49일 (a.k.a. 49 Days) Final Review: Episodes 17-20

~~ Note: I know this final review is coming out months after 49 Days ended, but it’s definitely not easy keeping up with real life and the drama world. It never occurred to me so drastically that the drama world never slows down or stops.... It’s nearly impossible to catch up once you’re behind!! So I will make it a priority goal to keep up with these reviews! Thanks for reading!!~~

First off, I’d like to say the ending was unexpected, that’s for sure, but it wasn’t unpleasant. I’m rather satisfied with the way it ended, but it wasn’t particularly terrible or terrific.

I applaud Jung Ilwoo tremendously for such an a-ma-zing performance!!!! Those scenes with Yikyung were truly heartbreaking!! I really loved how they were written. Everything the couple did was so full of love for each other. I loved the things Yisoo did for Yikyung... That’s probably what made the farewell so much harder to watch. And his goodbye speech to her was so well written!!! I don’t know which is sadder, the farewell scene or Yisoo’s accident scene...

In the end, I was pretty happy with the acting from the entire cast. Nam Gyuri did improve her acting. Of course it could just be because the character became more complex, but still, she wasn’t totally hopeless. She was a bit wooden at times, and her reactions felt kind of forced, but still, I’ve seen worse. (By the way, don’t you think Nam Gyuri and IU look alike?). Lee Yowon’s acting was very consistent to the end. I really enjoyed the interaction between Yikyung and Jihyun, it was so cute and heartwarming to see them so happy together. I know I’ve said this before, but I was extremely impressed with Lee Yowon’s acting!! Her emotions weren’t so forced and she played the two different personalities so well. The male leads are very talented and played their characters with skill and experience. All the minor characters were so cute and lovable and they were all cast so perfectly! I think this was a good choice for Jo Hyunjae’s come back to the drama world after his military service. It had a good cast and a pretty good following of fans from what I can tell. It would be pretty fun to see him play a villain role though. 

Even though I really enjoyed the soundtrack, I’d have to say it does not make my list of top 10 soundtracks. None of the songs really stand out and get stuck in your head, but I love that they got some of the cast to sing the songs!! 

The special effects used were pretty fun and creative. They did not seem too out of place or super obviously CG, which I was pretty happy about. I especially liked the Scheduler’s appearing and vanishing acts!! Of course that’s editing more than special effects, but still, well done and fun nonetheless.

The storyline is very unique and one of a kind in the Korean drama world, from what I can tell. It’s got some similarities to Secret Garden, but overall, very different. I loved the story and writing for 49 Days until the last episode... Story twists are much more shocking when they’re planted early and pondered over for more than five minutes.

*****Spoiler Alert!!*****

I was rather shocked that they would kill Jihyun in the end. It was such a twist, the way the events played out. If Jihyun did die, I only thought she would not gain all three tears. It never occurred to me that they would bring her back only for her to die. I’m not all that upset that Jihyun died, actually. I thought it was a very balanced ending. It’s kind of a "life goes on after losing someone" kind of story.

The one thing I disliked about the ending was how they tied in the sister relationship between Yikyung and Jihyun. It was just so rushed and poorly planned. I heard some speculations about Yikyung finding out one of the lead characters was her younger sibling (I don’t think they ever specified the gender), but my impression was that those ideas were purely fan based speculations. Of course, I should have remembered that more likely than not, when something is mentioned in a drama, there’s a good reason for it. But just the way they played out that story was just so rushed. If they had introduced something about it even a couple episodes earlier, that would have tied in a lot better in my opinion. And I always wondered if Jihyun ever found out that Yikyung was her sister and that’s why one of the three tears was not hers. Thinking from Jihyun’s perspective, it would hurt to think Yikyung didn’t cry genuine tears for her. I mean, they got really close towards the end. Of course, Jihyun could have just assumed that Seowoo and Injung cried for her first. But anyways, it definitely answers the question as to why Yikyung was shown crying at least three times for Jihyun, but the tears were never counted. 

