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Descendants of the Sun is one of those epic series that pretty much has it all: action, comedy, dire moments, touching moments, heart- breaking moments, suspense, intrigue, romance, and some dynamite plot- twists to satisfy most viewers.

The series tells the story of a South Korean special forces officer, Yoo Shi-Jin (wonderfully portrayed by Joong-ki Song) and the civilian medical doctor, Kang Mo-Yeon (Hye-Kyo Song), whom he develops feelings for. So, how does a man, whose job is to take lives in order to protect others, makes a relationship work with a woman who is sworn to save lives, no matter who they are or what they've done? That is one of the central themes of the series as well as Dr. Mo-Yeon's constant grappling with her heart over a man who is always putting his life on the line.

Joong-ki Song brings a wit and charm to the very likable Yoo Shi-Jin. He never takes things too seriously except when the people he cares about are in danger. He has a wonderful sense of humor. He, and best friend, Sergeant Seo Dae-Young, seem to get into trouble a fair amount, leading to some fairly humorous situations.

The equally charismatic Dr. Mo-Yeon is a woman dedicated to her work. She has dreams of becoming a professor but quickly finds herself in a situation that sends her and her medical team to volunteer in the war- torn fictional country of Uruk.

What makes Descendants of the Sun special is that it never gets bogged down in melodrama. It never takes itself too seriously, but delves just deep enough to care about the characters and what might become of them. While there are a few tense situations, the series is equally light-hearted and, most of all, sweet.

I can see why so many people around the world have quickly become enamored with the series as well as with its characters. There are enough moments to make you laugh, make you cry, as well as make you wonder and hope if it is possible for two characters in seemingly opposing professions to be together. It's a fascinating character study into this dynamic.

I have only recently gotten into some Japanese and Korean shows, and for me, Descendants of the Sun is easily my favorite. In fact, after over 40 years of watching TV shows, I put this one up among the very best that I've ever seen.

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You'll Laugh, You'll Cry, You'll Fall in Love with "Oh, My Ghost!"

Oh My Ghost! has a great premise of a young, shy, timid girl (Bong-Sun) who can see and even communicate with ghosts. Petrified and "harassed," she finds herself constantly tired due to lack of sleep and doing her best to avoid these pesky spirits! She even goes so far as to cover the walls of her tiny apartment in talismans and anything else that might keep the spirits away.

Enter Soon-Ae, a ghost who spends much of her time eluding the local shaman (Seobingo), who can not only see and interact with spirits, but she can catch them too!

Bong-Sun works at a restaurant under a nationally recognized chef who is constantly scolding her for her lack of attention, lack of energy, and most importantly, her lack of confidence. Constantly apologizing, she drives Chef Kang crazy, as well as her co-workers.

Once again, after being chased by Seobingo, Soon-Ae takes possession of Bong-Sun, and this is where the fun begins! Through the sudden habitation of Soon-Ae, Bong-Sun's personality is altered. She's confident, not shy at all, and even demonstrates innate cooking abilities, much to the shock and surprise of Chef Kang and his fellow cooks.

Of course, the series is about how Bong-Sun and Chef Kang will come together, as he's completely caught off-guard by her sudden forwardness and flirtations.

The series is a complete delight! I can't say enough about Bo-Young Park's performance. She's able to switch personalities of Bong-Su and being possessed by Soon-Ae with all of the deftness of a master at her craft. The beauty of this is that Park is equally charming in both "roles." She is so cute and adorable, that you love her in either part. Her charm is what drives the series.

Of course, there is also a mystery to be solved regarding Soon-Ae and how and why she died. Her story is just as interesting and intriguing as Bong-Sun's. In fact, it can be noted that her story is touching as well as tragic. So much so, that you may find it hard to choke back a few tears. Seul-Gi Kim does a magnificent job in this role.

The series is a perfect balance and blend of drama, comedy, suspense, and romance. The four cooks who work under Kang are a perfect fit when a laugh is needed. They are hilarious and they work off each other so wonderfully. The entire cast is to be commended.

There really isn't anything contrived at all in this series. The plot flows smoothly without anything feeling forced. I've seen too many plots where the writers and the director loses sight of the story and feels that they have to come up with something that is scarcely believable or plausible.

Oh My Ghost! is a terrific series that you may have a hard time stopping after watching just one episode. You'll find yourself laughing a lot, shedding a few tears, and cheering in the end for Bong-Sun and Soon-Ae. Both of them realize that the key to Life is to Love. Because without it, Life is pretty dismal, whether you're alive or a ghost!

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Among All Couples, You Two Are the Dearest--Light and Shadow!

Of course, I had no wish to spoil anything in the title, so I modified the quote of Master Lee as he tells Jang Uk and Cho Yeong, "Among all the married couples I have seen through my entire life, you two are the dearest." That is a sentiment that I'm sure resonates with most viewers.

A light that embraces a shadow will never be lost in darkness. This may be the most profound piece of wisdom said throughout the entire series. Most people fear the darkness; fear the shadow, but only by embracing it—accepting it—can it be released and let go. Jang Uk is the light, and Naksu is the shadow, and both are equally important in maintaining that balance.

Season 2 was every bit as incredible as Season 1, and in some ways, even more so as we finally come to the culmination of this vast, deep, complex, and incredible story. While it may be sad for those who’ve traveled this amazing journey, we are grateful to have been a part of it at all.

This is an epic series that transcends just about every other series that I have ever seen. It’s beautiful, it’s deep, it’s revealing, and it’s vast in its wisdom. Like so many other Korean shows, it invites the viewer to take a hard look at the world around him or her as well as to take a look within ourselves. It’s another reason why I believe that Koreans—and a few others—represent the next stage in the evolution of entertainment. That people no longer wish to JUST be entertained, but this medium of TV and film can be used to bring about change and wisdom.

Jang Uk embodies the ice stone, making him pretty much invincible. And while others crave the ice stone for its power and immortality, Jang Uk merely sees it as a vehicle to do what is right. That is what makes him a true hero, in my book because he is truly selfless. The only real question is whether or not he can find some spark of happiness for himself. He began this journey as a somewhat lazy and selfish young man. And now, he represents all that is good and noble in man.

When we last left Naksu, her sole desire was to get her energy back. However, had it not been for the bells, one has to believe that her love for Jang Uk would have prevailed. As Mu-deok, Naksu was a bit rough around the edges. We could see her fluctuating between her desire to get her power back and get revenge to softening and dropping her guard to let love inside. As Jin Bu-Yeon—despite her loss of memory—we see a much softer Naksu who smiles a lot more and seems deeply infatuated with Jang Uk. And nothing can substitute Naksu’s finally embracing the light AND shadow of who she is.

Maidservant Kim is as lovely and handsome as ever! And seeing Park Jin’s attempts at mastering the art of cooking were hilarious! They make a cute couple.

