The other kdrama on my watch list this week is “When the Camellia Blooms.” Here’s the relationship chart, courtesy of kanghaneul.org.
source: KangHaneul.org
The chart is just as confusing the Flower Crew chart I posted earlier but the actors are, unfortunately, ugly, common, plebeian-looking. Sigh. Is that the reason the graphic designer had adorned their pictures with those cute animal cartoons (i.e., hippo, bear, cat, dog, cheetah, and peacock)? To liven the poster up?
From what I can tell from the chart, there are three couples here: the cat and dog couple, the cheetah and peacock couple, and the lead couple, the hippo and bear.
Two male guys, represented by dog and the bear, are in love with the female hippo…errr… Dong Baek. She’s a single mother and, apparently, the identity of her son’s father is a mystery. Dong Baek is played by the famous actress, Gong Hyo Jin.
Full disclosure here: she isn’t my type. She did well in her role in the Master’s Sun but people should know by now that there’s a good reason she was matched up against So Ji Sub — and it’s NOT because she’s beautiful. Aesthetically speaking, they were an odd-looking couple. His face was all craggy and angular while hers was all lumpy and round.
I don’t know anything about Kang Haneul so I want to see what the buzz is all about this guy.
The cheetah character, played by Kim Ji Suk, is an interesting one.
The synopsis according to dramalist, says the story is about the three men’s entanglement with Dong Baek.
“When the Camellia Blooms” is a romantic thriller-comedy about the realistic, passionate love among three couples. The drama will follow the story of a woman named Dong Baek and show how her life is tangled up with a good man, a bad man, and a cheap man.
I’m assuming that the cheetah character represents the bad man, the dog character is the cheap man, and the bear character is the good man.
But whether the cheetah guy is also the serial killer or not, the relationship chart doesn’t say. I’m hoping, however, that he isn’t the serial killer, because I like the actor Kim Ji Suk. He played the lead in another romcom, “Top Star Yoo Baek” and he was a riot as a conceited, over-rated actor falling for an island gal. (That’s another kdrama I’ve to finish watching.)
Anyway, we shall see. I’ll watch this week’s episodes and give my first impressions afterward.
Meanwhile, feel free to post your spoilers here.
Oops. Chan Sung is already reincarnated as Pal Gu? Lol.
There are two dramas I’m considering to watch this week: My Mister and Graceful Family.
I put off My Mister several times because I’m hesitant to watch dramas with gloomy settings. But up to now, I’m still curious if it was really written so well or was just hyped.
But I think I’d go for Graceful Family first. I saw a short clip where they held a funeral for a fish and it got me laughing so hard I’d wanted to watch more. Plus the female lead is sassy and bitchy so I’ll give it a try. 😎
LOL the plebian looking actors. I figure that many actors without make up look pretty ordinary.
I don’t really go for dramas just for the actors, although I do avoid/drop some dramas because of an actor. I tend to go for a premise or plot and I seldom bother to look at previews. I just happened upon this show’s trailer though. It didn’t look exciting except that Kang Ha Neul’s character was dead set on wooing Gong Hyo Jin’s character.
I guess I don’t particularly dislike or like GHJ. However I tend to never forget that it’s her, playing the role, which means that she has not succeeded in sucking me into believing in the characters she plays.
I love the cast for this drama, but I’m lukewarm on the plot, to be honest. I’m going to have to wait and see. I did take a look at the trailer and liked it. This drama is a Netflix exclusive, so it should be available worldwide and with subs in multiple languages, which is nice. Here’s the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prl2MXJQSKo
@Storm Moon- I heard about the “fish funeral” on Graceful Family/Elegant Family, as well as the strong female lead and I’ll definitely have to check that drama out. It’s been on my watch list. It’s being subbed at Viki and also at On Demand Korea.
I’m with you on the female lead. It always takes me a bit of self-persuasion that she’s even pretty, but three of her dramas are in my top ten so she’s doing something right.
Kang Haneul imo is one of the best looking actors from South Korea. He’s also one of SK’s best actors, which is why, if he’s playing a goofy character as he appears to be doing here, he’s going to make you believe he’s goofy. Here he is with IU from Cosmo: https://fyeahkoreanphotoshoots.tumblr.com/post/147828459308/iu-kang-ha-neul-cosmopolitan-magazine-august
And you just have to Google some images to see how truly handsome he is.
Hello. Brooding shirtless man with abs donning just the suit jacket, balancing caffeine brew in one hand. 😂. That’s how every top star dresses as a matter of course. I am with you on GHJ, for some reason I just don’t “get” her characters and yeah, she isn’t my type either. It’s all looking very wholesome and bucolic for some reason? Set in a sleepy countryside maybe? With a serial killer on the loose of course. Nothing like a serial killer to shake up the idyllic lifestyle of good hearted country folk.
This is on my watch list too, and I’m not ashamed to say that it’s because of Kim Ji Suk. I watched GHJ in The Greatest Love with Cha Seung Won, and it was cute. Then watched her again in Master’s Sun and well, it was alright. Didn’t watch her in anything else after that although my sister highly recommended Jealousy Incarnate. Somehow, she just doesn’t hold my interest.
Packmule3, you should really finish watching Top Star Yoo Baek, although I think the plot may not be something that will hold your interest as much as the other dramas you talk about. And really, please try the TW version of In Time With You. Conversations and monologues were really well written.
