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*

Voice Korean drama review

Drama name: Voice
Country: South Korea
Year: Jan- Mar 2017

When I first heard about this drama some time late 2016, I was excited because Kim Jae Wook was going to be in it! 

So, what's this drama about?

Basically it is about two people who team up to find the killer of their loved ones. Moo Jin Hyuk is a serious crime detective and he was always busy chasing criminals. So much that he hardly has any time for his wife and son. One night, his wife was brutally murdered and his life changed forever. He vowed to hunt down the killer and was nicknamed, "Crazy dog" by all the other police officers. 

Kang Gwon Joo graduated from police academy with top marks and she started working in the emergency call centre 112. Her father is also a police officer and it was during the same night where Jin Hyuk's wife called the 112 call centre that her father also died. He was killed by the same killer while being dispatched to check out the situation. Gwon Joo has this special ability to hear more sounds than normal people do, so she actually heard everything which happened that night over her father's walkie-talkie radio.

Unfortunately due to corrupt police and political influence, the murder case was quickly closed and the supposed killer was not charged due to lack of evidence. This made Jin Hyuk furious and he blamed Gwon Joo for her testimony. Meanwhile, Gwon Joo left South Korea to study in the States. 

Three years later, Gwon Joo returns to the police force as a professional voice profiler. She uses her talent and ability to set up a "Golden Time Team", where within 20 minutes of an emergency call being received the police will be sent out to the crime scene. She recruits Jin Hyuk in the team and it was rough at first because he still blamed her for the release of the supposed killer. 

As the cases come in, Jin Hyuk begun to trust Gwon Joo more and eventually they both work together to find the real killer. 

Overall thoughts

I started the drama really excited and the first episode I had guessed who the real killer was already... Haha! It was his smile under the hoodie... ;D But as each case progressed, I got really scared! It was really nail biting and the suspense was real. I stopped the drama and only finished it recently. 

Best parts of the drama

Jang Hyuk!! This is the first time watching him, I fell in love instantly... Haha! He's so badass... very good actor, he delivered Moo Jin Hyuk's character to point... 

Kim Jae Wook of course XD...as the crazy psychotic killer Mo Tae Gu... I actually think he's so hot as a murderer... how can this be I must be insane as well... The best scene he was bathing in blood... Omooo.... 

The crime cases were really scary and it got a bit gory to some point. So I won't put any pics for those... Besides that, Gwon Joo's apartment is pretty sweet. It has the soundproofing so she could actually sleep without the slightest sounds... 

If you remember this villa, it was featured in Seven First Kisses with Lee Joon Gi... and also Uncontrollably Fond (I didn't watch that drama but I read some comments it was the same place) 

Officer Oh's mini cooper... ;D Well, not really best part but I like cars as you can see... XD

Notable scene

I think the scenes where Jin Hyuk finally meets Mo Tae Gu face to face... It got really interesting from that point on... 

Conclusion

With all the suspense built up throughout the series, the ending was a bit short and some suggested weak even. I do agree to some point, maybe I was expecting more craziness from the psychotic part. Jin Hyuk arrested Mo Tae Gu as he was caught red-handed trying to kill Dae Shik (Jin Hyuk's right hand man) but then he escaped. The final showdown was between Mo Tae Gu and Gwon Joo on the rooftop... 

The reason Mo Tae Gu became the killer he is now was due to a trauma when he was 12. He witnessed his own father killing someone and not long after that his mother committed suicide because of it. His mental illness escalated from there. There was finally closure for both Jin Hyuk and Gwon Joo that their loved ones can now rest in peace. 

As I just completed this series, season 2 has been confirmed. I'm not sure if I will watch it but if the reviews are good enough I just might give it a go... ;D

Thanks for stopping by, I've been lazy to write reviews nowadays... I shall leave you with the psychotic killer Mo Tae Gu!