K-Drama Review: Dream High, Episodes 7-8

Read Episode reviews for:

Dream High--Episodes 1-2
Dream High--Episodes 3-4
Dream High--Episodes 5-6
Dream High--Episodes 9-10
Dream High--Episodes 11-12
Dream High--Episodes 13-14
Dream High--Episodes 15-16

Contains Spoilers for Episodes 7-8

In Dream High-Land, Jinguk's dad is acting like a jerk. Politician Dad has never supported his own son, and he just wants Jinguk to avoid music because it reflects badly on him. Baekhee also has parent troubles, and she commiserates with Jinguk about it. No, Jinguk, don't get friendly with Baekhee! She drops pottery on people's heads and puts tacks in their dancing shoes!

So Torn Between My Love for Eunjung and My Dislike for Baekhee.

In Secondary-Character-Ville, Jason is wishing he could sing a duet with shy, overweight Pilsook, who he has grown fond of. A nasty teacher tells Jason to forget it--if he wants to sing for fun *derisive snicker* why doesn't he just go do karaoke(noraebang)? And then Jason goes and asks Pilsook out for noraebang. Bwa-ha-ha! I love this show. And their performances at noraebang kill me.

Jinguk gets all quitty on his friends Samdong and Hyemi, and says he won't perform in the fake showcase with them. Hyemi feels betrayed because singing together onstage was a shared dream of theirs and it meant a lot to her. Even with one missing class member, Hyemi pulls a Scarlett O'Hara and basically buffalos everyone into doing the fake showcase anyway.

Jason discovers the secret lower-class practice and decides that this is the place for him; working hard and having fun. It's a nice move story-wise, because not only does it fill Jinguk's spot, shows that the lower-class fold is opening up to new people. Soon, everyone will want in.

Lower-Class Students Cutting Their Own Confetti. So Ghetto Up in Here.

As the big songs approach, I realize that I am heartily anticipating this showcase. I want  to see them perform! (In Dream High 2 it was more like, "Well, it's about that time in the episode again. I guess they're going to perform at me, now".) Pilsook's sweet, heartfelt, and puffy-dressed performance is contrasted with Baekhee's exotic, fierce rendition of the same song. And then, oh noooo, Jinguk shows up on stage with Baekhee.

What Are You Doing in Leather and Feathers, Mister?

Aw, Jinguk, I was afraid this would happen. First you abandon Hyemi onstage in like, episode 3, and now you go and perform in the opposing showcase? These are not the actions of the primary male lead. I'm not going to get to see you with Hyemi, am I?

Samdong and Hyemi sing a lovely duet and end the night successfully, but then there's another "Oh no!" moment when it seems like Samdong's losing his hearing, possibly from his recent head trauma. This cannot be allowed to happen.

 Our Precious Snowflake had BETTER NOT be Losing his Hearing.

Right now, my favorite friendship in this show is progressing at just the right speed. Hyemi and Pilsook are a surprisingly grand friend-combo, and they support each other in a natural non-showy way. Hyemi holds Pilsook's hand and comforts her when Pilsook's feelings are wounded, doing what she once ought to have done for Baekhee. It may be too late for Hyemi to the do right thing by her ex-BFF Baekhee, but it's not too late to do right for somebody. And they also bond over their own humiliating moments.

Our Two Heroines, Sharing the Pose of Humiliation.

Thanks to his showcase, Jinguk is getting signed to a record label and leaving Kirin High. Hyemi stands outside at night, crying over Jinguk as he leaves and wearing his spare motorcycle helmet which he left for her. She tries to tell Samdong why she's crying, but Samdong breaks down and yells for her not to tell him. Then he makes up his own reason: she's crying over Jinguk because he's debuting before Hyemi, and she's jealous of this success, right? Samdong's basically begging her not to tell him that she cares for the other guy. Hyemi obliges him, and doesn't tell him the real reason.

200 days pass.

I do not like time-skips.

Now Jinguk, Baekhee, and Jason are in a successful co-ed idol group called "K," but they've come back home to visit. Jason returns to Kirin to find a stunning, slender Pilsook who clearly still adores him. Jinguk returns to Kirin to find a stunning, awesome Hyemi who is working hard on her dreams without him, and who appears to have bonded 100% with Samdong.


Things I Loved:

1. Jason/Pilsook. We're not quite there yet, but it's clear that we're totally going to get this pairing! It all starts when Jason doesn't want to sing a showcase duet with his assigned partner because he's thinking about someone else. Until now, we've seen very little of Pilsook and even less of Jason, but it's easy to connect with them now because they get 5 times more screentime in these episodes than they've gotten before. I love seeing them together, and I may have watched their noraebang scene twice (or, yanno, three or four times, but who's counting?).

And Don't You Just Love His Light-Socket Hair?

