Revolutionary Love, The Package, and 20th Century Boy and Girl: Episodes 1-2: Memes

Hi guys, since I'm not sure which dramas I'm going to continue to meme, I've memed the first two episodes for all 4 dramas up for meming (While You Were Sleeping is the 4th). Please feel free if you have any requests for which two I continue with. Note, I won't be choosing outside of these four as I already have enough dramas on my plate right now. Anyhoo, without further ado, here are all the memes I've created from the first couple of episodes of these promising dramas. You can find a comparison I did of all four here as well.

20th Century Boy and Girl

The Package

 Revolutionary Love

October Drama Premiere Showdown - While You Were Sleeping, 20th Century Boy and Girl, The Package, & Revolutionary Love

Hi friends - it's taken me a little longer to get my posts out this week, because I decided I wanted to watch several of the new releases that came out this week and see which are good. Instead of doing a separate first feels for "While You Were Sleeping" which is on its 3rd week, I'm going to include it in this rundown as well. There are actually several more dramas than this that are out, but they are a little harder to find and honestly the thought of watching any more was a little too daunting. Out of the four I've listed below I'll probably only continue to do memes for 2 even if I watch all four. Please let me know which two you'd like me to continue to do memes for - I will definitely take it into considerations. I've posted all the memes I've made for the new dramas here. Also, this blog is completely spoiler- free!

The four dramas I will be looking at are:
While You Were Sleeping - 20th Century Boy and Girl - The Package - Revolutionary Love
 

The Contenders (in order of premiere date):


While You Were Sleeping - Premiered 9/27

What's It About?
I've aleady talked a little about this drama and I think most are familiar. Suzy plays Nam Hong Joo who has long had her dreams come true and was never able to do anything to change them until she meets Jung Jae Chan played by Lee Jong Suk who suddenly starts to dream about her. Together, they realize that if they work together they have the ability to change the future and prevent the horrible things from their dreams from coming true.

What's Good About It?
It has an exceptionally unique plot. The drama is beautifully written and equally beautifully shot.

What I Don't Like.
This is just my personal preference -while the drama has some significant differences to the writer's previous dramas (Pinocchio, I Can Year Your Heart), there are a lot of similarities. A major one being Lee Jong Suk as the leading man. He's great, but it almost seems like the female leads and his chemistry with them are interchangeable. Also, the careers and certain plot elements are very similar. So even though it's unique, there is something about this drama that just makes me feel like I've already seen in.  

Where Can You Watch It?
This drama is currently on Viki and can be accessed without the Viki Plus Pass. 



20th Century Boy and Girl - Premiered 10/9

What's It About?
This was originally going to be called "No Sex & The City" playing off of the American "Sex & The City" - it focuses on 3 friends who are now in their mid-thirties and still single and the difficulties in their careers and love life. The main focal point though is on Sa Jin Jin played by Han Ye Seul and Gong Ji Won played by Kim Ji Suk. They were lovebirds when they were young and have been reunited again through a series of circumstances

What's Good About It?
I really like the back story between the two leads so far and their briefly showed chemistry. It's enough to make me want to keep watching it above everything else. I've long wanted to see Kim Ji Suk in as a male lead and so far he's playing it fantastically. He's sweet and someone you want to root for the female lead to be with.

What I Didn't Like.
It is a little slow-going. It completely has a "Sex & The City" - which at first felt a little too dated for my tastes. Also, they show a lot of backstory clips, which annoyed me a lot at first, but I grew to enjoy it by the end of Episode 2 because it gave me context for the characters and the relationships.

Where Can You Watch It?
This drama is currently on Viki, but you need Viki's Plus Pass to access the current episodes. 


The Package - Premiered 10/13

What's It About?
Welcome back Jung Yong Hwa to the drama scene with his first romantic lead role in awhile. He plays San Ma Ru, a naive but seemingly upright tourist who takes a trip to Paris alone (for reasons that become known shortly). He is introduced to tour guide Yoon So So, played by Lee Yeon Hee, who is struggling to follow her dreams of bigger things by working as a tour guide to Koreans in Paris to pay the bills. The story follows the tour group and the various characters in it.

What Good About It?
It's refreshing. It takes place in Paris so far so it's a nice change of scene from most kdramas. I like a lot of the actors who are part of the tour group and you can tell that they are going to play off of each other really well and become a family throughout this drama. Seeing Jung Yong Hwa playing a goofy, soft character is also a refreshing alternative to his cold, suave characters. It's not afraid to touch racy topics (sex shops, affairs, etc) and is really funny.

What I didn't like.
At this point - honestly nothing. The things I didn't like initially ironed themselves out for me by the end of the second episodes.

