Do You Know What's UP?

     Every major crossroad in my life has been influenced by the people who were making the same journey. 

     It is gravely important that we surround ourselves with those who make us want to be better and help us achieve our goals. 

     It is very easy to push each other to great heights or push each other off a cliff. 

     "What's Up" is the story of a group of musical theater students who must live, learn, and love as they reach for their dreams.

     As the story begins we find ourselves at the beginning of the semester as the students are called to audition for the Musical Theater Program for the University!

     Kim Byung Gun (Jo Jung Suk from "Oh My Ghostess") is an older student and trying a new career path.

     He doubts his self worth and his family has no idea of what he's up to...

     Will Byung Gun be able to find his voice? (I hope so!)

      The auditions begin! 

     While Byung Gun is having trouble breathing (at the thought of his upcoming audition) a fair breeze floats in as Eun Chae Young (Jang Hee Jin of "Big") tells Byung Gun that he's going to be ok.

     Byung Gun can relax now! He's found a friend in Chae Young!...right?

     In the audition we find out that Chae Young is actually a well known actress! (Omo!) 

     The audition committee question her reasons for coming to their department...mmm...I wonder too!

     As Chae Young's audition continues there are people who still haven't even found the audition building!


     Jang Jae Hun (Im Ju Hwan of "Oh My Ghostess") desperately tries to find the acting department but no such luck! (it doesn't help that his friend signed him up for Musical Theater! HA!) 

     On the other hand Park Tae Yi (Kim Ji Won of "Heirs") who's been to the school many times...is just as lost! (Oh no!)

     Tae Yi finally finds the audition room (with help from the University Security Officer) and finds a kindred spirit in Ha Do Sung (Kang Dae Sung of BigBang)! 

     Tae Yi and Do Sung had barely started their conversation when Jae Hun interrupts them to ask a very simple question...

...really...???

     I know that every Mother wants the best for her child but Oh Doo Ri's (Im Joo Eun of "Heirs") Mother is undoubtedly overbearing! (she makes you want to rebel!)

     Doo Ri needs this audition to help remove her from her Mother's grasp and allow her a moment to breathe...

     "What's Up" has a great ensemble cast of young actors who reminded me of my younger days and how I tried my best to see through my darkest times with empathy, humor, and sarcasm. (and I still do!)

     Director Song Ji-Won and Writer Song Ji-Na created a campus where the "teachers" taught each of the "kids" lessons about life, human nature, and strength of will! And how together they could figure out "What's Up"!

Weirdness Brings Us All Together...It's Okay, That's Love...

    Most human beings are in the search for love. Whether or not we achieve this elusive state of happiness has a lot to do with the people we surround ourselves with in our daily lives. 

     ...and making sure that our mental health is always working hand in hand with our hearts.

     Jang Jae Yeol (Jo In Sung) is a famous novelist and radio DJ. He writes about the darker aspects of the human psyche. 

     He's had plenty of chances to view the dark roads of humanity...just ask his brother... 

Hyung (Yang Ik Joon) Crashes the Party!

     Ji Hye Soo (Gong Hyo Jin) is a psychiatrist who shares a house with her mentor Jo Dong Min (Sung Dong Il) and a younger waiter Park Soo Kwang (Lee Kwang Soo)...who has a form of Tourette syndrome. 

     Their house is always in disarray and all the housemates thrive living in chaos. Yet, the one thing they do not lack is love.

     Sometimes it's tough love...but it's love.    

It's Complicated...

     Jae Yeol has weird sleeping arrangements and his girlfriend of 3 years Lee Pool Ib (Yoon Jin Yi) is frustrated and doesn't understand him! 
  
     It's easy to betray the one you love if he won't let you in. Jae Yeol won't lower his barriers for anyone ...not even Pool Ib. 

You didn't SEE that Coming?

     There are many cases that come to the hospital where Hye Soo works. Usually it's people who want help and work through their psychological problems.

     Other times patients come in who are standing at the edge of a great abyss and they are crying out to be helped. 

