Author: jeana84

Marry My Husband – Korean vs Japanese – Episode 4

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This is a one to one comparison, each article will contain spoilers, especially when we get to the later episodes. Let’s begin with an introduction to each series. Click here for episode three.

Synopsis (from MyDramaList): Kang Ji Won’s marriage to Park Min Hwan is strained due to his selfishness, unemployment, and a domineering mother. Ji Won is the family’s sole breadwinner and does all the household chores. When she is diagnosed with terminal cancer, her world shatters further as she discovers her husband’s affair with her close friend, Jung Soo Min. A confrontation leads to her tragic death at Min Hwan’s hands. However, Ji Won wakes up 10 years in the past, before she married Min Hwan. Determined to change her fate, she plots to make Soo Min marry him instead. Meanwhile, Yoo Ji Hyeok, her colleague, secretly harbors feelings for Ji Won and conceals a hidden truth.

Release Year: 2024

Watch on: Amazon Prime

Characters:

Kang Ji Won – Main Protaganist

Park Min Hwan – Ji Won’s Husband/Boyfriend

Jung Soo Min – Ji Won’s Best Friend

Yoo Ji Hyuk – Ji Won’s Boss

Yoo Hui Yeon – Ji Won’s junior coworker and friend

Baek Eun Ho – Ji Won’s High School classmate/first love

Yang Ju Ran – Ji Won’s senior coworker

Kim Geyong Uk – Ji Won’s direct supervisor

Number of episodes: 16

Synopsis (from MyDramaList): The protagonist Kanbe Misa, who has always lived a life of a “supporting character” because she is too kind and always puts others first, believes in her best friend and husband and continues to do her best, but she loses her life due to their betrayal. However, she suddenly realizes that she has traveled back in time to 10 years ago. Misa plans revenge to ruin her former best friend and husband, but her encounter with Suzuki Wataru, a department manager with whom she had no connection in her first life, brings about a new change in Misa’s heart as she seeks revenge…

Characters:

Kanbe Misa – Main Protagonist

Hirano Tomoya – Misa’s Husband/Boyfriend

Esaka Reina – Misa’s Best Friend

Suzuki Wataru – Misa’s Boss

Sizuki Miku – Misa’s coworker and friend

Number of Episodes: 10

Marry My Husband Korean Episode 4

Eun Ho yells out that he had a crush on Ji Won. While the two stand uncomfortably, Ji Hyuk calls Ji Won and asks her to meet him for a work thing. Eun Ho asks for her phone number and she gives it to him.

At the hotel venue, a showcase is happening for something called NURTV, which Ji Won knows will be really popular in 10 years. She is introduced to a man, Mr. Wang, which will be a controversial figure, a misogynist known for treating employees badly.

Back at the reunion, Su Min is questioned by the bullies. She tries to dismiss it all then gets upset and storms off to the bathroom. She tries to call Ji Won but there’s no answer. When she comes out of the bathroom, everyone has left.

Back at the hotel, Mr. Wang complains the website being show cased is full of indecent content. Ji Won tries to explain how the algorithm works, saying a provocative show was on the first time she accessed the site, and that after awhile it will show you content you are interested in. Mr. Wang tells her she’s only there to smile like a pretty flower and to keep her mouth shut. Ji Hyuk steps in, defending and praising her.

Ji Hyuk insists on giving her a ride and teases her about the show she supposedly watched. Su Min calls, she doesn’t answer. Eun Ho sends her a text. Min Huan tries to call but she doesn’t answer that either. They pass Min Huan walking down the road and Ji Won pushes her seat back so he doesn’t see her. They then see Su Min waiting outside and Ji Won ducks back again.

Min Huan and Su Min meet, she starts crying. They try to go into Ji Won’s apartment but the code has been changed.

By the water, Ji Hyuk gives Ji Won a hot drink. She explains that she doesn’t want to talk about her personal life. He asks what she wants to do in life. She mentions she wants to learn self defense and he offers to teach her, but she laughs, thinking he’s not the athletic type. When he takes his glasses off for a moment, she asks if he’s ever thought about wearing contacts.

At a restaurant, Min Huan and Su Min drink and talk about how Ji Won has changed.

Ji Hyuk drops Ji Won off at her home. They have an awkward conversation where he tries to warn her about getting married. In her apartment, Ji Won finds an interior design proposal Hui Yeon left for her, along with a post it note recommending Ji Won move in order to carry out the proposal, which Ji Won thinks is a good idea.

Su Min tries calling her again. When Ji Won doesn’t answer, she tries from Min Huan’s phone. Eun Ho calls. Flashback to high school. Eun Ho berates her and says he never wants to speak to her again. Su Min says she told him Ji Won had feels for him. In the present, Eun Ho explains he said that because she rejected him. Ji Won is confused and he tells her about a letter she wrote him. Ji Won asks to meet and for him to bring the letter.

The next day at the office, everyone is surprised to see Ji Won’s new look, especially Min Huan. Ji Hyuk arrives, stares at Min Huan fawning over Ji Won and knocks a bunch of stuff over and then runs into an employee. He tells Ji Won her outfit in inappropriate for work. Hui Yeon says it is and asks why he’s criticizing her. He tries to play it off as being about seeing her without her glasses. She reminds him he saw her yesterday and points out he is also wearing contacts. Everyone starts complimenting him and gets flustered and walks away.

Outside, other coworkers start congratulating Min Huan on how pretty Ji Won is and warn him someone else might make a move. He suddenly looks concerned.

Min Huan buys Ji Won coffee and asks her about meeting Ji Hyuk as he thinks Ji Hyuk likes her. When Min Huan tries to kiss her, she knocks coffee into his lap.

Ji Won and Su Min have a conversation. Ji Won says she won’t just let things go anymore and that she’s going to meet Eun Ho to clear things up. She also mentions that Min Huan’s stocks are doing really well.

