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Monday, April 11, 2011

Kdrama Obsession 2


Paradise Ranch
a.k.a. Paradise Meadow / Paradise Farm
Shim Changmin
Lee Yeon Hee
Yoo Ha Na
Joo Sang Wook


This is the first attempt of Max into acting.  Since this is the first time that he has ever acted lengthily, not counting his mostly cute stuff in Banjun Dramas and Vacation, I think that he was able to hold his own.  Of course, his co-stars were more seasoned actors and had contributed a lot to the overall delivery of this drama.  I also felt that his role was really fit for him and he wouldn't have much difficulty portraying it. This is a classic story for most of the koreanovelas I have watched.  There was just the slight twist that they had gotten married and divorced when they were still really young.  This is something you will watch if you want to take your mind off reality, get lost in sweet romantic moments, and drool over Max's physique (which has really developed well).

Here is our happy couple, Han Dong Joo (Max) and Lee Da Ji (Yeon Hee), who had gotten married at the age of 19 and 21 respectively (18 and 20 in our calendars).


Did I mention that they look quite good together?  It helps a lot that their heights match a bit, since Max is pretty tall (6'1 I think).  Anyway, they were madly in love, tried to elope, found that they need parental consent to marry, begged their families to allow them to get married, which they were able to do so.  It was lucky that Max's grandpa liked Da Ji, and I think since he is the eldest, what he says goes (per Korean custom).  So they had gotten married, lived a newly-weds life, except for the physical intimacy part (which I am surprised they were able to not do despite living together for 6 months).  Apparently, Dong Joo felt that Da Ji was too young for that and that he respected her too much.  Anyway, their story was fast forwarded to 6 years after (which makes Dong Joo 27 and Daji 25) and each have their own lives already. Da Ji was trying hard to be a vet at a small town in Jeju, while Dong Joo is a spoilt, rich heir and lived his life that way.  Da Ji is the breadwinner for her family (Dad and Little Sis), while Dong Joo was entirely dependent on his grandpa and Dad (and Mom).  As in the fate of all kdrama couples, they had met again, and since their history is not very favorable (I guess the divorce didn't end well), Dong Joo was showing huge amount of resentment during their first reunion.  While Da Ji was very glad to see Dong Joo, Dong Joo preferred to not have met her again.  Let me fast forward the story a bit (and will not digress to involve the nominal roles of 3rd party involvement from both sides), they ended up working a lot together, living together in Da Ji's farm (hence the title) and finding out that they had fallen in love all over again with the same person.  However, this time they are both more mature.  Dong Joo had tried to tease Da Ji, by cornering her and making her feel that he will be kissing her... only to say that as Da Ji mentioned that she is no longer the 19 year old girl, who only knew how to love him, she is an adult now with responsibilities to herself and her family, Dong Joo pointed out that he is also not the bumbling 21 year old man-child who only wanted to love her.  He wants to share her life, and that means everything in her life, which includes her dreams to keep the ranch, be a vet, be a good daughter and sister.

They had once again, ended up kneeling in front of their families, asking them to accept their relationship.  Of course, the elders had objected again, this time with more reason since they have already proven that they can't be together (divorced).  Here is where their maturity shows, asking them to accept their relationship, and promising that they will earn their trust again, and will not get married until they do.  Of course, 2 years after, Grandpa has gotten naughty and egged Dong Joo to go on vacation with Da Ji and  not come back until he is sure that there is a great-grandson... Hehehe...

Well, like I said, it is a pretty feel good story to watch.  Like many dramas, it is not perfect, there are definite points where many critics would have a field day tearing down.  But for me, I had a lot of fun watching it.  I laughed and smiled and squeeled with delight.  And that for me is the point of any drama...


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