Crash Landing on You

The cutest and most popular rom-com of all time! Plus the actual actors recently got married!!

*Spoilers ahead*

Plotline

Seri is a famous fashion designer living in South Korea and one day she goes paragliding for a commercial, but due to heavy winds, her shoot gets blown across the border into North Korea. Seri tries to figure out where she is and runs into the border patrol so she runs from the guards and ends up in the town where Jung Hyuk lives. He was one of the guards by the border and the son of the general. Jung Hyuk allows her to hide in his house and she befriends his fellow comrades. Seri attempts multiple times to get back to South Korea but they keep failing. During their time together they start to develop feelings for each other. On one last attempt, Seri is able to successfully return to South Korea. Jung Hyuk's superior, who realized that Seri was from the South, threatens to go after her, so Jung Hyuk goes South to protect her. His general father sends trusted comrades to bring him back while Seri helps Jung Hyuk get accustomed to the South and his comrades eventually find them. They meet with Jung Hyuk's superior and he tries to shoot them however, Seri blocks Jung Hyuk and gets shot, although she survives. The shoot is investigated and Jung Hyuk's identity as a North Korean gets discovered so he must return back. They all have a tearful goodbye at the border then the story past forwards and shows Seri meeting with Jung Hyuk in Switzerland. Earlier in the series, they show flashbacks of how they had actually met years before when Seri was traveling in Switzerland and Jung Hyuk was there as a performing pianist. In this sense, the show is left with a happy yet somewhat open ending.

My Thoughts

This K-drama was so popular when it came out and quickly became the most watched and well-known of all time. Although I found some of the episodes a bit long, I still loved them and enjoyed watching the series. There were also more details I left out about the second lead couple and the fellow comrades, who added so much humor to the show. The main actors had worked on a movie together before and after this show came out, everyone was speculating that they were together in real life. They revealed many months later that they were dating and recently got married. I think this makes the show even more special. I would recommend this K-drama to anyone who wants a lighthearted rom-com, but expect to cry as well.

This is the last blog on this page. Thank you so much for reading, I hope you enjoyed learning about K-dramas over the past few weeks! :)

The Uncanny Counter

This mystery, fantasy, thriller is extremely underrated in my opinion.

*spoilers ahead*

Plotline

So Mun is crippled and an orphan who is in high school when he suddenly becomes enlisted to become a "counter" or grim reaper who hunts demons. He gains the ability to walk again and meets the other counters who disguise their role by working in a noodle shop. So Mun realizes that with this new responsibility he may be able to see his parents' souls, so he works with the other counters to accomplish their duties. The four become like a close family and have each other's back throughout their dangerous missions. They chase after a level 3 demon, the most dangerous level, and So Mun discovers that it is the spirit of the man who was involved in his parents' car crash years ago. So Mun is able to take down the demon after a long fight but he eventually wins and brings the spirit to justice. While doing so, he is able to catch a glimpse of his parents and reunite with them briefly in the afterlife. The ending pasts forward a month later and shows the four of them continuing on with their lives and doing their jobs as a counter.

My Thoughts

I love the genres involved in this K-drama and the amazing action and comedic scenes together. The characters have great chemistry and I loved seeing how they learned to work together and train So Mun to become a counter. The storyline was very interesting along with the plot twists and I enjoyed how So Mun was able to find out about his parent's death and bring the villain to justice. I would definitely recommend this show to anyone who is interested in this type of genre!

Going to You at Speed of 493km

Plotline

Tae-yang, a former professional badminton player is struggling after she was rumored to bribe the coaches. Years later, after realizing she misses playing, she joins the only team that offers her a spot. Tae-Joon, another player joins the same team after seeing her in a bar and remembering her from their childhood. She was the one who had introduced him to the sport. He likes her from the start and always finds ways to joke with her, however, he is the only one on the team who is nice to Tae-yang. She asks him to be her partner in the team games since no one else wants him to. Tae-Joon has always been good at badminton but he sees it as more of something to do for fun. It turns out his older sister was the previous national badminton champion until she retired due to an injury. Tae-Joon doesn't tell others about this and it turns out he often felt overshadowed when he was growing up. Tae-Joon and Tae-Yang eventually start dating however a past video of Tae-Yang and his sister emerges. It turns out they were best friends but one-night Tae-Yang convinced her to drink and sneak out to sled down the slopes where Tae-Joon's sister got injured. She covered for Tae-Yang but the rumor about her bribing coaches started so she quit. Tae-Joon understands this and forgives Tae-Yang but she feels so guilty and ends up breaking up with him. Tae-Joon's parents also do not approve of the relationship and hate Tae-Yang for what she did to their daughter. Tae-Joon prepares to play in the championship game although he is suffering from an injury that could be permanent if he plays. Tae-Yang talks with his mother and she realize that her son needs Tae-Yang and her support. The show ends with the two preparing to play together in the championship.

