According to Taiwan media reports, a particular newspaper held a poll to select the 5 most handsome Taiwanese actors (the Poll period lasted from 7th – 21st Dec) and the results obtained as of 22nd Dec 11:59pm are as below:

1. Vic Zhou
2. Jerry Yan
3. Ethan Ruan (阮经天)
4. Takeshi Kaneshiro (金城武)
5. Mark Zhao (赵又廷)

I VOTE JERRY YAN FOR HOTTEST TAIWANESE!!! D:

Omg i haven’t blogged for ages due to exams. I bet no one visits here anymore ): Regardless! Shall do a drama recommendation

Powerful Opponents is a drama centering around 3 main characters – Chae Rim as Cha Young Jin, Lee Jin Wook as Kang Soo Ho, and Lee Jong Hyuk as Yoo Gwang Pil. Young Jin and Gwang Pil are bodyguards who are assigned to protect the President and his family. The story unfolds when they are both assigned to protect the president’s troublemaker son Soo Ho. A love triangle thus ensues between Young Jin, Gwang Pil and Soo Ho.

There’s this bit of the story that i’ll share here cos i really liked it. There’s this rule for the bodyguards to be within one meter distance away from their charge – any distance further and there might be loopholes in security. Gwang Pil tells Young Jin to carefully maintain that distance. “Just one meter, keep that distance. If you go any closer, either side may develop feelings, and you won’t be able to carry out your mission well.”

(I’m sorry if i’m making it sound pretty bland. It’s actually really cool!)

Chae Rim as Cha Young Jin

Lee Jin Wook as Kang Soo Ho

Lee Jong Hyuk as Yoo Gwang Pil

Why the drama’s worth a watch:

1. if you like lee jin wook, he’s really loveable here. if you didn’t know who he was, well watch to find out!
2. you have no idea who the male lead really is i.e. the romance is rather balanced and there is no destined love in this drama so you’re kept curious till the last moment. Initially i thought Young Jin and Gwang Pil were set up to be a bickering couple (opposites attract!). but dramawiki lists lee jin wook before Lee Jong Hyuk, and like i said, the two guys are really quite evenly matched
3. some mystery – there were some interesting turn of events. I know this doesn’t say much but i don’t want to spoil the suspence for those who plan to watch!
4. cute little Kim Yoo Jung who also appeared as the young Eun Chae in Iljimae is always a joy to watch!!

Why you might not enjoy it:

1. the love triangle has been done in just about every other korean drama
2. the ending.

GO WATCH!!!

Some peekchures (:

Netizens are not only watching BBF, but are also visualising how the babies of Jun-pyo and Jan-di, and Ji-hoo and Jan-di will look like. Definitely see the resemblance there! Baby Jun Di has his dad’s signature curls and baby Ji Di has gold blond hair. Aww how cute!

Frankly I only expected to perhaps catch a glimpse of this drama because of Kenichi Matsuyama… but alas! I fell in love with it about 10 minutes into the first episode. I’m quite sure this drama ain’t for everyone though. Zeni Geba loosely translated means ‘money crazy’, and it’s a rather dark drama about a guy who became “money crazy” after a traumatic childhood, though I’m not quite sure what its central message is yet.

Anw I’m hooked enough to want to share the love; hope you’ll be enticed to watch this drama! (:

The show starts with Futaro Gamagori (Kenichi Matsuyama) picking up a coin on the road, totally disregarding an approaching lorry. He stares intently at the coin, and then coolly walks away, as if he didn’t just risk his life for it.

Futaro works in a shipyard and is known only as Mr. 1112, his serial number in the factory. He doesn’t seem to talk to people (he totally ignored a colleague who tried to be friendly) and is very much an oddball.  

Futaro returns home, to an old neighbourhood, and throws some dried fish down to the stray cat under his block. It’s implied to be a daily routine for him, almost like greeting a family.

At work the next day, an employee named Terada at the shipyard gets laid off for making a minor mistake. The economy’s not doing well, and everyone’s uptight about money. A group of them sat together during break and generally laments about life (or the lack of it).

The conversation soon drifted to Futaro, who sits alone on the sidewalk. The group talks about how he obviously does not belong and that he can’t do much since he has such an unappealing face. One brings up speculations that he has in fact a lot of savings.

