggressive debt collectors.  Now Yi Jin has had to drop out of university and is hoping to find a job to raise enough money to bring his family back together.  But full-time employment isn’t easy to find without a degree.  In the meantime, Yi Jin works several part-time jobs trying to save as much money as he can.  When he meets a young high school student, he finds himself becoming invested in her life and dreams. And  a new job as a sports journalist gives him a front row seat to her rise of success.  Their four-year age gap makes their relationship difficult to describe, but their deep love for each other is undeniable.  

As a young adult striking out on his own, Baek Yi Jin goes through a lot of personal growth through the course of this drama.  He goes from a struggling young person trying to find his way to a confident journalist making his dreams come true.  But the life of a journalist is much harsher than he ever imagined, and slowly it begins to take it’s toll on his physical and emotional health.  At the same time, his need to protect Hee Do because she is so much younger than him ultimately drives a wedge in their relationship that breaks them apart.   I appreciated Nam Joo Hyuk’s character development, as we all went along with him on his painful journey into adulthood.  This role gave him a chance to show some growth and maturity in his acting skill, and I loved him in this part.  

Choi Hyun Wook as Moon Ji Woong

Moon Ji Woong is a cool kid who loves fashion and music.  His mother and Seung Wan’s mother have been long-time friends, so the children grew up together.  Ji Woong has lots of girls who chase after him, but he has never been interested in anyone except Yu Rim.  Eventually, he is able to win her heart and the two of them become a class couple.

 ♥ Bringing the Past to Life

Most of this drama took place between 1998 and 2001, and I loved how they managed to really reflect the mood and look of the time.  From phones to cars to clothing, everything painted a perfect picture of the time.  It gave the series a unique feel and highlighted a significant period in the history of the country, with the IMF Financial Crisis.  

♥ Friendships

There are so many great friendships in this drama, I couldn’t even narrow it down to one favorite.  Hee Do and Yu Rim’s slow journey to becoming best friends was heartfelt and touching.  I loved Ji Woong and Seung Wan together.  Their friendship represented that kind of life-long bond that feels more like siblings.  And Hee Do and Yi Jin’s connection, from the very beginning was so deep and effortless.  Even before it evolved into something more romantic.  Each of these relationships gave a new dimension to the series and gave it the character development that is largely responsible for its popularity.

Present Storyline

While I liked the idea of Hee Do’s daughter going back and reading her mom’s diary, and she is the biggest clue early on that Kim Min Chae’s last name is not Baek and therefore probably not Yi Jin’s, I didn’t feel like there was enough story development in the present to make it worth the time.  We don’t get any idea about what Hee Do is doing with her life, besides some carpentry.  We never find out if Min Chae goes back to ballet or if her relationship with her mom changes for the better after she reads the diary.  We do see that Hee Do’s relationship with her mom has improved, but we get a taste of that after they visit Hee Do’s dad’s grave.  I just felt like if they were going to include it, it needed to have more of a purpose.

Hee Do’s Husband

Another frustration with the present day storyline was the total absence of information about Hee Do’s husband.  Who is he, is he still in her life, and did she love him as much as she loved Yi Jin?  These seem to be the most important questions for the present, and yet they aren’t addressed at all.  

Fans have plenty to say about the ending of “Twenty-One Twenty-Five” and most of it is not positive.  Let’s start with all those who did get a happily ever after.  Go Yu Rim retires from professional fencing so she can come back home and open her own private training school.  She and Moon Ji Woong are happier than ever, and Ji Woong finally gives her the beautiful proposal she has been waiting for.  I loved this couple and I was so happy they stood the test of time and distance.  Even Ji Seung Wan gets her happy ending.  She passes her college entrance exam and becomes president of her class.  She and Yi Jin meet and when his younger brother shows up as his driver, Yi Hyun tells Seung Wan he has been waiting for her long enough and she seems to agree.  So what about our leads?  Although they manage to have a last minute goodbye to end things on a positive note, end things they did.  In the present, Yi Jin is still working as a successful journalist.  Unfortunately he is also still smoking, despite all of Hee Do’s best efforts.  We don’t know much about what Hee Do is doing now other than raising her daughter.  Apparently with no husband in the picture anymore.  She finally gets her diary back and finds the note Yi Jin left her with his final words to her, which bring her final bit of closure.  And in a short epilogue, we find out that while Yi Jin may have dated other girls before Hee Do, Hee Do was still his first true love and just the thought of her can still bring a smile to his face.  And that is the end of the journey, or so it seems. Although I think some die-hard fans may still be holding out hope that fate will bring them together again.