At 30 episodes, this series easily goes down as one of the best of all-time for me. And the best fantasy series since Lord of the Rings—and in some ways—even surpasses that one. They are just about even, as far as I’m concerned. We’re given an incredible world of mages whom—despite their extraordinary power—fall to the same evils as ordinary men. The story and characters are vibrant and deep, and the special effects are state-of-the-art, but they never overshadow the characters or the story. The special effects do what they are meant to do: compliment and enhance the story.

I cannot think of a single flaw in the series. It was well-written, well-directed, and immaculately performed by the entire cast. Performances across the board were impeccable. The chemistry between Lee Jae Wook and Go Yoon Jung was fantastic, which is really saying something because the chemistry between Lee Jae Wook and Jung So Min was equally impressive. When I saw that Jung So Min wasn’t going to be in the second part of the series, I admit that I was apprehensive, but Go Yoon Jung more than impressed me.

At some point, I will definitely want to rewatch this series. I’m sure there will be details that I’ve missed or forgotten. Plus, I can watch all 30 episodes together rather than having to wait. Alchemy of Souls is a journey that has been more than a privilege to be a part of. It’s like being grateful that you were alive to see and watch Star Wars for the very first time, watch Sohyang, Michael Jackson, Bruce Lee, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, etc. Those special people and moments that only seem to come around once in a lifetime. Alchemy of Souls is an unforgettable series for that reason.

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Living a Life!

It’s been said to live each day as if it were your last. What would you do if you found out that you only had a limited amount of time left? The irony behind that question is that EVERYONE has a limited amount of time left to live. The most important question is how are you living? Most people in this world use a life to live rather than living a life.

Hae Jo is a young man who finds out that he’s terminally ill. His life has been full of suffering and dealing with abandonment. He’s constantly pushing away anyone who gets close to him because he feels he’s unworthy of being loved. He lives a life doing odd-jobs which often get him into trouble. He doesn’t care. After all, what’s the point? The only jobs he doesn’t take are missing persons or killing someone. Anything else is fair game. The irony behind not taking missing persons cases is that he, himself, is a missing person. Hae Jo is a young man who lives recklessly, not caring what he does or who he hurts.

But then, of course, as soon as he finds out that he has maybe three months left to live, he sets out to find his father who turned his back on him as soon as he found out that he wasn’t Hae Jo’s biological father. I’m still reminded of the classic line from “Boyz N’ the Hood” that any fool can make a baby but only a real person can be a parent. Hae Jo’s mother committed suicide, and his father ignored him. Hae Jo decides to take along the only person he’s ever loved and who has ever loved him: his ex-girlfriend, Jo Jae Mi, who is, herself, an orphan. These are two lonely souls who can only seem to find love, peace, and solace in each other. But Hae Jo is still too afraid of being cast aside yet again.

Jo Jae Mi is young woman who is trying to find some kind of love and companionship. She’s set to marry Eo Heung, the son of a wealthy woman. However, as soon as Jo Jae Mi finds out that she has pre-menopause, she realizes that her potential marriage is doomed. The other factor here is that, even though she cares deeply for Eo Heung, her true love is Hae Jo, who hysterically shows up at her wedding and kidnaps her! Make no mistake, this is a black comedy with some serious drama thrown in. The Koreans are masters at utilizing multiple genres within a single series.

Jae Mi, who is a reluctant passenger at first, finally agrees to help Hae Jo find his biological father, which turns out to a funny road trip around Korea with these two going through one adventure, or even misadventure, at a time! They fight, they quarrel, they love, and yet every time Hae Jo tries to push Jae Mi away or abandon her, she keeps coming back. Throughout most of the series, Jae Mi has no idea that Hae Jo is dying, and it’s tough to watch her reaction as soon as does.
Hae Jo is a man who uses his last three months to the fullest. He learns how to live without caring what may or may not happen. The title of this series is “Mr. Plankton.” Plankton may be considered the lowest among the food chain but its vital part in providing life to so many sea creatures cannot be ignored. Hae Jo is like plankton. Not only does he learn to live his own life, but he helps others do the same. What is true incredible, is that he doesn’t realize the level of his importance or how much he means to others, despite the fact that his own family deserted him. His family now consists of Jae Mi, Eo Heung, Bong Suk, and his partner Yoo Gi Ho.

Jae Mi is Hae Jo’s rock. She’s unwilling to let him push her away. Now, that’s a true companion! Someone who is willing to be there for you through thick and thin. It’s incredibly sweet when she confesses to Hae Jo that he’s always been her true love, and he confesses the same. While it may not be conventional, this is true, unconditional love at work. Neither one cares how the other lives their life or what faults or issues the other has. This type of love has a way of permeating everyone else around them as Eo Heung and his mother finally understand what it means to love. True love is never about holding on, but about letting go.

At only ten episodes, it feels like sixteen. That’s not a bad thing. The writers were brave enough to stick to the character and story. No sudden miracles were to be found here, unless you count the miracle of two “lost” souls finding love in themselves and in each other. After all, isn’t that the true point of life and love?

Performances in this series are nothing short of tremendous. I really have to tip my hat specifically to Lee You Mi, who has true chemistry with Woo Do Hwan, but it’s the power of her feelings and her despair that really capture the viewer. After all, she has to show us how much she loves Hae Jo, and how her life might be after he’s gone. She has that cute, sweet smile, but when she’s sobbing, it’s heartbreaking.

I’ve seen Oh Jung Se in a number of series now, with “It’s Okay to Not Be Okay” being my favorite. He’s a veteran actor who can tackle anything. He played the “mama’s boy” to perfection as well as showing us an almost boyish love for Jae Mi. However, he’s careful not to make Eo Heung the villain of the story. In many ways, I was cheering for him as much as I was for Hae jo. Eo Heung is a man trying to escape his mother’s coattails and learn how to finally live for himself. In many ways, his character evolves the most in this series.

This is a tremendous black comedy series that will likely have you laughing and crying, perhaps even within minutes of each other. Now that is fantastic storytelling! It should also serve as a reminder to us all to start living a life!

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Impeccable Series--Nearly Ruined by Writer Park Jae Bum!

I’m not sure how many times I have to repeat myself. I’m a writer of eight novels, and one of the most basic elements of writing is that you never sacrifice character for the sake of the plot. In other words, you don’t make a character do something that goes against the character in order to make the plot work. And writer Park Jae Bum makes a very rookie mistake in Episode 19 that carries over into Episode 20.

For the most part, Vincenzo is an impeccable series that is nearly flawless until those terrible 20-25 minutes—the end of Episode 19 and into Episode 20. We are extremely fortunate that this doesn’t ruin the series. As I said in the series “Mad For Each Other,” if you ruin the ending of a series, you destroy the series itself.

Vincenzo is a character on par with Jason Bourne or dare I say it—Batman (the comic character, not the live-action depictions) in which he’s like a grandmaster chess player. He’s always two or three moves ahead of his enemies. He’s also a master of assessing a situation and making the smart choice, not to mention his nearly infallible ability to predict what will happen next based on his enemies’ last move.

