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Rare Dark Comedy/Romance

My rating 8/10. This 2018 South Korean Drama spans 10 episodes (~60 minutes/episode). The female lead Kim Ga Eun plays Lee Yeon Seo who works a contract job and is short of realizing her dreams.
Her horrible day and revenge on a horrible boss takes a bad turn when she thinks she is hitting her boss from behind in an alley only to find out she actually hit popular male idol, Kang Joon Hyuk (Sung Hoon). He falls unconscious and she thinks she killed him. So, she decides to take him home to dispose of the body. Joon Hyuk wakes to an alarming scene and thinks he has been abducted by a psychopath. Lee Yeon See decides to keep Kang Joon Hyuk prisoner until she can leave the country.

Spoiler 🚨 This has been described as a dark comedy and I would definitely agree with that. I also read that some felt it was originally intended to run for more episodes (rumor has it) and thus felt rushed at the end. I don't agree with that. I felt like it wrapped up nicely. I think some may struggle to decide whether the love that develops is Stockholm syndrome or a true meeting of hearts. Some of the decisions made by Lee Yeon Seo were hard to understand because they were different than what I would have decided. I rate this a little lower than some others because there are some aspects that are a bit hard to reconcile. However if you are able to stay within the moment and just go along with the fun and unique story you will be able to get past them. Definitely worth the watch and I would bump it up on your list if you are after uniqueness or dark comedy.

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Quirky and amusing - anime/manga fans would like most liekly

7.5/10 is my rating. This is close to the ratings I have seen of 7.8 average over thousands of reviewers on other sites. This is a 2010 Japanese television drama spanning 10 episodes (60 minutes/episode). It is an adaptation of a popular Manga and Anime series Wallflower/Perfect Girl Evolution. It takes place in a boarding house and the premise is if the four young men living there can convert the landlord's shut-in niece from a "horror girl" to a proper lady not only can they continue to live there but they will be able to do so rent free. Takano Kyohei ( Kamenashi Kazuya) is a college student who has exceptionally good looks. Everywhere he goes he draws a crowd of young ladies hoping to catch his attention. These unruly crowds of young women cause him to lose jobs and even ends close personal relationships with friends and family. He does not feel being born exceptionally attractive is a good thing and often hides himself to keep away from the unwanted attention. He has three other housemates, Yukinojo Toyama ( Yuya Tegoshi), Oda Takenaga ( Hiroki Uchi) and Morii Ranmaru ( Miyao Shuntaro), who are also college students and have become close friends over their time of living together. They feel up to the challenge even when they see the niece who moves in with her black hair covering her face, black cape and overall gloomy demeanor. She loves skulls, anatomical figures and all things spooky and does not relate well to others. If she sees someone attractive it causes her to say "dazzling" and typically head butt the beautiful being before her. Each episode has a bit of a side/additive story on each of the leads and keeps the story moving along.

Spoiler 🚨 This one felt like one part Adams Family, a portion of Beauty and the beast, maybe some Meteor Garden, and then perhaps Deadpool all mixed together. It kept me watching but I could see where some say things that have been converted from Manga or Anime in Japanese literature are not typically converted well into a live version. There were aspects that really took you out of the story when one of the characters did something that would not happen in the context of a live story. So it has some elements that were more cartoonish and silly relative to the story line. That is why I rate it down. The love story was good but I felt like it was more an aside than a central part of the story. Some of it is it is hard to imagine a woman falling in love with someone that can be so cruel at times and for a man to fall in love with someone that has such deep seated psychological issues that remain unresolved. I could a bit see why they "worked" both hid themselves for different reasons so you could understand how they related on that level but love is something else - not just having things in common but feeling really attracted to certain things about the other person and I just did not see that part. He continued to seem repelled by her love of horror and she did not change his knee jerk reaction to respond to certain situations by striking back with cruel words. You sensed that evolution of both starting but hadn't fully seen it by the end. It is entertaining and worth the watch if you really want something different but if you are into a realistic scenario and a strong love story this could be a bit of a turn off.

