[First Impression] Mom ep 1 & 2

Mom (2015, South Korea)

Title: 엄마/Mom
Genre: family, drama, romance, comedy
Episodes: 50
Broadcast network: MBC
Broadcast period:  Sep 5, 2015 to Feb 21, 2016

After sacrificing her everything to raise her children on her own, a mother takes revenge on the children who will do anything to get their hands on her inheritance. Source: MDL

• Cha Hwa Yun: Yoon Jeong Ae (the mother)
• Jang Seo Hee: Kim Yoon Hee (daughter)
• Kim Suk Hoon: Kim Yeong Jae (son)
• Lee Tae Sung: Kim Kang Jae (son)
• Choi Ye Seul: Kim Min Ji (daughter?)
• Hong Soo Hyun: Lee Se Ryung
• Lee Moon Shik: Heo Sang Soon (Yoon Hee's husband)
• Park Young Kyu: Chairman Eom
• Lee Se Chang: Eom Dong Jun (chairman Eom's son)
• Jin Hee Kyung: Na Mi (Dong Jun's wife)
• Doo Hee: Kong Soon
• Kang Han Na: Kang Yoo Ra
• Na Jong Chan: Park Dae Ryong

[MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS FOR EPISODES 1 AND 2!] This is a first impression and not the full review of the drama

[LET'S GET TO KNOW] Your Guide to Asian Dramas: Genres and How it All Started (Korean Edition)

Let's get to know Asian drama genres

There are many genres in dramaland....almost too many!
 

From romance comedies to psychological melodramas to chinese vuxia to korean sageuk's to action thrillers to...yeah....there's a lot ._. I think I finally understand what my friend, who got me into Asian dramas meant when she said "Once you're in, you can't get out". I don't think you can ever truly get tired of "dramas", sure you can feel like a genre follows the same pattern or some plots are very similar to one another, but if that's so then all you need to do is switch genres or why not switch the drama country + genre? That's a double combo, right?
To say "asian dramas are all the same" makes you, in my opinion, seem a bit closeminded, but hopefully, after this blogpost you might get a bigger picture of what asian dramaland has to offer. Now, to say that most romance comedies are about "a rich guy falling for a poor girl", however, could be more accurate than the previous statement, but it's still not quite true, because in the recent years there has been quite a lot of refreshing plots that only partly or not at all, overlap with the "rich guy falling for poor girl" concept.
With that said, the point of this post (actually this entire blog) is to introduce both new and old drama fans to new dramas, or to be more precise, new genres! Because there's just so much to explore in dramaland that it's pretty much impossible to say that you've already seen it all.
Before I start the post I just want to say that this will just be about korean dramas, because I feel like there's a lot to talk about. I'll also recommend dramas from every genre as I go through them, however, it's important to know that the dramas I recommend AREN'T the only ones out there, the handful of titles I'll present can perhaps be a good introduction to the genres but feel free to use mydramalist to find other dramas too :) I'll also try to keep the text as orgazined as possible, even though it's very difficult to stick to one genre without comparing it or mentioning another one. So yeah, without further ado, let's get started ~

[Drama Recap and Analysis] D-Day Episode 1

D-Day (2015, South Korea)

Title: 디 데이

Also known as: D-Day

Genre: Drama, Medical, Disaster

Episodes: 20

Broadcast network: jTBC

Broadcast period: Sep 18, 2015 to Nov 21, 2015

Lee Hae Sung is a surgeon who leads the Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT) and puts the needs of the injured citizens above any concerns about money. But his altruistic approach puts him at odds with the cold, calculating surgeon Han Woo Jin. Jung Ddol Mi is an orthopedic resident who is thrust into the chaos just as she first arrives in the city, while An Dae Gil is a caring young doctor who is the youngest member of the DMAT. However, a disaster strikes Seoul. It paralyzed the city and the drama will unfold around rescue workers and emergency doctors who jump in to help. (Source: MDL)



Cast:

• Kim Young Kwang: Dr. Lee Hae Sung
• Jung So Min: Dr. Jung Ddol Mi
• Hak Suk Jin: Prof. Han Woo Jin
• Cha In Pyo: Goo Ja Hyuk
• Kim Sang Ho: Police Officer Choi Il Seop
• Kim Hye Eun: Dr. Kang Joo Ran
• Yoon Joo Hee: Nurse Park Ji Na
• Lee Sung Yeol: Intern Ahn Dae Gil

Overall Score:
Character Development:
Plot Development:
Acting:
Soundtrack:
  

                              [SPOILERS BELOW!] This is a recap and analysis of episode 1 

[NEWS] Korean Remake of Chinese Hit Drama 'Scarlet Heart ' is in the Making!

