Welcome to Kdrama and Ramen!

Students and teachers at an elite law school get a front row seat to try justice when a teacher is killed on campus and one of their own is the prime suspect. Now they must put aside all their own opinions and biases if the truth is to prevail.  Working as a team, they quickly learn that things are seldom exactly what they seem and everyone has a secret to hide.  All of things they studied will be put the test as learning meets practical use in the fight to make sure an innocent person doesn’t take the blame for someone else’s wrongdoing.  

Kim Bum as  Han Joon Hwi

Han Joon Hwi is the nephew of Seo Byung Joo, the murdered professor.  As a law student at the school where his uncle and Jong Hoon teach, he finds himself quickly pulled into the middle of the case and even allows enough suspicion to make himself a suspect early on.  As a star pupil who never believes that Joon Hoon is guilty, Joon Hwi puts all of his skills and connections to the test as he works with his classmates to discover the truth.  

Han Joon Hwi is smart and even-tempered.  He is also handsome and a natural leader, which has helped make him a very successful law student.  To insure that he doesn’t receive any special treatment, he keeps the fact that Seo Byung Joo is his uncle a secret from even his closest classmates, until the murder brings it all out in the open.  Although he is a strong student who excels well on his own, he puts together a study group to help the other students in his class and to make friends.  In the beginning, Joon Hwi does come across as cold and arrogant, much like his role model, Professor Yang.  This is great because it really leaves the audience wondering who we are supposed to trust in all this, and that keeps the mystery interesting.  Kim Bum is making a name for himself these days playing enigmatic roles like this that leave us guessing if he is good or evel.  That wicked glint in his eyes gives us just enough pause to wonder if we are being conned by his flawless charm.  I love him taking on such complex roles and making them work.

Lee Soo Kyung as Kang Sol (B)

Kang Sol B’s also has a family connection among school administration that she keeps secret.  Her dad is the Vice Dean.  From a wealthy family of judges, Sol B’s mother has spent her whole life pushing Sol B to be the best law student, even when that meant submitting plagerized work.  But after years of being pushed to the brink, Sol B may be a the end of her rope.

♥ Lots of Backstories

Though it may have left us wanting more about certain characters, “Law School” gives us a large group of diverse students who all get a decent amount of screen time.  Male and female characters are equally represented and supporting characters are allowed their own chances to shine and grow.  I really loved that they didn’t just focus on the lead characters and how the supporting characters interacted with them.  Each character had their own story to tell.  

♥ Not Simple Stereotypes

It’s common, especially in school dramas, for the characters to become very stereotypical and one-dimensional; this one is the rich one, or the smart one, or the funny one.  But “Law School” created complex characters who were realistic and represented by more than one personality trait.  This also allowed for an element of mystery as we got to know each one, because it was never obvious whether the character was good or evil, and in many cases, once you knew them better, you found they were neither  black or white, but some hazy shade of gray.  

Cheating

I felt like Seung Jae’s cheating storyline was a bit far-fetched.  For an institution that obviously takes their exams very seriously, the idea that one student could repeatedly break into various teacher’s laptop just doesn’t make sense.  Really, even the first time, no matter how much shock she is in, I can’t see Professor Kim just handing a student her computer and password when she knows the test is inside.  But then to turn around and get Professor Yang’s computer as well was really just too much.  It was an interesting twist to his character, which I appreciated, but not very realistic.

Sol A and Dan

Erica Shin’s character was a weird one for me.  Having Sol A have a mysterious twin sister was a fun twist, and having her involved in a scandal with Assemblyman Ko was interesting, if not a bit too convenient.  But the way that Erica just ran away and broke all contact with her family was extreme.  It would have been nice to see some kind of resolution to their family story, at least.  Instead, Erica leaves Korea again without even taking the time to meet with her twin privately.  It’s not like her family did anything to her and they really didn’t deserve to be treated with such disrespect.