This was nearly impossible to find. I looked for ways to buy it or to livestream it on sites I subscribe to. I wound up watching it segmented on you tube with lots of advertisements. So, just be aware, it might be difficult to find it.

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A great workplace romance

9/10 is my rating. This is a 2013 Taiwanese drama spanning 21 episodes (45 minutes/episode).

Qi Yi (Aaron Yan) returns home after being successful oversees and buys a small advertising company as well as his childhood home. To his surprise his home is already occupied by Chen Liang Liang (Puff Kuo) who has a lease that was not cancelled desite the sale and she refuses to move out. Things are further complicated when Qi Yi discovers that Liang Liang also works at his newly acquired advertising agency. Recovering from a broken heart, Qi Yi forbids any office romances as one of his big changes. This sets him and Liang Liang at odds as two of her friends work at the office and were at the verge of a proposal. Liang Liang becomes determined to save their love and find a way to make Qi Yi change his policy even if it means taking one for the team and making him fall in love with her. Slowly, Qi Yi starts to fall for Liang Liang, but Qi Yi's former love, Ding Jia Yu (Lyla Lin) comes back into the picture when Qi Yi's advertising firm teams up with a company that insists on utting Ding Jia Yu not only on the project but in Qi Yi's office. Ding Jia Yu has had a change of heart and is determined to get Liang Liang out of the way and win her way back into Qi Yi's heart. Dean (Dean Fujuika) is also working on the project from a partnering company and is mutual friends with Ding Jia Yu and Ling Ling but develops special feelings for Ling Ling. This forms the basis of a love story with lots of twists and turns.

Spoiler 🚨 I really liked this story. The love story developed slowly yet it was easy to understand how they would have been drawn to each other. I liked how sweet natured Liang Liang was and what a great friend she was to those in her life. You really wanted to see her life go well. I am a fan of happy endings and that is definitely the case with this one.

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Surprising role for Lee Min-Ho but a good romance

8.5/10 is my rating. 2010 South Korean television drama spanning 16 episodes (~60 minutes). Park Kae-in (Son Ye-jin) is kind, impulsive, and clumsy. Architect Jeon Jin-ho (Lee Min-ho) pretends to be gay so that Kae-in will accept him as her roommate in the house he hopes to redesign.

Park Kae-in (Son Ye-jin) is the daughter of a famous architect and is an aspiring furniture designer. She trusts quickly and completely. She grew up without a mother and does not spend a lot of time on her personal appearance. Romance has been an issue for her as her sweet nature is compelling but her lack of feminine whiles make maintaining a relationship more challenging. Jeon Jin-ho (Lee Min-ho) is an architect with a struggling business who desperately needs to win a big bid over a major competitor to keep his business afloat. His competitor does not play the game cleanly so he knows he has to go above and beyond in providing the perfect proposal to meet the desire of the customer that could be his saving grace. He finds out Park Kae-in so happens to live in a house designed by her father that represents a majority of the design elements the client is after. The problem is few have ever been given access to see the inside of the house in any detail. A series of comical misunderstandings leads Kae-in to think that Jin-ho is gay. Some impulsive and poor financial decisions have led her to be in the market for a renter and Jin-ho sees that as an opportunity to get a closer look at the architecture of the design that is so desired by the potential client. As a young woman living alone (her father is abroad), she is unlikely to let a single male move in. However, thinking Jin-ho is gay, she does not feel threatened when he proposes to rent from her. He does not say he is but lies by omission letting Kae-in believe he has no interest in women.

Spoiler 🚨 I really liked the development and evolution of the characters. The plot was predictable but in a good way, the complexity resided in the evolution of the character’s personalities. Good romances to me paint the picture of how each has something that completes or compliments the other.

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Interesting Slice on Idol Life

8.5/10 is my rating. This is a 4 episode South Korean mini drama (~21 minutes/episode). Kim Hye Rim (Lee Da In) and Lee Ki Kwang (Lee Ki Kwang) attended school together and were best friends verging on boyfriend and girlfriend. A misunderstanding drove them apart and they meet, years later, at 20 years old. Kim Hye Rim has led an ordinary life while Lee Ki Kwang has become the lead singer of a boy band (an idol). Turns out Kim Hye Rim was the girl he never forgot. Love rekindles but will it survive in the environment of a k-pop idol?