Choi Myung Hee has just arranged for herself to take the fall for Jang Han Seok. Despite the fact that we know why she’s doing it, it should be equally obvious to a character like Vincenzo. And yet, neither he nor Hong Cha Young can see the obvious: that it’s to get Jang Han Seok out of prison. That was rookie mistake #1 by Park Jae Bum

Jang Han Seok has abducted Hong Cha Young and Vincenzo is purposely brought to Jang Han Seok’s house in order to kill him. During the ensuing struggle as Jang Han Seok’s brother—Jang Han Seo—jumps him. Rather than helping Jang Han Seo subdue Jang Han Seok—who has a gun—Vincenzo rushes to free Hong Cha Young instead. Vincenzo would never do that. He would realize that the best way to keep Hong Cha Young’s safety—as well as Jang Han Seo—is to help Jang Han Seo take out Jang Han Seok. Now, if in the ensuing struggle, Jang Han Seok manages to escape, that’s all right. But I sighed with disgust when Vincenzo rushes over to Hong Cha Young instead. He would know that the best way to protect her would be to disable and take out Jang Han Seok. That was awful. And again, it’s something Vincenzo would never do. It goes against the intelligence and nature of the character himself.

Things briefly go from bad to worse as Vincenzo, who is now tending to the wounded Hong Cha Young, is literally watching the two brothers struggle with the gun—and only a few feet away—he still doesn’t rush to help Jang Han Seo. He sits and watches. Again, I was rolling my eyes with disgust at how ridiculous the entire scenario played out. It was obvious that they wanted Jang Han Seok to escape to set up the showdown for the rest of Episode 20.

As I said, the series was running smoothly, for the most part. Aside from some inconsistencies from the residents of the plaza and their fighting abilities as they go from an inability to fight to suddenly being experts, even though the so-called boxing winner can’t even throw a punch mirroring an actual boxer (a true boxer would know how!) the series runs like a fine oiled machine.

One more small issue--which most movies and shows take extreme liberties--is moving the gold bars. We see the bars being put into a piano, taken around in pockets and bags, sometimes 3-4 bars at a time. Gold bars weigh over 27 pounds each! (12.4 kilograms). While it made for some funny moments, it was highly unrealistic.

It's difficult to pen down the actual genre of this series, which often plays out like a black comedy and then transitions into a drama-thriller and then back again. I’ve marveled at the Koreans’ ability to fluctuate and do it seamlessly. It speaks to the genius of their writers, despite Park Jae Bum’s lapse in judgment and writing ability.

Vincenzo is a Korean-Italian consigliere—essentially one of the highest ranks in the mafia aside from the head man himself. He makes no apologies for his methods of dealing with those who would prey upon the weak and the helpless, and he brings his own sense of “justice” to bear against anyone—from lowly thugs to those sitting in power, bathed in corruption. Little do these people in power know who or what they are up against, nor do they realize what Vincenzo is capable of until it’s too late. It’s like watching very good chess players who think they can hold their own—finally meeting their match against a grandmaster. Vincenzo easily exposes their inabilities, and they find out soon enough that Vincenzo isn’t someone who makes idle threats. He means to do exactly what he says he’ll do. Jang Han Seok and his nasty den of lieutenants look at Vincenzo and laugh as though he’s just some character in a movie. But he outplays them and outdoes them at every turn.

“24”’s Jack Bauer—a special field agent for the Counter-terrorist unit once tells a panel of senators, “It’s sad that we live in a world where someone like me is necessary to do what needs to be done.” Vincenzo is of the same ilk. The higher-ups in corporations and political machinations believe they are all but untouchable and that they can do whatever they want. Someone like Vincenzo is able to prove to them just how wrong they are. But it also takes someone like Vincenzo to deal with them in complete and unforgiving ways.

I have always marveled at characters who are smart. I love Jason Bourne because of his ability to outthink his opponents. Batman is the same. And Vincenzo has those same qualities. Oh, he can fight and hold his own, but it’s his wits that make him formidable and such an iconic character. Song Joong Ki masterfully plays Vincenzo—who at times—seems light and almost playful, and other times as an absolutely scary opponent you would never dare cross if you understood him and what he’s capable of doing. He doesn’t play Vincenzo as a simple thug. And despite his background, Vincenzo becomes attached to the people of the plaza and will do whatever it takes to protect them. He calls himself a “villain” and yes, he often comes across that way, but he’s essentially a good man who simply finds himself using terrible methods to get the job done. Much like Jack Bauer, as I stated above.

The entire cast was nothing short of fantastic, and if it had not been for the major letdown of those 20-25 minutes, this series would have easily been a “10” for me. But, alas, those minutes put a big dent into a story that was running along so smoothly and so effortlessly. It’s just too bad that the ball was dropped temporarily. Still, it doesn’t torpedo the series, and it’s definitely worth a look. It’s not as great or as tautly written as “My Name” or “Stranger” but it’s most certainly good enough.

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The Very Grumpy, Immature, and Unlikeable Oh Mi Joo Sinks This Promising Series!

I actually watched the first three episodes all in one day. At that point, I was hooked with the story of a well-known athlete who defends a fellow runner who's being terrorized and brutally beaten by two low-life, fellow athletes. He doesn't care that this action will cost him his reputation and even his career, much to the consternation of his selfish, power-hungry father who uses the members of the family like tissue.

Ki Seon Gyeom is a lonely young man who may not save himself from trouble, but he will always help others without a second thought. In many ways, he's a very noble man with a lot of integrity. Having finally defied his father and vowing to live his own life, he isolates himself even more with the assault scandal. There's nothing much nobler than a person helping someone who can't help themselves. This character is wonderfully played by actor Yim Si Wan, whom I absolutely liked in Misaeng. However, due to his somewhat introverted personality, he's not very good at being by himself or expressing his feelings. It would be a mistake to say that he's shy, rather he's cautious. And why? When you're abused even by your father, it's can be challenging to trust enough to share your thoughts and feelings with anyone else.

We also have Oh Mi Joo who is fairly opposite of Ki Seon Gyeom. She's relatively poor. In the first few episodes, she's somewhat sympathetic until it becomes very apparent that she's just a very bitter, petulant, and immature young woman.. She's quick to make assumptions and jumps to conclusions easily. She often pouts and rarely smiles with a set, tight scowl seemingly always on her face. Despite her obvious feelings for Ki Seon Gyeom, she becomes easily irritated with his communication style. But rather than even attempting to talk things out and understand him, she barks at him and is always upset with him. She blames him for pitying him. Cowards are those who always blame others for their own problems. She turns out to be as pleasant to be around as a rattlesnake--and just about as appealing too! Frankly, by the sixth episode, I was already loathing her character. and it made me cringe about how much she mistreats Ki Seon Gyeom. She's an extremely unhappy person, and most unhappy people will always find a way to pull someone else down into their own misery.

As the focus diverted from the scandal and became more about the romance, the series lost its appeal for me. Had they kept both intact and not suddenly made Ki Seon Gyeom such a doormat to the bossy and overbearing Oh Mi Joo, I would have stuck around to see how things play out.

