Seems like there are many dramas on my radar this season! I’m have been watching Sign, My Princess and thinking of starting on Dream High. Today I started on New Tales of Gisaeng and will watch Paradise Ranch later on.
So far, my favourite is Sign (irregardless of the ratings) since it’s a forensic drama. I love medical, crime, investigation dramas and Sign is a healthy mix of the three. I know some people don’t really like Kim Ah Joong in it, but she’s passable. All of the supporting cast are good and I’m totally loving the kick-ass yet laid back detective!! 😀
My Princess is real cute but somehow I don’t really have the ‘I cant wait for the next episode’ kind of feeling. Kim Tae Hee is a winner on this one though.
New tales of Gisaeng, the show that I have the most gripe on. There’s soo much potential for the plot and I must say that Ep 1 failed to deliver. The first few minutes was really cute and I thought that will be our female protagonist but it doesn’t seem so. (i think…?). All the females looked so plastic I have difficulty telling them apart. I have nothing against plastic surgery but this show struck me as particularly filled with plastic people that looked real plastic.
Back to topic, the female protagonist Sa Ran looked like a bore. Da Mo has more potential as the male lead, but pretty flat as of now. Ra Ra, our typical evilplotting 2nd female lead is already giving the please-hate-me vibe, with all her high and mighty acts and bouts of jealously.
There’s too many makjang elements in Ep1 alone, which is soo typical this can just be another family makjang drama. I’m not saying NO to makjang elements, but I wished the whole story concentrates on the whole gisaeng house instead of the typical makjang stories found in ALL dramas. Please at least give a refreshing take on these elements. :/
Makjang should be balanced with some comic relief and I’m glad there’s at least a little comical element in here. Da Mo’s dad love for their pet dog is hilarious. He actually saves Da Mo’s number until the name ‘son’ but with a picture of their papillion!!! Aww. poor guy. How to compete with a pet dog?!
I have so much anticipations for this drama and it’s failing to deliver. Will watch a couple more episodes to see if I can follow through all 50 episodes.

6 Comments
Valerie
29 January, 2011 at 9:03 PMWhat is Makjang drama? I know Saeguk drama is a historical drama. but I always read or hear Makjang drama. What are the elements of a Makjang drama?
hangukdrama
29 January, 2011 at 9:08 PMhehe it’s actually a slang. It refers to dramas where:
the relationship between the people are super complicated
situations that is insane in real life
in other words, angsty dramas 😀
temptation of wife, baker king falls under the category.
your daughter in law is actually your long lost daughter, hidden birth secrets, scandals, rivalry, jealousy — elements of makjang dramas!
mishmash
29 January, 2011 at 9:12 PMI felt temptation of wife was totally makjang. I couldn’t bear to continue after watching the
first episode. No idea how my housemate managed to finish the whole thing!
Baker King veered rather dangerously into total makjang territory but saved by their comic
parts.
Valerie
30 January, 2011 at 7:41 AMAha ! Thanks for the explanation. Now, I know what it means.
JK
30 January, 2011 at 11:35 PM싸인 완전 재미있죠!! 왜 사람들이 이런 드라마를 안 보는지 잘 몰라요. ㅠㅠ 박신양 배우가 연기를 진짜 잘해요. 드림하이도 재미있지만 plot가 싸인보다 별로예요. 그렇지만 Jason이 필숙을 좋아하게 됐으면 좋겠다고 생각해요.. ^^
hangukdrama
30 January, 2011 at 11:38 PM그죠!! 왜 사람들이 싸인 모르고 그냥 마이 프린세스나 드림하이만 봐요!! 흑.