Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2005 6:49 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0
Ruler of Your Own World is one of the best kdramas I have ever had the pleasure of watching. It certainly is not your stereotypical drama. It does not really tend to the often used cliches that hang around glamorized dramas. It is gritty and down to earth which, I believe, makes it so much easier to connect to.
These aren't people that you have to try and picture in real life - they are there around you already. There are no wild and crazy situations you have to imagine to make them fit. I think that's what I like about this drama best. They are real people in every sense of the word.
To me, at least, it's refreshing to see a male lead play a character that exhibits a little bit of the "jerk" persona (that is prevalent in a lot of the dramas I've seen) without resorting to removing him too greatly of his redeeming qualities. IMO, two characters come to mind in this description.
1) Min-chul in Beautiful Days carries around an arrogant, selfish persona most of the drama when not interacting with his sister.
2)Kyung Min in Attic Cat which shows Kim Rae Won as childish and selfish.
Ko Boksu is indeed childish in this drama and at times selfish but throughout the drama, he shows how pure of heart he is. Chun Kyung says that his heart is the part that drew him towards her first and foremost. We can forgive his misgivings not because he is "pretty boy" but because he is a real and imperfect being. (This is one of the reasons I loathe Attic Cat for Kyung Min's character alone. I find people enamored with his character simply because of the appeal of Kim Rae Won the actor)
The female leads are equally strong to serve as a counterbalance. Lee Na Young shows Chun Kyung as a flawed figure. She dresses strangely and is pretty well closed off from exhibiting her emotions unless pressed. But as we see the story progess, we see her open up to show her feelings towards Ko Boksu that we can't help but smile at their meetings.
Mirae does not fit the stereotypical bad girl figure. Yes, she's a little bit arrogant and mean-tempered at times but we know she cares. When we see her, we don't necessarily hate her character. She yells, is overbearing, and insults the female lead - Kyung. But we don't necessarily hate her because at the same time, we see her relationship with her sister and her devotion to Boksu.
I love this drama. As aNToK put it best, this drama is not an attention grabber but it stays with you. Its heart lies in its characters and their progession; it doesn't rely on the disease to tell the story. The disease is merely a tool used to show how lives are shaped of the people involved.
spoiler wrote:
If there's anything about this drama that irked me was the direction of the writing during the trip outside of Seoul. There was far too much fighting and jousting between the two without the tenderness we've seen throughout. It hurt the flow for me and seemed out of place. I don't know. Was that just me?
Posted: Fri Nov 04, 2005 4:32 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0
What do you mean by "n/m"?
Just finished watching. I agree this is a very good serie. But can't remember male lead being selfish and childish? When was that? By the way, I do not quite agree with what you wrote in your spoiler. Would it otherwise not be too sweet and therefore unrealistic?
Posted: Fri Nov 04, 2005 4:32 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0
What do you mean by "n/m"?
Just finished watching. I agree this is a very good serie. But can't remember male lead being selfish and childish? When was that? By the way, I do not quite agree with what you wrote in your spoiler. Would it otherwise not be too sweet and unrealistic?
Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2005 8:16 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0
startreklunchbox:
This is what happens at the end:
Hidden:
Did you see the part when the monitor in the operation room shows that some rate starts to drop? Anyway, I think after the flashbacks, he is wheeled out of the OR lying on this thing ( sorry, I don't what is called). His head is all wrapped up. Then the camera goes to her face. She look very worried and then slowly start to smile. Ending.
So, I suppose, it is a happy ending, don't you think so? Not very very clear to me.
Posted: Wed Dec 07, 2005 8:52 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0
I don't know if anyone still cares about this drama anymore ... But I rewatch Lee Na-Young dramas in between downloads ... And I just rewatched Episode 18 of ROYOW ... And it's amazing ... One of the best of the series (if not #1) ... And since none of my Rain-worshipping friends have been successfully forced by me to watch ROYOW (yet teehee) ... Allow me to gush, and ask a question on this episode ... To nobody haha.
Hidden:
1) I think Episode 18 is a culmination of all the issues and growth between Kyung and Bok-Su ... The embracing of the dirty of life and luv ... The understanding that they have to let each grow by themselves, and not force growth a la Mi-Rae ... The acceptance of cancer w/o letting it come between their joy ... The awkwardness of taking their relationship to the "next level" ... And especially the major setback in hope and strength in Bok-Su after his father's death.
All these little and big issues between Kyung and Bok-Su began brewing since Episode 14 ... But they were barely tapped ... Due to all the distractions in their lives: family, friends, careers, etc.
That's why I think it's BEAUTIFUL how In-Jung Ok took 'em outta Seoul for one day (and almost an entire episode) so that the audience can refocus on the meat of the series: the luv between Kyung and Bok-Su ... 'Cause the truth is, if u really think about it and take out all the cute cigarette/canned coffee mumbo jumbo (which I luv I'm just sayin' haha), Kyung and Bok-Su never got a chance to really, really know each other until they spent that day together ... And it was wonderful ... Adventure in the Korean countryside one can only dream of ... Realistic long-term couple fights ... Shtuff u just don't see in most Asian dramas ... Period.
2) Another beautiful thing about the episode is how it encapsulated married life in one day ... Which was necessary due to Bok-Su's cancer ... It had all the marriage elements: disappointment, "losing points," fights over little things like where to eat, the wife searching and longing for something, the husband just wanting to sleep, and all the interesting side characters along the way that teach them little life lessons (Each person they meet symbolize a potential phase in their lives as well, but I digress haha.) ... ALL IN ONE DAY. In-Jung Ok decided to reward the audience and Kyung and Bok-Su with a short time of romantic bliss/frustration before reality strikes in the final two episodes ... Wonderful.