“Law School” does a nice job of trying to tie up all the loose threads for the many plots and sub-plots they have introduced.  Our team of teachers and students finally gets their revenge on Assemblyman Ko and he is arrested and put in jail.  It was a little disappointing that all of his underlings walked away to continue their shady dealings, but you can’t take them all down at once, I guess.  And in case you think Prosecutor Jin has changed, he is already trying to make a deal with Ji Ho over his father’s case.  Luckily, Ji Ho isn’t interested in settling for anthing less than full justice.  The final mock trials happen, with Ji Ho, Bok Gi, and Ye Bum winning their round.  Sol A, Sol B, and Joon Hwi, technically lose, although their loss is caused by a penalty that proves their integrity is more important than the victory.  So that’s actually a win!  The whole group gets together to celebrate all they have achieved.  After a small time jump, we are back to see Sol A and Joon Hwi using their degrees to help an elderly man with his legal troubles.  Ye Seul is providing legal counseling for victims of sexual and domestic abuse.  And Sol B and her parents are receiving some much-needed counseling of their own.  Seung Jae has asked for the maximum amount of punishment for his crimes, so it is possible that he may spend some time in prison, although we don’t see what actually happens with his case.  The show ends with Sol A, Joon Hwi, and Professor Yang meeting in the school entryway, with the statue of Justice looming in the background, as the trio powerwalks down the hallway.  It seems like this team will be together for a long time to come.

Kim Sung Yeol is a guardian vampire who has spent the last 120 years trying to avenge the death of his first love, which was caused by the evil vampire, Gwi.  During that 120 years, Gwi has been ruling the Joseon Empire from behind the scenes, by controlling the king and all his decisions.  Sung Yeol finds an unlikely ally in a struggling male book seller who turns out to be a female in disguise.  With her help, Sung Yeol hopes to find a missing book, written by the deceased Crown Prince, that gives a detailed strategy of how to defeat Gwi once and for all.  But Gwi is not going down without a fight!

Lee Yoo Bi as  Jo Yang Seon

Jo Yang Seon’s father is framed for treason, which causes her family to lose everything.  To protect her from an unfortunate female lineage, her father has made her dress and act like a boy since she was young.  As a boy, she runs errands for her father and helps him sell books around the city.  When a  rich, private book buyer comes to her looking for an old manuscript, she is determined to succeed.  But as she gets to know the mysterious man, she begins to believe he could be the famous “Night Scholar” who is one of her favorite book heroes.  By the time she learns Sung Yeol’s true identity, her feelings have become too  strong to make her alter her course, no matter what dangers she may face because of him.

Yang Seon has lived her life with the freedom of a male, while never being able to reveal her true identity, so she understands Sung Yeol’s feelings of having to live in hiding.  She is bold and adventurous, although that often gets her into more trouble than she can actually handle.  Lee Yoo Bi is okay in this role, although the character is a bit non-descript. The romantic storyline gets moved to the back burner about halfway through and that doesn’t leave much for Yang Seon to do.  There are still some sweet moments but they are less frequent as time goes on.

Lee Soo Hyuk as Gwi

Gwi is the evil, greedy vampire who hopes to one day do away with royal family all together, so that the kingdom will be his alone.  He will stop at nothing to maintain his power, including creating armies of vampires just so that he can play the hero by killing them.  

♥ Lee Soo Hyuk as Gwi

For Lee Soo Hyuk’s character, they kept the dialogue to a minimum, which definitely worked in his favor.  Gwi’s facials expressions and body language were a highlight of this drama, and his lines, when he had them were few and sincere.  His absolute disdain for humankind was hilariously clear in every scene.  From bored eye rolls to fits of pure rage, Gwi’s feelings and motivations were always clear, and he never had to rely on internal monologues or over-the-top acting to make his point.

♥ Vampire Saeguk

Combining any horror element with historical dramas creates an interesting platform, as evidenced by other dramas like “Kingdom”.  It worked particularly well for vampires.  The flowing costumes and dark lighting really set an appropriate mood.  In concept, I really enjoyed the premise of this drama.  Visually  the whole series was well-designed and fun to watch.

Lost Chemistry

Lee Joon Gi and Lee Yoo Bi had some good report in the beginning of this drama.  Their scenes together had chemistry and suspense.  But once they both came to terms with their feelings for each other, I felt like the chemistry fizzled out.  Without any conflict, their relationship just wasn’t very interesting.  And how many times can they argue about who gets to die for the other?

