First Look: The Flower in Prison

In spite of a story about something as desolate as prison and a name as overtly dramatic as Flower in Prison 옥중화, it manages to come across as hopeful and pleasantly engaging, especially after 15-year-old actress Jung Da Bin's appearance, making for one of the rarer moments where I seriously wouldn't mind that she stay on, though it would be weird opposite a much older Go Soo.

Episode 1 depicts the harsh realities of prison. A man and a woman caught meeting in secret are severely beaten until one of their cellmates, Jung Nan Jung (Park Joo Mi), heedlessly confronts the abusive chief. 

As it turns out, Jung Nan Jung is the head mistress of Sosoru, the most famous gisaeng house in Hanyang and she is released shortly after the incident. As a thank you to warden Ji Chun Deuk, Nan Jung extends an invitation to Sosoru, which he heartily accepts.

Somewhere in the distance, a pregnant woman and her companion are chased by men in uniform. Her companion sacrifices his life in a last ditch effort to buy time while the pregnant woman begs anyone and everyone for help.

She collapses into Ji Chun Deuk's arms leaving him no choice but to take her in. Unfortunately, the pregnant woman's injuries prove fatal as she draws her final breath upon giving birth to a baby girl.

First Impressions: Oddly enough, seeing a young Ok Nyeo (Jung Da Bin) go about her seemingly mundane activities is plenty entertaining, converting a cold hard prison into a homely abode. 

Her adoptive family may be unconventional but their quirkiness certainly creates an interesting dynamic with Ji Chun Deuk as the father figure lacking in ways made up for by his sensitivity. 

There is also the renegade scholar serving as Ok Nyeo's literary teacher, thieves that share tips of their trade and female wardens who are both strict and motherly. But of course, Ok Nyeo steals the show as the most captivating character bringing a level of complexity to an otherwise innocent and cheery persona.

I'm a few episodes in and Flower in Prison doesn't seem to be the type of drama that keeps you at the edge of your seat, meaning I don't feel compelled enough to finish all 50 episodes but for what it's worth, it is a decent production.

As for the one-dimensional bad guy who will stop at nothing to kill Ok Nyeo, my bet is that he is her father or uncle because clearly, there has to be some connection there.

For synopsis, cast and ratings, see 2016 k-drama listing.

Small Town Adventures

Set during the Republican era, Small Town Adventures 茧镇奇缘 is a novel-turned-drama adaptation about the murder cases surrounding the Huang family. The cast is led by Victoria Song (Ice Fantasy), Jiang Jin Fu (Legend of Qin), Zhang Zhi Xi (Three Heroes and Five Gallants) and Yang Yang (Three Lives Three Worlds). 

Victoria Song as Du Cun Xiao relies on her investigative skills to unravel the mysteries behind the deaths that ultimately leads to the truth behind her own identity.

For synopsis, cast and ratings, see 2016 popular c-dramas.

The Flower in Prison

Place a legal drama in a historical setting and we have MBC's latest weekend drama premiering Apr 2016 called The Flower in Prison 옥중화. It centers around Ok Nyeo, a genius born and raised in prison who grows up to fight injustice through her knowledge of the law. 

Jin Se Yeon and Go Soo star as the leads in this 50-episode sageuk. I like them both but prison and lawyers already set a tone that is too serious for my taste. On the other hand, I have seen enough k-dramas to know that the caste system depicted on TV leaves the commoners with practically no rights so I am a bit curious to see how they will tackle the subject matter. Watch on Viki.

For synopsis, cast and ratings, see 2016 kdrama listing. 

Source: NaverBlog

First Look: Disguiser

I started Disguiser 伪装者 after experiencing bouts of withdrawals from Nirvana in Fire and the feels from seeing the cast again is pretty awesome. That said, comparisons between the two are practically a given but in a good way. 

Episode 1 begins with a sharp-suited Wang Man Cun (Wang Ou) who is alluring yet ruthless as she leads the torture and decimation of an entire unit that harbored spies against the Japanese regime. 

A cryptic telegraph flashes onscreen about a faulty machine and the urgent need to send in new mechanics to repair.

Back in Hong Kong, Kuomintang operatives assassinate a Japanese official while the happy-go-lucky university student Ming Tai (Hu Ge) inadvertently saves a high-ranking Kuomintang agent from his own assassination. Spy thrillers thrive on suspense so with as little information as possible, I end my episode 1 introduction.

First Impressions: I was half asleep when I started watching but Wang Man Cun (Wang Ou) shooting people in cold blood like it's nothing was an instant awakener.

The Republican era is a time of change and warfare not only troubled by clashes in internal politics but also fraught with the terrors of foreign invasion. It is a dangerous time indeed and often portrayed on TV through graphic torture scenes. I worry for the protagonists because of the pivotal roles that they will come to play, yet it's only the beginning, a very promising one at that.