The only truly likeable characters were Ki Seon Gyeom, his new friend Lee Young Hwa and Seo Dan-Ah (a woman who can hold her own with the male bully counterparts in her field! And, frankly, a far more appealing woman than Oh Mi Joo)

I had high hopes for this series with its relatively high ratings, and after just finishing Touch Your Heart, I was hoping for something comparable. Moving on to find characters who are more mature and far more likable than what we got here!

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Be A Diamond!

Itaewon Class may be one of the most inspirational series I’ve ever seen. There is tremendous power in seeing one person doing all he can to achieve a goal. It’s another thing when that person inspires others to do the same by placing his faith, trust, and love in them. And Gwang Jin’s poem, “I’m the Diamond” which is read at the end of the pivotal 12th episode, sums up everything that the series is about.

Park Sae Royi is a young man who loves his father dearly. Sae Royi is a principled man who believes that people should be treated appropriately. Upon seeing a fellow high school student being bullied by Jang Geun Won, he intervenes. Sae Royi doesn’t realize that Geun Won’s father, Jang Dae Hee runs one of the largest corporations in the country. Of course, this is another series where the corporate bully steps all over the weak. Dae Hee demands that Sae Royi get on his knees to beg for forgiveness, even in the presence of Sae Royi’s own father who works for Dae Hee. Sae Royi refuses and is promptly expelled. Fearing his father’s disapproval, Sae Royi is shocked to learn that his father couldn’t be prouder of a son who sticks to his principles unwaveringly. When Sae Royi’s father is killed in a hit-and-run accident by Geun Won, this sets in motion a chain of events that provides Sae Royi with only one goal: the destruction of Jangga Co., the downfall of Dae Hee, and Geun Won brought to justice for his crime.

Kobe Bryant’s English teacher once told him, “Rest at the end, not in the middle.” Sae Royi is a patient man with his eyes never wavering from his goal. He spends seven years after getting out of prison doing odd jobs, reading Dae Hee’s biography, and arming himself with money and knowledge to carry out his plan.

Sae Royi is one of the most inspirational characters, who reminds me a lot of Rocky Balboa; the little unknown “David” attempting to take down “Goliath.” He opens a small pub in Itaewon. It doesn’t take us long to see how much faith and trust he has for his employees and friends. He believes in them even when they don’t believe in themselves. He harbors no ill-will toward them, but he’s also quick to call out any of them if they mistreat or disrespect others. I’m sure that many would love to work for a boss like him!

Sae Royi’s true weapon, however, comes in the unlikely form of Jo Yi Seo, a young woman with an IQ of 162 who runs her own blog, carrying a massive platform of followers and subscribers. She’s rough around the edges, to say the least. She speaks her mind, never apologizing if her views and remarks hurt someone. To her, being honest with the truth is more important than tapdancing around with trivial and whimsical flattery that does nothing. While Yi Seo can be a little irritating at times, this girl knows what she wants and will do whatever it takes to attain it. She is so vivacious and direct that she doesn’t even think twice about telling Sae Royi that she likes him, or even warning those who get in Sae Royi’s way, that she will crush them. Kim Da Mi steals the series, in her depiction of Yi-Seo, in my opinion. She captivates and intrigues in every, single moment she’s on the screen. I’ve only seen her in “The Witch,” and “Our Beloved Summer,” but I’m enthralled by how diverse her characters are and how well she performs them. Yi-Seo quickly became my favorite character of this series. Tell me someone who wouldn’t want a veritable tigress for a companion; someone who will be in those trenches with you through thick and thin?

On the other side, we have Oh Soo Ah, who is Sae Royi’s high school classmate and protégé of his father’s. Oh Soo Ah is someone who will always straddle the fence; someone who is afraid to stand up for anyone or anything. At heart, she’s a true coward which is what all fence straddlers are. Too afraid to pick a side/position, they sit and watch. Oh Soo Ah loves the fact that Sae Royi likes her, but she makes no apologies for being completely unprincipled, including accepting money and working for Jangga Co, regardless of what happened to Sae Royi’s father. She is also incredibly superficial and selfish. Fortunately, for Oh Soo Ah, Sae Royi doesn’t hold it against her. He’s a bit naïve and gullible when it comes to Oh Soo Ah. When we see Yi-Seo with Oh Soo Ah, it’s easily apparent who the stronger woman is, and it’s hilarious each time Yi-Seo hits Oh Soo Ah with the truth of why she’s such a coward, exposing her at each and every turn. Yi-Seo is nobody’s fool, especially Oh Soo Ah’s.

Also take notice that Oh Soo Ah has a list of conditions that Park Sae Royi must meet in order to date her. Yi-Seo has none. And love never has conditions.

It's a true pleasure watching the journey of Sae Royi and his employees as they slowly rise up, deal with setbacks and even being virtually knocked out, only to come back stronger than before. They may get knocked down, but they keep getting back up. Slowly, we can see the believing in people and treating them right, begins to gain footing against Dae Hee and his unprincipled manner of doing business, where people are nothing more than pawns to be used, including his own sons.

The story arc even takes on discrimination, and beautifully so, as Sae Royi hires the black son of a Korean father as well as a transgender cook. In a world where transgenders are mocked, reviled, and frowned upon, the series strikes its own high point when Hyun Yi is about to go on a cooking show, and she’s betrayed when her “transgender” status is made public. While Sae Royi sticks by her side and lets her know that she can leave, if she wants, it’s Yi-Seo who calls her up on the phone and reads her the poem, “I’m the Diamond.” Yi-Seo knows all about just being who you are and never apologizing for it to anyone for any reason. It’s a remarkably powerful scene that should give anyone goosebumps as well as something to think about.

Performances in this series are absolutely stellar with Park Seo Joon, Kwon Na Ra, and others. Still, as I’ve already pointed out, Kim Da Mi is the highlight with veteran Korean actor, Yoo Jae Myung (Dae Hee) who’s been impeccable in everything I’ve seen him in (Stranger, Strong Girl Bong Soon, Vincenzo). He brings the corporate mogul to a whole new level, and the series wouldn’t have been nearly as effective without him.

Itaewon Class is a series that should get anyone fired up to pursue their goals and dreams. It’s a marathon, not a sprint, and we see why careful planning and steadfastness are necessary ingredients as well as being willing to lean on those who want to march right along side you. It’s also a series that encourages people to always fight against discrimination and injustice no matter where they rear their ugly heads. Don’t let those with money and power call the shots. Even the smallest person can rise up and fight effectively. The mosquito is one of the smallest predators on the planet, but it also kills far more people than any other animal. Sae Royi reminded me of a mosquito. He antagonizes, pesters, and bites, forcing a reaction.

The diamond is the hardest substance that we know of, and yet it's created due to enormous pressure. But once it's created, it can withstand anything. Don't let pressure get to you. Use it! Be a diamond!

Itaewon Class feels like a series that sits nearly alone in the echelon of series that inspires and encourages us to believe in the definition of nobility: being better than you used to be. Perhaps, that is reason enough to understand why this series resonates in the hearts of so many who have watched it.