Who Needs a Book?

Ok, this was one of my biggest pet peeves with this storyline.  They make such a big deal over finding the hidden book with the amazing secret plan. But in the end, Sung Yeol discovers the power of Yang Seon’s blood on his own, when she uses some to save him.  And then the rest of the plan was, let’s go blow things up?  I just expected something with a little more finesse than bite the girl and blow the lair to smithereens.  The book was just a distraction with no real purpose, except to provide some temporary misunderstanding about Yang Seon being offered as a sacrifice.

So, this is another one of those dramas that seems like it’s a happy ending, but still leaves some doubt, which as I’ve said before, are not my favorite.  Gwi and Sung Yeol have their epic battle and the lair comes crashing down on top of them just as the sun rises, burying them both.  Though the crew waits outside, neither vampire comes out alive.  Fast forward a year.  Su Hyang is back to running her gibang and Ho Jin uses the backroom to sell rare books until Sung Yeol “returns”.  Yoon has taken over as king but he still mourns Hye Ryung.  In his room, he proudly displays the sword he gave to Sung Yeol before the battle, which causes the first glimmer of hope in fans who are still hoping Sung Yeol is alive and well.  Yang Seon has gone back to teaching and writing, which is nice to see.  She walks home thinking of Sung Yeol and glances around her in hopes that he will be there.  And then, as if her thoughts conjured him, Sung Yeol is there in front of her.  He apologizes for being late and she answers that she was prepared to wait another 50 years.  They kiss and then the two of them seem to vanish into thin air.  So was this a dream?  Was he really there?  I guess that is up to you to decide.

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

Kim Young Kwang as  Han Yoo Hyun

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

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

Eum Moon Suk as Anthony

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

♥ Addressing Bullying

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

♥Yang Do Yoon

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

Anthony’s Milk Problem

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

Plot Holes

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

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

Yoo So Joon has the ability to travel through time, as long as he doesn’t go beyond March 25, 2019.  That is the day of his death.  By investigating the accident that kills him and the mysterious woman who seems to hold a key to some of the details, he is hoping to postpone his imminent demise.  But can love and fate be manipulated to give him the happy ending he is searching for?

Shin Min Ah as  Song Ma Rin

Song Ma Rin is a washed up child actress, who is more famous for the disaster her life has become, than the one role that originally got her recognized.  Ma Rin’s mother still lives vicariously through her daughter’s short-lived success.  Dreaming of becoming a professional photographer, Ma Rin works with a friend for an online clothing company, while hoping to be discovered.  When she first meets So Joon, she believes that destiny brought them together and she is thrilled when he proposes to her quickly.  But after the wedding, So Joon’s secretive attitude and regular disappearances make her wonder if she has made a mistake in marrying him so soon.  And as she begins to learn his secrets, things only become more complicated.  

Song Ma Rin is quirkly and outgoing.  Her brash personlity hides the deep insecurities of having lived life in the lime light as a young person who never had the skill to succeed past that one role.  Shin Min Ah has a contagious smile and energy that makes her characters come to life.  I can’t imagine a better actress to place this role.  She was able to portray Ma Rin as goofy and random, without overplaying it.  Ma Rin is the kind of character I would love to hang out with in real life.  Full of confidence and transparent about her feelings, she is also vulnerable and eager to find someone who will accept her just as she is.

Jo Han Chul as Doo Shik

Doo Shik is a mystery man who becomes friends with So Joon as a fellow time traveller.  Acting as friend and counsilor, he is the one who encourages So Joon to marry Ma Rin.  Eventually, So Joon finds out that Doo Shik is actually Ma Rin’s estranged father.  Although he wasn’t honest with him from the start, Doo Shik shares So Joon’s goal of saving both So Joon and Ma Rin from the fatal accident they have both seen in the future.  

♥ Lee Jung Eun as Mom

No one plays the eccentric, emotionally unstable mom like Lee Jung Eun.  She brings her own special flair to the role of Cha Boo Shim.  Behind every great childhood actress is a desperate “momanger” and I loved Lee Jung Eun for this part.  Cha Boo Shim’s character gives us great insight into where Ma Rin’s insecurities stem from and why, after all this time, she still hasn’t been able to put them behind her.  