2. More Meta. At noraebang, Jason and Pilsook sing "Heartbeat" by 2PM, the actor Wooyoung's real band. Then there's some meta when Hyemi tells Jinman (who is JYP, the actress' real-life producer and record label manager) that he looks young for his age. And we see Nichkhun of 2PM in knight's armor for a commercial!

Nichkhun as Romeo-Lancelot-Charming, Smartphone User.

3. Samdong/Hyemi. No matter how you hope the love triangle ends, I don't see how anyone could fail to appreciate the sheer beauty of Samdong and Hyemi's interaction. He just adores her, and she's mighty good to him in return. After one particularly exhausting day, Hyemi falls asleep on Samdong's shoulder and the awe-filled yet terrified expression on his face is like he's been given a unicorn wrapped in a beam of sunshine. And dipped in gold.

Samdong and His Unicorn.

4. Hyemi's Growth: My girl grows up so much in these episodes. When Baekhee does a public interview talking about her cruel ex-best-friend, Hyemi finally does have to confront the reality of the awful, awful person she once was. She remembers how heartless she was to her friend, and it tears her apart. Ah, self-knowledge. It has to come at some point, Hyemi. It hurts, but it will make you better!

This Too Shall Pass.

Complaints:

1. The Cold. It's a small issue, but was there no heating on set when they filmed this? I don't think the actors' breath should be fogging up indoors the way it is, as if Kirin didn't turn up their thermostat when the winter came around.

Themes:

Daddy Does Not Love You: Jinguk's dad has abandoned everything he ever loved in order to be successful. Politician Dad outright asks his son, "Should I give up everything and just be your father?" obviously hoping to hear a "no". That's when Jinguk knows he'll never have a father, because Daddy made his choices long ago.

How Could You Hurt This Guy, Politician-Dad?

Swapping Places: 1. Jason goes to the lower-class showcase and misses his own performance, while Jinguk neatly slips into Jason's place and takes part in the more professional showcase. 2. Baekhee gives Hyemi her lucky medallion, showing that they've truly traded places--B is clearly on top of the world, while H needs all the luck she can get. 3. Pilsook essentially takes Baekhee's place as Hyemi's quieter, gentler friend. Their dynamic is rather different because Pilsook doesn't shadow Hyemi or want to imitate her, but she does look to her for advice and encouragement.


You Can Change Your Own Fate: Even if you're a side character or a villain, Dream High says that you can develop into the hero or heroine of your own story. I love Teacher Oh-hyuk for telling Hyemi this because it's an in-story example of what makes the show so captivating; Hyemi starts out as a classic villainess, then grows and changes until she's a heroine. Baekhee starts out as a Cinderella, then grows into a wicked stepsister. But maybe, with time, she could change her role once more?

 Your Pyrotechnics Rocked. Now Find Your Soul, Please.

Cultural Observances:

Hanbok: Samdong's mom puts on a pretty ceremonial hanbok to wear to the showcase.

Samdong's Mama: My Favorite Ahjumma Ever.

Canada/Korea Closeness: Korea and Canada have an excellent international relationship, so it made sense when Jinguk's dad's minion said they were sending him to Vancouver, where he'd meet a ton of other Korean students and make friends easily.


New Words: "Nado" is "me, too" when Jinguk says he feels the same way Baekhee does about a certain song. "Jal ga" is a casual "Bye!"--I think it literally means "go well" because jal is good and ga is go. "Jaemi eobseo" is "it's no fun," which is what Jason says when talking about his current duet partner. "Jebal" is "I'm begging you". Pilsook jebals Jason, telling him not to ask her where she's going, and Jinguk later uses jebal with his father, who he's begging not to do any more hateful things. "Mani mogo" is "eat more".


Watch Dream High on DramaFever.

Episode Evaluations: These episodes are better than ever! They're rousing and moving and make you want to rally behind the characters. The music is great, the comic beats are perfect...ahhhh. Dream High will rip you into itty bitty pieces, then put you back together again, and you won't mind at all.


Massive Analogy: If Dream High were The Hunger Games, Hyemi is the tough, skilled survivalist Katniss (who has absent parents and a baby sister she'd literally do anything for), Jinguk is Gale, the somewhat rebellious, somewhat angry guy who can't decide what he wants, and Samdong is Peeta--loyal and sweet, not a true survivor, but someone worth saving. The music industry itself and the snobby Kirin teachers are the Capitol, and Teacher Oh-hyuk is Haymitch, the morally flawed mentor who still has enough heart and enough knowledge to help his kids make it through.

So.

If anyone writes a Dream High/Hunger Games crossover fanfic, I'll be all about that!

Scripture Sunday: 2nd Peter

In this letter, Peter addresses a lot of problems that are arising or will arise in the church (not the building "the church" but the church, meaning the worldwide group of Christian believers).