At the end of the day, Ji Hyuk pulls Ji Won aside and asks again about her outfit. He says he wore contacts because of what she said. She explains that dressing up makes her feel good and everyone has been treating her differently because of it. She compliments his smile again and suggesst he update his style as well.

After a client meeting, Ji Won sees Hui Yeon very excitedly leaving a store. As she’s about to call out, Ji Hyuk appears and tries to quiet Hui Yeon down. They look very friendly.

Ji Won remembers there as a scandal involving them that resulted in Hui Yeon being transferred. She thinks she keeps bumping into Ji Hyuk because she’s now friends with Hui Yeon.

At Ji Hyuk’s Grandfathers house, Hui Yeon excitedly goes on about their shopping trip. Ji Hyuk looks exasperated.

Ji Hyuk calls his friend and they have a judo match. He decides Judo is best to teach a woman self defense. He has a shower and we see a small heart under his collar bone. The same kind of heart Ji Won’s father used to drawn on her allowance money.

He prepares a drink and talks to his cat, revealing that he is also living his second life.

Flashback to 2023, at Ji Won’s funeral, Min Huan and Su Min are arrested for murder. The high school bullies are at the funeral and Eun Ho arrives. He confirms that he never dated Su Min. Ji Hyuk gets in a car accident after he swerves to avoid a cat. He wakes up in 2013 and the heart appears on his chest.

Marry My Husband Japan Episode 4

After making it appear that she kissed Wataru, Reina rides back with the others and invites herself over to Misa’s. There, Misa makes Wataru out to sound like a womanizer to deter Reina from chasing after him.

At work, Misa does her best to avoid Wataru and Miku complains about Tomoya during lunch. At the end of the day, Misa avoids Reina and then Wataru and Misa go for a meal. She explains to him that she was trying to prevent him from becoming a target again. He makes it absolutely clear that he did not kiss Reina. Misa tells him they need to stop meeting each other alone and leaves.

Putting a new plan into motion, Misa invites Reina out, but Tomoya arrives as well. Misa does her best to make her and Tomoya look like a happy loving couple while Reina tags along, seething with jealousy. Later in the evening, at a bar, while Misa is in the bathroom, Reina makes a bit of a pass at Tomoya.

Later, Reina and Tomoya meet up while Misa is working late. She tells him how Misa’s mother left her husband for another man, implying the “apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”

At the office, Misa is preparing to leave when Wataru asks her if she’s going to make the same mistake again. She tells him it’s none of his business and leaves. Tomoya sees them holding hands. Outside the building, Tomoya is waiting for Misa. They walk together and he confronts her about seeing other men. When she tries to walk away, he slaps her. Back at her apartment she starts getting stomach pains like she did before.

The next day, Tomoya apologizes to her, showing her an apartment that he reserved for them. Misa finally breaks up with him, takes the contract for the apartment and intends to cancel it. She goes to the apartment to meet the real estate agent but while she’s there she has a panic attack with flashbacks to her death. Just before she falls over the edge like the first time, Wataru grabs her and pulls her back. He promises “not to let her die again.”

A flashback to the original timeline shows Wataru seeing Misa die.

Episode Comparison

These episodes are pretty different. Thus far, Su Min has shown no interest in Ji Hyuk, focusing more of her attention on Min Huan still, while Reina has tried wholeheartedly to start something with Wataru.

The reunion gets much more attention in the Korea version, going more in depth with what happened to Ji Won in the past, and the consequences of Su Min’s lies in the present. It also appears that Ji Won and Eun Ho will clear things about about the past, unlike Misa and Tanbe, who simply seemed to forgive the past and move on as friends.

Some of the characters also have pretty significant personality differences as well. For instance, Hui Yeon is very outgoing, bubbly kind of person who loves to eat and has no problem with people knowing that. She is kind and genuine, but also willing to stand up for her friends. Miku, on the other hand, is not nearly so bubbly. She’s still a good friend to Misa, but she doesn’t stand out as much as Hui Yeon does.

Ji Hyuk and Wataru are also quite different. Wataru always feels very serious and rarely ever smiles. He shows up when Misa needs him, which is fine. Ji Hyuk on the other hand, has more cute and genuine moments with Ji Won. He does his best to get her out of tough situations without her knowing he’s behind it. He also smiles a lot more, which Ji Won compliments. Although he is also quite serious, he seems more shy than mean. Wataru just comes across as so socially awkward that I can’t really get past it. I find it difficult that Misa would fall for a guy like him. Although Ji Won and Ji Hyuk have some awkward conversations, their interactions feel more natural and their growing feelings make sense.

We’ll see how things progress from here. Maybe Wataru will get better in the coming episodes.

Stay tuned for episode 5!

Marry My Husband – Korean Vs Japanese Episode 3

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This is a series of articles comparing and analyzing the drama My Marry Husband Korean and Japanese version. As this will be a one to one comparison, each article will contain spoilers, especially when we get to the later episodes. Let’s begin with an introduction to each series.

Click here for episode two.

Synopsis (from MyDramaList): Kang Ji Won’s marriage to Park Min Hwan is strained due to his selfishness, unemployment, and a domineering mother. Ji Won is the family’s sole breadwinner and does all the household chores. When she is diagnosed with terminal cancer, her world shatters further as she discovers her husband’s affair with her close friend, Jung Soo Min. A confrontation leads to her tragic death at Min Hwan’s hands. However, Ji Won wakes up 10 years in the past, before she married Min Hwan. Determined to change her fate, she plots to make Soo Min marry him instead. Meanwhile, Yoo Ji Hyeok, her colleague, secretly harbors feelings for Ji Won and conceals a hidden truth.