♥Relationship Development

The relationship story arc in “Tomorrow With You” is one of my favorites.  It is realistic and hard-fought from beginning to end.  Especially for So Joon, who begins their relationship as a means to an end rather than having any emotional attachment.  Neither character is perfect, and neither is their relationship, and that makes their story so much more interesting to watch.

Why Can’t Ma Rin Time Travel?

Maybe I’m missing some famous time travel lore here, but I don’t understand why both So Joon and Doo Shik can time travel but Ma Rin can’t.  I guess she could be the catalyst that enables them, but it still seems a little weird to me.  I have heard a fan theory that it could somehow have something to do with gender, but that seems even more far-fetched to me.  But then,  I guess if you keep the rules vague, you can get away with the subtle inconsistancies.  

The Villain

This actually has nothing to do with Baek Hyun Jin’s portrayal of Kim Yong Jin.  I think he did a fine job as a villain who we could intensely dislike.  It’s just that, I think the real villains in this drama were time and destiny.  Having a human villain seemed kind of pointless, and this was further proven when Yong Jin gets caught, yet our lead couple’s situation is as dire as ever. In the grand scheme of things, the character just seemed a bit pointless.

Fans couldn’t help but doubt, right up until the final minutes whether we would see a happy ending or whether we would have to watch So Joon die to protect his love.  But in the end, all was well.  Kim Yong Jin is caught by the police and punished for his crimes.  After many failed attempts, So Joon finally makes it back to the present before March 25, 2019.  Gi Doong and Se Young have become a happy couple.  Doo Shik and Ma Rin’s mom are spending time together again, which is unfortunately short-lived.  On the fated day, So Joon attempts to save Ma Rin’s life, but it is Doo Shik who comes to the rescue at the last minute and dies instead. The drama ends on a time jump to March 2022, where So Joon and Ma Rin are still together, even though they spend breakfast bickering about So Joon’s time travel and Ma Rin’s refusal to learn to cook.  So Joon leaves for work in a huff, but in the car he gets one of the e-mails Ma Rin sent to him from the past and he is reminded of how important each day is.  He calls Ma Rin to apologize and asks her on a date.  And that’s it.  Life still isn’t perfect for this quirky, stubborn couple but their love is as strong as ever.

“Move to Heaven” tells the story of a young autistic boy, Geu Roo, and his uncle, Sang Gu, who run a business as “trauma cleaners”.  Their job is to clear out the belongings of people who have died.  While cleaning, they look for clues as to what final wishes the person might have and try to carry out those wishes as best they can.  The drama also follows the story of Geu Roo’s relationship with the uncle he had never met, until he is appointed as Geu Roo’s “temporary” guardian following the sudden death of Geu Roo’s father .

Tang Jun Sang as  Han Geu Roo

Han Geu Roo is a 20 year old man with Aspergers syndrome.  Life hasn’t been easy for him, but his father has always been there to root for and support him.  When his father suddenly dies, he is left alone with an uncle he has never met before and a business only he can run.  As he teaches Sang Gu the ropes of their company “Move to Heaven”, he also learns how to cope with life now that his father is gone.  Luckily the lessons he learned from his father while he was alive continue to guide him through the most difficult situations.  And although his uncle is rough around the edges, Geu Roo begins to see other positive qualities that are hidden under the surface.  

Due to his Aspergers, Han Geu Roo faces plenty of challenges in his life.  But he is not a character that the audience should find lacking or pitiful.  He handles every situation with a single-minded determination and a logical attitude that leaves no room for anything but success.  What I loved about Geu Roo’s character is that, although it was difficult, he found ways to understand the thoughts and feelings of his clients.  From my limited experience, Tang Jun Sang did a remarkable job in this role, and played Geu Ru’s character sincerely, without overplaying his struggles.

Jung Ae Yun as Madame Jeong

Madame Jeong is the “villain” of this drama.  She runs an illegal fighting ring and has been blackmailing Sang Gu to keep him fighting for her for years.  She is heartless and greedy.  Madame Jeong appears to have no conscience, even though her actions have caused Sang Gu to lose the student he loved like a brother and serve time in prison.  

