Korean Dramas TV Shows

(South) Korean Drama TV Shows are very addictive.  It so fun to watch them.  You cannot wait to watch next episode every time you start to follow them. In time, the language starts to sound familiar to your ears. The only problem, you have to watch them with subtitles. Korean Drama TV shows are very popular these days, and they can get audience worldwide, because of the internet.

They are interesting, and their scripts are much better than Hollywood, In my opinion. Most of the stories are very touching. I am not saying they are the best, but the costumes, fashion, acting, and decorations,  do look nice. The music can be catchy.  The action is cool as well.

There are excellent dramas, and I could advise you. My Thumbs up Korean Dramas.

Moon Embraces the Sun (2012)

A historical-fantasy-drama is adapted from the novel of the same name and written by Jung Eun-gwol. It tells of a secret, emotional love story between a fictional king of the Joseon Dynasty and a female shaman against the backdrop of a traditional Korean palace; and the struggles and conspiracy of vying political powers. It's a heavy drama at the same time, and it can give you smile while you watch. Moon Embraces the Sun is my favourite Korean TV show. There are many scenes you can remember while you watch this drama. The soundtrack is fantastic also.

Starring: Kim Soo-hyun, Han Ga-in, Jung Il-woo, Kim Min-seo.

Gu Family Book (2013)

Yoon Seo Hwa is guarded by Gu Wol Ryung the guardian spirit of the Jiri Mountains, and he is a Gumiho (9 tailed fox), they fall in love at the end, their love child born, Kang Chi. Kang Chi is raised amongst humans. Life is routine as he works for Park Moo Sol at the Hundred Year Inn until he realises he is not a human but half  Gumiho. This drama is fun and emotional at the same time.

Starring: Lee Seung-gi, Bae Suzy, Sung Joon, Lee Yu-bi, Yoo Yeon-seok. 

The Master's Sun (2013)

It starts as a scary movie, but it's not. The woman name Tae Gong Sil can see ghosts around of her. She accidently meets with Ceo Joo Joong Won and his only concern is money. After that, unusual events start to happen for this couple. It is fun, scary and romantic at the same time.

Starring: So Ji-sub, Gong Hyo-jin.

Boys Over Flowers (2009)

I had so much fun while I watched this TV show. It is based on Japanese manga series Boys Over Flowers (Hana Yori Dango?) written by Yoko Kamio.  A girl name Geum Jan Di saves a boy who is going to commit suicide by jumping from the roof of a building, bullied by the F4 club and the students of his school. As a result, she receives a scholarship from an exclusive Highschool, the same one that the boy she saved, and the club.  F4 is a boy club, and their only members are most popular and rich boys of that school. She begins to fight against bullies, and in a twist, she starts to become the love interest of the members of this club.

Starring: Lee Min-ho, Ku Hye-sun, Kim Hyun-joong, Kim Bum, Kim Joon, Kim So-eun.

She Was Beautiful (2015)

An entertaining Korean TV show. When she was a kid, Kim Hye-jin was a beautiful girl from a wealthy family. After her family's publishing company had gone bankrupt, she endured hardships then lost her beauty in time. Ji Sung-joon was a fat and unattractive boy with low self-esteem, but he matures and becomes a handsome and successful editor. When they get older, they decide to meet each other again. However.  Kim Hye-jin sends her pretty best friend  Ha-ri to meet his childhood friend. After, you start to watch funny and cute events inside this show.

Starring: Hwang Jung-eum, Park Seo-joon, Go Joon-hee, Choi Si-won

Rooftop Prince (2012)

The Crown Prince of Joseon mysteriously travels into future with his three men.  In present time they found themselves rooftop belong to Park-ha.  A guy name, Tae-yong was missed, his cousin tried to kill him in New York. Crown Prince and Tae-yong look like each other very much. After these four characters meet with Park-ha, and as you watch it becomes very entertaining as the prince and his friends adjust to modern times with mixed results. You try to solve the mystery while you watch also.

Starring: Park Yuchun, Han Ji-min, Jeong Yu-mi, Lee Tae-sung, Lee Min-ho, Jung Suk-won, Choi Woo-shik, Lee Moon-sik.

