Mary Stayed out All Night

Title: Mary Stayed Out All Night/Marry Me, Mary!/매리는 외박중 /Maerineun Oebakjoong
Genre: Romance, Comedy
Episodes: 16
Broadcast Network: KBS2
Broadcasting Period: 010-Nov-08 to 2010-Dec-28
Trailer.

Mary Stayed Out All Night is about a girl, because father is running away from debt collectors, after suffering from a failed business, must live through the hardships of 'poverty'. One day, however, after her father meets an old friend of his, it's decided that the two fathers will fulfill their wishes from so many years before, and have their children get married. Mary's father is thrilled, for her friend and his son are very wealthy, and though all he wants is Mary's happiness, the match also recoups for his debts. An arranged marriage is not something Mary shall easily agree to, though, so she takes fake wedding pictures with a bum-like musician in order to get out of it. This only backfires, and Mary must go through with a 100 day contract of dating both men, her day split between both, where she'll get to choose a guy on the last day.

Mary or Wi Mae Ri is the main Heroine. She's a high spirited girl, with a love for drama's and simple dreams. She could care less about mainstream fashion and is completely satisfied with the who she is in every aspect. The actress who plays her is Moon Geun Young-my all time favorite korea actress, ever since I saw her in my favorite drama Cinderella's Sister. She is, not only incredibly pretty, but an outstanding actress. She plays in Cinderella's Sister, The Painter Of the Wind, Wife, Empress Myung Sung, and Autumn in My Heart. She has won numerous awards:
2010 KBS Drama Awards: Top Excellence Award - Actress (Cinderella's Sister)
2010 KBS Drama Awards: Popularity Award (Cinderella's Sister and Mary Stayed Out All Night)
2010 KBS Drama Awards: Best Couple Award with Jang Geun Suk (Mary Stayed Out All Night)
2009 Seoul International Drama Awards: Most Popular Actress (The Painter of the Wind)
2009 45th Baeksang Arts Awards: Best TV Actress Award (The Painter of the Wind)
2008 SBS Drama Awards: Daesang (Grand Prize) (The Painter of the Wind)
2008 SBS Drama Awards: Best Couple Award with Moon Chae Won (The Painter of the Wind)
2008 SBS Drama Awards: Top Ten Stars Award (The Painter of the Wind)
She's also been in various movies.

The Male lead is Kang Moo Kyul; a careless musician, who's only serious when it comes to his music. He generally very passive, laid back, and a 'total player'. He never dates a girl for more than a month. He's very loyal to his bandmates, though he's often been offered record deals with multiple companies, he refuses because he believes his band is a package deal. He's a heavy drinker, and basically a free-loader. He's played by the Actor/Musician/Model Jang Guen Suk, who I knew before this drama from watching You're Beautiful. Including this drama and You're Beautiful, he's also played in Beethoven Virus, and Hong Gil Dong and various movies. He has also won plenty of awards:
2010 KBS Drama Awards: Netizen Award (Mary Stayed Out All Night)
2010 KBS Drama Awards: Best Couple Award with Moon Geun Young (Mary Stayed Out All Night)
2009 SBS Drama Awards: Top Ten Stars Award (You're Beautiful)
2009 SBS Drama Awards: Netizen Popularity Award (You're Beautiful)
2008 KBS Drama Awards: Popularity Award (Hong Gil Dong)
2008 MBC Drama Awards: Best New Actor Award (Beethoven Virus)
2006 KBS Drama Awards: Best Couple Award with Ha Ji Won (Hwang Jin Yi)
Interesting fact:He was the top choice for the role Goo Jun Pyo in Boys Over Flowers, but turned it down for Beethoven's Virus. He hasn't made any music in his free time-only for dramas and commercials, except for his single Let Me Cry. However, despite his large popularity, I seem to have a bit of a vendetta against him, in the sense that I don't actually like him as an actor. Nor do I find him aesthetically pleasing. This all could have made me very biased in my opinions of the drama, being that he was an important character.

The second male lead is Byun Jung In, my favorite. He's a calculating, stoical wealthy businessman who lives to please his father, whom he highly esteems. To him, Mae Ri (Mary), is a chore-a girl he must associate with for his father's wishes, but time alters his mindset. He's played by Kim Jae Wook, who also had acting roles in Bad Guy and Coffee Prince (the drama in which I was first introduced to Kim Jae Wook-I liked him quite a lot in that drama as well, main character or not). He's a model as well, and won 2008 Asia Model Festival Award's, Special Male Model Award.