My Thoughts

This show involved so much depth and I like the way they portrayed Tae-Joon and his feelings of being overlooked as a child and how that shaped him into who he is. I also love their dynamic and humor as a couple throughout the show. Although I guessed it would have a happy ending, they both went through so much that I was not sure at times. I definitely recommend this K-drama to people who want to laugh, cry, and have the excitement of watching a sports series.

Thank you for reading this week's blogs :)

Kingdom

To take a break from romance and comedy, this horror, fantasy K-drama is guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seat.

*spoilers ahead*

Plotline

"Kingdom" starts in the Joseon period of Korea when the king develops a mysterious illness. A doctor comes to treat him but the King attacks the doctor's aid and he dies. The doctor takes his aid back to a town. The Crown Prince attempts to check on the King but the Queen, his stepmother, does not allow him. The Queen is currently pregnant and her child will become the new heir. The Prince leaves the palace to check on a new plague that has begun to spread throughout the land. After he briefly leaves the town to check for something, he comes back to find all the villagers dead. During the night, the dead come to life and attack the city. They set the zombies afire to stop them. The Prince argues that the city must be evacuated but the noblemen are selfish and take a boat and leave the poor stuck in the city. The Prince goes to meet with his former mentor who now lives in seclusion. He joins forces with him to figure out a cure for the plague of the undead.

My Thoughts

There is more to the plot that goes on, but this show ended with a lot of cliffhangers as a preparation for the next season. The queen is definitely hiding something, but we do not know what. She is most likely involved with the king's illness. We also need to see whether they will find a cure for the plague and where it started. Overall, I really liked this K-drama and am excited to watch the next season and discover the unanswered questions.

Thanks for reading :)

Our Beloved Summer

Comfort couple, life lessons, and beautiful cinematography.

*spoilers ahead*

Plotline

Yeon-su and Choi-ung's story starts when they meet in high school. They are the complete opposite of each other, with Yeon-su being the top of the class while Choi-ung spends all his time drawing scribbles during class. One day a director says he would like to film a documentary about the two since they have such a contrast in personality. Their documentary goes viral and although the two always bicker together they develop feelings for each other and decide to date after the documentary is finished filming. They date throughout high school and college and their relationship seems perfect until one-day Yeon-su decides she wants to break up with him without explaining herself. Choi-Ung is heartbroken and confused but is not able to contact Yeon-su. Five years pass and Choi-Ung still remembers and hates Yeon-su for what she did to him. Now, he is an extremely successful painter while Yeon-su still works at a desk job. She has to meet Choi-Ung for a project that her work is doing so she reluctantly visits his house. He is shocked and wants nothing to do with her. After she keeps nagging him he finally agrees, and at the same time, their documentary from high school becomes viral again and people ask what happened to the two. The director requests that the two of them film again. They both hate the idea but eventually agree. Although they still argue like before, it is obvious that they both still care about each other very much. It is revealed that Yeon-su broke up with Choi-ung because her family was in debt and she had to work to take care of her grandmother who was her only guardian. She felt that she was holding back Choi-ung from his dreams and although she did not want to break up, she held back her feelings and pretended like she was just tired of him. Choi-ung learns this when he goes to talk to Yeon-su's grandmother and she tells him everything and how Yeon-su tried to act like everything was fine but secretly cried after the breakup. Choi-ung and Yeon-su decide to be friends but eventually get together again. Choi-ung is still afraid that Yeon-su will abandon him again but they work through their problems and the series ends with the director filming them saying "We got married!"

My Thoughts

I absolutely love "Our Beloved Summer." The story is rather simple but there are so many deep aspects that it covers such as feelings of loneliness and abandonment. The cinematography is also so beautiful and has some of the most memorable scenes of all K-dramas I have seen. I usually don't watch ongoing series but I did for this one and it made my day every week. This is such a comforting K-drama and definitely a good watch.

