Welcome to Kdrama and Ramen!

In May of 1980,  the Gwangju Uprising ripped apart a small town caught in the throes of a violent and bloody fight for democracy.  Against this real-life backdrop is the story of a young nurse whose life is changed forever when she is unwittingly thrown into the middle of it all.  Kim Myung Hee meets a handsome medical student when she agrees to go on a blind date in place of her best friend.  But against all of her best intentions, she feels an instant connection with him that leads both of them down an unexpected and troubled path.

Go Min Si as Kim Myung Hee

Kim Myung Hee is a young nurse who dreams of escaping the poverty of her family and going to study abroad.  When she makes an agreement with her best friend to go on her blind date in exchange for an airline ticket, Myung Hee plans to turn the guy away and never see him again.  Unfortunately, despite all her efforts, Hee Tae falls hopelessly in love with her.  And the longer he pursues her, the more difficult it is for her to turn him away.  But when the lives of everyone she cares about are threatened because of their relationship, she decides to marry Hee Tae and run away.  When their town erupts in violence, she finds her nursing skills are in high demand and she can’t turn her back on those in need.  But her choice to stay will result in heartbreaking consequences.  

Kim Myung Hee is reserved and determined.  Her troubled relationship with her father has caused her to keep people at a distance, with the exception of Soo Ryun.  She feels a lot of resentment toward life for how unfair it all feels.  But after meeting Hee Tae, we see her find more balance and joy.  Go Min Si has a quiet strength that resonates through the character of Myung Hee.  I found her to be relateable and sincere.  And she has a natural chemistry with all her co-stars that made her scenes fun to watch.  I especially loved her interactions with her younger brother.

Kim Myung Hee is reserved and determined.  Her troubled relationship with her father has caused her to keep people at a distance, with the exception of Soo Ryun.  She feels a lot of resentment toward life for how unfair it all feels.  But after meeting Hee Tae, we see her find more balance and joy.  Go Min Si has a quiet strength that resonates through the character of Myung Hee.  I found her to be relateable and sincere.  And she has a natural chemistry with all her co-stars that made her scenes fun to watch.  I especially loved her interactions with her younger brother.  

Lee Sang Yi as Lee Soo Chan

Lee Soo Chan is the older brother of Soo Ryun.  He has just returned from university and has a new job working as a pharmaseutical representative.  He has always had a crush on Myeong Hee but he missed the chance to confess to her before she met Hee Tae.  As the oldest son, he works hard to protect his father and sister, which becomes increasingly difficult amid the turbulent political climate.

♥ Raw Emotion

I can’t say enough about this amazing cast.  “Youth of May” is a bittersweet story full of aching emotion.  It could easily have lost it’s power of sincerity with a less skilled cast.   But instead, each role is portrayed with a depth of character that leaves us heartbroken in all the right ways.  The leads had a subtle chemistry that was poetic, the young boys reflected the beauty of freindship in a touching way, and the parent/child relationships showed some of the struggles we all encounter as family.  

♥ Fresh Historical Perspective

The Gwangju Uprising is not an easy topic.  Even now, people fail to agree on what really happened or how many were killed.  This event has left a scar on the hearts of many Korean citizens, and I felt like this drama did a nice job of speaking for the innocent people who suffered through it.  For me, it was a valuable lesson on an event I was totally unaware of.  And while the theme of violence was a difficult one, “Youth of May” also gave us some balance with a beautiful coming of age story that is memorable and sweet.  

Hwang Gi Nam Ending

I think it’s safe to surmise that Hwang Gi Nam didn’t get his happy ending, but I would like to have seen more closure to his story.  As the one responsible for all the other characters’ misery, it would have been nice to see him get what he deserved.  It’s probably better that they left this up to our own imaginations, and there is a subtle message here that life isn’t always fair and those who deserve it the most often go unpunished.  Our final glimpse of him, as he tries to comfort an injured Jung Tae and is shaken off, is actually the most fitting punishment he could receive.  

Kwon Young Chan

Quite the opposite of Gi Nam, we see Kwon Young Chan living a life of punishment he doesn’t seem to deserve.  I know that it’s important to remember the young soldiers like Young Chan who were forced to act against their own consciences by greedy politicians hungry for power.  But it broke my heart to see Young Chan at the end, still bearing the scars of a war he never wanted to fight.  

