First episode: success! I love it already. And now, on with the analysis!
Warning: there will be some spoilers and (biased) comparisons to It Started with a Kiss, the Taiwanese take on Tada Kaoru’s manga Itazura na Kiss.
Honestly, I was not planning on watching a Korean drama anytime soon, but I stumbled upon this one without any background knowledge…except the fact that this is Kim Hyun Joong’s latest drama series. So, when I saw the forest, fairytale-like setting, a sleeping girl under a tree, and a glowing white horse in the first 10 minutes, I thought I was watching a Korean rendition of Alice in Wonderland! This opening scene does not the jump-straight-into-the-action kind of beginning like other drama series, nor does it have any correlation to its original manga and Taiwanese version counterparts, but it is without a doubt a very effective opening. It gives the audience a quick perspective of the two main characters: Baek Seung Jo (played by Kim) and his cold, down-to-earth personality, Oh Ha Ni (played by Jung So Min) and her hyperactive imagination, and the vast distance between the two characters.
So far, Seung Jo has already captured my heart in some ways. Kim expertly plays the part of a stoic, well-groomed student who walks around with the confidence of an elite. Clearly, the only reason he’s popular and idolized must be because of his flower boy appearance and good grades. His minimal amount of airtime also contributes to the charm of a distant and mysterious demeanor. Thus, although he has a rotten personality, I am still intrigued by this character. He definitely surpasses Jiang Zhi Shu in the Taiwanese version. Lacking the same demeanor and appearance of a rich-boy, Joe Cheng’s impersonation of Zhi Shu only came off as annoying and stuck up in my opinion; he was not charming in any way.
I have also taken a liking towards Ha Ni (I always think of “honey” when I hear her name ^^) . I love characters with wild, exaggerated fantasies and facial expressions, and Jung seems to be one of the few characters with a spectacular talent in this area. Now, Jung’s character is supposed to be somewhat like a simpleton who is obsessed with top male student at her school. I think Ariel Lin’s role of Yuan Xiang Qin in the Taiwanese version did a…decent job, but she was more of a klutz and seemed rather stupid (I apologize for the bluntness). Jung, on the other hand, shows us that Ha Ni maybe obsessed with Seung Jo and may not be the sharpest tool in the shed, but she is not a simple or a weak individual. She may not have good grades/do well on tests, but she has an interest in art (I don’t recall Xiang Qin having any extracurricular activities). She can also tolerate public humility and maintain a cheerful smile even after all of her hardships.
Lee Tae Sung plays the love-sick Bong Joon Gu who tries to woo Ha Ni. Also not the sharpest tool in the shed, Joon Gu is not someone to be trifled with. His ruffian appearance easily allows him quickly interchange between the delinquent and love-sick teenager that he is. His Taiwanese counterpart Jin Yuan Feng (played by Jiro Wang) is also a very comical, easy-going, and dedicated character. Personally, I think Yuan Feng is the only character from the Taiwanese version that is on par with the character in the Korean version. However, I do approve of Lee’s comical approach to his character than Wang’s; it seems more sincere and realistic rather than Wang’s exaggerated expressions that seems to be more fanciful, the kind that can be only found in a drama or a manga.
And now, secondary characters. First of all, Ha Ni’s two female friends seem to be the loyal friends that one would confide secrets and discuss personal issues with instead of the gossiping and superficial friends Xiang Qin seemed to have in the Taiwanese version. However, Joon Gu’s gang appears to be more distant from their leader in the sense that they are solely there for numerical support in a fight rather than emotional support, as is the case for Yuan Feng. The parents are all the happy-go-lucky kind of people that gives the house a sense of warmth and fun that every student needs~ But, aside from fun and games, there is also a strong sense of support and altruism, and the value/appreciation for loved ones. I have a feeling that I will be enjoying these parent-child interactions in their humble abode ^^
Overall, this seems like a great drama to watch, much better than the Taiwanese version that I didn’t even finish because it was moving too slowly -_-“
A Patch of Sunshine 