Oh, Myung-wol. It saddens me to think of the drama you could’ve been, when you were at the height of funny. You were quirky and offbeat and something new, and the possibilities were endless. But you caved to some of the laziest writing and directing known to man, and worst of all, you lost your quirky charm, your sense of fun, what made you… you. Despite it all I held out hope for a good ending… because I’m a glutton for punishment that way. What say you, one good episode, for old times’ sake? Why do I feel like I’m about to regret asking?

(...)
Read the rest of Myung-wol the Spy: Episode 18 (Final) (2,551 words)

© girlfriday for Dramabeans, 2011. | Permalink | 210 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Eric, featured, Han Ye-seul, Jang Hee-jin, Lee Jin-wook, Myung-wol the Spy

Al…most…there… One more episode, and we can bid goodbye to this drama, which has seen its share of ups and downs. Maybe more downs than ups. Okay, lots more downs. It hasn’t been without its bright moments, but even taking into consideration the two-episode extension, boy has Myung-wol the Spy seemed LONG.

SONG OF THE DAY

Every Single Day – “Healing Star” [ Download ]

(...)
Read the rest of Myung-wol the Spy: Episode 17 (2,577 words)

© javabeans for Dramabeans, 2011. | Permalink | 50 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Eric, featured, Han Ye-seul, Jang Hee-jin, Lee Jin-wook, Myung-wol the Spy

Yay for the first episode in weeks that I’ve enjoyed all the way through. This episode has a lot of the cute, light, funny moments that made early Myung-wol the Spy so enjoyable for me, and lightened up on the gloom and angst. The stakes are still high, but we can get that across without all that denial and frustration, and that makes for a much more watchable hour. Phew!

SONG OF THE DAY

Hwayobi – “Bye Bye Bye” [ Download ]

(...)
Read the rest of Myung-wol the Spy: Episode 16 (2,961 words)

© javabeans for Dramabeans, 2011. | Permalink | 106 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Eric, featured, Han Ye-seul, Jang Hee-jin, Lee Jin-wook, Myung-wol the Spy

We FINALLY get to the crux of the spy vs. love dilemma, for all the characters involved. I really wish it didn’t take us fifteen episodes to get to this point, but we finally have them – the guns, the ultimatums, the lives on the line, and the hero actually does something… heroic. I know!

I just wish for the characters’ sakes that they weren’t written as the most ineffectual spies ever. I’d be more fearful for their lives and such if somebody would just shoot someone already. ‘Cause the empty threat of violence is starting to get old. Less talky, more shooty!

(...)
Read the rest of Myung-wol the Spy: Episode 15 (3,277 words)

© girlfriday for Dramabeans, 2011. | Permalink | 102 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Eric, featured, Han Ye-seul, Jang Hee-jin, Lee Jin-wook, Myung-wol the Spy

Yay, better episodes! I’ll admit last week’s kind of sucked the joy out of this drama for me, but today’s episode was surprisingly better. Lots of forward momentum, and revealing of secrets. It couldn’t have come a moment too soon. Well, actually, it could have, and yeah, that’s one of my complaints. But now that truths are exposed and decisions are made, I’m just happy to look forward.

SONG OF THE DAY

The One – “그랬음 좋겠다” [ Download ]

(...)
Read the rest of Myung-wol the Spy: Episode 14 (3,197 words)

© javabeans for Dramabeans, 2011. | Permalink | 103 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Eric, featured, Han Ye-seul, Jang Hee-jin, Lee Jin-wook, Myung-wol the Spy

This show makes my blood boil. It’s not necessarily always a bad thing, since it means I’m that invested in the characters. But when they do stupid, assy things, it makes me tear my hair out. Once in love, Kang-woo is the bleeding heart kind of hero, which means that the brokenhearted version of him is a dark and twisted black hole of pain. It’s bad. Like Spike without a soul kind of bad. There’s gonna be some swearing in this recap… Er, more swearing than usual.

(...)
Read the rest of Myung-wol the Spy: Episode 13 (4,274 words)

© girlfriday for Dramabeans, 2011. | Permalink | 301 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Eric, featured, Han Ye-seul, Jang Hee-jin, Lee Jin-wook, Myung-wol the Spy

After all the angst of the past few episodes, it’s time for the couple to get to enjoy some fun and cuteness, even if those halcyon days are, unfortunately, always short-lived in K-dramas. Well, something’s better than nothing — and this time when the happiness is threatened, we get tons of plot advancement, with some crucial dots finally connected, bringing the pieces of the plot closer together.

SONG OF THE DAY

Shin Hye-sung – “생각해봐요” (Think about it) [ Download ]

(...)
Read the rest of Myung-wol the Spy: Episode 12 (3,321 words)

© javabeans for Dramabeans, 2011. | Permalink | 86 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Eric, featured, Han Ye-seul, Jang Hee-jin, Lee Jin-wook, Myung-wol the Spy

Another tag-team recap! With the uproar regarding this drama dominating headlines for the past several days, girlfriday and I thought to both weigh in on all the insanity. Only, this episode actually isn’t that insane, considering the circumstances. It’s chock-full of meta commentary, though, with references to killer shooting schedules, overworked stars, and diva attitudes. Some of it’s surely intentional, but even more of it (seemingly) the result of crazy coincidence.

SONG OF THE DAY

The Black Skirts – “외아들” (Only son) [ Download ]

(...)
Read the rest of Myung-wol the Spy: Episode 11 (3,603 words)

© javabeans for Dramabeans, 2011. | Permalink | 267 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Eric, featured, Han Ye-seul, Jang Hee-jin, Lee Jin-wook, Myung-wol the Spy

Holy crap. Just when I’d thought this drama had hit a slump, it pulls out this nice surprise. Things just took a turn, and for the better — the stakes (and not to mention the emotional quotient) just got kicked up a real big notch.

SONG OF THE DAY

Top Cloud – “힘이들길” [ Download ]

(...)
Read the rest of Myung-wol the Spy: Episode 10 (3,659 words)

© javabeans for Dramabeans, 2011. | Permalink | 215 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Eric, featured, Han Ye-seul, Jang Hee-jin, Lee Jin-wook, Myung-wol the Spy

Thankfully when you set up a world so zany, there’s no plot twist you can create that doesn’t sound any crazier than the last. For example, Operation Marry Hallyu Star vs. Operation Become Hallyu Star. Why the hell not? The downside is that it doesn’t do much to propel the characters forward, as we stay pretty firmly locked in limbo as far as the romance goes. Not that I don’t like the pigtail-pulling shenanigans from Prince Petty, but you’re not fooling anyone anymore, mister. Not even yourself. Somebody get this guy a love vegetable, stat.

(...)
Read the rest of Myung-wol the Spy: Episode 9 (3,354 words)

© girlfriday for Dramabeans, 2011. | Permalink | 103 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Eric, featured, Han Ye-seul, Jang Hee-jin, Lee Jin-wook, Myung-wol the Spy