Cinderella, Prosecutor, Taste: First episode impressions

186 March 31, 2010March 31, 2010

Cinderella, Prosecutor, Taste: First episode impressions

by javabeans

Finally! The new Wednesday-Thursday battle is off, and the results are pretty consistent with my expectations, both content- and ratings-wise.

First, the numbers: Cinderella’s Sister took the lead with a 16.7%, while Personal Taste was in second with a 12.7%. Prosecutor Princess trailed with a 7.3%. (Those are TNS Media numbers; AGB Nielsen gave the numbers as 15.8%, 12.8%, and 8.0%.)

I think it’s likely this trend will hold. After seeing all first episodes, I think it’s also an accurate reflection (for once!) on the relative quality of the shows. Each series had strengths and weaknesses, but this time I have a clear picture of which ones I prefer and why.

On to the reviews! (To the spoiler-phobes: I have avoided giving away any big plot points that aren’t already known.)

CINDERELLA’S SISTER (KBS)

In my latest Oh My Lady recap, I mentioned the issue of a drama making an emotional connection with the viewer, and how Oh My Lady has been slow to build that rapport. In contrast, Cinderella’s Sister is very good about establishing that connection right away, and I felt myself drawn from the start.

Tonally, the first episode wasn’t angsty or tragic, and was surprisingly light. Not light in a fluffy way, but in a way that is humorous and heartfelt. (I suspect that the drama will grow heavier later, but am thankful it starts briskly.) I feel confident saying that of the three Wednesday premieres, this was the strongest first episode and while none of them sucked, it was a pretty obvious first-place. The pacing is assured, the scenery beautiful. The acting is outstanding, not just from the leads but everyone. (That would be Moon Geun-young, Seo Woo, Chun Jung-myung, Lee Mi-sook, and Kim Gab-soo. Taecyeon is not in this episode.)

Without giving away too many plot points, the gist of the story is this: Eun-jo (Moon Geun-young), somewhere in her mid-teens, is the daughter to a woman who keeps shacking up with horrible men — drinkers, beaters, lowlifes. Mom Kang-sook (Lee Mi-sook) goes from one man to another, and Eun-jo bears this stoically although she’s sick of living like this. Hyo-sun (Seo Woo) is a bright, lovable girl whose father owns a makgulli (rice wine) company. Meeting Kang-sook stirs her longing for a mother figure, and Hyo-sun does her best to push Kang-sook toward her father. Ki-hoon (Chun Jung-myung) is a good-natured employee of the makgulli company and a caring, mature older brother figure to Hyo-sun, who adores him. Though his interaction with Eun-jo is brief, he’s the only person who’s able to get through Eun-jo’s tough outer shell.

Moon Geun-young as Eun-jo is the main draw by far, and she does her cynical, hurt, defensive role well. She makes Eun-jo relatable and unique, and acts with convincing intensity. I love Chun Jung-myung so I’m thrilled merely to see him back onscreen again, but I’ll admit he doesn’t have much to do in this episode. However, his gentle, smiling presence in itself gives his character a warm aura. I am keen to see how their relationship unfolds, and by keen I mean VERY. I’m invested already.

That said, I think Seo Woo is almost as strong as Moon Geun-young. Yes, she most certainly overacts as the young schoolgirl. I suspect some viewers will find it annoying. As in Tamra the Island, I find Seo Woo’s girlish exaggerations cute rather than contrived, because they seem genuine to the actress herself, and not put-upon to force cutesiness. I am also being a little lenient because she’s playing a young teen, and will revise my opinion if she doesn’t grow out of it later. All that said, it’s the crying scene where she really stands out, and she makes Hyo-sun’s tears not only sympathetic but entirely believable. I was impressed.

Kim Gab-soo is excellent as the quiet, withdrawn father. You won’t find a trace of his creepy villain (Hon, Partner, Tazza) in this character, who is alternately gruff and vulnerable. Lee Mi-sook is the perfect stepmother to Cinderella, and she plays Kang-sook with layers of complexity. In fact, everyone plays their characters with layers, which is why I have a good feeling about this drama. It’s not simply reversing the Cinderella fairy tale, it’s subverting all the relationships and creating something new with them. I find that really compelling.