It’s hard to believe that the ending of “Youth of May” was even more heartbreaking than I anticipated, but they really went in for the kill with this one. We see a short reunion between Hee Tae and Myung Hee’s brother, who is now a priest, as well as Soo Ryun and Soo Chan, who seem to be doing well.  And Hee Tae exchanges a brief nod with Young Chan at the police department that acknowledges the suffering they both have been through.  Hee Tae also makes a brief phone call to his mom to check on Jung Tae, so we know they have managed to keep the family together at least a little bit.   I guess the only shadow of a happy ending is an adorable cameo from Choi Won Young as the adult Hee Tae.  Life hasn’t been easy for him, but he is still practicing medicine and offering support to those in need.  Seeing the physical scars he bears from the times he tried to escape that difficult life is tragic and heartwrenching.  But with the discovery of Myung Hee’s body, he seems to have found some closure and the will to answer Myung Hee’s final prayer that those left behind wouldn’t drown in their sorrow.  

After getting into an arguement with her boss that puts her on the blacklist of every dental clinic in Seoul, Yoon Hye Jin decides to start over by opening her own private practice in the quiet, seaside town of Gongjin.  Chief Hong is a handsome handiman who seems to hold down every part-time job in town.  His laid back personality is the exact opposite of her, but she is drawn to his views on small town living and simplicity.  Can a city girl with a  love of material success and name brands learn to live in a small community where love and friendship are the most valuable commodities?

Kim Seon Ho as Hong Doo Shik

“Chief” Hong has lived in Gongjin his whole life, with the exception of the mysterious missing 5 years.  With a wallet full of certificates in every career and skill you can imagine, he is the jack-of-all-trades who helps anyone in need;  from serving coffee to repairing electronics.  Doo Shik does it all.  When a beautiful dentist shows up and sets up shop in town, he takes it upon himself to try to help her settle into small town living.  The more time he spends with her, the more attracted he is to her.  But a secret from his past holds him back and threatens to destroy any chance they might have at a relationship.  Will he be able to find the strength to open up his heart and share the pain he has gone through?

Hong Doo Shik lives a carefree life running errands and doing part time jobs.  He is known for his cheerful personality, but he has a secret guilt that haunts him in his dreams.  Responsible for destroying the lives of two people who were close to him, and their families, he doesn’t believe he is worthy to be happy.  Kim Seon Ho, both as an actor and as the character of Doo Shik, is the backbone of this drama.  His charming personality drew me into the story and made me love him and the community of people who surround him.

Gong Min Jung as Pyo Mi Seon

Pyo Mi Seon is Hye Jin’s best friend.  When Hye Jin decides to open  her own clinic in Gongjin, Mi Seon joins her as her dental assistant.  She instantly falls in love with the handsome Officer Choi Eun Chul and finds small town living to be very much to her liking.

♥ Realistic, Relateable Characters

The extended cast for this drama portrayed some wonderful characters.  I loved the diverse roles and how well each character was developed.  You were drawn into each of their stories and invested in the outcome.  Maybe that is, in part, because this drama is based on a novel where character development would be more important.  Whatever the reason, I appreciated getting to know all of the residents of Gongjin.

♥ Doo Shik and Gam Ri

Doo Shik has a special relationship with many of the people in town, but his interactions with Gam Ri are special.  The pure affection that is shown between the two of them is touching and I looked forward to their screen time together.  I also loved how she saved Doo Shik’s life without even knowing it.  Their strong connection defied reason and that just made it all the more heartwarming.

Pacing

It’s not unheard of for kdramas to start lighhearted and get more serious as they go, but in this case the pacing felt too obviously out of sync.  Everything was cute and sweet, and the last few episodes just kept the punches coming.  I feel like they could have spread some of those heavier stories out a little more evenly.  It also seemed to make the last episodes feel a bit slow.

Too Many Coincidences

With any romantic comedy, we need to suspend our disbelief to a certain degree, and I’m okay with that, but this one pushed the limits a bit.  Does Gongjin just have a magnet that mysteriously pulls people there?  The idea that Hye Jin met Doo Shik when they were children works okay.  She did visit there with her family and it’s a small town, so I can give them that one.  But it’s the layers of coincidences surrounding Sung Hyun that really got to me.  First, he gets lost and just wanders into town to find his first love. And then the fact that he is Jung Woo’s brother-in-law is a little too convenient.  And then, he employs Producer Kim which is yet another layer.  It was all just a bit much.  

