Paradise Ranch: Episode 1

183 January 25, 2011January 24, 2016

by javabeans

Paradise Ranch is the long-awaited (?) — or perhaps it’s more accurate to say long-shelved — drama starring idol pop star Choi Kang Changmin of DBSK in his drama debut, alongside Lee Yeon-hee. For lots of reasons, there’s been an undercurrent of unease about this drama, with its inability to secure a broadcaster or a timeslot for months, which led to a pretty lengthy time spent in limbo. In fact, the entire drama was wrapped and completed practically a year ago, and there was speculation that it might never see the light of day.

But SBS picked it up for its Monday-Tuesday 9pm timeslot, which has in recent months been home to lighter dramatic fare (I Am Legend, It’s Okay Daddy’s Girl, Dr. Champ). The timeslot hasn’t seen a hit since Wish Upon a Star a full year ago, so I wonder if SBS will continue to slot it with dramas (the other stations don’t air dramas in that slot) for much longer. But that’s a discussion for another day, another post. I mostly mention it because I happen to have seen all the dramas in this hour minus one (Angel’s Temptation) and for whatever reason, I seem to have more lenient expectations of them. I don’t know why.

Paradise Ranch was neither as good nor as bad as I was hoping it to be, which puts it squarely into that category of meh for me. It isn’t horrible — as I was expecting from its awful trailers — but it’s not really that exciting or interesting, either. But it’s also benign enough that it doesn’t really merit heaps of snark, either. Yet. We’ll see.

SONG OF THE DAY

Winterplay – “You’re In My Heart.” This song plays in one scene toward the end of Episode 1. [ Download ]

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EPISODE 1

The story is simple enough: Two young kiddos in love attempt to run away and elope against their parents’ wishes, but due to her age — she’s 19, he’s 21 — they require parental consent. So instead, they return home and beg the adults to agree to the marriage, and surprisingly it’s his grandfather who relents first and convinces the others to let the kids marry.

The couple has their honeymoon period of wedded bliss… and then, inevitably, problems arise (though we are given no specifics in our heroine’s brief introduction). They divorce after six months and go their separate ways.

And then, we’re six years later.

Now for our real introduction to LEE DA-JI (Lee Yeon-hee), now 25, a veterinarian with a specialty in horses. She works at Paradise Ranch, a small farm on Jeju Island where she lives with her father and her pesky younger sister DA-EUN.

Da-ji loves horses but doesn’t actually seem to be very good with them, which is either a weird quirk or a flaw in the writing of the drama. I can’t decide which. Her boss cluck-clucks about her inability to go 10 minutes without getting herself into some sort of trouble, which seems pretty on the mark. She’s bubbly, vivacious, and optimistic, so it’s easy to like her although one wonders how she managed to become a vet, as her competence has yet to be demonstrated.

She is sent by her cheapskate boss to a horse auction in Australia, with specific instructions on what kind of animal she is to buy. As she looks over her top pick, another prospective horse-buyer notices her — her ex-husband, HAN DONG-JOO (Shim Chang-min).

Dong-joo, now 27, is the spoiled, lazy heir to Dongin Group and director at DI Resort, a sprawling new development on Jeju Island that neighbors Paradise Ranch. In fact DI’s presence is encroaching on the ranch’s own — it’s a You’ve Got Mail-esque battle between the little guys and the big corporate power — but the kids don’t yet know the connection.

Dong-joo seems pleased to see Da-ji at first, but his face tightens when he overhears her cooing to her horse about the handsome other horse-buyer standing nearby — his soon-to-be rival SEO YOON-HO (Joo Sang-wook). Da-ji doesn’t think Yoon-ho understands Korean so she speaks freely and admiringly, which makes Yoon-ho smile and Dong-joo scowl.

She spots him and greets him warmly, but Dong-joo’s jealousy has him treating her with iciness, saying curtly that he isn’t at all happy to see her despite six years apart. She’s hurt and doesn’t understand the reason for his coldness, and this adds to the tension when they realize that they’re bidding on the same horse.

Dong-joo has been sent by Grandpa to buy this horse for the resort, threatened with being cut off financially if he refuses. The antagonism he feels toward Da-ji has him outbidding her at every turn, and that raises her hackles. In a fit of pique, she outbids him — and it’s only after the auction closes that she does the math and realizes she’s exceeded her budget by more than triple.