This drama, having a lot to do with music, being that the main male is a musician, has many songs, that I believe were made just for the drama such as My Precious, and Take Care, My Bus.

Grading: B-
Characters: 9/10
Casting: 9/10
Emotion: 7/10
Music: 8/10
Story: 8/10
Availability: 10/10
Surprise Factor: 6/10
Humor: 10/10
Recommendation: 7.5/10

My Princess

Title: My Princess/마이 프린세스
Genre: Romance, Comedy
Episodes: 16
Broadcast Network: MBC
Broadcast period: 2011-Jan-05 to 2011-Feb-24
Trailer 1 Trailer 2
My Princess is the story of an average college student, Lee Seol, who finds out she's a princess. This arises amidst the political discussion of bringing back the Imperial Family. However, If monarchy succeeds in coming back (working alongside the government) Park Hae Young, a rich man used to the luxuries of wealth, will lose his entire fortune and inheritance. Needless to say, he will do whatever it takes to make sure she does not become a princess.

Lee Seol is an outgoing eccentric person, with a lovable personality. I especially love her in the beginning of this drama. Unlike most girls, she's rather disheartened by the fact she's princess for reasons you find out later in the drama. Before the big news she was a normal college student with a completely devoted love for Professor Nam (Nam Jung Woo). She's played by Kim Tae Hee, an actress and model. She's also performed in dramas IRIS, Love Story In Harvard, Nine Tailed Fox, and Stairway to Heaven. She's won numerous awards:
2009 KBS Drama Awards: Best Couple Award with Lee Byung Hun (IRIS)
2009 KBS Drama Awards: Excellence Award, Novella Drama - Actress (IRIS)
2007 44th Grand Bell Awards: Overseas Popularity Award ("The Restless")
2007 43rd Baeksang Awards: Popularity Award ("The Restless")
2005 41st Baeksang Arts Awards: Popularity Award (Love Story in Harvard)
2004 SBS Drama Awards: Popularity Award (Love Story in Harvard)
2004 SBS Drama Awards: Top Ten Stars Award (Love Story in Harvard)
2004 KBS Drama Awards: Best New Actress Award (Nine Tailed Fox)
2003 SBS Drama Awards: Best New Actress Award (Stairway to Heaven).
She starred in various movies and multiple endorsements.

Park Hae Young is a smart, qualified, handsome, wealthy, heir, who will lose all his money if Lee Seol becomes a princess. He's partial towards Oh Yoon Joo, whom he's known all his life through his family. He's played by Song Seung Hun, an actor/model/singer. He's played in East of Eden, Summer Scent, Law Firm, Autumn in My Heart, Popcorn, and Happy Together. Among his accomplishments, besides his killer abs, are various movies and a mammoth amount of awards:
2010 Special Honor Awards: Distinguished Hallyu Entertainer Award of Merit (co-winner with Girls' Generation)
2009 17th Korean Culture Entertainment Awards: Talent Division
2008 MBC Drama Awards: Daesang (Grand Prize) (East of Eden)
2008 MBC Drama Awards: Popularity Award (East of Eden)
2008 MBC Drama Awards: Best Couple Award with Lee Yeon Hee (East of Eden)
2001 SBS Drama Awards: Top Ten Stars Award (Law Firm)
2000 KBS Drama Awards: Popularity Award (Autumn Tale)
2000 KBS Drama Awards: Photogenic Award (Autumn Tale)
1999 SBS Drama Awards: Popularity Award
1998 34th Baeksang Arts Awards: Popularity Award.

Nam Jung Woo, or Professor Nam, is Lee Seol's professor. He has a love of history, and a down-to-earth sort of personality. He's very popular with female students. I really liked this character-I loved a lot of the things he said, or the way he'd respond to certain things. I love the conversations between him and Lee Seol, my two favorite characters. He and old lover/first love of Oh Yoon Joo, whom shares his interest in history. She seems to always come back to him when convenient for her. The actor/model who plays him is Ryu Soo Young who plays in the dramas The Lawyers of the Great Republic of Korea, Bad Couple, Seoul 1945, Next, 18 vs. 29, and Save the Last Dance for Me. He's been in two movies and won three great awards:
2006 KBS Drama Awards: Top Excellence Award - Actor (Seoul 1945)
2004 SBS Drama Awards: Best Supporting Actor Award (Save the Last Dance for Me)
2002 SBS Drama Awards: New Star Award (Successful Story of a Bright Girl).