♥ Social Commentary

“Move to Heaven” does a great job of bringing up important social issue without ever sounding preachy.  From homophobia to neglect of the elderly, and plenty in between, “Move to Heaven” gently reminds us that we all have scars and weaknesses. And in a society where self-righteous greed is prevelant, it never hurts to be kind.  It also reminds us that kindness doesn’t have to end with life;  if we listen carefully, the dead can still speak.  

♥Interesting Sub-Plots

One of the strengths of this drama is the diverse sub-plots that venture into many different topics and genre.  While the main story is great on it’s own, the lessons learned through the people they help are also valuable and interesting. Each story gives us food for thought and each character adds their own unique richness to the drama as a whole.

Season 2?

This drama definitely opened the door for a season 2 in the final scenes, even though nothing has been confirmed by Netflix yet.  While no existing storylines left us hanging for an ending, introducing a new character in the last minutes was an interesting teaser.  Without a second season, this scene could just be a sign that life and work go on, but it left me curious enough to hope for a chance to see what happens next.  

Na Mu’s Mom

I’m sure for the Aspergers community, Na Mu’s mom represents a whole group of people who never try to understand or accept them as they are, but I found her very unlikeable.  While Na Mu had such a sincere relationship with Geu Roo, it was difficult to watch her mother devalue and criticize him.  I’m sure many people like her exist in real life, but it didn’t make her character any less distasteful.

Because “Move to Heaven” finished each sub-plot as the series went along, there isn’t a lot to break down for the ending.  For our leads, I think it was a happy ending.  Sang Gu is forced to fight for Madame Jeong again.  Geu Roo and Na Mu find out about it and get the police involved.  While the raid errupts into chaos, they sneak an injured Sang Gu out the back door.  Lawyer Oh meets with Sang Gu and tells him that he doesn’t think Sang Gu is qualified to act as Geu Roo’s guardian and the illegal fighting is just one example of why.  Defeated, Sang Gu turns to leave, but Lawyer Oh continues that his opinion isn’t really that important.  Geu Roo wants Sang Gu to continue on in his role, so he will finish the paperwork to make it official.  The final scene shows Geu Ru in front of the Move to Heaven van when a young woman approaches him.  She says that she would like to hire them and the client is herself.  Geu Roo seems flustered and interested in her, but also confused.  And that’s a wrap.  So our Move to Heaven team are still together, with Na Mu finally telling her parents that she intends to work with them full-time, and ready to take on their next job.

When peace between North and South Korea is the main goal, a royal wedding seems to be the best method of bringing them together.  But can a carefree prince and a military-trained sniper put aside their differences for the common good of both their countries?  Together, they will have to fight against a powerful and influential enemy who is more interested in his own financial stability then the peace of two warring nations.  

Ha Ji Won as Kim Hang Ah

Kim Hang Ah has risen through the ranks as a soldier of the North Korean Elite Forces.  But what she really wants is to find love, get married, and settle down.  But when her father sets up an arranged marriage between her and the handsome prince of South Korea, she isn’t sure what to think.  She is attracted to him but it’s impossible to tell how he really feels about her.  But for the sake of her father and her country, she packs up and moves to South Korea to begin training as a princess.  After the King is murdered, and her intended takes his place on the throne, she decides to throw caution to the wind and devote herself to her new job as the future Queen.  

Kim Hang Ah is a wonderfully complex character from the very beginning.  A highly trained soldier with nerves of steel when life and death are on the line, she is innocent and naive in terms of men and relationships.  Her innocence allows her to wear her heart on her sleeve for everyone to see. This proves to be an advantage in the end, because Jae Ha can easily read her true feelings and that allows him to trust her and open his heart to her.  Ha Ji Won is perfectly suited to this kind of role as a tough warrior with a sensitive and compassionate heart.  Her eyes can go from steely and determined to soft and vulnerable in a matter of seconds and her facial expressions convey a depth of feelings.  