She can’t go home empty-handed, and she can’t afford this horse, so she goes to Dong-joo’s room later to plead with him to buy the horse instead, since he wanted it anyway. He’s still feeling upset and has no inclination to make her life easier, and flatly refuses.

It’s here that Da-ji gets her first glimpse of Dong-joo’s new ladyfriend, PARK JIN-YOUNG (Yoo Hana), an interior designer who seems to be quite free and casual with Dong-joo. Just as Dong-joo felt upset to see Da-ji seemingly flirt with another man, Da-ji can’t help feeling a little put out by this, although she hides it and excuses herself.

Giving us a glimpse of the marshmallow heart under Dong-joo’s prickly exterior, however, later he calls his man back at home to look into buying the horse at the inflated price anyway, which would take it off Da-ji’s hands.

That evening, Da-ji sits at a bar and moans about her predicament. She doesn’t immediately notice the guy sitting next to her — Yoon-ho — who looks at her with affectionate amusement. She’s pretty cute, the way she reads the menu and sing-songs to herself, “Why are you so expensive?” and worries that she’s dead for making the mistake.

She assumes that Yoon-ho is a horse dealer — he bought 13 horses — although we know (from the character descriptions) that he’s actually an investor and specialist in resort development.

I’d say that Jin-young is much more into Dong-joo than he is in her; he’s friendly with her, but a little uncomfortable with her free affection.

Hence the flare of jealousy again when he sees Da-ji and Yoon-ho together at the horse stables again, this time because the latter has heard her worries and offers to help her out. If she doesn’t buy the horse she bid on, she’ll have to give up the deposit, and that only leaves her with a relatively small sum with which to buy a different horse.

Yoon-ho accompanies Da-ji to look at other horses, and find one that fits the bill. Dong-joo looks on grimly as Da-ji exults with Yoon-ho, and when he gets word that the original horse is no longer for sale, he drops his pursuit of it. It seems he’d only insisted on buying it when it would have helped Da-ji, and now he doesn’t care. Aw. I can see how the marriage fell apart if their communication was always this stunted, even if they had the best of intentions.

And it’s clear that whatever broke them up, it hasn’t killed their feelings. I wouldn’t say they’re still in love, but that kind of baggage doesn’t go away so easily, and later on he walks by with Jin-young on his arm, just as he sees Da-ji with Yoon-ho again. This time he puts his hand on Jin-young’s shoulder, in a taunt-like gesture, making sure Da-ji sees.

She does, but so does the perceptive Yoon-ho, who in return puts his hand on her shoulder. That’s what we call a strategic backfire, and Dong-joo is not pleased.

It’s only when they’re both back in Jeju that they realize that they’re neighbors — or rather, that Dong-joo is now Da-ji’s evictor. He has bought the ranch, intending to usurp the space to fold into the neighboring DI Resort, but Da-ji supposes that he must have been scammed. There has been interest in selling the ranch, but a week ago, Da-ji and her father had bought the house themselves.

While the secretary checks on the contract details, the erstwhile couple have a terse conversation. At least, it’s terse on his end, and he’s surprised to see her here in Jeju, and a vet no less. One must suppose that she’d had different goals for her life — her father repeatedly says he’s sorry to her — but that they didn’t work out.

Alas, they soon discover that Dong-joo’s purchase is legally valid, meaning that Da-ji is the one who’s been scammed. Furthermore, she’s not the only one — all the other residents have been taken in by scam contracts, and are given one month to get the heck out of there before DI Resort kicks them out and begins its overhaul.

Da-ji vows to find out what really happened, determined not to lose her home like this. The editing of this segment hints at the likelihood that our culprit is none other than the charming, suave developer Yoon-ho, who arrives at DI’s offices for a business meeting with Dong-joo.

During the meeting, Dong-joo casts suspicious glances at Yoon-ho, trying to figure out what happened, wondering at Da-ji’s predicament and finding something fishy about this guy.

But Da-ji remains oblivious, and when she runs into Yoon-ho at the ranch (still believing him to be a horse dealer), she lights up in happy surprise and greets him warmly.

