Welcome to Kdrama and Ramen!

Shim Deok Chool has always dreamed of becoming a ballet dancer.  Now at the age of 70, as a retired postal worker who has raised his children, he is finally ready to pursue that goal, even if his family is against it.  When Deok Chool shows up at a private ballet studio and begs the owner to teach him, the owner volunteers one of his students, Lee Chae Rok, to become his instructor.  In exchange, he asks Deok Chool to be Chae Rok’s manager as he prepares for an important audition.  This unlikely pairing will bring it’s share of joys and struggles, and each will learn some very important life lessons along the way;  including some that have nothing to do with ballet.  

Park In Hwan as Shim Deok Chul

Shim Deok Chul is a 70 year old retired postal carrier who has lived his whole life working to support his family.  As a young boy he peeked through the windows of a local ballet studio and began to dream of being a dancer, but his father refused to allow it.  After a recent Alzheimer’s diagnosis plus the urging of a dying friend, Deok Chul realizes that his time is running short.  Fueled with a fresh determination, he decides to take dance lessons.  Finding an unlikely teacher in a young dancer at a nearby studio, he begins lessons.  At first, it is physically challenging, but he perseveres and begins to see progress.  He also gains a new friend in Chae Rok.  Even when his wife and children try to persuade him to give up, Deok Chul continues to follow his dream in the hopes of getting to appear on stage at least once and having the chance to “soar”.

Shim Deok Chul is wise and caring.  His quiet determination in the face of a life-changing medical diagnosis is inspiring.  As a character, he proves that it’s never too late to chase your dreams and do the things you love, despite what anyone else may try to tell you.   It’s hard not to root for someone who has given his whole heart to a goal that seems impossible.  Park In Hwa does an amazing job in this role.  The way his body language changes over the course of his training and the wealth of emotions he conveys with his facial expressions are the work of a seasoned actor. I loved everything about this performance and I love the fact that this drama gave the chance for an older actor to take center stage.

Hong Seung Hee as Shim Eun Ho

Shim Eun Ho is Deok Chul’s only grandchild.  Her father is Deok Chul’s oldest son, and he has spent his whole life striving for financial success.  Now he is demanding the same from Eun Ho.  But when Eun Ho’s intern job fails to turn into the full-time position her father expected, she begins to explore her own dreams and goals, like her grandfather.

♥ May-December Friendship

Typically, when a drama stars an older actor, the best friend/side kick is a character about the same age.  So, I loved the idea of Deok Chul and Chae Rok developing a geniune friendship with each other.  Like true friends, it wasn’t always smooth sailing and Chae Rok had a habit of venting his frustrations on his poor student. But as their friendship grew, their respect and love for each other were very sweet.  

♥Beautiful Dance Scenes

The dance sequences for this drama were beautifully performed and visually stunning.  I loved the chance to watch real dancers as they jumped, glided, and spun across the floor with real grace and skill.  These scenes gave “Navillera” something special that was a pleasure to watch.  

Only 12 Episodes

I hate to be that person who complains just because it ended, but this is one I would have gladly watched for the standard 16 episodes.  It’s not really a critcism, but it’s still my biggest complaint!   But I guess leaving the fans wanting more is never a bad strategy.  At any rate, I feel like they could have extended it out to the full 16 episodes and gone more in depth with some of the storylines that were already introduced.  

Teaser Romance

This is another drama where they set the stage for a romance that never quite takes off.  It’s not the all dramas need romance, and honestly there were plenty of other stories to keep this one going without it.   But the undeniable connection between Chae Rok and Eun Ho is shown right from the beginning, so it would have been nice to see at least a hint that their romance is going somewhere.  