Spoiler 🚨 I watched this to watch something quick and light after watching "City Hunter" which had a much heavier theme. I am also really interested in this aspect of Korean culture as I try to understand how idols are prevented, by their fans, and producers from leading a "normal" life. Stars in the United States do have to go around incognito just to avoid being overrun by over-zealous fans. However, there is not the same level of disdain if a star chooses an "average" person to date or marry. That person may expose themselves to scrutiny and media attention but not so much hatred and ostracism like it seems Korean idols experience. I enjoyed this for what it was and it did the trick for me in terms of lifting my mood.

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Good on So Many Levels

9/10 is my rating. This is a 2016 South Korean Drama with 16 episodes (60 minutes/episode. It is also known as Happy Once Again.

The story centers around four women who are living life and trying to find happiness after their time as girl band idols in a group called "Angels." There is actually a fifth member but the girl group fell apart because of her and she has only a very small part of the story. Han Mi-mo (Jang Na-Ra) is the main female lead and she falls in love easily. She is a hopeless romantic who has been hurt many times in her search for the right one. With her best friend and former band member, Baek Da-Jung (Yoo Da-In) she runs a matchmaking service called "Brave Wedding." All of the women are in their 30s now and feeling the clock tick on their ability to find the right guy (or salvage a current relationship) and experience their happily ever after. Across the hall from Mi-mo is her former classmate who she recently reunited with, Song Su-Hyuk (Jung Kyung-ho), who is a reporter and a single father. He has an attractive doctor best friend, Goo Hae-joon (Kwon Yul) who decides to pursue Mi-mo after Song Su-Hyuk reassures him he has no romantic interest in her. Da-Jung married an older wealth man and has one child but her marriage is in jeopardy as the couple has grown apart. Go Dong-mi (Yoo In-na) was the least popular member of the group and is now a teacher who is having a hard time finding love. Hong Ae-Ran (Seo In-young) is the owner of an internet shopping mall and on the verge of getting married to someone she is not sure she loves.

Spoiler 🚨 This movie was quite different than what I expected from synopsis and reviews. I expected it to be very light and fluffy and actually it has some deep elements. It was enjoyable watching all the different stories and how they came together. It was one of the few dramas where I preferred the lead to the second guy. The friendship between the women was a central part of the story and it was enjoyable to see how they supported each other in life and love. No-one is ever more honest than a close friend. The ending was surprising - which I liked. But it ended well/happy.

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A Great Office Romance - Love it

9/10 is my rating. This is a 2015 South Korean Drama with 16 episodes (60 minutes/episode).Kim Hye-jin once had it all - a wealthy family and beautiful looks. However, her family's business goes bankrupt and she quits taking care of her appearance due to the hardships associated with surviving. As a child she befriended Ji Sung-joon (Park Seo-joon) who was a hefty kid with few friends. They become best friends but eventually are separated when their families go their separate ways. When Sung-joon returns to Korea he wants to unite with his childhood friend she panics at her current state and asks her attractive best friend and roommate Min Ha-ri (Go Joon-hee) to pretend to be her. As fate would have it, Min Hye-jin winds up working for the same magazine where Sung-joon has just transferred in as deputy chief editor. Kim Shin-Hyuk (Choi Si-Won) is Hye-jin's immediate supervisor and befriends her early on.

Spoiler 🚨 I enjoyed the entirety of this. I liked how she evolved and how things in her life improved. I loved the relationship she had with her best friend/roommate. When she got the job at the magazine it was fun to watch the interplay between all the characters. The romance was believable and the story wrapped up nicely. Park Seo-joon starred in "Fight My Way" and I enjoyed his acting and character in that one. This was a very different role where he was not Mr. Nice Guy all the time. Kim Shin-Hyuk, Hye-jin's supervisor is hilarious. That character made me laugh a lot and reminded me of some of the pranksters in my life.