3) I luv it when the Incompletion play, and Episode 18 ended with the series' only appearnce of 3rd Line Butterfly's "Kwang" ... Epic.
4) Finally, I dig artsy symbolism, and Epsidoes 17 and 18 were full of In-Jung Ok's fascination with sociological symbols. I understood the hand in the middle of the sea (I can write a 10-page research paper on that one, so don't get me started.) ... And the first time they couldn't find each other in Episode 17 ... But what about the 2nd in Episode 18? The one in the confusing, maze-like small town ... With the little girl on harmonica. Help on this would be much appreciated ... 'Cause I have 3 crappy theories:
i. In-Jung Ok got lost in a small town once and thought it was a cool symbol of the "paths of life" ... And how young people take the wrong path many times before finding the right one to the "prize." She made Kyung and Bok-Su talk on the phone and miss each other barely as a symbol of how young city Asians talk on the phone too much, or live life at too fast a pace to notice that what they're looking for is right there if they looked up or "just around the corner" ... Where Kyung and Bok-Su eventually did find each other.
ii. The 2nd time of trying to find each other started 'cause Kyung and Bok-Su weren't on the same page ... Which symbolizes their relationship throughout the show (i.e., they weren't on the same page on what to do about their relationship, Bok-Su stealing, not playing mind games and telling each other everything) ... And how it was a struggle but they overcame it ... And now understand each other or "found each other" so to speak.
iii. It's not symbolic at all ... I'm thinking way too into what is still technically an Asian "soap opera" ... This ain't Kubrick, yoh ... It's just a cool scene that gives u the feeling of being in a small town, especially with the harmonica in the background. *Sigh, alas, this may be the jackpot hehe.
Any other insights? Or have peope really moved on to A Love to Kill?
In my opinion, all that shtuff is fun and entertaining, but only shows like ROYOW are truly "life-altering." Peace!
Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2005 12:40 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0
It's definitely here, in the d-addicts.com torrents ... And it looks like there's a decent # o' seeders ... Not as much as MNIKSS 'cause this show is from '02 and not designed for teenage girls ... But enuf. Haha, I'm not bitter.
Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2005 1:57 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0
For low-qual ones, try here on the weekends ... But even that place closes in December ... Hmmm, that's depressing ... 'Cause this is my fave K-drama OF ALL-TIME ... And I wanna keep it alive teehee. Perhaps I should digi my DVD's and become a seeder ... Hmmm, perhaps ... I shall monitor the seeders closely (and see how selfish I am when it comes to bandwidth) ...
Or perhaps it's time for me to let go of the dream ....... The dream of people actually liking this show more than Full House .......... *sigh ... really, i'm not bitter ......
600 MPG Hard Subs have seeds. Quality? I have no idea. But going to download an episode some time soon.
Really looking forward to watching this drama, also a Lee Na-Young fan, loved her in Ireland. And since Ireland and ROYOW has the same scriptwriter, i'm sure this will be one of my favourites. Just wish I could be watching it now.
Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2005 2:33 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0
The flow of the drama is flawless to me. It was very well executed throughout the whole drama. This drama don't bring your excitement to a new height only to bring you down to a low point like some dramas that I have watched. I could repeatedly watch any episodes and enjoyed each one of them. It says a lot about all the actors and actresses in it that makes the drama fun to watch; besides the 3 main characters that really bring the drama alive.
Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2005 3:17 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0
Quote:
600 MPG Hard Subs have seeds. Quality? I have no idea. But going to download an episode some time soon.
AWESOME! The dream of dethroning Full House is still alive ... Just on a respirator haha ...
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Really looking forward to watching this drama, also a Lee Na-Young fan, loved her in Ireland. And since Ireland and ROYOW has the same scriptwriter, i'm sure this will be one of my favourites.
If u like Ireland, then u'd definitely like ROYOW ... 'Cause Ireland is basically ROYOW on crack haha ... The success of ROYOW gave the screenwriter many creative liberties I think ... Liberties I enjoyed but I don't think appealed to most ... Liberties even I think she took a tad too far ... Too many "down" (i.e., sad) episodes, uknow? While still having Ireland's symbolism and "life is dirty" theme, ROYOW is much more "up"!
Quote:
The flow of the drama is flawless to me. It was very well executed throughout the whole drama. This drama don't bring your excitement to a new height only to bring you down to a low point like some dramas that I have watched. I could repeatedly watch any episodes and enjoyed each one of them.
First of all, any fellow Asian-American with a LNY avatar is a friend in my book. Hello ... Friend! There's surprisingly not many of us here (more LNY luvers at the motherland haha).
But I couldn't agree more ... My "friends" (ex-friends haha) bashed it for its slower pace ... But it was real! NATURAL! And I constantly rave about how ROYOW's one of the few K-dramas without too many cheesy cliffs ... Only around 3-4 force, contrived cliffhangers ... Compared to 16/16 or 20/20 unnatural cliffs in almost every other series. Again, my "acquaintances" just stare at me blankly when I say that ...... haha ...
Quote:
It says a lot about all the actors and actresses in it that makes the drama fun to watch; besides the 3 main characters that really bring the drama alive.
Again, totally agree ... And I could give all worshipping praise to LNY ... But allow me to take a minute of this discussion to praise MI-RAE ... Is there a more likable luv trinagle "beotch" than Mi-Rae? She GREW with the characters; she became FRIENDS with the female lead ... And we empathize for her smothering ways ... She just cares ... Just too much ... We will NEVER see a more likable 2nd girl in a K-drama ever again ... And all credit belong to Gong Hyo Jin for acting her skinny @$$ off ...
Ok, again, I'm gushing 'bout this show ... I can't help it ... U guys got me started and ... Ok, I'll stop now ........
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