The last episode of “Navillera” ties up lots of loose ends.  Even though Deok Chul wakes up on the morning of his big performance without any memory of his choreography, Chae Rok gently encourages him to take his opportunity and helps jar his memory.  The pair put on an emotional performance of Swan Lake for a weepy audience.  Seung Joo gathers the family to show everyone the documentary that he has put together about Deok Chul’s journey and everyone is touched seeing his hard work.  Once the performance is done, Chae Rok is ready to start his training abroad.  At home, Eun Ho is making her way at the radio station, her dad is working for a local baseball team, and her mom is the head consultant.  Seong Gwan has returned to medicine and Seung Joo and So Ri are back together as a couple, and running a ballet school.  And Ho Beom and Se Jong are playing on the same soccer team. Deok Chul’s Alzheimer’s is progressing, which is heartbreaking, but they give us a cute scene where he sneaks out to “deliver the mail”.  And then, after 3 years, we see the last beautiful reunion between Deok Chul and Chae Rok.  Not only does Deok Chul remember his teacher, but he stands in the snow and dances, still remembering their choreography and the movements.  What a wonderful way to end a sweet journey.

An aimless royal administrator gets assigned to work as a secret royal agent  for the king, rooting out corruption among the other royal officials. Following rumors about those who are using their positions to take advantage of the people, the secret royal agent travels to those towns in disguise and attempts to uncover their crimes.  His team consists of himself, his servant, and a female police officer who travels dressed as a man.  Together they will fight to bring justice for those who have been mistreated.  

Kwon Nara as Hong Da In

Hong Da In is the daughter of Prince Hwiyeong, who killed himself after being accused as a traitor.  Now working as a police officer, she is trying to find evidence to prove that her father was innocent.  Sent as part of the royal investigation team by her adopted father, Da In is supposed to be keeping an eye on Yi Gyum to make sure everything goes smoothly.  For the purpose of disguise, Da In always travels dressed as a man, although undercover missions often require her to use her “feminine charms”.  When she first meets Yi Gyum they don’t start off on the best footing but as she gets to know him, she finds him to be kind and just.  

Da In is bold and determined, especially for a woman at that time.  Proving her father’s innocence has been her life’s focus, so she doesn’t have many relationships outside of her love for the Royal Secretary, who raised her after her father’s death.  Good with disguise and quick on her feet, her contributions to the investigation team help them out of several tight spots.  Kwon Nara was a good choice for this role, although she also seemed to struggle with the stilted dialogue and sometimes akward scene timing.  Her chemistry with Kim Myung Soo never seemed to hit the smooth groove you would hope for in this kind of romantic comedy.  

Lee Tae Hwan as Sung Yi Beom

Sung Yi Beom is Yi Gyum’s estranged brother.  A misunderstanding over Yi Gyum’s former fiancee left the brothers out of touch and Yi Beom to live life on the run.  Determined to use the circumstance for good, Yi Beom became a Korean Robin Hood, stealing money from the corrupt and giving it back to those it belonged to.  After years of being together, he is in love with Soon Ae, but he refuses to act on it out of respect for his brother.  

Yi Beom

Yi Beom’s character and storyline didn’t really work for me.  First of all, the whole Robin Hood idea seemed cliche and underdeveloped.  Since he was already in hiding, he decided to commit crimes so they would plaster his picture everywhere?  Does that make sense?  And second, what did Yi Gyum do to his brother to make him act so cold?  Yi Gyum misundersood the situation, but under the circumstances he has a right to be mad.  But what did he do to Yi Beom?  And third, there wasn’t enough chemistry or interaction between Yi Beom and Soon Ae to really care whether they fall in love or not.  His plot line just seemed randomly thrown in with no rhyme or reason.    

Da In’s “Disguise”

Women dressed as men is a pretty common trope for historical dramas, but Da In never really seemed very “secret”.  Kwon Nara is a beauty and rosy lips and accentuated eyes didn’t help make her look more masculine.  Neither did her traveling companions running after her calling her “miss” constantly.  Aside from getting thrown into a couple sleeping rooms together, there really wasn’t much point in her pretending to be a man anyway.

“Secret Royal Agent” has a pretty straight-forward ending. All of the cases were solved, the corrupt officials were punished, and the town’s people were compensated.  After a failed revolution, Yi Beom is captured and he and Yi Gyum fake his death.  Later the gang takes him to meet Soon Ae on the outskirts of town and the couple head into hiding together again.  Da In finds out that her father really was innocent and brings the proof home with her.  Yi Gyum frees Chun Sam so that he is no longer a slave.  And then, even though Yi Gyum swore this would be his final mission, he gets persuaded to take another case when he hears that people are enpersonating him and tarnishing his reputation.  Initially, Da In and Chun Sam tell Yi Gyum that they are done, but when Yi Gyum reaches the gate to head out of the city, they are both there waiting for them.  The trio walk off together creating a perfect open door for a Season 2 and yet still offering a kind of happily ever after.  