Thanks for reading this week's blog :)

Reply 1988

A wholesome, slice-of-life K-drama that is always a good rewatch.

*spoilers ahead*

Plotline

Set in 1988 in a small town in Seoul, is a group of five childhood friends who live in the same neighborhood. Their parents are also friends and moved into the neighborhood together before having their children. The plot starts while they are in high school and it shows as they go through their tough school years and into adulthood. The series also incorporates flashes from about 20 years into future so we are able to notice that two of friends end up together. Together the friends graduate, move on to accomplish their dreams, and eventually move away. The series ends with the parents also moving away from the neighborhood that they called their home for so long.

My Thoughts

This Kdrama is the definition of slice-of-life. Although it does have aspects of typical Kdramas, it successfully depicts a realistic representation of family, friendships, and first love. I had trouble putting the plot into words since it covers so many areas and there in not a specific storyline. However, it displays something that so many people can relate to and feel nostalgic about. I would definitely recommend “Reply 1988” to anyone who is looking for a simple yet fun Kdrama.

Thanks for reading, I hope you come back for the next blog :)

Descendants of the Sun

Another classic. I was obsessed with this K-drama and watched it about three times all the way through.

*spoilers ahead*

Plotline

A romance story between a trauma surgeon and a Special forces officer. After meeting coincidentally, Si Jin asks Mo Yeon on a date. They begin to date but both call it quits when he has to go away on a mission and they realize they have different priorities in life. However, she is called to work as an army doctor at a foreign location and it turns out that is where he is stationed. They both deny their feelings for each other while they work together although it is obvious they still care about each other. The second couple is also both in the army and has their own struggles since one is the daughter of the chief and he does want his daughter to date a man in that field. Both couples experience many dangerous missions together and finally admit their feelings later on. Si Jin is called on a mission at another location and Mo Yeon is sent back to Korea. She receives word that he died in action. After a year of grieving, she returns to where they were stationed together for work once again. On the beach with a memorial ceremony for him, Mo Yeon looks up and sees him walking towards her from a distance. At first, she thinks she is delusional but realizes it is real when he hugs her. It turns out he had been rescued after many months but remained in hiding due to tensions between North and South Korea.

My Thoughts

Even though I knew this K-drama would have a happy ending, I still bawled when Si Jin 'died'. The plot of a couple in the army was also a new storyline and I enjoyed the action part along with the romance. Descendants of the Sun is ranked one of the highest K-dramas and I completely understand why because it is also one of my favorites.

Thank you for reading! I hope you come back next week :)

Alchemy of Souls

I have been watching this ongoing K-drama for the past couple of months and watched the final episode last night!

*spoilers ahead*

Plotline

Set in ancient Korea, where magic and sorcerers exist. The female lead, Naksu, is a powerful sorcerer and assassin who resorts to switching her soul into another woman when she is injured and cornered. The act of 'soul shifting' which she did is considered evil and very few can accomplish it successfully. The male lead, Jang Uk, is the son of the nation's most powerful sorcerer but he is not able to practice magic due to his father blocking his powers when he was born. Jang Uk ends up helping Naksu and quickly realizes who she is after she sneaks in and becomes his maid. He tells her he knows that she is the assassin Naksu and that he will only keep her secret if she trains him to use magic. She agrees and the pair work together. It turns out that the person Naksu transferred her soul to is the long-lost daughter of another powerful family of sorcerers. Over many episodes, Jang Uk is able to break his spell and quickly excels in performing magic. His birth is also very controversial and he was been told his whole life that his father was not his real father. Jang Uk was born under the 'King's Star', and according to other circumstances, he is the true heir of the kingdom. Although these are unknown to both characters, they suffer through their problems and eventually fall in love. They get engaged in the second to last episode and things seem almost perfect. However, in the last episode, one of the main antagonists uses his power to cause Naksu to do his bidding. She kills those around her as well as Jang Uk. He dies and she is still unaware of her actions. However, the fire around Jang Uk's body goes out and he is revealed to be alive. *cliffhanger for next season*

My Thoughts

There are so many left-out details in my short plot description that do not give 'Alchemy of Souls' justice. It was hard to describe this series briefly and make sense while still leaving out so many important parts. It also ended on a major cliffhanger to prepare for more episodes coming soon. However, I would 10/10 recommend this K-drama because of its unique and funny plot and amazing visual aspects. I am nervous and excited to see what will happen in the next season!