Terada who was amongst them tried to borrow some money, but they all refused and stood up to leave. Despondent, he tried Futaro, but didn’t expect him to agree either.

Instead he laments, “What do we live for? Mr. 1112, what do you live for? What’s most important?”

“You smiled? You smiled right?”

He gets no response and this annoys him.

“You’re disgusting. Say something! What’s this?!”

Futaro merely walks away.

After work, Terada tails Futaro home, infuriated at his cold dismissal of him and also determined to rob him of a fortune. (I have no idea how he can be so sure of the rumour)  

He breaks into the house, while Futaro leaves to get something, and searches around franctically for the money.

Finally, he finds what’s hidden neatly under the floorboards.

Stacks of cash.

Synopsis:

Gamagori Futaro (Kenichi Matsuyama) has been poor since the day he was born. As a child his recklessly wasteful and abusive father sunk the family into debt and disappeared, leaving Futaro and his sick mother to fend for themselves. With no money to pay for medical treatment for his ailing mother she eventually died.

After her death Futaro became obsessed with money and willing to do anything for it. Several years pass and Futaro finds himself working at “Mikuni Shipbuilding” where he meets the company president’s daughters Midori, who was his former classmate, and her younger sister Akane, who is wheelchair-bound, and like Futaro, has a scarred face. In a plot to acquire their fathers company, Futaro begins to get close the sisters…

Relationship chart:

I’m liking this drama so much i’ve been trying to write synopsis for it! But it’s tiring and time consuming so im thinking of just writing sneaks. So sneaks for episode 1 & 2 will be out soon!

I believe for many of us, the show has been engaging to a large extent due to the marvellous performances of our 3 wonderful female leads who totally steal the show!

Personally, i usually skip to scenes of Dong Chul and Young Ran or Dong Chul with Hye rin though i certainly support the former pairing more. This is inevitable i guess since they have much sweeter scenes together hehe.

Moving on!

Dong Wook and Ji Hyun

You can feel their love is so strong.. i think it has to do with the actors. Both han ji hye and yun jung hoon are incredible.

This is the only collage on the two of them since their love has ended rather decisively by Ji Hyun ):  it’s my favourite collage of all that i’ve compiled so far.

Our favourite couple? 

Dong Chul <3 Young Ran

I like how this collage ends haha. They really look like a pair of ill fated young lovers. Realise that in both times, Young ran initiated the kiss? She’s really brave in love, in contrast, the two brothers both appear quite meek when it comes to grasping their love. Although it may be because they have too many burdens of their own and love has to be sacrificed.

Sad sad sad. both brothers end up seeing their love marrying other people… sighh. I still don’t get why Dong chul has to give up like that. It’s as if he never really tried to preserve this love. They didn’t try running away or sth. Not realistic fine, but stilllll.  and Mike. I can’t believe he’s so unemotional to marry a person who looks as miserable and sad to be with him as young ran does. Imagine the pain of being with a person who doesn’t love you AT ALL, and loves your friend LIKE CRAZY. how. can. he. do. that. i blame the writers.

Lee yeon hee suits young ran to the tee as the wilful princess turned sob princess.

Myung Hun and Ji Hyun

I doubt anyone roots for this couple xD it’s going to be a challenge for the writer to transform their relationship from that of bitter hatred to acceptance and maybe.. to love? (who knows.)

Dong wook and Hye rin

I don’t really feel much for this couple, not sure why.

Lastly, Wang gun and ki sun!

Kisun has been wearing the same brown sweater? cute.

Actually up till now i don’t get why lee da hae is supposedly the main female lead (or is she?) Although she has some sort of relationship with both brothers, neither are emotion packed or even touching, as compared to the wrenching love between Dong wook and Ji Hyun, Dong chul and Young Ran.

But now that she’s the only single one left (officially after she ‘broke off’ her engagement), i guess she should end up with either dong wook or dong chul right? I personally do not really like her character in the show because she’s not only critical and harsh on others but also a tad superficial and inconsistent. She is rude to her parents and detests their underhanded actions (fine, she may be justified) but when she wants to get dong wook out of prison, the first thing she does is to demand her father for help. That really turned me off big way. And she looked super pissed when her mother refused. Hello, look at your own attitude!! I wouldn’t want to help you either. And the way she looks super pissed off everytime she sees Sung hyun, you’d think he owes her money.

ohwell. 20 eps to go. i wonder if anyone dies……………………. *evil cackles* nah, that’s too childish a stunt i hope the writers won’t pull. On second thought, I think lee da hae will definitely end up with one of the brothers. If not what’s the point of getting an A-list actress for the role, right?