COMMENTS

As I said, there’s nothing that’s really outright bad OR good about this drama so far. On one hand, that means there’s room to hope that it’ll tap into that elusive quality that gets a drama’s claws into your skin — but on the other hand, it could lead you down that maddening path of hanging in there for a long, painful ride as you hope it becomes more than it actually is.

The plot is fairly standard with its dynamics and love rectangle, and I find myself wishing that the one aspect that sets it apart — the youthful romance and divorce — were explored more. I can see where the drama may want to deliberately keep us in the dark as to what happened, so as to make the reunion more suspenseful, but frankly I’d like to see what made these crazy kids fall so madly in love in the first place. We’re told practically in the same breath that they married and divorced, which gives the romance no weight in my mind. I’m not pulling for them to get together because I don’t know that they’re any good together. Not yet. So more hint of the mystery behind their courtship and separation would have helped.

Acting-wise, I’ll say that Lee Yeon-hee is much better here than she has been in the past. She’s got a gorgeous face and the camera loves her, but she’s been the very definition of anemic in her performances (namely, East of Eden). She does overact the cute here, but like Kim Tae-hee, I think she’s much better being bubbly and sweet than quiet or melodramatic, so I’m more willing to go with this characterization than I was with her other roles.

If Joo Sang-wook ends up being the villainous mastermind type, I’d be all for welcoming it, because otherwise he’s just the perfect prince who swoops in to save the day for Da-ji, which is a plot device I’m really tired of. Yoo Hana has barely been onscreen so I’ll hold off on judgment there, although I fear she’ll be relegated to one-dimensional second lead stuff, which would be a shame because she was so adorable in Sons of Sol Pharmacy. I don’t think I’ve ever enjoyed a bratty character as much as I did her Eun-ji, who was sweet and bubbly.

Sorry to say that I find Chang-min to be the weak link here. He’s not as bad or wooden as some other idols in their debuts, but he IS very awkward with the camera, and you can see that in his self-conscious deliveries. The camera captures his discomfort and unease, and that translates into this weird sense of unease about his character. At least for me. He’s not horrible, but he’s not really compelling, either. At best, he seems miscast for the role of a smooth, spoiled chaebol who doesn’t care about work, since he seems more like the earnest dork with communication problems.

But it’s early days yet. I don’t feel the pull to be invested in Paradise Ranch just yet, but who knows? Stranger things have happened.

183

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51 Vendetta

January 26, 2011 at 1:51 AM

Totally agree, "awkward" is the right word. The lead idol boy is pretty and cute but awkward for this drama...hmmm I don't know. I would love to see him in a "uke" role ;D

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52 nelkk

January 26, 2011 at 1:52 AM

aww comeon give it a chance! i know i am going to..i like both the leads so im going to watch it...

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53 polin

January 26, 2011 at 2:01 AM

Thank you!
I watch it...

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54 p3rk3le

January 26, 2011 at 3:22 AM

thanks for your recap~!!!!
Surprisingly i like the first ep more than the second, but things will probably start moving by nect week, so i'm happy ^^

you're right about changmin~ well, other idols have been worse so i dont actually mind his acting so far, but i heard he gets used to it later so i'm guessing his acting will get better in later eps..

anyway, i totally wanna see what happened in their past. i'm pretty sure someone got involved, like you said it must have been a communication problem. thats what i can tell by changmin's character..

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55 wulanastasiaz

January 26, 2011 at 4:23 AM

after reading your recaps i find it bit more interesting.. and decide to give this drama a chance.. well actually that what i did everytime there's a new drama.. recently it tooks me 10 eps of skks, 6 eps of dream high, and u never dissapoint me javabean.. idk what i'm gonna do without u.. thanks

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56 gingeranna

January 26, 2011 at 4:56 AM

I kinda liked the premise, a couple who divorced 6 years ago because they were too young! (or whatever other reasons they have in mind - they might pull out an ex lover or something later). But for now this seems bo~ring!!! Is there really still hope? For Mary I had hope for some episodes... like 10 (I know, way too much) but that's because there were hints of... a better Mary? In another world? Every now and then there was something interesting, or fresh, or both. This seems boring all in the same way :P

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57 sjsmnn

January 26, 2011 at 4:57 AM

main lead guy is so ugly. I wish Joo Sang Wook was the lead.

