Mischievous Kiss Ep 7: Heart-felt emotions

Before I get started, I just wanted to say…THANK YOU for all your support and love! I’m really touched and motivated to become even better now! I really appreciate it. Keep on coming back for more recaps~ (This is what happens when I get too happy and I can’t focus on blogging. Is this a good thing? Bad thing? Well, I have no idea. You guys decide ^^).

And on with the recap~

Oh Ha Ni and Baek Seung Jo are off to college…and Seung Jo is getting hit on by Yoon He Ra, a beautiful, intelligent, and athletic girl–basically everything he sees in a girl…or, maybe everything he thought he saw in a girl? Anyways, Ha Ni certainly thinks the former (yet we all know it’s the latter, right?). Perhaps this is also why she is unable to let go of Seung Jo and move on and instead chooses to stalk him around campus and join in a tennis club even though she has never played the sport before. Despite the fact that she is basically the…club’s clown and runs around picking up the loose tennis balls, I really have to admire this girl’s determination and loyalty to Seung Jo. Ha Ni perseveres even though Seung Jo has never properly returned her feelings (he actually plays with them in pretty cruel ways). Maybe you guys see an unwanted clingy wanna-be girlfriend, but I know that I’ll never be able to pursue a crush like this (the public humiliation of having a love letter GRADED like an essay would’ve been too much for me to handle–refer back to episode…1?).

And I doubt He Ra would be able to persist as long as Ha Ni in her “quest to get Seung Jo’s affections.” Sure, a pretty and smart girl would probably have more efficient methods of winning a guy’s heart, but where is the fun in that? Besides, the only way she looks good is if she stands next to Ha Ni, and that’s where you’ll find that she’s prettier, smarter, better at tennis, and seems to be more in sync with Seung Jo (seems like a put down to Ha Ni, eh?). But that’s only on a first glance. If you look deeper, I think you’ll find that only Ha Ni will eagerly sacrifice her time to work a part-time job in order to get enough money to buy Seung Jo a present, that only Ha Ni can smile every day and try to make the people around her happier and live a more exciting life even after being put down by Seung Jo on a daily basis.

I guess this is why I love Ha Ni’s character so much (she definitely has more depth than her ISWAK counterpart) and perhaps this is why I always feel sad when I see her cry. I can’t say that I can relate to her situation, but I do feel the pain that she experiences (albeit at a smaller intensity). And I’m glad to admit that I actually did shed a few tears when she was leaving the Baeks’ house, something that I don’t think I could ever do for Ariel Lin even if she cries a whole ocean for me. Some quick notes about what made me cry in this scene: the music was absolutely fantastic–beautiful instrumental with a melancholy twist, and the fact that the singer seems to be pouring her soul out while singing this song; the mom’s personality reminds of Ha Ni, so it was like a double-whammy of sadness for me; also, since when do guys, especially middle-aged dads, get watery eyes and hug their best friends?

Anyways, Ha Ni doesn’t have it all bad. She’s definitely making a huge impact on Seung Jo’s life, giving it more excitement and fun. Even when he found out that she was leaving, I got the sense that Seung Jo was already missing her and was not that thrilled at the thought of having to return to that boring, uneventful lifestyle he had before. So, Seung Jo, my good man, can you really let Ha Ni go this easily? Are you sure you won’t regret this in the future? Because if she leaves now, she might as well be gone for good.

And even if things don’t work out well with Seung Jo, Ha Ni still has Bong Joon Gu, even though she sometimes gets annoyed at his persistence and constantly puts her on the spot. At first, I thought he was there just for comic relief with his futile, one-sided obsession for Ha Ni, like his counterpart in ISWAK. However, his character also has a lot of depth. Like Ha Ni, he genuinely cares for someone who is unable to return his feelings. He’s committed to literally sacrificing his life in order to ensure Ha Ni’s safety and well-being…and happiness (how many men have you come across like that in your lifetime, huh, especially to someone who can’t return his feelings?)! It’s amazing that Ha Ni still hasn’t fallen for him.

Random pictures from the episode

I have a few more pictures that I’d like to share with you all, but I have no idea how to incorporate them into this blog post. So, I have decided to just put them here. Enjoy~

Cute~ I think this picture most accurately represents the relationship between the mom and Ha Ni. Gotta love them 🙂

LOVE~ This reminds me so much of Romeo and Juliet! 😀

Mischievous Kiss Ep 6: Ha Ni Fighting!