Release Year: 2024

Where to Watch: Amazon Prime

Characters:

Kang Ji Won – Main Protaganist

Park Min Hwan – Ji Won’s Husband/Boyfriend

Jung Soo Min – Ji Won’s Best Friend

Yoo Ji Hyuk – Ji Won’s Boss

Yoo Hui Yeon – Ji Won’s coworker and friend

Yang Ju Ran – Ji Won’s senior coworker

Kim Gyeong Uk – Ji Won’s direct supervisor

Beak Eun Ho – Ji Won’s High School classmate/ first love

Number of episodes: 16

Synopsis (from MyDramaList): The protagonist Kanbe Misa, who has always lived a life of a “supporting character” because she is too kind and always puts others first, believes in her best friend and husband and continues to do her best, but she loses her life due to their betrayal. However, she suddenly realizes that she has traveled back in time to 10 years ago. Misa plans revenge to ruin her former best friend and husband, but her encounter with Suzuki Wataru, a department manager with whom she had no connection in her first life, brings about a new change in Misa’s heart as she seeks revenge…

Characters:

Kanbe Misa – Main Protagonist

Hirano Tomoya – Misa’s Husband/Boyfriend

Esaka Reina – Misa’s Best Friend

Suzuki Wataru – Misa’s Boss

Sizuki Miku – Misa’s coworker and friend

Number of Episodes: 10

Marry My Husband Korean Episode 3

Episode 3 begins where episode 2 left off. Min Hwan is naked in Ji Won’s apartment. Suddenly, the door bell rings and a delivery driver is at the door. While arguing that they didn’t order anything, Ji Won pushes Min Hwan out the door and locks it behind him. Outside, we see that Ji Hyuk sent the driver on purpose.

Su Min arrives at the reunion first, catching up with friends and telling them to be nice to Ji Won, who shows up looking completely different.

Returning to Saturday, Ji Won goes shopping with Hui Yeon. Flashback to 2011 where Su Min has bought them matching hats. She gets upset when Ji Won says she doesn’t have any of Su Min’s favorite candy. Min Hwan shows up with some of the candy. Ji won is then made to carry all their stuff while they walk around.

Back in the present, Hui Yeon replays Ji Won’s kindness by getting her a makeover and helping her pick out all new clothes. Later that night, Su Min calls and asks for Ji Won’s proposal. She refuses and tells Su Min to stop treating her casually at work.

Back at the reunion, everyone is surprised to see Ji Won, especially Su Min. The bathroom scene happens again but this time Ji Won is prepared and confronts the bullies instead, wanting to know why they bullied her. She proves that Min Hwan is her boyfriend by calling him on speaker phone. She also gives them her business card to show that she is an assistant manager at her job, not a temp worker like Su Min told them.

A confrontation happens in the main area, where one of the bullies accuses Ji Won of forcing Su Min to dump her boyfriend, Eun Ho. Su Min tries to lie her way out of the situation when Eun ho shows up and confirms that he never dated Su Min. Flustered, Ji Won leaves and Eun ho follows her. When he catches up to her he hollers out that he had a crush on her.

Marry My Husband Japan Episode 3

Episode 3 begins with the ending scene of episode 2, where Reina “accidentally” trips down the stairs and lands in Wataru’s arms. She goes to the hospital for a sprained ankle, coming to work late. Misa gets a call from Tanabe, her high school crush, inviting her to his cafe. She goes there for lunch and the two of them chat briefly before Reina shows up. Reina apologizes for what she did in High School, bowing her head and asking for forgiveness. Misa appears to forgive her, but she knows what Reina is truly like.

On their way back to the office, Reina tells Misa that she broke up with her boyfriend, but that she has her sights on someone new. Misa is confused because in the original timeline, Reina didn’t break up with her boyfriend until later. As they approach the office, Reina clearly has eyes for Wataru. In the elevator, Reina speaks to Wataru, thanking him for his help earlier. Meanwhile, Tomoya tries to hold Misa’s hand but she slaps him away.

Flashback to how a proposal was rejected over and over by their supervisor. Misa and a coworker, Sumiyoshi, worked overtime for weeks, revising the proposal over and over. Because of this, Sumiyoshi’s daughter was injured while waiting for her mother to pick her up. In the end, the supervisor approved the original proposal after Misa accidentally sent the first draft. The project was taken from them however, and given to Reina instead.

Back in the present, Misa tells Sumiyoshi that the supervisor doesn’t read the proposals and proves it to him by making slight changes until he finally says it’s good. Knowing the proposal will be taken from her, she goes to Wataru to get his help. While looking for him, she over hears a conversation between him and Miku that makes it sounds like the two of them are dating. Misa and Wataru go to a restaurant together where he looks over her proposal. While there, a message from Reina pops up on his laptop.

Tomoya shows up at Misa’s apartment unexpectedly. He has her spare key so he let himself in. They go shopping together as Misa wants to make him look like someone Reina would want to steal. Later, Tomoya gets upset when Misa tells him she has plans that don’t involve him.

The next day, they all go to an orchard together to do research for their work project. Miku and Wataru arrive together, which Misa sees, further making her believe they are dating. After they pick grapes, they all have dinner together and during a toast, Reina reveals that Tomoya and Misa are engaged. A bit later, Misa is washing some grapes when Wataru approaches her. He tries to help her but she refuses, then goes off on a rant about him being a skirt chaser. He reveals that Miku is his younger sister.

They eat grapes together and Reina sees. When everyone is getting ready to leave, Reina asks to ride with Wataru. During the ride, she says things about Misa and Wataru calls her out on it. Angry, she gets out of the car. Seeing everyone else watching, she marches back to Wataru and grabs his face, making it look like they were kissing.

Episode Comparison

The Japanese version is starting to move ahead of the Korean quite a bit. At this point, Misa has already had her makeover and attended the reunion. Her work project is moving forward and so are her plans to get Reina and Tomoya together.