First, he talks about building yourself up and practicing all the virtues that befit a Christian: "add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity." (1:5-7) We must always be moving toward the next virtue. If we pursue these good things we'll definitely see results in our private lives, and we'll also benefit the cause of Christ. One of the key words in 2nd Peter seems to be diligence. These are the sort of things we have to stick to and pursue with as much dedication as we can muster.

Peter is writing with such earnestness because he knows he will die soon: "Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me." (1:14) Peter has a little time remaining to him, and he's going to use his time to advise the body of believers and warn them about people who will try to tear the church apart with false teachings and selfish attitudes.

The false teachers are characterized by lust (ungodly types of sexual desire), covetousness (basically "envy") and vanity (pride and self-will). How these sorts of people could ever rise to prominence within the Christian faith seems impossible, but then I recall the atrocities done in the name of Christ in times long past--things like the crusades, and smaller evils like the church selling "indulgences" or receiving payment for supposedly forgiving sins. It has happened before and can happen again, so we must be diligent and be on our guard against these sorts of people and their destructive teachings which have nothing to do with the saving power of Jesus Christ.

For those who wonder when the end of the world is coming, Peter says that the Lord isn't slow about ending the world or "slack concerning his promise," but that God measures time differently than we do: "But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day" (3:8). This verse actually makes me think of the character Aslan, the Christ-figure lion in The Chronicles of Narnia. In one book, he tells Lucy he'll do something soon, and she asks, "Please, Aslan...what do you call "soon"?" He replies, "I call all times "soon"." :-)

K-Drama Review: Rooftop Prince, Episodes 9-10

Read Episode reviews for:

Rooftop Prince--Episodes 1-2
Rooftop Prince--Episodes 3-4
Rooftop Prince--Episodes 5-6
Rooftop Prince--Episodes 7-8
Rooftop Prince--Episodes 11-12
Rooftop Prince--Episodes 13-14
Rooftop Prince--Episodes 15-16
Rooftop Prince--Episodes 17-18
Rooftop Prince--Episodes 19-20, Finale

Contains Spoilers for Episodes 9-10

Things open with a bang as Park Ha gets slapped by CEO Grandma for...hiding Taeyong, who is really Yi Gak, for two years? I dunno, CEO Grandma's just mad and needs someone to blame. The awful thing about Yi Gak using CEO Grandma's money is that it behooves him to obey CEO Grandma's iron will, and her will is for Park Ha to get away from Yi Gak. But after Yi Gak kneels all night outside his grandmother's house, she agrees to let Park Ha keep her job at the home shopping company, so long as Yi Gak is sure he's not going to start a romance with her. Because there's no way that's gonna happen, right?

Park Ha's stepsister (who's secretly her real sister) Sena is as backstabby and emotionally manipulative as ever. She takes every opportunity to harm and belittle Park Ha, even stooping as low as to flirt with Yi Gak when she knows Park Ha cares for him. Unfortunately, Yi Gak thinks he's fated to marry Sena in this modern world, since she's the double of his deceased wife from the historical Joseon era. Yi Gak thinks that in order to solve the mystery of his time travelling, he has to stick close to Sena.

But the One You Need is Right In Front of You!

But on the brighter (and best) side of the show, we've got the three Joseon sidekicks being their wonderful selves, scaring away Park Ha's potential love interest and then making her a multiple-tiered birthday cake decorated with ostentatious flowers. I'm so glad they're here to balance out Teh Evilz. Whether it's playing pick up basketball, going to sticker booths, or buying Park Ha weird gifts that they don't know are weird, the sidekicks are endearing and funny.

There's some emphatic flouncing on Yi Gak's part when Park Ha's loses a significant, and possibly magical, handkerchief of his. But after all the bluster, he forgives her and takes care of her when she makes herself sick trying to find his special butterfly-embroidered hankie. I like how they each make grand, sweeping gestures that show their dedication to each other (kneeling outdoors through the night, searching through a laundry warehouse through the night), and yet they haven't even admitted they like each other.

Sadly, many wires are crossed and connections are missed between Park Ha and Yi Gak, and in the snarl of confused emotions he starts dating Sena (who is still engaged to Taemu!). Sena is also the reason Yi Gak breaks a date with Park Ha on Park's Ha's birthday. But after a lot of confusion, Park Ha does manage to confess her feelings to Yi Gak in a text message: "I like you. I love you."

And now he knows! Ahhhh! Drat these cliffhangers.

Things I Loved:

1. Depth. We get loads of character development for the three Joseon sidekicks in these episodes. They have genuine arguments with each other and their personalities get more three-dimensional. Yongsul was basically an action figure: no emotions, no independent will, just a lot of impressive warrior moves. Now he's speaking more and making some decisions for himself. Chisan reveals more of his gentle, adorable side, and smartypants Manbo shows his temper and his leadership skills. Their stories about their families back home in Joseon bring Park Ha to tears, because it turns out that our hilarious support cast are all real people with real losses and emotions.