Hey guys if you haven’t watched Jealousy Incarnate yet you should really give it a try. Pretty well nobody is likable in that drama except the second lead but I ended up loving everyone, particularly the warring anchor ladies. It’s one of the most well-written k dramas ever. And lots of romance, it doesn’t skimp, but lots of comedy too. I liked Top Star okay, (the beginning had me in stitches because of the villagers) and I really like the actor, but that drama just doesn’t compare, so my suggestion is watch JI instead!
GHJ was ALSO in Its Okay, That’s Love. Id forgotten that one but it’s right up there near the top of my list too. So that’s FOUR excellent kdramas in my top ten or twelve. Regardless of her looks, she seems to know how to pick a script.
@nrllee you made me laugh with your bucolic comment! The preview didn’t tickle me fantastic either but will be giving it a shot for the actors. Serial killer? I loved Strong Woman but there’s no denying that serial bride kidnapper plotline pushed the drama seriously off-kilter. The preview and a murder plotline don’t match – will have to see.
@Barbrey apparently Strong Woman Do BongSoon’s writer is the one penning Melting Me Softly (the one coming up with Ji ChangWook) so that’s sending warning bells for me. Still I enjoyed SWDBS mainly because of the female lead Park BoYoung. I stayed to the end for her. I tried Abyss also for her sake but just couldn’t bring myself to keep watching.
😱
Same writer as Strong Woman Dobong Soon? Surely you jest, my friend.
#walkaway 😂
For myself, I loved the two main characters in Strong Woman. Do Bong Soo was cute but she wasnt perfect, in fact kind of mean sometimes, whilst Park Hyun Sik’s character actually was a character, a millionaire boss that I’d for once want to hang with for a day. I mean, let’s face it, most kdrama chaebols in their fancy suits would be downright boring friends.
We should do a thread on kdrama heroes we’d actually want to date, hang out with, or be friends with. My list would be frightfully short,I bet!
@packmule3 I am much afeard so http://asianwiki.com/Baek_Mi-Kyeong_(screenwriter). Not sure how her other offerings were? Woman of Dignity and The Miracle We Met? 🤔
I’ll be honest…Kang Haneul and Kim Ji Suk’s Abs are the draw for me. I rather like the lead actress for being who she is despite the inane industry pressure to look good.
I’m waiting for Lee Seung Gi’s Vagabond 🙂
@rocat, I agree.
@nrllee, My Love Eun Dong and Woman of Dignity were both well-liked on Dramabeans, iirc. The plots didn’t draw me, nor the one for The Miracle We Met (body switching is not a fave theme). The problem with the Melt Me synopsis is it doesn’t have a plot, just a situation. So they wake up 20 years later? So what? They then have to renavigate their world. Set up. But then what? I hope it’s not just renavigation.
“The problem with the Melt Me synopsis is it doesn’t have a plot, just a situation. So they wake up 20 years later? So what? They then have to renavigate their world. Set up. But then what? I hope it’s not just renavigation.”
Yeah. So there will be funny moments about navigating their “new” changed world. There’s also past lives and people they left behind who have moved on since? Old flame(s)? I don’t know. How are they supposed to maintain body temps below 33C? If you drop below 35C you’re hypothermic (by normal standards) 😂. And I guess there’s the whole restraint issue with their burgeoning romance which would inevitably “heat” things up…so I guess that’s where the tension will be? I get the feeling this writer you either love or hate. I read gushing reviews of some of her works and then there are scathing ones as well so it depends on taste I guess? 🤔. I am willing to give this a go seeing this is JCW’s first project post military. But I will keep my expectations low so as not to go away disappointed in the end.
Well are you all liking Camellia? I’ve seen the first two episodes and I’m not sold, mainly because it’s hard for me to root for a couple when the guy’s a little stupid and the girl’s kind of wimpy. Kang Han Eul is too believable in this role. They don’t yet have an attractive chemistry. I like the kid! But GHJ always seems to pick scripts with major character development for her or her co-stars so I am sticking with it for now.
She’s ten years older that KHN, btw. Looking pretty damned good for 40! I actually think she looks better older.
I haven’t watched Camellia yet.
Right now, I’m catching up with Elegant Family/Graceful Family.
Also waiting for tonight’s premiere of Vagabond. Anyone else? 🙂
Yes to Vagabond. Just got back home so let me unwind first.
I began watching Camellia in the plane. The mystery’s at the beginning. We don’t know if we’re watching a crime scene in the past or future but … SPOILER ALERT….
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both murdered girl and heroine wore same kind of bracelet. Murdered girl is covered by white sheet.
And the cop, the lead guy, entered the scene in slow motion AS IF he was about to see the shock of his life.
Interesting start. Is this a romcom???!!!
How interesting your comments make this show seem! I’ll not be able to watch it for a few more days. I don’t mind spoilers so I’ll come by and read ya.
Okay. Let me finish watching the show. I took an early morning jog to get my body clock synchronized to Eastern Standard Time. (How I miss my morning jogs! I already see the early signs of autumn.) Jetlag will hit me later.
It’s called a thriller rom com on my site! So there’s a genre for it now.
I didn’t buy that’s her. Show wants us to think so but way too obvious about it.