Meanwhile, Ji Won is just getting her makeover and new clothes. The reunion lasts much longer and with far more detail in the Korean version. I feel like the Japanese version glossed over a lot there. Ji Won definitely got more closure here than Misa did. Reina doesn’t give Misa any kind of gift before the reunion, unlike Su Min who purposefully gave Ji Won a pair of fake earrings to humiliate her. Su Min’s vindictiveness is definitely on display here, but she hides it much better with sweetness and a smile.

Stay tuned for episode 4.

Marry My Husband Korean vs Japanese Episode 2

/ jeana84 / 2 Comments

This will be a series of articles comparing and analyzing the drama My Marry Husband Korean and Japanese version. As this will be a one to one comparison, each article will contain spoilers, especially when we get to the later episodes. Let’s begin with an introduction to each series. Click here for episode one.

Synopsis (from MyDramaList): Kang Ji Won’s marriage to Park Min Hwan is strained due to his selfishness, unemployment, and a domineering mother. Ji Won is the family’s sole breadwinner and does all the household chores. When she is diagnosed with terminal cancer, her world shatters further as she discovers her husband’s affair with her close friend, Jung Soo Min. A confrontation leads to her tragic death at Min Hwan’s hands. However, Ji Won wakes up 10 years in the past, before she married Min Hwan. Determined to change her fate, she plots to make Soo Min marry him instead. Meanwhile, Yoo Ji Hyeok, her colleague, secretly harbors feelings for Ji Won and conceals a hidden truth.

Characters:

Kang Ji Won – Main Protaganist

Park Min Hwan – Ji Won’s Husband/Boyfriend

Jung Soo Min – Ji Won’s Best Friend

Yoo Ji Hyuk – Ji Won’s Boss

Yoo Hui Yeon – Ji Won’s coworker and friend

Number of episodes: 16

Synopsis (from MyDramaList): The protagonist Kanbe Misa, who has always lived a life of a “supporting character” because she is too kind and always puts others first, believes in her best friend and husband and continues to do her best, but she loses her life due to their betrayal. However, she suddenly realizes that she has traveled back in time to 10 years ago. Misa plans revenge to ruin her former best friend and husband, but her encounter with Suzuki Wataru, a department manager with whom she had no connection in her first life, brings about a new change in Misa’s heart as she seeks revenge…

Characters:

Kanbe Misa – Main Protagonist

Hirano Tomoya – Misa’s Husband/Boyfriend

Esaka Reina – Misa’s Best Friend

Suzuki Wataru – Misa’s Boss

Sizuki Miku – Misa’s coworker and friend

Number of Episodes: 10

Marry My Husband Korean Episode 2

Episode 2 begins with Ji Won arriving at work and seeing Soo Min flirting with their supervisor in the elevator lobby. Ji Hyuk, looking flustered, stops the elevator doors from shutting and gets in. After Soo Min comments on the coffee Ji Won has, the supervisor, Kim Geyong Uk, begins berating her about not working hard enough. Ji Hyuk puts a stop to it by slamming his fist into the elevator wall. He then asks Ji Won to stay back and they go to the rooftop. Ji Won tells him that she won’t quit her job and shows him the money with the heart on it. Soo Min interrupts and brings Ji Won back inside. A bit later, Ji Won brings Ji Hyuk some painkillers. He returns half of them to her and tells her to take care of herself. Having seen her talking to Ji Kyuk, Min Huan gets jealous and pulls Ji Won into the supply room. There he tries to kiss her, but a coworker opens the door before he can.

At lunch time, the trio head to the cafeteria to eat. A flashback shows Soo Min purposefully spilling food all over Ji Won. This time around, Ji Won avoids Soo Min’s “accidental bump” and Min Huan takes the fall instead, getting stir fried pork all over his white dress shirt. Ji Won runs off to get napkins and in the women’s washroom encounters someone in need of help. This is where we first meet Yoo Hui Hyeon, a junior coworker at the office. Extremely grateful for the help, Hui Hyeon promises to pay Ji Won back. They join the other two for lunch.

Ji Hyuk, having heard about the upcoming class reunion, looks up someone from Ji Won’s past and goes to see him as his restaurant.

Back at the office, Soo Min and Min Huan end up getting squished together in the elevator in what couple be seen as an inappropriate position. A work meeting takes place after work where Hui Hyeon is berated by Mister Kim for stapling the meeting materials the wrong way. Soo Min shows a proposal to the supervisor and the meeting is ended prematurely.

Ji Won goes to a coworker, Ms. Yang, about her idea for a single household meal kit, convincing her that Mr. Kim doesn’t actually read the proposals he’s given. To prove it, she hands him an exact copy of a proposal he rejected before. He exclaims that this is worse than her last one. She apologizes, saying she accidentally printed the same one, then prints a “new” one that just has different colours. Soo Min takes the “old” proposal when Ji Won isn’t at her desk. Going out to dinner with the boss, she convinces him to reconsider the idea but with her instead of Ji Won.

A flashback to the class reunion from the first time around shows Ji Won, hiding in the bathroom while former classmates badmouth her. A further flashback shows those same classmates bullying her in high school, throwing milk cartons at her.

When Ji Won leaves work that evening, she runs into Ji Hyuk again, who tells her the gift Soo Min gave her is a knock off brand and that anyone who knows would be able to tell. He told her this the first time as well, but not yet knowing what would happen at the reunion, she thought he was being rude. This time, she thanks him. He offers her a ride home, but she declines.

After going bowling with a friend, Min Huan shows up at Ji Won’s apartment “ready for action.”