Kim Yun Hee supports her mother and sick brother by posing as a boy and taking odd writing job for a local book seller.  When the merchant offers to pay her a large sum to take the national exam for someone, she can’t refuse.  But when a young scholar catches her and recognizes her natural talent, he pressures her into coming to study for herself.  Now, surrounded by roommates and friends who all believe she is just one of the guys, she has the chance to achieve her scholarly dreams.  But close proximity makes it hard for her to keep her secret, and as hearts and emotions become involved, things get much more complicated.  

Park Min Young as  Kim Yoon Shik/Kim Yoon Hee

Kim Yoon Hee’s father was killed when she was young, and because her brother suffered from illness, she became the main provider for their family.  Her skill for writing and learning gave her plenty of opportunities.   When she is offered a job as a proxy, taking the national exam in someone’s place, she considers it easy money.  But when she is caught and cornered into taking the exam for herself, she finds herself a reluctant student at the Sungkyunkwan University.  Being a student is like a dream come true, but living in a dorm and having to pretend she is a man is risky and challenging.  And when she develops feelings for her close friend and roommate, life becomes even more challenging.

Kim Yoon Hee is a bright, forward-thinking young woman who just wants the opportunity to compete based on her skills instead of her gender.  Her genuine kindness makes her popular at school, even with her prickly roommate, Moon Jae Shin.  When her father was alive, he had dreamed of a world where his daugther’s natural talent for scholarly pursuits would be respected and encouraged. I really enjoyed Park Min Young as the perky, determined student, and her individual friendships with the other characters were fun to watch.

Yoo Ah In as Moon Jae Shin

Moon Jae Shin is nicknamed “Crazy Horse”.  He is known for being abrasive and rude.  By night, he spreads red messages hoping to expose the corruption within the government and avenge the death of his brother.  He is Sun Joon and Yoon Shik’s roommate, and he quickly forms an attachment to Yoon Shik.  When he finds out she is really a woman, he tries to protect her secret so no one else will find out. Even though he falls in love with Yoon Hee, she never sees him as anything but a friend.

♥ Goo Yong Ha

Song Joong Ki as Goo Yong Ha was the ultimate scene stealer.  From his silly grin to his charismatic winks, he stole this show.  He also got bonus points for his absolute loyalty to Jae Shin.  After 10 years, the pair knew and understood each other on a deep level and I really enjoyed their interactions.  

 ♥ Tangled Backstories

I really liked the way so many characters in this story had a backstory that linked them to the other characters.  It formed an intricate web of interactions that was interesting and not always obvious.  It also made it all the more rewarding when the older generation stepped out in the end to do what was right, not just for the present, but to make amends for the wrongs of the past.  Each character had a clear purpose to the story as a whole that made this series feel meaningful.

Female Characters

For a drama that highlights gender inequalities, the female characters were really under-utilized.  Aside from the lead, of course, there is so much wasted character potential.  The mothers, Cho Sun, and Ha Hyo Eun all had an interesting perspective that could have been explored.  

Advantage:  Good Guys

This drama spent a lot of time, especially in the first half, with school games and competitions, which gave it that fun college drama feeling.  But I would have enjoyed a bit more dramatic tension, instead of just letting the good guys win everytime, regardless of the challenges.  Sure it’s fun to watch our heroes celebrate their victories, but usually the bad guys pose at least a bit more challenge.  

The ending, while a bit rushed, offers a happy ending for our Jalgeum Quartet.  But first, after everyone finds out that Yoon Shik is a woman, her life and the king’s dreams are at risk.  Sun Joon goes to the king to plead for her life, and the king honors his request.  He burns the geumdeungjisa and tells the Ministers it wasn’t inside after all.  But the King makes Yoon Hee promise that she will continue to work toward the Joseon he has dreamed of.  Yoon Hee is called by Sun Joon’s father, who asks her to stay by Sun Joon’s side and keep them both on the “straight path”.  And Jae Shin, in one last gesture, tells Sun Joon that from now on, Yoon Hee is his responsibility.  So. our main couple has received everyone’s blessing!  So, where does our quartet end up when all of this is over?  Yong Ha becomes a merchant, flirting with beautiful women in the marketplace and selling beautifully designed clothing.  Jae Shin becomes a police officer, keeping the capital safe.  A run in with a mysterious new “Blue Messenger” turns out to be a beautiful woman who immediately gives him the hiccups.  Aw!  Love is in the air again.  And our main couple are both teachers at the university by day, while they recreate some of the racy novels Yoon Hee transcribed by night.  Married life seems to be treating them well!

