If you know me, you know that I love me a good Korean drama. The first one I ever watched was the classic ‘Winter Sonata’. This did nothing to start me on my current obsession. I found it long, drawn out, and semi-creepy. I didn’t find the leads appealing either. Fast forward several months later when my cubemate suggests I watch Autumn Love Story… I was hooked.

Many moons later I’m the owner of several Korean drama box sets and even subscribe to a DVD rental service. Like Netflix, TigerCinema lets you build a queue and sends you the next drama whenever you’re ready. This week’s drama is Thank You starring Jang Hyuk and Gong Hyo Jin.

Ratings and Basics

• Category: Melodrama, Comedy
• Episode: 16
• Tears: 4 of 5
• Laughs: 3 of 5
• Romance: 1 of 5
• Overall: 3 of 5

Story

Spring (Lee Bom) is 8 years old and lives with her mother (GHJ) and her senile grandfather. A hospital mishap 2 years earlier leaves her infected with HIV. Jang Hyuk plays Min Ki Suh an arrogant doctor who is grieving over his dead girlfriend. His dead girlfriend happens to be the doctor who accidentally gives Spring HIV. He goes to Blue Island to fulfill his dead gf’s wish of apologizing to both Spring and her mother.

To further complicate the story, Spring’s biological father Choi Suk Hyun comes back to Blue Island after an 8 year leave. He had no idea that he fathered a child and is now returning to help build a resort on the island. His mother, who knows deep inside that Spring is her granddaughter, is very mean to her and her mother.

The drama covers the prejudices against HIV/AIDS patient and single mothers and sprinkles in bits of comedy to keep the story from getting too heavy too often.

Casting

The best thing about this drama is the child star lead, Seo Shin Ae. She’s cutesy but not overly so, is a strong actress, and can handle comedy and tears with equal success. Her scenes are some of the best in the whole drama and she often outshines her adult co-stars.

GHJ (who I remember from Let’s Go to School, Sangdoo with Rain), is her normal baby faced self. Her character is much better in the beginning but turns into this weak, blubbering, boring, weepy mother at the end. Such a shame too because she really shines in the beginning.

I’ve never seen the male lead JH and I have to say I’m not really impressed. He’s dashing in the beginning but poor styling make him look grungy by the end. Hint to JH, you might want to lay off the cigs as its effects are starting to show on the pearly whites. The other male Shin Sung Rok (Choi Suk Hyun) is a bit oafish but is a good physical match to Gong Hyo Jin. Dude has some not pretty hands though. I kept noticing the bumps and bites during the close ups.

Side characters like Suk Hyun’s mom, Ji Chang, Mr Lee, and Mr Park are well casted and likeable.

Tears and Laughs and Love

The director does a good job of this. It’s a heavy topic but is well balanced by a few comedic scenes either by Mr Lee’s love Miss Song, Spring, or her ornery grandmother. My favorite scene is the one where Mr Lee bops Spring in the head with one of the toy spoons he eats with.

The last few episodes are major tear jerkers. Have a box of tissues handy.

This is not one of those dramas that’s going to make you giddy with love on your mind. They try to work this into the story but it’s not believable. Min Ki Suh ends up looking pathetic since Young Shin does little to show that she likes the poor guy at all. It’s weird because you know they are *supposed* to fall in love but even at Episode 14 you’re wondering if it’s going to happen. Then it kind of happens but it’s more awkward than sweet.

The kissing is horrible in this drama. Young Shin, in her angelic nature, is stiff as a board.

The subtitles on this one (presumably the official DVD) are… strange. Lots of translations to ‘old fart’ and even one instance of an older woman calling something ‘freakin’ awesome’. I’m not sure it really matched the tone of the drama which might have ruined it a bit for me.

Verdict

Not bad but not a must-see.