Wok of Love Greasy Melo review

Drama name: Wok of Love/ Greasy Melo 
Country: South Korea
Year: May- July 2018

This show was in the list of dramas to watch in May 2018 featured on the Korean drama disqus channel which I am following. I saw the cast was Jang Hyuk and Jun Ho so I gave it a go. It was airing on my local cable tv so it was convienent as well... ;D 

So, what's this drama about?

Seo Poong is a Michelin star chef (not sure how many stars I forgot) working in a Chinese restaurant of Giant Hotel. He worked hard to reach his current position and everything seemed to be going well on the surface. He was about to get married and there were rumours of him being promoted to be the top chef of the restaurant. 

As Poong was going about his marriage preparations, he met Dan Sae Woo. Sae Woo is a governer's daughter and she is getting married as well. They met at the local bridal centre and later again at the hotel restaurant as she had booked a big dinner there. But during the dinner, she wanted Jjangmyeon (black bean noodles) which was not served in the hotel. She recognised Poong and demanded him to make her one bowl as she had not eaten the whole day. 

Poong had to go across the street from the hotel to a small Chinese restaurant to get some black bean sauce. The Chinese restaurant named Hungry Wok was run by an ex-gangster named Doo Chil-Sung. Poong managed to get the sauce but he didn't manage to cook the noodles because of the run-in with Chil Sung's men. Suffice to say, Sae Woo did not get to eat the noodles but she invited both Poong and Chil Sung to her wedding. Poong thought that was the last time seeing her. 

Then Poong got married with his fiance. However, it turned out that his fiance was cheating on him and the guy she was cheating with is the hotel's CEO. Poong got dumped the very next day after his marriage. (Yeah, this is really s*!) On top of that, he was framed by the hotel CEO and lost his job. 

Everything went downhill for Poong. It was then that he remembered the restaurant opposite the hotel, Poong went there and gave a proposal to Chil Sung. He wanted to use that restaurant to take revenge on the hotel CEO as well as the chef from the hotel restaurant. 

The story goes on with Poong trying to keep Hungry Wok afloat, handling Chil Sung's men, love interest with Sae Woo and lastly revenge on the lost of his job at the hotel restaurant.

Overall thoughts

The show reminded me a lot of Pasta, only in an updated version. The female lead character is like a total  "bimbo", dumb but rich girl this time. To be honest, she annoyed me a lot because she seemed so dumb being a governor's daughter like she never did anything in her life before. The part which pissed me off the most was when she took a loan for her horse to undergo surgery. That was like WTF moment, when your father is arrested, thrown in jail and all you think about is your horse??!!

Best parts of the drama

Chil Sung's apartment, his bedroom and kitchen is really nice. Love it... <3

The bromance between Poong and Chil Sung... To be honest, they were the only reason for me to continue watching this drama...

I read some comments that this show has become somewhat a makjang (food drama) I'm not too sure about that but the food featured definitely looks yummy! :D Tangsyuk (Sweet and sour pork), Jjangmyeon, Tang bao (I think it's a giant soup dumpling) and Almond tofu...

Some finer dishes served at the hotel restaurant and during the final cook-off battle...

It seems that this drama featured a lot of prawns/ shrimps... I feel hungry now... :D

I am wondering if Hungry Wok actually exists in South Korea... maybe someone can please tell me the location?!

Last but not least, Dim Sum the little kitten!! Aww, he's too cute... I'm glad they had a kitten in the show... it redeemed the show somewhat... XD

Notable scene

There seems to be a fascination with bus stops in kdramas... I have no idea why! The bus stop scenes in this drama seem to stand out for me... esp the one where Jang Hyuk brought the umbrella...

Conclusion

With the half assed writing of this story, I'm glad they cut short the episodes from 40 to 38... but then again some comments said that the ending was too abrupt. They didn't cover much of Poong's revenge on the CEO and what about his ex-fiance? No closure from there.

Also, the final battle between the two restaurants with the wager on was a tad bit ridiculous. It's like gangster style to settle debts. There is a happy ending nonetheless, Poong won the cook-off and everyone moved into the hotel restaurant... What?! Yeah, seriously mind blown to this point now...

What about the couple? Poong and Sae Woo ended up together, working in the hotel restaurant and Poong suggesting for them to get married (again) No disappointments for kissing fans though, there are enough kisses to keep you happy I presume... XD Jun Ho is quite a good kisser and the female lead is good as well.

