Welcome to Wedding Impossible – Full Review. This review contains detailed spoilers about the plot and characters of Wedding Impossible. If you haven’t watched the series yet, proceed with caution!

Wedding Impossible – Full Review

Discover the fun storylines, nice   cast interactions, and unforgettable moments of the 2024 hit Korean drama, ‘Wedding Impossible’. Join us as we delve into the details of this light-hearted series.

Wedding Impossible aired in early 2024 and consists of 16 episodes. You can watch it on the popular streaming platform, Viki. The drama falls under the romance and comedy genres and stars Moon Sang Min and Jeon Jong Seo in the lead roles.

But as the actress steps into this role, she will face unexpected challenges, including a younger brother who finds their relationship suspicious from the start and vows to stop it at all costs.  And when she begins to have romantic feelings for the brother, she is forced to make a choice between her own happiness or the happiness of her best friend.

Lee Ji Han is the illegitimate grandson of LJ Group.  Although he works for the family business, he is forced to keep his identity a secret.  But he dreams of one day helping run the company.  So when his only ally in the family, his brother, Do Han, suddenly decides to come home and start working for the business, Ji Han sees his opportunity to ride on his brothers coat strings.  But when his brother suddenly announces his engagement, Ji Han is sure there is something suspicious about the relationship.  And he is determined to stop this marriage at all costs.    

Ah Jung is a struggling actress who has made her money taking any bit part she can.  But she has always dreamed of being the leading lady.  So, when her gay best friend, Do Han, offers to pay her to play the part of his wife, she jumps at a chance to finally be the star.  But when Do Han’s younger brother announces that he has no intention of letting this marriage actually take place, she anticipates trouble.  And when she starts to fall for Ji Han, she finds herself in an impossible situation.

Ah Jung has worked hard to achieve her dream, even taking the time to acquire extra skills like martial arts and horseback riding to get more parts.  But her failure to land a starring role makes her a feisty, worthy adversary for Ji Han.  While I didn’t find Ah Jung’s character especially complex, Jeon Jong Seo’s chemistry with Moon Song Min was the highlight of the drama.

Hyun Dae Ho is Do Han and Ji Han’s grandfather.  He is also the CEO of LJ Group.  He has guilt about the fact that he is partially responsible for the accident that killed his daughter.  And that guilt has caused him to be cold to her children.  But when he announces his support for Do Han as his successor, it sets off alarms within the rest of the family.  

I am kind of confused about how Do Han and Ah Jung are best friends, yet she tries to hide the fact that she is still ekking out a living playing bit parts.  And when she falls for Ji Han, you would think Do Han would be the one person who could understand her dilemma.  Yet from the time they got engaged, the pair rarely spoke unless it was for business purposes.  I felt like we should have seen more friendship moments betweent he two of them.  

Points to Ah Jung for bluntly telling the old guy to get his act together.  And after a year, Ah Jung is now a successful lead actress.  And she and Ji Han finally get wise and realize their love isn’t just going to go away.  The drama ends with a fake out wedding that ends up just being Ah Jung’s drama role.  But Ji Han comes to whisk her away in her beautiful dress when it suddenly starts to rain.

Their bickering and interactions just really worked for me, even when the rest of the drama didn’t.  If you are a fan of rom-coms, this one has some nice moments and is a fun, easy watch.   I give “Wedding Impossible a 7 out of 10 ramen.

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If you haven’t watched this drama yet and would prefer a spoiler-free review, please click on the link below.

Baek Hyun Woo has a strong sense of responsibility and a need to protect everyone he loves.  Being raised in a loving and supportive family did nothing to prepare him for life under the roof of Queen’s Group.  And years of resentment have made him bitter with all the Hongs, as evidenced by his initial reaction to Hae In’s diagnosis.  But even with all the strife, Hyun Woo has an affection for his wife’s family that goes beyond filial duty.  And when he sees their lives being ripped apart by Yoon Eun Sung and his mother, he can’t help but jump in to rescue them.  Kim Soo Hyun is an amazing actor who brings genuine emotion to each of his roles.  He played the tenderhearted Hyun Woo beautifully and I think he was the perfect choice for this role.