On a lighter note, it's as if Hu Ge has gone a complete transformation from the sickly Mei Changsu to become the chipper and dapper Ming Tai, though retaining the former's unrivaled intelligence. I must admit, Mei Changsu was such an extraordinary character but I like the non doom-and-gloom version of Ming Tai.

There is also a slight shift in bromance now that Hu Ge and Jin Dong play real brothers whereas Wang Kai gets downgraded from royalty to household servant. Not complaining though because he seems to treated more like family than anything else. The more I watch the more I go, "He's here too?"

For synopsis, cast and ratings, see 2015 c-drama listing.

Rookie Agent Rouge

Believe it or not, the sheer number of films depicting the war and the era when China embarked on its path to communism is too many to mention and I tend to steer clear of them because such dramas always strike me as having an agenda other than entertainment. Nevertheless, the ones I'd seen rarely included an idol cast.

Disguiser bucked the trend by breaking into mainstream popularity. Now, there's Hunter & Sparrow joining the fray and every one of them is headlined by today's top stars like Hu Ge, Huang Xuan and Li Yi Feng.

Rookie Agent Rouge 胭脂 is no different starring Zhao Li Ying, Lu Yi and Yuan Wen Kang and it is set to premiere in September. Finally, a title that is more than one word, clever and to the point. Is it actually a spy thriller with a touch of comedy or is that too far-fetched?

Rookie Agent Rouge follows the story of a warm-blooded student activist with a burning desire to serve her country. She becomes a Nationalist but is quickly discouraged by the rampant corruption within their ranks until she meets an upstanding member of the Communist party who helps her become a true patriot.

On another note, Yuan Wen Kang got on my radar after watching Imperial Doctress and it's good to see him in different projects as of late, maybe a lead role down the line?

For synopsis, cast and ratings, see 2016 popular c-dramas.

Source: FSBUS, Cri

Sparrow

Based on an original novel by Hai Fei 海飞, Sparrow 麻雀 is a 2016 Chinese spy thriller set in the 1940s and it is expected to air this year on Hunan TV, going head to head with Zhao Li Ying's spy drama Rookie Agent Rouge. 

Chen Shen (Li Yi Feng) leads a double life as he works under his friend and comrade Bi Zhong Liang (Zhang Lu Yi) as part of a specialized task force that captures anti-Japanese revolutionaries. Chen Shen's codename is Sparrow and his real mission is to bring down the Japanese conspirators.

Despite being explored many times before, the undercover premise never gets old and the stakes are particularly elevated especially in the context of the Sino-Japanese war. Sparrow has the potential to become innately complex in terms of characterization and storyline and if done right, it can prove to be a breakthrough in Li Yi Feng's career as he delves away from his usual roles. 

I realize Zhang Ruo Yun from Monster Killer, who is popping up everywhere these days, is in this as well suggesting a love triangle to further complicate things. The stills look legit and I sure hope the drama doesn't disappoint.

For synopsis, cast and ratings, see 2016 popular c-dramas.

Source: Duitang

First Look: Remember - War of the Son

Remember - War of the Son is about a son's unwavering resolve to save his father and it doesn't get any more personal than that. 

Episode 1 begins with a man helplessly dragged to his own execution, which turns out to be just a nightmare but one that suggests an impending reality. 

Seo Jin Woo (Yoo Seung Ho) represents the man on death row and their exchange of words indicate that it is not their first meeting. Seo Jae Hyuk (Jun Kwang Ryul) is incarcerated for murder in cold blood, yet he does not have the slightest recollection of committing the act nor does he recognize the man standing before his very eyes. Flashback to events leading up to the present and we have the makings of an epic drama.

First Impressions: The story is compelling and the stakes are high. I was pounding my fists at the injustice because to exploit a man's already fragile memories is beyond low. This could have been an emotional rollercoaster by delving into dementia alone, but no, that's not depressing enough.

Clearly, the baddies lack a moral compass, yet at the helm is a psychopathic brat who has nothing going for him other than the fact that he is born to the right family. Yes Nam Goong Min can act, embodying a truly despicable human being with a warped sense of entitlement.

The first few episodes are gut-wrenching as Jin Woo's world crumbles. His desperate attempts at fighting back are crushed by men that have too much power with the only consolation being the overused trope of possessing genius abilities to tip the scales every so lightly.

I never understood the hype around Yoo Seung Ho and twisted as it may be, I only watched Son's War to justify crying foul over its towering ratings compared to my current fave, One More Happy Ending.

Needless to say, I was wrong because it is well-made, well-acted and if it follows through, it could certainly be something great.

Park Sung Woong deserves special mention as well after being a veteran supporting cast all too often. I am seeing him in a new light as Park Dong Ho, a character that has many layers, rough on the edges but oozing with charisma, and those suits are a winner!

For synopsis, cast and ratings, see 2016 kdrama listing.