Kang Da Jung is a capable, hard-working manager for a luxury hotel whose traumatic childhood makes her shy away from serious relationships.  When a handsome stranger takes an interest in her, she considers giving him a chance.  But a tragic event leaves her with more questions and trauma.  In search of healing and friendship, she meets a psychiatrist who has an office in the building where she lives, but he carries wounds of his own.  As the two of them search for answers to a mysterious crime, they find an emotional connection that may help them both make peace with their pasts.

Kim Dong Wook as Joo Young Do

As a psychiatrist with his own private clinic, Joo Young Do is plenty busy, but he keeps finding himself crossing paths with the woman who lives above his office.  He is instantly attracted to her, and when a strange man begins to follow her around he is both jealous and concerned for her well-being.  The man’s sudden suicide is strangely suspicous and Young Do can’t help questioning what really happened to him.  He and Da Jung have an opportunity to grow closer as they try to piece together the life and death of  Chae Jun, but Young Do has a secret that could make any long-term relationships impossible.  

Joo Young Do takes pride in being a caring doctor who listens to patients and helps them forgive themselves for their past mistakes.  But he carries his own guilt of not being able to save his sick brother’s life or comfort his mother in her grief.  As he spends time with Da Jung, she helps him learn to forgive himself and find peace and healing.   Kim Dong Wook was wonderful as the kind-hearted doctor with a wounded heart, both literally and figuratively.  He handled the role with a quiet dignity that made his character sweet and likeable.

Nam Gyu Ri as Ahn Ga Young

Ahn Ga Young is a beautiful, young actress who was once married to Young Do.  She pushes her way into Da Jung’s house and declares them best friends.  Secretly, she is dating a famous idol, but she doesn’t want it to interfere with either of their careers, although he would like to go public with their relationship.  

♥ Ahn Ga Young 

I loved the character of Ahn Ga Young.  She manages to be totally self absorbed and yet innocent enough to still be likeable.   Her desire to be loved and understood showed a sweet vulnerablility and I loved how she just decided Da Jung and Eun Ha were her new besties.  I also thought her romance with Patrick was very cute.  They made a perfect couple and it made sense that he is younger since she is still finding herself.  

♥ Heo Yu Kyung

Heo Yu Kyung provides some wonderful moments of humor in this drama.  From cussing out the guests on the telephone to her silly English mistakes, I found her character endearing and fun.  It’s true that her character has no real impact on the story at all, but her character brought me plenty of giggles and I appreciate her for that.  

Twin Story

Initially I was intrigued with the idea of combining a slow burn romance with a mystery thriller, but in the end it didn’t really work for me.  The mystery elements were sporadic at best, and the lack of context made it really hard to keep track of which twin did what.  I actually think the foundation of a really cool mystery drama where there, but it should have had it’s own show where they could have more story development.  There was so little crossover between the two plots that it made it feel very disjointed, and truthfully I would have rather used the time spent on the crime plot to develop some of the supporting character stories more.  

Vice Chairwoman

Building on my complaint about the mystery crime story development, they built up the story about the Vice Chairwoman threatening Dr. Chase like it was going to have some significant consequences.  But despite her ominous threat, we don’t see anything happen.  She seems to have had something on Dr. Chase to make him do what she wants but we never really find out anything about their connection, their history, or if she takes revenge.  Her whole story seems patchy and irrelevant.

“You Are My Spring” bows out quietly with an understated ending that manages to wrap up most of the main stories but leaves plenty of loose ends along the way.  Ian finally confesses all his crimes to the police, but since none of them can actually be tried, he is set free.  Unfortunately for him, his own guilt doesn’t let him off quite so easily.  In one final scene of him, we see that he is receiving therapy because he is tormented by nightmares and unable to work.  Da Jung finds out that Eun Ha and Tae Jung are dating and is slowly coming to terms with it.  Da Jung and Young Do have committed to staying together, regardless of what the future might hold.  And after a bit of hazing, Da Jung’s mother also gave them her blessing.  The last scene of the drama shows Da Jung waiting for Young Do to finish work.  She walks to the place directly above his desk and begins jumping to get his attention, which works well.  He closes the office and walks up to the roof where the two of them talk about their day.  A voice over talks about the importance of love and healing as the couple giggle suggestively and run inside.

Twenty-five years ago, a government funded experiment sought to isolate the genetic marker for psychopathic tendencies by testing unborn children.  Now, a chain of serial killings is striking fear in the hearts of the nation and the cases seem to link back to the original experiments.  A young, caring police officer and a veteran detective are determined to solve the cases and arrest the killer, but the murders may have more of  a personal effect on them than they ever imagined.

