Treasure Trove (Part 1)

By thundie • January 21, 2010

One of the things that I hope to do consistently on Thundie’s Prattle is to share my love for dramas (and movies) that tend to slip under people’s radars. Gems that have burrowed into my heart even though they may have poor ratings and are rarely talked about. These little or obscure dramas may not boast a star-studded cast, but they wow me with their superlative writing and move me with the heartfelt performances. All of them make me laugh and cry.

Since it’s getting increasingly difficult to find download links (or DVD releases) for these dramas, I’ve decided to start a series called Treasure Trove. I hope you enjoy Part 1!

Der Yalu Fliesst

Based on the critically-acclaimed biography of Lee Mirok, a Korean writer who left colonial Korea to settle in Germany, this is a three-episode drama that was thirty years in the making. I watched the first episode (and will watch the remaining two soon) and loved it. Two of my favorite veteran actors play Mirok’s parents: Shin Gu and Na Moon-hee.

Its slow paced and poetic prose might feel out of place in today’s K-drama industry, so preoccupied with shallow glitz and glamour, but it’s with substance and narrative fundamentals that this drama succeed on almost all accounts, as one of the best overlooked gems of the year. –MisterX

EDIT:

All links deleted.

Gyeongsuk, Gyeongsuk’s Father

I first wrote about Gyeongsuk, Gyeongsuk’s Father here. My 2009 year-end review for Dramabeans contains more of my thoughts on the drama.

I feel like this drama is too important to ignore, too secret to share, too painful to watch and too funny to look away… That this drama makes us laugh isn’t because of the comedic aspects per se, so much as it is us laughing at tragedy. Still, the writing is what makes this so good, that and the superlative acting all around — Shim Eun Kyung is polished perfect and the rest of the cast are seasoned professionals. A worthy recommendation for those with the right perspective to watch and learn, or, watch and remember. –samsooki

EDIT:

All links deleted.

Taereung National Village

If Shin Don is the (long) drama that owns my heart, then Taereung National Village is the (little) drama that makes my heart want to burst every single time I watch or think about it. Only eight short episodes (each 30 minutes long), it’s a sports drama and a coming-of-age story, with characters that I love fiercely. This is still my favorite Lee Min-ki role, even if he completely Kang Tae-bonged me in Dal Ja’s Spring. But the one I love most in Taereung isn’t Minki or even The Voice (Lee Seon-gyun), it is Kim Byeol.

Even if we’re dealing with 8 really short episodes, she (PD Lee) manages to balance character development, the usual training and matches, romance, comedy, some intelligent and mature Drama, all in a very solid package which constantly entertains. Camerawork feels like a well shot independent film more than a TV Drama, and the soundtrack, by Dream Pop band Tearliner, is exceptional.

Nothing incredible happens in Taereung, and you probably have seen it all. But two weeks after finishing the show, I still miss those characters: I miss the quirky and silly charm of Min-Gi, the maturity and calm of Dong-Kyung, the down-to-earth personality of Soo-Ah, and of course Maru’s irresistible energy. That’s a sign of an incredibly well written show, which deserves a series of its own, like the shows’ many fans have been asking for the last few months. –MisterX

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All links deleted.

Transformation

I previously reviewed Transformation here. To quote myself, the drama mixes “absurdity with normalcy, the ethereal with the visceral” and is “a smorgasbord of fantasy and comedy, satire and sci-fi.” It’s fantastic good fun with an amazing out-of-this-world script. Oh Man-seok is a scream here as a crazy monk.

Awesome CG work that fits in with the overall atmosphere, a smooth flow despite the leaps in logic and time, music that suits each scene perfectly, and some really nice editing…That’s what helped turn this drama into such a gem (although of course you can’t forget the sheer awesomeness of the script)… As long as you throw away all thoughts of high art and boring Hollywood-style linear plot, and as long as you simply sit back and take whatever it throws at you, then this is one of the best dramas of the last few years. –Dahee Fanel

Read the rest of Dahee’s review here.

EDIT:

All links deleted.

Tagged as: Der Yalu Fliesst, Gyeongsuk Gyeongsuk's Father, Jung Bo Seok, Kim Byeol, Lee Min Ki, Lee Seon Gyun, Oh Man Seok, Shim Eun Kyung, Taereung National Village, Transformation

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Treasure Trove (Part 2) »