Thank you for reading :)

Fight for my Way

A fluffy, coming-of-age, Kdrama about a group of childhood friends.

*spoilers ahead*

Plotline

The main lead, Dong Man, dreams of becoming a professional boxer, while the female lead, Ae Ra, wants to become an announcer. They always argue and fight, yet Ae Ra has had a crush on Dong Man for a long time. The other two members of the friend group have been dating for a long time and the four of them have been friends since childhood. Now, the four of them live across from each other and live their own lives. One day, Dong Man and Ae Ra decide to quit their jobs to follow their dreams. However, Ae Ra has always been against Dong Man becoming a boxer because she does not like to see him get hurt. After a series of events, Dong Man realizes that Ae Ra has always had feelings for him and he realizes how special she is to him. They start dating and things are great, yet they get into arguments whenever Dong Man has a boxing match. He promises Ae Ra that if she lets him fight his longtime rival he will quit afterward. However, she tells him if he decides to do so she will break up with him because he got seriously injured in a match right before. Although he does not want to lose her, he decides to go through with the fight. He ends up winning and asks Ae Ra for forgiveness. She realizes Dong Man accomplished his dream and that she was just afraid of losing him. The drama ends with the four of them sitting atop their apartment and laughing together.

My Thoughts

I started this Kdrama because it had the same main lead actor as a previous one I watched, yet I ended up loving the plot and chemistry between the characters. I love the playfulness of the main leads and how comfortable they are with each other since they grew up together. The title 'Fight for my Way' is demonstrated throughout the series as the characters go through life and accomplish their dreams.

Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed this weeks' blog :)

What's Wrong With Secretary Kim

A rom-com about a CEO and his longtime secretary.

*spoilers ahead*

Plotline

All the girls are after rich CEO, Young Joon, yet he is not interested in any of them. The only girl who knows him well is his workaholic secretary of 9 years, Mi So. He is shocked when she tells him she will be resigning because she wants to start a family. In order not to lose her, Young Joon blatantly asks her to marry him. He is surprised when she turns him down because he has never been turned down. After talking to his friends and taking Mi So on a date to celebrate her retirement, Young Joo realizes he has always liked Mi So. After many episodes of Young Joo trying to impress Mi So, she finally decides to date him after realizing his feelings are sincere. It is then revealed that Mi So was once kidnapped as a child but saved by a boy in her neighborhood. In a later episode, she faints and remembers that the little boy who saved her was Young Joo. He kept the past a secret so she would not have to remember the event. Young Joo asks Mi So to marry him once again and this time she accepts. After Mi So's parents realize his genuine feelings, they also approve of the relationship. The drama ends with the two getting married.

My Thoughts

This is one of the earlier Kdramas I watched but remains the perfect rom-com to me. The main leads have great chemistry and I like how they had already known each other so well before getting into a relationship. The plot may seem basic, but every episode in 'What's Wrong with Secretary Kim' is filled with cute and funny moments.

Thanks for reading, come back next time for more :)

Goblin: The Great and Lonely God

I have only ever done one all-nighter, and it was to stay up to binge this K-drama. *Spoilers ahead*

Plotline

The plot of this K-drama is honestly hard to explain and may sound a bit strange, but I promise it is so good. The main lead, Kim Shin, is an immortal man who was once a general that saved his country but was sentenced to death due to the king's jealousy. God decided to make him immortal but ordered that he must protect the souls of the unfortunate. There was a condition that he may be freed from his immortality if he finds his destined 'bride.' After over 900 years of doing his duty, he hopes to find his bride to end his immortality. The female lead, Eun Tak, was in a fatal car accident as an infant where she was destined to die, however, Kim Shin went against fate and saved her life. Because of this, she went her whole life being connected to both the world of the living and the dead. This causes her to see ghosts which she has feared her whole life because she does not know the reason. Kim Shin ends up becoming neighbors with a grim reaper, who directs souls to the afterlife. He also meets Eun Tak, and she immediately recognizes that she has a connection with Kim Shin. Due to her powers, Eun Tak is able to summon Kim Shin to where she is by blowing out a candle. They eventually fall in love, and when Kim Shin realizes that she can break his curse he tries to get her to do so without telling her what will happen to him. His attempt fails although they do not know why. Later, they end up battling a ghost and Kim Shin sacrifices himself for Eun Tak. This causes him to die and disintegrate into dust. Eun Tak is devastated and when she realizes that her memories of him will disappear, she writes down that 'he will come to me as the rain.' Years go by and we see Kim Shin plead with God to let him live another life. God grants his request and Kim Shin goes to Eun Tak but she does not remember him. We see that Eun Tak has been struggling with loneliness and depression for the past few years although she does not know why. It especially gets worse when it rains. After she goes on a trip abroad, she sees a candle and blows it out. Her memories come flooding back and Kim Shin appears. Just when we think we have a happy ending, the grim reaper visits Eun Tak because she was a missing soul due to her life being against destiny. She passes away in a car crash and Kim Shin is heartbroken. However, he finds out that it was her first life, and she has two more. In the afterlife, she tells him that she will come back and remember him, no matter what. In the end scene, they meet by chance and Eun Tak smiles at him.

