Just Watched: My P.S. Partner

I have been meaning to watch this movie for the longest time. I finally had the time to watch when I was in the middle of nowhere in Bangladesh with a poor internet connection. This movie came in handy just because… I realized when I first started it, I was on the plane and my phone (yes, I was watching from my tiny screen) was visible to everyone. Ooops… that raunchy scene during the first 30 minutes got me shook a bit! Sorry, peeps!

Just Watched: Fight for My Way

It has been awhile since I saw a great Korean rom-com! Fight for My Way is one heart light hearted drama. The edgy style of acting powered with well-diverse characters made this drama feels very real and fresh. This 16 episodes drama maintains its quality consistently. Well, by quality I mean the pace is steady throughout the show. What I love the most are the characters. They are so relatable. It is like watching your friends’ stories on tv. I admit they are not perfect, but it is the beauty of it. They made Fight for My Way entertaining and enjoyable.

Currently Watching: Baek Hee Has Returned

I am bored lately. 90% of my dramas are currently airing dramas. To wait every week for new episodes can be frustrating. I decided to marathon Baek Hee Has Returned since it is only 4 episodes long. This short series is funny, cute and fun! The acting is quite stellar! I got totally engrossed in this show. Even my son is!

Currently Watching: The Royal Gambler aka Jackpot

So I started my post and I forgot all about it… And since it was saved on my work laptop, I am not going to complain and decided to rewrite it. This post is definitely overdue. The Royal Gambler (aka Jackpot) has done airing and I placed this drama on hold because I wanted to finish blogging it before enjoying the last 5 episodes. I noticed that there are not many people on my Twitter timeline watching it. I wonder why… Is it because of Jang Geun Seuk? Or no one is interested in this drama? Hmmm… *rubs chin*

Jackpot has been on my radar ever since I found out that Jang Geun Seuk is in it. I’m fond of his acting so I wanted to watch this because of him. I have never seen him  in sageuk drama and I thought this is my chance to see him before he gets enlisted. Seriously, I’m so thankful that I am because the story is captivating and awesome. I’m not a history buff so what I saw, sadly, I believe in it. I should check the fact but too lazy to do so *shrugs*. Anyway, I’m entertained by Jackpot. Every time I watch the show, I pray that the show will not end. I find it so amusing and interesting. Plus, I have never seen this side of Geun Seuk before. He really put his pretty face aside and not afraid to dive down into dirt and mud.

This 24 episodes drama received an average rating of 8/10 on MDL. I am quite happy with that. The show did go a bit crazy and unrealistic midway but the performances by the casts remain top notch. Well, except for Im Ji Yeon. Her performance isn’t bad. I nicknamed her the second Jin Se Yeon *giggle*. Anyway, what I dislike about Jackpot is the repetitive plots. I know this is common among period drama but you know what, these directors need a wake-up call. Why? Repetitive plots bore us to death and it is not only waste our time, it resulted to some of us to drop the show! C’mon, PD-nim… Learn from it!

*clears throat* now that’s out of my system, let’s focus a bit on the story. It was sad in the beginning. Dae Gil had a tough life. He was born premature and got thrown out of the palace because the King believe he was the cause of drought and believed that the boy is not his child. The Queen’s ex-husband took Dae Gil and raised him as his own thinking that Dae-Gil IS his own son. Pardon me if you got confused a bit because I totally skip the history between the Queen, the King, and the Queen’s ex-husband. Dae Gil life went mayhem as he was raised by his dad as a gambler. He won a few but lost too many. Dae Gil continuously challenged by Lee In Jwa. Dae Gil had to gamble his life and realized that In Jwa is correct all along. But deep down, he doubts In Jwa’s intention but unable to dodge him. For now.

Meanwhile, In Jwa resented the King. Why? He believes the throne is his after what happened to his family. He uses Dam Seo and brainwashed her into thinking that the King caused the death of her father. In Jwa has a purpose. He keeps Dae Gil closer to him because he knows the boy’s royalty background. Right now, the combination of raising Dam Seo as an assassin, starting a fire between Dae Gil and Prince Yeo Ning, and keeping Dae Gil under the dark is In Jwa’s weapon to achieve his dream. To kill the King Suk Jong.

See? What did I tell you? This show is fascinating had the writer and PD did not screw it up with repetitive and silly plots. But I would still recommend Jackpot. The story is very engaging. The performance is superb. The OST is wonderful! The cinematography is beautiful. To hear this from a saguek hater, Jackpot really is amazing. Again, I have to emphasize that Jang Geun Seuk’s performance is unbelievably great! The show may make no sense to you, so please be prepare if you decided to watch it. Overall, I highly recommend The Royal Gambler. *wipes sweat* Now if you excuse me, I’m going to finish this show. If you don’t hear from by Wednesday, you know I’m somewhere in the corner crying… T____T

Currently Watching: Night Watchman’s Journal

My sageuk resolution continues with the Night Watchman’s Journal. This is my second sageuk for this year. I’ve completed my first, Joseon Gunman, and my third, King’s Daughter. When I started watching Watchman, I hesitated again. The show was all cool and full of Hollywood effect, but it didn’t grasp me as hard as other viewers. I hesitated to continue and once considered quitting it. But I was encouraged not to quit… And to be honest, I hate quitting show. I don’t wanna be a quitter. It just look so bad on my drama resume *shrugs*. So I went on… and on and on and here I am, 16 episodes later I’m stoked over the show! What makes it even better? I got my son hooked on it too! He’s so intrigued by the black smoke, the evil spirit (I’m trying not to teach him the word “ghost” as he’s been telling me there’s a ghost on our deck at night – NOT), Sadam (as he referred to whitey bad dude) and the fighting scenes. And me? Other than the show? I’m loving Il Woo’s character, of course!