Hong Hae In is a cold workaholic who is known for her acute business skills and her high expectations.  A childhood trauma left her emotionally disconnected from her family, particuarly her mother.  And although it seemed like her marriage might help her find some emotional secruity, the pressures in their marriage caused her to retreat further emotionally.  Her cancer diagnosis only reveals part of the healing she will need if she hopes to live a happy life and win the heart of her husband again.  I love Kim Ji Won.  She has given me some favorite leads with roles in dramas like ‘My Liberation Notes’ and ‘Fight My Way’.  But this role hearkens back to some of her earlier ones as the spoiled princess, while still adding the complexity of some of her more recent characters.  I thought she was great in this role.

Cheon Da Hye met Soo Cheol while she was a young girl living in an the same orphanage as Eun Seong.  But Soo Cheol doesn’t know that girl was her.  Da Hye agrees to work with Eun Seong and his mom by marrying Soo Cheol and using him as a pawn.  But over time, Da Hye realizes that she actually loves Soo Cheol and wants to be with him.

I loved the way these two families came together to form a suppport system for each other.  In the beginning, the Hong family could barely be in the same room with each other.  But being forced out of their comfort zones really helped them come together and learn to appreciate not just each other, but Hyun Woo’s family as well.  Special mention to Hae In’s mother for mending her relationship with her daughter, Aunt Beom Ja’s love story with Young Song, and Da Hye’s villain redemption arc.

This cast dug deep for the emotions in this drama;  especially the leads.  And the tears weren’t wasted on shallow histrionics.  These were moments of raw emotion that you could feel in the pit of your own stomach.  I really appreciated the range of feelings they expressed through the course of this series.

One of the most important lessons our leads learned in this drama was how to communicate honestly with each other.  So I really couldn’t understand why, after all that, Hyun Woo would agree to keep the side effects of the surgery a secret from Hae In.  She was going to have to agree anyway.  Why not tell her and give her the time to process it before going to Germany?

Critics of this drama often complain about the large number of tropes used, and they aren’t wrong.  White trucks, umbrellas, and amnesia are just the tip of the iceberg on this one.  I certainly don’t expect writers to abandon these time-honored elements in their stories, but too many does start to feel very cliche.

The finale of ‘Queen of Tears’ brings the story to a nice conclusion.  Villains are properly punished, the Hong family is back where they belong, and our leads are committed to rebuilding their marriage.  Eun Seong is shot dead by the police during a final showdown with Hyun Woo.  The lady villains, including Da Hye, all serve time for their crimes.  And Soo Cheol and Geon Woo are there to welcome Da Hye and Grace when they get out.  Beom Ja is spending her time taking things slowly with Young Song.  With some of Hae In’s memories coming back, our leads agree to take their reunion slowly, although they are obviously on the road to a full restoration.  The ending montage proves this, showing the couple returning to their spot in Germany as a couple and later with their daughter.  And the drama made an unusual choice in following this one through to the very end.  The final scene shows Hyun Woo as the old man Hae In had seen laying lavender on his wife’s grave.  We see that she lived a long life before dying.  And then we see Hyun Woo joining Hae In in death, as the young version of Hae In holds out her hand and leads him into the eternal sunshine.

For me, I would take this kind of heartwrenching emotion over realism any day.  And general public opinion has been very high, breaking viewing records.  But this does veer pretty hard into the makjang as the story goes along. So if drama tropes and outrageous stories aren’t your thing, you may grow tired of this one. I give ‘Queen of Tears’  a solid 9 out of 10 ramen.

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I really loved this role for Ju Jung Suk.  He got a chance to show off such a wide range of complex feelings and relationships.  From his love for his brother to his desire to protect his brother’s widow and son, Lee In is a character with integrity and grit.  

How nice to have a sincere, likable Queen who is interested in more than her own power and greed.  I liked this character’s kind, loving attitude toward her family and her refusal to participate in the ugly political games being played by the Dowager and the Queen’s own brother. 

Most gender-bender style historical dramas go for a lighter rom-com feel.  So, I liked that this one committed to the concept without trying to water down the plot.  There is a seriousness to this drama that shows respect to the genre.

