The Master's Sun (2013)

I'll just start this review by saying that So Ji Sub can officially do no wrong in my eyes. I just wanted to make that bias clear before I continued. :)

So, I had pretty low expectations of this drama when I read the synopsis, but It was the most fun I've had watching a drama in a while.I laughed, I cried, I crushed hard on So Ji Sub. What more can I ask for in a K-Drama? lol!

What made me love this drama so much, from the very first episode, was So Ji Sub & Gong Hyo Jin. The premise for their romance is pretty far fetched, but their chemistry was amazing, and their characters were so well played that even the most unbelievable parts worked. Both play the comedic moments, and the emotional moments equally well. They are, hands down, two of my favorites in K-Drama.

I think the entire cast was outstanding, even the minor roles. Seo In-Guk was so charming, that he didn't get completely over shadowed by So Ji Sub, which is very impressive. I'm definitely becoming his fan. Kim Yoo-ri was great, and it was really fun to love & hate her as Tae Yi Ryung. Their storyline, and chemistry, was also a lot of fun to watch. Choi Jung Woo was another favorite of mine. He was great as the caretaker/quiet instigator Kim Gwi Do. Han Bo Reum was maybe the only slightly boring one in the main bunch, but was still good enough to not be a distraction. It's the cast that held together the weaker episodes, because they were all so likable.

I thought the story was mostly original, and really well told, even though I'm not really a fan of dramas that include a bunch of unrelated mini stories in each episode. I think the Hong Sister's did a great job of making sure the stories still connected to both of the main character's development, so they aren't just completely random. The horror elements weren't cheesy, or all that scary (for those of you turned off by horror). There were plenty rewatchable romantic moments that made me swoon. There was one moment in particular that had me unexpectedly in boo-hoo tears. There is also a good amount of suspense.

The reason for giving this drama an 8 and not higher for the story is that It definitely lost some of it's magic, and started to drag a little, in the last episodes. I'm still not sure why introducing someone from Tae Kong Shil's 'unconscious' past was necessary, since it didn't do much to move the story forward, or explain much about why she is how she is. Too many plot developments like that seemed more like time filler towards the end, making the show lose some momentum. It had such a strong start, and was so addictive throughout most of it, that watching it start to fall apart at the end was really disappointing. That being said, I was satisfied by the end of the last episode.

Oh, the music. I guess nothing really stuck out to me besides "Touch Love" by T Yoon Mi Rae, but it was hard to get the "lonely love, yes i love..." out of my head.

Overall I loved this drama. It caught me off guard the way "Secret Garden" did, making the unbelievable seem perfectly plausible. Sure, it's the same rich mean chaebol meets quirky poor girl cinderella-type romance, but it still manages to feel fresh & unique. I would definitely recommend The Master's Sun to rom-com fans who want something that's a little different, and isn't too light-hearted.

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