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

Gong Hyo Jin as Seo Yoo Kyung

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

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

Alex as Kim San

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

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

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

♥ Lead Chemistry

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

♥ Food as Eye Candy

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

Treatment of Women

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

Philip and Byun Jung Soo

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

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

Welcome to my Dear My Friends – Unspoiled Review.  A young writer and translator has spent her life looking after her mother and her mother’s tight-knit group of friends.  Now, as the group approaches their twilight years, she considers turning their lives into a novel.  Proving that age is just a number, these friends are determined to live life to it’s fullest, finding love and fulfillment through their relationships.  

Go Doo Shim as Jang Nan Hee

Jang Nan Hee is Wan’s mother.  She operates her own restaurant and has worked hard her whole life.  As she and her friends grow older, they begin encountering new challenges.  Their minds and bodies have grown weaker and their children have grown up and found their own lives.  During these struggles, they realize that their friends are their greatest assets.  Nan Hee meets a younger man who frequents her restaurant and she wonders if it’s too late for her to find love.  But then a sudden cancer diagnosis causes her to put the rest of her life on hold as she fights the biggest battle of her life.  

Nan Hee has lived her life as a devoted daughter, sister, mother, and friend.  Selflessly, she pours herself out into the lives of those around her.  But sometimes those efforts drive her to be short-tempered and stubborn.  Usually those fits of ill-temper are aimed at her daughter, who gives at good as she gets!  During the course of the drama, we watch Nan Hee learn that we can’t control everything or everyone, and that sometimes we just need to let go and let other’s live their own lives; whether that is her daughter’s love life, her disabled brother’s marriage, or her friend’s dementia.  Go Doo Shim is an amazing actress and she brings such grace and beauty to this role.  I have enjoyed in several roles over the years, but this one gave her a chance to really shine and be the star she deserves to be.

Na Moon Hee as Moon Jung Ah

In the beginning, Moon Jung Ah is the only friend who is still married.  Through the course of the drama, Jung Ah experiences the most change and trauma as she confronts finding out her adopted daughter is being abused by her husband, the death of her elderly mother, and her best friend’s dementia.  She also decides that she wants to divorce her husband, who has taken her for granted through their whole marriage, and live on her own.  Her dream is to die “on the road”.  

Youn Yuh Jung as Oh Choong Nam

Oh Choong Nam is the youngest of the friends.  Due to a huge extended family who weren’t able to take care of themselves, Choong Nam has become very financially savvy. Because of her family demands, she has never graduated from high school or married. In her spare time, she studies for her high school diploma.  She runs her own coffee shop and raises her two nephews.  Her biggest fear is that she will die alone.

♥ Seo Yeon Ha

Wow!  Where do I even begin.  I loved everything about Yeon Ha from the acting, to the character, to the beautiful love story.  Some of my favorite moments were of Yeon Ha and Wan just gazing at each other through their computer screens.  It feels so quietly intimate and the way that they can talk about difficult topics in such a transparent way is engaging.  The depth of Yeon Ha’s love for Wan in spite of his own struggles in life shows commitment and understanding.  I could have watched a whole drama with these two characters as the leads but they made every scene together count.  

♥ Min Ho and Hee Ja

The mother/son relationship between Min Ho and Hee Ja was just so precious.  You could really feel the love between these characters.  While Hee Ja’s other sons were off flaunting their wealth and independence, Min Ho stays by his mom’s side while working hard to support his pregnant wife.  It’s in the quiet moments when he lets her sleep on his shoulder at the movie theater or lies down next to her on the floor that the raw emotion is almost overwhelming. Every scene they had together brought joy to my heart.

Need More Mark Smith

It was so sad to see the photographer, Mark Smith, quietly bow out so early.  Even though his interactions with the group were limited, I enjoyed watching them together and initially thought some deeper friendships might for with time.  It seems a shame to waste such an interesting character when there was still plenty of potential for storyline.  Not that this drama was lacking for interesting characters, but I wouldn’t have minded Mark sticking around awhile.  