Okay, I have expressed this concern previously, but there are actresses who do not convincingly portray men. It is not solely due to flawless makeup that Shin Sae Kyeong appeared stunningly feminine. She did not even make an effort to realistically portray masculine gestures and body language. It would have been appreciated if there was at least some attempt to make it seem like she was trying.

I appreciate the effort to incorporate stories during the Qing invasion in more dramas. However, in this particular drama, every time the storyline shifted to the Qing Dynasty, it felt like a regression without any significant developments. And what is wrong with that Qing Princess.  She is seriously delusional!

So, here’s my main concern with this drama: the on-screen chemistry just didn’t click. However, that’s not my biggest issue. The love story is built on deceit and mistrust, which doesn’t sit well with me. Throughout the entire show, I never got the sense that the main characters were truly being honest with each other. Even towards the end, Hee Soo is still contemplating killing the King, which leaves their romance lacking any genuine sincerity.

‘Captivating the King’ is a historical romance that takes place during the Joseon period, while they are being ruled by the Qing Dynasty. While gender bender historical dramas have become quite common lately, this particular story fails to distinguish itself as unique from the rest. Although Jo Jung Suk delivers an excellent performance, the female lead’s character falls short, and unfortunately Shin Sae Kyeong’s acting lacks the range to carry a role this weak. The political aspect of the story is decent, although repetitive at times. But the romance failed to capture my interest. Nonetheless, it’s stunning visuals and high budget production still make it a worthwhile watch for fans of Korean historical dramas. Overall, I rate “Captivating the King” a 7 out of 10 ramen.       🍜🍜🍜🍜🍜🍜🍜

Doctor Slump – Full Review

Welcome to  Doctor Slump – Full Review.  Two high school rivals meet as adults and help each other through a rough patch in both of their careers.  If you haven’t watched this drama yet, I recommend checking out my unspoiled review here.

The Story

The Leads

Park Hyung Sik as Yeo Jeong Woo

Yeo Jeong Woo graduated at the top of his class in high school and got into a prestigious college where he study medicine.  When he graduated, he opened his own plastic surgery clinic and with the help from some tech savvy high school friends, he became a famous internet doctor with a thriving practice.  But after a well-connected patient dies on his table, her family sues Jeong Woo and he is forced to sell everything he owns, including his business.  He moves to a cheap rooftop apartment, but little does he know, Ha Neul, his old high school rival and her family own the apartment.  Ha Neul has suffered her own career burn out.  And as they get reacquianted, at this low point in both their lives, they find solace and understanding in each other’s company.  And as their relationship deepens, Jeong Woo is surprised to find that he may have misjudged Ha Neul all those years ago.

Yeo Jeong Woo is popular and cheerful.  But he hides the scars of his parent’s harsh expectations of him and his lonliness growing up.  So when he moves into Ha Neul’s family’s apartment, he is happy when they begin to treat him as just another member of their chaotic family.  For the first time in his life, Jeong Woo feels accepted just by being himself.  I mean, who doesn’t love Park Hyung Sik?  This kind of trust fund son with a heart of gold is kind of his bread and butter, and he played Jeong Woo with heart.  But a little bit of serious aegyo goes a long way, and at times the immaturity of this character got a bit old.

Yoon Park as Bin Dae Young

Bin Dae Young was Jeong Woo’s good friend in college, but a misunderstanding caused them to drift apart.  But in the face of his current struggles, Dae Young reaches out to Jeong Woo to offer him a job and hopefully also his friendship.  Dae Young is a single father who is raising a middle school age daughter. He meets a fellow doctor in his office building who offers to help him navigate some of the difficulties he faces in trying to understand his teenage daughter.  And he eventually finds he has fallen for the beautiful anesthesiologist and her adorable young son.

Oh Dong Min as Min Kyung Min

Min Kyung Min was once Jeong Woo’s live-in tutor.  Jeong Woo sees him as a mentor and older brother.  But Min Kyung Min carries resentment toward Jeong Woo and his family because Jeong Woo’s mother indirectly caused the death of his father.  Kyung Min is also the head of the department Ha Neul worked for.  Kyung Min’s  plans for revenge against Jeong Woo end up almost getting Ha Neul killed in the crossfire.

