KDramaWatching
What was I expecting? I enjoy a good time travel, especially when it mixes modern and Joseon eras, ala Queen Inhyun's Man. And I'm a sucker for romantic comedies, so I was looking for a light romp and plenty of fish out of water fun stuff etc. Well, I got that and so much more with Live Up To Your Name. Firstly, the story... the plot itself wasn't too complex, a doctor from Joseon who practices traditional oriental medicine more out of greed than empathy, is transported through time to modern day Seoul to meet a cardiothoracic surgeon who see's her patients only as the internal organs she can repair. As they start to learn more about each other and their different methodologies, so do they also begin to learn about themselves. You see, more than anything, this story is a character story, and though it might start off as a story of things and circumstances happening to our characters and making them react, it evolves into a story about choices, self-determination, and ultimately, what it is that defines them as people. They learn and grow together in such an organic way that it is beautiful to watch in action.
What I love is how the writer had such a delicate touch when dealing with heavier topics. It could have gone the route of being preachy, but I don't believe it ever veered there, and even the characters who made wrong choices were also humanized in a way that didn't make you absolutely hate them. The romance, of course, was pure gold. Whoever cast Kim Nam Gil as Heo Im and Kim Ah Joong as Choi Ahn Kyung together as the leads deserves a medal. Not only was their chemistry off the charts, but it was so natural and realistic, that I almost felt voyeuristic in some scenes and all they had to do was look at each other. Kim Nam Gil was simply amazing start to finish and has the ability to be goofy and bumbling but also serious and intense all within the span of seconds. Kim Ah Joong took me a while to warm up to, but I think part of that was due to her character's thawing out with each episodes, and by the end, I was definitely mesmerized by her skill. I'm not seen anything else with either of them in, so I'll definitely have to look out for them both.
I can't comment too much on the OST only to say that it suited the themes, wasn't overbearing, and highlighted the poignancy of the show. I'm sure I'll pay more attention on re-watch, which I most certainly plan on doing.
I also want to mention a little something about the medical aspects of this drama. Yes, it is about medicine, both modern and traditional, and yes, it does glamorize medicine in ways that aren't necessarily realistic sometimes, but I can forgive because it is a fantasy (time travel, hello?). But, if you're not into medical dramas, this might not be your thing, however, let me just say that the medicine is just a vehicle to drive the show, it's not really what this show is about. If you are a sucker for character driven stories, then give this one a try. Just close your eyes every time someone sticks a scalpel or a needle into someone else.
And lastly, the method of time travel aka the gimmick that brings Heo Im from past to future, is one of the most unique ones I've seen, and not one I would voluntarily choose. Yikes!
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Does this hold up to a rewatch? I scored it at a 9 on my first go around, and I can honestly say that YES, it absolutely does stand up to a rewatch. In fact, it might have been even better for me this time around, because I have a better understanding of Korean culture and I have a few fusion Sagueks under my belt to compare.
Moonlight is still awesome in every category for me. The storyline, the pacing, the characters, the OST, and even down the the amazingly beautiful hanboks designed for the show. I think there is a meticulous attention to detail.
Does that mean the show is perfect? Well no, I could point out some things that are slightly less than stellar--fat princess played for comedy affect... um no. (Just once, please can we have a fat person who is just a person?) Ra On's helplessness in parts of the show I could have done without. She lost a little of her feisty appeal at some point, so that was disappointing. Simplistic plot--that's not to say it wasn't good, but if you're looking for something truly deep and convoluted, this just isn't it. Watch it for what it is--and yes, this was tailored more for a YA audience--and that I have no problem with.
What stood out in this show? Well, obviously Park Bo Gum was AH-mazing. That boy can do no wrong in my eyes. He really inhabited the character of Young and made us believe 100% in this prince. And boy, does he look fine in a hanbok. Also, Kim Yoo Jung was a pleasant surprise. She's such a young actress, but she can be really expressive, and, unlike that other Moon show where the actress looked 12 and had the range of a dead fish, KYJ actually had some mobility to her features, which she used for good effect, and looked more the age of the character she was playing.
Some of the side cast deserve praise too, particularly Kwak Dong Yeon who was able to sell me Chief Kim's conflict in his silent way.
All in all, a very tight production, a beautiful story told, and a great ending. What more could you want?
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I have to caveat this with the fact that I was just slightly spoiled: I knew who Doek Sun would end up being married to in the end before I started watching. Okay, so that's more than being slightly spoiled, so I don't know what my watching experience would have been like if I hadn't known, because I wasn't frustrated by the whole love triangle thing, but was able to sit back and enjoy all the different relationships in all the iterations.