Arang and the Magistrate (2012)

A nobleman,  Kim Eun-oh comes to town searching for his mother after learning a rumour his mother is staying in the village of Miryang. He also possesses the unique ability to hear, see and touch spirits, but he acts like he doesn't since he gets annoyed when the spirits ask for favours. Arang lost all her memories when she became a ghost and is unable to rest in peace until she discovers how she died. Then, appearing before three magistrates, none of them survives the horror of seeing her. When she notices that Eun-oh can see her, she begs for his aid. A fun TV show. A television series based on Chinese Mythology.

Starring: Lee Joon-gi, Shin Min-ah, Yeon Woo-jin

Dong Yi (2010)

This period drama takes the place of the reign of King Sukjong in the Joseon dynasty. The series based on a real historical figure, Choi Suk-bin. She was a favourite concubine of King Sukjong. You watched her life long story when she was an orphaned kid and slave; then she becomes the wife of the most powerful man in Joseon. Very emotional story. The King's and Don Yi's chemistry worth the watch. Acting is fantastic, especially Han Hyo-joo does an excellent acting as Choi Suk-bin. 

Starring: Han Hyo-joo, Ji Jin-hee, Lee So-yeon.

Queen Seondeok (2009)

This Show tells the story of Queen Seondeok of Silla. One of the countries in Korea before they united as one country. Deokman (Queen Seondeok) born as royal blood in Silla, but she has been separated from her parents and her twin sister Princess Cheonmyeong because of a prophecy. She disguises herself as a boy and returns her country, to get closer to her real family and her twin sister. At the same time, she has to deal with the villainous favourite concubine of the old king, Lady Mishil. Her only dream is to take over the country and become the queen. Go Hyun-jung is excellent as Lady Mishil. Lee Yo-won fits the role of Queen Seondeok very much. Kim Nam-gil is great as Bidam. It's worth the look for this series.

Starring: Lee Yo-won, Go Hyun-jung, Uhm Tae-woong, Park Ye-jin.

Sungkyunkwan Scandal (2010)

In Joseon Dynasty times, Kim Yoon-hee wears men clothing, and she pretends to be her brother Kim Yoon-shik because her brother is sick and works as a scholar to gain money for her family.  A woman cannot function as a scholar in that society or enter an academy.  She has a chance to enter Sungkyunkwan Academy's exams with the particular chain of events.  After that, funny and unusual incidents start to happen besides.  You can find many girls wearing male clothing and acting like men in these dramas. I think it is a favourite subject at the same time. In real life, it's hard to buy this. Particularly with the actresses still being feminine. But it's a TV show I had a lot of fun while I watched. 

Starring: Park Min-young, Park Yoochun, Yoo Ah-in, Song Joong-ki

Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo (2016)

It is an adaptation of a Chinese novel Bu Bu Jing Xin by Tong Hua. 

This show got terrible ratings in South Korea. However, worldwide it finds many audiences. During a solar eclipse, 25 years old Go Ha-jin, a modern girl, goes back in time and finds herself in 941 in Goryeo Dynasty as a girl named Hae Soo. She would receive lots of attention from the handsome sons of  King Taejo. Notably, the actor who plays Wong So, Lee Joon-gi's performance makes it worth a watch.  

Starring, Lee Joon-gi, Lee Ji-eun, Kang Ha-neul, Hong Jong-hyun

The King 2 Hearts (2012)

In alternative universe of this TV show, there is still a Royal family in South Korea descended of Joseon Dynasty, and they are still separated countries like North Korea and South Korea. Crown  Prince Lee Jae-ha has to join a joint military collaboration with North Korea and falls in love with a North Korean drill officer Kim Hang-ah. I highly advise this show also. 

Starring: Ha Ji-won, Lee Seung-gi.

Gunman in Joseon (2014)

In late 19th Century of isolated Joseon, Park Yoon-kang is the son of the last great swordsman. The terrible death of his father plus the enslavement of his younger sister, Yoon-kang sells his sword for a Western-made lever action rifle as he goes on a vengeance mission and surprisingly ends up becoming a hero for the people. It's a television show you might enjoy.

Starring: Lee Joon-gi, Nam Sang-mi, Jeon Hye-bin, Han Joo-wan, Yu Oh-seong

If you are already hooked on Korean Dramas too, please share your favourite Dramas in the comments.

Great Lover Rudolph Valentino

Silent Movie Mystery and Great Lover Rudolph Valentino.

Rudolph Valentino was one of the most Charismatic  Movie Star in Film industry.  He had a fame of great lover in the 1920's. Valentino acted in silent films where his movements; his dances charmed all women. Let's say he had a mystery with those movies when we added Valentino in them.  He was surely a romantic lover as you look his personal life.