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58 Ace

January 26, 2011 at 4:59 AM

Huh. I'd rather not say what my first impression of Changmin was in this episode (sorry, not a DBSK fan. Though I'm fond of SME artists, I don't like the way JYJ is being treated right now). My second thought was if SMEnt would cast someone pretty, I would've preferred Heechul in this role.

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59 supah

January 26, 2011 at 5:20 AM

I only checked this out because of the whole y'know 'challenge' of it. Not that I've never watched a bad drama in my life, I've been scarred by plenty, but This? This. Was.Strange. It was like some straaange, sickening nightmare unfolding.
Seiously if any broadcaster was going to pick out any drama from the crapheap - they should've picked Birdy Buddy. UEE and her awesome superbitch persona is one thing but UEE wielding golf clubs is a whooole 'nother level. <3

But yeah, MAX-TIME is a fail, and I feel awful for everyone involved, this must be really, really embarrassing for them. Poor Joo Sang-wook, I'd flee the country if I were him.

@diadda
But hey, if it floats YOUR boat. *does a thumbs up to diadda and jumps off boat, gets rescued by dubu*

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Kristal

January 26, 2011 at 3:53 PM

OOO, if JSW flees the country he can come to America and stay at my house. *holds up large welcome sign with Kristal ♥'s Joo Sang Wook written in fluorescent pink and yellow*

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Janna

January 26, 2011 at 4:37 PM

JSW: Is no place safe for me?! (Uses neckerchief as face mask) I just needed to make rent money! (sobs)

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Kristal

January 27, 2011 at 7:02 AM

It's ok. There's always...Thorn Birds... *hands JSW a tissue and pats his sticky-over gelled-head*

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Janna

January 26, 2011 at 4:48 PM

(Looks off the port bow) Aye, she got away.... (Puts bubble pipe in mouth, stares at majestic ocean view of like... horses and Australia and stuff)

Eric: Hey, who are you and how did you get on the Poseidon?!

Janna: I uhhh...errr....

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diadda

January 26, 2011 at 7:03 PM

MAX TIME Forever! I'll live happily in my fangirling and ignore the ...well everything else.

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60 coffevampire

January 26, 2011 at 5:47 AM

Thank you for the recap. You saved me. I think I'll pass on this on but I'll probably see the ending and see if I don't go through it in one shot. Thank you for sharing.

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61 Dara

January 26, 2011 at 5:50 AM

It's not that bad. The scenery is beautiful, the ost is lovely. After a while, strangely I find his(CM) awkward acting kind of cute. I have a feeling I will love his character later on. We'll see.

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62 PP

January 26, 2011 at 5:56 AM

Lee Yeon-hee's acting is not good. Other girl is prettier!

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asea

January 26, 2011 at 7:22 PM

yea... I like yoo hana and I think she can pull off the cute more than the main girl... She looks cuter with black hair tho :(

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rway

January 27, 2011 at 10:49 PM

i think the main girl is super cute & pretty! her face is very unique and i heard she's natural. yoo hana is very pretty too, but, she's just like another 2nd-lead-woman-pretty. imo tho.

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63 karz

January 26, 2011 at 6:07 AM

thank you for recap! I'm liking it so far ^^
I never watch any of the casts' acting before so I have no expectation. I see some flaws here and there, but there are also some lovable things that makes me giggle :)
I quite like the male lead, his character is cute ^^ (I think he IS a nerd -with all that comics and game consoles). I have a feeling that the 2nd lead is hiding something or has dark past.
.
I'm not an avid drama watcher so my standard seems to be much lower than many people here. Nevertheless, I think I'll continue watching this.

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64 Daniela

January 26, 2011 at 6:12 AM

Surprise! I didn’t think that you would recap this drama. I was bored so I watched the first episode. I had seen the trailer and, as you said, the trailer was bad. But I’m always attracted to this kind of stories (you know, feelings that doesn’t disappear, the boy that at some point has to win the girl again). The first episode was entertaining.

But I just can’t get over the ages of the leads. 27?! It’s hard to believe that he has 22 in the first place. For me, she looks older than he. They are the same age (even in “real life”, I google it) and when they are together it looks…weird. Maybe because they look like me when I’m with my younger brother, so yeah it’s weird.