For some reason, this episode seemed to have showed basically all of the old and new hardships in Oh Ha Ni’s life. It always saddens me to see Ha Ni depressed and on the verge of crying. But that’s OK! She got into Parang University, right? Ha Ni can do whatever she sets her mind to! G-Oh Ha Ni! Fighting! You can do it!

As I mentioned before, Ha Ni showed her viewers a different…emotion…than her usual sweet, happy-go-lucky expression. Because of this drastic change, I was surprised at how depressed I felt upon seeing Ha Ni all down in the dumps. It kind of made me feel like all the joy in the drama was sucked out because she was depressed and sulking; I nearly cried just seeing her try to hold back the tears. And that’s when I realize that Ha Ni plays a very crucial role in keeping the atmosphere bright and dandy (as if that wasn’t obvious before). Jung So Min is an amazing actress. Keep up the good work!

But her little wedding fantasy and the graduation were a different story. She returned to normal, to the Ha Ni that we all know and love with her wild imaginations and accident-prone personality. I never thought I’d be so glad to just see her smiling again. But, then again, she was at her dream wedding with Baek Seung Jo, so how could she not be happy? And besides, they both looked pretty good together in front of the alter if I do say so myself ^^

And now, for some more comparisons to the Taiwanese version It Started with a Kiss (this will probably be the last time I’ll be comparing Mischievous Kiss to ISWAK because, honestly speaking, I gave up on watching ISWAK at right about this point. I truly tried so hard to watch it, but it didn’t work out. So, from here on out, I won’t have anymore insight on the story’s plotline).

First of all, I loved the way Mischievous Kiss portrayed the relationship between Ha Ni and her two best friends, Jung Joo Ri and Dok Go Min Ah. I personally loved this scene because it fitted so well into the drama, both in terms of the authenticity of the emotions and the probability that something similar would happen in reality. I could definitely imagine myself in the same position as Joo Ri (and I have been there, especially since most of my friends got into some Ivy League college and I didn’t) and in Ha Ni/Min Ah’s position trying to comfort a depressed friend. In that sense, I really enjoyed their little group bonding in the classroom at the dead of night 🙂 Sadly, I don’t think I can say the same thing for Yuan Xiang Qin and her group of friends though. Last time I remembered, her friends were the kind of friends that bugs you non-stop 24/7 and helps spread gossips and rumors about you because they’re too shocked and surprised to keep their voices down. I don’t recall a group bonding like the one in Mischievous Kiss, but even if it did happen, it wouldn’t have been as genuine, emotion-wise.

At the end of the episode, a new character was introduced to the drama: Yoon He Ra, the college girl who has a crush on Seung Jo. I have to say, Lee Si Young is definitely a lot prettier than Tiffany Xu, her counterpart in ISWAK, DEFINITELY (don’t try to argue because you know it’s true). So, if the Seung Jo character starts falling head over heels for He Ra (which we all know is impossible at his current…emotional situation), I would actually sort of believe that versus Jiang Zhi Shu falling for Pei Zi Yu. Well, showdown between two girls for a flower boy. Let’s see how this goes, shall we?

Random Corner–Yellow feels like going on a tangent! ^^

^ This scene is from Ha Ni’s failed attempt to run away. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I really love the light effect. Top two pictures: here, Ha Ni is asking Seung Jo for permission to continue staying at his place. The dark lighting on his face gives him an air of mischief, an almost sinister feeling because, I have to admit, he does have the power to accept or reject Ha Ni, and if he does reject her, there’s nothing she can do. And, of course, Ha Ni here looks like a sweet little angel in the light, waiting for Seung Jo to pass judgment on her. Bottom two pictures: Here, Seung Jo has already told her that she is allowed to stay, and doesn’t his face look so angelical now that he’s made the right decision (aka: the decision the audience wants to see)? He’s even smiling because he’s satisfied with his decision ^^ Ha Ni, on the other hand, now as that dark lighting that was on Seung Jo’s face…even though it’s not as strong in intensity compared to Seung Jo’s lighting. Anyways, I can’t help but wonder if Ha Ni is plotting something here because the dark lighting and that smile/holding-back-the-laughter face. Although we know Ha Ni won’t try anything sinister, you can’t help wondering. Tis amazing, the magic of light, and this is by far one of the most amazing ones I’ve come across.

Highlight from the episode:

(Honestly, I just wanted to include this picture somewhere ^^)

First Impressions: Mischievous Kiss

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 -_-“