New High Budget TimeTraveling drama to hit Kdramaland! 

 

Official Poster of the Chinese Classic
Scarlet Heart from 2011

  

That's right guys! Chinese Classic Scarlet Heart is getting a Korean remake! From China to Japan, from South Korea to Taiwan, and so on, remakes are happening left and right but who can complain? Great stories are great stories! This time, the situation is even better since Hollywood's Universal Studios has been reported to have invested a lot of money into the production of this upcoming Korean Drama. This is quite unusual but with the popularity of kdrama My love From Another Star it seems like Hollywood has taken an interest in the Asian drama world. Worry not, they've just invested money into the project, but the production will be in the exellent hands of director Kim Kyu Tae, who directed the dramas 'It's Okay, That's Love, IRIS and That Winter the Wind Blows. It's epic isn't it? And the budget has been estimated to be almost 13 million US dollars! Woah, high quality drama indeed!

For those of you who are not familiar with Scarlet Heart (Also known as 'Startling By Each Step' or Bu Bu Jing Xin), It's a timetraveling historical drama about a woman from the 21st century who due to unexplainable turn of events ends up traveling back in time to the Qing Dynasty China, where she gets involved in the royal palace political and romance intrigues. The Korean remake is said to take place in the Joseon era but nothing else about the plot has been revealed. The drama will be named Moon Lovers, also reported as Lovers of the Moon and is set to start filming sometime next year.

Ahhh ~ a new time traveling historical drama :'3 I'm a sucker for those. Are you guys excited? Have you seen 'Scarlet Heart'? I have, and it was pretty good, I think my biggest issue with that one was the budget or what seemed like a low budget production, so I'm very happy that the story, which was quite interesting, is now getting a high budget remake! Also, do you have a dreamcast in mind? I'm kind of hoping that someone cute like Baek Jin Hee or Park Shin Hye gets cast as the female lead. I think, unless they change the character, they would fit the role pretty well ^^

Source: Dramafever

[NEWS] My top 5 new dramas (October Edition)

 My Top 5 New dramas (October Edition)



And let's not forget about all the epic October Dramas
that will be airing soon, right? RIGHT? *_*
BTW no, I'm not a hardcore fan of Game of Thrones,
I just find these memes funny and accurate xD

Updates and Announcements from Omodramaland!

You said it Boromir!

Just thought I should do a quick announcement/update for you guys to see what will happen on this blog in the couple of weeks to come ~
Some of you may wonder why I haven't started the recaps of D-Day yet, and that's because I haven't been able to find the first episodes with english sub. I've checked all my drama websites daily and it wasn't until a few hours ago that I saw that episode 1 had been subbed -.-* It usually doesn't take this long but okay. Just wanted to have that written down so you don't think it's because I'm lazy or anything. If I promise to do something I'll do it! >_<
Same goes for Webtoon Hero: Toondra show. I don't know if it's because it's a webdrama or because it's not as popular as other dramas, but subs have been veeeeery slow with that one. I've found raw episodes and I've tried to translate it, but my korean is still lacking and so I'm afraid of posting a wrongly translated recap to you guys X_x therefore I've decided to wait for episode 4 and onwards to be subbed and then post the recaps. How long that may take, I don't know, but let's be patient nee? xD I'm currently working on Shut Up Flower Boy Band, but since I'll have to put more focus on being uptodate with D-Day, SUFBB will have to be put aside for the time being. I hope that's okay :/
I'm also currently marathoning Oh My Ghost so you can expect a review of that drama in the very near future xP I think I watched like 6 episodes yesterday...it's addicting as hell ._. ain't that right Boromir? xD Haha

The bit sad announcement is that I have an exam week coming up in the middle of October so I'll be going on a small hiatus from next week onwards :s It means I won't be posting anything on this blog but I will be writing posts, so you'll get tons of goodies as soon as my exams end so look forward to that! :D

[NEWS] The Village: Achiara's Secret Releases New Trailers!

Are you ready to get goosebumps?