PROSECUTOR PRINCESS (SBS)

The basic plot features Ma Hye-ri (Kim So-yeon) as a fashion-loving prosecutor who is the latest addition in the public prosecutor’s office. With her love of stylish clothing and extravagant shoes (and jewelry, and handbags), she stands out in the low-key, no-nonsense office, and not in a good way. It’s no surprise, then, that Episode 1’s plot largely centers around a pair of fabulous shoes.

As the daughter of a prosecutor, she has made it through school at his prodding, and thinks she’s finally free of all that hard work. Of course, we know her hard work is just about to start. Her first encounter with a case shows us that what she’s lacking isn’t a brain — she’s plenty smart, and she knows the law — but a compassion and connection to her cases. The law is cut-and-dried to her, and developing an attachment to her cases on a basic human level will probably figure largely in her growth.

The big lure here is certainly Kim So-yeon, whose take on frivolous Ma Hye-ri is bubbly and entertaining. I am not by any means comparing her acting to Mi-shil in Queen Seon-deok, but both roles gave me a similar sense of watching a skilled actress diving into a character with gusto and enjoying playing around. Kim has altered her intonation and speech patterns and completely changed her image, and it’s particular fun to watch her because it was only a few months ago that she was so tough and fierce in IRIS.

This is essentially Legally Blonde set in a public prosecutor’s office, and I think the similarities are pretty deliberate, down to Hye-ri’s offbeat candidness, overaccessorization, and near-garish fashion sense. For some reason it doesn’t feel like a total copycat to me, though, and I wonder if maybe the cultural differences are enough to set it apart.

Where Prosecutor Princess falters is in that everything feels just a little too familiar. I’m always looking for a drama to show that one flash of inventiveness, a twist on a trope, or a jolt of new energy — it doesn’t have to be completely new, but there’s got to be something that feels different. I don’t get that feeling from Prosecutor Princess.

The characters and plot setup are straightforward thus far. They’re aiming to give Park Shi-hoo‘s character a tinge of mystery, and to their credit they achieve that, since I’m curious to know what his deal is. But that’s a purely intellectual curiosity, not an emotional one. Neither he nor Han Jung-soo‘s serious prosecutor character have been explained much, but I don’t find that I’m very interested. They haven’t really broken through to give their characters life, and I thought Han Jung-soo was stiff.

There’s a yet-unexplained subplot regarding a case Han Jung-soo has been following for three years, but like with many dramas with a legal (or business) angle, the pace drags when we linger on the case. Partner lost me with its dry legal storylines despite the chemistry between the leads; I fear the same may happen with Prosecutor Princess. (At least this drama is working in an additional angle with Hye-ri’s professional and personal growth, which may save it.)

Based on the first episode, my prediction is that Prosecutor Princess will have a small but loyal following. It’s not bad, it’s just in a tough timeslot — I think those who want something more substantial will gravitate toward Cinderella’s Sister, while those who want a light romantic comedy may be more drawn to the zippier Personal Taste. I’ve been wrong before, but that’s my gut feeling.

PERSONAL TASTE (MBC)

I said that Cinderella’s Sister had the best first episode, in that it’s the best-produced and most cohesive package. But Personal Taste is my pick for the most fun and laughs — it’s cute, well-cast, and has a freshness to its humor. The jokes aren’t wildly original, but they’re presented well and feel new for a kdrama. (I mean, a gay-blowjob joke on Korean television? Ha!) Also, every deviation that the drama has made from the novel has been for the better (so far).

If you’ve been following the novel posts, you’ll get the gist. If you haven’t, here’s the deal: Kae-in (Sohn Ye-jin) is an upbeat and good-hearted furniture designer, if naive and rather dense. She is badly hurt by her boyfriend, whom she believes is going to propose to her when he is in fact marrying her friend the next day.

In a series of chance encounters, she gets off on the wrong foot with Jin-ho (Lee Min-ho), an architect who works at a rival firm to her ex. She thinks he’s a pervert at first, but then gets the impression that he’s gay. Jin-ho, who considers her a clueless blunderer, doesn’t bother correcting her. In the next episode (we aren’t there yet), Kae-in agrees to let Jin-ho move in, fed up with straight guys and liking the idea of having a gay roommate. Little does she know that Jin-ho has an ulterior motive: he badly needs to win a building project, and needs to study her house in order to do so, as she is the daughter to the famed architect who built it.