Finally, there's a Oh Yoon Joo; the perfect villian. It's been a long time since I've watched a drama with a truly despicable antagonist. Usually you find people with distorted pasts doing bad deeds, but they usually have certain scenes or explanations that help you sympathize with them, but I, and I'm sure everyone who watched this, truly hated her. She's a successful, selfish woman, who you come to despise through the drama. She's played by actress/singer Park Ye Jin who also stars in dramas Hateful But Once Again, My Lady Boss My Hero, The Great Catsby, and When a Man is in Love. I didn't find her pretty in this drama at first, but I grew to appreciate her beauty. She's a pretty person, and much more attractive in other drama's with other hairstyles. She's won three awards:
2008 SBS Entertainment Awards: Netizen's Choice
1999 Critics Association: Best New Actress Award
1999 35th Baeksang Arts Awards: Best New Actress Award,
and has starred in a various movies.

I really liked the song in this drama, Falling-Lee Tzsche.
Grade:B-
Characters: 10/10
Casting: 9/10
Emotion: 8/10
Music: 9/10
Surprise Factor: 7.5/10
Availability: 10/10
Story Line: 8/10
Humor: 9.5/10
Recommendation: 8/10

Paradise Ranch

Title: Paradise Ranch/Paradise Meadow/Paradise Farm/Paradise Mokjang/파라다이스 목장
Genre: Romance, Drama
Episodes: 16
Broadcast Network: SBS
Broadcasting Period: 2011-Jan-24 to 2011-Mar-15
Trailer 1.Trailer 2.
Paradise Ranch is an entertaining drama about a girl, Lee Da Ji, who marries a boy, Han Dong Joo, when she's 19. However, despite their fervent love, they divorce only 6 months later. 6 more years pass when they meet unexpectedly, first in Australia, then in Jeju Island at Lee Da Ji's ranch. Though, living in alternate universes, they must work together, handling completely seperate lives and relationships. But when living in such close connection, do their lives, romantic and otherwise, begin to blend?

Lee Da Ji is a caring, honest, animal-loving, carefree, and hardworking girl. She dresses in clothes that are more suitable for work, and are lacking in fashion, though she could care less about that. Although she's a math genius and wanted to study abroad, she was unable to and became a type of vet. Her ranch is her life, and to keep up with money and support her and her little sister she does multiple jobs. Lee Yeon Hee is the actress/model who plays her. She plays in other dramas such as East of Eden, U-turn, and One Fine day. She's played in a few movies, including Millionaire's First Love. At the 2008 MBC Drama Awards she won 3 awards for her acting in East of Eden such as, Best New Actress Award, Popularity Award, and Best Couple Award with Song Seung Hun.

Han Dong Joo is the son of a wealthy family. He's slightly spoiled and lazy, but he's often a devoted and big hearted guy. He sometimes is slightly childish and petty, with a quick temper, he can also be very sweet and endearing. It all depends on his view of you. He's played by Shim Chang Min, an actor/model/singer i'm fond of. He's boyishly handsome, with a young face, but there's something interesting about his lips. Also, he has large attractive eyes. He's the youngest member of the band TVXQ, who has songs like Mirotic, Wrong Number, Purple Line, Keep Your Head Down,and their slow song Before You Go. He's won two awards for his music:
6th Annual Best Competition SM Entertainment Awards: Best Singer
6th Annual Best Competition SM Entertainment Awards: Best Artist.

The Final character is Seo Yoon Ho. He's a charming businessman whom Da Ji comes to like. He's sweet and honest, and though you don't witness this much, he seems to have a history of being a bit of a player. He's also the main character in Thorn Birds and has played in Giant, That Fool, and Chun Ja's happy events. He's played in a few movies and in 2010 he won the two SBS Drama Awards: New Star Award, and Best Couple Award with Hwang Jung Eum for his performance in the drama Giant.

Grading:B
Characters: 9/10
Casting: 10/10
Humor: 10/10
Emotion:8/10
Music: 8.5/10
Surpise Factor: 8/10
Availability: 10/10
Story Line: 9/10
Recommendation:8.8/10

The 'Bear' Necessities

Honestly, there are certain things EVERY DRAMA HAS. I don't care if it's Korean or American or Japanese-it's there. By the way, about this posts' title reference-in case you start singing the song, like I did, here it is, just for you, The Bear Necessities.

The first necessity is one of the main characters MUST have a family problem. It's usually one or more dead parent. However, there are other options, including:
-a family with too much money
-a family with too little money
-a family that hates the character
-a family with a zany/interesting personality
-a family with too-high expectations
-etc.