     Hye Soo has her own psychiatric issues and hopes to one day overcome them. Until then she helps those that she can.

The Doctor is IN!

     Hye Soo and Jae Yeol meet because they are on a tv talk show together! He's there to promote a new book and she is there to offer clinical psychological insight...

    What a ruckus they caused! 

     The sparks that where flying as they argued their points were visible!

     It probably didn't help that Hye Soo had caught Jae Yeol looking down the shirt of the lady that put on his makeup! (Gotcha!)

     As Jae Yeol makes his final (smug) point and promotes his book he winks at the audience and sees Han Kang Woo (Do Kyung Soo (D.O.) from EXO).

     Kang Woo is a "writing dongsaeng" that Jae Yeol is mentoring.   

The Fight is ON!

     After the tv show Hye Soo and Jae Yeol bump into each other at a nightclub and he tries to talk to her and she is not having it!

     They are quickly interrupted by Hye Soo's patient who gets violent with her.

     They both help subdue the patient and get injured as a result. Jae Yeol hopes that by helping Hye Soo with her problem patient he will be one step closer to being intimate with her.

     Nope!

     Hye Soo still treats Jae Yeol with professional courtesy and Jae Yeol becomes angry and sullen.

     Jae Yeol has an opportunity arise and he takes it to the next level! (Ha)

The Beginning...?

     "It's Okay, That's Love" delves into the psyche of what love means in all its facets. 

     Love for your friends, love for yourself, love for your job, and love for your partner.

     Love is never smooth and steady (especially not in KDramas). It is a very bumpy road to travel and Director Kim Kyu-Tae with the help of Writer No Hee-Kyung share not only their talents in this series but their love of their craft!

Will You Bend to My Personal Taste...?

     Sexual orientation can often be considered a taboo subject and many misunderstanding can happen if questions are left unanswered. 

     For one architect, Jeon Jin Ho (Lee Min Ho of Boys Over Flowers), letting people believe he's Gay is the only way his company can survive! 

     What he didn't plan on was meeting Park Kae In (Son Ye Jin) and having to continue the charade...when he obviously doesn't want to. 

Trying to get rid of Na Hye Mi...

     Kae In is an artisan furniture maker, accident prone, and has great difficulty in love. She is a human welcome matt letting the world step all over her...(sigh) 

     This does not deter her from trying to achieve her own happily ever after but she gets discouraged at times (even though she tries so hard!).

She is a MESS!

     Kae In meets Jin Ho through unfortunate circumstances (ofcourse) and believes that he has sexually assault her on the bus!

     Jin Ho cannot deny it fast enough and is troubled to have met such an unfortunate person as Kae In! 

Meet Cute...?

     One of the good things in Kae In's life is her boyfriend Han Chang Ryul (Kim Ji Suk of Cheer Up!)! He is a successful architect and heir to his Father's (Ahn Suk Hwan) construction business (also Jin Ho's business and love rival).

    Kae In's naivete in dealing with Chang Ryul is elevated as she misinterprets his words and actions as he tries to break up with her. (Ugh!)   

...is he going to propose?!?!

     Entering in the Seductress role is Wang Ji Hye as Kim In Hee! She is beautiful and destructive. Not just of those around her but herself as well...

     In Hee grew up with Kae In as sisters in the same house! Which Kae In's Father Park Chul Han (Kang Shin Il of Lie to Me), who is a famous architect and Professor, drafted and built. 

     So it is a great shock as Kae In walks into her sister-friend's wedding to see In Hee marrying her boyfriend! (Oh NO!)

BETRAYED!

      Personal Taste takes viewers on a hilarious ride through misconceptions, assumptions, and the hard truths about love.  

     Directors Son Hyeong-Seok and No Jong-Chan with the help of Writers Lee Sae-In and Kim Hee-Ju let us discover, through cinematography and the emotions displayed by these talented artists, that love finds a way through. Maybe not as you wished but definitely worth the sacrifice.