All the captions i used for the collages are from eoedrama.wordpress.com. Thanks to the wonderful siteowner, i get to scan episode recaps for interesting parts to watch thank you thank you!

.. and my two-cent worth of opinions.

First let us look at the MV

GREAT MV. Since it has many hot juicy scenes of SONG SEUNG HEON.

It gives us an idea of the main conflict in the drama, although I have no idea what SSH was yelling his heart out about on top of the mountain. Apparently someone (obviously the troublemaker and seemingly the mother of one of thoes babies) switched two babies at birth. And seems like SSH’s character had an extremely painful childhood with his family murdered or sth.

Other than the coughintriguingcough plotline, what there really is to look forward to, IMHO, is solid acting from the star studded cast, an awesome soundtrack, loads of dramatic moments, three pretty female leads and lots of SONG SEUNG HEON. -gushes-

Speaking of the cast, I think i’ll find Han Ji Hye and Lee Yeon Hee much more appealing, though i have a hump the latter is not going to get the guy while the former is starring as his first love. That leaves us with Lee Da Hae, everyone’s favourite star from megahit My Girl and megaflop Robbers. Personally, Lee Da Hae does not appeal to me and her character in the drama (which is featured quite minimally in the MV but enough for me to form my first impression) does not attract me as well. Lee Yeon Hee is much more endearing to me.

Sorry to fans out there, but i don’t even know why Yun Jung Hoon is cast in this drama -.- I think they figured the show’s got enough attractions already. He has this strange affinity with SSH and Kwon Sang Woo, having replaced the former in Sad Sonata and is now working with him in his comeback drama. No matter what, he sure is a lucky guy. (I’m not saying it’s all luck okay. I’m not that unfair.)

All in all, EOE is definitely the next show to look forward to. I hope it really is as good as it is hyped to be, and create another korean hit. Stay tuned!

I think Yoon Eun Hye is an actress who has worked very hard to come thus far. Her journey to stardom is almost like an inspirational life story for all the ugly ducklings out there. *winks*

Yoon debuted as a member of the popular girl group Baby V.O.X in 1999 at the tender age of 15. Although she became known as the “cute” one in the group, there were also criticisms of her weight.

In 2006 we saw a much different Yoon Eun Hye.

Whatever she did to herself, she’s lost a lot of weight and grown prettier. At the very least, she’s improving her fashion sense. [Btw, YEH's fashion sense deserves a whole post to itself XP] Her breakout role came in the wildly popular Princess Hours/Goong where she played the mischievous Shin Chae kyung.

The Princess

I think ‘cute’ is a suitable word to describe Yoon. To me, she’s not exactly a standard beauty but definitely very adorable.

Her role as the sassy princess catapulted her to an A-list actress almost immediately. Her adorable image also gained her much love and tremendous popularity. Her acting? Well, let’s just say we all love her already.

She’s so cute it’s hard to resist. XD

The designer-turned-farmer

In The Vineyard Man, Yoon plays Lee Ji Hyun, a clothing designer in Seoul, who reluctantly leaves home for one year to work at her grand uncle’s vineyard in a small village. There, she meets and falls in love with the character played by Oh Man Suk.

The guy

If Yoon had gotten more comfortable with acting in The Vineyard Man, she definitely immersed herself totally as Go Eun chan in Coffee Prince. The latter is arguably the most popular trendy drama in 2007 and marked another breakthrough for Yoon.

Initially I was quite doubtful of her acting as a guy cause i really <3 her loveable and cutesy image in Goong but it turned out great! Now her ‘goong’ days suddenly seemed so so far away.

It’s quite amazing, at least to me, that she manages to transform her image after Coffee Prince. She seems much more mature and ready to take on more challenging and sexeh roles in the future.

Can’t wait to see her in a new drama! Hope she takes on a more mature and sophisticated role!

For commercial’s sake.

Doesn’t she look lovely?