Recycled content alert: I am going to repost a thread about K-dramas that I originally made in December 2024.
-
The drama begins 1,300 years ago in historical Korea. Jang Man-wol (played by IU) is pulling a wagon carrying a coffin through the desert with grim determination. Man-wol is the only surviving member of a gang of bandits, her comrades having been executed after the man she loved betrayed her. Now she is looking for a mystical guest house that comforts the souls of the dead.
95/NMan-wol receives guidance from Magu, a female deity who imposes limits and imperatives on the characters in the story. Because of her many crimes and deep grudges, Man-wol is condemned to a kind of immortality, in between living and dead. She becomes the proprietor of the mystical guest house, a kind of way-station for ghosts before they cross the Samdo river where their memories are wiped clean in preparation for the next life.
96/N -
Man-wol receives guidance from Magu, a female deity who imposes limits and imperatives on the characters in the story. Because of her many crimes and deep grudges, Man-wol is condemned to a kind of immortality, in between living and dead. She becomes the proprietor of the mystical guest house, a kind of way-station for ghosts before they cross the Samdo river where their memories are wiped clean in preparation for the next life.
96/NBack in present day Seoul, Man-wol is still the proprietor of the guest house, now the elegant Hotel del Luna. Koo Chan-sung is a rather dashing young man with a Harvard MBA in hotel management. He's looking for a job at a top hotel, but because of a deal his father made with Man-wol 20 years ago, Chan-sung was pledged to work at the hotel as its human manager.
97/N -
Back in present day Seoul, Man-wol is still the proprietor of the guest house, now the elegant Hotel del Luna. Koo Chan-sung is a rather dashing young man with a Harvard MBA in hotel management. He's looking for a job at a top hotel, but because of a deal his father made with Man-wol 20 years ago, Chan-sung was pledged to work at the hotel as its human manager.
97/NChan-sung resists at first, but after Man-wol gives him the ability to see ghosts he is inexorably drawn into the hotel and Man-wol's world. There is much sadness in this series, as beloved characters cross over into the afterlife, leaving their friends and loved ones to deal with the loss. The cast is fantastic.
IU dazzles as proprietor of the Hotel del Luna - surely one of the most heart stopping beauties from a country that has produced so many beautiful people.
98/N -
Chan-sung resists at first, but after Man-wol gives him the ability to see ghosts he is inexorably drawn into the hotel and Man-wol's world. There is much sadness in this series, as beloved characters cross over into the afterlife, leaving their friends and loved ones to deal with the loss. The cast is fantastic.
IU dazzles as proprietor of the Hotel del Luna - surely one of the most heart stopping beauties from a country that has produced so many beautiful people.
98/NIU is equally radiant and terrifying in the 1,300 years ago storyline. The chemistry between Man-wol and Chan-sung is humorous and subtle, and deepens as the series unfolds. As the series progresses, we see that Chan-sung's arrival portends a dramatic choice for Man-wol and her staff of ghosts. They must face the grudges and attachments that have kept them tied to this world.
99/N -
IU is equally radiant and terrifying in the 1,300 years ago storyline. The chemistry between Man-wol and Chan-sung is humorous and subtle, and deepens as the series unfolds. As the series progresses, we see that Chan-sung's arrival portends a dramatic choice for Man-wol and her staff of ghosts. They must face the grudges and attachments that have kept them tied to this world.
99/NOverseeing this karmic challenge is the deity Magu, who is assisted by a very compelling Grim Reaper. In addition to the arcs faced by our main characters as the series progresses, new ghosts are arriving at the hotel every episode. Each has their own story - how they lived, how they died, and whether they can lay down their grudges and release their attachments to the world of the living.
100/N -
Overseeing this karmic challenge is the deity Magu, who is assisted by a very compelling Grim Reaper. In addition to the arcs faced by our main characters as the series progresses, new ghosts are arriving at the hotel every episode. Each has their own story - how they lived, how they died, and whether they can lay down their grudges and release their attachments to the world of the living.
100/NThis little plot summary does no justice to just how cinematically beautiful and emotionally satisfying Hotel del Luna is. Certainly one of the best dramas I've seen so far, out of a very strong field - a gorgeous series with elements of humor, romance and horror, not to mention some very deep reflection on life, and the meaning of death. Five stars.
101/N -
This little plot summary does no justice to just how cinematically beautiful and emotionally satisfying Hotel del Luna is. Certainly one of the best dramas I've seen so far, out of a very strong field - a gorgeous series with elements of humor, romance and horror, not to mention some very deep reflection on life, and the meaning of death. Five stars.
101/NJust a reminder to readers of this thread that these reviews are solely my reactions to the drama as a random media viewer. I just love Korean popular culture so much, for the way it reliably delivers stories that connect with some deep part of my emotional circuitry. Stylistically there is an inventiveness, a sense of excess, and a willingness to push things to the limits of human and technical capabilities.