Where Can You Watch It?
You can watch The Package on DramaFever


 Revolutionary Love  - Premiered  10/14

What's It About?
Our dear Siwon is back from the military and rewards us for patiently waiting for him with his first lead role (in my kdrama lifetime anyway). He plays naive but spoiled chaebol Hyuk who comes across hard-working ambitious Joon played by Kang Sora. He sees how she works hard and what some would consider lowly jobs without sacrificing her pride. For him it's love at first sight. For her, she just sees another person who uses money instead of a conscience. 

What's Good About It?
Siwon continues to prove that he a walking meme king. His facial expressions are unparalleled and he is just hilarious. His character is really sweet and you can tell he, Kang Sora, and Gong Myung (the second male lead) are going to play off of each other really well. The plot isn't incredibly unique but this is a case where the cast chemistry and the comedy will make up for that.

What I Didn't Like.
Looking back the plot is a tiny bit cliche. It didn't bother me when I was watching it but now that I'm thinking I can't really point out anything unique about it.

Where Can You Watch It?
You can watch Revolutionary love on DramaFever.

 
My Rankings -Most to Least Enjoyable


#1 -The Package - I'll definitely keep watching! This is the one I'm most looking forward to seeing more episodes of. Glad I gave it a chance, because I almost decided to postpone it to when I finished this current drama cycle. It just felt really refreshing - in some ways it felt more like a movie but in all the best ways and none of the bad ones. 

#2- Revolutionary Love - Of course I'll keep watching! Although the plot isn't quite blowing my mind, I can't deny that I was laughing - hard - during most of this drama and that it is important. I just enjoy seeing Siwon's face so much and I know when he goes into character development mode, it's going to be irresistibly swoon-worthy.

#3 - While You Were Sleeping - How could I not keep watching? I know it's going to be an unpopular opinion not putting this at #1, but I acknowledge this one is my personal feelings. If you are interested in watching it, please don't be deterred - it really is an amazing drama. I really do enjoy, it just doesn't seem to amaze me in the same way it does others.

#4 -20th Century Boy & Girl - Will continue to give it a try. By no means does this mean I didn't like the drama. I'm actually looking forward to what the drama holds and what is going to happen to these characters, but I can also tell that this is a niche drama for me, like a comfort food - and I know this drama likely wouldn't do it for everyone. That's why I put it last. In reality it's probably closer to #2 or 3 for me personally. But if you don't mind a drama that is calm and story-driven, give it a shot.

 

While You Were Sleeping Episodes 3 & 4 Memes

While You Were Sleeping continues to be off to a great start. Stay tuned for a first feels post from me soon. In the meantime, I've made some memes from this weeks episodes. Check all my While You Were Sleeping related posts here.

While You Were Sleeping Episodes 1 & 2 Memes

Hi friends! Hope you've all been well. While we still seem to be at a slow drip for dramas, there is a sun rising on the horizon with While You Were Sleeping. I'm very intrigued with the first couple episodes and will let you know after next week hope I'm feeling overall with the drama. That and Siwon's new drama is out! Although neither DramaFever or Viki picked it up, so it may be difficult for us international fans to watch it. Guess I'll have to get creative. In the meantime, I have decided to meme While You Were Sleeping and will continue to do so as long as the drama retains my interest. You will be able to find all my While You Were Sleeping posts here.

The Good Doctor - Korean vs American Version - The First Episodes

The first couple of times I heard that Hollywood had purchased the rights to produce an American version of a popular Kdrama, I got excited. I would get to see a story that I loved recreated by those in my own country. I was interested to see their take on it, what elements translated well, and what they changed. But as the years went by and none of these remakes ever came to fruition, I gave up hope. So much so that I had completely forgotten that "Good Doctor" was among those that were up for a remake. Until I saw that the pilot episode of the American "The Good Doctor" came out this week. I never watched the Korean version when it came out, because at that time in my Kdrama life, I was looking for cutesy romances (still am, tbh). But now that an American remake has come out, I decided to give Good Doctor (Korean) a try as well as The Good Doctor (American) so that I can compare the two and see what an American adaptation of a Korean Drama is really like and how it lines up against the original.

As a disclaimer, at this point I have only seen the first episode of both versions. If the American version has factors from the Korean version shown in later episodes, I won't know because I haven't gotten that far yet. So first, I'll point out some similarities, then I'll point out key differences, and then give my thoughts overall. There are spoilers below, but only from the first episode and I haven't seen beyond that, so it doesn't really spoil the plot of the drama at all.

Similarities:
Honestly, I was impressed because there were more similarities to the original than there were differences. Even scene by scene they were nearly identical save a few factors. All the way up to the lead's name Shi On in the Korean version and Shaun in the American. So rather than detail every single frame of what was similar, I will highlight the important things that remained the same.