Spot-on casting, for sure. Sohn Ye-jin is perfect as Kae-in, showing the character’s positive personality even as she bumbles through various encounters. She also lets a naivete and vulnerability shine through, making it easy to root for her. Everyone, from the main cast to the supporting members, has that extra spark that draws you to them and their roles. I have a feeling the sidekicks are going to be a hoot. I even like Kim Ji-suk‘s take on his character, who is nowhere near as awful as the book character; you can see he’s conflicted and remorseful. He’s just also a wuss.

Lee Min-ho may be young (he’s even younger than Im Seulong despite playing his hyung), but he wears Jin-ho’s airs perfectly. I’ll be the first to sing Lee’s praises, but I was worried that he wouldn’t be able to emerge from the Boys Before Flowers shadow — which is considerable — or live up to expectations, particularly since he’s taken over a year to choose his next project. I think he does quite nicely.

You might say that of course I like Personal Taste because I expected to like it — but I think liking the idea actually makes it harder to live up to the hype. Episode 1 is a little unstable at times and the pacing is uneven in the first half, but in the second half it starts to gel and really work. At the end of the hour, this is the drama whose second episode I wanted to see the most.

186

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51 annieee

March 31, 2010 at 9:53 PM

i love you jb! <333
since im in the mood for something light, im prolly gonna try personal taste. on the other hand, i do want to see moon geun young's acting. hmm..if only time could stand still for all of us to watch all the dramas on our to-watch list!

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52 Brendel

March 31, 2010 at 9:55 PM

can't wait to watch this! Lee Min Ho! :-)

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53 jamieguo

March 31, 2010 at 9:57 PM

So many choices, so little time. I think I'll watch Cinderella Sister and Personal Taste probably. But I'll wait until I hear more about each and until they're further along. Kind of tired of watching episode to episode, like I started with You're Beautiful and Wish Upon a Star.

Sounds like Seulong didn't stand out one way or another, as so good or so bad.

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54 doozy

March 31, 2010 at 10:00 PM

Javabeans, THANK YOU so much for the first impressions! I am in awe that you're always able to maintain high quality writing and deliver it with lighting speed!

Of the three, I look forward to watching Personal Taste the most since I love Sohn Ye Jin. Cinderella Sister sounds good too, and I do miss seeing Chun Jung-myung on screen... such a cutie. Welcome back.

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55 okdubu

March 31, 2010 at 10:05 PM

i rather think seowoo outshone moon geunyoung in this episode! SHE BROKE MY HEART, TWICE.

1. her scene when lee misook (sry can't get a hold of the characters' names yet) puts on her mom's old clothes and she just starts bawling, asking her to stroke her hair

2. when she runs all the way home WITH HER MIDDLE FINGER RAISED IN THE AIR so that lee misook can take out her splinter. OMG. precious. ;___;

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56 Atsirk

March 31, 2010 at 10:06 PM

I'm going to see "Personal Taste" and "Cinderella's Sister"...oh yeahh!!! I'm loving the first episode!

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57 bbm

March 31, 2010 at 10:07 PM

Thanks for the speedy review JB...
luckily tomorrow is a holiday here... so i can watched the first two episodes of CS and PT... so many dramas to catch up...

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58 okdubu

March 31, 2010 at 10:09 PM

oh, i also thought chun jungmyung was awesomely awkward, mostly in his scenes with seowoo. . am i the only one? heh.

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59 ina

March 31, 2010 at 10:23 PM

Like everything about about Cinderella's sister....except one fact of Taeckyong ...don't like him on personal level base after all issues related to 2 pm....but that will be where the remote control comes handy right?....

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60 peanut butter

March 31, 2010 at 10:25 PM

instead of doing what i should have, definitely watched cinderella's sister and enjoyed it!! i will definitely be watching the second episode asap!! it's nice to see CJM back on the screen and MGY did an amazing job with her character!

