Fantasy Couple, ep. 01-04

[oyceter]

Anna is a filthy rich woman who has spent several years (or most of her life? I can't tell) in the US. She's recently moved back to Korea, much to the dismay of her browbeaten, bullied husband, who married her for her money but who also seems to have loved her once. Jang Chul Soo is a handyman trying to pinch pennies, since he's raising his dead brother's three sons. They anti-meet-cute when he helps her with her car, and she mistakes him for a murderer and beats his head in with a shovel.

Eventually, she gets amnesia (my first amnesia drama! a milestone!), and he ends up convincing her she's his girlfriend to save on housekeeping bills and to get back the money she owes him.

Normally, this premise would have me hating the hero from the get-go. While I wasn't very fond of Jang Chul Soo in the beginning, I at least don't want to whap him multiple times because of his scheme, largely due to the slapstick tone of the drama. In the beginning, the humor is extremely broad -- Anna's snobbiness and meanness is hugely exaggerated, to the point where even I didn't like her, and I usually like "bitchy" women (scarequotes for problematics surrounding use of "bitchy" as descriptor, not to imply the women aren't actually mean). I have some problems with this, namely that the heroes of kdramas seem to be allowed to be alpha male and aggressive and often plain mean in a way heroines aren't; if heroines are, it has to be shown as being wrong. I was also completely unconvinced of the viability of Anna and Chul Soo as a couple, and I was (and am) bored by her husband's storyline.

That said, the third and fourth episode either improve tremendously, or I got used to the broad humor and started to like it. The entire thing with Anna knowing so little about housework that she makes things worse and not better is totally expected, but I still thought it was funny, largely because of Chul Soo's expressions. That, and the very cute laundry-in-a-tub scene.

Chul Soo's softening much faster than Anna is, despite Anna's (very few) moments of weakness, and that while the joke seems to be on Anna most of the time, it always ends up being on Chul Soo. Well, that, and they're hilariously cute when they bond over finding money. I am even growing fond of the snooty way she tosses her hair.

Am having the same class issues with this one that I have had with most of the other series I've seen (moral uprightness of being poor coupled with fetishization of the filthy rich lifestyle), ditto with race issues (socializing with white people as sign of breeding and wealth, knowledge of English as shortcut to coolness). But it's making me laugh, so I will probably keep watching.

Also, this show makes me crave jajangmyeon like crazy, even though I have only had it once in my life. Must find restaurant around here with it, so I can have some, though may settle for zhajiangmien if I can't find jajangmyeon.

Comments

[oyceter]

Oooo... I was reading your posts on Lovers and waiting to see what you thought of later episodes before starting (esp. since I already have a huge list of kdramas to watch...).

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

I'm on ep 10, and would largely be saying the exact same thing. Except, the secondary hero's hussy partner/gf/whatever? Is about the most awesome thing ever...and we're SUPPOSED to think she's cool, and we aren't remotely meant to look down on her for being a "loose woman."

One of my concerns seems to be coming true, unfortunately, but I'm waiting to see how it plays out.

[oyceter]

Oh! Awesome!

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

it's basically NOT doing everything that annoys me most of the time about modern kdramas...while still having all the elements. Most(that I've seen) go out of their way to manipulate you into disliking the other girl, too, but this one actually makes it so that you feel guilty wanting the hero with the heroine, even before you learn about the pregnancy. Of the main characters(not including parents) she's actually probably my least favorite, not because she's boring or there's anything wrong with her, but because the others are all just a little more interesting, but I'll be VERY upset if she ends up sad and lonely.

[oyceter]

Ooo ok! (averting eyes from reading too closely for spoilers)

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

I didn't say anything that isn't prominently feautured in even the briefest summaries or descriptions of the show.

[oyceter]

Oh ok, cool, thanks.

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

I try to be good that way. I often fail, but I try(though I consider anything from first eps/first manga volumes to be fair game, as those are usually setup)