Must Follow Up All Deep Conversations With Something Childlike.

2. Yi Gak's skills. It would be easy to let him be just the guy with the demanding nature and the unlimited credit card, but he has lots of other strengths. He's very logical, even if he doesn't always come to the right conclusion. Also, he has a good knowledge of herbs and medicine, and can write beautiful Chinese hanja calligraphy. It makes sense that a prince with all the scholarly advantages of his time would know a few things instead of just bumbling around all the time.

His Penmanship is Daebak.

3. The Punch. When she wins a basketball match, Park Ha gets to have one wish granted by Yi Gak. And her wish is to punch him in the stomach for being so callous. It's an awesome moment because it humbles him a little after he has messed with her feelings, although the truth is, he didn't mean to hurt her and the missed date was all Sena's fault. So maybe we can punch Sena in the next episode?

Brawn Over Brains: Satisfying at Times.

Complaints:

1. Sena. It says a lot that I dislike her more than Taemu, when Taemu is the would-be murderer of the pair. Sena represents almost everything that I don't want to see a woman be like: complainy, vindictive, and only out for herself. Every scene she's in feels like one scene too many, so I applaud her actress as well as the writing team for making such a convincing villain.

Teeth-Grittingly Evil.

2. Taeyong's Family. I'm angry at CEO Grandma, annoyed at Nervous Auntie, and creeped out by Creepy Uncle. In short, any subplot involving Taeyong(Yi Gak)'s family has me cringing away from the screen. Do we gotta involve these people in our lovely, lovely drama?

When You See Them Coming, Run.

Themes:

Loyalty Under Pressure: When Park Ha could have saved herself a lot of trouble by outing Yi Gak as a pretender, she doesn't. Then when Yi Gak sees what she has suffered emotionally to help him out, he suffers physically by kneeling all night on the hard ground. In Rooftop Prince, good people are loyal when it hurts, and bad people are only loyal until a better offer comes along.

The Prince, Proving He's Good People.

Cultural Observances:

Supplication: That kneeling-in-order-to-be-forgiven thing? I'm not sure if contemporary Koreans do this (I've seen it happen in modern K-dramas, which does not mean that it happens in real life), but when Yi Gak kneels outside CEO Grandma's window to get her to see his side of things, it seems like a distinctly non-Western thing to do. And it's probably also a historical thing.

"Make Your Own Cake" cake decoration cafes: This is where the Joseon sidekicks go to make Park Ha's birthday cake. I guess we must have these in America as well, and I'm just in the wrong region for it, but I had never heard of a cake-assembly shop until I heard of them in conjunction with Korea in this Eat Your Kimchi Valentine's Day video.

The Shop Even Provides Complimentary Aprons.

New words: "Anida" is a negative response, like "no, that's not the case". "Apeu" is "hurt," when Park Ha asks Yi Gak if he's hurt after the long night of repentance. "Bbali" is "Hurry!"

Watch Rooftop Prince on DramaFever

Episode Evaluations: Everything involving gold digger Sena is more frustrating than ever, but anything with Yi Gak/Park Ha or the Joseon sidekicks is better than ever, so Rooftop Prince just got way more emotional all around in these episodes. Looking forward to the aftermath of that love confession next week!

K-Drama Review: Dream High, Episodes 5-6

Read Episode reviews for:

Dream High--Episodes 1-2
Dream High--Episodes 3-4
Dream High--Episodes 7-8
Dream High--Episodes 9-10
Dream High--Episodes 11-12
Dream High--Episodes 13-14
Dream High--Episodes 15-16

Contains Spoilers for Episodes 5-6

Hyemi has challenged Baekhee to a showdown. Whichever girl wins the end-of-month assessments gets bragging rights and also gets treated well by the student body; needless to say, this means more to Hyemi than Baekhee, who is already at the top of the school foodchain.

Our love stories are scooting forward slowly. I love Jinguk so much for telling Hyemi to grow up and be bold, but doing so with a huge smile that means he's on her side. And then sweet Samdong puts a band aid on Hyemi's cut forehead while she's sleeping! These are back-to-back moments of pure sweetness, highlighting what each guy can do for Hyemi: Jinguk challenges her and pushes her to be awesomer, while Samdong soothes her hurts. Of this, which do you pick?

Obtain Bandage. Apply Directly to Forehead.

In side news, Pilsook has been demoted to the lower class, but she has lost some weight and her chubbysuit looks closer to natural now. Our villain Baekhee is currently crushing on Jinguk, but he wouldn't like her if he knew how two-faced she has become in her desire to take Hyemi down. I do like how the main girls' rivalry is still about pride and personal issues, not a catfight over a boy.