Han Dong Jin

Shin Sung Woo did a fine job of acting the role of Han Dong Jin, but I didn’t really like the character.  There wasn’t enough character development for me to feel any real sympathy for him and didn’t feel like his relationship with Wan did anything to further her storyline.  We did get to see Nan Hee beat him up, which was fun, but really the drama would have been fine without him and his cheating.  

There are a lot of storylines to tie up for the end of “Dear My Friends” and they did a pretty thorough job of it. Here is a quick run-through of where everyone is.  Maybe because she is the youngest, Choong Nam’s life is mostly the same.  She is continuing to study and run her coffee shop.  Young Won finds out that Dae Chul has been divorced for years and though he is sick, he is receiving treatment, so she makes plans to go to the US and see him.  Jung Ah and her husband continue to live apart, but they spend most of their time together and have finally found a compromise in their relationship.  Nan Hee finds out that her cancer was not as bad as the doctors had feared.  She is receiving chemo and doing well.  She finally let go of Wan and is allowing her to come and go between Slovinia and Korea.  And since Wan is gone, Nan Hee has started dating Lee Il Woo.  Wan is writing her book, “My Old Friends” and spending time with Yeon Ha.  And while each of those ending are important in themselves, the real finale moment comes as we see the group, finally taking a trip together, driving down the road in an RV.  Coming to a beach, they walk and talk in the sand before taking a seat to enjoy a scenic sunset.  Wan watches them with a smile because she finally understands that they are not “continuously walking toward death”, they are simply “living this moment fiercely and confidently”.  

Welcome to my Mad Dog – Full Review.  After his wife and son are killed in a plane crash, an insurance investigator forms his own private investigation company called Mad Dog.  When the brother of the pilot who was responsible for the crash tries to take over his business, he vows to get his revenge.  But as they try to find the truth of what really happened that day, it seems like there is much more to the story than anyone has been told.

Woo Do Hwan as Kim Min Joon ( Jan Gebauer / Doctor Kim)

Kim Min Joon is the brother of the pilot who was responsible for the crash that killed Kang Woo’s family.  He worms his way into the Mad Dog team so that he can use them to clear his brother’s name.  Bringing in related cases, he slowly convinces Kang Woo and his team that his brother did not commit suicide by purposely crashing the plane that day.  Together, they just might be able to find out who was really responsible and see them punished for their actions.

Kim Min Joon is cold and calculating as a conman who has spent his whole life with only himself to rely on.  He has a dry sense of humor and a quick wit.  In the beginning, all he really cares about is using the team for his own purposes.  But as the drama goes on, his character grows and develops into someone who can be a team player and really cares about the people he is working with.  Woo Do Hwan is the standout performer of this drama.  He portrays the changes in Min Joon’s personality in a natural way that never seems forced or beyond the scope of reality.  It is impossible not to be won over by this charming character.  

Jo Jae Yoon as Park Soon Jung (Cheetah)

Park Soon Jung is an ex-convict with a criminal record.  His years as a thug make him well-connected and tough.  While he has a rough exterior, his dream is to become a pediatric nurse.  During his time pursuing nursing, he met and fell in love with Nurse Oh, who helps them when they need medical information.  

♥ Group Chemistry

Character development and chemistry are the best part of this drama.  There are so many great relationships between the team members.  The bromance of Kang Woo and Min Joon is so sweet.  The romance between Min Joon and Ha Ri is full of sparks.  The team as a whole is like one big family, who even live together in the office.  Watching this crew grow and develop makes this drama special and it really makes you root for them.  

♥ Worthy Adversaries

The villains in “Mad Dog” are not your typical one-dimensional bad guys.  They are smart and subtle, and every time you think Mad Dog has their number, they manage to turn it around and get away.  This epic battle of wits kept the plot entertaining and unpredictable.  Though greed was their most obvious motive, there was much more going on with their characters.  Even as villains, there was interesting character development.

