Fantasy Online and Off in Love O2O!

     For those of us who love to play video games (I'm a Nintendo and Online gamer!) this next C-Drama is right up your controller sticks! 

     Love O2O is a drama that goes into a popular online historical action game called, "Chinese Ghost Story". Here players join clans (or gangs), battle players and monsters, have quests, and they can even get MARRIED!

     Reed Wei Wei (ZhengShuang) is the only top 10 female player and she is married to Zhenshui Wuxiang (Zhang He) and they rack points and kick butt!

     Unfortunately, every time Zhenshui Wuxiang asks Reed Wei Wei for a photo or to meet IRL (in real life) she always declines... 

     This is wonderful bumbling sidekick is Zhao Er Xi (Mao Xiao Tong) she is Reed Wei Wei's (or Bei Wei Wei - offline name) BFF!

     She is clumsy and Bei Wei Wei is always bailing her out from one jam to another...lol   

     After Zhao Er Xi killed Bei Wei Wei's laptop she dropped it off to get repaired and went to an online cafe to get her game ON!

     What Bei Wei Wei could not have anticipated was that Xiao Nai (YangYang) - the most popular boy at her university - was having a meeting at the same place! (What!?!) 

     I absolutely love the cinematography in this series! For me it became another character to play with the narrative...this is seen when the two leads kinda meet for the first time.

     The first thing Xiao Nai notices about Bei Wei Wei is her hands! (Wow!)

     So...since Zhenshui Wuxiang had been making no headway with Reed Wei Wei he asked for a DIVORCE in the RPG (role playing game). What he forgot to mention is that he already had someone he wanted to marry instead of her.

     I absolutely LOVE Reed Wei Wei reaction when he divorced her and then she saw his marriage train with his new bride - she did NOT care. For Reed Wei Wei it was all just a game! (HA!)

     On the bright side another interesting character pops up and asks Reed Wei Wei to marry her! 

     Who?...none other than the number one top player Yi Xiao Nai He!

     Meanwhile, back in the man cave Xiao Nai calmly explains that he can no longer fix any random girl's computer because he is now a Married Man! (...things that make you go mmm...?)

     I did want to take a moment and talk about two characters that I absolutely loved in this series. Hao Mei (ZhengYe Cheng) and KO (Zhang Binbin)!

     There are many flower boys in this series and the bromance is brimming on a saturated cup but these two characters touched my heart dearly. 

     Hao Mei and KO  share a caring and sweet almost romance that is not always seen this clearly in Chinese Dramas. I'm grateful it was present in this one.

     Definite kudos to Director Lin YuFen for having great vision and to Writer Gu Man for an imaginative story!

Dream High 2...(Where's 1?)

     As I was re-watching (yes...I do that...frequently) Dream High 2 I knew that I wanted to tell this story because there is one character in this series that I identify with very much.

     This person has a lot of obstacles to overcome through the series and I can feel the (eternal?)struggle as this character tries (with varying degrees of success) to achieve their dreams... Can you guess which one it is?

     The series starts showing musical talent with a Girl Kpop group by the name of "HershE" (like the candy bar) and they are at the top of their game!  

     This group consists of SISTAR's Hyolyn and Ailee as well as T-Ara's Jiyeon as  "HershE" Members Nana, Ailee, and Rian. 

     Rian is struggling with becoming more than the "Face" of "HershE" and dumps fellow alum JB to focus more on her acting career...(Omo!)

   "HershE" and the duo "I:dn" (Eden) were both raised through OZ Entertainment.

    "I:dn" is made up of two artists JB (from GOT7) and Si Woo (Park Seo Joon  of "Kill Me, Heal Me").

     JB and Si Woo see their respective careers extremely differently. JB is the rule follower (and has a relationship with Rian) and Si Woo is the rebel always getting into trouble.

     So it is a shock when JB breaks the rules...and the consequences are felt by ALL!

     As JB's extreme fan (watch out JB!) Shin Hae-sung (Kang So-ra of "Warm and Cozy") goes greatly out of her way to make an impression.

     Unfortunately, it's not always the best impression...

     Hae-sung feels a connection to these artists that she's come to support and watch because she is training to become one herself!

     Hae-sung is studying at "The Kirin School of Arts" to become a world class singer and no one is going to stop her...

     On her way back from the concert Hae-sung meets up with Jin Yoo-jin (Jeong Jinwoon of 2AM and "Madame Antoine")...unintentionally...

     Yoo-jin is a child star and talented musician. You would think that would make him arrogant but it just keeps him rebellious! (HA!)

      Yoo-jin has very specific ideas of what he wants to do musically and refuses to let anyone have artistic control over him...

    Hae-sung gets caught sneaking in (but not  Yoo-jin!) and tries to dispel any bad karma with a spell...?

     When her room catches fire she forces her whole dormitory to evacuate including Teacher Yang Jin-man (Park Jin-young of JYP Entertainment) who just wants to be left alone until retirement...(LOL)

     Obviously, Hae-sung's luck won't change unless she tries to change it herself! And with that thought in mind she tries to create a song, by herself, to submit for a contest at school.

      Hae-sung asks Yoo-jin to help make her song better but after he listens to it Yoo-jin belittles her efforts! (Really?)

     Then he harshly compares her meager attempt to write a song with her favorite artist's, JB's, last published song stating that it had been plagiarized!