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Just Might Be The Worst Korean Series I've Seen So Far--And That's Saying Something!

Someone decided to steal the plot from “Hometown Cha Cha Cha” and messed it up—badly! “Hometown Cha Cha Cha” is infinitely better than this plagiaristic story.

We have a veterinarian who is conned by his grandfather to come to his small town to take over the practice while he and his wife are off on vacation. That was a badly contrived reason, especially since it’s under the false premise that something dire had happened to the grandfather, which draws Ji-Yul Han to the town. Of course, he’s upset that he’s been completely duped. Who wouldn’t be? Especially feigning an emergency! I would have left the town right then and there! The writers should have come up with a much better reason to get Ji-Yul to come to the town. This was a weak element that simply felt ridiculous.

The first couple of episodes are decent, but then it’s all downhill from there as the very uptight Ji-Yul is somewhat cold and aloof toward nearly everyone. Of course, nobody bothers to realize how he’s been conned into the job. They simply expect him to “fall in” and do his job with a smile.

Next, we have Officer Ahn. A woman who has no police officer skills whatsoever. Someone took actress Joy—who smiles, bats her eyes, and gives her little, “Tee-hee!” sound like some blond, blue-eyed woman without a brain in her head. I guess this is the only expression that Joy knows how to use. She’s a very weak actress who makes her role very unbelievable. And, of course, she has that “pouty” face down cold, like a thirteen-year-old when things don’t go her way. Very professional for a police officer who is unable to even deal with a thief.

I’m not sure where they found actor Sung Chul Baek (Lee Sang Hyun) but he’s terrible. He delivers his lines with such flatness that it sounds like he’s standing in front of a school auditorium and reciting a poem. I think I groaned more than a dozen times during the first five episodes as I watched this talentless kid try to sound tough; try to sound concerned; try to profess his romantic feelings.

The love-triangle is cliched, overused, and tiresome. I’ve said it before in several reviews that “My Beloved Summer” is the best series about young love. This one may be one of the worst. Every single cliché was used within the only five episodes that I watched. I couldn’t continue with the series. It was just not worth torturing myself. Especially when there are so many much better series out there. I’m just relieved that each episode was only about 38 minutes long—which felt entirely too long!

Hometown Cha Cha Cha was an absolute gem of a romantic series about a dentist who finds herself immersed in a small seaside town. This series is a poor imitation of that rich story, and without the cliches and silly romantic plots that you might find in a junior high school. The three characters in this series are just not very likable. I certainly wasn’t invested enough to find out how three immature people—adults supposedly in their late 20s, but act like they're all about sixteen or seventeen—resolve their romantic issues. None of them are worthy of any consideration. Officer Ahn is a tease, which I very much dislike as she toys with one man's affections while pursuing another. She's easily the most immature of the three.

This is the first Korean series I’ve stopped watching in over five years of watching them. For me, it was that bad. The series needed much better writing, far better actors, and something more unique and original, rather than trying to copy another series; a series that was truly endearing. In the meantime, I’d highly recommend acting lessons for Joy and Sung Chul Baek, especially. Any series these two end up in, I’ll automatically skip.

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A Good Series That Missed The Opportunity To Be Truly Incredible!

“Awaken” is a series with an interesting premise. One that seems to be part James Cameron’s “Dark Angel” and part horror of Nazi Germany where some of the most horrific medical experiments were conducted on Jews and other races thought to be inferior. While the series works as a whole, for the most part, it teeters between being a mystery/thriller and being a “moral compass” for those who commit unspeakable atrocities against others for the sake of science. And in some ways, the series comes up short on both.

Superintendent Jung Woo Do is a brilliant detective who heads the Police Special Agency’s special unit. At first, we’re given a glimpse into a man who’s quirkiness is merely the superficial layer of a man who’s like a Jason Bourne: he’s always thinking several moves ahead of everyone else. And while, we admire his intelligence, we also find that there’s a reason for it.

Go back 28 years to White Night Village, a locale on a remote island where horrifying medical experiments were conducted on orphan children for the sake of finding a drug that would slow/eradicate the aging process. Thanks to a young Jung Woo Do, he destroyed the village with only a few survivors as we find that Jung Woo Do is a man with more than a few exceptional abilities. Still, the very idea of scientists experimenting with children should be more than enough to stop anyone’s blood cold.

Jump to the present, and we find that the experiments from 28 years ago are being conducted again with top politicians and people in the higher echelons of society are also taking part for the hope of the miracle drug that will grant immortality.

Dr. Jamie Leighton is a Korean American who is a part of the FBI’s BAU (Behavioral Analysis Unit), and one of the FBI’s elite. She finds herself summoned back to Korea to investigate a series of bizarre murders. Unfortunately, she also ends up being the weakest character of the series. She makes amateur mistakes that no FBI agent would ever make, not to mention that her English is heavily accented, which would also be an issue. Especially for someone who essentially grew up in the U.S. It seems that she’s more of a liability than anything else as she’s captured three times throughout the series. By the end of the series, we’re left to wonder what the point of her character was—aside from being a survivor of White Night Village.

To complete the trio, we have Lt. Gong Hye Won, who is a very capable police officer. She’s rash and has a hot temper. She’s also quite effective in hand-to-hand combat. It also becomes clear that she has feelings for Jung Woo Do, despite the fact that he really doesn’t feel the same. Gong Hye Won soon finds out that her own father is one of the principal scientists involved in the medical experiments. At first, she follows him, trying to figure out why he’s always at work. But when she finds out what he’s really up to, and that children are dying because of his experiments, she tries to talk to him. This is understandable—at first. I’m not exactly sure how Gong Hye Won’s character becomes so skewed, as she’s far more interested in trying to be diplomatic with her father than forcing him to account for the murders of innocent children, even after it’s more than apparent that her father doesn’t feel the slightest remorse of his actions because he firmly believes it’s all in the name of science. Nazi German doctors all but said the same thing. That didn’t make them any less of the monsters they truly were. Gong Hye Won is a huge disappointment where this is concerned. If the murders of children aren’t enough to get you to do what’s right, then I’m not sure what could.

While the immoral actions of the murders of children are addressed, it ultimately ends up taking a backseat to Jung Woo Do trying to discover who’s behind the experiments rather than trying to save the children as being in conjunction with the overall mission. There are a few scenes where Jung Woo Do—of all the characters—displays the most concern and outrage, but not much is done beyond that to try and save children who are still being slaughtered.

Namkoong Min (Jung Woo Do) is easily the best actor of the series, turning in a marvelous performance as the extremely intelligent and often quirky superintendent. The series takes some delight in making the viewer wait to see Jung Woo Do’s full complement of abilities, which makes him out to be like a superhero. He reminds me of Max from “Dark Angel.”

