Ohhhhh, what a freaking great way to go out!

I was afraid the ending wouldn’t live up to the series, especially with all the snippets of spoilers floating around… but I loved it. I can see why some might have wanted something different, but I thought it was quite fitting.

SONG OF THE DAY

8eight – “자유” (Freedom). I had a beautiful sad song picked out for the finale, but then I saw the episode and it didn’t seem to fit. [ Download ]

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Read the rest of Story of a Man: Episode 20 (Final) (6,066 words)

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Post tags: episode recaps, Han Yeo-woon, Kim Kang-woo, Park Ki-woong, Park Shi-yeon, Park Yong-ha, Philip Lee, Story of a Man

It was hard picking a good screencap today because all of them are such huge spoilers to the plot. (Seriously? OMG WUT THE HELL, EPISODE 19?? Are you trying to give me a heart attack? I’d been spoiled as to one huge thing (well, several), but not one in particular, so this episode still managed to pull out a big surprise. Some really strong acting, too.)

Even though I used this image kinda by default, I rather like it now, even though it pits one of the ladies I like with one for whom I barely have any patience. One guess who’s who. Still, two strong and admirable ladies in a drama versus one unsympathetic and annoying one is a pretty decent ratio.

SONG OF THE DAY

Wheesung – “나락” (Hell) [ Download ]

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Read the rest of Story of a Man: Episode 19 (4,131 words)

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I don’t think the above image is meant to be unsettling, and it wasn’t necessarily so in the context of the scene… but when sorting through all the screencaps for this episode, it jumped out at me as being eerie and meaningful: Do-woo and Eun-soo about to join hands in front of their as-yet-unbuilt future city.

(Btw, I’ve read lots of snippets of comments about the drama’s ending, but I’d rather go into the finale blind. It keeps things interesting. I don’t even like knowing if it’s a “good” or “disappointing” ending — “good” suggests a happy resolution, while “disappointing” points to a less-than-sunny wrap-up. I’ve already accidentally been spoiled as to a huuuge plot point in the immediate future and I am NOT HAPPY about it. It killed my excitement in the series just when it should be hitting its crescendo, and that sucks.)

On the other hand, things are getting really intense. Woo~! I love this drama.

SONG OF THE DAY

Toy featuring Younha – “오늘 서울은 하루종일 맑음” (Seoul is Clear All Day Today)
[ Download ]

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Read the rest of Story of a Man: Episode 18 (4,513 words)

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AIIIIEEEEE SO GOOD.

It’s not often a drama will make me gasp in horror/surprise, but I totally did in this episode.

SONG OF THE DAY

Beautiful Days – “약국” (Pharmacy) [ Download ]

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Read the rest of Story of a Man: Episode 17 (4,657 words)

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Ooh, more goodness abounds!

I’m actually sad this drama’s ending next week. It’s been a long time since I’ve enjoyed a series on so many levels — for the acting, writing, directing, music, suspense, and perhaps most importantly, for the pure fun factor.

(I know there are lots of criteria for judging a drama or movie, but for me, a series has three major breakdowns: acting, directing, writing. Most dramas do one of those things competently, and many dramas pull off two. But it’s not often you get all three. And then you have the true oddity with something like Boys Before Flowers — I readily admit its appeal but have to concede that it accomplished none of the three criteria well. At least not consistently.)

SONG OF THE DAY

Ibadi – “Love Letter” [ Download ]

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Read the rest of Story of a Man: Episode 16 (4,185 words)

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Post tags: episode recaps, Kim Kang-woo, Park Ki-woong, Park Shi-yeon, Park Yong-ha, Philip Lee, Story of a Man

(He’s staring at an overhead heat lamp in a greenhouse.)

This was an exciting episode because Do-woo’s grip on his ice-cold composure continues to slip. The thing about Shin is that he hasn’t all of a sudden stumbled onto a magical solution for unnerving Do-woo, and it isn’t that he’s turned into an overnight mastermind. It’s more that he’s been chipping away at Do-woo from all angles — damn is he persistent — looking for the perfect moment to launch his sling (hence “The Slingshot” of the English title) to knock down his Goliath.

Oh yeah, and we finally figure out what Kyung-ah’s deal is.

SONG OF THE DAY

EZ Hyoung – “I Need Your Love.” I love songs that sneak up on you like this, starting out mellow and pretty but building up to an intense crescendo. To think, when I first picked this song, it didn’t even occur to me how well it meshes with the theme of this episode. (The song starts, “Don’t leave me, you can’t do this” while the bridge/chorus goes, “I need your love… I’m waiting for you, come back to me.”)
[ Download ]

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Read the rest of Story of a Man: Episode 15 (4,934 words)

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How does this drama keep getting better? Episode 14 was even better than Episode 13, and each scene kept me excited. Every time the music kicked in and the camera shifted just a bit in a meaningful way, signaling an Important Upcoming Moment, I’d sit up a little straighter, eager to find out what the next bend in the twisty road would reveal.

I can’t believe it took me so long to put it together, but it finally occurred to me that the vague feeling of familiarity I’d been getting from Story of a Man is that it’s the kdrama that makes me most think of Veronica Mars. You have the convoluted criminal(s), the sly undercover mini-missions, the camaraderie, the twisted family issues, the damaged boyfriends, the dark revenge. Fun, clever, and angsty. Yup. Totally Veronica Mars. (In Season 1 when the show was still good, that is.)

SONG OF THE DAY

Jisun – “Universe” [ Download ]

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Read the rest of Story of a Man: Episode 14 (4,612 words)

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Post tags: episode recaps, Kim Kang-woo, Park Ki-woong, Park Shi-yeon, Park Yong-ha, Philip Lee, Story of a Man