“Hometown Cha Cha Cha” ends with a bittersweet ending cushioned by a load of happily ever afters.  First off, we have to say goodbye to the wonderful Gam Ri, who represents the older generation of Gongjin.  Everyone in town is saddened by her passing, but they give her a celebration of life that involves the residents spending time together, laughing and sharing memories, just the way she would have wanted.  Aside from that solemn affair, we have lots of neatly tied strings for everyone in town.  Sung Hyun has finally realized that he likes Ji Won and the two are now dating.  The success of their tv show “The Seaside Grasshopper” has helped not just them.  It has revitalized the town of Gongjin and brought in loads of tourists. It also got Chun Jae an offer to sing on a tv show. Mi Sun and Eun Chul are officially dating and plan to get married and buy a house together some time next year.  Hwa Jung and Young Guk are back together and making a fresh start on their marriage. Hye Jin and Doo Shik have a mutual proposal and plan to live happily ever after.  The series ends with the couple taking their own wedding photos, with the help of everyone in town. Just the way Gam Ri would have wanted.  

In a post-apocolyptic world where society has fallen into chaos, a powerful judge with a personal agenda wins the hearts of the people.  Touting the need for justice and reform, he introduces a new judicial system where the public is given the power to determine the outcome.  The court room becomes a reality show where voting is done through an online app, with him  choosing the cases and overseeing the process from inside their high tech court house.  But his plans are jeopardized when a fellow judge begins to question his methods and motives.  Will the two become mortal enemies or partners in crime?

Park Jin Young as Kim Ga On/Kang Isaac

Kim Ga On is a poor kid who lost his parents when he was young.  Supported by his best friend, Soo Hyun, and his mentor and former law professor, Justice Min, Ga On becomes a lawyer and is hired by Justice Min to keep an eye on Yo Han.  After secretly investigating Yo Han’s movements and actions, he quickly figures out that Yo Han is working behind the scenes to make sure that the live court cases get the result he wants.   But the more he gets to know Yo Han, the more he believes that Yo Han’s actions may be justifiable.  And defining the line between morality and friendship is much more complicated than he ever imagined.  

Despite his difficult and lonely childhood, Kim Ga On is warm and trusting.  The bond that he builds with Yo Han is sweet to watch, and it is obvious that he is just what Yo Han needed to help him build a relationship with his neice, Elijah.  His friendship with Soo Hyun was also heartwarming, although I hated that it ended as a tragic romance.  Park Jin Young has continued to grow as an actor, and I think this is easily his best role so far.  The emotions required for this character were not easy, and I felt like he did an amazing job of handling it.  I hope it opens up lots more doors for him to act in the future.

Park Gyu Young as Yoon Soo Hyun

Yoon Soo Hyun has been Ga On’s best friend since they were students.  She became a police officer because she wanted to protect those she loved;  specifically  Ga On.  Soo Hyun has always been in love with him, but Ga On has always rejected her confessions, in fear of ruining their friendship with a more complicated relationship.  When she sees Ga On getting involved with Yo Han, she is worried about him and does her own secret investigation of Yo Han and his past.

♥ “Family” Scenes

The bromance between Yo Han and Ga On was touching to watch, as you could almost feel Yo Han’s cold heart melting right in front of you.  And the only thing that could have made that cuter was the presence of a young and vulnerable woman looking for familial love and support.  Watching the three of them shyly enjoy a meal together or get competitive over a simple game really brought home the idea that something so simple can make a world of difference to someone who has never had the love and acceptance of a close family.  

♥ Good Suspense

The complex storylines of this drama made for some fascinating twists and turns.  There was a new bit of suspense around every corner, and even when I could guess what was going to happen, I was on the edge of my seat wondering just how they were going to achieve it.  I found the plot exciting and unpredicatable all the way through.  

Lack of Apocalyptic Scenes

The couple scenes that they showed out in the real world were well done and convincing, but most of the time, it was easy to forget the world outside was in chaos.  The scenes in front of convenience stores or standing in the street watching the big screen televisions overhead made things seem pretty normal.  And, the decadence of the wealthy was shown so often, it almost seemed like the norm.  More shots of the poor and struggling neighborhoods, as well as some details about what led to the current state of society, would have highlighted the stark difference in the lives of the rich and greedy.  It also would have reminded us that society’s anger and distrust of the government were well-earned.