     After all the trouble that his artists were making and the new law for underage entertainers President Lee Kang-chul (Kim Jung-tae of "Oh My Venus") of OZ Entertainment came to "The Kirin School of Arts" to set some things straight.

     Principal Joo Jung-wan (Kwon Hae-hyo of "Lie to Me") was minding his own business when President Lee  popped into his office to drop a bomb...

    From this day forward "The Kirin School of Arts" belongs to OZ Entertainment and all their artists will be attending this school!

     Dream High 2 is a RomCom Musical that never gets old. Writers Heo Sung-Hye and Jang Eun-Mit tell timeless stories of each person's journey as they grow and reach for their dreams. And Directors Lee Eung-Bok and Mo Wan-Il showed us through great cinematography that the story is also found in its silent moments...   

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"!

Will You be my Perfect Girl?

     As web dramas take over our airwaves like "DramaWorld", (an English/Korean mashup) there are those who are creating a whole new way of looking at the KDrama phenomena!

     Christian Lee and Jason Chan from BANANAMANA Films develop English scripts for Asian Dramas! They are a Singapore based production company and have won more than 7 awards internationally!

     Just like "DramaWorld", BANANAMANA Films' "Perfect Girl" was picked up by VIKI! Christian and Jason took their multi episode series and converted it into a hour movie...!

The Girl...

     Jason Chan, along with being one of the creators of "Perfect Girl", also plays the leading man Stan.

     At the beginning of the film we come to find Stan alone and unloved. Not because he hasn't had a chance at happiness but he has been in love with Jenny (Khaleila Hisham) since their high school days.

Meet Cute

     It's been years since Stan has seen his crush Jenny and he still finds himself tongue tied and awkward in front of her...but he can't seem to forget (things that make you go mmm?).

Making a Plan?

     Social situations seem like a foreign language to Stan so he sets out to remedy his lackluster love life by doing what he's best at... calculating information to its best end result...

                                                                       ...Jenny.

Their Past...

     Yet, Jenny still remembers when Stan would write her love letters. A well spring of thoughts that sprung from Stan's heart in the hopes of winning Jenny's. 

     Love filled papers just for her... but as he stood in front of her...nothing. 

     Stan and Jenny's portrayals are funny, warm, and heartbreaking (like all good KDramas) and the series is well put together from alpha to omega and everything in between.

     BANANAMANA Films weaves an intimate tale of two lovers and what they face to be together... not just from the outside but from within!

     Christian and Jason still have many more stories to tell and recently they have been working on a pilot named "BangBang Club". 

     In 2016 it was nominated for Best Editing and Best Score at the Indie SeriesAwards and won a Remi award at the Worldfest - HoustonInternational Film Festival!

A New Spin on DramaWorld!

     As you follow my blog you'll start to notice certain similarities in a typical KDrama. 

     Poor girl meets rich boy, then she has unrealistic expectations that he'll love her forever, and there's always someone to mess with their relationship! (Monster-in-law, 2nd male lead, the Temptress). 

     "DramaWorld" starts EXACTLY like a typical KDrama...

                                                                                  ...then EVERYTHING changes!!

     Viki has broken all the KDrama rules and has given all KDrama fans an incredible treat! This web series crosses cultures, languages, reality, and worlds! Set in Los Angeles and Seoul, the first-ever American-Korean mashup (Omo!) 

     Claire Duncan (LIV HEWSON) is a 20 year old college student who works at her Father's cafe. She feels invisible and her only way of coping with her life (or lack thereof) is by living vicariously through the KDramas she watches. 

Addicted to KDramas!

     Chef Joon Park (SEAN DULAKE) is Claire's favorite actor and plays the male lead in "Taste of Love" the hottest KDrama at the moment! Claire has been following the KDrama religiously and knows something is wrong... 

Meet the Love Triangle...Maybe?

     Claire continues her lonely existence as she tries to figure out what's wrong with her series, "Taste of Love".

     She tries to explain that there is a problem with the KDrama to the many customer's at her Father's cafe but all she does is drive business away.

Claire explains...

       Episode 12 takes a nasty turn in "Taste of Love" as someone kills Chef Joon's Father forcing the story into a darker course. And the love triangle takes a turn for the worst.

The tale continues...

   As Claire re-watches episode 12, trying to catch anything she could have missed in the plot, her Father furiously takes her smartphone in an effort to make her wake up and start living life in reality.

I want to be in KDramas!

     Unable to let the KDrama go Claire watches the next episode as she cleans up. Unfortunately, a spilled mop bucket fuels Claire's desire to stop Chef Joon and the Temptress (KIM SA HEE) from kissing and transports Claire into "Taste of Love"!

Dream come true?

     Claire wreaks havoc on “Taste of Love”. Her only ally is Seth Ko (Justin Chon), a fellow "real" person who also landed in DramaWorld, and is a "facilitator". Seth keeps all the KDramas on track to their happy ending. 

     Seth insists Claire help him because her interference has created an off-balance which is causing other dramas to splice into the series !

     With as many Asian Dramas that have been produced the creation of DramaWorld was clearly anticipated and greatly welcomed by all KDrama fans (Me included!)

     This wonderful series was written by Josh Billig and Chris Martin.  Chris also directed the show and he's been in the industry for about 10 year! I had fun watching it, laughing at all the KDrama rules, crying with all the heartwarming scenes and seeing how much fun Josh and Chris had with the series...

     Many fans are clamoring for a season 2 and I clearly anticipate the possibilities!