Valentino grew up Italy in a small town. He wanted to see the world. When Rudolph Valentino was only 18 years old, he first went to Paris, and then he came to New York. He had worked as a gardener or dishwasher for 4 or 5 years. Then Valentino realised, while the clubs he worked in as the dishwasher, those old women paid good money to have the young men tango with them. He learned the tango in several weeks. He then worked as a nightclub dancer.  Valentino entered a national touring production, but it failed in Utah. The young performer then made his way to San Francisco where he continued his dancing career. Valentino decided to go to Hollywood in 1917 as an actor.
He started in secondary roles as a villain, gigolo or foreign seducer.

He met actress Jean Acker while he was filming. He had romantic feelings for her. He offered her a marriage proposal, but he didn't know, Jean Acker had a romantic relationship with a woman before. She was gay. They got married, but Jean Acker refused Valentino on their first wedding night. She realised she made a mistake. She locked herself in the hotel room and would not let Valentino in.

Gloria Swanson and Rudolph Valentino - 

Beyond The Rocks (1922).

With several problems, an unhappy first marriage, he wasn't quite satisfied with the film industry, Valentino almost quit. Fortunately, Valentino caught the attention of screenwriter June Mathis. He was the perfect choice for the lead role for The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (1921). He captured the hearts of female audience by dancing the tango in his first scene in the film. The movie was a box office hit.

Tango Scene - The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (1921).

Valentino had a cameo in the film Camille, and he met with his second wife, Natasha Rambova. Natasha was the stage designer of that movie. Natasha was the love of his life, and she made the Rudolph Valentino name even grander. She helped him to create Valentino image on the screen. Let me say; the woman redesigned Valentino again. She had never been satisfied with the movies he was in. It was cultural junk for her. She tried to force the Hollywood directors for more artistic movies with her husband, Rudolph. Hollywood was a male industry, and men didn't like women telling them their business.

After Valentino had met with Natasha, he got the lead role in The Sheik. This movie made him a total sex idol in the eyes of women. Men were jealous, and women were in love with him. He played an Arabian Sheik; he was masculine, sexy man, a macho but the sheik had a soft heart for the female character he loved. It was different than the ideal classic men in movies in that time, but all women love this vigorous man on the screen.

Rudolph Valentin and Agnes Ayres - The Sheik (1921).

Valentino had another astronomical success with Blood and Sand. This time around, he played bullfighter who falls under the spell of a beautiful seductress.

Valentino's reputation improved with his arrest for bigamy in 1922. He had to wait a full year for divorce from Jean Acker, but he failed to wait before remarrying to Natasha Rambova. He was taken to jail and forced to pay the penalty for his 1922 wedding to actress and set designer Natasha Rambova in Mexico. Later the pair remarried the following year. Valentino also published a collection of poetry named Day Dreams around this time, a work which reflected the couple's interest in Spiritualism.

Rudolph Valentino and Natasha Rambova.

Rambova took a dominant role in managing her husband's career. Valentino got lots of criticism because of that. He wanted to be more of a family man with children, but Natasha wasn't ready, and she wanted to focus on her career more. Eventually, they broke up as a couple. It was a sad romance story. Mrs Valentino left her husband alone, and they divorced.

Valentino returned to the kind of fare that made him famous. The Eagle(1925) featured him as a Russian soldier seeking to avenge the wrongs committed against his family by the Czarina.

Rudolph Valentino - The Eagle (1925).

The following year, Valentino made a sequel of sorts to his earlier hit, The Son of the Sheik. This silent classic proved to be his last work. After completed The Son of the Sheik, in the film's promotional tour, he got sick in his hotel room.

Rudolp Valentino and Vilma Bánky - The Son of the Sheik (1926).

Valentino had to be delivered to a New York hospital, where he had surgery on August 15, 1926, to treat acute appendicitis and ulcers. In the days after the surgery, Valentino received an infection known as peritonitis. The 31-year-old actor's health quickly began to decline. Valentino died nearly a week after entering the hospital, on August 23, 1926.

He left all his women fans heartbroken; everybody was in shock of his sudden death. He continued to get fan mail even after his death, and there was also a mysterious woman with black clothes and veil who had begun to visit his tomb and continued to go for years, and nobody knew the identity of this women.

He was a pop icon with total charisma. He shined through his appearances on the big screen. He had left this world at very early age, but his charm continued.