Close all doors and windows, turn all the lights on and snuggle up in a warm blanket as The Village: Achiara's Secret is back with more glorious yet creepy trailers.
If the previous one wasn't enough to send shivers down your spine, these two new trailers that just got released, certainly will! (Unless you're fearless, and if that's so, please tell me your secret sensei because I'm a scaredy-cat Dx)

Spooky and creepy ~ Achiara doesn't seem like the coziest and calmest place in South Korea. let's hope Moon Geun Young's character doesn't regret applying for that job at the school when weird things start happening ._. Yook Sung Jae, playing the poor policeman in the town surely doesn't have time to take coffee breaks either. What do you guys think? Are you ready to see the myserious incidents be upwrapped and hopefully solved in the haunted town Achiara? :)

Source: Omodramaland. I was the first to announce this xD I feel kind of proud xP

[NEWS] Individual Trailers for the Main Cast of 'Six Flying Dragons' Revealed!

Six Mighty Dragons, Six Epic Trailer

The hype is real you guys! As we're closing in on the airing date, Upcoming historicsl kdrama Six Flying Dragons has released six individual trailers, each one showing one of the main characters (one of the six 'dragons'). You can check the trailers down below ~

Yoo Ah In will be playing the role of Lee Bang Won, the king's son who fights for the throne, and eventually becomes King Taejong:

 

Byun Yo Han will be playing the role of Ddang Sae, Boon Yi's brother and a talented swordsman who works as Do Jeon's bodyguard:  

 

Shin Se Kyung will be playing the role of Boon Yi, a poor young woman who becomes Bang Won's love interest:

 

Yoon Kyun Sang will be playing Moo Hyul, a simpleminded young man who grows up in complete poverty but rises through the ranks to become Bang Won's bodyguard:

 

Chun Ho Jin will be playing as King Taejo, Bang Won's father and the founder of the Joseon dynasty:

 

Kim Myung Min will be playing the role of Jung Do Jeon, a scholar who helped Bang Won's father establish the Joseon dynasty. He is Bang Won's greatest rival:

The individual trailers look stunning! I'm struck speechless and I can't wait for this to start airing! I'm dying from exictment! Okay breathe Mina; breathe! Lolz XD
What do you guys think? Who's your favorite 'dragon'? ;)

Source: Dramafever

[REVIEW] That Winter The Wind Blows

That Winter The Wind Blows (2013, South Korea)

Are you looking for a drama what will completely blow your mind and make your brain spin like the cold winter wind? A drama that will toss around your emotions as if you were sitting in a 90 degree angled roller coaster? A drama that will portrait the very complex love story between a con artist and a blind heiress? The this is the drama for you!



Title: 그 겨울, 바람이 분다/ That Winter The Wind Blows
Also known as: Wind Blows In Winter
Genre: Romance, Melodrama, Psychological
Episodes: 16
Broadcast network: SBS
Broadcast period: Feb 13, 2013 to Apr 4, 2013

The Winter, The Wind Blows is a story about a man who is known to be the best gambler in Cheongdam neighborhood. He lives a meaningless life after being abandoned by his parents and failing at his first love relationship. In order to pay his debt, he starts living with a rich girl who is the heir to a large corporation. However, he falls in love with the girl, who is also as lonely as him. She has also lived a difficult life. She has lost her eyesight and her father has passed away. She will have to protect herself from those around her. Source: MDL

 

Overall Score: 10/10
Character Development: 10/10
Plot Development: 9/10
Acting: 10/10
Soundtrack: 9/10

[LETS GET TO KNOW] My Favorite Idol-Actors/Idol Turned Actors PART 1

Idol actors: idol turned actors who somtimes even give 'professional' actors a run for the money

As a first 'Let's get to know' segment on this blog, I decided to do something fun. Like an intro to not one but a handful of actors that I think people should look up and perhaps even follow. Since I have 8 actors/actresses to go through I'll do this in two parts! Please enjoy ~

First off, let's start by clearing out the term shall we? The kdrama term 'Idol actor' basically means that the actor or actress originally started off as an idol (usually kpop artist) before starting an acting debut and/or turning to acting as a full time job. There is a lot of critisism against idol turned actors as they're said to be very lacking and sometimes refered to as "just a pretty face" to promote a drama or movie, however there are some idols who are born with a natural talent for acting. In this blog post I'll go through some of the idol turned actors that I personally think are very talented. With that said, remember that this is my list, aka my opinion which may or may not be different from yours, and with that said, your idol actors may not be on this list. If you disagree with my opinion, feel free to post a comment below, I'd love to hear who you'd pick to be on the list, but also I expect you to respect my opinion. I can also say that none of the people mentioned in this post are my bias from their groups, so i'm judging them based on acting talent only. I can mention their singing or dancing talents as a side-thing, but the main point that I'm looking at is how well they can act. With that said, let's get started shall we? :D