Synopsis: One of our most popular dramas, this romantic comedy
tells the story of Han Kyul, the handsome son of a wealthy hotelier family who
is set in his bachelor ways and constantly deflects his family's attempts to
make him commit. The constant pressure to get married drives him to hire a
goofy young delivery boy Eun Chan to pretend to be his gay lover to scare away
his family's set-ups. Trouble starts when Han Kyul begins to get to know the
hardworking and lovable Eun Chan, and begins to develop real feelings for
him—only to discover that "he" is actually a girl disguised as a boy.
A rare drama that deals with homosexuality, this controversial series received
multiple awards, such as the 2007 MBC Acting Awards for Yoon Eun Hye and Gong
Yoo, as well as Best TV drama award at the 2008 Korean Producers' Awards.
My thoughts: Before I start talking, I have to
say that it’s a 2007 dorama. So pleeease don’t kill me for knowing about it
just now, I was in seventh grade at the time! Hahaha
It was nostalgic I have to say: the
clothing style, the flip cellphones and the slide ones (remember them?), the
cars that used to look alike… Just for that was already something enjoyable.
But it was not all: this drama was
heart-breaking all the way through. We start with Eun-Chan, a girl that doesn’t
care about her looks – and actually doesn’t have time for them since she has to
support and provide for her whole family because her father passed away when
she was young. So most of the time she actually looks like a boy. And thus,
when Han Kyul – one of the most beautiful asian guys I’ve ever seen – appears
in front of her and offers her money to pretend to be his gay lover so that he
could escape the blind-dates his family set for him, she doesn’t contradict him
at all.
Han Kyul is a playboy and a
bachelor in his 30-something. He doesn’t want to get marry and assume the
family business, nor run an almost-closed coffee shop as a condition to return
to America. But he does it anyway, and hires Eun Chan as one of the employers.
As their relationship deepens, both
start to like each other. But, while for her is easy, for him is completely
insane, because he thinks “she” is a “he” – and he doesn’t understand why this
is happening. Was he gay all along and didn’t know? And she doesn’t reveal
herself at all, because she’s afraid of being rejected as a woman.
Having said that, I start my
review: I wasn’t joking when I said it was heart-breaking. We watch these two
adorable characters as they suffer and try to work their way out, as they try
to deny their feelings and so on. Every scene they had together – until he
finds out her identity – is gut-wrenching and gives you butterflies in the
stomach. I felt tense whenever they appeared together, because I could see
their suffering and their effort in hiding it from one another.
I really like the fact that they
show man crying. In our western side of the world, to see a man crying is
usually taken as weakness and that he should “man up” and “stop being a pussy”.
Guys have tear-ducts as well as everybody, so what’s the big deal?! We have that
entire macho-man thing in such a way that when a man does cry, we prefer to
mock him instead of trying to help him solve his problem. I don’t know if Korean
man have that issue in their country – hell, I don’t even know if Korean men
are like the ones portrayed on the TV-show – but by showing a guy crying in national
TV, because he is sad or in pain, I like to think that you are trying to say “it’s
ok to cry, guys!”, and that’s awesome.
I noticed a pattern in these dramas,
more specifically towards the end: the female protagonist often does an exchange
program or goes away for a few years and then returns all beautiful and
gorgeous – and with a hottie waiting for her with goofy eyes. It’s not that I
don’t like it – heck yeah I would like to travel abroad and return all gorgeous
just to find a beautiful man waiting for me in my doorstep! – but it would be
cool to see a different ending. In this topic, I’d like to add that the guy
usually doesn’t want his girlfriend
to go away, but he understands that it’s her opportunity to see the world and
grow in the process, and by stopping her from going you’re just being selfish.
It’s her chance, he had his, so why create a fuss and stop her from chasing her
dreams if that’s what she wants to? – Western guys, please take note, your
girlfriend will love you even more if you respect her wishes! ;)
Also, Korean guys – well, at least
that’s what the SHOW shows; Korean girls, correct me if I’m wrong – seem to be
a lot more considerate and participatory in household chores: they know how to
clean, wash and cook, and don’t seem to look for a second mom in their
girlfriends. Thumbs up and kudos for them, they’re absolutely right!
Finally, I didn’t like two
characters: Eun-Sae – the protagonist sister – and Yoo Joo – Han Kyul’s friend
and his cousin’s girlfriend. I thought both of them were too dramatic and full
of bull. Eun-Sae seemed like a spoiled brat that mistreat her sister and the
guy who likes her, just because; and Yoo Joo seemed to be inconstant and two
faced – she cheated on the cousin for two years and nothing: the cousin kisses
another girl, the world falls apart. Come on! Get your shit straight, he is not
that guilty if we compare what you did to him – I don’t approve betrayal, doesn’t
matter who did it.
And now to really end it: the actor
that plays Han Kyul was so hot that it was almost offensive to watch him. Broad
shoulders, sexy lips, cute smile, tall AF, not pumped up – his body was normal
actually, at least in this show, I’ll attach a pic for you - , some hunk, I gotta say. And the way he
grabs her closer to the end… I’m impressed. HAHAHA *EDIT: I found a more updated pic of him, and daaaaamn (actually it's a gif <-- Click here to see it!)*
Anyway, an award-winning show and a
must-see!
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