 Romance

I’ve said this before, but I don’t need romance in every drama I watch.  I understand that sometimes it doesn’t fit into the plot.  Maybe it is just that the chemistry between Min Joon and Ha Ri was so good that it left me wanting more.  So, why introduce such a cute couple without letting them have at least one romantic scene at the end?  Just one nice scene between the two of them would have been enough for me, but I was disappointed that they left us hanging.  

Team Backstories

The writers gave us just enough backstories about the supporting characters to make us care about them.  I would have liked to know more about each of their pasts.  And I feel like they could have traded out some of the dialog-heavy insurance explanations for more background on the team members.  There was plenty that went unsaid, and I think more scenes of them before they joined Mad Dog would have made the drama even more enjoyable.  

“Mad Dog” gives us a decently satisfactory ending.  The bad guys have all been put in prison, including Noo Ri’s father, Prosecutor On.  All of Chairman Cha’s efforts to make sure his daughter would remain untouched and in control of the company were wasted, although Hong Joo only received a 5 year sentence for her part in the crime.  Unfortunately the bad guys weren’t the only ones serving time.  Kang Woo is arrested for wire-tapping and serves one year in prison.  10 months later, Kang Woo is released and picked up by his mentor Professor Byeon.  The professor gives Kang Woo an ear piece so he can catch up with his friends, who are in the middle of an investigation.  Nurse Oh has become a part-time member of “Mad Dog” and she and Soon Jung are a couple.  Ha Ri and Min Joon also seem to be getting along as a couple.  And Min Joon has accepted Kang Woo as his “hyung” and is a full time member of the team.  It looks like this team will be together for many years to come.  

Welcome to my Prison Playbook – Unspoiled Review.  When a famous baseball player catches a young man sexually assaulting his sister, he chases him down and beats him up.  Everyone assumes it will be considered self-defense, so fans are shocked when he is sentenced to 1 year in prison and even his appeal is unsuccessful.  Now he must learn the ins and outs of life in prison, but luckily for him, he makes some valuable friends along the way.

Jung Kyung Ho as Lee Joon Ho

Lee Joon Ho was Je Hyuk’s childhood friend.  The two of them had played baseball together and both lived with the coach’s family.  After suffering a traumatic car accident, Joon Ho quit baseball and they lost contact.  But Joon Ho always remained Je Hyuk’s greatest fan.  Transferring from his current post as a Detention Officer, Joon Ho transfers to Je Hyuk’s prison in order to protect him and help him train.  Joon Ho also begins a romantic relationship with Je Hyuk’s sister, but he keeps it a secret from his friend, in case he will be angry.

Lee Joon Ho is a steadfast and devoted friend.  Even though he was a better player than Je Hyuk in high school, he’s never competitive or petty about his own skills.  Joon Ho is smart and driven, but his need to be challenged has left behind a string of jobs that never hold his interest for long.  Jung Kyung Ho played this role so well.  In the beginning, he is mystified by how close Je Hyuk is to the guards and inmates but he slowly warms up to them and establishes his own friendships.  Joon Ho is reserved and careful, which makes him the perfect advisor to his friend.  

Jung Woong In as Paeng Se Yoon

Guard Paeng has been a guard at the penitentiary for years and is nearing the end of his career.  At first glance, it seems like he doesn’t really care about the job or the inmates.  He is loud and verbally abusive most of the time.  But as we get to know him, we find out that the tough exterior covers over a heart of gold.  His greatest goal is to see the inmates rehabilitated and set free to live their lives on the right road.  

♥ All that Bromance

I love a good bromance, and “Prison Playbook” is full of them.  Each individual relationship has it’s own feel and chemistry, which I really appreciated.  Watching the group knit itself together in a way that offered each of them the support and love they needed was heartwarming and interesting.  They created a family dynamic complete with a protective father and sibling rivalry.  It’s hard to even pick a favorite, but the main storyline between Je Hyuk and Joon Ho is an obvious one, because there is so much time spent developing it.  And the loyalty that “Jailbird” gives Je Hyuk is also a highlight for me.

♥ Staggered Storylines

Unlike the average kdrama, “Prison Playbook” introduces new characters and has characters leave at a staggered pace throughout the drama.  This keeps the storylines moving with fresh topics.  Inmates come and go, and each one brings their own backstory.  Arranging the stories this way also keeps the drama from being overly predictable from Episode 1, which was really nice.  