Marry My Husband Japan Episode 2

Episode 2 of the Japanese version starts further in the past from Suzuki Wataru’s perspective. While studying in university, he sees Misa and watches her from afar as she talks to a turtle that lives in a pond on the campus grounds. Wataru has a voice over contemplating how he would be an extra in her life, a background character that never comes into focus. He saw her the day she received the news her father passed away and took care of the turtle when the pond dried up. We see the elevator scene from the first episode replayed from his perspective and how he foolishly said something rude to her.

Back in the present, Misa has lunch with Tomoya. He talks about her meeting his mother and crypto currency. Reina joins them. Misa recalls how the first time, Reina “accidentally” bumped into a coworker and spilled food all over her. Since that coworker scolded Reina earlier that day, Misa realizes that the “accident” was on purpose and intervenes. Instead of the coworker being covered in food, Tomoya is instead.

In the washroom, someone calls out for help and Misa obliges. We then meet Suzuki Miku for the first time. Miku promises to pay Misa back for her kindness.

Later, Misa runs into Wataru again at a restaurant she frequents. They sit together and have a fairly awkward conversation until they get on the topic of desserts. They are passionate about this and their conversation becomes more natural.

Flashback to Misa in High School, where she is talking to a boy who invites her to join the drama club. Reina tells her the drama club doesn’t suit her and not long after, everyone in her class starts ignoring and bullying her.

At home, Misa goes on a rampage, getting rid of all the stuff that Reina told her to buy, realizing she doesn’t like any of it. She then remembers about a new dessert cafe opening and decides to go. There, she sees Wataru again and invites him to join her. They share desserts and chat. She remarks how he’s like a protagonist from a manga, showing up whenever the heroine needs him. Her thoughts then go crazy thinking he must be some kind of stalker because until now she’s only ever attracted terrible people to her. The two of them end up going shopping together, as Wataru wants to buy her a new scarf for insulting her old one. They also have coffee together and he buys her a cactus.

Miku then arrives to meet with Misa and those two go shopping. Miku tells Misa that she was reluctant to get to know her because she’s friends with Reina. The two bond and Misa gets a new look.

Later, Misa arrives at the reunion having had a make over. She confronts her old classmates, wanting to know why they bullied her. They tell her Reina told them that Reina had liked a certain boy (the same one who invited Misa to join the drama club) and that Misa had ruined that relationship. The boy in question shows up and confirms that he never had any feelings for Reina. Misa leaves the reunion shortly after. Wataru arrives again with an umbrella as she’s walking in the rain.

Back at Wataru’s apartment, Miku is waiting for him and he offers her tea.

Reina sets up an “accident” to fall into Wataru’s arms.

Episode Comparison

The Japanese version of episode 2 focuses more on the development of the relationship between Misa and Wataru. This was more established in episode 1 of the Korean version. Both episodes have a similar lunch scene, though in the Japanese version, we see Reina being more vindictive by trying to get back at a coworker who scolded her. Both times, the accident switches to Tomoya/Min Huan.

The timeline here is moving a bit faster in the Japanese version. This makes sense since there are only 10 episodes as opposed to the 16 Korean. In the Japanese episode, Reina hasn’t given Misa any kind of gift, so she isn’t humiliated in that way. Misa also hasn’t done anything to change her career path at this point, whereas Ji Won has already tried to change how her work proposal was handled by teaming up with another coworker. There is no immediate supervisor that Reina is trying to seduce in order to get a full time position. When she starts to get jealous, she goes immediately for the big boss, Wataru. Nor does she seem to be trying to steal Misa’s work.

We have yet to see anything from Ji Hyuk’s perspective, though this episode focused a fair amount on Wataru’s. In the first episode, Wataru seemed very cold and somewhat rude. In this episode, we start to see a softer side of him and understand him a bit better.

Stay tuned for episode 3!

The Early Spring – Review

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Title: The Early Spring

Language: Chinese – Mandarin

Episodes: 24

Where to Watch: Netflix

Genres: Romance, Life, Drama

Objectionable Content: Suicide, Toxic Relationship

Synopsis (from MyDramaList): Shang Zhi Tao, a determined recent graduate from an ordinary background, unexpectedly lands a job at a prestigious, top-tier global advertising agency in Beijing. Stepping into the corporate world as a complete rookie, her first day begins with a harsh wake-up call when her brilliant yet ruthlessly sharp-tongued boss, creative director Luan Nian, bluntly tells her to resign. Undeterred by the fierce environment and intense professional pressure, Shang Zhi Tao pushes forward, determined to grow through the challenges and prove her worth as a capable professional. What starts as an uphill battle against a demanding mentor gradually evolves into a complex, hidden workplace romance. As intense career ambitions, personal choices, and underlying misunderstandings pull them in different directions, the two are forced to navigate the heavy costs of love and success.

My Review of The Early Spring

Where do I even begin with this drama? Watching The Early Spring brought to mind when I first watched Boys Over Flowers. I wanted so much for the female lead in that to come to here senses and see that the better guy had been beside her all along. In The Early Spring, I just wanted this girl to grow a spine and stand up for herself, to realize she deserved so much better and finally kick this guy to the curb.

In the beginning of The Early Spring, Shang Zhitao is fresh out of college when she lands her dream job at an advertising company called Lime. From the first second, the manager, Luan Nian or Luke, is harsh with her, telling her to quit and that she’s not good enough. To give Zhitao credit, she doesn’t cave to his rudeness and works hard to prove herself and show she deserves to be at the company.

What makes very little sense to me, is why Luan Nian suddenly becomes enamored of her. He looks down on, insults her, and belittles her constantly yet starts to show jealousy whenever someone of the male gender gets close to her. I can somewhat understand why Zhitao might be attracted to him. She’s a prodigy of the company, someone who’s approval she would naturally crave, and he is handsome.