• Autistic Savant: In both versions Shi On/Shaun has both autism and savant syndrome making him a medical genius with impaired social skills.

• Board Needs Convincing: Shi On and Shaun's mentor doctor is the lead of the hospital in both versions and has to speak in front of the other directors to convince them to give Shi On/Shaun a chance.
• Saves A Boy's Life: Shi On/Shaun both save a young boy who is injured by a falling sign. In both cases he delivers first aid that saves the boy's life that even the other doctor on the scene didn't know how to. Then he takes the ambulance with the boy who happens to be going to the hospital that Shi On/Shaun has been recently "hired' at. Video of Shi On/Shaun saving the boy's life goes viral which impacts the hospitals decision to give Shi On/Shaun a chance.
• Female Doctor is an Advocate for Mental Health.The female lead in both versions has a fight with the senior surgeon about how mental health of a patient/their peace of mind is just as important as physical health.
• Domestic Abuse: In both versions Shi On/Shaun was abused by his father growing up and bullied because of his condition.
• Doting Brother: Shi On/Shaun both are close with their brother. Their brother protects them and tries to help them befriend the other kids. Both Shi On and Shaun keep the toy scalpel their brother gave them as a gift when they were kids.

• Cold but Brilliant Lead Surgeon: In both version the Senior Surgeon is arrogant, but recognizes Shi On/Shaun's skill/expertise. He's mean and doesn't want Shi On/Shaun to be a surgeon, but something tells me he's going to become a softie as the story goes on. At least in the Korean version. Lol.

• Inspired to Become Doctor by Brother/Bunny's Death: In both versions, it is a speech from Shi On/Shaun explaining how he wanted both his bunny and his brother to grow up and have children and how it wasn't fair that they didn't and that is why he decided to become a doctor that inspires the directors to give him a chance. It's a moving speech and I'm really glad that they kept it.
• Director's Job is on the Line: The one that surprised me the most was that in both versions, the director/president of the hospital vows to resign if Shi On/Shaun cannot make it as a doctor. This surprises me because it seems like a much more Kdrama -specific thing but it certainly ups the ante for tension in the American version. 

Differences:
As I said before the shows are both very similar, so there aren't a lot of big differences but here are a few that caught my attention.

• Sex: Unsurprisingly there is sex in the American version, within the first 7 minutes and it keeps getting brought up. They don't show the act, thought.
• Attitude: Shaun is more talkative than Shi On was and in that way he's also a bit more antagonistic/curt towards others. This could be a cultural thing or just a different portrayal of autism. I find both portrayals to be accurate to life. 

• Type of Hospital: In the Korean version, they work in a pediatric hospital. In the American version, it's just your standard hospital.
• Death of Brother: In the American version, Shaun's brother is younger than him and dies from falling off of an old train car. In the Korean version, Shi On's brother is older and dies in a collapses old mine.
• Surgery Timeframe: Shaun goes into surgery with the other doctors at the end of the first episode, whereas the first episode of the Korean version does not see Shi On in surgery.
• Gender/Racial Discussion: In the American version the difficulties faced due to racial and gender issues with the difficulties faced as someone with a disability such as autism.
• Drunk Kdrama Trope: In typical Kdrama style we get a scene where the female lead gets drunk, goes home but apparently it's in the house that Shi On is living so obviously one of them is in the wrong places, and wakes up to find him in his underwear brushing his teeth. 

 

Thoughts:
 Firstly, I will say that I really enjoyed the first episode of Good Doctor - the Korean version (and the American version to but more on that in a minute). I was intrigued by the plot and the characters and definitely plan on finishing it. Because the American version is so similar to the Korean, I also plan on giving it a chance. However, I didn't feel quite the love Freddie Highmore's portrayal of Shaun as much as I did Joo Won's portrayal of Shi On. I just felt more drawn to Shi On as a character, but that could have been an acting choice on Freddie Highmore's part. Also, there is the fact that Freddie's American accent is a fake one (he's British) and he has that to add on top of acting as an autistic man. In addition, there is the fact to consider that the first episode is the pilot and acting in the pilot seems to typically be a little stiffer. That being said, I look forward to seeing what the American version brings forward and how it lines up with the original. So far they have maintained not only the spirit of the drama, but also have remarkably stuck very closely to the original. As the show progresses, I hope they are able to at least keep the spirit of the show the same. Unfortunately, based on the pilot critics don't seem to be the biggest fan of the shows, viewers however say otherwise. But as I say, you can't judge a show from its pilot.

Let me know your thoughts! I'd love to hear them.