Doppleganger Plot

The fact that Ga On looks just like Isaac was really only important for the first couple episodes.  It did introduce us to Yo Han’s memories and give a reason for why Yo Han felt drawn to Ga On, but both of those things could have been done in other ways.  If they were going to introduce such a specific story, I felt like it should have been used for other elements of the plot.  Couldn’t they have used it in their revenge plan to have Ga On pose as Isaac?  And did none of our villain team notice the similarities?  They didn’t know Isaac well, but they had met him.  He should have at least elicited some vague recognition.  

For such a tense drama, we get surprisingly happy endings to most of the storylines. We find out that the fire was actually Elijah’s fault and Yo Han has been protecting her from that truth this whole time. Yo Han gathers the goon squad in the court room and then broadcasts live to promise he will punish them by blowing the whole place up if he can get enough votes from the public.  As the votes roll in, the villains all beg for their lives against flashbacks of the church fire.  Sun Ah takes out a gun and aims it at Yo Han before turing it on herself and firing.  When voting reaches 10 million, the bomb is detenated and we see the room explode.  Later, Ga On goes to the house and finds the nanny there alone.  Yo Han is alive and well and he has taken Elijah to a clinic in Europe to begin rehabilitation.  Yo Han left nanny with a nice severance pay to open her own healthy shopping mall, which seems to have her slightly confused!  A month later, we find that Jin Joo is leaving Seoul to go back home and work with at-risk teens.  And Ga On is invited to a meeting about the aftermath of everything that has happened, although no one seems very serious about bringing any real reform.  As he wonders how to make a difference in such a corrupt system, Yo Han appears out of nowhere and tells him that he better do his job well, or Yo Han will be back.  The two share a simple smile and a tearful glance before Yo Han turns and leaves without a word.  And that is the end.  Plenty of room for a season 2, I notice, but still enough resolution to be an ending.

A 999 year old gumiho has been collecting human energy in a bead so that he can become human himself.  If the bead isn’t filled by his 1000th birthday, he will turn into an evil spirit.  But one night a random collision with a young college student on the street causes her to swallow the bead.  The gumiho gets her to sign an agreement that she will live with him until he can find a way to safely retreive the bead.  Strangely, her presence seems to have a positive effect on the bead.  Could she somehow to the key to him finally being able to become human?

Lee Hye Ri as Lee Dam

Lee Dam is a college student who meets Shin Woo Yeo by accident, while trying to take care of her drunk friend.  She is shocked to wake up in Woo Yeo’s home and his explanation does nothing to put her mind at ease.  But once Dam realizes that Woo Yeo really is a gumiho, she agrees to do everything she can to help him.  Her feelings for him quickly blossom into something deeper, but fate isn’t making things easy for them.  Dam finds herself tied with a red string of destiny to Sun Woo, even though her heart has chosen Woo Yeo.  Now two seemingly impossible tasks lay between her and her happy ending.  First she has to find a way to make Woo Yeo into a human, and then together they have to fight for the right to chose their own fate.  

Lee Dam is spunky and determined.  Having sworn off men and dating when she was younger, she’s never really been in a relationship.  People are drawn to her by her simple honesty and innocent charm.  Lee Hye Ri has great natural timing and animated facial expressions that do well in comedy.  She could have easily overplayed this role, but I never felt like she pushed it too far.  I liked her character’s boldness and I loved the way Lee Hye Ri brought the role to life.

Kang Ha Na as Yang Hye Sun

Yang Hye Sun is also a gumiho, and she has known Woo Yeo for centuries.  But she successfully turned her bead blue and became human.  She shows up to try to help Woo Yeo before it is too late for him.  To help Woo Yeo, she starts attending the university where Dam goes so she can keep an eye on her.  Along the way, she ends up falling for Dam’s best friend, Jae Jin.

♥ Chemistry

Lee Hye Ri and Jang Ki Yong have such a natural chemistry.  Whether they were playfully teasing each other or getting passionate, their relationship seemed smooth and believable.  And they were really turning up the heat in some of those steamier kiss scenes!  There was also a nice development between the two of them.  From roommates to friends to lovers, we got to see each step unfold in a way that felt realistic.