The end of the series is a little far-fetched and a slight letdown as Jung Woo Do and everyone confronts the mastermind and the scientists behind the experiments. And yet, there is really no acknowledgment about what was going on to the community at large. We have the reporter who leaks the story, but there are no scenes of public anger about what has happened or anything describing the experiments and the cost of the lives of so many children. I was even waiting to see if the Blue House would make some kind of announcement. Instead, the end was more about Jung Woo Do’s disappearance, Dr. Leighton finally going home—for all the good she did—and Gong Hye Won’s promotion.

The writers had a real opportunity to address and acknowledge the atrocities of the story, but they didn’t have the courage to go there, which is a real shame. This series could have been thought-provoking and asked for some serious soul-searching, but this doesn’t happen. All in all, the series is certainly entertaining, but it misses out on the chance to delve much deeper than it ended up doing.

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An Insult to Police Officers Everywhere!

The story has a good premise, but after the third episode, when a gunman invades a police station, I'd had enough with the incompetence of the writers and filmmakers.

This series is an insult to police officers everywhere! I dropped this "joke" of a series during the 3rd episode when a gunman invades a police station. The cop there doesn't bother to warn everyone else in the building. He even has a chance to shoot the gunman but doesn't. Your job as a police officer is to protect and save lives. Absolutely horrendous job! These are the worst police officers I have ever seen, and I'm sure none of them accurately depict their job! The writer and director should be arrested and locked up just for putting out the festering joke of a series!

A friend of mine is a retired police captain. I showed him the clip of the gunman. He shook his head and said, "These guys have to be the dumbest and most incompetent cops on the planet! I wouldn't trust one of them to have my back. Who the hell made this series?! They obviously know nothing about the job."

I'm amazed that any studio would agree to put this on air.

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Inferior to the Vastly Superior Series, Strong Girl Bong Soon Do!

Strong Girl Nam Soon does its best to create its own unique storyline, despite sharing its universe with Strong Girl Bong Soon Do. Unfortunately, it's a cheap imitation that tries way too hard to be funny, intriguing, and insightful, and comes up short in all three.

The original series with Bo Young Park was a series that always remained focused on its protagonist and also had a very intriguing thriller aspect where a serial kidnapper is on the loose.

This series attempts (and fails) to utilize three protagonists (from grandmother to granddaughter) and can never captivate the viewer because it's spread out too much. While all three are interesting characters, it's simply not enough. Half the time, I wanted them to shift back to Nam Soon. While the grandmother and Hwang Geum Joo (the mother) had some good scenes, it would have served the plot much better had they been relegated to secondary characters.

There also are some serious differences between the powers of Bong Soon Do and Nam Soon Do, which are never fully explained. Bong Soon had superstrength, and some invulnerability, but that was pretty much it. Here Nam Soon has superstrength, speed, enhanced vision, and immunity to some drugs, etc. In short, she's nearly as powerful as Superman, which makes her character less interesting. Superheroes who are all but unbeatable are boring, which is why Superman's powers have always changed throughout the course of the character. There are also many inconsistencies in Nam Soon's use of her abilities, especially her vision. It seems she can see things from miles away, but that's only great if you know where to look and what to look for!

Series like this one also tend to live or die by how good the villain is. In Strong Girl Bong Soon, the creepy guy targeting women was very well done, and he showed his ability to often outsmart Bong Soon. Here, we have a very "vanilla" villain in Ryu Shi Oh, who's a part of the Russian mafia and using a new drug that is targeted at the rich in order to get them to buy the antidote. Of course, the writers decided to use this as a method for Ryu Shi Oh to use the drug to give himself enhanced strength. Ryu Shi Oh isn't a very smart villain, and because of this, he's largely uninteresting.

The last two episodes are so ridiculous and anticlimactic, that you just can't wait for the series to end. We don't get the showdown that we'd hoped for, and we get Nam Soon being completely gullible and stupid by taking the drug and trusting Ryu Shi Oh.

However, the performances in the series are generally very good. For some reason, they decided to make almost all of the men in Nam Soon's family fat, lazy, or completely inept. I realize that this was done largely for comedic effect, but it just ends up being silly and tedious after the first few episodes.

While Lee You Mi is a decent actress (always wearing the same, goofy grin), she's no Bo Young Park who is vastly superior in just about every way.

Also, the little "superpower" song used in this series is a joke, especially compared with the vastly superior "Super Power Girl" from the original series that always managed to get the viewer pumped up for Bong Soon Do! The song used in this series is about as inspirational as watching Nam Soon's fat brother stuff himself.

The series left the door open for another series. Frankly, I'll pass. I'd much rather watch Strong Girl Bong Soon Do again. And Bo Young Park's guest appearance in the second episode was easily the high-point of this series!

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Some of the Most Horrible Women Ever Put on Screen!

“Love Next Door” endeavors to be a light, sweet romantic comedy with some drama thrown in for good measure. What we end up with is a bunch of women who are barely tolerable, and sometimes, not even that. We get some domineering, controlling, meddling women who snap at the smallest of things. They are also selfish and cowardly in how they act toward each other as well as others around them. Frankly, I’m not sure how or why any reasonable person would want to spend five minutes alone with any of them. They are about as appealing as a pit of vipers.

Choi Seung Hyo and Bae Seok Ryu are childhood friends who grew up together because they lived next door. Their mothers have also been friends for a long time as well, although there are plenty of times throughout the series when we wonder how and even why. Their mothers and two other women get together in their “Lavender Club” to hang out. What ends up happening is they spar, argue, and compete over everything. Believe it or not, this is how many women in Korea interact with each other. Everything is a competition and a fight for status. What’s especially sad is that they often use their own children to acquire that status. They’ll brag to others about what schools they go to, what educational academies they’re enrolled in, what grades they get, and even what areas they excel in. These are women who live vicariously through their children. They use them as pawns, which is why many of these so-called “mothers” aren’t even fit to be parents at all.

Seok Ryu has returned to Korea from being in the US with a prestigious company. Of course, her domineering, twisted mother, Mi Suk, can only think about how this impacts her, especially after bragging to her friends about Seok Ryu. Things become further complicated when Seok Ryu announces that she’s also broken off her engagement. Mi Suk nearly disowns her daughter right there on the spot. Mi Suk uses the pathetic excuse that, “I don’t want my daughter to live a hard life like me!” This is a lie. Mi Suk is only concerned about how Seok Ryu’s decisions reflect on her. Her anger is out of pure spite and selfishness.

Seok Ryu isn’t exactly an angel herself. We find out that she was diagnosed with stomach cancer and refused to tell anyone about it. She claims that she was sparing everyone the pain. Whenever someone pushes others away, it’s never to spare others the pain, but to spare themselves of their own. Seok Ryu is a true coward, and when Seung Hyo finds out, he justifiably berates her for her thoughtless and selfish act, even going so far as to call her a hypocrite and a coward which is 100% on the nose!

