Finally settled on a new Korean drama and decided to try to watch one currently airing. “Rookie mistake” my k-drama pimp told me. She was right. I’ve already burned through the six posted (and fully translated) episodes on viki.com, and have rewatched and added timed comments to them. Still no episode 7. Lesson learned. Anyway, despite that, I like, Love Rain so far.
Love Rain as described on viki.com:
While in college in the 1970s, Seo In Ha falls in love with the sweet Kim Yoon Hee. But destiny stepped in and separated them, and both moved on with their lives. Forty years later, In Ha’s son meets and falls in love with Yoon Hee’s daughter. Can the young couple finish what their parents started or will fate step in again to separate two generations of lovers?
I think the span of time is actually 30 years, but the show seems to play fast and loose with time. For example, 1970s character Kim Yoon Hee’s parents die when she is a young kid. Their favorite movie is Love Story which came out in 1970. Kim Yoon Hee is a sophomore in college in the 70s. I’m just going with she is at age 16 (early admittance) and it’s like 1979.
The cinematography is beautiful in Love Rain and the details specific to the 70s really bring you into that era. Seeing girls getting their hemlines measured by police on the street made me really happy to not be from that generation! The super shy Yoon Hee and In Ha are such a cute almost couple you hate knowing it’s not going to work out. I don’t like old school melodramatic love stories, but it fits for the era and is in keeping with the prominence the classic American movie Love Story has on the characters.
Fast forward to In Ha’s son, who is the total opposite of his dad. They share a creativity gene as In Ha is a fine artist and Seo Joon is a commercial photographer but that’s about it. Joon is arrogant, rude and impatient. In Ha is gentle, chivalrous and shy. Yoon Hee’s daughter is also her polar opposite; Jung Ha Na is spunky, outspoken and earthy (she’s a student studying landscape gardening). It’s evident this is going to be a more modern love story where the two clash mightily.
The first four episodes spent much time showing the dynamics of In Ha’s friendship with two guys, Lee Dong Wook and Chang Mo, as well as two girls, Baek Hye Jung and Na In Sook. It’s going to be interesting to see them interacting as adults, their children’s friendship and how the return of Yoon Hee impacts them all.
Side note: I like that the brash, hottie friend has the same name as an actors I like–Lee Dong Wook–who starred in Wild Romance and My Girl, two other enjoyable dramas.
My Girlfriend is a Gumiho
While I’m dying waiting for the next episodes of Love Rain, I started watching My Girlfriend is a Gumiho. This show is hilarious–a nice lightweight way to pass time.
My Girlfriend is a love story of a man, who accidentally falls in love with a Gumiho (nine-tailed fox), a monster from Korean myth. Cha Dae Woong unknowingly releases the legendary Gumiho (Shin Min Ah) from her eternal prison. Frightened, he tries to run away, but gets into an accident that costs him his life. Feeling thankful, the Gumiho saves Cha Dae Woong.
- My man from Pasta and Midas, No Min Woo (with his fine self), is such a lowdown, skanky bitch in this show. Still his little smirk is kinda hot, dammit.
- Love how the old school melodrama music plays when the middle-aged aunt and the director of the action school are together. They are what make this show hilarious. Completely over-the-top!
- I realize I already called someone a bitch, but there is also the same skinny bitch from two other dramas causing drama on this show. GRRR! Hate that girl. How is she always considered the “cute” one on these shows is beyond me.
- The leading couple are well matched. Both are very innocent in some ways and sweet to watch.
The challenge of watching two shows at the same time is keeping up with the names. While storylines are easy to follow, having to remember so many character names that aren’t familiar is tricky. Because the names aren’t common to American culture, I don’t know male names from female names and this compounds the problem. Challenges are fun though!
Pinkpodster Ponders 