♥ Male/Female Relationships

This drama did a nice job of showing mature friendships between men and women.  And it wasn’t just one token friendship, but several.  I thought that Dam and Jae Jin were adorable.  I loved how uncomfortable they were when they pretended to be dating.  And the constant bickering and teasing between Woo Yeon and Hye Sun was perfectly executed.  It was nice that most of these relationships steered clear of any akward love confessions or secret crushes, with Soo Kyung being the one exception.  But even that had a nice twist that kept it unique, and watching Jae Jin try to help Soo Kyung get over him once he found out, was cute enough to make the storyline worth it.  

Sun Woo’s Character

Somehow, Sun Woo seemed like kind of a wasted character to me.  Even his transition from jerk to good guy is fairly lackluster.  I never believed, even for a second that he stood any chance with Dam, red string or not.  We just didn’t see enough development of his character to make him very interesting.  There seemed to be ample opportunity to make us really care about his character, but it never really happened.  

Shape Shifting Story

The plot line about the shape shifting spirit in the middle of this drama felt strangely out of place.  It was too dark to mesh well with the rest of the story and only lasted a couple episodes.  I failed to see any real purpose for it.  And the violent death of editor Ji Eun was more tragic than the story warranted.  While it’s true that we never get to know her character overly well, I still didn’t want to see her heartlessly murdered by an evil entity.  

As the crown prince during the Goryeo Dynasty, Wang Won’s primary job is to act as a bridge between Goryeo’s people and the Emperor of Yuan.  To his parents, he has been a pawn in their volatile relationship.  His only friend is a royal cousin who became Won’s constant companion when they were young.  But that friendship is put to the test when the two young men meet San;  a bold and beautiful young woman with a mysterious past.  What happens when best friends fall for the same woman and can their friendship survive the outcome?

Im Yoon Ah as Eun San

Eun San was involved in an accident as a young girl that cost her mother her life, and caused the family to send San into hiding.  When Won and Rin show up at her teacher’s house, she doesn’t want anything to do with them, but the trio quickly become best friends.  Things begin to get complicated when thier secrets start to unravel.  First, San finds out that Won is actually the crown prince.  Then those in power find out who she really is and threaten her and her family.  Won and Rin will stop at nothing to protect her, but will she be able to protect them from the fall out?

Eun San is bold and energetic.  In the beginning, her interest in Won and Rin seemed mostly platonic.  I sometimes struggled to understand how she actually felt about them.  Clearly she loved them both in her own way, and her back and forth emotions certainly kept us on the edge of our seats until the very end, but I would have liked to see more about how she was feeling.  Was she torn or was it always Rin for her?  I don’t feel like we can know that.  As an actress, I really liked Yoon Ah in this role.  Her contagious smile made it easy to understand how both men would fall for her instantly.  And her determination to roll with whatever got tossed her way made her a likeable character.

Oh Min Suk as Song In

Song In is the royal secretary who serves the king.  He teams up with his girlfriend to have her seduce the king and slowly poison him.  He wants to get rid of Won and put someone on the throne who will be easier for him to control.  His allies are strong, both inside and outside of the royal palace.

♥ Historical Era

Because so many sageoks are set in the Joseon period, it’s fun to see one set in Goryeo for a change.  The political climate of this time is interesting and lends itself well to lots of tense royal intrigue.  This drama also took advantage of the setting to give us a visually beautiful series from the scenery to the costumes.  I enjoyed the novelty of this era and I would love to see more dramas explore it.  

♥ Bromance

“The King Loves” is much more a story of friendship than romance.  And while I loved the scenes of the three friends together, I especially enjoyed the times with just Won and Rin.  From teasing banter to heavy heart to hearts, their friendship was deep and enviable.  Their willingness to sacrfice their own happiness to protect the other showed the true degree of their devotion and loyalty.

Dan and Yeon Ending?

Apparently both of these ladies lost their chance at love in the end, but we really got no resolution to their characters or their storylines.  I am left with so many questions.  What did Dan do for the 10 years Won was off in Yuan?  Did she go with him?  Did she finally find love with Jin Gwan, the handsome royal guard?  And what about Yeon? How did she react when she found out Moo Suk was dead?  Did she ever know that he actually died a hero while trying to do the right thing?  I enjoyed both of these characters, so I am disappointed to be left with no closure.  

