Recs from my flist

[scottishlass]

Now that I have totally fallen in love with Korean sageuks I want some recs from you all.
So far I have seen Sungkyunkwan Scandal, Queen InHyeon's Man, The Princess Man, Rooftop Prince and of course Faith and Arang & The Magistrate (and if those two don't give me a HEA I'll run amok).

Long time ago I had started Legend, Damo and Iljimae but found them too heavy with too many cast members and just far too long. I love my happy endings, so please rec sageuk dramas between 16 to 20/24 eps long and a happy ending with the main OTP together.

Thank you :)

Comments

[janajanc.livejournal.com]

I've only seen Huyn Bin's dramas no matter how they end, so I definitely recommend Secret Garden! It's been two years I've watched a k-drama because I can't get over all the emotions for a long time after finishing it, haha :) Now I feel like watching some new and thanks to your Faith craze I plan to start with Faith - probably in a week to be sure I won't wait for the last episodes. Regarding k-dramas, I wouldn't be able to endure the waiting :))

[scottishlass.livejournal.com]

I saw Secret Garden, it wasn't bad and I actually could stand HB in it LOL though I was soooo shipping for the female lead and Director-nim (Philip Lee).

[janajanc.livejournal.com]

I quess I was the opposite - the Director character was so perfect and understanding I couldn't stand him :) All in all, maybe my fav male character was Oska, haha :))

[scottishlass.livejournal.com]

Perfection and tall = my kind of guy LOL

[lb-klove.livejournal.com]

I personally started my love affair with Queen Seon Deok. It is long, does not end happy at all and a total cry fest. I mean, I cried so hard, like somebody I actually know died. But I loved it. I will not rewatch it, just to keep my sanity intact. From what I have seen, most sageuks do not end well by definition. I liked the one called Warrior Baek Dong Soo (I believe this is the name). They should have it on dramafever and drama crazy). And I think this one was short, about 20 episodes or so. If you are not drenched in tears at the end of any sageuks, it is probably a fusion type of drama.

If you want something more current, watch Padam, Padam. A strong and meaningful drama. If you want something cute, about love - Coffee Prince.

[scottishlass.livejournal.com]

I think fusion sageuk is more my style. :)

I loved Coffee Prince, Gong Yu is one of my favourite kdrama actors ever since he played that crazy punk in My Teacher Friend :)

[ladysaotome.livejournal.com]

If you like Gong Yu, did you check out Big?

[scottishlass.livejournal.com]

Yes I did but I want to wait till I start watching it in one big marathon. :)

[craxycat-76.livejournal.com]

Oh WBDS...how I am in hate with that show. They made me fall in love with Choi Min Soo (coincidentally he was in Faith too, SO awesome I think I love him) course the writers Imo just missed on all fronts the ending *holds in a scream* I still haven't forgiven the misstep. They extended the show (I think it was 29 eps?) which made a few useless throw away ep's of pretty pretty boys so I didn't complain...until the end.

Bastards. Still haven't watched the very last 'over view' wrap up ep I am pretty sure that this hurts the writers a lot *grin* You are right about them more than likely ending in a sad way, which is why QIHM was such a breath of fresh air.

[lb-klove.livejournal.com]

I hated the end. What the f? The boys were so cute, though! I think that without big sacrifice and suffering, they can not have any sageuk.

[craxycat-76.livejournal.com]

And amazingly sageuk dramas are where all the ratings are. Are the Korean masses just itching for unhappy endings or what?

[scottishlass.livejournal.com]

Oh I'm not touching WBDS .. can't stand unhappy ending atm and it is way too long. I already ffwd through the last teps of TPM because it dragged on :(

[craxycat-76.livejournal.com]

Oh but JCW is pretty...I remember before I gave it a try thinking 'why did they give the part to him?' Then I saw the light (Or him shirtless whichever) I didn't think the casting was off after that.

[ladysaotome.livejournal.com]

Like you, I prefer fusion sageuk's with HEAs. So I've only seen the same ones you listed. But I can rec tons of other good Korean dramas from recently. I see you already saw Secret Garden. Other ones I've highly enjoyed are Dream High (the 1st - avoid the 2nd at all costs), A Gentleman's Dignity, Brilliant Legacy (aka Shining Inheritance), Shut Up Flower Boy Band, . Oh - My Girlfriend is a Gumiho has sageuk-type flashbacks but isn't quite a fusion. Lie to Me (so many kisses!!) & Marry Me Mary were both epic-chemistry romances, though the plots themselves went off the deep end. And Me Too Flower & You've Fallen For Me (aka Heartstrings) were cute.

[scottishlass.livejournal.com]

I loved A gentleman's Dignity (Jang Dong Gun was my ever first Hallyu crush in '2009 - Lost memories', closely followed by Kang Dong-Won)

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

I think My girlfriend is Gumiho sounds like something along the lines of what you liked and listed.

My favourire sageuk of all times is Chuno though. And from the same makers - Conspiracy in the Court. Conspiracy is also a shorter drama which suits you, but Chuno is less "complex" and has a happier ending (my OTP was all together alive).

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Oh, and Return of Iljimae is and understated good drama, better than Iljimae IMHO.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Chuno is 24 eps,
Conspiracy in the Court - 8 eps
Return of Iljimae - 24 eps

[scottishlass.livejournal.com]

Oh haven't heard of that one - thanks :)

[scottishlass.livejournal.com]

I've put My Girlfriend is a Gumiho on my to watch list as I have noticed it's with Shin Min-Ah and the guy from King2Hearts :)
Will also check out Chuno and Conspiracy of the Court :)

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I second Chuno (also known as Slave Hunters)!

Only 24 eps, OTP ends up together.

It follows three characters - one is Dae Gil, a noble whose house was burned down by slaves and who's since become a slave hunter. He's not a nice person but he is tormented by the memory of Un Nyun, the slave woman he loved (and who loved him) and whom he lost. The other is Tae Ha, a general framed for treason and made a slave who goes on the run to protect the son of his prince. And there is Un Nyun, who has been pretending to be a noblewoman with her brother, who runs away from an arranged marriage and her paths cross with Tae Ha.

I felt pretty sorry for Dae Gil, but I shipped TH/UN like a madwoman. He was so amazing to her - he actually reminded me a lot of Choi Young, now that I think about it. And the whole aristocrate-turned-slave/slave-turned-aristocrat aspect of the OTP really got me.

Have a shippy MV:



I did a short unspoilery rec post here:

http://dangermousie.livejournal.com/2007504.html

[scottishlass.livejournal.com]

I tihnk I will try out Chuno, even though I really don't like Lee Da-Hae ever since her My Girl! times. The only time I really liked her acting and her character was in Robbers.

:)

[lb-klove.livejournal.com]

Just thought of something - Dr Jin, yhe original japanese one is amazing. Don't go near Korean version, you'll throw up.

[back2real.livejournal.com]

What about Hong Gil Dong? It's fusion saeguk, probably one of the first. Not exactly a happy ending, but I loved it. And it doesn't end like crap, as so many. I loved The Four Kings/Tae wan sa sshin ki(?), you might want to give it another try.

[scottishlass.livejournal.com]

I tried HGD but that is too fusion for me as it reminds me of Joseon goes steam punk LOL
I think I will try out Chuno and Moon that embraces the sun. I would also try out Return of Iljimae but the links are dead :(