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61 itsjustme

March 31, 2010 at 10:31 PM

Aside from OML on Mondays and Tuesdays, I think I'll follow Prosecutor Princess and Personal Taste for my Wednesay/Thursday drama. As much as I think Moon Geun Young looks fierce and I have a strong feeling I will like her in Cinderella, I can't get over how bothered I am with Seo Woo. Its the first time I've seen her work as I didn't watch her past dramas, but her face looks really off to me and distracts me quite a bit. Plus also not a big fan of Taecyon.

Thanks for the recaps and updates JB. You're the best!

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62 Jae In

March 31, 2010 at 10:32 PM

Honestly I did not know which drama I want to watch on Mon-Tue time slot. After reading this I decide watch Cinderella sister although the genre may made me did not want watch it but I have give it try after watching a lot of rom-com genre. Want something new. I feel confident can get through this romance melodrama drama.

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63 Christine

March 31, 2010 at 10:47 PM

Thanks for the very speedy and informative write-up. I've liked SYJ since Summer Scent days and very impressed with her progress through the years. I'm most excited about PT and looking forward to watching it online, which may take some time. In the meantime, I earnestly hoping that you will recap PT (if you can spare the time). I know MGY is a fine actress but somehow, I have not followed the dramas she's been in. Do hope to watch CS for CJM though.

Many thanks again for your write-ups and please, please recap PT.

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64 FT

March 31, 2010 at 10:55 PM

I also felt that Seo Woo seemed to act too cute... Maybe Seo Woo had to 'overact' cos she was playing a young schoolgirl longing for mother's love and having a crush on an oppa, but we have difficulty reconciling this with our knowledge of the actress's real age.. hmm. Try to imagine a real child actress playing the young 'Cinderella instead of Seo Woo, would you think that the child actress should have acted the same way as Seo Woo? let's give her the benefit of the doubt. =)

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65 rain88

March 31, 2010 at 11:01 PM

I prefer watching PT !!!
Which one do you prefer?
I hope that you will recap PT
PLEASE

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66 michelle

March 31, 2010 at 11:14 PM

I'm SO glad Cinderella's Sister didn't disappoint with the first episode! I haven't watched it yet but thanks to your review I know I'll love it!!
Hopefully Taecyeon's acting will be up to par (or at least not so bad it's distracting). I'm not making insinuations about his abilities (heck, I know almost nil about the guy), but considering the quality of acting by ALL the other stars and the fact that he's an amateur... I'm a little worried.

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67 charitee

March 31, 2010 at 11:21 PM

i have to say that in terms of cinderella's sister, i agree completely. the acting from everyone [minus taecyeon who im actually a little worried about] is so amazingly solid. i find seo woo's character to be somewhat annoyingly cute but not because seo woo is doing a bad job of acting...i feel like i'm supposed to feel that way. like, with her character, i understand why everyone dotes on her and can't help but love her [because her character's so genuine, so innocent, so white and just always wears her heart on her sleeve]. but at the same time, i get irritated because she's just so naive and so childish and everyone is just babying her. but like you said, she is just a child and she'll probably/hopefully grow out of it. and oh man, moon geun young...as expected, her acting is just wow and the chemistry between her and chun jung myung is firee even though they have only had very little interaction so far. i mean, that scene of him chasing her [which i must say is not only well acted but also really well shot because of the emotions that the scene catches especially at the slo-mo where he grabs the brush in her hair and she turns to look at him and then he's just kind of stunned for a moment] was probably my favorite. and yeah, im already invested in their relationship even though they've only met like once. i'm sososo excited to see how things progress in the next episode.

i'm like 2/3 through personal taste and while i find it cute, funny, light and very well-acted, im not as emotionally invested as i am with cinderella's sister [but i guess that's to be expected since cinderella's sister is a melodrama...]

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68 Marres

March 31, 2010 at 11:31 PM

Fantastic! Am looking forward to all three!

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69 Rachael

March 31, 2010 at 11:45 PM

Oh man, Personal Taste and Cinderella's Sister are going to be competing on which one I should watch. Decisions, decisions when the subs comes out.