Song In’s Motive

Song In is a strange character for me.  In the beginning, he seems like a moral purist who only wants to ensure a pure bloodline for his beloved country.  But then, somewhere toward the end, he confesses that he really just wants to be a king maker who holds all the power from behind the scenes.  Somehow this shift in motivation cheapened the role for me.  I wish they had let the character have his dignity as a man of high political ideals instead of turning him into a power monger who didn’t even care who was king.

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.

Five young, college students met in medical school and formed a band to help them relieve the stress of studying, Now, 20 years later, they are all talented surgeons in their respective fields, working at the same hospital.  Their friendship has endured years of hard work and long hours.  They even continue to get together for band practice over the weekends when they are all free.  Together they treat patients and live life, with the love and understanding that comes from decades of being friends.

♥ Rosa and Ju Jong Su

The relationship between Rosa and Jong Su is one of my favorites in this series.  Growing up together, their friendship is like a well-oiled machine.  And it provides a fun fore-shadowing to the kind of relationship that could await the fab-five down the road.  I will admit that I would have loved to see a romantic spark between these two, but it’s almost irrelevant.  They are planning to live and travel together, they share meals, and take care of each other.  Regardless of the label, these are all signs of a healthy and rewarding relationship that will endure through the rest of their years.  

♥ OST (Band)

Am I the only one who looked forward to the band number for each episode?  Finding ways to tie the song into the larger theme of the episode that week just made it all the more fun.  You could just feel the enthusiasm from the cast members as they made eye contact and sang their hearts out.  I know it was a lot of extra work for the actors having to add band practice to their filming each week, but I think the result was fabulous.  And judging from the appearance of some of the songs, like “Aloha” on the music charts, I think it’s safe to say that there were lots of fans who would agree.  

Really Long Episodes

It is a trademark with this production team to have extra long episodes, and I have to say that even with their long run time, I always hate to see them end.  But that being said, I have to acknowledge that not everyone has that much time to sit down and enjoy a kdrama episode.  Also, especially during the second season, “Hospital Playlist” really embraced the “slice of life” genre.  Meaning episodes were filled with tiny, seemingly inconsequential moments that might have benefitted from a bit more editing.  Wherever you stand on this issue, I think it bears repeating that 90+ minute episodes are well over the average.  

Third Season

Early on, it was announced that the plan was to have three seasons of “Hospital Playlist” over three years.  Don’t get me wrong, I really hate multi-season kdramas, BUT it seemed like season two left us with enough loose ends to warrant a final season.  I have to wonder if the cast all signing on for a variety show together left them just too busy to commit to another season.  And I wouldn’t want them to overextend themselves.  Still, there are stories I’m left curious about, partly because they were brought up.  How will Suk Hyung’s mother react when she actually meets Min Ah?  When will Jung Won finally get to propose to Gyeo Wool? And now that Ik Jun knows about them, will Jun Wan finally come clean about his relationship with Ik Soon?

“Hospital Playlist” ends the way many slice of life dramas do;  lots of happy endings with a few bittersweet moments and some dangling loose ends.  So let’s just run down our leads.  Ik Jun and Song Hwa have finally started dating and I have no doubt they will be together for many years.  Jung Won dropped a surprise bomb by telling his friends that he is going to the US for a year to study more.  The good news is that he will be going with Gyeo Wool.  Jun Wan goes to see Ik Soon, and the two re-enact the first time he went to see her when they started dating.  They hug and I think it’s safe to say, they are back together.  Suk Hyung told his mom that he is dating Min Ah, and convinced her that Min Ah is the only reason he is staying in Korea, instead of going to the US.  Rosa and Jong Su are carrying out Rosa’s life long dream to walk the Camino de Santiago.  And Je Hak and his wife have a healthy baby girl, and his wife’s chemo seems to have been successful.  Even though there is no commitment for a third season, with the bond between this amazing cast, I still have hopes that we will hear more about these characters somewhere down the line.

A group of people deep in debt and on the brink of financial ruin are recruited to play a dangerous series of games.  Sponsored by the overly rich and bored, each contestant stands to earn billions if they can survive a series of children’s playground games;  each with a deadly twist.  The group grows smaller as the games go on, and the competition becomes more brutal, as greed wins out over compassion.  But a few will fight desperately to maintain some semblance of humanity in the face of temptation.  Who will take home the fortune and what will the victory cost?