Lee Hee Joon as Ko Moo Chi

As a young boy, Ko Moo Chi’s entire family was killed by the serial killer, Han Seo Jun.  Now, as a detective, a copy-cat has surfaced and is terrorizing the city.  Moo Chi is determined to find the killer and inflict judgement however he can.  But when the killer suddenly turns up dead, something still seems off.  And the more he learns, the more complicated things seem to get.  When all the signs start to point to the police officer who has been helping him on the case, he really hopes that he is wrong.  

Ko Moo Chi is hot-headed and reckless.  He has lived his whole life with the guilt of knowing that his parents died trying to give him his birthday wish and his brother ended up disabled trying to save him.  His anger and resentment make him a determined detective with a chip on his shoulder.  I liked Lee Hee Joon in this role.  His strong sense of justice was relatable and well played and he and Lee Seung Gi made a great team.  From friends to enemies, their energy was dynamic and interesting.

Park Joo Hyun as Oh Bong Yi

Oh Bong Yi is a young girl from Ba Reum’s neighborhood.  She has a crush on him and he has identified her as someone who would be easy to control, even if she found out the truth about him.  But after his surgery, Ba Reum ends up really falling in love with her.  Unfortunately, once he realizes that he was the one to kill her beloved grandmother, he knows that she will end up hurt no matter what he does.

♥ Child Actors

The child actors in this drama were required to do some seriously heavy lifting and they all did an amazing job.  These roles required a maturity of emotion that must have been challenging and difficult for children so young.  I have so much respect for their acting ability and hope we will get to watch them in many more roles to come.   

♥ Flawed Lead

“Mouse” took a unique approach by giving us a flawed lead who gave us his unreliable account of events for the first half of the drama.  And it is an amazing testament to Lee Seung Gi’s acting skills that even after finding out what a monster he was in the beginning, I was still broken hearted to see him die in the end.  This is not a handsome hero story but it is a story of the kind of redemption and grace that can come to even the most flawed of humans.  

Oz

I just didn’t really think the whole OZ storyline was necessary.  The story was full enough and they could have easily left it with Doctor Daniel and Han Seo Jun’s experiments.  The members of OZ didn’t contribute that much to the overall plot and I didn’t find their portion of the story that interesting.  In a drama already packed with characters and themes, I feel like this one could have been left out and no one would have missed much.  

Psychopaths

I know this is just a drama, not a documentary, and fiction can either simplify or stretch the truth as it sees fit, but I didn’t like the way this drama represented psychopaths.  First, not all murderers are psychopaths, so ridding the world of babies with that gene does not magically create a safe existence free from crime and killing.  And second, not all psychopaths kill people.  There are enough misconceptions about these kinds of mental illnesses and I feel like we should be careful about over-generalizing.  

As expected for a drama so dark, there isn’t much happily ever after in this one, although they do a fairly good job of trying to tie up all those crazy loose ends.  This is a long one, so hold onto your seats.  In the end, all the members of OZ, plus their fearless leader, Choi Young Shin are arrested for their crimes.  So are Ba Reum and Hong Joo.  With those arrests, Yo Han’s name is finally officially cleared of any wrong-doing.  6 months later, Ba Reum is suffering terrible physical pain because of his brain surgery and emotional pain, now that he remembers all the crimes he has committed.  In a final act of revenge, he kills Han Seo Jun for Moo Chi.  His final scene is a vision of him and his younger self in a church.  He tells the child that his prayers have been answered and he is no longer a monster.  Then Ba Reum bows his head and dies.  Three years later, Choi Young Shin receives a pardon from the Blue House and is set free, but she is killed on the drive back into the city.  Hong Joo’s parents have been raising her son while she served her time, but now she is finally free.  Moo Chi has left the department to sell eggs and support Bong Yi while she goes to college.  He goes to put a marker on Ba Reum’s grave behind the prison, so he seems to have finally made his peace.  The series ends with a dinner party at Bong Yi’s house that tries to add some levity to the final moments, but seems surprisingly superficial and heavy.  We do get a short scene where Moo Chi and Hong Joo talk and he apologizes for his part in wrongly accusing Yo Han.  After the credits we get two bonus scenes.  One shows the mouse from Han Seo Jun’s original experiment miraculously coming back alive.  And the other shows a new doctor performing a brain transplant, so apparently this research didn’t die with Han Seo Jun after all.  While these scenes could open the door for a season two, I suspect they are just a reminder that corruption and evil still live on.

A rich CEO of a monthly magazine hires a struggling writer to be his personal PR representative.  Yoo Ja Sung is rude, arrogant and impossible to work for.  As a real estate mogul who has made his fortune buying and selling houses, he knows everything about the practical aspects of the market, but he knows nothing about how to make a house into a home.  Na Young Won dreams of owning her own home some day, where she can find comfort and security.  But she has a hard time seeing a house as simply a way to make a profit.  Now the two of them must learn to work together and hopefully,  teach each other something in the process

Jung So Min as Na Young Won

Na Young Won is a struggling writer looking for work until a former co-worker calls her about a job at her magazine.  What she doesn’t tell her is that her new boss is an unreasonable perfectionist who is impossible to work with.  He is also the one who evicted her from her last apartment.  But Young Won is determined to make this job work, no matter how difficult her boss is.  And the more time she spends with him, the more she realizes that Ja Sung is kinder than most people think. While she hopes to learn from his real estate expertise, she is hoping to show him there is more to owning a home than making a profit.  