I’m waiting the subs for episode 2. No rush.

Thank you for the recap!

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65 pofy

January 26, 2011 at 6:29 AM

Thank you for the recap! It good drama!

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66 jomo143

January 26, 2011 at 7:03 AM

Yes, I was 12 when I read my first cowboy Harlequin Romance.
*Sigh* If they wrote this as an homage,/i> or even a self-conscious re-boot of an HR, it could work.

I have never seen Changmin sing, and I am not a fan (yet), but as Dong-joo, the romantic lead? Never never never in a million years would I buy it.

He is too...smooth and glassy. No friction. From his hair to his beautiful face and figure, he betrays disinterest in his leading lady. Best friend, maybe?

Yoon-ho is more compelling as a romantic lead. I'm hoping for some big time confusion-causing pressure from him. I know he eventually will be evil and all that, but, god!, he out frictions DJ by an acre.

And what about that sweet doctor guy who likes her? He is so interested in her estrogen, wink wink nudge nudge. He is also a better choice.

So you say Smoothie gets better? Maybe if they mess up his hair, or get him real dirty. REAL dirty. Maybe they need to change up his feed, a lot less estrogen and a lot more testosterone.

I'm just saying...

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67 Venus

January 26, 2011 at 7:07 AM

Thank JB for recapping the 1st episode...I actually looked in to this drama, caused I need something in between DH and MP..and I found that the 1st episode wasn't that bad at all. I like the premise of young love/get married/divorced/ fates reunites them. I guess I read too many romance novels during my days...:P
But i'll give this drama a try, hey maybe it could surprise us all.
Acting wise it was really ok for me over all, specially the Idol guy, Changmin, he looks more like a 18 yr than 27..lets see if he in proves, the mail lead girl is ok also, I was blown away either.....
Well I'll keep tunning in that for sure!!!!...... :D

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68 shoothoothoot

January 26, 2011 at 7:11 AM

No offense. He's like a keiy. lol

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69 makdoongie

January 26, 2011 at 7:29 AM

i have a feeling this whole delaying of setting an air date is just a strategic marketing scheme . right around the time the drama was supposed to air, JYJ left SM and put TVXQ into a funk,, and now as they got back on their feet and started to increase their fanbase again, they air it

i think im gonna watch this. its not the most well written or well executed drama and may lack in a wow factor, but the cliched love rectangle brings me back to the days when i first started watching (bad) kdramas and was so addicted to them back then.

personally i like the whole divorced-reunited touch, since it allows us to avoid a whole awkward sequence of first meets between the two leads, which are usually my least favorite part of first episodes.

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70 Janet

January 26, 2011 at 7:53 AM

Changmin's secretary is the 2nd president of the action school (not Jong-Soo) - the one that usually helps Binnie (Mr make-a-lot-of-money) get together with Ra-im, right?

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jomo143

January 26, 2011 at 8:33 AM

It doesn't list him in Wiki as the same.

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queencircles

January 27, 2011 at 10:40 PM

No, but he's one of the sunbae judo guys from Dr. Champ though if you watched that. I think the 2nd president from the action school was wayy cuter than this guy. Aw I miss him. He's going to be in that Come, closer movie so I'm excited for that.

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71 Anjo

January 26, 2011 at 8:46 AM

I couldn't finish the first 20 minutes of this series... I love my Dongbang boys... but this is definately a miscast... Changmin the awkward boy playing a lazy spoiled brat? That's.... no...

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dreams

January 27, 2011 at 12:24 PM

see, i didn't think Dong Joo was suppose to be an arrogant, spoiled brat. he actually is the awkward boy. even in the drama, in the beginning it said something about how DongJoo followed Da-ji around for years (if my korean serves me correctly). Dong Joo may appear like the arrogant spoiled rich boy but I think, inside, the character is suppose to be really kind hearted and kinda awkward...
kinda like Changmin in real life, who can throw snark around like nobody's bizness but he really seems very awkward and sweet irl.