Park Hae Soo as Cho Sang Woo (#218)

Cho Sang Woo is deep in debt because of a string of poor investment choices.  He teams up with Gi Hoon and the others because it is obvious that no one can survive on their own.  As the games go on, Sang Woo becomes more greedy and competitive.  Eventually Gi Hoon realizes that Sang Woo can’t be trusted and they begin to drift apart.  In the end, when faced with a way out that would forfeit the prize money, Sang Woo sacrfices everything to save his own pride.

While Cho Sang Woo isn’t always a likeable character, you can’t exactly fault him either.  He, like all the others, is in an impossible situation.  That is how the games are designed.  When Sang Woo betrays Ali to win the marble game, we see his grief and anguish.  And Sang Woo isn’t the only one who had to cheat his way out of that particular game.  Gi Hoon also tricks Il Nam.  Sang Woo’s biggest fault is that he tries to justify his choices instead of admitting that the situation is hard and showing some empathy to the players around him.  I love Park Hae Soo as an actor and I think he fits this role well.  I felt the inner turmoil of Sang Woo and my heart broke for him.

Wi Ha Joon as Hwang Joon Ho

Hwang Joon Ho is a police officer who heard about the games when Gi Hoon made a police report, but no one believed him.  Joon Ho believes that his brother may be among the players.  So he stows away in one of their vans and poses as a guard.  While investigating the case he learns that his brother is involved, but it is not what he had originally thought.  

♥ Visual Playground

“Squid Game” has amazing sets full of lights and bright colors.  The backgrounds help to highlight the stark contrast between the innocence of the children’s games and the brutal violence of this new version.  From giant dolls who play Red Light, Green Light to a glass bridge lit with colorful twinkle lights, every stage is decorated to the extreme.  And that colorful staircase they lead the players through looks straight out of Dr. Seuss.  It’s hard not to be impressed with this visual wonderland of props and colors.  

♥ Sae Byeok and Yeong

Being single young girls in this physically competitve environment can’t have been easy.  It’s no wonder that Sae Byeok and Yeong originally kept to themselves.  And that makes it all the more heartwarming in their final scene, when they just spend time talking together.  It’s one of those scenes that is so beautiful as you are watching it, even though you know you are about to be emotionally kicked it the gut.  

Big Takeaway

From the scenes with the awful VIP’s, we have already seen that the point of the game is solely for the rich to use the poor and financially desperate for their own entertainment.  So, when Il Nam mysteriously reappears, I was hoping for some bigger message.  But instead, he really just reiterated what we already knew, from a more personal perspective.  Somehow, I was just hoping for something more.

Joon Ho’s Story

Joon Ho’s story is a weird one for me.  Obviously, as the only non-player, he is different from the rest of the characters.  But I feel like his whole story left us with loose ends.  What is the story behind how his brother became the Frontman?  And after being shot, is Joon Ho really dead?  Sure, it seemed like a pretty direct hit, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he died.  Is all of this just crumbs for a second season?  They certainly have left the door open for that.

In many ways, the end of “Squid Game” is obvious.  Joon Ho has a face off with the Frontman, who turns out to be his brother.  After removing his mask, his brother shoots Joon Ho in the chest and he falls off a cliff.  The final game comes down to Sae Byeok, Sang Woo, and Gi Hoon, but Sae Byeok is injured with a shard of glass from game five and dies before the last competiton.  Game six is, of course, squid game, which was easily predictable.  Sang Woo ends up losing and kills himself.  When Gi Hoon returns home, he finds his mother has died.  One year later, Gi Hoon hasn’t touched the money from his winnings.   He takes Sae Byeok’s brother to Sang Woo’s mom and leaves her with the boy and a suitcase stuffed with cash.  Gi Hoon is summons by Il Nam, who is still alive, but on his deathbed.  He confesses to starting the games and then dies.  The final scene shows Gi Hoon on his way to the airport to visit his daughter.  He sees a man being recruited for the games and steals the card.  When he calls, the Frontman tells Gi Hoon to just get on the plane, but instead, Gi Hoon gets out of line at the last minute and heads back out of the airport.  The end.

