Updated to include my most recent posts. You can also check the sidebar next time. Not sure how long I’ll be blogging on this, though.

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That’s the funny thing about literal translations of Korean titles. They don’t make sense. It’s like we’re offered a bowl of alphabet soup soup with random words to generate a cryptic title.

Example: Air Sun Flower. Twilight Moon Groom. Mountain Air Lamb. Sea Sun Rain. What e ver.

So I’m often pleasantly surprised when the title interacts with the story in a unique way.

Take this kdrama for instance.  According to Asianwiki, it underwent a few title changes, from “Fox Bride Star” to “Incheon Airport People” before settling back to “Fox Bride Star.”

Right now, I don’t get what “Star” is alluding to, but I do understand where the nomenclature “Fox Bride” was derived from.

From here:

credit: idleminds’ tumblr

When it rains suddenly on a sunny day, it’s called a “fox rain.” According to folklore, on a day with a mixed-up weather like that, a fox is getting married.  But in the Hong’s sisters, “My Girlfriend is a Gumiho,” rain falls down on a sunny day when a 1000 year old fox or gumiho cries.

I guess that’s one benefit of having an unusual title; it makes the viewers want to start the kdrama and discover what it’s all about. Fox Bride Star.

Things I like about this kdrama:

1. The actors were pretty enough. That’s my cardinal rule: If I’m going to spend 16 hours minimum on a drama, I must have something pleasant to look at.

That’s one of the reasons I dropped Song JiHyo’s “Lovely Horribly.” Aside from the horrible plot, Song JiHyo’s slob of a character was such an eyesore.

I can’t complain about the aesthetics of Lee Je-Hoon and Chae Soo-Bin. I’m not sure yet about their “chemistry” but definitely they’re both good to look at.

2. I spend a lot of time in airports (and Incheon in particular this year) so it’s interesting to see airport personnel as romantic figures. I personally think working at airports would depress me. I’d hate to go to work everyday, sending off people to new places and exciting adventures, while I’m stuck on the ground doing the same routine. I’d have “travel-envy.” Having a romcom with people working at ICN would most likely make me look at the workers there with a new set of eyes. (hahaha. I’ll be looking for a Lee Je-Hoon lookalike.)

Another thing: Although watching the scenes with the disruptive and abusive passengers gave me post-traumatic stress and anxiety, it was extremely satisfying to see the bully who knocked down the self-serve kiosks, get his just punishment. I’ve encountered one too many of those horrors on my trips….

3. I’m in the mood for a supernatural hero in a traditional, folklore kind of way.

I don’t want a ghost detective because I’m watching one nor an amnesiac hero because I’m already watching two of them.

So, it will be refreshing to watch Lee Je-Hoon with his peculiar right arm. It’s unnaturally strong and magnetic.

The story began when they met (for the second time) under the awning of a store (or cafe, who knows?). Her compass which she wore as a pendant around her neck, flew in the air and became stuck to his right sleeve. A normal guy would’ve laughed it off as klutziness but he stared at her as if she’d committed an unspeakable atrocity. That was their “meet cute” and it lived up to the name.

4. The heroine. She’s a curious mix.

I liked her spunk but at the same I wanted to knock her down a peg or two when she complained about job seniority. I sided with her manager here.

Sure, experience, seniority, and job loyalty are important criteria when it comes to promotions, but so are job performance, real-time contribution and positive impact to the organization. I didn’t like that the heroine complained that she was being discriminated because the hero was promoted before her. And I didn’t like that she spurned his helpful instructions and refused to listen to him because she considered him her “junior.” She was allowing her feelings get in the way. That lacked professionalism.

5. The premise.

In the beginning, the girl narrated “A long time ago, my father said that in the world, there’s no such thing as coincidences, and everything happens for a reason.”

Then, she proceeded to explain that on the day she met him by accident, it inexplicably rained on a sunny day. Of all places to meet (meaning, what are the chances!!), he had been standing there under the awning where she sought shelter. And then the most unbelievable thing (meaning, can’t be explained or reasoned out) happened to them. Her compass became stuck on him like he was her magnetic North Pole.

And then, she doubled down, “There’s no such thing as coincidence. Everything happens for a reason.”

I liked it that her belief was being tested by reality. I prefer experiential learning to armchair philosophizing. 😉

So there you go, my first impressions on the show. It’ll be tough deciding which show to watch on Mondays and Tuesday since there are two, no! three interesting romcoms to catch.