#Kim Min-ki

[passionforfiction]

Under the Queen's Umbrella

This is a beautiful series. I smiled, laughed and cried. This is the story of a mother who loves her children and will fight to the teeth to protect them. As a mother myself, I could understand her feelings and her actions. Queen Im Hwa Ryeong is an intelligent woman, street smart, and she has learned to play the politics game to protect her five sons. He eldest, the Crown Prince and his own wife, little boy and his youngest on the way are her pride and joy. He is the model child everyone would want to have. She worries about his health.

When the king decides to look for a substitute for the Crown Prince's assistant, the Queen will have to prepare her other four carefree sons so they can show they are just as worthy as their other half-brothers. But as she tries to do so without alarming them, she runs around inside and outside the palace looking for them.

Her second son, Grand Prince Seong Nam, was taken away from her when he was born. She was able to bring him home after years of living outside like a commoner. He feels like an outsider inside the palace and likes to train outside, but he loves his brothers, and cherishes his relationship with his older brother.

Grand Prince Muan is a young man in love with a woman of low birth. His mother is constantly getting him out of her home and bring him back to the palace.

Grand Prince Kye Seong is a quiet young man who brings peace to his mother but carries a secret that could kill him.

Grand Prince Il Young is in his early teens and too young to care about politics.

As the political intrigues unravel, we see her relationship with her sons strengthen. This a woman who will protect, not only her children, but the king's other sons. . . She is strong and flexible, accepting and a problem solver.

I liked her relationship with her sons. How she interacts with each and gives them the support they need while also giving them wings. I also like her relationship with the King. Out of all his wives, the audience can see a special bond between them. He values her opinion and respects her. She respects him, although there are things she will always keep away from him in order to protect her sons. She is indeed her son's secret keeper and their support.

I really love what the title symbolizes. The umbrella she puts over her boys' heads when it rains and what it all means.

I truly love this story!

[k-star-holic]

⁇ 180kg ⁇ Satire, Mirage Weight Disclosure (Disguised Employment)

[junkobato]

Upcoming Kdrama November 2024 💙

4/11: Brewing Love with Kim Se Jong, Lee Jong Won, Baek Sung Chul. 12 episodes; rom-com.

6/11: Face Me with Lee Min Ki, Han Ji Hyun, Lee Yi Kyung. 12 episodes; medical, crime.

6/11: Gangnam B-Side with Ji Chang Wook, Ha Yoon Kyung, Bibi. 8 episodes; action, thriller, mystery.

8/11: Mr. Plankton with Woo Do Hwan, Lee You Mi, Oh Jung Se. 8 episodes; rom-com.

8/11: the Fiery Priest 2 with Kim Nam Gil, Lee Ha Nee, Kim Sung Kyun. 12 episodes; crime, action, comedy.

9/11: Marry You with Lee Yi Kyung, Jo Soo Min. 12 episodes; romance.

18/11: Parole Examiner Lee with Go Soo, Kwon Yuri, Lee Hak Joo. 12 episodes; law, drama.

22/11: When the Phone Rings with Yoo Yeon Suk, Chae Soo Bin. 12 episodes; thriller, mystery, romance.

23/11: Love Your Enemy with Joo Ji Hoon, Jung Yumi, Kim Ye Won. 12 episodes; rom-com.

30/11: the Tale of Lady Ok with Im Ji Yeon, Choo Young Woo, Kim Jae Won. 16 episodes; historical, romance.

Say goodbye to your social life (who has one anyway?!)

[bioskoop]

[tarzinnia]

The fight for justice starts with a little invitation...

...because evil is prevalent and vehement.

Here's a reminder that Season 2 of The Fiery Priest is scheduled to air on Friday, November 8, 2024 in South Korea. The Fiery Priest is the second of Park Jae-Beom's "Justice Trilogy" as it's frequently called (Chief Kim aka Good Manager ; The Fiery Priest; Vincenzo in order of release) and I would love an invitation into screenwriter Park's brain because his creations are so very very good.

On this blog, I frequently talk about movies but dramas, specifically "kdramas," are another delight and from script to director(s) to casting to cinematography and soundtrack, this trilogy holds a special place for me. I think I could write a novel on the themes and scenes in Vincenzo alone. When not only the titular character but the entire cast keeps you watching, you know it's the good stuff. So happy all three shows were twenty episodes and didn't follow the more current trend of shortening the season. The slow character development enabled the viewer to discover individual stories without muddying up the plot too much.

I'm looking forward to watching as soon as Season 2 of The Fiery Priest is available for me to view, and if you haven't seen any of the above shows, I recommend them!