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Take a Hike Batman - Healer has it Covered

10/10 is my rating. This is a 2014/2015 South Korean Drama with 20 episodes (~60 minutes/episode).Seo Jung-hoo/Park Bong-soo/Healer (Ji Chang-wook) does illegal jobs as a "night courier." Jung-hoo is an exceptional martial artist who utilizes cutting edge technology and a partner who specializing in computer technology and hacking. The night courier work is a way Jung-hoo plans to purchase an island off the coast of Panama to live on solo. One of his clients, Kim Moon-ho (Yoo Ji-tae) is a famous reporter who asks Healer to locate and protect a girl named Chae Young-shin/Oh Ji-an (Park Min-Young) from people that want to harm her. The three come together to discover the truth of a tragedy that occurred in 1992 which resulted in the crippling of one friend in a group of five best friends and the death of two. There are those who are determined to insure that past is not uncovered and who will harm anyone who gets in their way.

This show had everything I love in it. There was amazing action scenes, suspense, a sweet romance, love of family, good winning over evil - just all the elements were there. The characters were so compelling that I was sad when my time in "Healer" world was over. This one shoots right to the top of my favorites list.

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Love Crime Dramas and "magical" elements it was amazing to have the two combined

10/10 is my rating. This is a 2015 South Korean television drama with 16, ~60 minute, episodes.

As a student, Choi Eun-seol (Shin Se-kyung) is a witness to her parent's murder. The killer, who turns out to be the infamous "Barcode serial killer" attempts to kill Eun-seol who gets away but is hit by a car during her escape. The accident leaves Eun-seol in a coma with little hope of waking up or recovery. The same tie Eun-seol is admitted, Choi Moo-gak (Park Yoo-chun) goes to the hospital to see his young sister who had been in a minor traffic accident. Moo-gak is shocked and devastated to find his young sister lifeless in the hospital bed with her throat slit. Miraculously, about a half year later, Eun-seol emerges from the coma. There are three things that are different about her when she wakes up 1. One of her eyes has turned green 2. She cannot remember anything 3. She is able to visually see smells with her green eye. Moo-gak was so devastated by his sister's death that he was unable to sleep or eat and winds up fainting and being close to death for a period of 10 days, and wakes up to find he has lost his sense of pain, smell and taste. After his sister's death, Moo-gak became a police officer and aspired to be a detective. Eun-sol aspires to be a comedic actress. When the two fatefully cross paths they discover each needs something fro the other. Without senses, Moo-gak needs Eun-sol's ability to smell and use it as a tracking method and Eun-sol needs a partner for her acting skit in order to advance with the troupe she has associated with.

Spoiler 🚨 This was an amazing drama. i liked the "magical" element to it where, when she sees smell, it is all colorful and unique. I like the crime and suspense and the way the detectives grew into a great, caring and cohesive team. The romance between the leads was perfect - I could see them together in real life. It is a shame Park Yoo-chun was incarcerated as I enjoy him so much as an actor. I loved him in Roof Top Prince as well. I hope he can get help with his drug issues and is allowed to recover his career. I think as the American fan base grows there will be more forgiveness for these types of things. The title made me hesitate - how the heck can someone SEE smells? But it was "magical" and added such an interesting level to the story that I loved it. If you want a great crime, drama, romance with a unique twist - this would be the one. It ended well too!

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He's Psychometric

8/10 is my rating. This is a 2019 South Korean drama that has 16, 60 minute episodes. Lee Lee Ahn (Park Jin-young) is able to see past events by touching the person who experienced the events. He acquired this ability after losing his parents in an apartment fire. He fortuitously meets Yoon Jae-in (Shin Ye-eun) who is the daughter of the accused arsonist and Kang Sung-mo (Kim Kwon) who saved Ahn during the fire. Investigator Eun Ji-soo (Kim Da-som), is like an older sister to Ahn and is also a police investigator, The four team up to solve cases they feel are interrelated including the case that took many of their parents.

Spoiler 🚨 Overall I liked the story and the romance was very believable. I was disappointed by some of the twists and unexpected aspects of some of the characters I had come to know. I felt like some things were unnecessary. Some would not have problems with the same - but I like happy and neatly tied up. It is very suspenseful and has a lot of surprising elements. The romance between the two leads is very heartwarming.