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72 SujuSarang4Eveer

January 26, 2011 at 9:05 AM

Its alright now.. but I think it will become better as the show progresses...
I also felt a little awkward looking at Changmin act.. but I think it will be come better soon :)
I understand you Javabeans, about the whole wanting to have an evil second male lead... but I like the sweet Yoon Ho... he is so perfect and I think he should just go around wearing his cowboy outfit all day... he looks adorable in it :)

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73 girlatsea

January 26, 2011 at 11:16 AM

It just seems so uninteresting to me. And I keep hearing the same responses from people.

And I honestly do not have the time to watch another drama.

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74 ed

January 26, 2011 at 12:39 PM

I dont know why this page gives bad comments about YH everytime she is in a drama or Movie,,, for me the drama is doing good and the rating no bad,,, what about other dramas that started even worst and now they in 1st in rating.... so i dont care if this page keeps looking for bad things just to give dumb comments Paradise Ranch will do good.

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75 Celest

January 26, 2011 at 12:58 PM

I think that this show does have some potential plot-wise. The whole married early and then divorced theme seems like a somewhat fresh idea. They could totally explore different fields of emotions with that. But what I'm failing to get out of this drama is chemistry. Changmin looks cute and all but to me he seems a little too stiff at times.

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76 hmmmmm..

January 26, 2011 at 1:16 PM

Lee Yeon Hee, the camera really loves her. BUT why is her hair like that? however, her pretty face just blurred out her hair. and she's cute! i too think she's much suitable in happy character. just like she was in Hello Schoolgirl movie.

but Changmin.. let give him a chance since he's been a good boy. and for being so cute ;)

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77 mycorrhizoid

January 26, 2011 at 2:20 PM

Changmin was born in 1988.
He is currently a month shy of 23.
This drama was filmed in 2009, while he was still 21.
And they expect us to believe he's 27 kr/26 int'l? No way. He could still pass for a high school student. Couldn't we rewind and switch Changmin for KHJ? Because Baek Seung Jo in real life = Changmin.

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78 jul's

January 26, 2011 at 2:48 PM

Thanks for the song "you're my heart" !! i was searching like crazy this cover version!! I'm so happyyyyyyyy!!!!!! TTTTTHHHAAAANNNNKKKKKKSSSS!!!

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79 more

January 26, 2011 at 2:50 PM

Sorry but this show looks corny will not be watching

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less

January 27, 2011 at 10:54 PM

no need to be sorry. dont watch. we dont need ur opinion here. and, dont spamming.

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80 Carinne

January 26, 2011 at 3:42 PM

I'll give the first and second lead actors to y'all 'cos I'd rather have Yoon-ho's assistant, now that guy is HOT. I'd like to get to know him better.

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81 sujulove

January 26, 2011 at 4:18 PM

i liked it!!! It's way better than dream high...

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pofy

January 26, 2011 at 9:10 PM

For me it’s drama better than dream high too!

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A

January 29, 2011 at 2:39 PM

agreed!
I like dream high's premise and all, but somehow the show doesn't seem to have much dramatic tension imo.. it's like the misfits vs. the chosen ones and their battles are sort of lacking for me.

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82 Janna

January 26, 2011 at 4:35 PM

Max-time watchers unite!

Yeah I felt like Lee Yeon Hee was conjuring up her inner Nodame in this show. The Nodame that apparently likes horses and not pianos.

Max is lucky he started in this type of role. I kind of wondered how he said more English lines than Mr.America himself, aka Joo Sang Wook. He got away apparently speaking English in the background of the one scene. Or so they have you believe. Good job on that writers.

If you're hating hard on this show, just replay that clip where Max gets hit in the head. Nice catch indeed m'boy. Nice catch indeed.

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83 Eggie

January 26, 2011 at 4:54 PM

Haha, strange that you say it, because for me, Changmin actually did a pretty good job here. Apart from this odd scene when they were supposed to be teenagers or sth, he was pretty natural in my opinion.

He does seem young though. But I'm hoping it will eventually "invisible" like in the case of LSG i Shining inheritance.

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84 juicyy

January 26, 2011 at 8:24 PM

I'm already enjoying the first two episodes...the pace of the drama is not to fast nor too slow ...hopefully we find out more about why they divorced...and why Changmin's character seems to still be bitter after 6 years...but i do like that yeonhee's character is always so cheerful...i think that changmin's character is going to give her some hard times in the next episodes to come...definitely looking forward to the next episodes to come.