The ending had gaping flaws but I was still quite content with it. Most things did fit together well. Even though the end wasn’t the ideal outcome, it was more realistic than a lot of other dramas in a sense. It was definitely not your typical romantic comedy. The conclusion was very open-ended in that Yikyung doesn’t start dating Kang, but they don’t say to leave that possibility out. Since they have each other and they got their closure with their significant other, it is definitely possible for them to heal and move on and fall in love again, possibly with each other. I really do love that Yikyung is no longer alone and has a family and friends who genuinely love her, but again, could have been played out better. And as for Jihyun and Yisoo, they don’t have any regrets, so they got their closure too. Pretty satisfying, if you ask me.

Thanks so much for reading my 49 Days reviews! I would love comments and feedback! I can't wait to hear your thoughts on this drama, or your thoughts on my thoughts! =D

49일 (a.k.a. 49 Days) Review Part 2 of 3: Episodes 7-16

49 Days Review Part 2

(Episodes 7-16)

4 more episodes!!

So, strong start, a little slow around episode 6-10, but then it REALLY picked up these past few episodes! I’m satisfied with the acting overall; very well done. A few characters have plateaued some, but Jung Ilwoo’s acting makes up for all of it! What a performance in episode 16! WOW! Nam Gyuri’s performance is improving as well, although I can’t really say if it’s just that her character is growing so she has a better opportunity to show us her skills. Lee Yowon is also such an amazing and talented actress. I find myself forgetting that this is really just one person performing as two people. It’s so believable that she is inhabited by two different souls! She is such a heartwrenching cryer, but then her happy scenes are so cute! 

I love the whole you-know-that-I-know-but-we’re-all-pretending-we-don’t-know-anything thing that is going on with Kang and Yikyung/Jihyun. The scenes itself are just so adorable and heartwarming, but then deeper meaning once you calculate that they knew each other’s knowledge of the situation is just so ironic, funny, and CUTE!!

The storyline is getting really intense! They finally started revealing a lot of answers to some seemingly insignificant questions (and items) from earlier on, which was a total OHHHHH moment (or several moments, for that matter). I love how what seemed to be set rules and boundaries are getting broken and pushed... it’s so confusing, but refreshing because it’s unexpected. I love how the in limbo world is able to interact with the real world people all of a sudden. I wonder, does this happen with other 49 day souls, or is it just these people because of all their intertwining connections....

I love Jung Ilwoo and Jo Hyunjae’s songs for the soundtrack. The lyrics are very fitting for the drama, and I love when the main actors sing for the soundtrack, especially since they both have beautiful voices. Jung Ilwoo’s voice is more on the melancholy side, which fits since they revealed our Scheduler’s rather tragic past. Jo Hyunjae’s is full of love and longing.

I really wonder who will give Jihyun her last two tears. I don’t think it will be Seowoo, even more so because she found out that the guy she likes (Han Kang) is in love with Jihyun, so now she has the whole bitter love taken away thing going on. But also because it seems too simple, too obvious of a plot line. 49 Days is far from simple, so I don’t see why they would make that part simple. I almost feel like Kang Minho will end up crying for Jihyun, which would be in fact the most ironic of all. And perhaps the other person would be Yikyung, the borrowed body. I suspected that may happen earlier, but now that we know Yikyung can hear (and see?!!) Jihyun, I feel it’s almost certain. 

Then again, I wonder how likely it is that the writers will kill off Jihyun... Say Jihyun gets all three tears, comes back to life, marries Kang. Say Kang helps her find Yikyung and they become friends (which, by the way, raises another questions... all the people who figured out the 49 days deal, will they forget like Jihyun after it’s all over?), what is Yikyung going to do? Yisoo is dead, and there’s no way around that. I don’t particularly fancy Yikyung marrying the doctor, though we know his wife died a few years ago, so he is available. I guess the writers could leave her love life open ended, though that doesn’t appeal to me much either. Yikyung is such a lonely character, I feel like she needs someone (besides a friend, potentially Kang and Jihyun) to be with her. I almost want to pair her up with Kang, but then that seems rather disrespectful to Jihyun if she dies and somewhere down the road Kang starts dating Yikyung. Of course, I hate when the main character (male or female) is killed off, so let’s try not to think about that. 

