From time to time I go through the well-known "drama hangover". Even if I try to balance my backlog, don't start too many dramas with diversified stories at the same time, even if I choose only one favorite to follow... it doesn't matter, the routine will run over all my plans and I end up not having the courage or the will to watch anything. Usually when this kind of thing happens, I look for short dramas, with plots that I don't need to think too much, just watch, smile, fall in love and that's it, move on. So I remembered to list these short dramas I've seen and give my recommendations.
Part 2 here
Part 3 here
Splash Splash Love
Splash Splash Love, the 2015 minidrama with only 2 episodes made me so immensely happy. The story is about a high school student Jang Dan-bi (Kim Seul Gi). Running away from a maths test she finds herself in a playground. Unconsciously, she goes into a puddle and is suddenly transported to the Joseon period. There she meets King Lee-do (Yoon Doo-joon). My review here.
After the Rain
Kim Kang Woo is my soft spot and this 2 episode drama special seemed to call to me. And good thing too because this show is excellent. This is a comedic human drama about Bong Gil who is forty years old, single and tired of taking care of his 90 year old father. My review here.
The Reason I'm Getting Married
Two very good reasons to check out this drama - Song Jun Ho and Hong Jong Hyun. 😍 The story is about a woman (Park Hee Bon) who is about to marry her long-time boyfriend and meets a friend from the past who has a crush on her. My review here.
Came to me and Became a Star
This story is about Gang Seok (Kim Ji Suk) and Ha Jin (Jung So Min). Both are struggling to stay afloat in life when they meet and fall in love. Review here.
Review Notebook of My Embarrassing Days
Another KBS Drama Special starring Jeon So-min and Park Sung-hoon. Do Do-Hye (Jeon So-Min) is a mathematics teacher and has an overly honest personality, which makes her face embarrassing moments. She keeps a diary where she writes down all these embarrassing moments and reflects on herself. My review here.
Handmade Love
Because this web drama has Lee Soo Hyuk as the lead actor, I had to go see what it was all about. This is about Woven (Lee Soo Hyuk) who is a god who sinned by touching the coat of a goddess and his punishment is to live on Earth and make clothes that cure humans of their sadness.
I think Lee Soo Hyuk is perfect for the role of a god with that perfect elegance and ethereal looks. And I want to thank whoever thought he should wear high collars and fluffy pullovers. ❤️
The first thing that struck me was the luxurious appearance of the small shop. The clothes were beautiful and the furniture looked wonderful and magical.
I liked the stories of the humans he had to heal as they seemed solid and with good messages but I also felt they were rushed, maybe because it was only 8 episodes. So the concept was very cute but the execution was not very efficient.
The Universe's Star
"The Universe's Star" is written and directed by Kim Ji Hyun, known for "Splash Splash Love". That, and having my beloved Suho/Kim Jun Myeon in the cast made me want to watch this drama. This is the love story between a talented singer-songwriter Woo Joo (Kim Jun Myeon) and Byul (Ji Woo), a 19-year-old student who turned into a grim reaper after dying in an accident.
This show has stayed in my heart forever because although it only has 6 half hour episodes, it has more depth than some regular length dramas. Each episode had the ability to make me think and feel, and themes such as the meaning of life, self-worth or appreciating the present came up regularly in my thoughts.
While I can't say that the acting of the main actors was excellent I really enjoyed the OTP arc. The ending is quite emotional and moving and although it left me crying it also left my heart full.
I also have to mention the friendship between Byul and Gakshi (ghost). Though they should be "enemies" a friendship is formed and it is a pleasure to see them together.
Queen of the Ring
It's a cute and romantic mini-series of only 6 half-hour episodes. It's perfect for those who don't have time to devote to an entire series of 16 episodes or more and the content is light and heartfully.
Story is about an ugly girl, Nan Hee (Kim Seul Gi) who one day receives a ring that holds a family secret. Due to the magic ring, she dates Se Gun (Ahn Hyo Seop) who is a handsome guy but has a cold-blooded personality and struggles to see her as his ideal type.
I have a crush on Kim Seul Gi and I thought she gave Nan Hee a spunky personality even though she's so insecure about her physical appearance. And, as always, the emotional moments of this drama were delivered by her in a touching way.
I didn't feel very good about the premise of this drama and the idea of the "ugly girl" liking a boy who was only interested in physical appearances was not winning me over. However, the drama showed me that it had a message behind the original idea that left me quite satisfied with the end result.
