They weren’t kidding when they said this rom-com would be heavy on the sweet. It’s frosting and cupcakes and pastries galore, for new Channel A drama Panda and Hedgehog, promising light romance set in the world of a pastry shop. It stars Yoon Seung-ah (The Moon That Embraces the Sun) and Donghae (It’s Okay Daddy’s Girl) as the titular panda- and hedgehog-esque personalities. Why a panda and a hedgehog, you ask? Why for PUNS of course!
It turns out the title isn’t just a metaphor for their sweet and prickly demeanors, because the heroine’s name is literally Pan Da-yang (“panda girl”) and the hero’s name is Go Seung-ji (which is goseumdochi, or “hedgehog,” shortened). Lordy. I guess it helps explain the animals, but the clever is belabored… couldn’t we have gone with something less literal?
In any case, the sweet and colorful world of Panda and Hedgehog looks as fun and frothy as it’s been describing itself to be, though I’ve been burned by other Channel A dramas that promised light and gave me pain. So there’s only one way to know for sure. But the setup seems straightforward enough: Hedgehog is a prickly pastry chef and Panda is the owner of the cake shop where he’s a new hire. I like that she’s the boss.
Choi Jin-hyuk (I Need Romance) plays the rival to Hedgehog (Panda is his first love) AND the rival to Panda in the business (he’s the big franchise cake company while she’s mom and pop). I can’t see things going well for you in the love department if you’re say, trying to drive the girl of your dreams out of business, so hopefully there’s more to it than the usual chaebol antics.
Yoo So-young (Dream High 2) works for Choi Jin-hyuk’s character, but she’s also best friends with Panda. She ends up falling for her boss, and when she discovers that he’s in love with her bestie, the claws come out. Er, that’s just disappointing. So far the descriptions follow K-Drama 101 to the letter, so here’s hoping that they pull some twists to keep things interesting.
Panda and Hedgehog premieres Saturday August 18 on Channel A.
Via Osen
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Going to watch this fluffy drama to support Donghae. It might be like cottoncandy. Too airy, too sweet, empty calories but instant gratification for sweet tooth cravings.
me toooo! I ve fallen for this guy ever since i watchd skip beat!
I love skip beat! It was the first thing I’d seen him in and I thought he did a good job.
He was a jerk in skip beat – sure, he was pretty, but you fell for him?
His character was a jerk, not Donghae himself. In reality, he seems like a really sweet guy.
he looks woodden. sigh
So much pretty…unf.
But…it looks so predictable :-/
Passssssssssssss.
On one hand, there’s Yoon Seung-ah, who I loved in Playful Kiss. On the other hand, there’s Channel A, and I think we all know about their track record.
I’m suspicious.
channel a… bachelor’s vegetable shop…. BOO!
Hmmm…not sure about this one. I think I’ll wait until it’s aired at least the first half before deciding to invest me time. There are just so many good dramas coming out in this next batch. I don’t have time for all of them.
Why do I feel like in Fondant Garden 2.0? I loved that drama.
I think everyone can see the story won’t be the reason why we will watch this. Give me the pièces montées and the cuties. I already have second lead syndrome: Sometimes I’m as predictable as a Kdrama.
I have the same thoughts too..
the only difference is Hedgedog is also not a chaebol and did not lose his memory…
Omg – this is EXACTLY like Fondant Garden! I can only hope that Donghae does a better job than Park Min Jung (who was beyond awful – he makes KHJ look like Othello).
Actually, I kinda like Donghae – he was the only one watchable in ‘Skipbeat’ and I seem to recollect from some show that he likes to cook, neither reasons having much to do with this new show, but what the heck – it’s a slow day.
actually he started learning patisserie for the drama
idk if he likes cooking, but i know ryeowook does 
and yeah, he was really funny and charming yet evil in skip beat! too bad, sho fuwa doesn’t really show up much in the earlier chapters.. he does in the recent ones i suppose..
I think I’m crossed. Panda is Chaebol’s first love so heartbreaaaak. But then how can you say no to a romance that offers match-y striped shirts??? D’:
The second I read that the main girl’s friend liked the boss who likes the main girl, I thought, “Fondant Garden.” I may watch this, depending on the ratings, after it finishes airing.
I want to see how this drama goes. I’ve always liked Donghae. I liked him in Skip Beat, even though I want to shred the manga character to pieces; he’s just so adorable and has this air of innocence about him.
Will certainly look forward to the first eps.
I could use something light and frothy. (See my screen name…)
Now I REALLY want a cupcake.
Tell me about it.
Well, it sounds sweet!