On a more comical note, the Scheduler’s wardrobe is seriously more complex than many of the female characters’ wardrobes! He easily has at least three or four different outfits per episode. But perhaps we notice the constant change of eccentric colors and dangling accessories because of Jihyun’s lacking wardrobe. Besides getting tired of her same dress, I feel rather bad for the actress. There may be signs of spring in Korea with all the flowers abloom, but it definitely is still too cold for that dress!! But still, the Scheduler’s colorful variety of arrangements are a good balance to Jihyun’s constant pink. 

I wonder what happened to the “S love K” rings... wouldn’t the people who cleaned up the accident have picked those up? Why weren’t they given to Yikyung? I wonder if it’s because he’s an orphan and legally they aren’t siblings or even married, so they refused to hand over his belongings... usually the cops in dramas aren’t all too finicky about whose who’s guardian and proof and such... I hope they touch on that... If Yikyung had known about the rings, would she have been more or less depressed? I wonder what is her real reason for living like that for the past five years? I know it has to do with Yisoo, the way they separated, and his death and all that, but what is the real motive... Does she think he was cheating on her? Does she feel regretful that she didn’t trust him and they separated and he died still loving her even though she doubted him? Did she get the rings, so that’s how she knew of his intentions? Oh, and another question.. When Dr. Noh said he felt responsible for Yisoo’s death, what did he mean? Was Yikyung going to the psychiatrist before Yisoo died, showed him the pictures of Yisoo with another girl, and Dr. Noh said Yisoo was definitely cheating on her? (By the way, that accident scene..... That has to be on my top 5 list of most heartwrenching scenes to make me cry ever!)

I love when the antagonists get what they deserve!!!!! I could have use a little more hair tearing when Seowoo started beating up Injung! And when Kang started punching Minho for Jihyun.... beautiful! Not only because Jo Hyunjae looked awesome all angry and punching someone... but also I love when a guy beats up another guy for a girl... hehe. But probably the most satisfying is the fact that Jihyun does to Minho the same thing he did to her... she kind of lead him to believe she was interested him, which she did only for her own gain, and then he finds out that he fell for her but she is indifferent. And then he finds out it was Jihyun all along?!?! Serves him right! But truth be told, Minho kind of scares me.. He’s willing to go to any lengths, use whatever means necessary in order to complete his plans... In a way he has nothing to lose.. Those are the scariest people, because you never know what they will do.

I can’t wait until the finale of 49 Days. I’m quite a bit sad at the idea that it’s coming to an end (no more Scheduler, bipolar Lee Yowon, softy Jo Hyunjae....), but alas, all good things must come to an end. But that’s what DVDs are for... Right?

Until next time.

신데렐라 언니 (a.k.a. Cinderella's Sister)

Cinderella’s Sister

신데렐라 언니

2010

KBS

Main Cast:

Moon Geun-young 문근영 as Song Eun-jo 송은조 (stepsister of Hyo-sun, very cynical, cold, and shy)

Chun Jung-myung 천정명 as Hong Ki-hoon 홍기훈 (young college student working for Gu Dae-sung, Eun-jo’s love interest)

Seo-woo 서우 as Gu Hyo-sun 구효선 (our Cinderella, very naive and bubbly)

Taecyeon 택연 as Han Jung-woo 한정우 (Eun-jo’s friend from her past)

Lee Mi-sook 이미숙 as Song Kang-sook 송강숙 (Eun-jo’s mother, manipulative, the reason for Eun-jo’s cynicism)

Kim Kap-soo 김갑수 as Gu Dae-sung 구대성 (Eun-jo’s stepfather, kind and loving father to Eun-jo and Hyo-sun)

Synopsis:

Song Eun-jo, who lives with her mother since years ago (and also her mother's current lover), finally gets a new family and a home when her mother remarries to a kind man who owns a winery. At first, she denied it, and even attempted to escape rather than dealing with the attempt of being schooled. The cynical Eun-jo is unable to accept the affection of her new step-sister Hyo-sun and step father Gu Dae-sung. Hyo-sun, with her bright character, is the apple in her father's eyes and Eun-jo's mother goes out of her way to fulfill the role of Hyo-sun's mother, causing her to neglect and act harshly towards Eun-jo. However, Eun-jo finds a friend in Hong Ki-hoon, a college student working at the winery who becomes her own prince. Ki-hoon eventually leaves to take care of personal issues, but Hyo-sun's jealousy of Eun-jo causes her to make Eun-jo believe that he has abandoned her. The three reunite 8 years later to begin the main plot - a modern adaptation of Cinderella with a twist. Han Jung-woo, a boy that Eun-jo considered her little brother 8 years ago, appears in order to be near her and fulfills the role of a "fairy godmother" to her. A love triangle forms when Hyo-sun falls for Ki-hoon, who is still in love with Eun-jo. The feeling of betrayal lasts with Eun-jo, creating misunderstandings and difficulties. However, the kindness of Eun-jo's stepfather (Gu Dae-sung, Hyo-sun's father) begins to change everyone's lives, making this a tale of growth and redemption.

Credit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinderella%27s_Sister

Review:

        Cinderella’s Sister’s plot follows a few basics of a classic Cinderella story. Evil stepmom and stepsister, daughter of dad who passes away early on, rich inheritance left to stepmom, who is plotting to have everything left to her own daughter (and young son).

        
        However, like the title says, this story is about the stepsister of Cinderella. The plot is much darker and heavier than most other Cinderella story. And Cinderella does not end up with the man. Not that you want her to. Sometimes you hate Eun-jo, the sister. Sometimes you feel very sympathetic and sorry for her. Sometimes you feel so bad for Hyo-seon (Cinderella) for how naive and oblivious she is, and how ill treated she is by her step family, yet here I was rooting for Eun-jo to end up with the man, Ki-hoon. The storyline itself wasn’t all that unique or extraordinary, so the main point of this drama is more about the character development and the interaction and conversations between the characters.

        It did get frustrating that Eun-jo was so cold and hateful to everyone around her, even her stepdad, who genuinely loved her. You could tell that sometimes she wanted to respond differently, but she is surrounded by this defensive wall that she could not break through, so ends up constantly pushing everyone away. The female lead, Moon Geun-young, did an amazing job with this drama. Every time she cried, her grief was so genuine that I cried along with her. The few times she smiled, I smiled. And the rare laugh made me laugh too. The role of Eun-jo could not have been an easy one, especially when compared to her usual happier characters in the movies Innocent Steps and My Little Bride. 

        Chun Jung-myung is Hong Ki-hoon, the kind-hearted and gentle college student living at the Gu Dae-sung Winery. Hyo-seon has a huge crush on him and is always claiming him as her man. Ki-hoon felt a strong bond with Eun-jo when they first meet because he saw his past self in her cynicism and bitter hatred. He changed and became the kind loving man he is because of Hyo-seon’s father, Dae-sung. He begins to warm Eun-jo’s cold heart slowly as he never gives up on her and takes care of her. When Eun-jo won an award in school, the only praise she wanted to hear was his. For most of the drama, you never see Eun-jo smile. Eventually, with the help of her family, Ki-hoon, and her childhood acquaintance Jung-woo, she begins to smile, laugh, and love.

        I was very impressed by the casting. I felt everyone fit their roles perfectly. The people you were supposed to hate really made you hate them, the characters meant to be loved really made you love them. The depth of their characters was believable. The character development was well written. Everyone grew up and became better people. They learned something about themselves and about life and about the people around them. They learned where their loyalties lie, what family is, how to love and be loved. And of course, the villains got what they deserved (my personal favorite type of ending). 

        Overall, the soundtrack isn’t uber amazing, but one or two songs stand out. My favorite is “It Has to be You” by Yesung of Super Junior (directly translated it the title says “If it’s not you, it can’t be”. It went so well with the drama, and the song itself is nice to listen to.

        I would love to watch this drama again (if only it wasn’t so long). I tend to enjoy every drama I watch, so my way of determining if it really stood out is if I would buy it or not. Even though it definitely was a heavier drama, certainly not a romantic comedy, Cinderella’s Sister is definitely on my to buy list!