(Japanese Drama Atashinchi No Danshi-an extremely zany 'family')
The second necessity is, basically, all characters need to be 'describable. As in, each character need their own personality. There's not that much strife to be original here, they usually just stick with the classics, or mix and match popular traits. Such traits that could be included:
mysterious, caring, loving, naive, shy, outgoing, careless, stoical, cherubic, cute, pretty, good-looking, bad boy/girl type, rugged, rude, confident, prince complex, protective, adorable, etc.
There are tons, and are more than one applies at each time.

(Korean Drama-Playful Kiss. Two very 'describable' characters.)
The third necessity is one of the main characters must have a talent, goal, or hope. Examples of talents could be musical, athletic, being smart, etc. Goad or hopes...it could be almost anything. If you find a single drama that does not have one of these episodes, tell me, because I have yet to find one. I'd be sincerely glad if you did.

(Taiwanese Drama Hi My Sweetheart. Main character strives take revenge)
And that is Kdrama(&others) decoded.

Prosecutor Princess

Title: Prosecutor Princess/Geomsa Princess/검사 프린세스
Genre: Romance
Episodes: 16
Broadcasting Network: SBS
Broadcasting Period: 2010-Mar-31 to 2010-May-20
Trailer
I was skeptical about starting this one, at first, but I have no regrets about doing so, for this was an excellent drama. Though, It is not a favorite of mine, it did introduce me to a new actor that I'm now fond of. Prosecutor Princess is a drama about a woman named Ma Hye Ri. Despite her passion for fashion, she was forced to become a prosecutor. She passes the bar exam with ease to become a prosecutor, due to her superb memory, but though it she's a prosecutor on paper, she's a far cry from her co-workers. She begins her job with the intent to do the absolute minimum but, different hardships and characters help her metamorphose into a woman with a strong since of justice and a relentless work ethic. All the while, in her seemingly perfect life, mysteries of her life and family begin to unfold.

Go Hye Mi is a beautiful, wealthy, fashionable, woman with a great memory but distorted 'priority list'. She is played bye Kim So Yeon, a truly remarkable actor. She's played an multiple drama's including Dr. Champ, IRIS, and Gourmet. Among her many drama's are movies and four awards: the 2010 SBS Drama Award of Top Ten Stars Award for Dr. Champ and Prosecutor Princess, 2009 KBS Drama Award's Popularity Award for IRIS, 2008 SBS Drama Awards' Excellence award and Special Planning Drama-Supporting Actress for Gourmet, and finally a 2000 MBC Drama award's Character Award.

Seo In Woo is the good-looking lawyer whom Hye Mi cannot seem to get rid of. They seem to continuously meet, unexpectedly. Though they begin their friendships on unusual terms, he becomes a stable friend to count on. Though he's friendly and helpful, he's intriguingly mysterious, and there seems to be secrets he has hidden deep inside. Seo In Woo is played by Park Shi Hoo who also stars in Queen of Reversals, Family's Honor, and Llijimae. He Won the Excellence Award for his role in Queen of Reversals at MBC Drama Awards 2010. At SBS Drama Awards 2009 he won Special Production Actor for Family's Honor. Finally, In 2008's SBS Drama Awards he won New Star Award. Because of this drama, He has come to be particularly favored by me.

The last real important character was Yoon Se Joon, the second male lead, a smart and stoical man. Yoon Se Joon is a fellow prosecutor, however he works long hours and is passionate about his job and the work he's doing. He has a big of a rugged look and he's an excellent fighter. Han Jung Soo or Han Jeong Soo is the actor/model who plays him. Han Jeong Soo has played in some dramas before this such as Chuno. He's also done several endorsements.

This drama, as most dramas do, uses particular songs through the drama. These songs include, Fly High-SHINee, Goodbye My Princess-Monday Kiz, and Give Me-Nine Muses.

Grading: B
Characters: 9/10
Casting: 9/10
Emotion: 10/10
Music: 8/10
Story: 9/10
Availability: 10/10
Suprise Factor: 9/10
Humor: 9/10
Recommendation: 8.5/10

Dream High

Drama: Dream High/드림하이
Genre: School/Drama/Comedy/Romance
Episodes: 16
Broadcast Network: KBS2
Broadcast Period: 2011-Jan-03 to 2011-Feb-28
Trailer 1. Trailer 2.
Dream High was a truly refreshing drama. It renews my Asian drama obsession, and made it's way into my favorite of all dramas. With it's talented and pleasing actors, and interesting story and music, this drama was completely satisfactory. I truly enjoyed watching it, and felt to no rush to finish it, except that I was driven to find out what happened next.
This drama follows the lives of 6 students of Kirin Art High School, a prestigious school for talented kids in the fields of singing and dancing.