Seung Hyo is a young man who’s making his way in the architectural world, opening up his own firm and doing quite well. However, it’s obvious that he’s in love with Seok Ryu, even though he puts up defensive walls and refuses to let her know about it. When he finally does, Seok Ryu can only think about her own failings and problems, and she promptly refuses his advances. Seung Hyo laughingly buys a small carton of milk to be used to give Seok Ryu time to think it over. The stupidity of such an act is this: love isn’t about thought. If you actually have to think about it, then you’re very obviously not in love. What we have are two 34-year-olds acting like 16-year-olds. It might be endearing, but it’s actually quite pathetic. Even when they finally do end up together, Seok Ryu is too scared to tell anyone about the relationship, and so she begs Seung Hyo not to tell anyone. If you’re too ashamed to tell anyone about the relationship, then you have no business being in one. They scurry around like two kids worried about getting caught with their hands in the cookie jar!

We also have the third member of the childhood trio, Jung Mo Eum, who is my favorite character of the series. She’s a paramedic who doesn’t apologize to anyone for who and what she is. She unapologetically wears her heart on her sleeve, especially after meeting journalist Kang Dan Ho. It’s funny watching Jung Mo Eum berate Seok Ryu for being silly about her feelings for Seung Hyo, but after kissing Kang Dan Ho, she’s suddenly a 14-year-old girl hiding and running away from him. That was the only annoying thing about her. Kang Dan Ho has a cute little girl (his niece, in fact) that he’s raising all by himself. Korea still has problems accepting single parent families, and after finding out, Jung Mo Eum’s pathetic mother refuses to allow Jung Mo Eum to see him. Luckily, Jung Mo Eum lovingly tells her prejudiced mother that she has no say in the matter and that she fully intends to continue seeing Kang Dan Ho. Jung Mo Eum is the only strong female character of the entire cast! I would have preferred the series revolve around her rather than Seok Ryu.

Seok Ryu is very immature, but suddenly, like a light switch, everything is suddenly “okay” with her in the last four episodes or so. The writers must have had something against women to write them all to be such horrid people. It made me miss “Business Proposal” and “Our Beloved Summer” where we got good, strong female characters who knew their own minds, acted their age, and figured out for themselves how to navigate the pitfalls that came up before them.

Seok Ryu’s mother, Mi Suk, is about as cold and vindictive of a woman as I’ve ever seen in over 47 years of watching shows. I’m not sure how anyone was dumb enough to marry this woman. When Seung Hyo’s mother, Hye Suk, offers to pay for a trip to Europe, Mi Suk erupts angrily at her because she feels inferior to Hye Suk. The truth is, Mi Suk has very low self-esteem, and she feels inferior to everyone! It’s no wonder she feels the need to brag and show off her children. She’s a very pathetic character. One of the worst I’ve ever seen. And even when Seok Ryu desires to leave programming for a cooking job, Mi Suk explodes all over her! Her daughter, Seok Ryu is barely any better. Her own self-esteem is so low that she prefers to hide away rather than face her problems. I laughed out of pity each time Seung Hyo wanted to talk things out and Seok Ryu would scurry away like a rabbit saying, “I don’t want to talk about this!”

What’s truly sad is that the performances in this series are very good. I’ve seen Jung So Min in several series, and she’s always very good. Her only problem in this series is that she’s terrible at kissing scenes. Her mouth is always tight-lipped and it’s painfully obvious that she doesn’t like doing them. If that’s the case, she needs to stop doing romantic dramas. It hurts an actor’s performance if they’re unwilling to be genuine and get into a scene, no matter what it is. Also, it’s stated that Seok Ryu lost 70% of her stomach to cancer. I’ve known people who’ve had their stomachs stapled in order to lose weight. There is no way Seok Ryu would be able to eat as much food as she does based on that fact. This was something that the writers clearly overlooked.

The series definitely didn’t live up to the hype with mostly unlikeable characters, especially the women. While there may be many truths, it would have been nice to see these characters grow and evolve naturally rather than simply having the “light bulb” go off to suddenly fix the situation. It just wasn’t believable or realistic. It’s also sad to watch grown ups acting like children around their parents rather than having the guts to stand on their own feet. That’s not appealing either, especially in today’s world where women are finally becoming more empowered than ever before. Overall, this series was disappointing.

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A Masteful Psychological Thriller In the Hitchcock Tradition!

This is a fantastic psychological thriller reminiscent of some of the best films of Alfred Hitchcock, the master of suspense. In fact, I’m sure he would have been delighted by a plot that has so many twists and unexpected layers that I seriously doubt that most viewers will be able to figure everything out until the final reveal. When a writer can keep the viewers on their toes, you know you’ve done your job well. This film is simply a work of art.

The film opens in a seemingly generic plot of a family of four moving into a new house. Jin Seok has a strange sensation of having been there before, but he quickly dismisses it as a mere afterthought. However, he’s puzzled by a single room on the second floor that he’s told is forbidden to enter under any circumstances. From here, strange workings begin to occur. Noises in the middle of the night. Sounds that seem to come from the forbidden room above make Jin Seok wonder what is really going on. Things culminate one evening when he and his brother, Yoo Seok step out for the night when Yoo Seok sees that Jin Seok is unsettled. As Yoo Seok walks back to the house, Jin Seok witnesses several men abducting his brother by tossing him into a van and driving off. Yoo Seok returns 19 days later, but Jin Seok immediately notices that something isn’t right.

The film truly takes off from here because nothing is what it seems to be, and the viewer begins to struggle with Jin Seok and the reality of his situation. Is he hallucinating or dreaming about what’s been going on? Who is involved and why? Trust me. This movie has as many layers as an onion. Just when they’ve pulled back one layer, and you think you’ve got it figured out, a whole new layer is presented, and you’re left with yet another plot twist to unravel.

The writing, directing, and acting performances are all top-notch. Frankly, this may be the best thriller I’ve seen since “The Game,” which is another thriller that literally has the viewer guessing right up until the very end. That is a hallmark of masterful storytelling at its finest!

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Amazing Thriller That Will Have You on the Edge of Your Seat!

This is one of the most intelligent and gripping thrillers that I’ve seen in recent years. The only one that I still like a little bit better was “Stranger,” especially the first season. However, that shouldn’t throw anyone off, as it only goes to show how few great thrillers are actually out there.

20 years ago, a young woman if found in a reed field with her fingertips cut off. Lee Dong Shik is the suspect. He’s a young man who has a twin sister, although it’s clear that his sister can do no wrong, and he can never do anything right by anyone. Because his guitar pick was found near the body, he’s arrested.

Cut to present time, and Inspector Han Ju Won is assigned the post of the small, rural town. He also happens to be the son of the Deputy Police Commissioner, the 2nd most important man in the Korean police force. Right from the start, we can see that Han Ju Won’s father doesn’t think much of him, and perhaps, never has.

Inspector Han is partnered with the now Assistant Inspector Lee Dong Shik. It’s a tenuous partnership at best. Inspector Han doesn’t like to be touched or share anything with people (utensils, bowls, cups, etc.). He’s also a bit of a clean freak. It’s a bit of a mystery as to why Inspector Han has chosen such a remote area, given that he could have picked anything anywhere. They find a body in the same reed field. Lee Dong Shik’s sister went missing 20 years ago, and Lee Dong Shik wonders if it might be her. Thus, these two inspectors are suddenly thrust into cold cases, a serial killer, corporate and political corruption that is somehow all tied together.