So this fusion-like sageuk is very interesting. Very cowboy-ish, very fantasy like, very complicated characters (reminded me so much of Inspiring Generation), and very fresh! The mystery behind the wing-less dragon (my hub said they portrayed it correctly as this is how East Asian historians would describe their version of dragon) is fascinating. The black smoke reminded me of ABC’s Lost. Copycat? Oh well, just a tiny concept. Amuden, Night Watchman’s Journal is one-of-a-kind out-of-this-world historical style drama that is not historical at all. It just happened that this drama is set as a period drama.

Regarding with the number of episodes… Yeah, can I say I don’t know? *laughs*. AsianWiki has it at 24 episodes whereas MDL at 20 episodes. Regardless, we are still watching it, right? This is the story of Prince Lee Rin, the direct line to the throne but due to the death of his parents, he was sent to live outside palace. The prince is a rebel but has a cool side to him. He can see ghosts since he was a kid. Now, the country is led by his pathetic schizophrenic half brother.  Rin joined forces with his bestie, Moo Seok, and a newfound friend Do Ha, to seek out the truth that happened in the palace. I called them the sageuk ghostbusters! *laughs* They called themselves the night watchman. Anyway, their main target is Sadam. Sadam is the responsible person that caused all the negative energies in the town and was the reason for the death of Rin’s parents (indirectly to his mom). The goal is to get rid of Sadam once and for all. The dumb King unfortunately is controlled by psychic Sadam. So is the Prime Minister and been feeding dirty thoughts that he could help the Minister to be the King. Aiyayayay…

So the sageuk ghostbusters mission is now to wipe all the bad energies aka ghosts that linger around the town. Sadam had been feeding himself with these energies and his goal is to release the dragon the late King took in in the earlier episode. Correct me if I’m wrong. Like I said, I still couldn’t follow the story well… Somehow my brain is refusing to get it LOL. But in general, this is an awesome show. I like the action and how the story is quite engaging even though I’m still lost. I’m not helping, am I? Well, just watch it *wink*. The romance? Don’t count on it. It’s almost nonexistence! The bromance? Well, would a sleep over between Rin and his BFF helps to get you watch it? *growing horns* I feel so evil right now!

Just Watched: Age of Feeling

I have been waiting for this show for the looooongest time! It was originally scheduled to air last year in November but due to conflict of location, it finally received a green light to air in January. Phew… I hate to say the drama is cursed because of Kim Hyun Joong. His anticipated drama, City Conquest, came to face too many obstacles *sad face*. Too many that the production had to go on halt a few times and eventually cancelled. All of us were waiting for Kim Hyun Joong’s comeback to small screen after Playful Kiss. The drama itself looks so good. It is not just another action drama, but it is a bit violent. For some of us who loves this genre, violent is what we want! *sighs* just too bad…

But no sweat to all whom have been patiently waiting for this action guy coz you get action and violent in Age of Feeling. Before I go any further, I just want to point out that there must be some political issue with KBS and the City Conquest production because Age of Feeling is as violent as City Conquest. Well, that’s my instinct. Who knows what happened… But I seriously do not buy the crap excuses KBS threw at the production and to us. OK, enough ranting. Let’s start musing with Age of Feeling instead *winks*

 

To be honest y’all, to be really really honest… I got lost most of the time when watching it. I just couldn’t focus. Too many characters to remember. The plots are fine but I just couldn’t follow. Perhaps I was distracted by hunkies *giggles*. But I love the music and the action. And because of these two combo, it motivates me to finish it quickly. So quick that I did not get to write this review while watching it. Yes, I was soaking myself wet with this super intense, well absorbed drama. The story is simple. Two kids looking for revenge on the death of their parents. In between that, they found friendship, love and unexpected forces in a place they never thought it would exist. The drama is set in the 30s so most of the feeling you would see are very old yet refreshing. The acting are somewhat believable. I really impressed with Hyun Joong’s comeback acting. Wow is all I can say. His co-star Soo Hyang however, she’s not up to the par with Hyun Joong so I was disappointed with her and her character.

I enjoy this drama for what it is but I really had hoped it would be as engaging as Cruel City. I’ve seen a few disappointed scenes but I let it fly because of the action. My hub and kiddo enjoyed it a lot, I enjoyed it a little less. This is a watch at your risk drama. You really need to have this mood before you start Age of Feeling. Good luck!