“Loony’s” Ending

Loony’s character was a favorite of mine.  Lee Kyu Hyung played the role perfectly, and I always enjoyed his scenes.  Of course, I understand that the life of an addict is a neverending battle, but after struggling through withdrawals and staying strong during his whole incarceration, I was brokenhearted to see him fall right back into that life.  And it was even more sad that we never hear anything about him again.  Without the love of his cellmates, it is doubtful that he will ever be able to break free from his addiction again, and that is so disapppointing.  

No Reunion Ending

I really expected to have one scene of Je Hyuk pitching while a group of his friends cheered him on from the stands.  A scene like this could have provided some closure to many of the characters.  It seemed like the perfect setup for something like this, so I was surprised when it didn’t happen.  There are just so many great characters that I would like to have caught up with one more time.  But let’s be honest here.  “Prison Playbook” never takes the easy way out, and my dream ending wouldn’t have done justice to the dose of realism that the writers tried to stay true to.  

Well, I already complained about not getting the full closure that I wanted, but “Prison Playbook” ends as steadily as it began, and we do get some happy endings.  Guard Paeng is shown giving a presentation about his job for his daughter’s class at school.  He seems happy and more at peace with his life and work now that he has overcome some of his guilt for the fire.  Min Chul finally receives an early release.  He is sent of by Officer Paeng and greeted by his daughter and his former cellmate, Lee Joo Hyung.  Captain Yoo gets the approval for an appeal to his case, so even though the cell is looking pretty empty these days, hopefully he will also be leaving soon.  Jailbird is released and takes a job as Je Hyuk’s new agent, so it looks like they will continue their relationship.  Joon Ho admits to Je Hyuk that he is dating Je Hee, so he doesn’t have to hide that from him anymore.  And lastly, our lead finishes his sentence and greets Ji Ho with a big kiss, ignoring the reporters and cameras.  And the final scene shows Je Hyuk back on the pitching mound.  The team loses the game but it’s still a win for Je Hyuk and he is confident that he will still succeed.  I was sad to see this one end, but I really enjoyed the story.  

Welcome to my Mr. Queen – Unspoiled Review.  A modern day chef wakes up in the body of a Joseon queen.  Standing at the side of a king who has been painted by history as a failure, he begins to see that there is more to the story.  Now he is  laying everything on the line to help the king gain true power and make a name for himself in the annals of history.

More So Yong

It seems like if they were going to have So Yong come back in the end, it would have been nice to have seen more glimpses of her throughout the drama.  As it is, all the things that Cheoljong fell in love with seem to come from Bong Hwan;  the idioms, the crazy stories, the bold unpredictableness.  They could have shown more scenes where So Yong is obviously in control and interacting with the King, to give both the audience and Cheoljong a chance to fall in love with her too.  I think this would have made a smoother ending for those who were unhappy with it.  

Poor Bong Hwan

On the opposite end of the above spectrum, I would have liked to have seen a little more of Bong Hwan at the end. Something showing how he carried the friends and memories of the past with him in his modern life would have been fun.  That would have also reflected how much his time there had helped him to change and grow as a person.  

Well whether or not “Mr. Queen” had a happy ending is not an easy question and has been heavily contested by fans.  First let’s talk about the easy stuff.  The bady guys were removed from power and influence.  Jwa Geun is sent into exile to live out his life in disgrace.  The Queen Dowagers have been sent to the West Palace, where they will also live in isolation, removed of all their power.  The only obviously sad ending is for  Kim Byung In who is killed protecting the Queen’s life.  On the King’s side, Hwa Jin is finally seeing Yeongpyeong as more than just a friend.  Man Bok and Court Lady Choi seem to be happy together, and now that the Queen has lifted the ban on palace staff marrying, I hear wedding bells in their future.  So now onto the more difficult topic;  our lead couple.  Bong Hwan has been shot back through time, into his own body.  Rather than being wanted for a crime, he is now being rewarded for his contribution as a whistle blower.  He reads in a history book that he and Cheoljong did manage to make the King into a successful ruler.  And So Yong is now back in her own body, and happy with the King.  Their relationship seems to be going well, although the King does confess that sometimes he feels like he has lost something.  While many fans felt that separating Bong Hwan from the King was not a happy ending, I was satisfied that he needed to return to his own time.  But it was not without a bittersweet feeling that these 2 who had loved each other so much would never be together again.  What about you?  Did you like the ending?