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70 mayadee

March 31, 2010 at 11:47 PM

I'm on a high for romcoms since I haven't watched any romcoms lately (didn't watch WUAS, SMM, OML, or even PASTA) I've been high for action and kickass Kdramas such as Iris, Chuno, OB/GYN, etc. Even my previous Jdramas list are all from that kind: Bloody Monday 2, Code Blue 2, Liar Game, etc. As for the result all of them gave me a major headache with their plots. So yeah, I'm now absolutely hyped for PT, but since I like MGY I'll be watching it too. PP is not a must watch on my list, but def will catch with that one, love the rockin' lady KSY from Iris.
I hope you wouldn't mind recapping all three midweek dramas. If you choose only two among those three, then PT and CS would be great. Thanx. :)

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71 Norme

April 1, 2010 at 12:14 AM

Annyeong JB,

So cuteeeeeeee LMH...Thanks JB...back to watch Personal Taste..

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72 deannadsc

April 1, 2010 at 12:18 AM

I've watched 3/4 of PT- RAW & I'm hoping you guys could go on recapping this drama...Am just as curious about CS & PP!!!
May as well watch them all...cuz I love the leading men & SYJ!!!

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73 nabi

April 1, 2010 at 12:27 AM

I like Cinderella but am loving Personal Taste. There were many moments that made me giggle like crazy. Both Son Ye-jin and LMH are good. Like Kim Ji-seok too and the sidekicks... LOVE THEM. Things will get more exciting once Ryu Seong-ryong actively comes in the picture.. As much as I lurve my dear Chun Jung-myung, PT will definitely be the one I'll be enjoying and looking forward to more every week.

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74 ohyehbb

April 1, 2010 at 12:47 AM

I watched Cinderella & PT. I do like Cinderella better, though I have to say there's something about Seo Woo I don't like. I can't quite put my finger on it... and this is a pretty strange thing to say, but for me, her face is somehow off-putting. I think it might be her eyes (whenever I looked at her face, I think I was distracted by her circle lens and really intense 쌍꺼풀). And Moon Geunyoung is great, as usual. She's been great to watch since the first time Korea saw her, as young Song Hyekyo in 가을동화, IMO. And CHUN JUNGMYUNG<3 WELCOME BACK! Can't wait to see more of this guy!

PT's really cute too, so far. I never really liked Son Yejin the person, but I really like her as an actress. As for Lee Minho, I honestly can't say yet because so far, Jinho reminds me a little bit of the Gu Junpyo character--same sort of aura or something.

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75 vis

April 1, 2010 at 1:10 AM

Thanks for the quick review on these 3 Wed-Thur dramas! I already watched the first episode raw for both Cinderella's Sister and Personal Taste and personally I liked the first better than the last. It definitely has a certain pull, which is a bit similar to the one I felt from Chuno. I didn't even bother with the Prosecutor one, I'd rather stick to "Oh My Lady" and following three kdramas will be more than enough for me for the time being :)

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76 thirddyfrk

April 1, 2010 at 1:16 AM

I have watched all three and loving them all. Especially Cinderella's Sister. Oh my gosh!!! I can't wait to see more. There are so many layers. I have now watched it two times. The scene where he is chasing her is one of my favorites. Did you notice that while he is paused there looking at her in a daze, she looks back at him with a look of distrust/wildness then runs quickly up the side of the hill-to me it was like the director was showing us that she is like an abused wild animal who scratches the hand of the person trying to befriend it and running away to freedom. I was awe by that image. (I might be wrong, but that is what I got-beyond him finding her fascinating). I also like the scene where she was in the dark room, curled in the corner, sucking her thumb and no one answering her call. She looked so abandon at that moment-sucking the thumb for comfort and showing her vulnerability. Truly great directing, acting, script writing in this one. My only complaint is the girl for Cinderella. I get the feeling that it is not just youth that is causing her to act this way-I keep getting the feeling that it is a careful mask that she is showing everyone. I am not buying that she is so sweet and nice.
I enjoyed Prosecutor Princess-She was adorable and I see a lot of potential for this drama despite that it is nothing new with it so far. I give it til 4 ep. Men are worth watching if nothing else.
As for Personal Taste, that is the best comedy and story so far. Unfortunately, I am not digging the Leading lady-she reminds me too much of the leading lady from Full House. I am not connecting to her as much as the rest of the group. This really is like a combination of Coffee Prince and Full house, but unless the leading lead steps it up, I am not going to like it as much as Coffee Prince.
I wrote on my own blog a more detailed review of the three along with Oh, My Lady. I also mention this blog-without you guy, I could never feed my addiction to dramas. Here is the link to my blog if you want to read.
http://thirddyfrk.livejournal.com/5460.html#cutid1
I am still predicting Cinderella's Sister as the big winner of all of these for this season. It has the best balance for a drama.

