Sweet Stranger and Me review

Drama name: Sweet Stranger and Me/ Man Living at my house (Literal translation title)
Country: South Korea
Year: Oct- Dec 2016

The title intrigued me so I started watching this drama. I thought it would be the usual tenant and landlord kind of story, handsome guy moves in and falls in love with the landlady. But it's not that.

So, what's this drama about?

Hong Na Ri, a senior stewardess, thought her life is going well but finds out her fiance of 9 years is cheating on her with her junior. Na Ri's mother also passes away suddenly in an accident. She returns to her mother's house after a year of grieving only to find a young guy has moved in and taken over her mother's dumpling business (Hong dumplings).

The young guy, Ko Nan Gil, apparently is her stepdad. He married her mother before she passed away. Na Ri thought he was a con-artist at first but eventually she discovers that he is doing it for a reason. The rest of the story goes on with Na Ri uncovering the secrets behind Ko Nan Gil, her mother's marriage and the land in which her mother's house and Hong dumplings is built on.

Overall thoughts?

The first few episodes were interesting, it kept you wondering what was the secret, what was going to happen next. But as the story went on, there was little development and it got rather boring.

Best parts of the drama?

To be honest, there's not much interesting interior spaces in this drama. However, the scenery of the surrounding area of Na Ri's house and Hong dumplings is really nice. 

I enjoyed the bicycle rides and lakeside scenes: 

Even the farm where Nan Gil grows vegetables gives you a nice peaceful feeling: 

The robot museum is pretty unique. I wonder if it really exists in Korea? 

Duk Bong's office and room in the robot museum: 

Duk Shim's bicycle is really lovely!

One of Nan Gil's dumpling boys, Joon's car: 

Only in the later episodes there were some cafes: 

Some pretty cool nightlights at a resort (?) where Nan Gil and Na Ri went for a short holiday: 

More scenery: 

Notable scenes:

The beginning episodes where Nan Gil was trying to be a stepdad to Na Ri, resulting in a hilarious moment with Duk Bong: 

The part where Na Ri peeps into Nan Gil's room while he changes his clothes. It was rather creepy too, if you think of it that you're seeing your stepdad undress... But it's drama, so nobody cares... :D With a sexyback like that, who can resist? ;P 

The dumpling boys, Nan Gil's workers in Hong Dumplings. There was one guy who was really cute and funny. The other two, Hani and Joon are Nan Gil's friends (sort of brothers/ followers) that he met while in prison. 

Over commericals

I know that Coffeesmith is one of the main sponsors... but seriously, there has not been a drama like this where almost every cafe scene is in their premises! Even Na Ri's best friend is working there, yes they even had to squeeze that in at the very last episode... 

Fashion

A special mention for Kwon Duk Bong's dressing in this drama. I know Nan Gil has his share of turtlenecks but Duk Bong takes the trophy for best dressed. :D 

Conclusion

There is a happy ending, Nan Gil and Na Ri gets together and his marriage to her mother was annulled. The land issue settled with Dada Finance guys thrown to jail and Duk Bong's father giving up on the land. However I must say the ending is really cheesy. Na Ri's father who ran away after creating all this mess and also Na Ri's gambling uncle gets to enjoy the benefits of Hong Dumplings under Nan Gil's care. Duk Bong's father gets away without any justice for the burnt orphanage. Although it happened more than 40 years ago but still I felt that issue was not given a proper closure. As with Na Ri's mother's death, I'm still not clear if she really died in a car accident or that Duk Bong's father/ Dada finance people killed her. 

I'm really relieved that this drama has ended. I don't think I could stand another few more episodes of constant flashbacks and the staring game. Yeah, there was so many staring moments between the male and female lead... I was like, "Can you guys stop staring already??!!" Omo, yasss it's finally over!! 

My Wife's having an affair this week office pantry

My current obsession with K-dramas has led me from one drama to another.  The recently concluded "My Wife's having an affair this week" was a pretty good show.  I enjoyed the story as well as the interior. This is the office pantry of Producer Do Hyun Woo, Producer Ahn and Writer Kwon. The concrete blocks caught my eye and then I realised it was cleverly used as a support for the bookshelves as well as a decorative piece. There is even some back-lighting for some of the blocks. 

On the opposite side, the concrete blocks were used as a divider and a bar area as well. Retro furniture pieces were used to match the concrete and wood. Although I must note that the space is rather small, so it may look like there is a lot of things going on.... maybe a little bit crowded for some. But I think it looks pretty nice overall. I really like the concrete blocks and wood combo. 

My Wife's Having an Affair this Week review

Drama name: My Wife's Having an Affair this Week 
Country: South Korea
Year: Oct- Dec 2016 

I watched this drama because of the male lead...I recognised him from Coffee Prince. :) I did not watch any of his dramas after that... (Pasta, but I might someday!) So it's good to see him again! I understand that this is a remake of a 2007 Japanese drama albeit with some updated items to it. 

So, what's this drama about?