The first time they get together was so annoying. Zhitao is drunk at a bar, when Nian steps in to take care of her. Not knowing where she lives, he takes her to his apartment to sleep it off. When she wakes up, she basically sober and he pretty much tries to seduce her pretty quickly. This guy cannot take a hint. She literally covers her mouth with her hands the first time he tries to kiss her. Then, he does it anyway. Despite, her obvious discomfort and feeble attempts to say no, he persists. In the end, she does give in and chooses to stay and sleep with him.

Afterwards, she tries to draw a line between them, to keep things professional at work and stop whatever relationship is starting. Again, Nian will not take no for an answer. No matter how many times she tries to push him away or keep her distance, he repeatedly comes back and seduces her.

I feel like he took advantage of her from the very beginning. Using her youth and naivety to get what he wanted from her. For someone who was at least 30 at the beginning of the show, he had no emotional maturity to speak of. Anytime he felt like she wasn’t paying enough attention to him, or someone was paying attention to her, he would get jealous and throw a tantrum like a toddler. At one point he even tells her not to wear certain clothing because he doesn’t like other men looking at her. He constantly insults her and acts like she should be grateful that he’s even with her.

They do show some growth throughout the run of the show. Zhitao especially become more confident in her works, earning her way up in the company and getting promotions. Miraculously, Nian does recognize her hard work and dedication, not giving her any special treatment because of their relationship. I wish I could say that he became a fully developed person by the end, who understood Zhitao and her feelings, but he doesn’t. He gets better, but he’s still a jerk.

When the show wasn’t focused on the relationship between the two leads, it was a good show. I enjoyed the dynamic between Zhitao and her roommates. I also like when the focus was more on Zhitao excelling at work and earning her own place in the world.

I wish so much there had been an alternate love interest for her, someone who would have treated her the way she deserved instead of like a toy. Although, had that been the case, I’m sure I would have been even more frustrated when in the end she still chose Nian. As I learned from Boys Over Flowers, the leads will end up together no matter how unsuitable they may be for one another.

My rating for The Early Spring is 2 out of 5 stars. Only the stuff that didn’t focus on the main relationship saved it from being one stars. I wouldn’t really recommend this drama unless you enjoy toxic relationships where the woman is a push over and the man is domineering.

If you have watched The Early Spring, I’d love to know what you thought.

Thanks for reading!

The East Palace – Review

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Title: The East Palace

Language: Korean

Episodes: 8

Where to Watch: Netflix

Genres: Historical, Action, Mystery, Fantasy, Supernatural, Horror

Objectionable Content: Violence, Death

Synopsis (from MyDramaList): In a fictional kingdom haunted by strange and terrifying events, the king secretly summons Gu Cheon, a proud and powerful ghost-slayer who can transform into a spirit and traverse the spectral realm, and Saeng Gang, a court lady cursed with the ability to hear and communicate with the dead. Tasked with investigating a sinister force lurking within the Crown Prince’s East Palace, the unlikely pair uncover long-buried secrets hidden behind the royal walls. As they venture deeper into a world where the living and the dead intertwine, they must confront vengeful spirits, dark conspiracies, and an unimaginable evil that threatens the palace from within.

My Review of the East Palace

Gu Cheon drowned as a child and was revived. Afterwards, he gained the ability to see spirits and traverse the Realm of Gwi (the realm of the dead). When the princes in the palace start dying in the same way they did 30 years ago, the king summons Gu Cheon to the palace to find the spirit responsible, destroy it and save the last remaining prince. Having little other choice, Gu Cheon works together with, Saeng Gang, the king’s only daughter, to rid the palace of it’s curse and hopefully save his own life.

Gu Cheon is a reluctant kind of hero. He complains about how bothersome it is to fight spirits and banish them, but he also does what needs to be done in order to protect innocent people. Saeng Gang is headstrong and curious, constantly asking questions of Gu Cheong despite him getting annoyed with her. They make an unlikely pair, but form a bond quite quickly.

The East Palace is definitely a supernatural horror at it’s core. From the first second of the first episode, a very dark and spooky atmosphere is established. Within the first 10 minutes we see a child getting possessed and trying to kill himself with a pair of scissors. I was completely hooked from the beginning.

There is a good balance here between the suspense and revelations. Shows like this sometimes try to be too mysterious and don’t really reveal anything, making it feel needlessly dragged out. I didn’t feel that way with the East Palace. However, I do feel like they tried to a few too many twists in there. You’d think you knew what the mystery was, who the culprit was, and then it would twist again and the narrative would sort of reform. There’s nothing wrong with this, but do it too many times and it’s no longer shocking.

The visuals in this drama, I think, were particularly stunning. The Realm of Gwi made me think of the Upsidedown from Stranger Things, but with more red. The editing showing the juxtaposition between the real world and the world of the dead was spectacular.

Then there is the true scene stealer of the show. This little thing called a ggeomeoksali. Gu Cheon is terrified of this adorable creature at first because it feeds on Yang energy. It could potentially kill him if it were to drain his energy. However, it attaches itself to Gu Cheon and starts following him around the palace, and even protecting him.

The ending of the show did leave things open for a possible second season, but I don’t think one has been announced yet.

My rating for The East Palace is 4 out of 5 stars and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a spooky, unsettling watch.

Have you seen The East Palace? What did you think?

Pursuit of Jade – C-Drama Review

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Title: Pursuit of Jade

Language: Chinese – Mandarin

Episodes: 40

Where to Watch: Netflix

Genres: Historical, Romance, War, Mystery

Objectionable Content: Violence, Death

Buy From: Amazon

Synopsis (from MyDramaList): It follows Fan Chang Yu, a butcher’s daughter, and Xie Zheng, a fallen noble seeking revenge. Their fake marriage turns into true love, but war tears them apart. Determined, Fan Chang Yu wields her butcher’s knife on the battlefield, searching for justice and her husband. Meanwhile, Xie Zheng reclaims his title, fighting to protect his country and love. Reunited in battle, they stand together, defying fate and uncovering the truth.