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Still a wonderful series but not all tropes age well

9/10 is my rating

On second watch, after diving into hundreds of K-dramas over the years, I revisited Cinderella and the Four Knights (2016), a drama I initially rated a perfect 10/10 and still holds a top spot on my rewatch list. While my love for this series remains strong, my seasoned perspective picked up on some flaws that I overlooked when the drama was fresh. For new viewers in 2025 and beyond, some elements may feel dated or frustrating due to evolving K-drama standards, particularly around character motivations and outdated tropes. Below, I’ve organized my updated thoughts into themed categories to highlight what still works and what might annoy a modern audience.

What Still Shines

Despite the issues, the drama’s heart—Eun Ha Won’s (Park So-dam) journey and her impact on the Kang cousins—remains captivating. Her feisty yet kind nature, the slow transformation of the spoiled heirs, and the bromance among Kang Hyun Min (Ahn Jae-hyun), Kang Ji Woon (Jung Il-woo), and Kang Seo Woo (Lee Jung-shin) still make this a joy to watch. Lee Yoon Sung’s (Choi Min) quiet loyalty as the bodyguard adds depth, and the overall vibe keeps it a comfort rewatch for me.

Spoilers 

I still adore Cinderella and the Four Knights for its strong female lead, Eun Ha Won (Park So-dam), who brings heart and grit to every scene. Her ability to transform the Kang cousins—Hyun Min’s (Ahn Jae-hyun) playboy charm, Ji Woon’s (Jung Il-woo) rebellious edge, and Seo Woo’s (Lee Jung-shin) artistic soul—feels rewarding, and the bromance is a highlight. However, Park Hye Ji’s (Son Na-eun) clingy, manipulative behavior and the lack of accountability for Ji Hwa Ja (Kim Hye-ri) and Eun Gi Sang (Kim Yong-geon) are harder to ignore now. The drama’s reliance on outdated tropes, like excusing bad behavior or normalizing obsessive crushes, might not sit well with new viewers. Still, Ha Won’s positivity and the cousins’ growth keep this a beloved watch, even if it’s not as perfect as I once thought.

Character Dynamics and Flaws  

Unrealistic Romance and Obsession: Park Hye Ji’s (Son Na-eun) obsession with Kang Hyun Min (Ahn Jae-hyun) feels unwarranted and uncomfortable. Their childhood connection, severed for a decade while Hyun Min studied abroad, doesn’t justify her clinginess. People grow apart, and her relentless pursuit—crying constantly and demanding attention—makes her seem selfish and needy, almost like she’s wearing him down into a relationship. A modern viewer might see this as unhealthy, bordering on Stockholm syndrome vibes. Hyun Min’s own drama-llama tendencies, like his “pushing you away because I love you” excuse, don’t hold up either. His playboy persona and string of women undermine his claim of deep feelings, making their dynamic feel forced and unconvincing. She also seemed willing to be with any of the cousins, making it apparent her real motivation was marrying into the family. It was selfish to pit them against each other the way she did. I mentally groaned every time her character came on, in this re-watch.

Moral Inconsistencies: The Chairman’s wife, Ji Hwa Ja (Kim Hye-ri), is unforgivably cruel to Eun Ha Won (Park So-dam), despite her own past as a poor, abused woman. This hypocrisy is jarring, and the lack of an apology or redemption arc for her feels like a missed opportunity. Similarly, Ha Won’s father, Eun Gi Sang (Kim Yong-geon), is neglectful and psychologically abusive toward Ha Won, believing she’s not his daughter, only to flip when he learns the truth. His distrust of his late wife and failure to love her enough to believe in her integrity is disappointing, and his behavior toward a child—blaming her for adult issues—is inexcusable.

Problematic Friendships: Ha Won’s friend, Go Seo Kyung (Cho Hye-jung), is more annoying than supportive. She repeatedly refuses to let a homeless Ha Won stay with her, which feels like a betrayal of friendship. Her creepy behavior toward Kang Seo Woo (Lee Jung-shin), like taking unauthorized photos and invading his phone’s privacy, is unsettling. The implied romantic tease between them at the end feels unearned and cheapens Seo Woo’s character, one of my favorites.