Jo Jung Suk as Eun Shi Kyung

Eun Shi Kyung is a military officer who leads South Korea’s team at the WCO.  His father is the Royal Chief Secretary who is one of the King’s most trusted advisors.  After the Princess’ accident, Shi Kyung is assigned as her private bodyguard.  While spending time with the princess, Shi Kyung falls in love with her and helps her heal from the trauma of her accident and her brother’s death.

♥ Royalty as People

Rather than relying on the overly dramatic royal traits that many dramas use, “King2Hearts” chose to make their royals much more down to earth and realistic.  Before their deaths, the King and Queen are shown as a loving and well-grounded couple.  And the Queen mother, while initially unsure about her son marrying a North Korean sniper, eventually becomes one of her staunchest supporters.  She doesn’t throw a tantrum or resort to sneaky and underhanded methods to get rid of her, which tends to be the norm for kdrama Queen Mothers.  This is the kind of royal family that feels like real people and I really appreciated the balanced portrayal of them.

♥Creepy Villains

The villains in this drama are strangely terrifying.  They are maniacal in the most calm and unsettling way imaginable.  I often find myself feeling disgust or extreme dislike for kdrama villains, but these villains instilled fear in me.  I never felt like they overacted or pushed things too far.  And maybe it was that firm control that gave them their sharp edge.  All I know is they left an impression on me that felt more real than drama.

Foreign Cast

Every once in a while, a kdrama will use English speakers who don’t seem to have much acting experience, and I try not to be too critical.  But “King2Hearts” isn’t just one or two actors.  There is a large cast of non-Korean actors whose acting distracts from the overall story and was just uncomfortable to watch.  I’m sure it’s hard to find actors in Korea to fill these roles, but I wish they would at least keep their speaking to a minimum.

Shi Kyung’s Death

Ok, I admit it.  I hate when great supporting characters die.  But this one was another heart-breaker for me.  After all he had done for the royal family, I thought he would get his happily ever after with the princess.  Up until the very end, I kept hoping his death was some ploy to throw off the villains. I also would have like to see more of Jae Ha’s reaction to losing his closest friend and ally.  The 10 seconds spent discussing Shi Kyung’s inability to hold alcohol didn’t seem like enough.  Everybody loves Jo Jung Suk, so I can’t be the only one who felt this way.  

“King2Hearts” brings everything to a nice closure with mostly happy endings.  The exception, of course, is the death of Shi Kyung, and the Princess’ loneliness because of it.  The final episode gives us a great good vs. evil showdown, where the good guys win, and the bad guys mostly get what they deserve. Although there is always a feeling that John Mayer will still get out of it somehow, which makes it a bit less satisfying.  War is averted and our happy couple finally get married.  Our final scenes show a 4 year time jump.  It’s time for the WCO again and the former team is in Seoul to help train the new group.  They take a minute out of their happy reunion to pay tribute to Shi Kyung.  Meanwhile Jae Shin also remembers him, while imaging the 2 of them back up at the wall talking.  She is still in the wheelchair, but both her mind and body seem to be healing slowly.  Jae Ha and Hang Ah, together with their adorable son, face the press, smiling for the cameras.  Until their toddler makes the mistake of using North Korean pronunciation while calling his mother.  The press go crazy but the King and Queen Mother laugh it off lovingly. Jae Ha and Hang Ah stand strong and united in the face of political opposition and seem to live happily ever after.  

An 8 year old Korean boy is taken from his home country and adopted in Italy, where he rises through the mafia ranks to become a consigliere.  Years later, he returns to Korea to recover a stash of hidden gold buried under the Geumga Plaza.  But his efforts are threatened when Babel Corporation sets their sights on the property, intending to tear down Geumga Plaza and build their own pet project, Babel Tower, on the location.  As Vincenzo fights to keep ownership away from Babel Corporation, he forms friendships with the occupants of Geumga Plaza, who also wants to stop Babel from tearing down their building.

Jeon Yeo Bin as Hong Cha Young

Hong Cha Young was working as a lawyer for Woosang Law Firm until her father, who had a private law practice, is killed by Babel for defending Geumga Plaza.  Cha Young resigns her position with Woosang and takes over at her father’s office in Geumga.  Vincenzo becomes her advisor as they work together in t, aking down Babel.  As the pair work side by side, their friendship grows into something deeper, even though their focus needs to stay on the legal battle.