Lee Dong Shik knows people and how to play them. That is his greatest strength. Han Ju Won’s specialty is as a strategist, and using that prowess to catch people. These two men bicker and fight like two old ladies, and it’s clear that neither likes or even trusts the other, especially when Han Ju Won suspects Lee Dong Shik of being the serial killer. What makes this dynamic work so well is that Lee Dong Shik knows that Han Ju Won suspects him, but he’s never rattled or even upset at the insinuation. Instead, he practically dares him to prove it. And believe me, don’t be surprised if you find yourself suspecting Lee Dong Shik and half a dozen other people before the pieces slowly begin to fall into place. That is how tautly written this series is.

The second half of the series focuses on how these two men are able to trap and catch the people responsible for all this, as well as finding out how Lee Dong Shik’s sister was killed and who did it. There are enough twists and turns in this series to keep even the most savvy person guessing. And once you do figure something out, you realize that it’s only one layer of the onion with many more to peel back.

Shin Ha Kyun (Lee Dong Shik) and Yeo Jin Goo (Han Ju Won) are brilliant together. They play off each other perfectly. It’s like watching two professional tennis players going back and forth.

The series also does a great job of demonstrating how low people will sink and the deplorable things people do to each other. There are some scenes that may be difficult to watch. It’s always hard to watch people suffer.

If you’re looking for a great mystery thriller, you really can’t do much better than this series!

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For the Love Of An Angel!

All in all, this is an exquisite story about love, loss, sacrifice, and forgiveness as an angel finds himself in love with a woman and whether or not a love such as theirs is even possible. This lends much of the intrigue to the story about how an angelic being can condescend to human love, or if it is even possible.

Despite the fact that much of ideals and beliefs surrounding “God” and “angels” is medieval and extremely primitive, the story still manages to work, as long as you can suspend your disbelief. The best series I’ve ever seen about angels is “Highway to Heaven,” a landmark American series that saw angel, Jonathan Smith, going around trying to spread a little love and life on his missions.

This series is very “Old Testament.” We have a vengeful, jealous “God” who demands obedience and who has no problem exacting punishments. Only a person with ego, who creates a “God” in his/her own image, could ever possibly conceive of a “God” filled with human ego. This is another reason why “God” can never be found or understood through books and scriptures—books and scriptures that were written by men. However, for the purpose of this story, you have to allow yourself some leeway, knowing that God, Herself, is getting a serious kick out of this interpretation!

Angel Kim Dan is given a mission—a last mission—for interfering in human affairs by saving a human woman, Lee Yeon Seo. He’s given exactly 100 days to help her find love, or risk oblivion. The first handful of episodes are highly comedic, as we quickly find that Lee Yeon Seo is a rich, spoiled, conceited brat who is colder than glaciers! She barks at her house staff and doesn’t seem to have a shred of happiness. Part of the problem is that her eyesight was taken in a show where she performs as a ballerina—one of the absolute best in the business, due to her ability to bring tremendous feeling into her performances.

As always, there’s far more that’s going on than meets the eye, as we quickly find out that Lee Yeon Seo’s twisted aunt is plotting to take the “Fantasia Ballet Company” away from her. Little do either of them know that her aunt’s sociopathic daughter, Geum Ru Na is plotting something far darker and more sinister!

Not only is Kim Dan trying his best to eek out a morsel of feeling from the cold Yeon Seo, but he’s also having to protect her from her crazed family members. On top of that, we have Ji Kang Woo, the new artistic director for the ballet company who brings his own tragic past with him. Ji Kang Woo is a fallen angel who was condemned to live as a human being after the loss of a human woman who looks remarkably like Yeon Seo. Of course, he quickly becomes obsessed with Yeon Seo, as well as bringing his bitterness and anger to bear against “God” and all of the angels. As soon as he finds out the truth about Kim Dan, their rivalry heats up, and Ji Kang Woo does everything to try to convince Yeon Seo that a life with Kim Dan is impossible.

The first half of the series plays out much like the “Taming of the Shrew” in which Kim Dan is constantly trying to find some way to like a fire under the ice princess. Of course, it becomes apparent that they are in love with each other, after a few “back and forth” scenarios. You know the kind I’m talking about. She confesses her feelings. He flees. He confesses his feelings, and she stays…until she finds out that he’s an angel, and then she tries to flee (despite the fact that literally saves her life and doesn’t even get a shred of gratitude for it!).

The last four episodes or so are pure gold as Kim Dan races to find a way to become human, and Yeon Seo also finds herself on her knees in a church begging, demanding, and pleading for something to be done. Neither refuses to let go of the other, and neither will allow the other to be sacrificed so that the other may live.

At one point, Kim Dan is told that it’s a sin for an angel to love a human. I couldn’t help laughing at the sheer absurdity of such a statement. Angels are all about love! And by the time the series ends, it becomes painfully obvious that Kim Dan succeeded in his mission: Yeon Seo has, indeed, found out what it means to love, and Kim Dan also finds out the joy of loving someone as well. A sin? The only “sin” is suggesting that this is in any way, a sin. It’s amazing how often people attempt to make something wonderful and loving into something bad and impure.

There’s a sweet backstory that was especially poignant, in which we find out that Kim Dan was actually Yeon Seo’s childhood friend, and that he died trying to escape his abusive father. Yeon Seo is heartbroken when she finds out, as she’d always hoped that he was alive somewhere—completely unaware that Kim Dan is that soul.

I’ve said it in so many reviews, but it has to be said again: Shin Hye Sun is simply a marvel to watch. This woman has such range—she can take on any part and make it her own. This is the first time I’ve seen her play a cold, spiteful woman, but man, she nailed it! And then, just like a light switch, we see just how easily she taps into the reservoir of love and feeling. Her emotions are so powerful and heartfelt, that you feel them as the viewer.

I must say that Kim Myung Soo (Kim Dan) was her equal. Playing the playful, light-hearted angel to tapping into those baser, human emotions, and dealing with potential loss easily matched Shin Hye Sun’s. Perhaps that is why their chemistry was unmistakable and why it worked so well. I think I could have easily watched these two for another ten episodes.

I especially enjoyed the fact that this relationship was balanced. None of these silly mind games, or one chasing the other while giggling and saying, “No, don’t!” when they don’t mean it. No parental interventions either. It doesn’t happen often enough in K-dramas where two adults can simply love and show their affections. It was more refreshing than I can say, and I was very grateful for it.

I’ve always enjoyed the ballet, and I wish I’ve seen more performances than I have, but I also loved the music and dancing in this series as well. It truly is a magnificent art form that doesn’t get as much notoriety as it deserves.

If you’re looking for a series that feels like cuddling up with a loved one on a cold night in front of a fireplace, then this series should definitely work for you!

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