The lower class has to learn how to convey their emotions through song, so Teacher Oh-hyuk gets Jinman (JYP!) to help the lower class learn to perform properly, so they'll stand a chance against the kids with better training. The lower class kids work hard, and then they do a street performance of "Genie" by SNSD which actually manages to be beautiful and touching and meaningful. Again, this makes me think of the random street performance scene in Dream High 2 and how it can't compare to this one, where the kids are all giving a heartfelt performance specifically to encourage another person.

And then tragedy strikes. Samdong gets hit with a falling flower pot that was meant for Hyemi, and it leaves him bleeding and unconscious. Baekhee is trembling in horror at what she's done; harming an innocent person in an attempt to hurt her nemesis. Hyemi sticks by Samdong's side as he makes his recovery, so this side of the triangle is getting all the bonding right now, but Jinguk is also back at school helping out Hyemi by investigating Baekhee.

Stricken By Guilt-Face.

Samdong recovers just as the half-semester showcase is coming up at Kirin. But the lower class will not have a chance to appear in the coveted showcase! Samdong is heartbroken because his mother was going to come out to Seoul to watch him perform, but now she won't be able to. Hyemi decides  to make his dream happen by helping perform a fake showcase, though it's really Teacher Oh-hyuk who puts everything together.

Teacher Oh-hyuk has always been a bland background character for me, but then in a speech to Samdong he reveals that he has even been a bland background character in his own life. Oh-hyuk's dreams are always out of reach, so he wants to help the kids achieve theirs. Samdong breaks down crying when his teacher says this (oh my goodness, real tears? Rip my heart out, why don't you!), and it contributes to the show's ongoing theme of "People are not what you thought they were". Hyemi hates Teacher Oh-hyuk for ruining her family, but Oh-hyuk has rescued her and stuck by her almost more than her two boys have. He has paid her loanshark debts, kept her in school, given her a place to live...it's really quite wonderful. *meltyheart*

Things I Loved:

1. The Love Triangle. Bear with me on this, but Dream High is one of the few instances where I've ever liked both guy characters in a love triangle and where I honestly thought the heroine would be justified in caring for both. We all know that love triangles have to end soon because they only cause pain in the long run, but in these early stages, I see just how great Jinguk and Samdong both are.

The Triangle of Awesome: Aerial View.

2. Hyemi's Emotions. Suzy's not the most emotive actress, but she has always seemed real to me as Hyemi because I know people like this--real human beings whose emotions are just not there on the surface for anyone to see. I think I like Hyemi because she's not flimsy and super-emotional, and when she finally does show her worries, that endears her to me even more. Hyemi cries while Samdong is in the ER because while she'd never drown in her own self-pity, when someone she cares about is hurt, she crumples.

When She Cries, It's Serious.

 

3. The Meta. I  love when K-dramas reference other K-dramas, and this show did some spot-on nods to other shows. I nearly died over the wonderful daydream scene where Samdong pictures himself and Jinguk as being the beloved princes of Kirin, walking through the school doors, gloriously backlit as the goshawful Boys Over Flowers theme song plays.

ALMOST PAAAAAAARADISE.

And now that I think of it, Kim Soohyun does look a lot like Kim Bum from BOF.


Complaints:

1. Pilsook's doll. I really wish Pilsook didn't carry around that creepy little stuffed doll. Ladies, it's acceptable to have these on your bed or your shelf, but not to tote them around in public when you're in high school. But the poor girl is clearly using her doll as a comfort object.

Has a Bit of Growing Up to Do.

Themes:

You Can Do It! Jinguk teases Samdong for making cheesy pep-talks, but it's so nice to have someone who's finding the bright side of life and preparing to push past obstacles. And isn't that part of the charm of Dream High, the feeling that these kids can really accomplish something? And it turns out that teacher Oh-hyuk really cares for the kids and is willing to do anything to help them realize their dreams, too.

No Caption Prepared; I Just Like This Picture.

Cruel to Be Kind: Hyemi tells Samdong that owing him favors is a burden to her because she's worried over what will happen to him if he keep rescuing her. The loanshark might even target him, next.

I'm Pushing You Away Because I Care.

Dads Are Disappointing: Samdong's mom is an adoring parent, but Hyemi's dad has abandoned her, and Jinguk's dad is ashamed of him. K-drama papas usually leave a lot to be desired when it comes to fulfilling proper parenting roles.

Too Tough to Have Daddy Issues. Until Now.

Cultural Observances:

New words: "Sem" is teacher, but in a affectionate form like "Teach". "Pi" is "blood," which is mentioned when Hyemi gets a cut on her forehead. "Baek" is "100" and Samdong talks about making their ghetto practice room a 100 times better if they clean it up

Episode Evaluations: These episodes are fun and sad and singable and moving. Oh, what a joy to watch characters who work hard, fail, and get back up again! And then we also get a cute performance of "Genie" as icing on the cake.