♥ Growth

I  liked the way this drama showed how, in the end, the characters had grown.  Jeong Woo forgave his friends, but he didn’t make it his problem to fix their lives.  He is finally living for his own happiness rather than his parents or friends.  Also Ha Neul has learned how to speak up for herself.  And she finally understands that success does not always equal happiness.  I like the acceptance that while sad things may still happen, they can find happiness in just being together.  

Dull Moments

I really didn’t get the pacing on this drama.  It started strong out of the gate, but there were points as it progressed where it didn’t hold my interest.  It wasn’t that it was just slow so much as it felt like there was nothing happening.  There were scenes but the story felt stalled and dull.  Maybe part of this stemmed from the fact that the villain character felt a bit flat.  His back story seemed more like an afterthought than a viable plot line.  

The Ending

Should I Watch

A Good Day to Be a Dog – Full Review

Welcome to  A Good Day to Be a Dog – Full Review.  A young teacher has 100 days to break the family curse that turns her into a dog every night. If you haven’t watched this drama yet, I recommend checking out my unspoiled review here.

The Story

The Leads

Cha Eun Woo as Jin Seo Won

Jin Seo Won is a math teacher at Garam high school.  As a young person, he was bullied by other kids in his school and experienced a trauma when they threatened him with a big, fierce dog.  Now he is terrified of any dog, regardless of size or temperament.  But when the history teacher he has had a crush on offers to help him overcome his fear of dogs, he is thrilled with the excuse to spend more time with her.  Little does he know that the cute dog his nephew keeps bringing home is actually her. And if he is going to save her from becoming a dog permanently, he is going to have to  kiss her while she is still in dog form.  

Jin Seo Won is shy and embarrassed by his extreme fear of dogs.  He hides behind a cool, quiet exterior.  But inside, he is a warm and caring person who works hard to support his students and raises his nephew singlehandedly.  And if he can find a way to show that true side of himself to Hae Na, he just might be able to win her heart after all.  Cha Eun Woo is charming and it’s fun to see him as this slightly awkward, insecure character.  This drama never digs too deep into character development, but Cha Eun Woo creates a character that is likable and sincere.

Lee Hyun Woo as Lee Bo Gyum

Lee Bo Gyum is a history teacher at the high school.  He is the teacher Hae Na liked.  But his interest in her goes beyond this lifetime and involves a long and sordid story of pain and grief.  And he is finally close to getting the revenge he has always dreamed of.  But as the present unfolds and collides with his unfortunate past and his role as a Mountain God, things will become more complicated.  

Kim Yi Kyeong as Min Ji Ah

Min Ji Ah is a new student at the high school.  She is a known shaman and her classmates are interested in her special abilities.  But when Ji Ah starts to have flashbacks to one of her former lives, she discovers that she knew and loved Bo Gyum in the past.  And his current anger and plans for revenge stem from their past relationship.  

♥ Fun Humor

Especially in the beginning, this drama had some fun comic moments.  Talking dog shows can get really cliche, really fast.  But this one managed to make the moments sweet and funny without a lot of cringe factor.  And I liked the relationship between Yoo Na and Woo Taek.  They also had plenty of sweet, comic moments that kept things light without ever getting too heavy-handed.  All in all, the cast handled the story with just enough levity to make it fun.

Bo Gyum’s Lack of Development

The set up of Bo Gyum as a Mountain God was interesting and had lots of potential.  But the big reveal was just that he got mad and decided to take revenge.  There is no motive that really makes you sympathize with his character or the life he has led.  The fact that he just runs away in the end is pretty anti-climatic as well. Also, why make Ji Ah a student, so that their relationship is weird and awkward?    She could have been anyone from the school or community. And even so, she is just about to graduate.  He only needed to wait a bit longer until they could be together.  There is so much they could have done to make his story and character interesting in his own right, but in the end it all fell kind of flat. 

The Ending

Should I Watch