102/N -
Just a reminder to readers of this thread that these reviews are solely my reactions to the drama as a random media viewer. I just love Korean popular culture so much, for the way it reliably delivers stories that connect with some deep part of my emotional circuitry. Stylistically there is an inventiveness, a sense of excess, and a willingness to push things to the limits of human and technical capabilities.
102/NBoys Over Flowers from 2009 exemplifies so many elements of why I love K-dramas. This is the earliest drama I've watched so far, and lacks the polish, sophistication and production values of current dramas. What we do get is an expansive, boisterous and soapy exploration of class, family, love and morality. The hair styles and fashion in this series are so very much of its time as well - especially Jun-pyo with his signature curls, and Ji-hoo with his long, emo blond bangs - so great!
103/N
-
Boys Over Flowers from 2009 exemplifies so many elements of why I love K-dramas. This is the earliest drama I've watched so far, and lacks the polish, sophistication and production values of current dramas. What we do get is an expansive, boisterous and soapy exploration of class, family, love and morality. The hair styles and fashion in this series are so very much of its time as well - especially Jun-pyo with his signature curls, and Ji-hoo with his long, emo blond bangs - so great!
103/NOur story begins when Geum Jan-di (played by Ku Hye-sun), whose family runs a drycleaning business, is making a delivery to a student at the extremely exclusive "Shinwa Academy," attended by the children of Korea's wealthiest and most powerful families. The top of the academy's social hierarchy is a group of four senior boys known by the acronmym F4 - Gu Jun-pyo, Yoon Ji-hoo, So Yi-jung and Song Woo-bin.
104/N
-
Our story begins when Geum Jan-di (played by Ku Hye-sun), whose family runs a drycleaning business, is making a delivery to a student at the extremely exclusive "Shinwa Academy," attended by the children of Korea's wealthiest and most powerful families. The top of the academy's social hierarchy is a group of four senior boys known by the acronmym F4 - Gu Jun-pyo, Yoon Ji-hoo, So Yi-jung and Song Woo-bin.
104/N
Jan-di arrives as a gang of school bullies, directed by F4, has tormented a fellow student so brutally that he is about to jump off a rooftop. Jan-di makes her way through the mob of bullies, and when she sees what's happening, grabs the boy just as he jumps and saves his life. The story of the school bullying, and the heroic dry-cleaning girl makes headlines, and negative pulicity for Shinwa.
105/N -
Jan-di arrives as a gang of school bullies, directed by F4, has tormented a fellow student so brutally that he is about to jump off a rooftop. Jan-di makes her way through the mob of bullies, and when she sees what's happening, grabs the boy just as he jumps and saves his life. The story of the school bullying, and the heroic dry-cleaning girl makes headlines, and negative pulicity for Shinwa.
105/NKang Hee-soo, chairwoman of Shinwa corporation, decides to offer Jan-di a scholarship to Shinwa Academy to turn the bad publicity around. Jan-di doesn't want to change schools, but her parents insist. The family, which includes Jan-di's spunky little brother Kang-san, are struggling financially. Her money and status conscious parents see this as an opportunity for Jan-di, and themselves, to climb the social ladder.
106/N -
Kang Hee-soo, chairwoman of Shinwa corporation, decides to offer Jan-di a scholarship to Shinwa Academy to turn the bad publicity around. Jan-di doesn't want to change schools, but her parents insist. The family, which includes Jan-di's spunky little brother Kang-san, are struggling financially. Her money and status conscious parents see this as an opportunity for Jan-di, and themselves, to climb the social ladder.
106/NSo off to Shinwa academy she goes, and we're off the races with 25 episodes of crazy character arcs and deliciously unhinged story lines. Thematically we're mining the territory familiar to viewers of American movies like Mean Girls, or the Gossip Girl series. What happens when an artless, self-possessed, kind-hearted kid enters a cruel, cliquish social hierarchy?
107/N -
So off to Shinwa academy she goes, and we're off the races with 25 episodes of crazy character arcs and deliciously unhinged story lines. Thematically we're mining the territory familiar to viewers of American movies like Mean Girls, or the Gossip Girl series. What happens when an artless, self-possessed, kind-hearted kid enters a cruel, cliquish social hierarchy?
107/NJan-di is surely one of my favorite characters of all time. She is spunky, fearless, and warm. As a student at Shinwa, Jan-di's peers are a pretty detestable bunch of vapid, cliquish, and status conscious rich kids, but Jan-di never once succumbs to the lure of money or status remains true to herself. In short order, by standing up to the F4 guys and their minions, she earns their respect, and the group's leader declares his love for her.
108/N -
Jan-di is surely one of my favorite characters of all time. She is spunky, fearless, and warm. As a student at Shinwa, Jan-di's peers are a pretty detestable bunch of vapid, cliquish, and status conscious rich kids, but Jan-di never once succumbs to the lure of money or status remains true to herself. In short order, by standing up to the F4 guys and their minions, she earns their respect, and the group's leader declares his love for her.
