It’s the bow-tied, triple-knotted kind of ending for this cast of characters, as we say our final goodbyes to Secret Garden. I’d personally like to say farewell to omo-queen Secretary Kim. Thanks for the laughs. And of course to my new favorite idol-oppa, Oska. Yoon Sang-hyun, I was never on your bus before, but I’m totally on it now. Oska, fighting!

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Read the rest of Secret Garden: Episode 20 (Final) (4,119 words)

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Post tags: featured, Ha Ji-won, Hyun Bin, Kim Sa-rang, Philip Lee, Secret Garden, Yoon Sang-hyun

We’re almost there! Phew, what a roller-coaster journey this drama has been, and this episode is no different — it takes us from one extreme to another, serving up some silly moments, light romantic beats, cute comedy, and then more melodrama with lots of angsty tears. Talk about a wild ride.

SONG OF THE DAY

Secret Garden OST – “이유” (Reason) by 4men [ Download ]

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Read the rest of Secret Garden: Episode 19 (3,632 words)

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Post tags: featured, Ha Ji-won, Hyun Bin, Kim Sa-rang, Philip Lee, Secret Garden, Yoon Sang-hyun

I’m glad this show comes with its own shrink. It should be a new requirement in all k-dramas. I mean, if you’re going to start making such sharp turns, it’s only fair that you provide your own medical care for those of us who suffer from the whiplash. I’d like to dedicate this recap to my 21-year old self: If anyone comes by insisting that you loved this drama in the future, run. Run away.

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Read the rest of Secret Garden: Episode 18 (3,432 words)

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Post tags: featured, Ha Ji-won, Hyun Bin, Kim Sa-rang, Philip Lee, Secret Garden, Yoon Sang-hyun

The final stretch brings us tears, tears, and more tears. Seriously, there’s a lot of crying; so much that I wonder that the actors didn’t collapse from dehydration. It also brings us decisions, some life-or-death, as well as goodbyes and angst. All with a liberal dash of Noble Idiocy. It’s Secret Garden: The Makjang Edition!

SONG OF THE DAY

Hyun Bin – “그남자” (That Man). Yet another version of this song. [ Download ]

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Read the rest of Secret Garden: Episode 17 (3,793 words)

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Post tags: featured, Ha Ji-won, Hyun Bin, Kim Sa-rang, Philip Lee, Secret Garden, Yoon Sang-hyun

It’s the Episode of Answers, as all the puzzle pieces fall into place and get neatly locked together. It’s certainly about time, as all of this has been set up for a while now, and this particular theory concerning Joo-won and Ra-im’s father has been circling the wagons for what seems like half a century now. Finally, an episode where we find out enough to change how we go from here on out.

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Read the rest of Secret Garden: Episode 16 (3,407 words)

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Post tags: featured, Ha Ji-won, Hyun Bin, Kim Sa-rang, Philip Lee, Secret Garden, Yoon Sang-hyun

So the cat’s out of the bag. Frankly I’d thought we’d get some huge changes once this happened, but really, the discovery is played more for comedy than for real advancement. Thankfully, by episode’s end we finally make some progress with the body-swap gimmick that opens the door for some of our questions to be answered. Not in this episode, alas, but at least we’re heading somewhere.

SONG OF THE DAY

Loveholics – “Raining” [ Download ]

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Read the rest of Secret Garden: Episode 15 (3,594 words)

© javabeans for Dramabeans, 2011. | Permalink | 252 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: featured, Ha Ji-won, Hyun Bin, Kim Sa-rang, Philip Lee, Secret Garden, Yoon Sang-hyun

There are lots of awards handed out, for sure, but at least SBS has some strong shows this year, with great performances all around in the competition. Go Hyun-jung stacks up another Daesang for her turn as the first Korean female president in Daemul, which if I’m to go based on all the parodies, involved lots of shouting in the rain. There’s a performance by Noh Min-woo, a THREE-way tie for Best Couple, and of course, some red carpet hits and misses.

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Read the rest of 2010 SBS Drama Awards (1,983 words)

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Post tags: awards, Choi Jin-hyuk, Go Hyun-jung, Ha Ji-won, Ham Eun-jung, Han Chae-ah, Han Hye-jin, Hong Ji-min, Hwang Jung-eum, Hyun Bin, Joo Sang-wook, Jung Bo-seok, Jung Seok-won, Kang Sung, Kim Jung-eun, Kim So-yeon, Kim Soo-hyun, Kwon Sang-woo, Lee Beom-soo, Lee Hee-jin, Lee Jong-seok, Lee Seung-gi, Lee Soo-kyung, Min Hyo-rin, Moon Chae-won, Park Jin-hee, Philip Lee, Shin Mina, Shin Sung-rok, Yoo Min

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Read the rest of Philip Lee, a real-life chaebol (sort of) (342 words)

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Post tags: conversation post, Philip Lee

Looks like love is in the air. And the real kind, not the Little Mermaid version. Or so we hope. Down with the Mermaid! Sheesh. When did Ariel ever get such a bad rap? Declarations get made, gauntlets get thrown, and secrets get found out. It’s Christmas in the Secret Garden, and it looks like Fate has some interesting things in store…

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Read the rest of Secret Garden: Episode 14 (3,789 words)

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Post tags: featured, Ha Ji-won, Hyun Bin, Kim Sa-rang, Philip Lee, Secret Garden, Yoon Sang-hyun

Some really nice moments in this episode, and some long-awaited movement on Ra-im’s part (finally!), help mitigate some other bits that I hated. Or rather, one bit in particular. (I really wanted not to hate it, but it’s one of those things that you just can’t bring yourself to accept, y’know?)

SONG OF THE DAY

Jung Yeob – “Love You” [ Download ]

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Read the rest of Secret Garden: Episode 13 (3,275 words)

© javabeans for Dramabeans, 2010. | Permalink | 551 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: featured, Ha Ji-won, Hyun Bin, Kim Sa-rang, Philip Lee, Secret Garden, Yoon Sang-hyun