*Pictured above: Kim Nam-Gil as Father Kim (top) and Song Joong-Ki as Vincenzo. Two unconventional "heroes" fighting the good fight.

[stuff-diary]

The Frog

TV Shows/Dramas watched in 2024

The Frog (2024, South Korea)

Director: Mo Wan Il

Writer: Son Ho Young

Mini-review:

Wow, I didn't think I would enjoy The Frog so much. I guess I was in the mood for a dark, propulsive thriller. I've seen some people say it's 'slow', but like... where? This kept me glued to the screen from the very first episode, and it got more and more intense throughout the next ones. It even ventures into psychological horror territory from time to time, which made it even more fun to me. The writing isn't perfect (some of the characters aren't as well developed as they should), but the directing and the acting more than make up for it. Go Min Si turns in a particularly strong performance, and it's clear she gave it her all. I'm not gonna say this is the best thriller k-drama I've seen, but it was definitely enjoyable as hell.

[nurabiaylmaz]

Team Alpha 🕶

[gozdziak]

Watching several dramas and enjoying them all….

[trendingdrama]

You need to have something that I do not have for a deal to be made.Do you think there is anything I do not have? Because you can't buy this with money.

BONUS : 

[sloane-kdramas]

Our girl Sa Ra getting the divorce over in the first episode so she has plenty of time to kick ass, serve justice and fall in love 💕

[lil-black-kitty]

I have this weird feeling that detective moon will fall in love with ye bun eventually. But at the end ye bun is going to end up with seon woo🥲🥲 and I'm not ready for this

[strangepoetrynut]

My Liberation Notes

[justmescreamingboutbooks]

I just finished watching “My Liberation Notes”. It has to be one of the best K-dramas I have ever watched. There is so much intimacy, not bodily but emotionally. The character development was immaculate. This is one of those rare series that leaves their effect on you without even knowing. I loved it. No relationship is perfect. No one is perfect in this series and it is so refreshing to watch something so realistic.

It revolves around the life of three siblings and their day-to-day life and how it has exhausted them. All three of them had an impressive growth.

It is a slow burn but so worth it. It is available on Netflix. Do give it a watch. If you expect too much sexual intimacy, then it is not for you (literally, there is only one kiss scene so don't expect something more). For someone who wants to watch something that will make you think, this is worth it.

[junkobato]

Upcoming Kdrama May 2024 💚

1/5: Frankly Speaking with Go Kyung Pyo, Kang Han Na. 12 episodes; rom-com.

4/5: the Atypical Family with Chun Woo Hee, Jang Ki Yong. 12 episodes, fantasy, romance, action.

11/5: the Midnight Romance with Jung Ryeo Won, Wi Ha Joon, So Joo Yun. 16 episodes; romance.

13/5: Crash with Lee Min Ki, Kwak Sun Young, Heo Sung Tae. 12 episodes; thriller, mystery, comedy.

13/5: Dare to Love Me with Kim Myung Soo, Lee Yoo Young. 16 episodes; rom-com.

15/5: Uncle Samsik with Song Kang Ho, Byun Yo Han, Lee Kyu Hyung. 16 episodes; business drama.

17/5: the 8 Show with Ryu Joon Yul, Chun Woo Hee, Park Jong Min. 8 episodes; thriller, psychological.

22/5: Not Very Strong, but Attractive Homicide Squad with Park Se Wan, Kim Dong Wook. 12 episodes; mystery, comedy.

24/5: Bitter Sweet Hell with Kim Hee Sun, Lee Hye Young, Kim Nam Hee. 12 episodes; thriller, mystery, comedy.

24/5: Connection with Ji Sung, Jeon Mi Do, Kwon Yul. 16 episodes; thriller, mystery.

Many new dramas! And so little time...

[bioskoop]

[namjhyun]

DRAMA REVIEW | Light Shop (2024)

I don’t use the word “masterpiece” easily because it’s no easy to create a film or tv show that’s literally perfect but that’s the only way to describe Disney+ kdrama Light Shop.

Actor turned director Kim Hee Won makes a perfect directorial debut with this very human and heartfelt Korean gothic ghost love story.

Light Shop is a masterfully crafted production, every detail full of significance and important to understand the story as it progresses. No character is unimportant, all playing a key role in the lives of each other; and the performances of each actor nuance. Never giving away too much but managing to connect with the audience at the same time.

The technical aspects, such as cinematography, lighting and special effects, are simply some of the best you will ever find in a Korean drama.

This is the kind of kdrama you want to watch without knowing anything beforehand, but you should know the first four episodes are key for the world building and then, it twist and turns in order to take you on one of the most beautifully made rides.

Perfect.