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77 nins

April 1, 2010 at 1:25 AM

CS was nice. I love reverse fairy tales, and I look forward to how this one will be played out. I really can't stand to look at Seowoo. She looks like she's been beaten up, or hasn't recovered from plastic surgery. This might be due to the fact that MGY is sooo beautiful, but yeah I get distracted and a little bit sick whenever Seowoo is on the screen. Her acting was fine though.

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78 dokutokunaneko

April 1, 2010 at 1:33 AM

my biggest concern for now is, what will be the main conflict of Cinderella's Sister? Love triangle? other than that, the drama was actually very good. i cant wait to see how they built the story.

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79 daisytwenties

April 1, 2010 at 1:39 AM

Well I only had time to watch Cinderella's Sister, and I've gotta say...I liked what i saw. :D I really liked how the "evil stepmom" wasn't just Lee Mi-Sook as an evil stepmom. We were able to see the background of the character and reasons for her actions.

One question though. Is Taecyeon playing the older version of the chubby kid from the house that Eunjo WAS in ? I noticed that Eunjo called him Jung-woo and on sites, it notes that he's playing a character named Jung-woo.

PLUS there were all of those pictures with Taecyeon in a baseball outfit and then that kid also had on a baseball uniform with a bat.

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80 anna

April 1, 2010 at 1:50 AM

There's something for everyone. I have a feeling I will be watching neither of them. But right now, I'm interested in Cinderella's Sister. I should be all over Personal Taste.. but I dunno why I'm just not feeling it.

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81 b.m

April 1, 2010 at 1:53 AM

i wish you would recaps PT

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82 crzycpl

April 1, 2010 at 2:00 AM

I am loving Cinderella's Sister. MGY is awesome! CJM is ok and SW's cutesy wutsey voice is appropriately annoying to hate! Love it. LMS and KGS are also fantastic - solid all round.

PT - I will reserve judgement for when the subs come out. But you're right, LMH's airs are distracting me. This character is so different from GJP that I somehow think (hope?) that all of a sudden, GJP's childish ways and cheeky smiles would come out. But alas, I need to move on! :)

Did not check out PP last night.

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83 kahji

April 1, 2010 at 2:16 AM

im now officially hooked with cinderella's sister. i really love moon geun young.. just finished it at viikii. altough subbing is not yet finished and i can't understand most of the seen.im so looking forward upon how eun jo would grow and maybe fall in love with ki hoon. but im not expecting hyo sun's childlike character would grow. she's kinda adorable.

after this rave, ill deal with personal taste. but CS would now be a priority. i love son ye jin also. fighting Wednesday-Thursday kdrama! :D

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84 QT

April 1, 2010 at 2:30 AM

at first I thought Personal Taste is the best out of the three but your opinion might got me wrong ^^

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85 justina

April 1, 2010 at 2:35 AM

honestly i was excited for cinderella's sister but i don't think i can watch it anymore bc of taecyeon. he turns me off from the drama completely.

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86 emeldy

April 1, 2010 at 2:45 AM

I was rooting for Personal Taste from the start but Cindrella Unni totally won me over. The OST suits the mood perfectly. I can't stop listening Yesung ballad. CU totally deserve the highest rating.

Don't get me wrong, i still love Personal Taste. I love the contrast . CU is going to be one of those Emotional Roller-coaster. And PT a light heated fun filled drama.
Drama Land cannot get better than this.

I am yet to watch Prosecutor Princess. I am waiting for it to be fully sub in Viikii. And it's almost fully sub. They are fast.

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87 emeldy

April 1, 2010 at 2:47 AM

Dramabeans now you must be in a dilemma which drama to recap.