Do Hyun Woo, a senior producer in a TV company has to come up with a new programme series as their current show has been axed. His team comes up with an idea about cheating wives. Ironically, he finds himself in the same situation when he stumbled across a text message on his wife's mobile. A man named Michael has booked a hotel room that coming Saturday. Feelings of denial, anger, confusion and despair followed. Hyun Woo could not concentrate on his work or his daily life at all. One night in his despair, confusion and also half-drunken state, he wrote his situation on a local Internet board asking for advice. Entitled," My wife is having an affair this week" (The show's title) the message board quickly gained the interest of many and became viral. 

The rest of the story goes on with Hyun Woo dealing with the situation as well as all forms of marital problems, ranging from adultery to divorce.

Overall thoughts?

It's definitely a drama for a mature audience. It deals with marriage, marital infidelity and issues pertaining to family. I actually enjoyed this drama (Maybe because I'm old!) The points that they brought up and responses to the situations were very realistic. The acting by all the cast was very good. I particularly enjoyed the responses from individuals on the Internet message board. 

Best parts of the drama?

The interiors of the various cafes and hotels were really nice. :D 

Producer Ahn and Writer Kwon (Bo Young)'s apartments were nice too:

Their office pantry has a really cool design as well: 

Some funky staircase: 

Notable scenes

Producer Ahn's reaction to Writer Kwon's blind date:

Karaoke dance version to Pick Me Up: 

Lawyer Choi and Producer Ahn demonstrating hand combat: 

Heartbreaking scene when Joon Soo cries after hearing that his parents will live apart:

Commericals

Smeg products- Oh seriously I love that pink kettle/ flask! 

Persil? Perse? I don't even know why I'm putting this in... 

Conclusion

Hyun Woo and Soo Yeon did get a divorce after all. Soo Yeon got the custody of their son, Joon Soo. Hyun Woo became a better man after the ordeal and took care of them even while living apart. There was a brief moment where Hyun Woo could have started a new relationship with a neighbourhood friend, but he decided to go back to his wife. Overall a happy ending and a new beginning to a life back together after separation. Okay, did that make any sense?! I hope it did! 

The K2 review

Drama name: The K2
Country: South Korea
Year: Sep- Nov 2016

I came across this drama while seeing some comments regarding it. It was like K2, K2 ,K2... I was like what show is that?! I thought it was a K9 unit police show kind of thing at first... :D 

So, what's this drama about?

Basically it's about a guy being in the wrong place at the wrong time and saw something he should not have seen. Kim Je Ha, an ex- black ops military soldier was on the run after being falsely accused of civilian murder in Iraq. He made his way from the Middle East to Barcelona, Spain. While in the subway there he helped a young woman as she was being pursued by several men. Je Ha decided to help her as she was a fellow countryman, a Korean. But after realising the men were actually policemen, he decided to abandon her. 

Fast forward six months later, back in South Korea... Je Ha is now a banner hanger guy. He was called to fix a loose banner at night and it was there that he was at the wrong place at the wrong time and saw the thing he should not have seen. Je Ha finds himself smack right in the middle of a political war between two presidential candidates- Assemblyman Jang and Assemblyman Park. 

The story goes on with Je Ha being recruited by Choi Yoo Jin, the wife of Assemblyman Jang as a bodyguard for the illicit daughter of the assemblyman. It turns out that young lady, Anna, was the same woman Je Ha left behind in Barcelona. Je Ha agrees to the job as he was bent on revenge after finding out that the rival candidate Assemblyman Park was behind the death of his ex-fiancee. 

Overall thoughts?

This drama started off with a bang. It had the cinematic feeling and I actually thought I was watching a movie at first. The first few episodes were very thrilling with the intense fight scenes. I didn't like Madam Choi Yoo Jin at first as she was the evil villain. But as the story progressed, I found myself liking her so much. To be honest, she was the reason I continued the drama. The political story was far more interesting than the romance between Je Ha and Anna. 

Best parts of the drama?

The fight scenes: Ji Chang Wook did a great job delivering those intense combat scenes. Love his long legs flying in the air... ;D You won't be disappointed! 

Uber sexy shower scene: Okay, some viewer advisory needed here... I know a lot of girls have breathing difficulties after this scene... ;P 

Umbrella scene: My favourite scene of the entire drama... Je Ha saving Madam Choi from an attempted power seizure by her family... 

Mirror: Madam Choi's very own Siri... haha! A very powerful artificial intelligence system... The interior is fascinating with the motion sensor LED lighting... 

Conclusion

Politics is always dirty. This drama touches only a bit behind the fight/ struggle/ race to the top... The story gets a bit complicated as it neared the end, it has a sub-plot within a plot and a bigger plot... Ironically, as this drama was being aired, South Korea's current female president is also under a big scandal. I wonder how it will turn out in real life... 

Madam Choi was truly the star in this drama. She played the role really well. Though she has a sad ending in this drama, I do believe that she was not an evil person at the beginning. Circumstances made her to be the woman she was in order to protect herself, her position and her power. 

Would I recommend this drama? Well, depends... If you are a hardcore romantic K-drama fan, you might love the cheesy scenes between Anna and Je Ha. But if you are like me, you'll probably find yourself skipping all those parts and just focusing on the political story. Still a worth watch, especially the fight scenes. 

With that said, let's have another look at my beautiful Madam and Je Ha! :D