Wrapping Up: You From Another Star

WAAAHHHH. You From Another Star finally came to a close. I'm just glad it ended on a happy note with hope for our OTP's future together.

From the onset, I was worried about how they were going to close a story like this one. Let's be honest, kdramas are not the best at explaining away mechanics of alternate universes or finding ways around fate in a believable and satisfying way (i.e. Rooftop Prince). So while You From Another Star left much to be desired in terms of explaining how Do Min-joon was able to travel back or if he got sick after that awesome kiss, I'm happy they had at least given us emotional closure, if not scientific or mythological closure.

This drama sure took us for a ride, in the most enjoyable way possible. The writing found the perfect balance of sweet, heart wrenching, and hilarious which resulted in well-rounded episodes. I truly appreciated how a lot of the heavier episodes were undercut by adorable and hilarious scenes that made dilemmas easier to bear. A lot of times, in kdramas, the latter third of a series would suddenly veer into melo territory because that's when all the conflicts are laid out on the table (or worse, they were given an extension they couldn't handle). I'm glad this drama was able to steer clear of this hurdle to serve us what it initially promised.

Somehow, I'm always pleasantly surprised by the dramas that sound wonky on paper but end up doing really well in execution. Just like I Hear Your Voice (courtroom drama/noona romance/supernatural powers) and Master's Sun (rom-com/horror/supernatural powers), two of my favorite dramas of 2013, You From Another Star (alien romance/noona romance/comedy/timeskip drama) sounds just as insane on paper, but squishing together three or four different genres apparently make for an amazing narrative. Ha.

As awesome as the story was, that does not take away from the fact that this drama had awesome leads. I've loved Kim Soo-hyun from the first time I saw him cry on Dream High. He is one of the best criers in kdramaland, seriously. Whenever I see him tearing up on screen, it feels like someone's digging into my chest to retrieve my heart. He is also fantastic with visual comedy, as is apparent in his last film Secretly Greatly (or Covertly Grandly, whichever title you want to call it). Both of these skills were put to great use in this drama.

 On the other hand, I did not have expectations of Jeon Ji-hyun because, to be honest, I haven't seen her in anything aside from My Sassy Girl which was over a decade ago. All I knew was that she was pretty awesome and awesomely pretty in that film. And in You From Another Star, she's proved that she is indeed both those things. I don't think the character of Cheon Song-yi would've worked quite as well with a lesser actress. It would've been too easy to play her wrong and to make her come off as irritating rather than endearing.

A happy surprise, as well, comes in the form of model-actor Ahn Jae-hyun, whose only previous credential is possibly a huge bunch of music videos. One in particular that I know him from is K.Will's "Please Don't" which he starred in alongside Seo In-guk. I have no idea what they're feeding these models nowadays, but a lot of today's up-and-coming young actors are off of Seoul's runways and fashion spreads. In the same vein as Lee Jong-suk, Sung Joon, and Kim Woo-bin, I can see Ahn Jae-hyun going the distance with his acting career. He was utterly adorable and believable in his hyung-worshiping (and E.T. fanboy) role that it took me awhile to digest the fact that he is actually older than Kim Soo-hyun.

So it's with a happy sigh that I leave this drama behind (or not quite behind, I think I will be re-watching the last two episodes all weekend long). As a last note, you know what would've made the finale even more awesome than it already was? To have been able to witness the reunions between Do Min-joon and Lawyer Jang and Yoon-jae. Can you imagine how sweet and adorable those events would've been?

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2NE1 returns tonight!

Being highly YG-biased, I have to admit that 2NE1's pending comeback is the only girl group comeback I care about. I have nothing against SNSD, but I am quite impartial to most of their members and their brand of music.

It's been years since 2NE1's last full-length album. Years. So allow me to express my utmost excitement for this album to drop. TONIGHT! Finally. 

YG has officially released all teaser photos for the new album entitled Crush, as well as the track list. Apparently, CL had some hand in writing lyrics for some of the songs and I am looking forward to hearing what a CL-penned track might sound like.

Also, this comeback comes hand-in-hand with a world tour and I need to find a way to get a hold of tickets without totally killing my bank account. I kinda want to be close enough to the stage to be able to see what they're wearing, but not close enough to regret the insane financial setback a month later. HA.

You know what would make this year even better? Winner's debut, a Lee Hi comeback, and a Big Bang comeback. Aaaaaahhhh. And maybe for the YG Family World Tour to head in this direction (not gonna happen, but no one said I need to be realistic when wishing for things).

Here are the Crush teaser photos and the track list.