Question: Dream High fans, at this point in the series, were you rooting for Jinguk or Samdong to get the girl?

K-Drama Review: Rooftop Prince, Episodes 7-8

Read Episode reviews for:

Rooftop Prince--Episodes 1-2
Rooftop Prince--Episodes 3-4
Rooftop Prince--Episodes 5-6
Rooftop Prince--Episodes 9-10
Rooftop Prince--Episodes 11-12
Rooftop Prince--Episodes 13-14
Rooftop Prince--Episodes 15-16
Rooftop Prince--Episodes 17-18
Rooftop Prince--Episodes 19-20, Finale

Contains Spoilers for Episodes 7-8

We've got hurt feelings goin' round as Park Ha regains her lost childhood memories and knows that her stepsister Sena was the reason Park Ha lost her family and was raised as an orphan. On top of that, Park Ha is hurt because when her friend (the time-travelling prince Yi Gak) saw her admiring a bracelet in a store, he then bought the bracelet for Sena.

Oh, You Clueless, Clueless Man.

In other subplots, we learn that Rich Lady Seonjoo is Sena's birth mother who gave her up 29 years ago, so Sena's dreams of having a glamorous mother are actually true. Um, and it turns out that Rich Lady Seonjoo is Park Ha's real mother, as well? Doggone it, show. You're so twisty. We're really going to go with a serial-abandoner mom as a way to make Park Ha and Sena true sisters in this life, just like Hwayoung and Booyoung were sisters in the Joseon past? Double birth secrets. Oy.

Park Ha returns home, but she's not in the mood for the boy-foolishness which her historical dudes supply in abundance. Soon, her stepmom gets Park Ha a job working for Taemu, which will daily throw her into the path of the Joseon guys, Yi Gak, AND Sena all at once. Rawsome.

Our villain Taemu knows that Yi Gak isn't Taeyong and he maybe tries to kill him by intentionally feeding Yi Gak crabmeat, which he's allergic to. Taemu is afraid that if he loses power within the family company, he'll lose his girlfriend Sena, so now we have this awkward villain motivation where Taemu has more incentive to murder Yi Gak because if Yi Gak is out of the way, Taemu will have enough power to marry Sena! Eeevy-skeevy. But luckily, Yi Gak now knows that Taemu is an enemy.

Park Ha's stepmom comes by the rooftop apartment to set up Park Ha on a blind date, and the Joseon guys sit around listening, upset at this development. They're her family! Why should she need anyone else? The sidekick guys tag along and observe her date, texting home to Yi Gak with a play-by-play of the whole date, which infuriates him. Later, Park Ha gets accused of somehow trying to blackmail Taeyong, even though Yi Gak isn't really Taeyong. So more conflict, yay!

Things I Loved:

1. Yi Gak. Initially, I just loved Yoochun, the actor, because I knew he was primarily a singer who'd been in a couple of K-dramas, and I was impressed with his ability to actually act. But by now, I'm not seeing the actor anymore, just the character, and he's marvelous. He has so many neat personality quirks, like his love for sugary treats and his desire to acquire new modern-world skills like driving an SUV. I also love how Yi Gak always wanders around with his hands clasped behind his back, like a benevolent lord overseeing his domain.

Our King and Patron, Enjoying His Strawberry-Banana Milk.

2. The comedy. It's what this show does best! Oh, the hilarity, the gut-busting hilarity of Park Ha and dignified, in-control Yi Gak ringing neighborhood doorbells and then running away, like a pair of giddy schoolkids. And the comedy often segues cutely into the budding romance.

How Can You See That and Not Root for This Couple?

3. The Kiss. Park Ha saves Yi Gak from an allergy-related breathing accident by giving him CPR. I'm pretty sure that mouth-to-mouth is not the proper way to rescue someone in the throes of a crabmeat allergy attack, but hey, it got us this:

Does This Count as the First Kiss? I'm Going With "Maybe".

4. The Sidekicks. Every funny thing is that much funnier when Yongsul, Chisan, and Manbo are all lurking in the background, offering their exquisite facial expressions and commentary on the main action.

Best Reaction Shots, Ever.

Complaints:

1. Shopping Spree. I hate the Rich-Guy-Buys-New-Wardrobe-For-the-Heroine trope. K-dramas gotta have their leading ladies looking good, but what do you do when your main girl is impoverished and can't afford the classy designer outfits you want her to wear? Have her wealthy love interest pay for everything, of course.  I've never liked this move--it smacks too much of ownership, though when Yi Gak does it for Park Ha, it seems less icky.

Themes:


Blind Dates Lead to Jealousy: Sena is crushed when she hears that Taemu has been set up with another girl. Yi Gak gets jealous when Park Ha is set up on a blind date, and she adds fuel to the fire by saying that some blind dates can lead to marriage within a month.