Dated Tropes: The drama leans heavily on tropes that haven’t aged well. The “I like you, so you have to like me” mentality—where characters like Hye Ji are supported in their obsessive pursuits—feels out of touch with modern K-dramas that prioritize mutual respect. The normalization of privacy invasions (e.g., Seo Kyung’s actions) and the “I’m a jerk but it’s okay because I’m sorry” arc, particularly with Hyun Min and Ji Woon, grates on contemporary sensibilities. New viewers might find these elements frustrating, as recent dramas tend to handle relationships and accountability with more nuance.

Synopsis 

This is a 2016 South Korean television series with 16, 60-minute episodes. It is based on a novel that had the same title and the basic elements, of the story draws some parallels with Boys Over Flowers (2009). The "Cinderella" in this story is Eun Ha Won (Park So-dam) who is hard working and mature for her age. She lost her mother and her father remarried but is rarely home. She lives with her stepmother and stepsister, who do not consider her family and are selfish with the limited resources the family has. Ha Won is working multiple part-time jobs to save up for college. Her mother, when alive, encouraged Ha Won to be a teacher and that is her life goal. Circumstances lead her into the realm of three rich, spoiled, heirs to an empire and the grandfather thinks she might be just the one to get the boys into shape. This is after he saw her "discipline" one of his grandsons who was not treating his elder or her with respect. The grandfather strikes a deal with her and gets her to move in with his handsome nephews as sort of an adult nanny. Before moving in, Ha Won already had encounters with lady's man and playboy Kang Hyun Min (Ahn Jae-hyun) and the "gangsterish" rebel Kang Ji Woon (Jung ll-Woo). Kang Seo Woo (Lee Jung-shin) is not immediately on Ha Won's radar but the grandfather does not think much of his music career. The fourth knight is the grandson's live in bodyguard Lee Yoon Sung (Choi Min). Park Hye Ji (Son Na-eun) is a childhood friend of Kang Hyun Min and Kang Ji Woon has designated himself as her protector. Hye Ji sees herself marrying into the Kang family and often uses one of the cousins to get the attention of another.

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Incredibly good and great insight into what used to be called Multiple Personality Disorder

9/10 is my rating. This is a 2015 South Korean drama with 20, 60 minute, episodes. It is about a young man, Cha Do Hyun (Ji Sung), who suffers from Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID - formerly called multiple personality disorder). As the story unfolds it is revealed that Do Hyun experienced many traumatic, life-threatening events. As a a third-generation business heir he must keep his disorder secret from those that would displace him which is challenging, and sometimes comical, when the personalities often appear with little warning. Desperate to lead a normal life, Do Hyun, seeks the help of Oh Ri Jin (Hwang Jung-eum) who agrees to help him privately. She is a first year resident but is skilled in dealing with some of the more difficult psychiatric cases. Ri Jin has a twin brother who writes under a pseudonym and who reveals the seedier side of the rich and famous. Do Hyun must gain control of his condition before one of his personalities takes complete control and also before he is discovered by reporters like Ri Jin's twin or his devious, plotting, family members. Do Hyuns personalities are: Shin Se-gi: A tough, bad boy, dare devil who comes out when Do-hyun experiences a physical threat he meets violence with violence but never hurts children or women. Se-gi knows all about Do Hyun as he has complete memory of everything. Se-gi falls in love with Ri-jin at first sight. Perry Park: Is an older man (40) who likes to build bombs and fish. He makes his appearance whenever Do-hyun thinks back on good times with his father. This personality is named after a boat that Do-hyun promised to procure for his father. Ahn Yo-na : An outgoing and impish 17 year old fan girl. extrovert and mischievous 17-year-old girl who loves idols. This personality emerges when something stressful occurs that has to be endured quietly. Ahn Yo-seob : An artistic 17 year old who is suicidal. This personality emerged when Do-hyun made a suicide attempt during his high school years. Yo-seob is Yo-na's twin brother. Na-na (Cha Do-hyun): This personality represents all of Do-hyunn's childhood fears and she is named after her teddy bear. Mr. X: Na-na's father - a mysterious character among the other personalities.