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88 mmoonriver

April 1, 2010 at 2:47 AM

u may say more positive sides of Cinderella's Sister...but i think there's a tendecy to be predictable in some of its scenes... i really dont see any connections between Mon and Chun as i expected before...i prefer Personal Taste for your recap...

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89 fromdblock

April 1, 2010 at 2:53 AM

JB, i always admire your writing skill... can't wait to read your recaps for personal taste and cinderella sister... :)

right now, i still can't choose which drama i like better between PT and CS...but then, it's not like i have to choose anyway ;P I think I'm just going to enjoy both.... whichever is better depends on the development of the stories... :)

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90 shahab

April 1, 2010 at 3:11 AM

thank you
i very like lee min ho

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91 oi

April 1, 2010 at 3:31 AM

CS may be good, but I prefer something light and funny, so PT comes first for me.
And I just love SYJ in PT. Didn't know she could be so funny.

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92 chubbygirl1

April 1, 2010 at 3:37 AM

#55 okdubu,
I 2nd you.
Seowoo def'ly outshone MGY in this ep, that girl knows how to cry real good.

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93 imel

April 1, 2010 at 3:40 AM

Hahaha...keep looking on your website since this morning to look for any of these three series that you might follow....But you gave review for all of them....which is great of course...
Well, so far, I've seen them all (without subtitle), so I don't understand the storyline yet....But, personally, I think..I like all these three series...
They are unique in their own way....
Well...for Cinderella's Sister..

Hm...when the first time, I read the review...I wonder how they will make the twist. I mean, come on, we all know about Cinderella fairy tale... From the beginning of the Cinderella story, we know we will choose to stand with Cinderella. But in this series...hahaha surprisingly...I don't choose the Cinderella. Everything feels make sense to me. Why Eun-jo's character is so bitter, and why Hyo Sun is such a bright and positive girl (even though, her expression sometimes too over for me). I love the slow-motion scene where Ki Hoon tried to grab Eun Jo, and it caused her hairpin fell. Wow......that scene....plus the director put soft music in it. It's so touching. That scene beautifully leaves its traces in my mind.
For Personal Taste...
When I read that the story line was taken from a novel, I'm dying to get the novel in my hand...but otoke...I'm not in Korea, plus I can't read korean language..(hahaha poor me). And when I know that you make the novel review, I am so excited, thank you very much. *hugs*

One thing keep bothering me....I keep thinking that in this story the girl is older than the man.... Hahaha..don't know why I keep thinking like that. It looks like I can see wrinkles in Son Ye Jin's face...Hahaha..sorry..for being so blunt about it. Plus, I don't like how they dress Lee Min Ho in this series. He should be a fashionable professional, but all I can see is the fashionable part..not the professional part. Maybe, because in my fashion dictionary..guys should wearing socks when they go to office.. I mean, come on, it's office, not fashion stage...hahaha....
But I really like how they dress Son Ye Jin....hahaha...she's so so so so unfashionable. Even when she wears black gown..I mean, even with such a dress, she still looks clumsy, and it explains Kae-In's character, too ignorant with how she looks, and it looks like that she's having a bad hair day-----everyday. Geez...I really want to see Min Ho to brush her hair and help her, so she can look decent as a girl.. Hahaha..(wishful thinking)

For Prosecutor Princess...
Hmm..I like the guy...Park Shi Hoo....From the first episode, I can see that he's interested in Ma Hye Ri. But somehow, he restrain himself from approaching her. And it makes me sigh. When, Ma Hye Ri...I can see that she's ignorant to guys..because she only sets her eyes to fashion...(which I find it amusing, she did it so naturally).