My Thoughts

You may think this is an odd plot from my description, but Goblin is filled with so many emotions and is truly a tragic love story. Although I believe it had a happy ending. I cried so much while watching this show, yet the characters also brought an aspect of humor. This was the third K-drama I ever watched, but to this day it remains one of my all-time favorites, and I would do anything to be able to watch it for the first time again.

Thank you for reading, I hope to see you next week!

~Alexis

World of K-dramas

Hi, I'm Alexis, and welcome to my blog where I talk about my favorite K-dramas! All my friends know that I'm a K-drama addict. If someone asks for a recommendation, I immediately pull out my list of over 40 K-dramas that I've watched. I started to watch them in 2017, and although I haven't seen as many recent ones, I have watched most of the classics. Throughout my blog, I will focus on a variety of K-dramas and discuss their plots and my reviews, so I hope you keep reading! :)

*Spoilers ahead*

Boys Over Flowers

The first K-drama I ever watched. I somehow came across the drama called "Boys Over Flowers" and something about the cheesy plot line had me hooked. I ended up watching it about 3 times and constantly listened to the soundtrack. Looking back, I think the story is pretty cringey, but at the time, I thought it was the best thing ever. 'Boys Over Flowers' became highly recognized in Korea and others countries, so adaptions have been made in China, Japan, and Thailand.

Plotline

Jan Di is the daughter of poor dry-cleaning business owners who suddenly receives a swimming scholarship to a prestigious high school after saving a student's life. The school has a group known as F4, the four richest boys at the school, who take pride in bullying other students that get in their way. Jan Di tries to avoid trouble and stay away from them, but is forced to intervene when her friend spills ice cream on the 'leader,' Joon Pyo. He is taken by surprise and angry, so he tells the other students to bully her, however, she stands up for herself. Joon Pyo eventually starts to fall for Jan Di and tries to win her over but she declines his efforts. During this time, Jan Di begins to develop feelings for another member of F4, who also likes her. Jan Di has chemistry with both leads, however, she grows closer to Joon Pyo after getting a job as a maid in his house. Joon Pyo's mother discovers his feelings towards Jan Di but disapproves of the relationship because of her family status and background. She does everything in her power to prevent the relationship, even going as far as arranging a marriage. The girl is actually very kind and likes Joon Pyo, but gives up when she realizes his genuine feelings towards Jan Di. On the day of their graduation, Joon Pyo proposes to Jan Di in the place where they had their first date, but she tells him she will consider if he comes back from his study abroad trip as a better man. She also does not want to back away from her dream of becoming a doctor. The drama ends with Joon Pyo coming back after four years and proposing on the beach near the hospital where she was working. However, right before she is about to answer, the other members of F4 run up to them and the last scene is of them laughing together on the beach.

My Thoughts

Looking back, 'Boys Over Flowers is definitely one of the cheesiest K-dramas I've watched. Once I started watching more K-dramas, I realized the better quality ones were made after 2015, however, I'll give it some slack since it was made in 2009. Though Joon Pyo had a lot of character development throughout the show, I think he could have had a better personality to begin with. For this reason, many people argue that Jan Di should have ended up with the second lead since he was always kind. I also slightly agree with this but ended up rooting for the main lead since I thought he was better-looking. I do not think I could watch 'Boys Over Flowers' all the way through again for many reasons, but it was such a turning point for me at the time so it will always have a special place in my heart.

Thank you for reading, I hope you come back next time!

~Alexis