Panda and Hedgehog Episode 1 Review

    The title of this drama that I’ve just started is called Panda and Hedgehog,  판다양과 고슴도치 (Pandayanggwa Goseumdochi). It aired last year from August 18 till October 7 of 2012. This romantic comedy series consists of 16 episodes. The first episode so far was  just okay for me, others might disagree. Although the first episode wasn't as satisfactory as I though, there is something about the drama that wants me to keep watching it and finish it to the end. If anything, it was probably that that little scene at the end of episode 1, usually happens, right? The "cliffhanger". Now, if you’re a fan of K-pop and K-dramas, you’ll probably notice that the main character is Lee Donghae from Super Junior. Since I'm bringing Donghae up, he might also be another factor, since I'm such a big fan of Super Junior. 

What's it about?

The story is basically about Go Seung Ji (Donghae), a patissier, who's been an orphan since his childhood. His personality matches his nickname hedgehog “gruff and prickly”. Towards the end of episode 1, he meets the female lead, Pan Da Yang (Yoon Seung Ah). Her personality is sweet natured and easy going who also has the nickname Panda. Hence the title of the drama, Panda and Hedgehog and her name, literally. Panda hires Seung Ji as the new patissier of her café, Panda Café. They team up and work together to make her café a success while also competing with the popular Saint- Honore bakery.

Now that’s just the basic story line. As a person who knows K-dramas, that’s not just going to be what Panda and Hedgehog is going to be about, there’s always more to the story and things always get complicated.

At first watch, the drama was okay for me. Of course, I liked Donghae’s character, a cool character with edge. The opening scene is him chasing a guy out of a bakery shop he works at. Then the female lead is also introduced, played by Yoo Seung Ah. I personally didn’t like her at first. I don’t like how she acts “cute”, but hopefully she'll eventually grow on me..hopefully. But her character is introduced when she is in a panda suit passing out flyers to advertise her café. You’ll see throughout the first episode that she struggles to make ends meet with her failing business.

The next character introduced is Choi Won Il, the president of Saint Honore Bakery. He returns from studying in America. From the interaction with his patissier father and his doting mother, you can tell the relationship they have isn’t very close. He definitely shows in his actions that he's not very fond of them. His sister on the other hand, is shown favor and it seems their brother and sister relationship is friendly and easy going.

Another character in the beginning of the story is Seung Ji's gradpa and owner of a bakery shop. His character is shown with a older female and they possibly could be lovers. Now I know for a fact that the man Seung Ji works for isn’t just some boss. He has some significant part in the story, so I anticipate when the story really unfolds and what role he has.

When Pan Da puts her resume in to apply to Saint Honre Bakery, Won Il spots her picture while looking at the resumes and immediately recognizes her as the girl who went to high school with him. His first and last love. Towards the end of the episode, he goes to see her at her café, but soon leaves when he sees her in the arms of the handsome Seung Ji. Of course he takes the whole situation as a misunderstanding.

   Overall the first episode was a little slow, but I think that’s to be expected as it is for most dramas. The first episode was obviously just the introduction of the characters and their situations. Since I already started on the second episode, I know that I’m going to watch all sixteen episodes. Luckily if this drama doesn’t reach my expectation, at least I get to see a lot of Donghae action!

Here are some screen shots from ep 1: 

That look

That smile

the cliffhanger of ep. 1

Flower Boy Next Door Review

Guess what this reviews about?? :D

I was going to do another review, but I just finished it so may as write about this review while it's fresh in my mind.

Flower Boy Next Door is a romantic comedy that consists of 16 episodes. A fun fact before we can get into the story, Flower Boy Next Door was actually based on a web toon comic called, I Watch Him Everyday.  The lead in this drama is Park Shin Hye's character Go Dok Mi. Similar to some other character's she's played in the past, this character is a shy loner. Dok Mi loves to spend all her time in her apartment. She even works as an editor...at home. During her free time she likes to spy on her neighbor, Han Tae-Joon, who lives across from her building. Dok Mi copies his morning activities before he goes to work.

Then there's Enrique Geum, a very good looking genius artist, video game designer, and lover of soccer. He eventually is the one that catches Dok Mi spying on his brother who lives in the building across from our protagonist.

Oh Jin-Rak

Another important character that completes the later love triangle, is Oh Jin-Rak. He lives right next door to Dok Mi. Jin-Rak is a webtoon artist along with his drawing partner, Dong-Hoon, try to create an original story for a web comic to present to their editor. Just when Dok Mi thinks that she's able to live a peaceful and quiet life, another handsome man moves into the same building as her. With all these handsome men that surround her, it turns her world upside down and thus the story gets very interesting!

If I had to rate this drama, it was 1 1/2 in the beginning but as I continued to watch it, it spiked to a 4/5 stars. I didn't really like how the story first started. It was funny but creepy since Dok Mi

Go Dok Mi

would spy on her neighbor, her crush with whom she's never met before. That brings creepy stalker to a whole different level. Then she develops a friendship with Que Geum, who she doesn't even want to spend time with. I don't want to spoil the story line, but I really want to talk about the character Park Shin Hye plays. Once again, she plays a shy character that has good comebacks but doesn't express it in words. I love the actress but I just can't stand weak characters. Go Dok Mi eventually gets better at expressing herself but is annoying to the very end because she always puts everyone else before her...usually this is good. Not this time. It annoyed me so much..I was ready to rage quit on the drama -.-

Another character that was annoying was the protagonist's ex best friend. Cha Do Hwi. Unlike other antagonist’s in other dramas, she’s actually not that bad. Like I said before, she’s just plain annoying. She constantly tries to flirt with Jin Rak and even attempts to make him fall in love with her. But is constantly thwarted since he’s only interested in Dok Mi and doesn’t really care what she does. As a viewer, you might hate her or like her, guess it all depends on your perspective. But I think at the end of the drama, you’ll like her.

   So aside from the main female characters not being my cup of tea, the two characters I enjoyed was Que Geum, Dong Hoon (Jin Rak’s partner), and Watanabe (he’s not a major character in the series but he has a special charm that’s likeable). I believe that Que Geum’s childlike personality was the one thing made me like him so much. Him being good looking is a plus ;)  

Que Gueum. Didn't I tell you he was handsome? xD

I loved how he was so persistent throughout the series with Dok Mi. He never gave up; he even gave her a taste of her own medicine in the end. (Sorry spoilers!) He was cute, playful, and even immature most of the series but he also had those really touching and sweet sentimental moments that would probably make the fan girls swoon. Que Guem had that personal touch.

   Dong Hoon probably made it to my favorite list because he added to the comedy of the series. He wasn’t a major character but some of his ignorance bold upfront attitude in the series made me laugh. He’s also a character that you would least expect to be going through problem   

Now I know Watanabe isn’t a major character BUT he’s the best cook in the series and his character has brought most of the major characters together (he holds cooking classes at his apartment.); honestly, who doesn’t like a guy who cooks, right? ;)

As a viewer, I really enjoyed watching the characters mature and their character development.

of course there's a love triangle

Storyline wise, I didn’t feel like I HAD to watch the next episode at once. The episodes weren’t suspenseful like some other dramas I’ve watched. Each episode was good and I enjoyed them, but I guess not to the extent where I was dying to know what happened next. If anything it was the love of the characters that had me going back for more. The episodes were fun and the series itself was lighthearted with a touch of seriousness. And there wasn’t a really evil antagonist. Less stress for the viewer.

   All in all I fully enjoyed this series and highly recommend it to someone looking for a new drama to watch or for the fan girls who love “flower boys”.