Kdrama: Miss Ripley (미스 리플리)

This 16 episode Korean drama is definitely full of drama. I watched this drama with commercials in only three days. Each episode ended with an unbearable cliff hanger; I had to keep watching. Miss Ripley tells the story of ambition, love, and the struggle between the poor and the wealthy.

Jang Mi Ri, played by Lee Da Hae (pictured left), was an orphan at an early age and was adopted by abusive Japanese parents. Her life spiraled out of control to the point where she had to become an escort for the wealthy business men of Japan in order to survive. Her pimp was abusive as well and very possessive of her. She hated this lifestyle and longed to flee her abuser. She eventually escaped back to Korea in order to return to her homeland and continue her search for her birth mother who abandoned her.

Miri arrives in Korea and desires to make an honest living but finds it isn't as easy as she thought it would be considering she only has a high school diploma. She is even humiliated when at a job interview she is told that the job description doesn't mention she needed a college diploma because these days it is implied. She becomes desperate and uses her cunning skills and street smarts to rise to the top.




She finds a dear friend she knew from her days at the orphanage, Na Hee-Joo played by Kang Hye-jeong, (pictured right). She is amazed by how different her life has turned out in that she is emotionally stable, was adopted by a good family, and had a wonderful education. Miri finds herself envious of Hee-Joo and uses whatever means necessary to rise to excel.










Because Miri speaks a particular Japanese dialect she is hired by a hotel executive,  Kim Seung Woo played by the handsome Jang Myung Hoon (pictured left). They eventually fall in love and their love is so beautiful to watch. I was rooting for them. They made such an adorable couple.

Later she meets Song Yoo Hyun, played by Park Yoo Chun (pictured right), who is the heir of a hotel fortune. He and his family plan to buy the hotel Miri works for which would make Myung Hoon yesterday's news. Miri has found someone who surpasses her current love and decides to trade up. Yoo Hyun falls in love with her and there begins a love triangle. I couldn't believe it; I resented the protagonist. Her quest for wealth was intolerable and though she seemed to feel guilty for her actions, she didn't stop herself. She was given raw untainted love by both men including platonic love by her friend Hee-Joo but she was unable to wholly accept it.

There are many twists and turns especially as Miri's lies begin to catch up with her. Will she get caught or will she get away with it? Does her horrible childhood justify her behavior? All these questions and more will be answered.

Miss Ripley ends with a beautiful message which has been weaved throughout the entire drama. That is, it is impossible to truly love someone unless you love yourself first. You cannot give what you don't have; you cannot give unconditional love to someone unless you cannot unconditionally love yourself. Miss Ripley will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end and leave you pondering your own love relationships!

Watch the first episode here. Compliments of hulu!

Buy the entire show below through amazon!!

My fav couple in this drama! Jang Myung Hoon and Lee Da Hae at the premiere of Miss Ripley greeting their fans!

Obsession with K-dramas and K-films

Taking a gander at some of the films I've reviewed, I'm sure it's clear that I do love Korean films. However, I LOVE Korean dramas as well and I've even reviewed one K-drama so far, Flames of Desire. I'm on my eighth K-drama and I'm NOT getting bored. They get better and better. After my exposure to K-dramas, I have a hard time appreciating American shows. Yes, there are a few American shows that are gems and can't wait for them to return this fall. However, I think a lot of American television shows over sexualize everything and I find the humor to veer towards crass rather than classy. K-dramas are quite the opposite. There is passion and there is romance but there is hardly any kissing and there is almost no sex and little (if any) violence. Because of this absence, the writing and plot are clever and there is a healthy focus on the interpersonal relationships between the characters. In addition, the "bad" people don't get away with their behavior which feels oh so good! Even my traditional mother loves K-dramas now!! I've decided to begin reviewing K-dramas so be on the look out! (The pictures are a hint as to which k-drama I'm currently watching. Can you guess?)

Flames of Desire- Korean Drama

I just got finished watching probably one of the best Korean dramas I've ever seen. It's called Flames of Desire and it is FULL of drama. 

Flames of Desire first aired fall of 2010 so it's fairly recent. The music is amazing as it is very eclectic ranging from classical music to rock music and to acoustic music. Flames of Desire is about a chaebol family fighting for wealth and power; Yun Na-Young (played by Shin Eun-Kyun pictured above in red) was fortunate enough to marry into this family despite her poor background. She marries Kim Young-Min (played by Jo Min-Gi pictured above left) and pushes him to be the CEO of his father's company even though he'd rather be a painter. She failed to tell him that she was pregnant before he met her. After she gave birth, her sister told her the baby died but the baby didn't die and her sister took the infant to an orphanage.

Coincidentally, Kim Young-Min had a girlfriend before he met Yun Na-Young and she got pregnant as well. When Yun Na-Young finds out, she decides to pay the girlfriend to raise the child as her own since she fears that after her troublesome birth, she may not be able to have kids anymore. The girlfriend agrees and Yun Na-Young and Kim Young-Min raise Kim Min-Jae (played by Yoo Seung-Ho pictured above third to the left). Eventually Yun Na-Young's sister adopts her niece from the orphanage and raises her as her daughter. She runs away as a preteen and her aunt who has raised her as her daughter grieves the loss and assumes she's dead.

Twenty years later she has managed to be a famous actress and changes her name to Baek In-Gi (played by Seo Woo pictured above and right). By chance she meets Kim Min-Jae and they fall in love. Though not blood related, they are brother and sister by law. When the truth is revealed will they continue in their love or abandon their love? What would happen if Yun Na-Young discovers the baby that died never did die? What will she do? Watch this drama to find out! .-_-

Check out the trailer below. To watch this show free online, click here.