108/NI'm not going to detail what happens across the show's 25 episodes, but my wife and I were fully involved from start to finish. While the production values are dated by today's standards, this was clearly a big budget series. They really pulled out all the stops with the depiction of the upper class lifestyles - we've got yachts, fast cars, trips on private jets to private islands, and several episodes set in fabulously garish and wealthy Macau.
109/N -
I'm not going to detail what happens across the show's 25 episodes, but my wife and I were fully involved from start to finish. While the production values are dated by today's standards, this was clearly a big budget series. They really pulled out all the stops with the depiction of the upper class lifestyles - we've got yachts, fast cars, trips on private jets to private islands, and several episodes set in fabulously garish and wealthy Macau.
109/NShinwa chairwoman Kang, who is also Jun-pyo's mother, is appalled at her son's romance with the "commoner" Jan-di, and sets in motion a number of vicious plots to separate the two, almost succeeding on several occasions. Over time Jan-di's positive influence begins to counter Jun-pyo's patrician upbringing, and he begins to reveal his boyish and warm nature.
110/N -
Shinwa chairwoman Kang, who is also Jun-pyo's mother, is appalled at her son's romance with the "commoner" Jan-di, and sets in motion a number of vicious plots to separate the two, almost succeeding on several occasions. Over time Jan-di's positive influence begins to counter Jun-pyo's patrician upbringing, and he begins to reveal his boyish and warm nature.
110/NThere are many compelling supporting characters, such as Jan-di's earnest, passionate bestie Ga-eul, as well as Ji-hoo, the first member of the F4 clique to reveal his tender side, who shows up to rescue Jan-di from a number of dire predicaments at key points in the series. While modern viewers may balk at the series' soapiness and cringe elements, Boys Over Flowers became an instant favorite for this reviewer. Five stars!
111/N -
There are many compelling supporting characters, such as Jan-di's earnest, passionate bestie Ga-eul, as well as Ji-hoo, the first member of the F4 clique to reveal his tender side, who shows up to rescue Jan-di from a number of dire predicaments at key points in the series. While modern viewers may balk at the series' soapiness and cringe elements, Boys Over Flowers became an instant favorite for this reviewer. Five stars!
111/Ncw: spoilers
It's become a joke in our household that when I get drawn into a new drama I will proclaim it to be "the best television show ever". I definitely said that several times during the series "Our Unwritten Seoul," a stellar 2025 drama starring Park Bo-young, Park Jin-young and Ryu Kyung-soo.
112/N
-
cw: spoilers
It's become a joke in our household that when I get drawn into a new drama I will proclaim it to be "the best television show ever". I definitely said that several times during the series "Our Unwritten Seoul," a stellar 2025 drama starring Park Bo-young, Park Jin-young and Ryu Kyung-soo.
112/N
Identical twin sisters Mi-ji and Mi-rae, both played by Park Bo-young, find themselves in very different circumstances at age 30. Mi-rae graduated from college, and has a good job with a financial corporation in Seoul. Mi-ji was an athlete in high school, but went into a tailspin after her running career was ended by an injury. Mi-ji lives at home in their small town, where she helps take care of her grandmother and works a variety of odd jobs.
113/N
-
Identical twin sisters Mi-ji and Mi-rae, both played by Park Bo-young, find themselves in very different circumstances at age 30. Mi-rae graduated from college, and has a good job with a financial corporation in Seoul. Mi-ji was an athlete in high school, but went into a tailspin after her running career was ended by an injury. Mi-ji lives at home in their small town, where she helps take care of her grandmother and works a variety of odd jobs.
113/N
However, all is not well for the "successful" Mi-rae. Her life in Seoul is lonely, and she is experiencing bullying at her job after reporting sexual advances by a male colleague. As young adults, Mi-ji and Mi-rae have grown apart, but when Mi-ji discovers that her sister is on the verge of self-harm, Mi-ji convinces Mi-rae to switch places, so that Mi-rae can get a break from her toxic work environment.
114/N
-
However, all is not well for the "successful" Mi-rae. Her life in Seoul is lonely, and she is experiencing bullying at her job after reporting sexual advances by a male colleague. As young adults, Mi-ji and Mi-rae have grown apart, but when Mi-ji discovers that her sister is on the verge of self-harm, Mi-ji convinces Mi-rae to switch places, so that Mi-rae can get a break from her toxic work environment.
114/N
Park Bo-young is phenomenal as the two sisters, portraying their personality differences with exquisite nuance. There is quite a bit of humor as the twins impersonate each other, often leaving those around them scratching their heads. As they literally walk a mile in the other's shoes, the two sisters begin to see the struggles they each have faced alone. Both the girls carry a hidden disability or a trauma that they must face and learn to overcome.
115/N