Hong Cha Young is a cut throat lawyer who will do anything to win, but she refuses to resort to violence.  Though she cares for the people at Geumga Plaza and wants to help them, her true motivation in taking their case is revenge for the death of her father.  She is quick on her feet and unafraid to face any challenge head on.  Jeon Yeo Bin did a great job in this role and I especially enjoyed the scenes of her and Song Joong Ki together.  Their natural chemistry was obvious and fun to watch.

Kim Yeo Jin as Choi Myung Hee

Choi Myung Hee is a lawyer at Woosang Law Firm and becomes the primary advisor for Jang Jun Woo and Babel Corporation.  She is ruthless and greedy, and will stop at nothing to succeed, even taking out those who are closest to her.  Lawyer Choi is bold and unconventional and has been working in the political sphere long enough to have some very powerful connections.  

Kwak Dong Yeon as Jang Han Seo

Jang Han Seo is Jun Woo’s younger half brother and the puppet CEO of Babel.  Knowing what Jun Woo is truly capable of, including killing their father to take over the company, Han Seo is terrified of doing anything that will upset him.  Eventually he joins forces with Vincenzo to work against Babel and his brother.

♥ Taec Yeon

Taec Yeon was a highlight for me in this drama.  The transformation from bumbling law clerk to diablic villain was seamless and believable.  From  facial expressions to body language, he portrayed the role perfectly.  And the random English expressions thrown in made me chuckle every time!  I don’t think I could love a villain more!!

♥Vincenzo’s Mom

I really enjoyed the storyline with Vincenzo and his mom.  First of all, in a story full of villains, it’s nice to have a redemption story.  And second, it gives great insight into Vincenzo’s more sensitive and compassionate side.  An added bonus is that it gives him and Cha Young a common bond to further solidify their connection.  Hong Yoo Chan is a wonderful actress and I loved her in this role.

Violence is Suddenly Ok?

So, I get the end game for this drama was always revenge, and I was glad to see the villains get exactly what they deserved.  But in the beginning, Cha Young made Vincenzo promise not to kill anyone, and Vincenzo spent the whole show finding more creative ways to beat their opponents.  All the while, his new friends were helping to heal some of the wounds caused by his mother and mafia life.  It seemed like that time had made him a better, happier person, and then suddenly he was back to gruesome murder and extreme violence.  For me, it felt like a major shift in direction that didn’t fit the character we had come to know.

What About the Gold??

For Vincenzo, this all started because of the buried gold.  But in the end, the gold is just left hiding at Cha Young’s house.  After going through all the work of smuggling it out of the basement, no one is using it for anything.  It just seems rather anti-climatic that it’s only use is a very uncomfortable bed.

There is a lot that happens in the last couple episodes of “Vincenzo” but the breakdown is surprisingly easy.  Those who fought against him are all dead, and those that helped him have gone back to doing what they did before.  Jun Woo, Myung Hee, Seung Hyuk, and several of their lackeys have all been killed, in unique and personalized ways.  Unfortunately, Han Seo is also collateral damage, which was unfortunate.  I would have liked to see him blossom under the positive attention he could get from Vincenzo and the crew.  The gang at Geumga Plaza are back in their shops, although their connection to each other is stronger now than when it all started.  And Young Woon and Ki Seok are both back to working as agents.  So what about our leads?  Well, Vincenzo has bought a small island off of Malta, but continues to stay in touch with Cha Young through anonymous postcards.  And Cha Young is still working out of her father’s office.  But our final scene sees Vincenzo back in Korea for the evening on business.  He and Cha Young meet and share a kiss, and he tells her that he has a room for her on his island, whenever she wants to come.  It’s the kind of inconclusive love story that makes me a bit frustrated, but I guess you can consider it a happy ending.  Neither of the leads are dead, so that is always a plus!

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

Rowoon as Chae Hyun Seung

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

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

Lee Joo Bin as Lee Hyo Joo

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

♥ The Sisters

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

♥Turning the Tables

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

Ha Eun Never Ages

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

Serious Problems

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

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