Strongest Deliveryman: Drama Diagnosis

Brief Summary: Strongest Deliveryman is about a small neighborhood in Seoul where the restaurants serve authentic food and the deliverymen (and women) are exceptional at their jobs. But in moves the Jung Family Food restaurants that threaten to take over the whole neighborhood and put all the other restaurants out of business. Kang Soo is a deliveryman who has been in the business for a long time and made a lot of friends throughout the city along his way due to his incredibly kind nature and loyalty. Along with his loyal friends and fellow deliverymen, they rally together to save the neighborhood and fight against the evil corporation trying to destroy them.

LoganLand Rating: 4.7 Stars

I felt really content after Strongest Deliveryman finished. The drama didn't go where I expected it to, but I really enjoyed where it did go.I'm a sucker for great characters and this drama had so many of them to choose from. The story was filled with hard work that paid off in uplifting moments, sweet and tender romances, and so many laughs. This drama easily makes it into my recommendation list. 

Things I Loved

-Kang Soo. I think it's safe to say there isn't another person in the world like Kang Soo. He's the type of person that is so kind and so selfless that he actually inspires other people to become more like him. He literally had hundreds of people drop what they were doing at a moment's notice when they found out he needed help -because they remembered how good he was to them in the past. I love characters like Kang Soo because they make me want to be a better person myself. I find anyone with that much capacity for forgiveness so admirable. 

-Character Development. The characters were so amazing even more so because of the capacity they showed to change. Especially Jin Gyu and Dan Ah. Even when they displayed their less than positive traits, the drama still made sure that you could see the goodness in them. They were diamonds in the rough.  Jin Gyu was a spoiled chaebol and Dan Ah  was hard-edged and mean. I don't think that Kang Soo's influence on either of them played a small part, but as the drama drew on they both softened and their kind-heartedness that used to be buried deep was brought to the surface in both of them. They both started chasing their dreams in a productive way. Every other character was fantastic from all of the deliveryman to the chef and Soon Ae, this was the kind of group of characters that you want to make your friends for life.

-Funny. I laughed so much during this drama. The main four actors were so fantastic that they played off the comedy bits with ease. They each had such a sense of their character and went for it. I was especially impressed by the actors who played Kim Sun Ho and Go Won Hee who played Jin Gyu and Ji Yoon respectively. They were the two that had me cackling more than anyone. I feel like those two are going to go far in dramaland, especially Kim Sun Ho. You just watch.

Things I Didn't Love 

-The Timing For A Couple Episodes Near the End. Because I liked the drama a lot, I have to get really specific on the things I didn't like. The drama slowed down for a bit about 4-5 episodes from the end for an episode or two. The episodes were still enjoyable, but I felt it didn't have the same momentum/progression. That remedied itself pretty quickly in my opinion and the drama finished with a bang!

-Kang Soo's Mom. She was really not a good person. She treated Kang Soo and his father horribly. At least she knew she was awful and that she shouldn't be a part of his life when they reunited as adults, but in reality knowing Kang Soo's character it was only a matter of time before she was completely forgiven. Still, a woman who can abandon her child and then completely ignore him when she met him as an adult is a loser in my book.

Resolution: 95%  

I was very happy with the ending that we got. I feel like as my Kdrama tastes have matured, I'm not as satisfied with dramas where they get married and have babies. Yes, it's nice to know that they'll be together forever and happy, but it seems almost too easy/predictable to have a drama ending that way. The ending of Strongest Deliveryman was in the not to distant future and we got see the characters that we grew to love living out their dreams and genuinely happy together. The mere fact that despite the fact that they were not all the way to completing their dreams/reaching happily ever after, they were happy and they were together was all I could have asked for. The only way I could have been more satisfied with the ending, is if I could have seen every other character from the drama living out their dream, but there were just too many for that to be plausible.

I think my views of this drama were a little more favorable than most. Still, I think most people would agree that this is an overall enjoyable drama. It may not hit him for those who are very plot-driven or need a lot of conflict. It had cutesy elements, but to me the moral/character development was too strong to be considered a purely "cutesy drama". I would recommend this drama to everyone who puts character over any other factors and to anyone who loves a feel-good underdog story. 

You can find all my Strongest Deliveryman posts here. 

  

Strongest Deliveryman Episodes 15 & 16 Memes

Aw man, first I had to say goodbye to School 2017 and now Strongest Deliveryman. That's the bane of  a Kdrama fan's existence, isn't it? Always having to say goodbye to the dramas we love. But where the kdrama gods close a door, they'll surely open a Kdrama window soon, won't they? I'd better find a new drama - stat. All the ones I'm watching right now are old. Lol. Until then, here are the last of my Strongest Deliveryman memes. You can find all my Strongest Deliveryman posts here.