Na Young Won’s life fell apart when her parents got scammed and lost the chance to finally own a home of their own.  Carrying that scar through life, she writes a blog about the value of making a home where you can find comfort and security.   Although Ja Sung’s methods lack warmth and emotion, she understands that his knowledge is valuable and she appreciates him for that.  Jung So Min is one of my favorite actresses, and part of why I was so excited to watch this drama, but I don’t feel like this role fit her style.  As an actress, her strength lies in emotion and deep character development, and she seemed almost out of place in this silly, over the top style of comedy.

Kim Won Hae as Choi Go

Choi Go is the editor-in-chief at Monthly House.  He has worked for the company for years and helps the business run smoothly.  He is married and spends his life catering to the needs of his kids and his demanding wife.  He lives in an apartment that is supposed to be redeveloped, but the project keeps getting put on hold while the residents are stuck waiting for better living conditions.

♥ Voiceovers

Though a bit out of place for the tone of the rest of the drama, I enjoyed the voiceovers that reflected on the idea of the value of a home from Young Won’s perspective.  These gave a warm, personal touch to the episodes and gave a heart-warming message.  The contrast between a house and a home is an interesting over-arching theme for this drama, and the voiceovers did a nice job of highlighting this.  

♥ Ja Sung and Gyeom

I enjoyed the sweet, brother-like affection between Gyeom and Ja Sung.  Their quiet support for each other is touching with just enough awkwardness to make it realistic.  Maybe the fact that this is the only understated relationship in the whole drama made it stand out even more, but I looked forward to their heart to heart moments.  

Over the Top

Pretty much everthing about this drama was over the top and a bit tiresome at times.  From the acting, to the humor, and even the more serious emotional scenes; all of them were taken to the extreme.  As someone who embraces subtlety in my dramas, this definitely got irritating.  Maybe comedy fans liked these moments more than me, but I think it could have been toned way down.  

Kye Joo Hee

Has there even been a more invisible character than Kye Joo Hee?  The masked intern drifts through this drama with no real character development.  The only thing we find out about her personally is that she lives in a basement apartment.  While she wanders around delivering gifts and messages for her shy co-worker, we see no trace of a personality or storyline.  It just seems a shame to introduce a character that has no real purpose or role.  At least she finally becomes an editor in the end.  I guess that is something.

“Monthly Magazine Home” comes in for a messy and unsatifying ending that left many viewers frustrated.  Young Won finally finds her father, which is great, until she realizes he is the one who scammed Ja Sung out of all his money years before.  So she plans a final date for them, and when the date is finished she confesses everything to Ja Sung and breaks up with him.  Then she disappears for 3 years.   Though most of the supporting characters did get their happy ever afters.  After a 3 month time jump, Sang Soon and Eui Joo got their dream wedding. And Eui Joo even got to invite her father, so their relationship seems to be on the mend.  Gyeom is finally moving on to pursue his dream of studying Fine Arts, although he has given up studying abroad to stay close to home.  Chan will be taking his place as head photographer, and he and Mi Ra seem to be heading toward a romantic relationship.  A final 3 year jump shows us that Editor Choi’s son has graduated and their home is finally going to be re-developed.  And now back to our leads.  Ja Sung sees a Youtuber who he suspects is Young Won.  He goes to find her and is disappointed when it turns out to be someone else.  But after forgetting his keys, he goes back to discover Young Won there after all.  The two take a walk, talking casually as she shows him the home she had built.  The drama ends on a voice-over asking viewers how they like their home.  There is no clear indication of what the future holds for our leads.  Whether friends or lovers, I guess the ending is up to your imagination.

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.  

It’s pretty much happy endings all around with the exception, of course, of our poor second lead.  Sun Woo goes off the study in the US, leaving behind his sister, his prized technology, and his heart.  Let’s hope some lucky American girl snatches him up!  Jae Jin is devastated to find he has been called up to the military, but less apprehensive once Hye Sun promises to wait for him.  Soo Kyung has an encounter with the adorable sunbae, Seok, and after catching her before she falls, we see the red thread binding them together.  Great things are in their future, which I loved.  We even see Dan and Seo Woo in the beginnings of a cute relationship.  Our leads have a rough road, when Woo Yeo is hit by a truck and spends several seasons dead.  But then, one magical day, he is back.  After successfully learning the lesson of what it means to be human and the heart of sacrifice required to love, the mountain spirit takes pity on him and sends him back.  And, we can presume, they lived happily ever after, as humans!

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.