Among these students is Go Hye Mi, who is main character. Go Hye Mi is a charismatic character with a little too much confidence, and a resistant pride. Though, she may seem like a perfectly 'detestable' character in the beginning she finds her way in your good graces.
Go Hye Mi is played by Suzy. Her real name is Bae Su Ji, and she's incredibly tall from my perspective. She's new to acting, Dream High being her first attempt (and success!) though she is a in a Kpop group called Miss A, in which I'm fond of all members. I really do enjoy some of their songs such as;
Bad Girl, Good Girl and Breathe which is in Step up.

A Korean drama is nothing without a mesmerizing male lead. This drama, not unlike other dramas, has two. Personally, I'm a Song Sam Dong fan.
Song Sam Dong is a country bumpkin with a hidden talent. He doesn't actually apply to the school but is a special recommendation. He doesn't want his mother to know of his singing ability, so convincing him to go to the school takes some effort. He is a loyal and compassionate character, and you find out something surprising about him later in the drama. Sam Song Dong is played by Kim Soo Hyun who also played in the drama Giant, in which he won the SBS Drama Award of New Star Award 2010. This movie is, basically, the beginning of his singing career.

The other male lead is Jin Gook/Hyun Shi Hyuk. He's seen as a bit of a bad boy, who rides a motorcycle and does breakdancing with friends. However, he's really a sweetheart, and actually Go Hye Mi's childhood friend. He's played by Taecyoen, whose full name is Ok Taec Yeon. He's an actor, singer, and model. This was not my first Taecyoen drama, he was in Cinderella's Sister (My all time favorite drama), and in both dramas he stars as one of the male leads. (I rooted for him in Cinderella's Sister, though I loved both leads.) He's the main rapper in the Kpop band 2PM. It's a 6 member boy band, now-you'll learn more later in the post. I'll be back is currently my favorite song of theirs, I believe.

The second most popular female lead is Yoon Baek Hee. She's Go Hye Mi's best friend, and has always been disregarded by her family and friends, and therefore is not very confident. Throughout her life she was inspired by Go Hye Mi and most people called her 'Go Hye Mi's follower'. However, after she auditions with Hye Mi for Kirin Art High School, tension and drama strikes leaving their friendship in pieces. Yoon Baek Hee is played by Ham Eun Jung, a singer and actress. She's not new to acting she played in various movies, and played in the considerably famous (also one of my first drama's) Coffee House. She won the SBS drama award of New Star award in 2010 for her work in Coffee House. In She's also a vocalist and rapper for the relatively new, yet popular K-pop group T-ara. The group's very first song was actually on the soundtrack for the K-drama Cinderella's Man. They've come out with many popular songs including on of their most famous, and my personal favorite, Bo Peep.

The third female lead is Kim Pil Suk, another lovable character. She comes to the audition, her face hidden. Though her voice is incredibly beautiful, she's overweight and aesthetically 'under-qualified'. She's really sweet and naive, and almost impossible to dislike. The actress who plays her is IU, though her real name is Lee Ji Eun. Dream High was her first acting job. She's a solo singer, with the name IU. She debuted in 2008. Her first popular song was Boo. which was on her first full-sized album. Another delightful song of hers is Marshmellow.

The final main character is Jason, who is an American exchange student (even though he is korean). He's seen as the most successful and progressive of all the students in Kirin High school for both singing and dancing, with overflowing talent and confidence. He's carefree and careless, but comes to have a full-fledged passion, as you come to find later in the drama. This is also the start of his acting career. He's the lead vocalist in the K-pop group 2PM, (note: the same group as Taecyeon-who plays Jin Gook). I told you I'd tell you more about 2PM later. Another song of theirs that is among my favorites is Again&Again.
Of course, being that this is a drama based around talented singers and dancers their are songs and interesting music scenes in the drama. Such scenes include This one. Which is the song Tell me your wish (Genie) performed by Iu, Suzy, Taekyeon, and Kim Soo Hyun. Also the theme song for the drama, Dream High
(Note:these are actual scenes of the movie, though they don't spoil much, you may not want to watch if you plan on watching the drama).

Grading: A-
Characters:10/10
Casting:10/10
Emotion:9/10
Music:10/10
Surprise Factor:8/10
Availability:10/10
Story-line:9/10
Humor:9/10
Recommendation:9.5/10