WITHS2 Free English Subtitles for Korean Dramas, Japanese Dramas, Chinese Dramas.

One comment
Leave a comment »

• 1

    mmym  |  Posted February 18, 2012 at 11:40 pm  |  Permalink

  I don’t like longgggggggggg dramas. BUT I like “Can You Hear My Heart 내 마음이 들리니”. Sure the idea of 30 grueling hours was more than enough to challenge my resolve but I knew it’ll be worth my while from the get-go. So what worked? Well, I can name at least four.

  First, are the kids, the younger version of the three main leads. They were all awesome and perfectly casted for their older counterparts down to skintone (for Kang Chan-hee who played little, snow-white Cha Dong-joo). Since I haven’t seen Won Bin’s “The Man From Nowhere” (I’ll get around to doing that someday), I never really understood what the Kim Sae-ron fuss was all about. Now, I absolutely do. Her energy and vibrance on-screen is infectious and affecting. I usually don’t like series that linger with the “before” but in this instance, I wished it went on for at least half the drama. This girl is born to go places and it’s a delight to watch her as she makes it happen.

  Second is the superb portrayal of Jeong Bo-seok who plays Bong Young-gyu, the mentally deficient stepfather to Kim Sae-ron’s Bong Woo-ri. I think he gets the best lines out of this drama which are simple yet surprisingly poignant. I imagined him being what it’s like for us to keep our pure childlike thoughts even as we grow up. I love the way he answers complicated questions or responds to trying situations with the mind of a 5 year old. He makes you rethink about why you don’t answer or face life’s questions like that anymore.

  Next is Nam Gung-min who played the erring second male lead, Jang Jun-ha. He’s no stranger to playing the bad guy but I like that his role is not necessarily one. Lately, I’ve become enamored with multifaceted characters which rarely lands on the lead guy’s lap. Gung-min matches this character quite nicely as you watch his mind, emotions and ways transition from one facet to another. I saw around six, one each for his “adoptive” mother, his “adoptive” brother, his biological parents, Woo-ri, his real family and one for himself. He did a great job of showing versatility from playing a doting son and affectionate brother to his adoptive family, to showing utter frustration, hesitant remorse and guilt for abandoning his real family in pursuit of a better life, to exacting revenge on his adoptive mother who raised him to unknowingly destroy his real father, all while showing his softer side to his stepsister, Woo-ri, who he falls for and battles it out with adoptive brother, Dong-joo. I’m not sure if it was intended but it seems like the writer spent a little more time on developing the second lead guy because other than losing his hearing, Dong-joo’s character failed to rise above Jun-ha as a character. As far as comments go, I really didn’t care much about the female lead, Hwang Jung-eum, who played the grown-up version of Kim Sae-ron. She’s a stark contrast from her younger counterpart because she manages to make you painfully aware that she’s acting a part and at times, it gets awkward to watch. Also, I totally understand why the two guys would fight over mini Woo-ri but as far as the upsized version is concerned, I’m clueless.

  Lastly, I have gained an undeniably irrepressible LOVE for BROMANCE. Kim Jae-won’s character, Cha Dong-joo, by himself did nothing for me but together with his adoptive hyung (older brother), Jang Jun-ha, they were FREAKIN’ hot, fun, adorable and engaging. The chemistry and cuteness of it all just killed me even when they were at it each other’s throats. The highlight of this enviable friendship is when they saved each other from the factory fire which drove the last nail down the coffin of my hesitant bromancing old self. Is it odd that I wish for them to end up with each other? And I don’t mean as a gay couple (though it wouldn’t hurt if they were) but just lifebound brothers spending their ever after together.

  Seriously.