And that really is the heart of this show. These characters, each and every one of them, and how they live and love and grow together. This show had me grinning from ear to ear the one minute, and crying the next. I was emotionally invested in each of their stories and rooting so heard for them. Not just the kids, but the parents too. This is what family is about -- the silly, heartwarming stuff, and the real, heartbreaking stuff, and all the things in between.
What also got to me was the show's nostalgia. Maybe it helped that I grew up in the 80s and 90s as well, and there were so many, many things in this show that I could relate to and made my heart warm with remembering, despite the fact that I grew up in a different culture, speaking a different language and a whole continent away in Southern Africa. Some things are just universal I guess.
And finally, I fell in love with the show and all the characters, but one in particular stopped my heart. Park Bo Gum's portrayal of the Baduk star Choi Taek was nothing short of breathtaking. Having seen him in Moonlight Drawn by Clouds, and he certainly impressed me there, his portrayal of Taek was even more impressive when you see how different the characters are and how he makes it hard to believe they are played by the same person. On top of that, with as straight a character as Taek is, how amazing is Park Bo Gum in being able to show so much emotion with just the slightest expressions. Ok, I'll stop gushing now.
If you haven't watched this show, don't wait, but do get yourself a box of tissues (for all the happy tears) and do clear out your schedule because you're not going to want to press pause.
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I really did love this show, and all the relationships it showed. Ji Yeon and Dong Ha were adorable (although I had to say for me this was mostly because of Park Seo Joon as Dong Ha, who was fantastic). The age difference was noticeable because Dong Ha looks so young even for his age, but in the end, I totally bought their chemistry. Also cute were Ji Yoen's friend Na Rae and her husband, Dong Ha's friend Soo Cheul and his budding romance with Eun Chae and last but definitely not least, almost stealing the show were Ji Yoen's mom getting together with her boss! So cute!
The major downer for me was the 2nd lead, Shi Hoon, who was such a debbie downer. I couldn't stand him from the start. He was really manipulative, and I kind of hated how Ji Yeun was when she was with him. I would have rated the show higher but these middle episodes with Shi Hoon dragged on so badly, that I almost wanted to give up.
Glad that I stuck it through to the end, though, because the HEA was just TOO CUTE!
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Arang and the Magistrate
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I liked a lot about this show. My favourite wasn't necessarily the romance, but rather the relationship between the women. I love to see women interacting as friends and rivals even, in a way that doesn't just revolve around men. Obviously a lot of it was about men and relationships, but a lot was also about work, and about their own friendships. High five for this show!
Then there was Sung Joon's character Joo Wan, who was just a little bit too perfect. I mean, come on, how can one guy be so perfect? And so hot? (I hate to be so shallow, but omg!) I can't even understand why Kim So Yeon's character Joo Yeon had even a moment's hesitation about this guy! Okay, I do get it, she still kinda saw him as the kid she had to babysit when she was a teen, and she also couldn't get past her own jaded view of relationships, but come on, just look at him!
I liked the more realistic feel this show had about people and relationships, in that it didn't make women chaste or sexless, and it rounded out each character--each woman had her own flaws as well as her own redeeming qualities.
I was frustrated with Joo Yeon and her infatuation with her boss, Tae Yoon. I actually started out liking Tae Yoon, but he was so completely not right for Joo Yeon, and I think he even knew that, and yet he was so selfish with her, and she was just too oblivious or just had so little love for herself even to let go of him. And I really can't forgive him for how he hurt Se Ryung. There was no justification except for him being a selfish arsehole. I had to dock points for this whole plotline dragging out way too long, and Joo Yeon not waking up sooner.
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Overall, I think the writer, actors and director did a good job of bringing this story to the screen. They treated the heavy subject matter with respect and honestly, which truly, is the only way you can treat it, and that's not to say there wasn't any levity in the show, because in life, no matter what you're going through, there will always be those moments of levity or brightness. But for me, it was just too heart wrenching and a little bit close to home. I don't deal well with that type of drama, because generally I watch to escape reality, not to be immersed into it.
Lee Dong Wook was hot, if a little stiff - I kept being reminded of his role in Goblin which I had watched first and where I thought he was just delightful. The tango scenes were hot. There should have been much more tango and less... dying. Kim Sun Ah was fantastic in her role, and the character really did come into her own. As for the ending... honestly, I was expecting it to be a lot more depressing than it was, so I was satisfied with what they did with it.
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