Romance Full of Life
It's about In-Sung (Yoon Si Yoon) who is preparing for the exam to become a police officer for 4 years. He fails the exam 8 times, but he still has a positive personality. He then applies for the high paying part-time job which is titled "Full Life Experience". And then his life changes.
Of the Three Colors of Fantasies trilogy, this was the weakest for me. What I liked: I loved Yoon Si Yoon in this drama. I thought he looked adorable as a geek with those chrome glasses and that ruffled hair.
I liked that he turned into some sort of superhero and stopped being a weakling but I hated some of his actions and the way it changed him for the worse.
The OTP was okay.
Two Lights: Relumino
For three years Seo In-Soo (Park Hyung-sik) has been facing partial blindness. Looking for a new leisure activity, he joins a photography club for people with visual limitations. That's when he meets Ahn Soo-Young (Han Ji-min) - a young woman who is part of the group of students.
The story shows the daily struggles each has to go through due to their physical limitations, as well as the bond that is developed between them as they get to know each other better.
This short film is to make people aware of Samsung's Relumino device so the running time of the film is only 30 minutes, so the story is developed quickly but manages to be sweet, sensitive and beautiful.
And I liked the message of hope, inner strength and independence in the midst of darkness.
This is the link to my drama list. This includes all of the dramas and movies I have watched since October 2017. My top 10 drama list includes (In no particular order):
Are You Human Too?
Chicago Typewriter
Hyde, Jekyll, Me
Its Okay That’s Love
Kill Me Heal Me
Reply 1988
Moon Lovers
Cruel Romance
Boys Over Flowers (Kor.)
Sound of the Desert
Some of my favorite movies include (in no particular order):
Counting down the days till Hyungsik's military discharge!
(201216, D-19)
Enjoy some cold, beautiful Hyung-ssi from Two Lights: Relúmĭno, the sweetest, softest little short film you'll ever see, about two visually impaired individuals falling in love through their photography class (viewable for free and fully subbed on YouTube!). 🥰
If you need a lullaby tonight, Hyung-ssi's song from Two Lights is not to be missed! It's every bit as soft and sweet as the film! ☺️
Recently, I was asked for drama recommendations and goodness knows I am one whole mess regarding my taste or picking favorites (there’s very few dramas I out-right dislike), but I ended up thinking about various specials, web-dramas and such that deliver quick, pleasant watch for when you’re not feeling up to waiting for episodes or binging 16 episodes worth of content!
Splash Splash Love
Cute time traveling story that won’t deliver all the answers, but will make up for that with abundant cuteness and unexpected feels. Feel-good watch that turned out to be unexpectedly good. Bonus of gorgeous costumes, because who can say no to those.
Two Lights: Relumino
Half an hour of thought provoking, yet not ultimately sad story, delivered beautifully by the cast. Every nuance hits the right spots and don’t miss out on the post-credit scene! Something I keep rewatching time from time, just to delve in beauty of it all. Catch it here with subs and hq!
To.Jenny
Sweet, short and catchy! Lovely portrayal of family, friendship and relationship that peruses its tropes in ways it does not bog down the story or the watchers. Really refreshing, to me. Genuinely made me smile and laugh in time it was hard to achieve.
You Drive Me Crazy
A short story of struggle to leave the road of friendship to walk together path of lovers. Quirky, funny, well delivered and has some really good kisses. Ending may not be delivered in way everyone will be pleased, but at the same time, it’s exactly what you’d expect from kdrama!
Go Ho’s Starry Night
Office drama that uses its tropes very well, twisting some very nicely on their head. Touches some heavier subjects (such as sexism, prejudice) but without being too heavy and generally manages to tap into all good stuff of a romcom while not dragging out the ugh parts that usually come with them. Appealed to my love of jerks with heart of gold trope. Entertaining fun that isn’t all empty.
It’s hard to believe Two Lights : Relumino is basically a long samsung ad. There is so much heart and thought in this short movie about visually impaired people, I found myself tearing up. It’s moving and soothing at the same time. Han Ji-min and Park Hyung-shik did a lovely job portraying their characters convincingly.
So has one of my besties - he's her bias. And Hwarang also, but while I liked him as an actor, I've never been into any characters he's played like THAT MUCH, until Happiness came along.
I saw Two Lights Relumino a while back and it was freakin' amazing (everyone: you must watch that!! It's on youtube). So that was my first moment where I was like "WHO IS THIS MAN??" and then Happiness happened and it's permanent. :P
Synopsis: A short film about a sweet, mellow romance about a woman with a visual impairment and a man who grows to love her after they meet in a photography club.
Release Date: December 21st 2017, 3pm KST (online)