After being dumped by her fiancee, weeks before the wedding, Jin Ha Kyung isn’t interested in romance.  And since her cheating ex-fiancee, Han Ki Joon, is also a co-worker, she has vowed to never date a guy from work again.  But when Lee Shi Woo, a handsome new weather forecaster, shows up at her office, she is tempted to break her own promise.  In a crazy twist of fate, Jin Ha Kyung’s ex is now married to the woman Lee Shi Woo was living with.  And all four of them are working together for the Korean Meteorological Administration (KMA).  Life is bound to get stormy, both personally and professionally.

Song Kang as Lee Shi Woo

Lee Shi Woo has a natural intuition when it comes to understanding weather that finally gets him transferred to the main headquarters of the KMA.  He quickly falls for his new supervisor, but she isn’t interested in dating someone she works with.  But he will do his best to change her mind and win her heart.  And lucky for him, the demands of the job often push them together.  But a difficult relationship with his father threatens to tear them apart almost before they have begun.

Lee Shi Woo carries the scars of losing his mother at a young age and having a father who was more interested in gambling than raising his son as a single parent  Because his father still shows up for a handout on a regular basis, Shi Woo has decided he can never saddle someone he loves with the burden of his family, so he has no interest in marriage.  Unlike, Ha Kyung, Shi Woo has a bit more character development, but his interactions are spread too thin between all the other characters to get the depth and chemistry needed.  In my opinion, Song Kang’s acting isn’t responsible for that.  He just didn’t have enough to work with.

Yura as Chae Yoo Jin

Chae Yoo Jin was living with Shi Woo, but when she found out he wasn’t interested in marriage, she ended their relationship.  Now she is married to Ki Joon.  She fell in love with Ki Joon’s strong sense of maturity and his ability to take care of her.  But once they are actually married, she finds him to be much more immature than she thought.  Frustrated with her unmet expectations, she delays registering the marriage, until she can be sure she wants to stay married.  

♥ Weather Team

One of the best relationship developments in this drama is not romantic, but the family feeling that develops between the members of Chief Forecasting Team 2.  In the beginning, Ha Kyung had to do everything herself and Dong Han refused to step in and cover for her being late.  But by the end, they had gelled into a team who could trust and rely on each other.  And Oh Myung Joo was sweet as the “mother ” of the group, always working to keep things running smooth and offer a bit of advice when needed.

 ♥ Bae Su Ja

Kim Mi Kyung was great in the role of Ha Kyung’s mother, Bae Su Ja. Of course, Kim Mi Kyung and Park Min Young have a long history of working together, often playing mother and daughter, so I always love their scenes together.  There is obviously plenty of real affection between the two.  But also as a character, I really appreciated the way Bae Su Ja talked and listened to Shi Woo.  Eventually she was able to put her own dreams of marrying her daughter to a successful, financially stable mate aside and see that she and Shi Woo were truly happy together.  And that was the most important thing in a “good” marriage.  

Weather Emergencies

I found the concept of a drama about weather prediction interesting, but I feel like having a weather “emergency” for every episode was overkill.  Every weather condition required a lot of background information to bring viewers up to speed on the concept, which tended to drag down the tempo.  I think they could have covered a couple of the more interesting weather stories and devoted the rest of that time to the characters that are supposed to be the focus of the show. 

Broken Engagement

For someone who had dated a guy for 10 years, it seemed like Ha Kyung got over the broken engagement too quickly.  Especially when you consider that she had no clue that anything was wrong or that he was seeing someone else.  I think it’s great that she and Ki Joon got to the place where they could be friends, but it seemed too fast and easy.  And honestly, she let Ki Joon off the hook much sooner than she should have.  

“Forecasting Love and Weather” gives us a series of happy endings.  Shi Woo asks his father to get treatment for his cancer and try to be a father to him, and the two begin taking steps to heal their relationship.  Seok Ho publishes Tae Kyung’s book and says he will publish all her books from now on.  He also tells her he will wait until his title changes from boyfriend to husband.  Dong Han and his wife talk and decide to stay together and try being a real family.  And Soo In decides to stay on Team 2 and not transfer to a new department.  The team predicts the first snow and Ha Kyung and Shi Woo run to find each other at the Seoul Observatory as the first snow falls around them.  They realize being together is the most important thing and they share a kiss.  The final scene shows Shi Woo’s father and Ha Kyung’s mother meeting in a restaurant, for what we can assume is a family introduction as  a step toward an engagement.  But when Shi Woo and Ha Kyung peek in to see the awkward mood of the room, they run away hand in hand, laughing as they go.