But, basically..they have different taste...and I'm tempted to try them all....
Hahaha..thank God, I am not in Korea..or I will have trouble to choose which series I should watch. Hahaha.....
Can't wait for the next episode...which is in a few hours (I guess), and I will soon download them all...Hahaha...
Thank you JavaBeans....You made my day...
*hugs*

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94 Deborah

April 1, 2010 at 3:49 AM

I already got my hands on the Personal Taste pilot, I'm probably waiting for your recaps to get some idea behind the characters/plot before the subs come out. :)

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95 ghian

April 1, 2010 at 4:36 AM

i think i'll go for PERSONAL TASTE .. :)

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96 dandy

April 1, 2010 at 4:40 AM

I've been doubted LMH popularity before, but I guess I have to change my opinion. Cinderella Sister maybe won for the first round for having the highest rating, but in term of popularity overseas Personal Taste is the winner. Although have just aired the 1st epi. this romcom has been sold to several Asian countries, and according to an insider of it's production company PT is expected to be sold at the highest prices in the history of Korean drama. Not bad for a newcomer like LMH. But I agree popularity doesn't always reflect acting quality. It's still early to judge LMH acting is good or bad in the 1st epi. but he seems very consistent (in a good way). In the other hand I always consider MGY as a great actor but never regarded her as a hallyu star.

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97 gala

April 1, 2010 at 4:51 AM

i always stay away from the melodrama, no matter how good the reviews i read or how ppl around me sing its praises. so, im jst awaiting for Personal Taste and Prosecutor Princess.

also both dramas have actors i really like, PSH and LMH. so yeah, quite excited. im probably going to check out Prosecutor Princess first, esp since it replaced my favourite OBGYN series. jst trying to be a little loyal to the timeslot it vacated. i love profession dramas, esp public prosecutors [esp KimuTaku's Hero]. thanks for the 1steppie reviews!

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98 supah

April 1, 2010 at 5:05 AM

Spoiled for choice but my two choices are Cinderella's Sister and Prosecutor P.
It was a tough decision between the latter and Personal Taste but because Kim So Yeon and General Choi won out. PT I can always marathoned later.

You're right JB, PP is 'familiar', but it's a complete old-school kdrama giggle-fest.
It doesn't feel like Legally Blonde to me at all, more like an irresponsible Pal-gang in the early episodes of WUAS, but without being OTT and man-crazy.
Her style is not sexy, nor 'cute', KSY does the embarrassing, inappropriately dressed 'ahjumma' so well. Yes, to sum up her character: It's like the 50yr old aunt, who tries to act like a 15yr old and in effect embarrasses her loved ones everytime she's in public, yet you know her heart's in the right place. (Frankly: I love her!)

It has a My Girl/Hong Sisters kind of vibe about it and it's also 'very Korean'. I love how she's a meek little plain-Jane in front of her father, but out of shot, she's dripping in bling and stumbling about in big heels. She's superficial but hasn't got any other bad quality that usually accompanies it, aka. she's not arrogant, shrill or loud.

Oh yeah! SHINee sing the main theme song. (Shineeeeeeeeeee!)
And the three hottie actors! (Whew!)
The chemistry is zinging between KSY and General Choi (Prosecutor Yoon here, but y'know...), both of them are like big, beautiful cats. One of the best OTPs, ever.

Like when they first meet she mistakes him for a thief and pounces on him and he's got this surprised and guilty tiger look about him, so adorable. Then he sets off chasing after some guy, completely oblivious to KSY. But I definitely felt the jolt, it was so niiiiice!!
Park Shi Hoon, he's looking great and I suspect he's a conman character here. There's barely any chemistry between the two. Yes, he'll play a more prominent role but somehow doubt he'll get the girl. Plus, she does say to him: ''Don't give your girlfriend that pair of shoes, sell them to me instead. Don't you know it's bad luck? She'll run away to another lover!'' Hurrah for superstition. Ma Hye Ri and Yoon FTW!
Nobody ever told me how hot this Yoo Gun guy is, ohmygoodness!

There's a scene in it where she's crossing the road and walking to her car, all depressed after she lost at the shoe auction. She's hit by a cold gust of wind, sideways and she stands shuddering in it, saying: ''this is the worst day of my life, I'm cold and hungry, I want to go home -- ammaaaa!'' (her car tire pops). Hahaha!

Cinderella's sister I'm hoping will be recapped. Looks like a really good drama. Although KBS dramas always gets the big ratings, they fail to move me on a deeper, emotional level, hope this one is an exception. I've d/loaded last night's and will watch both 1 & 2 tonight. I'm savouring the experience, see.

Wow, sorry for such a long comment. Also, I don't know why I always end up choosing dramas with the lowest rating. Oh well, I follow my heart and not the ratings.