Spoiler 🚨 I read, before I watched this, reviews where others said how amazing Ji Sung did in acting the many personalities of the male lead. I thought it would be serious but it is handled with a very healthy dose of humor and tons of compassion. I laughed so hard when some of the personalities emerged both at the personalities' antics as well as everyone's response to it. I remember when I was a psychology student meeting someone with what they then called multiple personality disorder. I was skeptical. I was later convinced. Typically the person has suffered severe trauma or abuse and develop the other personalities as a coping mechanism. The person presenting who had multiple personality disorder explained it like you have one road you typically travel and there are grooves in it from the well worn tires but then that road gets a huge pothole so you take an alternative road. Over time that second road gets grooves and it is easy to switch between the two. I saw that person change personality and it did not at all seem like acting. I think they portrayed that quite well in this drama - how the switch happens and why it develops. I was a little disappointed in the way it ended as it left a lot of questions unanswered and it felt pretty rushed. Not enough to keep me from watching it - I would recommend it - but just decreased how good I thought it was by a small amount.

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8/10 is my rating. This is a 2011 South Korean drama with 16 episodes. Yang Eun-bi (Lee Chung Ah) is a college student with plans to become a high school teacher. She has a chance encounter with Cha Chi Soo (Jung II Woo) whose family has a food conglomerate.

Spoiler 🚨 If you like series with an anime feel - this would be a good fit. It definitely has some silly moments that break the "4th wall". I really like all the characters and the relationships were very believable. I thought the relationship/romance between the leads was really cute. I rated this a bit low because there were a lot of plot elements that did not make sense to me. The father in this one starts very different than most Korean drama parents but then does a quick reversal and it makes it seem out of character. Some of the past mysteries are not completely answered and some of the plot points are simply dropped. I still thought it was very good and worth the watch but it just doesn't rank up with some of the spectacular dramas I have seen because of some weaknesses in character consistency and follow through with plot points.

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Breaks with tradition - changing cultural norm

8/10 is my rating. This is a 2007 South Korean Drama spanning 16, 60 minute, episodes. Kim Dang Ja (Shin Eun Kyung) is the editor of a magazine who decides she wants to have a baby because her biological clock is ticking. Now she just has to pick the perfect father and convince him to be a no strings attached father. Choi Gi Chan (Ryu Soo Young) is a university professor who is smart and attractive and would make the perfect father in Kim Dang Ja’s eyes.

Spoiler 🚨 I really liked the twist of having a Korean female deciding to raise a child solo. Seducing a man with no plan to have a relationship is something you would see more in American culture so I could relate to it from that perspective. The "side romance" was just beyond cute. I found I was as much, or more, interested in the outcome of that situation. It is very sad in the middle. I cried buckets of tears. I was not sure it would end well but it did. If you are okay with a sad sandwich (happy in the beginning and end but sad in the middle) I would recommend this one. I rated it down because I really felt I was dragged through the emotional ringer and that felt unnecessary to me.

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When a Little Lie spirals out of Control

9/10 is my rating. This is a 2011 South Korean t.v. drama with 16, 60 minute episodes. Gong Ah-jung (Yoon Eun-hye) is a dedicated civil servant who worked hard to work in her career with the hopes of impressing and gaining the attention of her first love. Before Ah-jung can enact her romantic plan her seeming friend steals her guy and marries him. Flash forward a few years and Ah-jung has maintained contact with this frenemy but is determined to get revenge. Still unmarried she chooses to lie about her status and says she is married. The lie snowballs through the gossip chain until it transforms into she is secretly married to the most eligible bachelor in Korea, wealthy hotel heir, Hyun Ki-joon (Kang Ji-Hwang). Ki-Joon is none too happy with the lie and is determined to exact his own revenge. Hilarity and heartbreak ensue amongst plots, revenge, romance, and love triangles.

Spoiler 🚨 There were some slow parts as well as some parts where I felt sheer frustration with the female lead. The romances were believable and the plot held together well. I recommend this highly but warn there are some slow spots.

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