Pinocchio. The last chapter of my Jung Seok marathon (we're not going to mention Doctor Stranger, ok? As far as we're concerned, it. Never. Happened).
From the same writer/director team as I Hear Your Voice, with Lee Jung Seok playing the male lead again it was--no surprise--pretty similar to the previous hit.
Childhood, titillatingly scandalous romance for one, although the female lead was played by a charmingly funny Park Shin Hye this time around. (I do wonder if there will ever be a drama in which they don't make Lee Jung Seok play a high schooler at some point--I guess his baby face just lends him to it).
She's a Pinocchio--a person unable to lie without hiccuping--who dreams of being a reporter. He's the son of a family ruined by bad reporting, adopted by her grandfather. Do you feel the angst coming?
Fortunately, the first half didn't focus on the romance angst. Rather, we got to see two intimate, lovely people falling in love, with sparks all over the place. No complaint there.
And God they were cute.
Not that there wasn't angst. Oh yes. There was angst. Sweet-but-evil-long-lost-hyung (yes, we were all confused) leads to complications and the forcing of several moral issues.
This writer really loves to address the great ideas of truth and lies, justice and mercy, what they mean and how far we'll go for them. It's a lot of fun, but also naive.
Where this writer really shines is the supporting characters--so much fun to watch rookies struggle and make friendships and connections. Funny and heartwarming, although it was odd how Lee Yubi's character "Yoon Yoon Rae" was so badly wasted. Really, the only one who didn't get a lot of character development.
It was quite a pretty show too--kisses in spiraling snow and lots of fairy-like city lights used as background. A real fairytale.
Alas, this show hit it's emotional peak about halfway through, and afterwards, it kind of dragged, even with our adorable main characters gazing longingly at each other across rooms and stuff.
Or maybe I just hate the noble idiocy trope?
Yeah, it's probably that one.
But let's take a moment just to appreciate how pretty Lee Jung Seok is!
Ok.
Because after a while, I'm just confused why these two are inventing obstacles??
But, to be fair, as the brilliant vengeance-seeker-turned-real-reporter, Choi Dal Po carries a certain shine. Although I'll always wish Choi In Ha, his love interest, got more focus, because she was the Pinocchio of the series.
Not that he didn't do well. I just thought she had more potential than she was allowed to develop.
Because she was a lot of fun! Talk about my surprise. It's been a while since I've seen Park Shin Hye in anything where she really got a chance to be funny and individualistic and real. But here she was a real gem. She needs more shows like this.
Just a pretty picture.
I can see why people thought Shin Hye and Jung Seok were dating. They really do sparkle together.
Final verdict: It was sweet and cute, but it just didn't hit the level of it's predecessor. Maybe because it felt a bit recycled.
Lee Jung Seok verdict: As charming as ever, although he didn't really get to try anything new here.
(all photos courtesy of dramabeans)
No comments:
Post a Comment