My Review of Pursuit of Jade

This drama came across my Netflix feed a few times, but I passed it by due to the number of episodes. At the time, I wasn’t in the mood to commit to such a long drama. So when I had some time off work, I decided now was the time. Honestly, I wished I’d watched it sooner but at the same time I’m glad I waited til I was on vacation because I ended up staying up til 4 am because I just couldn’t stop watching.

At Pursuit of Jade begins, Fan Chang Yu has just lost her parents. In order to support herself and her young sister, she takes up her father’s trade: slaughtering pigs and selling the meat. She finds a young man in the snow, gravely injured, and against her better judgement, saves his life. Initially, he gives her the name Yan Zheng, in order to hide his identity. When Chang Yu’s uncle tries to take her house from her, Yan Zheng, agrees to a live in marriage so she doesn’t lose everything.

To explain, as I had to look it up myself, a “live in marriage” or “live in husband” is where the man marries into the woman’s family. This means, that instead of the woman moving into the man’s family home, taking his name and basically become subject to him, the man agrees that the woman is the head of the household. This is important because during this time period, women couldn’t inherit property, only a male heir could. After Chang Yu’s parents die, the only male relative is her uncle, who tries to take her house from her in order to pay off his gambling debts. By Yan Zhang marrying in to Chang Yu’s family, the Fan family now has a male heir and Chang Yu is able to keep her house.

Initially, this agreement is one of convenience. It’s a way for Yan Zheng to repay Chang Yu for saving his life. They both know the marriage isn’t real and that when he is well again, he will leave. We soon learn that Yan Zheng is actually a nobleman who nearly died in battle and the time comes for him to leave and return to his responsibilities.

From the moment they meet, Chang Yu and Yan Zheng have amazing chemistry. Yan Zheng is fairly reserved in the beginning, being unsure of the people around him and his identity being revealed. Though he rarely smiles, he’s never rude or mean to anyone (unless they deserve it) and he quickly becomes protective of his new found family.

I honestly loved every moment of this drama. The couple is so sweet together, gradually falling deeply in love. Even when they’re separated, you know they’re thinking of one another and doing everything they can to be together again. There’s a lot of funny moments too, though not outrageously so. The comedy doesn’t deflect from the mood. The acting is perfection from all the characters, even the psychotic ones can evoke some sympathy while the so called “good” ones can be bad. The costumes are beautiful and the sets spectacular.

The blood effects are a bit lacking for the amount of death and war there is. However, the show is rated 14+ so it makes sense the gore would be minimized.

I will admit that I had some trouble following the political intrigue. There are a lot of names, places and titles being said, some being used interchangeably that I found it hard to follow. This is totally on me and no a criticism of the show.

My rating for Pursuit of Jade is 5 out of 5 stars and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical romance with a nice dash of comedy, action and mystery.

Have you watched Pursuit of Jade? I’d love to know what you think!

The Griffin’s War – The Fallen Moon #3 by K.J. Taylor

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Title: The Griffin’s War

Author: K.J. Taylor

Series: The Fallen Moon

Sexual Content: Minimal

objectionable Content: Violence, Racism

Buy Now From: Amazon

Synopsis (from Goodreads): After promising his allegiance to the Night God, Arenadd Taranisaii escapes death for the second time and vows to free his people. With the dark griffin Skandar by his side, Arenadd begins to gather an army and prepare for war using the power gifted to him by the Night God to move through the shadows.

But even as Arenadd’s strength grows his nemesis sets out for the Island of the Sun, seeking the one weapon that can truly kill Arenadd, the man without a heart.

My Review of the Griffin’s War

Once again I find myself at a loss of just how to review this book. To say that I loved it, while true, is also pretty vague. I think there’s just something in the way it’s written and the chosen main character.

Had the first book started from Erian’s point of view, following him from his childhood, or even just coming to Eagleholm, he would have been seen as the hero of this story. I think I said this in my review of the Griffin’s Flight. It feels like Erian is on the traditional Hero’s Journey while Arren is going down the path of becoming a villain. Had the story been told in that way, the audience would definitely have backed Erian as the hero and rooted for him to succeed.

This review is seriously lacking and may the shortest I’ve written. Please just know that The Griffin’s War and it’s predecessors are amazing and truly worthy of a read. I wish more people knew about K.J. Taylor and her books.

I was also happy to learn that there is a sequel trilogy, which took some digging to get my hands on but I have them now.

My rating for the Griffin’s War is 5 out of 5 stars and I highly recommend it!

The Griffin’s Flight – Book 2 of The Fallen Moon by K.J. Taylor

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Title: The Griffin’s Flight

Author: K.J. Taylor

Series: The Fallen Moon

Sexual Content: Minimal

objectionable Content: Violence, Racism

Buy Now From: Amazon

Synopsis (from Goodreads): Although he was once chosen as a griffin’s companion, Arren Cardockson was reviled, betrayed, and ultimately killed. Brought back to life by a power beyond his understanding, Arren flees for the frozen sanctuary of the North. With the man-eating griffin Skandar by his side, and an entire country hunting him, Arren has little hope of reaching the place of his ancestry and of lifting his curse. But then he comes across a wild woman who may hold the key to making his lifeless heart beat once more.

My Review

*NOTE this review will contain spoilers for the previous book*

I’m not normally the type of person to try to predict how a book is going to go. I like to just read and the let the story unfold before me, but there was no way I could have predicted how this book would go. I am intrigued by this author’s imagination.

As with the previous book, I find I’m struggling review The Griffin’s Flight adequately. Which I’m finding really frustrating because this book is just so good. But calling it “good” just doesn’t do it justice. I will try my best.

The characters feel very rich and real. Not necessarily that I relate to them, as most of them are men, but that their emotions with the situations they find themselves in are believable. They get scared and anxious or confused when it’s appropriate.