Ha No Ra gave up all her dreams when she became a mother at 19.  Now, after years devoted to her husband and son, her son is starting college and her husband wants a divorce.  Her husband, the psychology professor, says their life together is boring and they have nothing in common.  So in a desperate attempt to save her marriage, No Ra gets her GED and applies to colleges.  But a crazy chain of events leads her to the same college as both her husband and son.  Not only that, but one of her professors is an old friend from high school.  As she tries to navigate this crazy web of relationships, she begins to find her own self and gets the chance to do all the things she missed out on in her 20’s.

Lee Sang Yoon as Cha Hyeon Seok

Ha No Ra was Cha Hyeon Seok’s first and only love.  After she moves away and breaks his heart, he devotes his life to his career and gives up on love entirely.  So he is less than pleased when he finds her sitting in his classroom 20 years later.  But as he is drawn into her life and struggles, he realizes that his feelings for her never went away.  As he brings her in to help him with his latest theater production, they become closer and Hyeon Seok sees that he doesn’t just love the old No Ra that he once knew.  He also loves this older version of the bright and brave girl from his past.  

Cha Hyeon Seok is a complicated character.  He is, at once, prickly and immature while also being caring and compassionate.  I loved to see him protect No Ra and pull strings to help her when he could.  But he could also be manipulative and arrogant.  Lee Sang Yoon did a wonderful job of encapsulating all these complexities into a role that was believable and realistic.  I didn’t always love the character, but Lee Sang Yoon’s acting shone through it all.

Kim Min Jae as Kim Min Soo

Kim Min Soo is the son of Woo Chul and No Ra.  He is just starting college and has promised his dad he will not date until he graduates and will maintain a high GPA all the way through.  Thanks to his dad’s example, he finds his mom to be embarrassing and inferior.  But as he watches her bloom from her college experience, he gains a new-found love and appreciation for her, and he begins to wonder if college is the only path for his own happiness.

♥ Message

This drama is largely about the encouraging message, and I appreciated that.  I think plenty of women would find this theme uplifting and inspiring.  Mothers need to be reminded that their lives don’t stop just because their kids are raised.  I don’t feel like all drama needs to have a social commentary, nor should it, but it’s nice, once in a while, to have a drama that aims to refresh your heart and energize you.  

♥ College Friends

Seung Hyun and Soon Nam were great characters.  I really enjoyed their friendship with No Ra.  My only complaint is that I think their own storylines should have been stronger.  Their roles added a fun addition outside of No Ra’s private circle, and giving them a bit more screen time would have expanded the theme a bit.  But regardless, I looked forward to the scenes they had.   

Immaturity

As sweet as their love story was, it was a bit cringey to watch middle-aged adults act like junior high students with their first crush.  It’s hard to believe that the two of them lived their whole lives without ever learning how to related to the opposite sex in a natural, mature way.  Especially when No Ra spent the last 20 years married and living with 2 males.  A little flustered attraction is to be expected, but it was a bit overdone.  

Contracts

What kind of family puts every little promise into a notarized document?  Seriously, the fact that none of them seem to see the whole thing as abnormal is a mystery to me.  Even Yoon Yeong seemed to know about them and never once mentioned to No Ra that, just maybe, her husband is an abnormal control freak.  Especially watching Min Soo agonize over his promise to his dad without even considering that maybe he should have some say in his own future was sad.  It just goes to show how easy it is to allow ourselves to be put into difficult and unfair positions without even realizing it.

It’s pretty much happy endings all around for this one.  No Ra finally divorces Woo Chul and moves on with her life.  Realizing that her college dreams were more about everyone else than her own aspirations, she drops out and devotes herself to learning her grandmother’s recipes.  Hyeon Seok watches her from afar and waits for her to realize her feelings for him.  A trip back to their hometown for her grandmother’s birthday finally brings them together and she confesses her love.  Woo Chul takes a job at a small college somewhere, but still plans to become successful through his research.  Yi Jin goes to see him at school and the two make up and seem to be back together.  Min Soo talks to his mom over the internet from a blueberry farm where he is working.  He seems happy exploring the world and exercising some freedom to live his life the way he wants.  Hye Mi, on the other hand, has had a wake up call and is becoming a diligent student.  She is getting postcards from Min Soo, so there is still hope for their relationship.  Sang Ye is dating and Seung Hyun and Soon Nam seem to have started a relationship.  The final scene has No Ra and Hyeon Seok cuddled up in “their spot” at the park reading and napping.  And that is a wrap.