The Joseon Sidekicks Disapprove of Your Date.

Even Villains Need Love: Taemu and Sena meet for a special date, which is his way of proving to her that he really wants to marry her despite his father's opposition. These two genuinely love each other and their hearts break when they can't be together...and yet they're both borderline psychopaths. Huh. Sena asks what Taemu will do if she betrays him, and he delivers this "I won't let you go" line with just a hint of a threat.

Watch Your Back, Sena.

It's Not as Easy As it Looks: Yi Gak is so mad at Park Ha for bossing him around while he learns to drive a car, he takes her out horseback riding just to show her what it's like to be a total noob at something difficult. They each have at lot to learn about the difficulties of walking in someone else's shoes.

Park Ha, Reluctant Equestrienne.

Cultural Observances:


Exercise Parks: Park Ha and Yi Gak go out at night to get some exercise at one of Seoul's many, many, many tiny parks devoted to public exercise equipment.

New words: "Kure" is like "okay," "moosun" is "speaking," and "Yoboseyo?" is "Hello?" but only when answering the phone, sort of like "Moshi moshi" in Japanese--it's not the hello you use when greeting others. "Hamke" is "together," spoken when Yi Gak dreams of being together with his princess. "Shillyehamnida" is "Excuse me," if you're about to do something impolite. "Joseon-eseo?" is "You cam here from Joseon?".

Watch Rooftop Prince on DramaFever

Episode Evaluations:  I heart this show and its sweet hilarity. I don't even care that we're dealing with time-travel, real amnesia, fake amnesia, doppelgangers/reincarnation, double whammy birth secrets, corporate takeovers and murder plots. Rooftop Prince is so cute. It takes wild, makjang plot points and makes you genuinely care about the people who inhabit the story. *smileyface*

K-Drama Review: Dream High, Episodes 3-4

Read episode reviews for:

Dream High--Episodes 1-2
Dream High--Episodes 5-6
Dream High--Episodes 7-8
Dream High--Episodes 9-10
Dream High--Episodes 11-12
Dream High--Episodes 13-14
Dream High--Episodes 15-16

Contains Spoilers for Episodes 3-4

It's time for more Dreeeam Hiiiigh! Sorry. Theme song is stuck in my head.

Principal Jung is making the unpopular decision to bring three "special admission" students to the super exclusive Kirin High School of the Arts: Hyemi, a classical singer with the attitude of curdled milk, Jinguk, a skilled dancer with a troubled past, and Samdong, a talented boy who....well. This is Samdong.

I Think That's a Rice Bag on His Head. Don't Ask.

In his introductory shots, Samdong is inexplicably covered in dirt, but I think we're supposed to still see his pure, perfect essence lurking just beneath the surface. He is going to be our special snowflake and we are intended to gather together and love him. Group hug, everyone! Poor Samdong has the face of an angel, and a voice caught somewhere between puberty and strep throat. But Hyemi must bring this guy back to Kirin with her, so she has to follow him to his home in the country by hiding in the back of Samdong's vegetable-cart tractor-wagon contraption. Oh my wow.

Samdong and His Mom on Their Tractor-Wagon....GUILLOTINE?

Thanks to Hyemi's discomfort, I'm having several moments of genuine laughter (unlike in Dream High 2, where the jokes resulted in a faint smile, maybe). Back at Seoul, we see more of Jinguk's awful situation with his rich, selfish father who wants him out of sight, out of mind, and overseas.  Hyemi hates Jinguk and they have a few, ahem, awkward encounters, but they smooth things out over time and form the beginnings of a good friendship.

Hyemi finally arrives at Kirin in full battle mode, only to meet her ex-bestfriend. I love how Baekhee tries to hug it out with Hyemi, longing to mend the rift between them. But Hyemi's still got a mean streak, and she misguidedly tries to salvage her pride in front of the only person she doesn't have to show off for--her loyal Baekhee. Oh, girls, you break my heart.

And now mousy Baekhee is becoming the bad one, sabotaging others to rise to the top. She drives this point home by singing "Bad Girl, Good Girl" by Miss A (Suzy's band!) at a commencement ceremony. I'm not really rooting for Baekhee anymore because she didn't claw her way to the top through talent and hard work--she cheated, which Hyemi hasn't done yet.

Meanwhile, Samdong is trying to make his way at Kirin, too. He hops up onstage and challenges Jason, the local top dog, for his spot. It's revealed that our boy Samdong can sing after all, but at the end of the song, Jason's still clearly the top dog. When Samdong feels bad after his loss in the sing-off, Hyemi goes after him, even though by now she has no ulterior motives for taking care of him. Hyemi's learning to be kind! She also weirdly stacks umbrellas to keep the snow off of Jinguk's motorcycle when she learns that he once protected her from gangsters. Awww. She's doing nice things for two different boys, and each boy understands a certain side of Hyemi. They both want to help her--Jinguk wants to make her stronger and Samdong wants to comfort her, so now I barely know which side of this triangle to ship. Jin-Mi or Sam-Mi?