A national marathon runner meets a movie subtitle writer when she is hired by his agent to be his translator for a weekend.  Despite the fact that they seem to have nothing in common, there is an instant connection between them.  So when the runner suddenly finds himself in the middle of a scandal that causes him to be removed from the team, he turns to her for guidance and support.  As they get to know each other, they learn that love goes deeper than similarities.

Im Shi Wan as Ki Seon Gyeom

Ki Seon Gyeom became a national athlete because his politician father insisted that all of his family members needed to help him raise his public image.  But when he finds out that a younger team mate is being abused by older team members he refuses to sit back and do nothing.  Unfortunately his actions get him kicked off the team.  Left to his own devices he moves into Mi Joo’s living room and decides to use his personal sports knowledge to work as an agent for other athletes, starting with his bullied friend on his old team.  

Ki Seon Gyeom is adorably blunt and socially awkward.  Because of his own sheltered and dysfunctional family, he doesn’t really understand the feelings of the people around him.  But he is also kind and generous at heart, even if he doesn’t know how to show it.  Seon Gyeom is willing to stand up for the people he cares about, even when he knows it will cost him.  Im Shi Wan has the perfect cool exterior to play this part.  Watching Mi Joo help  him raise his emotional intelligence was cute and inspiring.  

♥ Movie Cut-Scenes

Because Mi Joo is a subtitle writer and movie fanatic, it fit perfectly to use the “Run On” characters in movie cut scenes.  It allowed for fun costuming and a little creativity in the storyline.  Seeing them dressed in classic Hollywood styles was really cute and must have been a great opportunity for the cast to act in different genres.    

♥ Confession Scene

Okay.  I have to say that the confession scene between Young Hwa and his long time bestie Kwon Young Il was one of the sweetest scenes I have ever seen.  To watch Young Il agonize over his feelings and finally work up the courage was great, but it was Young Hwa’s reaction that really moved me.  Without missing a beat or making his friend feel awkward, he hugged him and cried with him and told him how unfair it was for him to love someone who didn’t love him back in that way.  It was such a beautiful picture of real friendship and empathy.  Really well done!

No Family Resolution

It was a little sad to me that even on his deathbed, Dan Ah’s father never really apologized for the mess he had made of their family.  Sure, he did give a half hearted “I love you” to his grieving daughter, but that really did nothing to bring about any kind of resolution for his relationships or the relationships of those he was leaving behind.  At lease, Dan Ah and her younger brother were working to establish some kind of relationship, but I would have liked to see more.

Poor Ki Eun Bi

The writers really had no love for the poor daughters in this drama.  How can you not feel sorry for Ki Eun Bi.  She spent her life doing her father’s bidding at the risk of losing the one man she had ever loved.  Luckily her boyfriend was understanding, but it could have been much worse.  Her career suffered from the stress of it all.  And after all that sacrifice, her father still threw her to the wolves to save his own career.  She really deserved so much more.  

It’s pretty much a happy ending for everyone, including a happy divorce for Seon Gyeum’s mom.  Seom Gyeum’s dad fails to gain the sympathy vote by using Eun Bi and loses the election.  Luckily, Eun Bi’s boyfriend choses to believe her side of the story, so they are still together.  Young Il’s family goes on a camping trip where they bond and Young Il’s mother  finally seems ready to accept the fact that he is gay.  Mae and Je Wook have started dating.  Dan Ah has taken over her father’s business and Young Hwa has his paintings displayed in an art show.  So when he finds Dan Ah in a gallery admiring his latest piece Dan Ah finally decides to quit running away and give their relationship a try.  And our lead couple are happy together and Seon Gyeum is learning how to communicate his feelings.  The final scene shows the cast in a theater at Seon Gyeum’s mom’s movie premiere.  Her ex-husband shows up with flowers so maybe things aren’t really over for them after all.  And that’s a wrap, ya’all.