It looks super cute, but I need something lighter in between the more serious dramas I’m gonna watch. Besides, Donghae is pretty to look at.
Count me in.
If they sub it, i will watch… a fan of Donghae after skip beat (adorable).
Aww, I’m always down for something cute and fluffy, so I’ll watch this. Also I want to drool over the pastries!! And maybe look up recipes for a few? o.o
Blood sugar just pop the scale.
it’s almost… TOO sweet…
Good luck to anyone who tunes in, hope it will turn out to be surprisingly good but nothing about it speaks to me so… pass.
(though on my to-watch list as it is there are too many!)
Well, at least I’m glad Yoon Seung-ah is progressing to leading lady material.
I love Donghae as a singer. As an actor…. umm, is acting also his forte? Never watch him act, don’t want to ruin a good singer image in me. In my pov, the current ido’l turned actor who are praisable: Micky Yoochun, TOP, Taecyon and Suzy.
Not Taecyeon…
it has a small element of taiwan’s Fondant Garden starring SS501′s PARK JUNG MIN !!!!!
It does resemble Fondant Garden.
I want Skip Beat! 1.5 already. Donghae played Sho pretty well.
choi jin-hyuk… hmmmm yummy…
Dude I don’t care if it’s not good. I’m just watching for…the pastries. Yeah, yeah!
The drama seems too sweet…Ya know not like ‘Yumm…sugary’ but more like ‘Oww…toothache’.
I hope it turns out well though! Please recap so I may be lazy and avoid watching a failure! hehe/jk/lol
not really sure, about donghae’s 1st role as main cast, but I will watch this for sure… eye candy donghae’s everywhere, I like it.
hmm the set up and pictures(especially the last one) remind me of Vic Zhou drama Sweet relationship. Just substitute the desserts for pasta and you’ve got almost the same show. The OTP description is similar too. Nonetheless, Donghae is my guilty pleasure and i love seeing him and Choi Jin Hyuk together again, this time as rivals instead brothers. Future Bromance Please!
Choi Jin Hyuk is yummy!
“I can’t see things going well for you in the love department if you’re say, trying to drive the girl of your dreams out of business, so hopefully there’s more to it than the usual chaebol antics.”
Hey, it worked in You’ve Got Mail starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan, didn’t it?
Is it just me or does Yoo Seung Ah totally have that Rainie Yang aura? I mean they don’t look alike or anything like that but she reminds me of her, s’all…
As for the plot, it sounds better than I expected but I’m not loving the female antagonist storyline. It perpetuates the notion that two girl friends are automatically going to go claws out for a guy.
*Yoon
lol Donghae prickly??? he has probably the most sensitive and kind personalities of all idol stars
…Donghae looks way too cute and pretty and pokeable to me to convince me of this “prickly” personality he’s playing, haha. XD
Try watching it because of Dong Hae. Could’ve done with a prettier female lead though.
So I thought the posters looked like Fondant Garden, but now the story also seems pretty alike. If this will be a korean FG I’m all for it.
not sure if I’m gonna watch it… or maybe the first ep to see what it is and we’ll see then
Channel A?
Maybe I shouldn’t give a damn on this.
This poster look so GREAT!!
Ah, I really love Dong Hae from Taiwanese drama SKIP BEAT & he’s reaaally funny and adooorable-ish!! 
Also, Super Junior’s Siwon and Dong Hae are doing so good job in that drama & their acting performance!
Hahaha, yes, this drama is REALLY remind me of Fondant Garden. XD I expect that I will watch this drama if I have time!
Do well ~ FIGHTING!
omg I wanna laugh in this drama’s face. What the script is doing is like lie to me, except without A-listers but with over the top… things…
looks Antique Bakery-ish.
did db ever review that one?
My ultimate bias is playing the lead role so no questions asked, I’m totally watching this drama! Too excited already.
I hope it turns out great.
oh wow! I know some people who really hated Skip Beat. But for me it was actually fine, except for some of those overly outrageous scenes! And so far, have only scene Donghae in that drama. Depending on time and on whether there are other more interesting dramas…I might give this a try.
Dramacrazy has added episode 1 RAW on 8-18-2012
The link:
http://www.dramacrazy.net/korean-drama/panda-and-hedgehog/
I finished watching 2 episodes of this and i am glad that donghae has improved on his acting!!! Hahaha and the story is refreshing it is a good thing that this is aired along with faith, arang, bridal mask etc…Because you will appreciate it the scripts are good though some characters overreacts but mostly the dialogue, its actors and not to mention the ost are good. It’s a waste that it is not aired at major broadcast station it has a potential