At the end of episode 4, Hyemi makes an open challenge--if she scores higher than Baekhee on the music midterm, everyone will apologize to Hyemi and stop bullying her and the other guys in the special-admittance class. Booyah! I love a challenge! And it feels like this one counts for something, unlike in Dream High 2, where I never cared who won what or challenged whom or qualified for which event.

Things I Loved:

1. Samdong. I was all prepared to hate his character, because I tend to shun the characters who are written as Mary-Sue "everyone must love me" types, and I knew he was going to be one of these. But his actor, Kim Soohyun, does a great job of making Samdong someone you want to protect. He's an innocent, and you really hope nothing happens to change him. The world is a place of wonder for Samdong, still.

And He Constantly Looks Surprised.

2. Side Characters. It's just a tiny part of the show, but I like Pilsook (played by IU) and her gradual growth. She loves a Korean-American guy named Jason (played by Wooyoung of 2PM, whose English is still holding up okay, but could be better), and though he's very kind to her, I can tell she's not going to get him until she loses her extra weight. I do kinda wish we could let the chubby girl get the smooth operator guy just once in a K-drama. I don't know much about Pilsook, but she's a sweetie who I'll be rooting for.

Unfortunately, Her Suit Does Not Look Realistic.

3. Jinguk. I'm connecting with his character more by episode 4. I didn't find myself rooting for him in the first three episodes because he was just not compelling enough (despite his homelessness, neglectful papa, dancing skills, and general anguish). It's very nice and charming when he's around Hyemi, but I'm pretty sure that Hyemi ends up with Samdong in this show, so I don't want to get too attached to Jinguk's connection with Hyemi if I'm setting myself up for disappointment.

Jinguk, Angsting in a Car.

Complaints:

1. Impracticality. So if Principal Jung really wants Samdong at the school, why does he tell teacher Oh-hyuk to find him, which in turn leads to Hyemi having to go and find him? Shouldn't Principal Dude just make a phone call or something? Because if he's relying on his underlings to get this one student to school, our special snowflake might very well have remained in the boondocks.

2. Bathroom Humor. It's funny to a certain point, but they really carry on for a long time with the Hyemi's-gotta-go gag. And then she starts singing a soulful Mandy Moore song while inside the toilet, which impresses Samdong, and snow begins to fall like it's some kind of romantic moment.

The Outhouse of Heartfelt Solo Music. Ewww.

3. School Politics. I couldn't have been less interested in the power struggle between Principal Jung and his assistant over the special students. But I guess we have to have subplots, don't we?

Themes:

Humbling the Mighty: I love my girl Hyemi, but even I know that someone this snooty has got to be humbled a bit before they become a decent human being. Bringing Samdong to Kirin is her ultimate humbling experience. Hyemi has never put on her sweet face for anyone ever, so it's a good change for her, but she turns up the charm so strong that Samdong, precious dork that he is, has to turn away from her while giggling. (Way to stay cool, player!) But he resists her requests and for once, Hyemi has to really work for something.

Either Her Lowest Point or Her Shining Moment. Or Both

Mirrored scenes: I'm a weird viewer who is seeing these mirrored scenes in the reverse order, but when Jinguk put Hyemi's shoe back on, I remembered Yujin doing the same for Hyesung in Dream High 2. Then when Jinguk told Hyemi that she looks ugly when she cries, I knew I'd heard the line before between JB and Hyesung. But it's funny that I'm seeing the comparison in just the opposite way that the average person does.

Princeliness in Action.

Cultural Observances:

Ondol heating: Because heating in Korea comes through the floor, not the air vents, Samdong has to go and turn the heat on in guest room for Hyemi. They make a pallet on the floor for her, so she'll stay warm.

New words: "Kurom" is "of course!" "Jincha" is "really?" "Manaseo" is used in a sense to mean "did you meet---(so-and-so)?" "Chonyeo" means "Not at all" "Saengak-haeba" seems to mean "think about it". "Kopayo" is "hungry". "Hwajangshil" is "bathroom," which Hyemi asks for at Samdong's house, only to discover that it's outside!  "Shireo" is "I don't wanna".

Start watching Dream High on DramaFever.

Episode Evaluations: Mmm, this show is getting fun! Lots of conflict, and I just love our resident tough girl, Hyemi. She can be cruel with her words, but she's no cheat. And Pilsook and Baekhee are nice supporting characters. And Samdong is so kind and endearing. And Jinguk is so nice to look at. We have the makings of a solid show, here!