Although Arren is the protagonist of the books, his story feels more like a villain arc. Where as, Erian, who is the antagonist feels like he’s on a hero’s journey. It’s interesting to see the different perspectives, not only in how they view each other as enemies, but how other people view them as well. To the people of the South, Arren is a vile murderer and a madman, while the Northerners see him as a hero or a lord to be followed. Even as the reader, it’s sometimes hard to believe that Arren is the good guy here. He appears to be a good person, but then we learn he’s done some terrible things in the past. It really shows how people can be driven to certain things based on how others treat them. How do you not burn with anger when everyone around you treats you differently based on the colour of your hair?

I know this review isn’t an in depth analysis of the book and I’m sorry for that. Just know that despite my ability to give this a proper review, this book is amazing. I’m already devouring the third book.

My rating for The Griffin’s Flight is 5 out of 5 stars and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves fantasy, or just a good book in general. Read the Dark Griffin first though.

Thank you for reading!

The Dark Griffin – The Fallen Moon #1 by K.J. Taylor

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Title: The Dark Griffin

Author: K.J. Taylor

Series: The Fallen Moon

Sexual Content: Minimal

Objectional Content: Violence, Racism

Buy from: Amazon

Synopsis (from Goodreads): Being chosen as a griffin’s companion has allowed Arren Cardockson to gain a place of status within the land of Cymria. But Arren can never escape the prejudice that comes with his Northerner slave origins. For chained within the Arena where rogue griffins battle to entertain the crowds, there lies another soul crying out to be freed-a kindred spirit that will allow Arren to fulfill his destiny and release the darkness in his heart.

My Review

For some reason I can’t quite fathom, I’ve been avoiding writing this review. Even now, I feel like I’m forcing myself to type. I honestly don’t know why this is, but I am annoyed by it because now it’s been over a month since I finished the book and the details are no longer fresh in my mind. Therefore, I will try to do my best here.

Arren, our main character, is a Northerner. At least, his parents are from the North, which automatically makes him one of them despite that fact that he was born in the South and has never been to the North. The people of the North are considered savages, inherently aggressive, and after the South conquered their country, the people of the North became slaves. The only reason Arren has any status or respect in society is because he was chosen by a griffin.

After Arren is tricked into going on a dangerous mission on his own, betrayed by someone he trusted, his griffin tragically dies. No longer considered to be a Griffiner, he’s now just seen as a Northern and the ingrained prejudice becomes apparent. If he becomes angry about the injustice he’s suffered, that’s his Northern aggression coming out. The amount of societal discrimination ingrained in this book is rampant and made me so angry on Arren’s behalf. Even the people close to him who say they don’t care about his heritage, on some level, feel some sort of prejudice against him.

I feel like this review isn’t doing this book justice, and I just don’t know how to get my feelings about it into words. So please know that I really loved this book. I thought it was fantastic. The world is rich and the characters are relatable. There aren’t a lot of fantasy books involving griffins, so I also really like how prominent they are here.

My rating for The Dark Griffin is 5 out of 5 stars and I highly recommend it to all lovers of fantasy, and even people who don’t necessarily love fantasy.

Thanks for reading and if you’ve read The Dark Griffin, I’d love to know your thoughts.

The Road by Cormac McCarthy- Review

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Title: The Road

Author: Cormac McCarthy

Series: NA

Sexual Content: None

Objectional Content: Violence, descriptions of death, including children

Synopsis (from Goodreads) : A father and his son walk alone through burned America. Nothing moves in the ravaged landscape save the ash on the wind. It is cold enough to crack stones, and when the snow falls it is gray. The sky is dark. Their destination is the coast, although they don’t know what, if anything, awaits them there. They have nothing; just a pistol to defend themselves against the lawless bands that stalk the road, the clothes they are wearing, a cart of scavenged food—and each other.

The Road is the profoundly moving story of a journey. It boldly imagines a future in which no hope remains, but in which the father and his son, “each the other’s world entire,” are sustained by love. Awesome in the totality of its vision, it is an unflinching meditation on the worst and the best that we are capable of: ultimate destructiveness, desperate tenacity, and the tenderness that keeps two people alive in the face of total devastation.

My Review of The Road

What did I just read? The Road has received so much praise and has won a Pulitzer and I just can’t imagine how. I won’t say that I out right hated this book, because I didn’t hate. Honestly, I don’t feel enough about it to even say dislike. However, I definitely didn’t like it. There was nothing to like or dislike because nothing happens! The entire book is a nameless man and son walking, starving, finding food, repeat. I felt nothing for these characters, no sympathy, no empathy, no concern. I was basically just waiting for them to die.

Now, despite all that, this book is extremely easy to read. For starters, it’s a fairly short book, and there are no chapters, which means there isn’t really a logical stopping point. Also, the writing is so…juvenile? If I didn’t know better I would have thought The Road was written by someone in their late teens and this was their first book. The writing would go something like this: “The man woke up and checked on the boy and then wrapped the blanket around him and then stirred the fire.” Just unnecessarily long run on sentences that barely describe anything. There was also no use of quotation marks for the dialogue, which was the worst dialogue I’ve ever read.

I will say that there is an atmosphere of mystery that initially drew me in. What happened to the world? How did these characters come to be in the situation their in? Well, that is left up to the reader’s imagination. There is description of trees and ground being ash and the snow being grey as it falls from the sky. I guess we’re just supposed to make something up in our own minds about what occurred.

So, my rating for The Road is 2 out of 5 stars and if I’m being completely honest, I wouldn’t recommend this book to anyone.

Sorry to those who truly love this book and think it’s a masterpiece. Maybe I’m just dumb and I don’t understand the subtle nuances or something.

Anyway…

Thanks for reading and I’d love to know what you thought as well!