Should you watch this drama? Nope. Unless you are a Jang Hyuk fan and you'll get to see him eat, grate dance, looking badass with sunglasses even at night and wearing a cowboy hat... XD Jang Hyuk my man, please come back as the badass butt kicking guy on screen which I know and love! Jaebal (please) Hahaa... yes I heard his next drama he will star as a MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) guy... lots of abs to see I guess?! ;D

Until then, keep eating Chinese food y'all! Jun Ho says so... XD

*image credits Dramabeans, Google and my own screenshots*

Chief Kim Good Manager review

Drama name: Chief Kim/ Good Manager
Country: South Korea
Year: Jan- Mar 2017

I stumbled across the making of this drama on the KBS channel. I thought it looked okay so I searched for "Good Manager" on the online drama websites but found none. Later on, my brother recommended this show (Yes, my bro watches kdrama too because his wife does :P) I searched further and found out that the show is called Chief Kim. Aigoo!

So, what's this drama about?

Kim Seong Ryong is an accountant working for a mobster boss in city of Gunsan. He's like the town's hero because he is so good at balancing the books without ever being caught. ;D Yes, he helps businesses to evade tax, earn more money and pockets money for himself while on the job! 

Chief Kim's goal is to save enough money to emigrate to Denmark. However, the mobster's right hand man started to make trouble by saying that Chief Kim was more powerful than the mob boss himself. This made the mobster boss not happy and he decided to get rid of Chief Kim.

Meanwhile, Chief Kim senses that something is not right anymore and opportunity came knocking when a big corporate conglomerate in Seoul named TQ Group was hiring a new business operations chief. Chief Kim secretly applies for the job without the mobster boss's knowledge.

The time came to get rid of Chief Kim. Chief Kim was smart enough to save the books for evidence against the mobster boss. The mobster boss captures Chief Kim's assistant in exchange for the books. There was a showdown but Chief Kim survives the incident and gains approval from the mobster boss to leave Gunsan to work at TQ Group. 

The rest of the story goes on at TQ Group where Chief Kim thinks he could pocket money big time but in the end finds himself right in the middle of a huge company crisis with a cover-up for attempted murder, money syphoning and power struggle. 

Overall thoughts?

It's an entertaining drama. A lot of humour amidst the seriousness of corporate greed and struggles of ordinary working people. The cast chemistry is very electric and you'll find yourself endearing to each character individually. There are a lot of references to k-pop songs and other k-dramas too!

Best parts of the drama?

The ending for each episode is done in a manga style! You'll be looking forward to each one!

Like I've mentioned earlier, you'll be laughing a lot with the references to k-pop songs and k-dramas. I absolutely love the mobster gang singing to BTS's Fireeee! Too funny!

Chief Kim and Seo Yul's bromance... From enemies to friends... I love how Chief Kim teases Seo Yul!

And who can forget this scene from Goblin!! Chief Kim and Seo Yul's bodyguard coming to rescue!

Sang Tae and Gwang Sook's romance... You are my destiny song!! Too sweet and funny!

Notable scenes:

Food fight scene between the two departments, Accounting and Business Operations. I did look up the meaning of Pirarucu! 

Director Seo's encounter with the cleaning ahjumma... She's the same cleaning lady in Shopping King Louis too!

Morpheus and Neo.... Chief Kim's bodyguards for the day after he was nearly killed...

Special mention for the lawyers from Go and Goo! The guy is too cool with the dramatic entrance all the time!

Fashion

Chief Kim and Director Seo Yul has some nice suits in this show but the one which stole it all was Park Myung Seok, the chairman's son. He really has some snazzy outfits! And he rocked in all of them!

Conclusion

Chief Kim went to TQ Group with the intention to embezzle enough money to leave for Denmark but he ended up saving the whole company from the greedy Chairman Park Hyun Do. In the process Chief Kim had turned from a semi-bad guy to a good guy. Director Seo Yul, a power crazy ex-prosecutor also became good in the end by joining forces with Chief Kim to take down Chairman Park.

It's a happy ending, Chief Kim gets an offer from the mobster in Gunsan to help run another night club nearby Seoul. So he's back to old self again!

I really enjoyed this drama, first time the second lead actually gets the female. :D Not much of romance in this drama which is a good breather! And having worked in a finance department before I can understand and relate to most of the background story. Although I must note that certain parts are a bit unbelievable, for example usually in real life when someone like Chief Kim tries to whistle blow he would be terminated without a trace. But of course this is k-drama, so there isn't any real violence involved.

I do hope they don't make a part two or something. I would prefer to leave it there with Chief Kim being the accidental hero enjoying his carefree life!