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85 momo

January 26, 2011 at 8:36 PM

I like this drama though. The main girl is cute and pretty, and seems like her role suits her. The main guy I don't like but I do like the second guy totally hot!

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86 Angskeet

January 26, 2011 at 8:37 PM

What the hell...when did this air? how can i miss it! darn it but it's okay cause it's never too late..it's only episode one

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87 jaejoongwangja

January 26, 2011 at 9:31 PM

i like it!

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88 milk tea

January 26, 2011 at 9:55 PM

I first watched Yoo Hana in the Taiwanese drama, My Lucky Star. Although she was dubbed you can hear her speaking Mandarin quite excellently in the off scenes. ^^;;. I love Changmin but I'll read the drama recaps to see if this drama is any good.

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89 BJ

January 26, 2011 at 9:58 PM

Thanks for the recap! I still haven't made up my mind as to watch PR or not.. not really a fan of Max and the plot looks pretty cliche. Hmph... maybe when i have time i will give it a try!

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90 SECRET GARDEN

January 26, 2011 at 10:44 PM

so far, so good. im starting to like this drama. im not a big fan of tvzq, i dont hate them but changmin doesnt seem right for the role :| Like cmon, his ment to be a 27/28 year old and his so immature still. Maybe having a small role yes but not a main character

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91 Kara

January 27, 2011 at 1:57 AM

The drama is pretty fun. Lee Yeon Hee is adorable in my opinion, and Joo Sang Wook is hot... But Changmin is ehhh, like u said, he's very very awkward and... idk but his lips are really weird... O__O hope he will improve.

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92 billydbeagle

January 27, 2011 at 3:53 AM

joo sang wook is way too old for this drama.

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93 anonymous

January 27, 2011 at 2:12 PM

ohmygod! WHAT THE... YOO HANA!?!
LOLLLL. I skimmed through the first episode (really quickly...) and totally did not see her.. LOLL.
NICEEEE.

I guess the beginning didn't catch my interest much either, but I'll still watch further ^^

Thanks for the recap!

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94 queencircles

January 27, 2011 at 6:24 PM

I hope she keeps doing recaps for this! I just love reading jb/gf recaps after I watch a episode of a drama. They are so funny! They make it more fun to watch any drama!!

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95 badmamajama

January 28, 2011 at 5:30 AM

oh god i really can't see myself watching a show about a ranch in korea . not that there's anything wrong with it i've gotten into stranger plots that this but really show ? really ?

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96 Heather

January 28, 2011 at 7:32 AM

Congratulation! Joo Sang wook for you Asia Star Model Award. You look so great and handsome!I am watching this drama because of you!Great success in your career and I hope I will see you in person . JSW Fighting!
love you forever!!

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97 eunyoung

January 28, 2011 at 7:13 PM

javabeans, are you going to keep recapping this drama? because i would really like to know what they are actually saying(lol) well anyways thanks a whole lot!

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98 sosoxrah

January 28, 2011 at 9:09 PM

I've watched the first two episodes, and I'm enjoying it for the fact that it takes place in Jeju-do, thus creating a fairly isolated setting that's away from all the busi-ness of Seoul. Right now, I'm in the mood in which I just want to watch something that's light and different from all the standard k-drama settings. The plot devices may be similar to many dramas we've seen, but I'll continue to watch it since I'm curious to see how their young marriage ended. As for the hurried presentation of the marriage and divorce, I felt that it was okay that they didn't go so much into depth with the two characters' emotions for each other. They were young, naive, and they just couldn't keep it together. I'm looking forward to finding out what kinds of characters they are in later episodes.
Chang-min is alright as an actor, but thankfully he's not horrible or else I would've stopped at ep1. And I want to see how Joo Sang-wook's character plays out in the later episodes. Hope the drama doesn't go downhill from here, although it won't be much a loss if it does.

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99 cassie

January 28, 2011 at 9:10 PM

OMO!! Lee Yoon Hee... I've been waiting for her next project since East of Eden. Eventhough i don't feel good about Max Changmin as her sparring, i'll keep watching for Lee Yoon Hee and Joo Sang Wook.