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Ahn Jae-hyun just slays me!

Dropping a quick blog entry because I've been rolling on the floor laughing over the perfection of the E.T. joke on You From Another Star. I should've expected it to happen, but I didn't and thus was slapping my thighs as I obnoxiously laughed out loud at the scene. Repeatedly.

So, apparently, Elliott has found his E.T. Isn't that just the cutest?! Ahn Jae-hyun has been sooo perfect in this role so far and he's totally selling the teenage geek role despite the fact that he's older and taller than Kim Soo-hyun. And when he called him "uri Min-joon hyung," I just about died.

Looking forward to more projects from him. But in the meantime, off to watch that E.T. scene again. Ack. Min-joon, phone home!

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Joo Wan is my puppy, Kang sunbae please get lost

Shin Joo-yeon is an idiot.

I'm pretty sure that we're all head over heels in love with Joo Wan at this point in the story and we have been falling deeper and deeper in love with him for several episodes now. Unfortunately, his selfless acts of romance isn't working on Joo-yeon. For one reason or another, she's convinced she's in love with Kang sunbae (which is Wannie's fault, but was totally the right decision). Except, I don't think Joo-yeon knows her own heart enough to differentiate love from other strong emotions like admiration or attraction. I'm crossing my fingers that she snaps out of it soon because my heart is breaking for Wan. And, let's face it, Kang Tae-yoon is an ass.

Where Wan is selfless, Kang Tae-yoon is one of the most selfish characters I've ever come across in a drama. To the point where one has to ask whether he is indeed the second male lead and not the first. Truth be told, Wan's too-good-too-be-true character is very typical of second leads. In the same vein as Shin-woo hyung (You're Beautiful) and Kang Woo (Master's Sun), Joo Wan is always there for our main girl even if that means driving her to her date with another man. Or cooking her some hot soup only to allow her to give it to said man. Or the willingness to buy her flowers and rings and to tell her he loves her if that worthless man refuses to go a little extra way for her himself. Ugh. Joo Wan, be mine.

Tae-yoon, on the other hand, is cold and brusque and cares not one whit about Joo-yeon unless it's work related. He uses her to his advantage. He makes her stay in situations that are horribly uncomfortable for her because he's her boss and she has to be rational enough to leave her personal hurts behind and be professional like he is. He allows his past relationship with Oh Se-ryeong to hurt Joo-yeon when it would be so easy to expel her insecurity and fears with a single word. Typical first lead.

Dear drama overlords, please reassure me that Joo Wan is indeed the first lead and will sooner or later win the girl. Because, damnit, at this point, he really is starting to sound like the second lead (on paper, at least). And if Joo-yeon ends up with Kang sunbae, I'mma have to throw something. Preferably, something large and breakable.

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Wrapping Up: Prime Minister and I

For those who have yet to finish the drama, go back and return after you watch the final episode. There will be major spoilers ahead. In 3, 2... 1!

THAT DAMN ENDING. SERIOUSLY.

This drama was cutest when it gave us the fluff we were watching it for. Not the tear-jerking angst-driven plotlines. I swear to God, I loved this drama. But episode 17 was enough for me to want to slap the writer so hard she'd need her jaw realigned. For the most part, they delivered the story well and I cared enough for all the characters that I cried along with them to the very end. And that was the problem, all the crying to the very end. They dwelled in the tears for so goddamn long that by the time I had wiped my tears away, I didn't feel all that happy about the reunion anymore. And that fricking reunion. I expected hugs and kisses and all I got was a measly handshake. How dare you, Show? How dare you?!

Although I get why they ended that way, and I really do, but I don't care for it all too much. So yes, the show ended on a happy note where our adorable heroine and sexy Prime Minister reunited and "met" each other in a more positive note where the possibility of starting over was clear. But honestly, didn't we all just want to see them together and in love? Because they already fricking were in love. I don't care if the show gave me a limp-lipped kiss, but to give me no kiss at all in the finale? That's just plain cruel.

You were given a 1-episode extension and you still end with a handshake?! What a fricking travesty.

Anyyyywaayyyy... all the emotional and funny beats leading up to episode 17 were awesome and touching and they played with my emotions in the best way possible. And I now have so much more respect for Yoon-ah as an actress than I ever did before. And I've confirmed that Yoon Shi-yoon can move me with just a single look. Also, Lee Beom-soo is one sexy mofo. Having said that... I'm now off to denying episode 17 ever happened. I'm of the belief that the show gave us a sweet ending with adorable reunions and kisses all around, with Nam Da-jeong surrounded by her new family and the people who love her the most.

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